CHAPTER 28;ON STAGE, FACING ALL FEARS

Everyone gave the guy

on stage a big round of applause

when he was done. he walked

back to sit on the seat he was

previously occupying.

The M.C went back on stage

with a book in his hand.

"that was a great speech" the

M.C said

"now the next student on the

list is Christian Owen"

My heart paused immediately I

heard my name. I slowly stood

up and walked to the stage. I

turned and face the crowd.

thousands of eyes were

staring at me. my heart was

pounding.

Christian you can do this. I

assured myself. Christian be

focus. I said to myself. I stared

from one person to the other

in the auditorium. my eyes

suddenly caught Sylvia sitting

at the back seat. she was

staring deeply at me. she stood

up from her seat and walked

to the front. she located a seat

in a spot where I could get a

clearer view of her and sat

down. she fixed her gaze on

me but she wasn't smiling. I

could get a clearer view of her

from where I was standing.

she was wearing a blue skirt

and a white top. her white top

had the words 'you can do it'

inscribed on it.' I needed no

one to tell me that she

purposely wore that top just to

encourage me. even when

she's angry with me, she still

came to encourage me. I

couldn't hide the smile on my

face. I was smiling broadly.

though, she didn't smile, but

she never took her gaze off

me. Sylvia is truly one in a

million. sometimes, you

wouldn't know how valuable

someone is to you, until you

have lost that person. Sylvia is

more than valuable to me. I

wouldn't know what my life

would become if I lose

someone like Sylvia. it will be

very regrettable. I better set

things straight before it's too

late. I will surely go to her

immediately after this event

and clear things up. the words

that were inscribed on her

dress boost my confidence.

'thank you Sylvia for being

there for me'

I turned my gaze away from

her and faced the crowd with

confidence.

I started by recognizing the

presence of the minister of

finance, the minister of

education, the vice chancellor

of the university, and every

other high profile individuals

in the auditorium. without

wasting any time, I went

straight to my reason of

standing there. I spoke

courageously. I didn't miss a

single word I had memorized.

I didn't paused for a second. I

delivered the speech with

confidence.

Everyone in the auditorium

gave me a standing ovation

when I was done. I felt on top

of the world. the smile on my

face was visible. I needed no

one to tell me that I did a very

good job.

if I could stand in

front of a large crowd like this

and speak confidently, then

there is no where I couldn't

stand to speak. if I could start

a conversation with the lady I

saw in the faculty of

engineering, and also maintain

a conversation with the lady I

saw at the garden of eden,

then there is no lady I can't

speak to. if I could be in a

company of ladies like Sylvia,

Sharon, Kate, Joy, among other

and still interact freely with

them, then I think I'm no

longer that shy guy . there is

still one thing left for me to

do, and I will surely do it once

I leave this stage.

I turned my gaze to where

Sylvia was sitting and saw her

leaving the auditorium. so she

actually came here just for me.

even when she was angry with

me, she still came to support

me. I need to set things

straight right now or I might

never get another opportunity.

I left the stage and followed the

direction Sylvia took. I went

outside the auditorium but

couldn't find Sylvia. I search

in all the corners outside the

auditorium but still couldn't

find her. maybe she would

have gone home already. I

have to go to her place and set

things right. I have no reason

to remain in the auditorium. I

have already delivered my

speech so I'm free to go. I need

to be at Sylvia's place right

now. I have this fear that I

might not have the

opportunity to set things

straight again if I waste

anymore time.

I quickly rushed to the bus

park. I took a bus that will

convey me directly to Sylvia's

house.

I got to her place and stood

beside her door. I prayed

silently that things should go

well. I knocked softly on the

door but didn't get any

response. I knocked again and

waited patiently for her to

open the door. she opened the

door a minute later. she glared

at me when she realized I was

the one at the door. she

wanted to lock the door back

but I quickly held the handle

of the door and prevent her

from locking it. she tried to

forcefully remove my hand

from the door handle but

couldn't. after several attempt,

she finally left the door opened

and walked into her room. I

entered her room and saw her

facing the wall. she was

backing me. I walked to her

and stood behind her.

"Sylvia I....." I paused as I

couldn't find the right word to

say.

I held her right hand from

behind but she forcefully freed

her hand from my hold.

"don't touch me" she barked.

I tried to hold her again but

she refused

"I'm warning you, don't touch

me" she barked again.

I stood silently behind her, not

knowing what to do next. after

a while of silence, I finally

spoke.

"Sylvia I...."

"don't call me" she cut in

immediately.

I didn't know what next to do.

I stood behind her without

saying a word. when she

wouldn't turn to face me, I

decided to do it my way.

I quickly grabbed her hand,

turned her forcefully to face

me, drew her closer to myself

and planted a kiss on her lips.

she froze immediately I did

that. she stared at me open-

mouthed and couldn't say a

word. I didn't take my gaze off

her. we stared intensely at

each other. after a while of

silence, I finally spoke.

"I can't hide it anymore. my

heart might just explode if I

continue keeping it to myself.

I have to let it out" I paused

and stared deeply at her.

"I love you Sylvia" I let it out

she stared at me with so much

emotion. her face suddenly

curved in a smile. she drew

closer to me and wrapped her

hands round my neck.

"I love you too Christian. I

love you so much" she

responded.

we stared silently at each

other. her hands were still

wrapped around my neck.

"I am...." I wanted to speak

but she quickly planted a kiss

on my lips. we kissed

passionately. the kiss was so

intense that I lost control of

myself. I found my hands

moving towards her thigh. all

of a sudden, I raised the white

top she was putting on above

her abdomen region. she

didn't stop me. she didn't even

free me from her hold. she

wrapped her hand tightly

around my neck. her bosom

was resting on my chest. our

lips were still entangled. she

dragged me towards the

direction of her bed. all of a

sudden, I found myself lying

on her bed while she was lying on

my body. one thing led to the

other, but all other things that

transpired between us in her

room, should be left for the

imagination. I knew very well

that once I leave her place, I

would no longer be that shy

guy.

I won't say that I have totally

overcame shyness, but one

thing I know for such is that, I

would no longer be that shy

guy who couldn't speak in

crowd, who couldn't talk to

ladies and who couldn't do

things he wish to do. because

all that would be a thing of the

past.

if someone as shy as Christian

could control his shy nature,

then there's no one that can't

control his. atleast to a level

that it won't affect their social

life. don't allow that negative

voice to always dictate how

you leave your life. don't allow

that voice to affect your social

life. when you feel like doing

something, do it without

listening to that negative

voice. if you love a lady, tell

her how you feel. don't be

scared of rejection. if you

couldn't tell a lady you love

how you feel about her, you

will only regret it later. if you

love a lady and couldn't tell

her how much you love her,

then you are selfish. do you

know what those words could

do to that lady's life, if only

you can tell her. don't limit

yourself.

being an introvert does not

limit you from achieving your

dream. it is believed that

introverts are deep thinkers. if

only you can bring those

things you have in mind to

reality, the world would be

better than this. the world

needs you. the world needs to

hear from you. don't just leave

those great things you have in

mind to remain in your mind,

just because you are scared of

failure. bring it to reality.

Everything you see in the

world today, was once in

someone's mind. the cars,

plane, buildings and every

other things you see today,

was once an imagination of

people which they chose to

bring to reality. if those people

decided not to bring what they

have in mind to reality, then

this things wouldn't have been

in existence.

don't limit yourself. the world

needs to hear from you. don't

allow that talent of yours to be

wasted because you think you

won't succeed if you give it a

try. you won't know how good

you are at something until you

give it a try. don't allow your

shy nature to limit your

potential. you are born to be

great. be great!!!!

make sure you just don't read

this story, work on yourself,

aim to be great and you will be

great.

THE END!!!!

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

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and those who encouraged me by their likes and comments

I hope all my fellow shy guys enjoyed the story and learnt

from it...