Is this destiny?

Oni\'s eyes widened in shock when she realized the meaning behind Sarah\'s words. It\'s not that she is against going all the way with Michael, but they just kissed for the first time two days ago, and all this is too fast, and she needs to clarify. "Uhm… we do… I mean… We sleep together, but we only hold hands and kiss."

Sarah was surprised with this. They are sleeping together, and Michael is keeping it in his pants? Sarah smiled at the thought how Michael is doing that for Oni\'s sake. He must like her a lot, why else would a grown up man spend the night next to a woman he is interested in, and miss his chance to be intimate? With Oni\'s inexperience, she is probably like a clay in his hands, available (and probably eager) to be molded. 

Sarah cleared her throat. "Oh… OK. Sorry, I jumped into conclusions. But that does not change the fact how I want you to talk to Anna when you get back. Discuss options for protection against unwanted pregnancy. I will give her a heads up to expect you."

"Do I need that?", Oni asked reluctantly.

"You are going to move in with a guy you are in love with. Maybe you are holding hands now, but I am confident that with you sharing the bedroom, things will progress quickly." Sarah stifled a laugh at Oni\'s stupefied expression. "Don\'t tell me that you are not curious how it will feel to go all the way."

"Well… I am curious, but…"

"There are no buts.", Sarah interrupted Oni. "I recommend that you start taking a contraceptive pill as soon as you get back home. I see that you are shy to talk about it, but when the lights are off, and the mood is right... things happen. I am not telling you to make love with him or not, that is between the two of you. But in this way, when the time comes you don\'t need to worry if he has condoms or not."

Oni remembered the box she saw in Michael\'s suitcase. "He has. Condoms."

Sarah approved. A guy who is out there should be prepared, and she is happy that Oni told her about this, but… "Even with that. The safest thing is to protect yourself. Don\'t allow a man to decide for you if-and-when you will be pregnant. It\'s your body, your decision."

"OK.", Oni answered. 

Oni knows that Sarah is right, and it makes sense, but Oni always thought how those things apply to someone else because her heart was set on Michael and so far he didn\'t give her much hope that he is interested in her and even when she fantasized about him it was mostly hugs and kisses and… she is overwhelmed.

Sarah assumed that Oni\'s absentminded expression is because she is tired. "Sorry for calling you as soon as you arrived, but I wanted us to talk about this tonight. Freshen up, eat, and rest. Anything else, we will discuss tomorrow…"

When Sarah found out that Oni and Michael are sharing a room, she assumed that they are intimate and urgently wanted to remind Oni about protection. Ah, if she knew that they are only holding hands, she would leave this for tomorrow. However, it\'s good that they got this out of the way.

"Sarah, do you approve of me being with Michael and us moving in together?", Oni wanted to make sure.

Sarah exhaled and smiled. "What are my choices? If I oppose, what would you do?"

Oni bit her lower lip and stared at the carpet. She does not know what she would do. She considers everyone at the Cliffside villa her family, but she respects Sarah the most. At the same time, she loves Michael and finally he is treating her well and maybe even returning her feelings and if she needs to pick between Sarah and Michael, what would she do?

Oni was startled that Sarah was in front of her, touching her chin to lift her head up.

"You see? I don\'t want to put you in that position.", Sarah said softly. "If I think that Michael is toying with you I would warn you, but even then I would not stop you from following your own path..."

Oni left the study in a daze. 

…

"What did Sarah want?", Michael asked Oni when she got back in the room while carefully observing her expression. 

"Uhm… It\'s about us.", Oni said reluctantly while wondering if she should tell him about the pill chat she had with Sarah. Oh, God! Isn\'t that admitting that she is thinking about it?

Michael saw that Oni\'s mood is off and he hugged her. 

Michael assumed that Sarah spoke with Oni about their relationship and that Sarah does not approve. Well, even if Sarah does not approve, Michael spoke with Aiden and his impression is that as long as Michael is serious about dating Oni, Aiden will support them. Michael was already thinking of talking to Aiden first, and to get his help in changing Sarah\'s opinion.

"Don\'t worry about it. I will talk to her and Aiden.", Michael assured Oni.

Oni understood that something is not right. "What? Why?"

"If they don\'t approve of us, I should talk with them also…"

"No, no…", Oni interrupted him. "Sarah approves. When we get back home, we can pick an apartment in which we want to stay in."

A big smile bloomed on Michael\'s face. "You decided that we can move in together?"

"Well, I don\'t want to sneak around.", Oni admitted.

In the next moment, Michael remembered Oni\'s expression when she got in and his smile fell. "Oni, I want us to be together, but I don\'t want to force you. If you are not willing, I can wait."

"Why do you think that I\'m not willing?"

"I saw that you are not happy when you got in.", Michael explained.

"Oh, I am happy, but a bit overwhelmed because we spoke about something else and I don\'t know if I should tell you about it or not.", Oni admitted her thoughts. The last thing she wants is for Michael to think that she does not want to be with him.

Michael was surprised that Oni is keeping things to herself, and she admitted it.

He reminded himself that no matter how smart Oni is, she is inexperienced in relationships and he should provide guidance. "Oni, we are dating, and if we are going to make it work, we should talk about everything. As a couple, we will face plenty of challenges and the only way to overcome them is if the two of us stick together."

Oni took a deep breath to compose herself. He is right and she should tell him because this concerns him as well, and there is no easy way to say it, so… "Sarah told me, when we get back home to talk to Anna about the contraception I can take."

Michael inhaled a shaky breath. A minute ago, he thought that Sarah does not approve of him and Oni, and he was thinking how to convince Sarah to change her mind, because he knows that if he puts Oni in a position to choose between him and Sarah, Oni will probably pick Sarah… but the reality is that they will get an apartment and contraception? As he exhaled, a chuckle of relief escaped him.

"What is funny?", Oni asked.

"Nothing. I am just… happy.", Michael admitted. "Do you want to freshen up or eat first?"

Oni leaned on him. "Can we stay like this a bit?"

"Sure…" He grinned to the point of his cheeks hurting while tightening his hug around Oni. 

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