"I don't know what will become of me the moment my parents set eyes on my GPA." "I know right," Ace responded to Mike whose head leaned on the side window in frustration. It wasn't the first time nor will it be the last to see Mike basking in a-matter-of-hours regrets. He hadn't set his eyes on his results yet and didn't wish to. He knew his fate already. The result tension that always existed in students was something he had never experienced before as he created the slightest thing to capture his body, mind, and soul. That explained why he was currently driving to the beach and decided to take Mike along. A relaxed spirit was what they needed. "No, you know nothing," he rubbed his temples. "For someone who always gets perfect results, you know nothing." "It's fine, bro. They're just gonna scold you for a day or two and that is that." He changed gear and took a turn. "That's what you think. If you do not see me enroll next year know your man's somewhere dragging a wheelbarrow a
After thinking about all that Ace had said, Nora finally believed she needed someone to pour out to. She had carried the burden for way too long that she couldn't think, walk, and talk properly and dawn wasn't the convenient time for that. That day she listened to him talk meticulously even though she never really found a reason to or why, she realized that it required a lot of trust to air out personal information to someone you barely knew, to someone who kept pushing you away and sometimes, even to one you knew so well. If he could do that to her, then she definitely could do so to him too. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. There were possibilities that he would use it against her. He was that type of person, but then, what did she fear if he ever did so or what would he gain for making a laughing stock out of her, for she already was one even without advertisement. "Akwara. It's 4 am and you're still sleeping? Come on, get—get up from that place before I do it myself
She had the perfect triangular figure. Even though his mouth was too thick to admit, his mind wasn't. 'She'd make a perfect model with that unique shape and pretty face.' He imagined his sister commenting. 'But then, Ace, you disappoint both me and the fashion industry by marrying that gruesome footwear to that great dress.' He shrugged. He wasn't to be blamed for he found the combination rather cool with the pink pair of leather sandals complementing the navy blue dress. Weren't pink and blue girl's favorite hues? Ace had spent the entire class hours admiring a rare beauty that once was hidden beneath filth and still hadn't stopped even though he knew how uncomfortable she felt. He loved the Chinese-eyes effect her afro bun inflicted, her thick eyelashes and tender baby lips. They probably would taste different from those he'd had. "Staring is rude." She paused her fork from picking a piece of meat. "Did you enjoy the lectures?" He diverted. She nodded her head with a mouth f
She hadn't been able to seduce sleep half of the night. She wondered about Martha's next action; what she would tell her father, the number of whips she must have fetched from the nearby mango tree, the days of starvation and jackass work ahead. She didn't plan on returning but she didn't plan on being an inconvenience either. "What's wrong with you?" Ace kicked her into reality. To say she didn't feel uncomfortable with him walking around half-naked. He was alright physically hot and penetrating like the blazing sawdust fireside at the same time emotionally cold as the midnight concrete floor she slept on. But then, did he see her an inch attractive like he did Rose? Could he ever want her like he did other girls? She wanted him to even though there were no chances ever. "I'm leaving." She avoided his gaze but sensed his drilling holes into her system as he abruptly refrained from drying his hair with a towel. Nora knew not whether to return home or join the street kids in combat
Things were getting much more complicated than he had imagined; his dad had called. That was very rare. And he never expected an agreeable conversation as both fell into fits of word exchange. He couldn't blame him for whatever is going on in the company, it was not like he was the only son. He couldn't blame him for acting like a kid all the time when they were the reason behind it. He couldn't blame him either for his decision on staying in Cameroon until he had had enough when they were the ones who sent him there in the first place. His dad couldn't blame him for any fucking thing, yet, he did. "Are you asleep already?" Nora's voice lurked in the dark. She was something. The good kind of something. For some reason, he wished he had known her all his life. She managed to make him feel things he had never felt before, regret decisions he had made, see life in many ways, and above all, she thought him how to care and nurture. It was funny even to him how he'd gotten so attached a
"You're happy," Ace remarked. "Yeah," without thinking, she rushed to hug him. "Thank you. Thank you so much for being there," He didn't hug her back but she didn't care so much about it. The most essential thing is, he was there with her and cared. "We're going out today." "Where to?" He didn't answer back. He just grabbed his towel and walked to the bathroom. It felt like she was in paradise with nothing to worry about. Ace was a little temperamental sometimes but he made her happy. Now, what had life to offer them? Will they keep living together till further notice or will he have enough of her at some point in time and kick her out? Ace's phone began to ring. She knew not which button to press or whether to touch it at all so she simply called out for him but he seemed to not have heard. The phone stopped for a while and only when she wanted to thank God did it set on blowing her ears again. Nora held up the sophisticated gadget, battling on whether to tap on the green or r
"I hope it's the last time I ever ask you this, what.the.hell is wrong with her?" The doctor eyed him above his rimmed lenses before taking them off with a long sigh as he leaned forward. "Mr. Woods, you left this place last time with three only important things to ameliorate her situation, one of which was to simply open up her field of communication which I must admit wasn't of success. Well, I'm very sorry but I can't tell you anything if she couldn't. In as much as I want to. I hope you understand that it is against my career rules." Ace's head spun. If anything, the man was succeeding in flaring a boiling turmoil in him, totally contrary to what his career compelled him to exhibit to people like him: impatient and Paranoid. "I was giving her time ok? You didn't expect me to coerce her into the topic like a rapist!" The doctor swiftly jerked his brows at his choice of words. "On the contrary Mr. Woods. But you see, I still can't tell you anything without family or her consent
They had left the hospital in a hurry, without any word exchange and she didn't understand why. She was now obediently seated on the bed as he earlier ordered her to, watching him furiously pack up his luggage. His smooth tawny face now a canvas of hostility. Did he consider returning home as mentioned in their last conversation? If so, then what will become of her after he left? "Where're you going?" She dared to quiz. Just to make sure he really was leaving for home. "We're having a little vacation." He bitterly retorted, dumping a bunch of unfolded tees and shirts from his closet into his suitcase. "We? Why?" She further interrogated but was ignored. Once done, he instructed she waited in the car while he spoke to the receptionist. No eye contact thus far. "At least, tell me where we're going." She spoke again only when she realized they were heading in the direction which led out of the region. He was hesitant for a good while before saying, "Yaoundé." Her eyes almost b