The evening sun filled lower over ibadan, turning the streets orange. Chloe walked beside Alex, their step matching as they both enjoy a fresh breath of the atmosphere clouded with mixture of dust and rain. Aromas of food vendors down the block find its way through her nose.
She knew there was something ahead but what it was she couldn't point out.
For some moment there was uttermost silence. The awkward silence made her environment more noticeable than it would have been if there had been a conversation going on.
The sound of distant car horns, chatter of people bargaining in stalls, the remains of leaves that flew in the air. But more than anything she was aware of Alex walking beside her. His height was about 6.4feets, he was literally taller than most people walking on the streets. Chloe quickly stole a glance at him hoping he wouldn't notice.
His jawline sharp but not harsh curving neatly into his chin in a way that gave him a quiet confidence, as he turned to the street his eyes caught her attention the most....dark, round framed with thick black lashes , his brows slightly arched and looking naturally attractive. His lips were naturally curved as if a little smile couldn't wait to always appear.
She quickly looked away as her heart begin to race than normal_to her it doesn't just make sense.
She glanced at him sideways with his hands calmly tucked into his pockets with his shoulder slightly relaxed .
"So.....tomorrow" she finally broke the silence, her voice light but a bit shaky. It wasn't a question though but somehow feels like she was expecting an answer
Alex smiled back_small but real.
"yeah" he said
He looked ahead as if considering something
"Same table" he added, then paused before gkancing back at her "or somewhere else?"
There was a hint of curiosity in his voice
Chloe's brainprocessed what he meant
"Somewhere else?" She asked herself under her breath
"Did he mean somewhere outside the library?" She thought
Then her cheeks warmed again as the library has always been the spot of their anonymous messages and conversations but then picking somewhere else suddenly felt big to her
"Like where " She finally bursted out.
"Hmmmm" He mumured lightly
"The park near school" He added "we could sit there"
He glanced at her as if monitoring her reaction.
"Talk about books" He said "or something else" He continues with a small grin
Chloe blushed as a quick laught built up into her chest
Something else.....she muttered under her breath
She looked ahead at the orange-tinted street, the fading sunlight stretching their shadows long across the pavement
For the first time since their anonymous notes began, it felt like their story was stepping out from the quiet shelves of the library and into the open world.