Chapter 19 Brian is in love

Jane, who had been searching everywhere for Mike, saw him coming towards Hall A, holding Gabrielle's hand. Fury began to choke her. She stared at them with burning reproachful eyes. 

Mike let go of Gabrielle's hand and walked towards her with smiles on his face. Jane turned and began to walk away angrily. Mike ran after her. He grabbed her hand, Jane tried to free her hand from his grip. 

"I searched everywhere for you. I went to the clinic, you were not there."

"You went to the clinic? Did you see nurse Rose?" Mike asked. 

"She is on night shift," Jane said. 

"I met her before she handed over to those on the morning shift." 

"You went there?" Jane asked. 

"Yes, I woke up this morning and was feeling nauseous, I have to rush to the clinic to see her before she hands over. All the nurses I met must have gone before your arrival," Mike said. 

"How do you feel now?" Jane asked, lowering her gaze. 

"I'm fine, sweetheart, thanks to you," Mike grinned. 

"What are you doing with that girl, Mike? I have been awfully quiet and I have my reasons. Soon your friends will start calling me 'crazy girlfriend', please, I don't want to see her anywhere around you."

"Sweetheart, you know you are all I have right? Girls like me, but I don't go beyond friendship with any of them. You are all I have. You are the prettiest, you are the smartest, the girl with the golden heart. I will be the biggest fool if I ever leave you for these girls," Mike said and Jane grinned. 

"You kept me waiting last night. I wanted to cuddle and do other things, but I didn't see you." 

"It's your fault. You gave me an assignment to deliver to your friend without a name!" 

"What??"

"It took the boys twenty minutes to grant me permission to enter their hostel. Most of them were unclad, so I waited. When I was finally permitted to enter, I walked bed by bed, but I didn't see the owner. There was no name on it. When I got to the gate, it was already closed," Jane narrated. 

"Oh, sweetheart, you should have come back the moment you discovered there was no name on it. When an assignment is written for someone, you don't broadcast it to other students. The owner saw it, but because you have called the attention of others, there was no way he could own up. I'm going to refund him his money and I have used it." Mike said sadly. 

"How much did you collect from him?" Jane asked. 

"1500 rand," Mike responded. 

"Why would you charge such an outrageous amount?" Jane asked. 

"The assignment was very difficult, in fact, it was one of the reasons why I'm down with this sickness," Mike said and Jane busted into laughter. 

"I'll give you the money in the evening. See, no games today. Go home after lectures and wait for me. You are not strong for games." Jane said. 

"Alright, sweetheart. Be ready for me tonight; It's been five days now, Jane." Mike said, making eye contact with her. 

"Okay, I will," Jane waved at him and began to walk towards her department. 

When Mike turned, Gabrielle had gone to her department. 

Gabrielle was not unhappy when he left her and walked to Jane because he was just a friend to her. Nothing was going on between them. Mike had shared his feelings with her, but she was yet to say anything concerning what he told her. 

"Babe, what's up?" Agatha asked immediately as she walked into her department. Gabrielle grinned and sat beside her. 

"Why are you smiling?" Agatha asked. 

"Mike just paid for a new room for me!" She said happily. Agatha jumped up in jubilation. 

"So, when are you moving into your new lodge?" Agatha asked. 

"He moved me already." 

"What? He is such a good guy. Babe, this guy loves you. I think you should consider him." 

"We are friends already," Gabrielle said. 

"Don't act like a kid, babe you know what I'm talking about." 

"Agatha, I'm not ready for that now. Besides; he has a girlfriend." 

"He doesn't look at her the way he looks at you. The girl is just forcing herself on him just like other girls. I'm happy he has made his choice, You!" Agatha said happily. "Your dirty bodyguard won't come around you again," Agatha smirked. Gabrielle sighed and looked away. 

"Why do you always feel bad whenever I say the truth about ...What's his name again?" 

"Brian"

"Yes, Brian?" 

"He is always dirty because of the nature of his work. He is a good guy." 

"A good guy that smokes weeds here and there? A good guy that fights with bottles and dangerous weapons? Common, babe he was just pretending, probably to get in between your legs," Agatha said and sighed. 

"I would have gladly opened it for him, but he is gay," Gabrielle said and they giggled. 

Gabrielle and her friend went home after the lectures. Gabrielle could not wait to bathe in a clean bathroom with a shower and watch her favorite movie after that. She also forgot she had an appointment with Brian by 6:30. 

Brian arrived at the store at the exact time. He kept himself busy with a bottle of coca-cola as he waited for Gabrielle. 

He glanced down at his wristwatch, it was 8:00 pm already. He stood up and wandered home. He really wanted to see her to say a proper goodbye to her. He felt bad she did not show up. 

Gabrielle was happy Mike did not visit her. There was a party at the lodge's hall, they dressed up and joined other students. They made new friends as well. 

Mike spent all night making love to Jane who spent the night in his lodge. He wished he was with Gabrielle, but he needed Jane's money and wouldn't want her to suspect he was seeing another girl. 

They were all happy except Brian. He was awake all through the night staring at the ceiling of his friend's lodge. He regretted ever taking up the task of protecting Gabrielle. Now, he couldn't sleep because he did not see her. 

The thoughts of her clouded his head and rubbed sleep from his eyes. He quickly closed his eyes when Warlick swiveled. Warlick stared at Brian for some seconds, he was blinking even though his eyes were closed. 

"Guy, what are you thinking?" Warlick asked. 

"Nothing," Brian responded with his eyes closed. 

"Well, that's your business," his friend said and went back to sleep. 

Brian came down from the bed. He reached out for his box of weeds, wrapped them on a white paper, and headed out. He sat outside his friend's lodge looking at the sky. 

A full moon hovered in the sky and it was also jeweled with stars. The sparkling stars and the full moon were such a beauty to behold. 

He wished he could touch the stars, but there was an infinite distance. Tears clouded his eyes. All the beautiful things he desired in life were beyond his reach.

He began to smoke his weed with sorrow as though it was the bridge that would fill the gap between him and his desires. 

"I wish I could touch you," Brian wept looking at the sky. 

"Only from the heart can you touch the sky," a voice said behind. Brian turned and saw his friend offering him his hand. 

"Let's go in," Warlick said, taking away the weed he was smoking angrily from him. He had smoked enough. Brian took his hand and he dragged him up. 

"My babe's girlfriend is interested in you. Would you like to talk to her?" Warlick asked. Brian looked at him and shook his head. He wondered how he knew he was thinking about a girl. 

"We have been friends for more than seven years. Since you hardly talk, I found out a way to know what you are thinking," Warlick grinned as he led him back to the room. 

"That day at the gate, I saw another side of you. I became scared because I know you can't handle it. I will advise you not to struggle. Be as calm as you've always been. Allow the universe to handle your affairs. You will get over her as time goes by, trust me." Warlick said. Brian lay down on the floor and soon began to snore.