Threats

Anne

Andrew's creative and sensational when it comes to composing music. His lyrics are beautiful. His thoughts and feelings convey poetic emotions that allow you to feel what he feels. His songs, most times, gave me goosebumps, and sometimes watery eyes. Other times, I’m cavorting unintelligently, moving to the fast-paced beats. He never failed to take me along on his musical rides.

I’d gone to their apartment three more times since the first one. I spent all with Andrew, listening to him play and create new songs in his home studio, right inside his room. Honestly, it was fun. His songs gave out both nostalgic and refreshing feelings all at once.

A few times, I had playfully sung along in my terrible voice. Trust me, it’s awful compared to Andrew's sweet tenor voice, yet, every time I tried stopping, he would smile and urge me to continue. I knew I had no hope when it came to singing but with the way Andrew gave me encouraging nods, I felt like I could compete with the likes of Celine Dion, Shania Twain, and the rest of them.

I always saw a different person whenever he played. He gets so calm, collected, and emotional, you’d even begin wondering if he had dual personalities. It’s at such times you’d see his resemblance to Vincent.

Vincent on his end has been busy with work so I didn't get to see him at all. Bummer.

It's been over a week since I last visited due to my annoyingly tight schedule. However, I’d decided to go today right after school work because Andrew had called me last night. He told me he needed my amateur thoughts on his finished song. He didn’t add amateur, of course, I just felt I wasn’t worthy to be the one giving out ‘thoughts’ on his amazing songs. All the same, I was both excited and honored to be getting an exclusive concert from a rising star, plus, I’d also get to escape my ghostly hostel.

After my lab practical, I left with my course mates to get some photocopies done.

We were walking and talking animatedly about our annoying lecturers and how they were increasingly trying our patience. I was unaware that someone was rapidly walking towards me till I was violently shoved aside.

I would have let it go because I wasn't watching, but the pain on my right shoulder was too much to bear. It was as if the lady did it deliberately, aiming to elicit the severe pain I was feeling. I had to turn and call out.

"Excuse me!" I said, walking briskly towards her.

She turned abruptly and stared at me, a knowing smirk on her face. Right there, I confirmed my suspicion. She bumped into me intentionally.

"Yes?" She answered churlishly, the smirk still on her face.

"You bumped into me," I stated.

"So? You weren't watching," she responded in the same manner, bouncing on one foot as if I was wasting her precious time.

I wasn't going to get anywhere with this, so I sighed and turned to leave.

"Wait," she said and sauntered towards me, coming to stand in front of me.

"I bumped into you and I know it hurts...." She began ever so nicely.

I had thought, ‘oh, we're getting somewhere.’

"....that is just a tip of the iceberg. Next time, I'll get your arms amputated!" she snarled.

‘What!!!!’

My jaw dropped to the floor.

"Excuse me?!" I spoke, jerking my head backward at her audacious outburst.

"You're excused… and get yourself out of my boyfriend's life while you at it," She retorted.

‘Who the heck is this lady?'

I was totally confused.

This lady looked like someone that walked straight out of a porn movie. She had huge boobs that were threatening to jump out of her tiny, ropy top, and skinny jeans so tight I could bet her generous behind were begging to be let out. I was sure she wasn’t in my department because those curves would never go unnoticed.

"Umm...you must have gotten me confused with someone else,” I stated, ready to shove everything aside and be on my merry way.

"It's you alright," she said, twirling the bubble gum in her mouth, with her hands folded beneath her giant jugs, pushing them further out, almost touching her jaws. I was scared they would jump out.

"Andrew Sawyer is mine and mine alone, you hear me!" She screamed into my face, spurn on her heels, and walked off, leaving me stunned and speechless.

My coursemate and the little crowd that gathered, watched the whole scene unfold. They all had shocked expressions on their faces. Even after the lady left, they kept looking at me as if they were expecting more drama. I guess they were expecting me to run after the lady and drag her hair or maybe break down wailing.

They, however, started dispersing when they realized the drama was over.

"What was that, Anne?" My coursemate Susan asked, walking up to me from where she stood at the sidelines.

"Honestly, I have no idea," I replied, staring perplexed at nothing in particular.

Andrew had a lot of explaining to do. I couldn’t help the shudder that rocked my entire body when the thought of Andrew smooching that lady seeped into my head.

I shook my head vigorously to expel the images of sweaty flesh, groaning and moaning in a dark room, with just a tiny light coming from the window, illuminating their shiny sweaty skin.

Andrew came around three to pick me up. I didn’t wait for him to get off his bike. The first thing I blurted out was, "Do you have a porn-star girlfriend?"

"What?" He asked confused, staring at me with a raised eyebrow.

"I was harassed today by a lady claiming to be your girlfriend," I said, folding my arms accusingly.

"You've got to be specific babe, I've got a lot of pretty endowed lady friends," he said smirking.

"I’m dead serious Drew. Your girlfriend even threatened to cut off my arm."

Andrew's eyes widened in alarm.

"Whoa! Are you okay, did she hurt you?" He asked anxiously, coming to hold my arms on both sides while his eyes roamed my body for signs of bruises.

"I’m okay,” I said, giving him a perfunctory stare.

"Well, did she give you a name?" He prodded.

"No, She didn’t. Neither did she give me a chance to ask. She just wanted me to stay away from you," I fumed. Just going through the encounter in my head annoyed me.

"Can you describe her?"

"Told you, she looked like a porn star!"

"Babe, you gotta give me more than that, not a dumb description," he said, giving me a ‘are you dumb' stare.

That got me smiling. Over time, I realized that Andrew never minced words, especially when he’s irritated or on the verge of anger.

I described the lady the best I could. It didn’t take long for him to put a face and a name to my description.

I got to find out that her name was Mindy and she had been forcing herself on Andrew ever since they met at a party.

Andrew being Andrew had given in a couple of times but ended things with her a month ago.

He was seething with anger the entire ride to his place. He kept mumbling words that were being blown away by the wind as we rode.  

On getting there, he gave me his house key and told me to get comfortable, and then rode off without so much as a second glance.

I had yelled after him but got no response, just the revving of his bike that gradually grew distant.

I sighed, staring ahead at the bike that shortly disappeared behind the bend. Slowly, I turned and climb up the stairs leading to the front door. I unlocked it, entered, and closed the door behind me, then leaned against it to recollect my thoughts and decipher what I would be doing all alone in his house.

"Drew?" Came a voice from inside the house.

I gasped, darting my eyes around the house, looking for the source of the voice.

‘Vincent?’

But I didn't see his car.

‘Did they have a garage or something? His car couldn’t still be at the mechanic, could it?’

I slowly walked into the house, a bubbly feeling gradually erupting inside me. I had thought I would be alone till Andrew got back.

 I saw him sitting in the dining area which is a partition, parallel to the front door. From where he sat, you could only see someone walking into the sitting room.

He had huge books scattered all over the table, but at that moment, he wasn’t looking into any of them. He had his eyes plastered on my face, a tinge of confusion visible on his raised brows.

‘He must be studying. ..of course, his studying, stupid.’

"Anny? I didn't know you were coming today.” His voice was deep and hoarse like someone who hadn’t spoken for days…of course, I am exaggerating. A few hours would suffice.

‘But he called me Anny. Oh, how cute.’

I squealed internally.

“Hi doc,” I said, trying to sound as casual as possible, which was a far cry from the increasing bubble inside me. I climbed the two stairs that slightly elevated the dining area and made my way to where he sat. On reaching there, I leaned slightly on one of the pushed-in chairs by his left.

"How are you doing? It's been quite long,” he said, slightly twisting his head to look at me.

"I’m doing great! I see you’re sharpening those brains, huh?” I asked with a nod.

As soon as the words left my lips, I cringed and mentally face palmed myself. Leave it to me to ask bland questions.

He nodded, turning back to his books.

I took that as an opportunity to gawk at him. I stared from the hairs on his neck to his slightly broad back, then slowly moved to his face. That was when I saw it.

Amidst the ample gorgeousness were faint dark circles underneath his eyes.

On a closer look, I could see the stress lines on his forehead. I could recognize those lines and eye bags from anywhere because I’ve been there several times due to schoolwork. Vincent wasn’t getting enough sleep.

"Are you okay? You look tired.”

Yea, leave it to me to blurt out my thoughts.

He looked up at me, staring thoughtfully as if he was memorizing something.

"I'm okay. Just a little stress that’s all,” he said rubbing his eyes tiredly.

‘Aha!!’

"I doubt it's a little stress. It’s more like gigantic. You have dark circles the size of a watermelon...." I caught myself before I could finish the statement, but I knew he already got the message.

He gave me a lopsided smile.

"... okeydokey. I'll just go and see a movie while I wait for Drew,” I said and scurried off, throwing him a glance. I saw him chuckling, shaking his head in amusement.

I shuffled to the living room stopping abruptly to avoid a protruding wall.

"I hope I won’t be disturbing you? I can go to Drew's room," I asked over my shoulders, trying to cover my clumsiness.

"It’s okay Anne. I can study through a hurricane,” he assured.

I began laughing at his expression then suddenly released a loud snort. Of course, it wiped away the stupid laugh, taking my dignity and the little confidence I had, along with it. At that moment, I wished I had sped off to Andrew’s room when I suggested it.

He didn’t laugh or say anything. He just gave me an ardent stare, like the one of earlier.

He must think I was a nuisance.

I sighed and walked dejectedly to the DVD player, selected a movie, inserted it, then sat down on the couch facing the flat-screen TV, a replay of the past few minutes playing in my mind’s eye.