After the class, Eddie wanted to go have a conversation with George. George was one friend who could make one smile even if one was in his darkest moments. However, when he called to ask, George had travelled to Truetown, a town in one of the districts in the northern parts of Woodland. This meant he had to go to his boring house in Hill Valley.
"You do not seem alright, Eddie, what is the problem?" Canya who had hooked her arms in his as soon as they walked out of class asked.
While he was not as sociable as her other classmates, she knew, around the people he was comfortable with, he was loquacious and literally nothing seemed to bother him. She had known him since they first attended class at the university and at the end of their second year, he became her boyfriend. They were just beginning their third year; she was yet to see him angry. To see his sullen version made her a little uncomfortable.
"I am just a little tired." He knew how jealous she was. He could never tell her about Lulu and how he terribly missed her.
"Okay," She pulled her arm from his and stopped. She gave him a long look before she decided to walk away leaving behind a smile and, "Let us see in class tomorrow then."
She took the path to the hostels where she lived and he took the pavements towards the gate. She lived in the ladies' hostel while he rented a house in Hill Valley apartments found a few kilometers from the university. As he walked on the pavements towards the gate, he failed to at least turn his head to look where he had come from. If he did, he would have seen Canya frequently turning her head to look at him. Her expression continually shifted from ominous to disturbed.
She had fallen in love with him the first time she set her eyes on him. She had tried everything she could to make him feel the same way she did. While he was troublesome, he did finally give in to her wooing spree. Exactly three months had passed since he gave in. It must be said they had been the best three months of her life. However, this time, for the sake of her life and the lives of the people she cared for (other than Eddie), she had to do what she was about to do.
"I hope Priscilla is right about the future, otherwise, it will be a sacrifice too much for me to bear." She had reached her room. Sitting on a chair at a desk in the room, she looked through the window while playing with a necklace on her neck. Suddenly, the memories of them together started flooding in her mind in unstoppable speed.
It was their first time in class as university students. The confusion and anxiety for what the future held did not in the least conceal the mirthfulness of the newbies. After all, University of Noya was known to be the most prestigious institution of higher learning in Woodland and the surrounding empires. Within the atmosphere full of mixed feelings, she had noticed a man.
While everyone else walked up and down to know who was lucky enough to be accepted by the university, he sat with a book at his desk. Whatever he was reading took his attention, so much that the ruckus around him continued with not even an iota of his notice. Beside him was an empty seat. She went an sat on it.
"Hi, I am Canya." She smiled extending her hand.
He lifted his head and took her hand, "Hi, I am Eddie, it is nice to meet you." His smile faded as soon as those words left his mouth and he turned to his book seemingly forgetting that she was even there.
That was how their adventure together started. Outside, he was the silent man who hardly spoke to anyone. Together, he was her source of happiness. She could not forget the first time he agreed to be her boyfriend. He had walked in with the necklace. His grin had exposed all his teeth. His breath as he put it on her neck had been the warmest thing she had ever felt…
"Dear gods, what am I doing?" As his memories played one after another in her head, she could not help but knock her forehead on her desk in distress. She felt a sudden yank at her chest, where her heart was. She gave out a small groan before clasping her chest in pain. As soon as her hands landed on her chest, the pain became too unbearable sending her sprawling on the floor. Now, she could not even save him, because what she was doing had hurt her to the point of passing out.
Oblivious to what his girlfriend was up to, Eddie walked home in a hurry. He wanted his mind free of Lulu. He figured a painting session would help. While he had last seen her as a young boy, the memories of her never stopped haunting him. His greatest wish as an adult was to see her, hold her and know that she was doing well. Only then, he thought, would his mind be set free.
He reached his house to find his door open. That gave surprised him since he had left it locked. He stealthily walked inside to find out what could be going on. Walking to his living room, he found a feminine figure sitting on his recliner sofa elegantly sipping tea from one of his cups.
"You are back, finally." She put the cup on the wooden table nearby and reclined as she nonchalantly said.