....
Richard and I walked down the road leading to my house, we kept on gisting and he admiringly appreciating me every moment after a statement. I felt so happy with him, I felt like my heart has accepted him already.
"It's here," I said stopping in front of my gate, I didn't feel like letting him into the house. He kept on looking at me like he wanted to say something.
"What is it," I asked.
"Will you permit me to walk you home everyday?" he asked.
"Emmm not always," I replied.
"But why," he asked calmly.
"Well to prevent you from pushing my suitors away," I said jokingly.
"Naughty girl, no suitor can be better than I am," he said.
"I'm sorry, I can't let you in for today, I have a visitor," I said.
"ur boyfriend is inside?" he inquiringly guessed.
"What boyfriend? I don't have any," I replied.
"Better," he said.
We spoke for a while and we bid good bye. I watched him leave and I could tell I'm already loving Richard. I turned my back to see Kamara staring at me.
"Jeeez!" I shouted.
"I'm sorry for scaring you," she replied.
"It's fine," I said holding my chest.
"Well, it seems someone has fallen in love again, he looks so cute like a demi-god," Kamara complimented.
"Have you been earedropping?" I asked looking surprised as she laughed.
I walked into my room, Kamara has cleaned everywhere, including making dinner. I could see lots of changes in her life and I hoped it was genuine. "Thank you so much Kamara," I said.
"This is the little I can help with," she replied.
I pulled my clothing, letting loose of the corset, I felt like I'm back to life again; sometimes fashion is a bondage, I muttered.
"Please chat with me when you are done, Richard sent."
"Alright," I replied.
I went into the bathroom to freshen up, I couldn't help but sing , I can't explain why I'm suddenly happy, my heart kept on dancing in overflowing joy and I still can't tell why.
I hurriedly did everything fast, so I could talk with Richard, I found myself being attracted to him. Clara, hope you are not falling in love again, I asked myself.
I sat on my bed without eating, can't even tell why I don't feel hungry.
"Hello, I'm in for a call now," I texted him
He called and we spent so much time gisting and knowing about ourselves, I could find myself loving him more than I should. I'm scared of falling in love again, I can't battle with my feelings anymore. 
My call with Richard turned to a daily routine, he would walk me home sometimes when he is in town and we won't skip our daily calls. I can't say we are dating because he hasn't officially asked me out, though he always show concern, my house is gradually turning into a gift house all because of him. 
Thank God Kamara has gotten better and I have successfully rented an apartment for her and still waiting for the right time to take her to the apartment, so she won't feel rejected. I made Kamara to promise not to go back to her boyfriend, it was difficult to convince her but I wouldn't blame her, her mental health has been affected into believing that abuse is a normal thing. I could feel myself not remembering anything about Mr. Nich anymore, the memories of Richard has taken over me and I wished for it to last forever. I stared at his picture hanged on my bed side and felt like removing them, but that would be later.
 I came home feeling unknown, I had a fight at the art gallery which I never wished for. Mercy the leader of my team tore my drawing, according to her, she said she wanted to make the drawing herself, but it wasn't my fault because she pointed at that same drawing. I felt she could have ask me to keep it to myself instead if tearing the drawing. We shouted at each other until Mr. Gomez came out. Mr. Gomez was fair enough to hear the both side of the story and issued Mercy a suspension for her attitude. I wasn't punished but I felt sad especially for being the reason of her suspension.
"Kamara your apartment is ready and we need to go check it out," I said trying to ignore an eye contact with her. Kamara didn't alter a word but followed me quietly. We left to the apartment which is located in same area as mine, she was so shocked to see the apartment and couldn't help but jumped in excitement.
What could she be expecting before? I said to myself.
"Thank you so much Clara," she said hugging me tightly.
I gave her the key to the apartment, promising that I would be visiting her always and also granting her the permission to visit. 
"Please Kamara, do not let that boy come close to you again, I won't be happy to hear that and lastly, think about a business you would like to do, and I will support you," I said to her and we bid good bye.
I left her apartment to mine, on getting closer to my gate, I saw Richard standing at my gate. Oh when did he come back? I asked myself. I walked closer to him and tapped his shoulder and he jerked, it seems he has been waiting for a long time.
"Hey," I said tapping him.
"Hey Clara, how are you? I have been calling, why are you not picking up? Did you hate me now,?" he kept on asking so many questions at a time.
"I'm sorry Richard, I left my phone inside, I went to see a friend off," I replied.
"Your boyfriend visited?" he asked curiously and I kept quiet.
"You wouldn't even let me into your house, always making an excuse each time I want to, well thank God you are fine, I got this for you," he handed a bag to me and turned to leave.
"Richard, I have told you countless times that I don't have a boyfriend, but you choose what to believe; the door is open this time, come in," I said leading the way.
Richard followed me and we walked into my apartment. "Welcome to my humble abode, manage my luxury," I said and he laughed.
"You have a nice space," he replied.
I went into the kitchen to prepare a dish for him. "Richy, I will be done in a minute," I said.
"I love it when you call me that," he replied.
I fried plantain and egg, it was a fast one, I brought it to him and he kept on praising me.
"You know I can't take your praises seriously," I said.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because you always find a way to praise everything I do," I replied.
"Clara," he said drawing closer to me, I could feel my heart beat a million times, I bent my head, picking my finger nails. He raised my head staring into my eyes with deep concentration. I know this is the moment I have been waiting for but, I can't even handle it properly. My heart was beating like a school drum, my brain not thinking fast, I can't even explain how I feel right now.
"You are the woman of my world, you are beautiful and you have a beautiful heart, my mum really got eyes for good things, I never knew I can get addicted to someone but here you are, my beautiful addiction, I don't mind spending my lifetime with you if you give me the chance," he said with his eyes into mine, his breath against mine. I kept quiet not knowing the reply to give. 
"Will you be my woman?" he popped the question.
"Huh?!" I said with my eyes wide open.
"Yes, be my woman, my queen, the mother of my kids, the one I want to wake up to everyday, be that woman that gives me joy," he said with a pleading eyes. It was an emotional moment for both of us , I could feel my tears dripping down my cheek and his eye balls turning red. He wiped my eyes with his cheek, "I promise I will never hurt you, I promise to be your family, I promise to have your back always, with you, we will make our own loving family, be my peace Clara," he said.
I tried speaking but couldn't find my voice, I nodded in agreement to what he said.
"Is it a yes from you?" he asked while I nodded.
Richard hugged me tightly, "...imagining proposing to my woman with a ring right now," he said jokingly and I giggled.
"I don't know you are this sweet, I said hitting his chest playfully while he laughed.
"Now, no one will approach my woman," he said proudly and I smiled. 
"Treasure!" he called me sounding so innocent.
"Is that the new name?" I asked.
"Let me be," he said.
"Do you want to continue working or you want to stop," he asked.
"Noooo, drawing is my passion and I love doing that," I replied.
"It's not a problem alright, I just wanted to know if you are very comfortable with it."
"Totally comfortable," I replied.
"My mum needs to hear the good news!" he screamed while I chuckled. Richard called his mum thanking him for the matchmaking. From their discussion, they have a good mother to son relationship, his mum talked to me for sometime and we ended our call.
"Bye, it's time for the new couple," she said.
"So boyfriend, it's time for you to go home," I said and his face changed.
"What's with that look?" I asked him
"I want to sleep over," he said sounding like a baby.
"Wait, you want to sleep in a woman's house," I asked.
"No, I want to sleep in my woman's house, tomorrow is Saturday and you won't be going to work," he added.
"Ok fine, so what clothes will you wear?" I asked.
"Being naked is not a problem or is it?" he asked laughing out loud.
I can't imagine him being naked in the same room with me. "You really have a plan but I assure you, you can't succeed," I said.
"Whatever, please show me the way to you bathroom," he replied.
I led him to the bathroom and ran out immediately, "please can you watch me while I bath," he shouted from inside.
No way I'm going to do that, this man is a beautiful temptation, I said to myself. I sat on my bed waiting for him to be done so I can go in, thank God tomorrow is a free day, I said to myself. Few minutes later, Richard walked out of the bathroom with my pink towel tied round his waist. I couldn't help but stare at him, his skin glittering just like mine, the hairs on his skin made him more attractive, I looked down to see his bulge and my eyes widen, I didn't know what to say but I was loving this creature, I felt like stripping him off the towel to see the content in there, the first one I have ever seen in my life is Mr. Nich's own and I wonder what this one will look like.
"Hey pretty queen, get off the imagination, it's your time to bath," he said waving on my face .
"Umhh," I said and ran into the bathroom. I poured the cold water on my body to relieve myself of the imagine, I washed down only to realize that I'm sexually tensed, oh my goodness, I said realizing what my body had acted. 
After taking my bath, I wore my night-wear right there in the bathroom and left to meet him in the room . 
"You look amazingly beautiful in red," he complimented and I smiled.
Come here, he said and I found myself walking to him even when my heart wanted to stop.
We laid on same bed not knowing what to say to each other. 
"You are just like a dream come true," he said rubbing my head.
"Kiss me," I said unknowingly not knowing.
He stared at my lips, touching it with his hands gently, "it's not going to be tonight," he said placing my head on his chest, while I slept off.