The weekend was finally over and today was Monday. Karen wasn't expecting anything special other than her curiosity over how Jerry moving to her University was going to be. They had talked it over during the weekend in Jerry's house. She wasn't expecting him to interfere with her campus life as she wasn't going to interfere with his. She couldn't trust him with that but since he had promised to do his best and not interfere with her life on campus, she had no other option but to trust him.
As she woke up in the morning preparing to start her week with the early morning lecture, she didn't miss out on taking her preferred morning rice porridge with more milk as she added a little sandwich and topped it with some fruits which she bitted into as she drove to school. On reaching the designated lecture hall, she found it to her surprise that she had come so early given the fact that she had gone to meet only two people already seated and reading through the previous lecture notes. Finding a seat in the middle of the hall, she sat down and grabbed her notes to read through and then checked the time only to realize it was now 7.am in the morning. Damn she was too early, she murmured to herself and she read her notes.
She is however startled 4 minutes later by a thin voice behind her. "Hey girl did you find some pins on your sleeping sheets this morning?" she turned to see the face of her friend Anne who looked exhausted as if someone had dragged her into the lecture hall without her consent.
"I guess so. I woke up and prepared to come here without even knowing what time it was. You look tired, lacked some sleep or went out clubbing? " she looked scornfully at a sleepy friend whom she knew was a fun of a popular club across her Street." I bet you can really see through me. I couldn't get enough enough I'm sleep last night since I went to the club and couldn't return early. But this time I assure it wasn't my plan. It was George's. He called me last night and sounded all gloomy on the phone. He said he needed to go out and catch some fresh air which finally landed us in the club. Hey is there something wrong with him these days? Perhaps he has told you about some challenges he may be facing? "
She directed the question to Karen who looked up confused." a problem like what? I don't understand what you are saying. " She retorted and asked for further details." the issue, at first I thought he was just stressed from the project we did. After you left my house with yesterday with him, he called me and asked if I wanted to meet up and have some fun. I asked why and he said he only tired from the project work. It was quite understandable though since most of the work was done by him. So I decided to meet him in at mall but he declined and said he was already at the bar across my street so I had to meet him there. He got so much to drink and later started talking weird. But I clearly remember he mentioned your name but can't recall what he said after mentioning your name. The last thing I remember was seeing tears stroking down his cheeks. I can't remember anything else is certainly I passed out after drinking more wine. "
Karen was quite for sometime as the incident of the other day's evening came back to memory. After receiving a call from George to come to Anne's house since there were going to have to do the project work there, she told Jerry she would take a cab there but he insisted on driving her to Anne's. They project was a literature on the concept of love of which they needed to delve more into the subject. Anne raised her concern on the topic about the importance of valuing those we fall in love with. She continued to talk about how each person has a soul mate and is destined to be with the person for eternity. As the words "soul mate" and "destiny" was mentioned, both Karen and George looked up at each other and we're moving uncomfortably on their seats as Anne continued to raise her concerns.
Both were uneasy throughout the entire period of working on their project until they were done with the work. However, George opted to give Karen a ride to her hostel apartment and she accepted to join him. The car was silence for a while as they drove on the streets on their way back. " errr we finally got our work done. It was a nice work though since we got to talk about a sensitive topic." George broke the silence as he forced himself with a smile but his faithful face betrayed him since the smile was so unnatural. Given a nod to the statement did nothing but to make him more uncomfortable seeing she didn't want to talk. He made a Stern face and looking at her, he decided to continue with his talk.
" Karen I know I you very uncomfortable with what happened earlier on. But you not talking is making things worse. I am as uncomfortable as you are now and you know there is something you and I need to clear up. You are being oblivious as much as I am over what we both now is a problem. Look I know you are very much aware that I have loved you secretly for a long time now of which I know your feelings towards me are the same but you don't want to come to terms with it. I have no intention of ruining your relationship with Jerry in any way since I know you want me to be nothing more than just a friend."
"I appreciate the fact that you see me as a friend and wouldn't be able to bear it if I should lose you as a friend. I am sorry if I make you uncomfortable and I wouldn't mind doing if you decide to distance yourself from me. Just don't hate me and make me an enemy. It would break my heart. I will try my best to be the friend you want me to be and restrain the feelings I have towards you. But if in anyway you don't want me to be friends anymore I would be OK with it. Though it would break my heart, but if that is what would make you keep your relationship safe than I can bear with that heartbreak. Just don't hate me please. "
He kept his head low as the other person didn't utter a single word in reply to his plea. They rest of the journey was cold enough to make both very uneasy until the went their way after George had drove her to her apartment. She she recalled this, she felt sad as she realized how hurt he must have been. "err have you you spoken to him yet after you left the club?" she questioned Anne who looked at her and grinned. "how was I supposed to when he was the one who sent me home after I blacked out. I honestly don't know how he sent me home but my mum told me this morning that the one who brought me home was George and she felt sorry for him since he himself wasn't in a good shape to return home all by himself. She finally decided to let my brother drop him off. "
she grabbed her notes from her bag as she continued" I have always known George to have an eye for you and not just as a friend. I feel so sorry for him seeing the pain he was going through last night. And when he mentioned your name I got to realize that the reason could be you. Please better do something to help him out of this situation unless you want to tell me you don't care?" She tapped her on the shoulder and gave her a big smile " I'm always here for you both. I could order some rings if you are ready and we can get a pastor to bless the union and you two can live happily ever after." She laughed at her own joke but however, she shut up immediately as the professor entered the class making them realize that the class was full.
She began combing her eyes through the crowd in the hall to find someone with a concerned look on her face. When she finally found whom she was looking for, felt very terrible inside as she reasoned she was the reason why he didn't come to sit with them today. The three of them were always together on the tame column in the middle of the class were she was now seated with Anne. Anyone who knew how close these three were could tell at a glance that something was wrong swing the only guy among the two girls was today sitting in the other corner of the class and not in the usual position with his friends. The other guy however saw her but looked away immediately their eyes met, making the girl feel miserable as she also looked away moving her concentration towards the professor but still lost in her own thoughts.
After the lecture was over, a worried Anne took it upon herself to go and ask her friend about the other night since she had worries written all over her face for him. George welcomed her with a smile when he saw her moving toward his direction with a a worried face. She followed his smile as she smiled in return on seeing him smile. "hey George what's up with you this morning. I assumed you skipped the morning lecture since you didn't come to sit with us. And here you are." she takes a seat in front of him and smiled widely driving her worried looks away." I had to submit our work to the professor this morning but seeing how crowded the place was after I returned, I opted to get a seat here and listen to the lecture." He made an excuse. But Anne being as smart as she is, caught on with his excuse but decided to let it go and pretend to believe him. "Oh that's great. Hope we do well on that project though. Else were are going to have to work harder than that on our quizzes and assignments in other to make up for the lost marks." she said as she made a funny face with made George laugh.
" we definitely are going to make it since we have three great minds who worked on it. We will have to send the issue to court to be addressed if we don't pass that work." he joked, making both of them laugh. "by the way hope you've had something to eat this morning seeing how drunk you were last night. I was afraid you could get hangover after you blacked out on me. I had to carry you all the way home. How fortunate I was that your house was closser to the club. " He laughed at her and seeing how embarrassed she was did him nothing but caused him to laugh more.
" I'm so sorry I was a burden to you last night. I was very embarrassed when my mum told me this morning how I was hanging on your back as you struggled to send me home being as drunk as you were also. I heard my brother had to send you home. " she made an embarrassed face but couldn't help it as she laughed on hearing George laugh so hard.
Seeing that he was happy now, she decided to prob further about the incident of last night." I know you might be going through some hard times seeing how gloomy you were the other night. But seeing you laugh now I'm relieved. All I want is to see my friends being happy all the time. If you guys are happy then I'm happy too." she patted him on the shoulder as she smiled wildly at him.
"I'm grateful Anne. Thanks for being there for me all this while. You are a great friend." He said to her and returned the smile. " But you need to talk to her...." she said and pointing to where Karen sat. " I know something is wrong between you two but I don't want to get involved since I know it could be sensitive. You both should talk it out together and free yourselves from this gloomy nature you are showing. "
He looked at the direction where Karen sat and waved a hand. She naturally returned the wave and gave a smile which he smiled back. He returned his attention to Anne as the other person looked away. He gave her a smile as answered" I said what I needed to say last night but ended up making her uncomfortable. I wouldn't want her to hate me in any way, I rather will wait for her to return to her normal self. And when she is ready to talk I would always be there to listen to her. "
He glanced at her again and looked up to Anne " I have all the time to wait for her. She didn't answer when I said what ever I needed to say. But if she wants to give me her reply, I would be ready to listen no matter what her decisions are. I would always respect her decisions." he told her as he patted her on the head and stood up.
"I'm going to get something to eat, you guys can join me if you want to. See you "
" alright George. And thank you for bringing me home last night. See you at the cafeteria. "
She returned to her seat and grabbed Karen by the hand " let's go get something to munch on. I'm hungry." she dragged her along without warning, holding her tightly making sure she does not resist " Don't worry Anne I'm not going to ditch you and run off. I know you want me to go talk with George. No need to use this trick. I myself want to talk to him too. I know how sad I made him yesterday. I made him feel so bad and I need to apologize for that."
She gently pulled her hand away as she walked beside her and off they went inside their faculty cafeteria where George was already seated with a bottle of water and a plate of rice sitting before him.