I Choose You by Kemi Adejumo (interesting novels to read .TXT) 📕

The selection ended and Christian would not stop smiling.  He walked up to us shining his teeth like he was in a good mood. 

"Dude,  what'sup with you?  Why are you smiling all of a sudden?  I thought you were not interested in the selection? " Jake asked . I guess I am not the only one curious about his sudden change of mood.  We all started at him demanding an explanation.  

"In my room" he said leading us to his room.  

Immediately we got in,  he shut the door and locked it.  We all sat down on his bed while he stood in front of us looking eager to spill the beans. 

" I think this selection will be right for me" he exclaimed a little too excited.  

"Dude are you okay? Are you not feeling well? " Luke exaggerated trying to touch his forehead but Christian stopped him " No I am more than fine.  Let me just explain ok" he replied while we all looked at him expectantly. 

"Do you guys remember the girl I said I met at camp when I was 16? The girl I called Evie? " he explained and immediately my eyes widened in realization.   Evie....Evelyn oh no!! 

"You mean the Evie you met at Royal camp?" Jake asked really surprised. 

"Yes " Christian nodded

"The Evie as in your first kiss Evie? "

"Yes"

"Wait as in the girl you fell madly in love with but lost contact with Evie? 

"Yes Dude"

"Last one,  do you mean the girl you first made love to at camp,  that Evie?" Jake asked still unsure.

"Yes man,  that Evie. My first everything.  She is part of the selection " he exclaimed very excited.

"Wow man" Jake hugged Christian "I told you if it was meant to be,  love will find a way.  Now she is coming back to you"

"Yeah,  i can't wait to see her.  I can finally apologize to her " he said getting sad. 

"Nah man,  don't blame yourself" Jake consoled him,  rubbing his back. 

"I should though.  I had one of the best nights of my life with her and then lost her contact.  Plus we were so young and shouldn't be into all that at that age.  She must probably think I played with her and then ghosted her" he exhaled slowly sitting on his bed. 

"Well you have this selection to make it up to her. Plus if she hated you,  she would not have applied for the selection " Jake said cheering him up. 

"Wow that is true Jake.  I mean what if she is the one I am meant to be with.  Jess what if she is my "the one"? " Christian turned to me finally remembering my existence.  What am I supposed to say to him?

I remember Evie. She is that girl that Christian could not stop talking about after he came back from camp five years ago.  I remember how miserable he was when he lost contact with her.  I also remember how he lost contact with her.  It was my doing and I know that was wicked of me. The guilt still eats me up and I didn't know what came over me.  I was just so heartbrokened and she was everything I wanted to be.  She was Christian's first everything.  

Only Molly knows about it.  I could feel hers and Luke's pity stares. I didn't know how to answer christian's question but Luke saved me and put me out of my misery.

" dude how are you even sure you still love her, hasn't  it been like 5 years ago?" He diverted luke's attention. 

Christian stared as if seeing reason to what Luke  just said. 

" well yeah maybe I'm not in love with her but whenever I think of her I smile and that is one step in liking a person " Christian answered smiling. My face dropped in sadness not wanting to be part of this conversation anymore.

"Hmm... let me ask you a question. If you fall for a friend,  is it wise to confess to her and ruin your friendship or keep it to yourself and suffer the pain and regret?  Luke asked all of a sudden.  All heads immediately snapped to him.  He was asking Christian but was looking straight to me. I gave him the what are you doing look.  

"Uhm... I guess if you really love the friend,  you should confess . The person might like you back ." Christian scratched his head puzzled by the question. 

"Thank you Christian,  the person should confess before it is too LATE" Luke exclaimed laying emphasis on the Late .  How do I tell him that it is already too late.  What am I supposed to do, walk up to him and confess while he is most probably daydreaming about his long lost girlfriend? No way!!  I am not trying to get a big fat NO signed to my face. 

"Wait... Why will you ask that all of a sudden? Is there a friend that you love? " Christian asked suspiciously staring from Luke to me.  "No way.  It better not be Jess" Christian screamed coming too close to Luke. 

Luke matched his level and they stared into each other's eyes.  "What if it is Jess? what's wrong, are you Jealous?"Oh no,  what is happening.  I can see Christian trying to hold in his anger.  

"That's my Best friend you talking about " he bawled. 

"So? Does that mean she can't be with someone else?  So you want to keep her all to yourself while you go find some other girl to be with?  You do know she also has the right to her own relationships right? " Luke said not backing down.  How did it all get to this? 

""Wow,  wow, guys...guys stop it okay. No fighting... Please stop" Jake got in their middle separating them but Luke was not done provoking him. 

"can't answer Christian, because you know I am saying the truth."  Luke provoked but Christian launched  to him. We all rushed to separate them when the most unexpected happened.  Luke started laughing.  He was laughing really hard that we all just stared at him. 

"What is wrong with you man? " Christian shouted obviously very Frustrated. 

"Aah...aah..Sorry man. I was just pulling your legs.  Jess challenged me that I could not make you mad and I had to show her that I could do it. Right Jess?" Luke blinked at me telling me to play along.  

"Aah... Aah.Omg I can't believe you pulled it of Luke, He was so mad" I played along even if I don't know what he is up to.