Chapter Three

May’s POV

Drew and I walked hand in hand into the school cafeteria, my long bag strap hanging over my shoulder and Jude’s resting pretty on his back. The whole atmosphere smelt of freshly baked sizzling hot pizza and the gelato and ice cream stand had their flavors consuming the whole place too.

“Love birds,” a group of girls chorused and chuckled, whispering something amongst themselves while we queued up for our order. We smiled calmly at them and focused on what we were there for.

My boyfriend and I paired literally everywhere we went and were so touchy and lovey-dovey so this meant that we were known by lots of people around school, outside school and in every restaurant, bar or lounge we found ourselves.

“I’m so famished, baby!” Drew exclaimed, yawning at the top of his voice. “Isn’t that why we are here dear?” I questioned him while answering at the same time. “What are you ordering?" he asked me, turning to face me from the side.

“Well, a well made meal of baked chicken and mashed potatoes won’t be bad,” I said scanning around for the perfect spot to sit. “I’ll have a bowl of chicken noodle soup,” he retorted. We placed our order at the counter and went to sit at the spot I'd marked out with my eyes from the queue.

“Sweetie, I’ve had a really difficult time trying to grasp what Mr. Jones teaches. He always seems to be in a hurry and can barely relax to teach to the student’s level of understanding unlike other tutors.” I need some extra time later in the evening to study, so we see tomorrow, Drew explained to me amidst a look of worry on his face.

“If my presence ever becomes too much for you or if I ever become too needy, call my attention to it,” I responded, sounding cold.

“Come on babe, I can never get enough of you and you see and know that. Being around you is in fact all I need to be happy. Or never mind, you can stay at my place while I study, I don’t ever want to make it seem like I’m pushing you away,” he said, throwing his left hand across my shoulder and dragging me close to himself to feel his warmth.

“It’s okay baby, my group and I might have a presentation the following week so I would be really busy putting my points together.” You understand me so well, I could never explain how I got so lucky with you,” I muttered almost teary.

“You’re such a cry baby,” he said, gaggling. “You’re such a silly man,” I responded, attempting to release myself from his grip.

“Here’s your food, the waiter said with a faint smile as he stooped a little and emptied the tray’s content on the table in front of us. “Thank you,” we chorused and instantly dived into our individual plates.

The soup was so good that Drew kept nodding his head with every sip. “You seem to be enjoying your food," I said, amidst a bite of my crunchy chicken piece and he nodded in affirmation.

“It's almost time for my class baby, I have to leave now,” Drew turned to me as he took the last sip of his chicken soup. I looked up at him with food stuffed in my mouth, and I winked at him. I was such a slow eater.

“Catch you later,” he said as he stood up and planted a kiss on my forehead. I waved at him until he was out of the cafeteria building and focused on finishing my meal.

I dabbed my mouth with the serviette provided and shifted the plates to the side of the table and immediately the waiter appeared and cleared the table.

I picked up my phone from the side of the table to check some messages. I brought forward my left wrist to check the time and I saw that I still had an hour before my first class for the day so I sat back and buried my face in my phone, scrolling on all the social media platforms that crossed my mind.

About thirty minutes later, I put aside my phone in an attempt to scan through my course notes before my class and my eyes met with a girl who was sobbing on the table next to me. She had heavy eye bags and scarlet cheeks which showed that she must have been crying for quite a long time.

“Hello,” I whispered with a wave of hands, trying to get her attention, but she didn’t look up one bit. When I couldn’t hold my curiosity and concern anymore, I moved to her seat. “Can I sit?” I asked her, and she nodded, giving me consent.

“I’m so sorry I had to intrude your privacy, I couldn’t hold it back anymore and I thought you might need someone to talk to,” I continued, and she stopped crying. I dipped my hands into my bag and offered her a clean handkerchief; I always had them in handy.

I watched her as she wiped her eyes with them and sat still, trying to gain full composure of herself. “It’s my boyfriend; I had no idea he was married. I went to pay him a surprise visit at his house which he’d warned me against several times and I was almost sent to an early grave. She trapped me in, severed my mouth with a cloth and beat me pulp and blue.” She said and began her sobbing all over again.”

“That’s okay girl,” I consoled her, tapping her shoulders lightly. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that, but now that you know he’s married, what are you gonna do?” I questioned her while studying her facial expression carefully.

I didn’t want to give a stranger unsolicited counsel that could backfire later on or cause her to turn hard against me as I was only concerned and trying to help.

“To hell with him! He’s dead to me! I wish I would get revenge but I’ll let it go. He has a mad woman for a wife and I value my life too much to want to go any closer to either of them,” she screamed at the top of her voice. I was convinced other people could hear us but it wasn’t like she cared anyways.

“I’m glad you made that decision. You’re too beautiful to be someone’s option or second choice; Look at your face, so pretty! Look at your skin, flawless! You’ve got one of the most beautiful features I’ve ever seen anyone possess, sweetie.” I said touching her wavy brown hair slightly.

“I appreciate your kind gesture so much; you’ve got a good heart," she whispered to me and I opened my arms wide for a hug which she accepted. For a few seconds I let her relax in my arms, tapping her back gently and making soothing circles on it.

When I let her off my grip, her face was elated. Something inside of me couldn’t stop being joyful, it was probably my inner child.”

“So tell me, what would you like to eat? Pizza? Ice cream? Pasta? Chicken? Name it and I would order it for you immediately,” I said to her in excitement, scanning her lips for a reply.

“A cup of chocolate ice cream will do. How about you?” She asked me. “Oh please don’t worry about me! Besides, I just had a meal about thirty minutes ago so I’m still full from it,” I retorted, grinning wildly.

I ordered her a cup of her desired ice cream and said goodbye, sashaying to my class that was going to commence in five minutes. That was the beginning of my friendship with Sheena.

My eyes dropped with tears as I remembered the beautiful past Drew and I had and how accommodating I was with Sheena over the years, ignoring her flaws and loving her like my own sister. Alas! She got on with my boyfriend Drew and here I was battling my heartbreak all alone.

Drew broke me beyond repair and I could only think how unpredictable humans were. “I can never trust anyone again!” I let out angrily, hitting my work desk hard.

I got off my chair where I’d been stuck for almost an hour trying to write down more recipes for my pastry business.

I stretched my hands sideways, yawning heavily like I was about to have the whole room in my mouth. I slided the curtains covering the doorway into the kitchen sideways for a quick lunch snack.