Chapter 12

"obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off them"_ Henry Ford

ASHLEY'S P.O.V

"Dear diary,

Just as Molière said, the greater the obstacles, the more glory in overcoming it. I always see every obstacles as a strength. Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind, instead of worrying about what you can not control,shift your energy to what you can create. If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow. I never dreamed about success, I worked for it. Success is only meaningful and enjoyable if it feels like your own. The moment Ace confessed to me, my heart skipped a beat. Maybe it was because I having been confessed to for years now, or the fact that I surprised or perhaps because I felt something for him? I think it was the latter.

Ace, I must admit is handsome and I bet he knows it too cause he always talks about his handsome face. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't attracted to him the first time I saw him. There's something, something about him that I can't seem to figure out nor understand. He seemed like an open book but he was hard to figure out. I woke up this morning and suddenly found myself browsing through my phone to check what the rumors of him and his Ex girlfriend were all about. I saw many articles, which were all about his perfect they looked together, which hidden made me feel inferior. What if the media gets to know of us one. What will they say about me?, I need to stop worrying about things that won't or wouldn't be happening now, and enjoy the present. I loved his courage, which made me to accept to his three months challenge of him trying to make to fall in love with him. I could sense the sincerity in his words, his eyes were clear and his voice were stable, which made me agree, to know where this little challenge of a think will lead to. Will it be a failure or a success?, that I'd love to find out. I wound also like to know what made him so confident and sure that he would make me fall in love with him, Has he done this to many other girl? , like how many?. I couldn't stop thinking about him and his confession. His confession opened a hole in my heart, because I touched by it. It may not be too catchy, but he choose the right words for me. I loved the part where he said he wanted to share my happiness and sadness, that part alone left me astonished. I also wished someone would say that to me beneath my heart. It has been quite a while since I heard those....those touching lines.

If I say I was not attracted to him the first time I saw him without his face mask and cap, then I would be lying. No wonder many women and girls surrounds him and I bet he must have loved how popular he was amongst the female folks. He has a kind of courage, braveness, and confidence, which always makes me curious about him. Dear diary, I hope I don't start what I can not finish"

I closed my diary and kept it at my bookshelf. I went into the bathroom to take my bath and few minutes later, i was through. I was putting on my bathrobe when my phone rang.

"Hello?" I said

"Look outside your window for a bit" Ace said

"why" I asked

" just do it" he said and I looked out through my window.

"What are you doing here this early morning?" I asked as I was surprised to see him this early at my house. He was looking as handsome as always

"Have you forgotten about what we discussed yesterday?" he asked over the phone as we looked at each other.

" I know, but I've to go to work...i.." and he cuts in

" You'll need to stop work for now cause i'ma keep you busy that you'll forget all about work, or are you suddenly backing out ?....are you afraid that you'll fall for me? and can't take this challenge?"

"Of course not, I don't go back on my words and I love challenges, I'm the best in challenges" i replied as i made a gesture of confidence

" I love challenges too, and trust me, I never lose....are we just gonna keep talking over the phone or are you gonna go get ready?" he asked

"I'm gonna go get ready" i said as i dropped the call and went inside.

I went into my room, and ransacked my wardrobe, looking for what to wear. I haven't been on a date for so long so I had absolutely no idea what to wear. Most of my clothes were tracksuit, sweat suits, and a few gown and skirts. I finally landed on a white knee length gown. I had bought the gown a year ago, but haven't worn it before. I picked it up, while praying for it to fit me as I had bought it according to my measurement a year ago, and luckily, it fit perfectly. I guess my prayer worked out, good thing I did my laundry. The cloths had been settled, now it was shoes. I turned my house upside down while searching for one and it seemed like luck was on my side cause I saw one. I had wanted to apply some makeup but decided not to. I wasn't a fan of such. I packed my hair in a doughnut style to match with the attire I was putting on, and I was good to go.

Few minutes later, i came out.

"Are we good to go?" I asked as i moved towards him

"Always unless you've developed cold feet"

"not gonna happen. I'm ready for this date"

"Before we move, what's your favorite color?"

"Black" I answered

"Best food?"

"Pizza"

"uhmmm.... worst food ?"

"Macaroni"

"Okay.... " he said nodding

"why asking?"

"Nothing...for future reference. I wanted to know your likes and dislikes so I won't make a mistake"

"You're going all out in this challenge"

"Why not... this Challenge means a lot to me" he said and I blushed, my cheeks red as a result of flushing. How come I got butterflies when he didn't even say much?... I'm beginning to wonder I was doing the right thing, and if I could be able to get past this three months, when I got butterflies on the first day. I was more than excited to see where we would be go to for our first date. I had already thought it in my mind that it would be a five star hotel or Bar. I was eager to know if he would surprise me instead by not doing what i had in mind.

" You're blushing?"

"What? ... me? no... " i said as i quickly moved away hurriedly from him and got into the car. I know he could sense how shy and tensed i was. He in turn got into the car.

"Are you ready to be enchanted?" he asked as his left hand was placed on the steering

"My pleasure" I replied as we zoomed off. I became more tensed than before, but this wasn't the first time we were sitting close together, so why was I being tensed?.

Oh Lord, this is gonna be a long dayyyyy