Esaaba sat beside Reggie in the front seat as they drove to "his place." “Is it too far from my place? Can I visit often?” she asked, her curiosity piquing Reggie's tension.

“It’s not too far, and you can always come over,” Reggie began, his voice tight. “But I live with my friend, Reuben, the one you met at the mall. I’m not sure how he’ll feel about frequent visits.”

“Why don’t you get your own place?” Esaaba asked innocently.

“Rent is expensive,” Reggie replied, defensively.

Esaaba blinked, confused. “Didn’t you just offer to help with my rent?”

Reggie bit his lip, realizing the slip-up. Thinking quickly, he added, “The truth is, Esaaba, I have anxiety when I’m alone. It’s so bad that Reuben has been my roommate ever since we met at Uni. I don’t talk about it much because, well, people expect me to be a 'man.'”

Esaaba’s expression softened. She gently patted his knee. “How about you move in with me when I get my place?” she suggested.

Reggie bit his lip again, internally panicking. “That’s not a good idea.”

“Why?” she asked, her voice now laced with curiosity.

“We’re not married,” Reggie replied, fumbling with his words. “It wouldn’t feel right. Besides, we’re not even dating—you’ve already said no to me three times.”

That remark silenced her. She sat quietly for the rest of the drive until they arrived at their destination.

Reggie pulled into the parking lot of an apartment building, and soon, they were inside on the third floor. The neatness of the place surprised Esaaba. It was well-kept, clean, and organized.

“You and Reuben really keep this place tidy,” she commented, impressed.

Reuben appeared from the hallway and smiled at her. “So you’ve finally made it to our camp. Welcome!” he said playfully.

Esaaba smiled back. “Thank you.”

“Let me show you my room,” Reggie said, leading her away. Reuben gave him a questioning look, to which Reggie responded with a reassuring smile.

Esaaba was amazed by the orderliness of Reggie’s room. “You’re very organized,” she commented.

“My mother raised me well,” he replied, smiling.

Before he could say anything else, she leaned in and kissed him. Caught off guard, Reggie blinked, regaining his composure. “Is that a yes?” he asked, hopeful.

She nodded shyly and, flustered, quickly walked out of the room and the apartment. Reggie ran after her, but Reuben intercepted him.

“You’ve got a plan, right? This could go horribly wrong,” Reuben said, eyeing his friend with concern.

Reggie nodded, pretending to be confident. “I got this.”

But as he walked away, deep down, he knew the truth—he didn’t have it. He was scared, and the uncertainty was already haunting him.

Other chap: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22