It was a bright Monday afternoon, and physics class had just ended. Preye stretched in delight knowing he was free for the day. The fact that he had the opportunity of attending lectures, he was grateful to Donalds cousin Victor for abandoning him in his apartment, thereby creating a chance for him to socialize with the people around and that has brought him as far as the lecture halls.
As he walked along with his classmates who were all leaving the main lecture venue, he heard a girl on a bike shouting at a boy to meet her at the primary school opposite the first park gate for the maths tutorial class. Preye saw a boy he was acquainted with boarding a bike, and he ran faster so he could meet up, with him.
Boy! Please tell the biker to stop so I can join you, the Preye said. Bike wait for my pal, the boy whose name Preye didnt know, told the biker, who slowed to a halt. Preye boarded the bike and asked the boy where he was off to. I am going to my room to collect my maths tutorial notebook, after which I will return for the maths class, the boy said. Preye said he wouldnt be able to go because he was tired.
The bike passed the primary school where the maths tutorial classes held, and he saw a slim, tall multiracial girl walk into the primary school in the company of her friend, and his heart skipped some beats. Biker, stop me here, he ordered. The bikers stopped and Preye paid for himself and the boy on the bike and walked briskly into the maths class.
On getting to the hall, he found the maths lecturer taking them on the topic of simultaneous equation with three variables. He brought out his notebook and pen to study, but he first turned around to observe the faces in the hall so he can know the position of the girl that attracted him to this class.
Are my eyes deceiving me or can a person make me change my mind suddenly, after deciding to miss the lecture, thought Preye and resolved to discuss with her to confirm the power that had quickened his heart. All through the lecture, Preye did not really pay any attention to the lecturer, but he rather gave his mind freedom to wonder about that girl that had so charmed him.
Immediately before the lecture ended, Preye discovered that he did not follow the lecture up at all but had wasted all his learning time thinking about this strange girl. He stood up and left the lecture hall so that he can be outside when the lecture ended and maybe strike up a conversation with that charming person that had so captivated his mind that he could not hear anything the lecturer said.
As the Preye sat waiting, he saw her and her friend that came in together, walking out of the premises. He stood up and wanted to go after them, but that same charms that ignited his heart after her, deprived him of all courage, and he stood there mopping.
Boy! How could you leave your destination and come this far, only for you to sit still and watch what you came here for walk right in front of you and out of the premises without you stopping her? You are beginning to lose you sharpness, his mind haunted him. How could she leave before the lecture ended? I was not expecting her to leave that soon, so she took me unaware, he justified himself.
The following day, the tutorials were supposed to hold in the morning, and Preye took a warm bath, put on his best clothes and set out for the tutorials with high spirit. He knew he would return home with positive results.
Opposite the primary school where the maths tutorial held is a part of the school where they have all the engineering faculties. It is called First Park. Inside the First Park gate, by the right is a field, and across the field is the Department of Sound Engineering, and behind is a newly developed area which consist of new apartments.
Preye lived in the first apartment behind the Sound Engineering Department and hoped that one day she and her friends will come over from the tutorial class, since it is just a stones throw.
When Preye got to the primary school where the tutorials held, the place was very full. He stood alone because he did not care about making friends so soon; being a very social boy he knew he could always make friends after he met his mind thriller. After waiting for about half an hour, it was obvious that the lecturer was not coming. Preye looked at his watch and told himself that he had just five more minutes to spend before leaving the premises.
She came in alone and walked into the hall and came out immediately. Maybe she went to check if her friend was in the hall or if the lecturer was around, Preye thought. As she was leaving, Preye walked after her with intent of starting his friendship transaction but saw his friend coming and stopped to talk with him. When he was through and went after her, she had already gone. He felt bad, but he blamed himself for his timidity that made him stop to talk with his friend. There is always tomorrow, Preye told himself, and left for his apartment.
Three days later, Preye saw her and her friend walking into the lecture premises and said hi to them but they did not hear and kept walking and he became angry and resolved not to care about her again. He was glad to come up with an excuse that will help him cultivate more courage over the next six months. If only Donald could just return from his vacation in the West, I know things will be better, Preye thought.
Remembrance of the Unacquainted Queen
On Friday morning, the sun came out and he took his clothes out for sunning. While spreading his clothes on the line, he saw a neighbor that occupied the first apartment in the block directly behind his own that Donalds cousin left him in.
Good morning neighbor, the girl greeted. Good morning and how are you? Preye asked. I am fine thanks she replied. Can you please get a line for me so I can spread my clothes, the girl asked. I think I can manage that Preye said. He went into his room, got a line and fixed it for her. Thank you very much the girl said and asked him his name. I am Preye he told her, and she introduced herself as Dolly. Wire man, shouted Ben at Preye and ducked himself behind a pillar.
The following day, Preye washed some of his clothes and went outside to sun it when he saw Dolly and another girl talking in front of their balcony. Hello Dolly, Preye said. Hi Preye, meet my friend and roommate Princess. Meet Preye our neighbor, she said. Preye stretched his hand, nice to meet you Princess; the pleasure is all mine Princess said. What is your department, asked Princess. Department of Automobile Engineering. That is my department too said Princess with great excitement. They talked for a while and Preye left with a promise to see them more often.
On Monday afternoon, after lectures Preye returned to find his friends in the room as usual, Dave, how far now? asked Preye. I am fine. I just returned from town some thirty minutes back and I boarded a cab on my way down with a sweet girl that told me she lives in this compound, said Dave. Well the compound is so big that before you get to know your neighbor, you will have to make an all-round tour, and I would not mind risking it on a good day said Preye. Let me put on my shirt so we can start from somewhere, Dave said as he wore his shirt, ready for their know-your-neighbors tour.
They went from house to house knocking and introducing themselves, until they finally got to the last room, where Dave knocked and two girls that were almost on their way out came out fully dressed and apologized for not bringing them in. I am Dave and this is my roommate Preye. We were kind of jobless so we just decided to walk round and get to know our neighbors.
Unfortunately, it is like you are going out said Preye. Osim is my name, said the tall, dark and full lipped girl with a smile that made her charming in a reserved way. This is my cousin Es, and we are pleased to know you, the girl continued. Whenever you can spare your time and call on us, we will be happy to welcome you. It is just that my cousin Es is returning to school tomorrow. That means she is not in this school, said Preye. No she is in the University of the Heart Beat, but just came to pay me a visit, said Osim. Anyhow, we will see you girls some other time Preye said, and they left.
Most nights when the feelings of boredom overshadowed their mind, Preye and Dave will stroll out to see some of Daves friends that live opposite the fence of the school. On a Friday night, Preye, Dave and Ben went to pay a visit to Daves friends that lived opposite the school fence, but met their absence. On their way out, they saw three girls walking towards them.
Hello girls, said Preye, who was seeing two of the girls for the first time. Hi, the girls shyly responded. Ami, Ayi meet Preye my very good friend and Ben my intimate pal too, Dave said. It is nice knowing you the girls said. Preye who already knew one of the girls asked her how come they were both answering the same names and how they distinguished themselves when someone called them? The girls only smiled to themselves and maintained their usual shyness. Preye noticed they were shy and struck a lively conversation with them that at the end, they no longer felt like strangers with him.
The following night, Preye was in the room glancing through a magazine in the room, with a glass of soft drink in his hand. Dave entered the room with a boy that Preye had known when they wrote their certificate examinations in the same centre, and also in their pre-college.
How are you faring, said the boy? My dear I am doing just fine, Preye replied. Preye are you not hungry, Dave asked. I just want to go through the magazine, finish up my soft drink, then go out to eat. Then let us all go together since we are all hungry, Dave said. Alright, said Preye. On their way across the field, they saw Ben who was returning from a friends house and was very hungry too.
Preye, can we call on the two Ami's and Ayi to join us? Asked Dave. Boy suit yourself because left with me, I collected just enough money to buy myself food and drink. Do not worry I will pay for their food, said Paul Daves friend.
When they got there one of the Ami's was out and the other one and Ayi accompanied them to a local joint somewhere near the first girls hostel at the main entrance to the school. I and Dave will board bikes separately with the girls, while Preye and Ben can board another to the joint near the school gate, said Paul.
On their way to the place, Ben and Preye being on the same bike began a conversation. Preye, it is good to have a steady babe in the school if not you will always feel left out, said Ben. If I had a steady, I do not think I will waste my precious time hanging out with all these runs and I will devote all my time to her instead of wasting it, by moving aimlessly, said Preye. Imagine we had already settled to go and eat, and those boys just included some runs into our program, that has now affected us by taking us away from where we used to eat to a local joint, said Ben.
It is very funny that instead of taking a girl to a lovely place, you decided to spend the same amount the boys would have spent by including more people and taking them to a local restaurant, and girls for that matter, said Preye as the bike stopped them in front of the restaurant.
When they entered, they perceived a strong bad smell from the place, but had no other option than to sit down with their friends who had arrived earlier than them. After the meal, they boarded bikes with their previous arrangements.
When they got to the beginning of their surrounding area, they stopped and walked across the road to the apartment of the girls and waited till they were all complete, then they walked to Wood-Land apartments, where Dave and Paul are to spend the night with Ayi and Ami. Goodnight Paul and Dave we will see you some other time, said Preye who just remembered his unacquainted queen.
Ben and Preye walked further to their apartment which was the only house after Wood-Land. Knock, knock, Oga Pero i-beg open the gate for me said Ben. Who is that? Asked Pero the security. Preye and Ben, said Ben. The security man opened the gate for them and they entered their room.
Preye can you imagine the level Paul and David will be now? Asked Ben.
They will be in their own paradise from now till dawn, replied Preye, and please leave me alone to calculate my program. Calculate which program, instead of imagining what is happening in Wood-Land. Good night Ben and dream of you being the referee in the game happening in Wood-Land.
That night, Preye could not sleep, he tossed from one side of the quilt to the other, his mind going back to his unacquainted queen, who he felt might add some more colors and meanings to his life if he can just focus on her and see what she is composed of. Damn! I cannot be in love just like that, but there is something special about her said Preye and could she be the love of my life? Preye thought.
He knew the best thing to do was to love and cherish her in his heart as he has been doing since from the maths tutorial classes because if he went closer to her, that negative attitude of his that always ends his relationship might make him regret. So he resolved to love her in his heart since that was the least he could do to preserve the love and prevent her from breaking his heart, but that girl looked too pure to break a heart.
That night before Preye slept, it was close to dawn. After that night of love reflection, Preye continued knowing and making friends with other girls, although he knew he had one in his heart. He believed that sometime, somehow, somewhere she will have him in her heart too.