Chapter 6 Love? Only Love?

Chapter 6

Love? Only Love?

Edwin's love story [flashback]

I was chuckling at myself holding the hand of the most beautiful girl of the universe and I never ever wanted to let it go. I had missed her so much that I realized that it was love, only love.

Only love can make you miss someone like crazy..

Today when she stands right in front of me I know I am in love

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“As you said madly, crazily and fondly in love” Rosie had hearts replaced by her balls like heart eyed smiley emoji

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"Edwin leave my hand." Stella pleaded feeling embarrassed of being centre of attraction as everybody started staring back at us.

"Oops sorry. But promise me you'll come to watch all my matches." I asked smirking.

I could feel goosebumps on her hands because of my touch.

"Otherwise you'll go for starvation." She chuckled mockingly and I scratched my hair behind my neck in nervousness thinking what to reply so I decided to stop pretending and speak the truth.

"No I won't but I want you because..." I said sheepishly

"Because....." she was more eager for me to finish.

"Because you are my lucky charm." I said smiling broadly.

Gosh! love her..

"Lucky charm?" she asked shrugging her shoulders just a little bit.

Oh I loved her swag!

"We were loosing before you came at the strands and once you were there, there were winds of change and we won and I got highest number of baskets." I said in one breath, a little nervous though.

"I would come but under one condition." She answered a bit tentatively.

"What condition?" I said giving my most innocent smile.

"Only if you promise to win." She changed her expressions into a grin suddenly.

"Pinky promise.” I know I was being silly, mean pinky promise? But this is what love makes you do, “I will win each and every match you promise to watch" I said acting like a silly teenager that was in love.

Don't girls like the pinky promise thing?...

"So I'll be there." She ruffled my sweaty hair with her breast touching my face for a split second and walked away.

I immediately sent a message on her mobile. "Your appointment for recreational rehab at 8:30 pm sharp at same place. Fees – a smile on your face"

She immediately replied with a SMILEY message back.

I pushed my fist in air as a sign of victory.

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"So your official first date" Rosie asked Edwin.

He could not keep that smile with blush off his face.

It really makes her jealous of Stella. 

Also she was enjoying every bit of the story. 

She wished she had enough time.

For the first time in her profession she wanted time to stand still.

She desperately wanted Edwin to finish his story.

His love story! 

She was taking side-glances at his perfect face. Though he was in his mid twenties but his innocent looks attracted her.

'He's just too irresistible.' She hit herself mentally at her silly thoughts. All these years she had hated men and their desire of sex, 

Strangely she felt she wouldn't mind having him for all night making him moan and enjoy every bit of it. 

But he was a one-woman man and that's what made him special.

He's surreal!

"Is my past a bit boring?" he asked bringing her out of her hayward thoughts.

"No, no I am eager to know more about you both as if I am reading a best seller love story but this is far more beautiful as it is a true story" Rosie stated.

"So you read love stories?" he asked.

"Used too but now I don't." she replied dejectedly. "I cannot read love stories any more. Reason being that I do not believe in it any more" she realized she was opening up too much "and also I am too occupied with my set of responsibilities that sparing time for book reading is asking a bit too much from the clock of my life."

"Why?" he asked emotionlessly only to continue with the conversation.

"I believe they are all fake." She answered the first thing that came to her mind.

"You are too rude with life." he said emphatically.

"Life has been rude and cruel to me." She couldn't help the bitterness in her voice.

He stepped towards her, his actions surprising her.

Her held her hand and squeezed it softly "I am sorry for all that I said to you. Surely none of the girl at a tender age of yours would like to be in this profession."

"No sympathies." She spat back jerking her hand away from him.

"I can understand." He shook his head not knowing what else to say.

"Can I have rest of your fairy tale?" she asked him sarcastically as there was hardly any time left.

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Edwin's love story [flashback]

I waited for her there at the school garden premises since 8:15 hoping she might show up a little early to win me some extra 15 minutes of her company.

But it only added to my misery as time was running like a snail making me more impatient. Every fifth second I would glance on my mobile screen to see whether it was time.

But this beauty had its cruelty of punctuality

Exactly when the digital watch of my mobile turned to 8:31 I saw a lean image walking towards me in the garden.

When she reached me I was taking in her fragrance enjoying her beautiful blue eyes and long silky hair flowing with the wind which she would push side ways with her thin pink enameled fingers and angelic smile on her face.

"Hi Edwin"

"Hi Stella. What took you so long?"

"Long?" she furrowed her brows looking at her wrist watch "I am on time." 

"Yeah" I muttered scratching my hair again in nervousness.

"Hungry?" she asked.

"I guess." But mentally I replied "Yeah hungry for your love"

"Take this. I happened to grab two chicken burgers from the canteen. I thought you would be hungry too." She offered extending her hand displaying the sparklers from the diamonds of the bracelet that had adorned her soft touchable wrists.

"Thanks. You are very thoughtful." I complimented as I bit a huge bite from the burger, i realised i was starving too

Soon I was myself with her talking about anything and everything and sometimes even remaining silent which too was very entertaining as I could hear her breaths added with her heartbeats subtracted by the pressure the forthcoming match was accompanying, once a while she rested her head on my shoulders too.

"Hey day after is a no play day. Let's plan some picnic kind of stuff." I asked her

"No it's a rest day for you but I am working but I can make it by 5 not before that." she said with a frown.

"5 is fine. We will plan a trip outside the college campus." I said excitedly at least she did not deny.

"Well first think of your match tomorrow. The South Hall team is very aggressive and competitive I have heard." She said as she wiped off her face with the small paper napkin that came along with the burger. How badly I wanted to replace that tissue with my lips when she brushed off the tiny crumbs of the bread from her lips.

"No probs till you are there on the strands" I said trying to gain control over my perverted thoughts.

"I cannot promise." She replied not very happy about it.

"I thought you are following basketball and enjoying it too." I said equally disappointed.

"Man I am the event manager here and there are lot more games to be taken care off." She explained.

'You are right but I need you. You are my lucky charm." I pouted.

"You are silly." She said smiling flattered as she ran her hands on my head ruffling my hair again.

"With you. And I enjoy every single bit of it." I smirked.

"I too enjoy spending time with you." She said as a sad crease formed on her face.

'Can I ask what upset you sweetheart?" I couldn't help but hate that frowning look on her face.

"Stop flattering me with your nicknames. I am fine, just thinking something." She said composing herself.

"Mind sharing?" I asked.

"I already shared a burger with you." She denied. I guess it was too early to expect her to share her problems with me. So I let it go.

"No worries." I understood she was not ready to share. 

I will have to win her slowly and steadily.

My performance in my game was getting better each day and my coach was pleased with my performance too.

Stella would always make it a point to free herself from all her work and be seated before the start of the game. It was a routine for her to wait outside the changing room before we go to change and hug me to wish me luck before the match. 

She had taken the lucky charm thing very seriously. On one of the matches she was late so she came running only to wish me and joined us later for the match. My ears would long for "Go Edwin Go" of her cheering amongst the shrieks of the crowd." She would disappear immediately after the match yes but we did spend our evenings together. 

I had the feeling that I was winning her but every time I would try to talk about it to her she would change the topic or get lost in her reverie. I always found some unanswered question in her eyes.

She was other wise very comfortable with me and admitted couple of times that she was happy.

"I am glad that I opted for this event. It's so nice to be with you. I never expected that we would make such good friends." She said on one of the evenings.

"Even I would treasure this tournament. It is because of this tournament that I have you on my side. I would never ever let you go now." I said to see her getting lost again in an era of sadness.

"Since you are free today, how are we spending this bunch of extra hours?" she asked deliberately changing the topic.

'What do you want to do?" I asked.

"Just want to forget rest of the world" she replied instantly.

We thought for a while and then "Movie"

"Movie" Both of us suggested together and agreed without further discussion.

We went for a movie together. She did not want me to get bored with some chick flick movie so we decided to go for a hilarious one 'Hangover' to which we were laughing our asses.

It was quite a stress reliever for both of us. She comfortably leaned on my shoulders laughing heartily as she would occasionally hold my hand. We had dinner at the nearby diner and she dropped me to the dorm before driving back to her place. I pecked her on her cheeks before leaving and the best thing for me was that she smiled to it with a twinkle in her blues.

Those were the best days of my life. I felt complete with her on my side.

The winning streak was on and today was the day of Finals. I woke up excited and went for our pre match session in the morning. I knew I would be on house arrest after that by my coach who wants us to concentrate on our finals so I decided to sneak away immediately after the practice and meet Stella, admit my love to her and beg her to be there for the finals in our team's t shirt which is normally worn by a girlfriend of the player.

I picked a new one with a size smaller that I thought would fit her well and went to hunt for her. I located her working with the lightings along with the staff and walked to her. She was wearing a tight fit baby pink v necked t-shirt with a black tight fit jeans. I was mentally visualizing how beautiful she would look in our team's t-shirt as she turned towards me with that same angelic smile on her pretty face and it broadened as she saw me.

"Hi "she said softly as she was wiping the sweat off my forehead with a wet tissue she removed from her black sling bag. "What are you hiding behind?"

I nervously scratched the hair behind my neck bringing that shirt in front and handed it to her.

"Can you wear this for the match tonight?" I asked nervously.

"I would but isn't it supposed to be worn by your gir....." she stopped her word in the tracks

"I have something else to talk to or confess to you." I said understanding what was caught in her mouth.

Her face turned scarlet a little darker than the colour of her t-shirt and was acting nervous but today I was not going to stop myself nor was I going to delay it further.

"I think I am falling for..." I was about to confess when somebody distracted us.

"Hi Stella." A loud and cheerful masculine voice came from behind demanding my attention ruining the golden moments of our company.

Two masculine hands came between me and Stella and lifted her into the air. He shouted, "I love you I love you" as he twirled her in circles