I've spent the whole week since I last saw Haz thinking about her. She hasn't given me her number so I can't call or text her, I tried finding her on all socials but she doesn't seem to be a social media person. The only way I can see her is only if I visit but I've been so busy caught up in my final exams prep.
I'm sitting on my bed, leaning against the head board with my hand resting on my head when my phone rings, I jump out of bed excitedly. I'm disappointed when the caller ID comes into view. It's the last person I want to talk to right now.
"How may I help you?" I ask impatiently. "Hey, Ree. I just wanted to hear how your prep is going?" She replies. "It's all good, thanks for checking up on me." I reply, wondering how she even found out I had exams. I push my hand through my hair, exasperated, realizing that it could be my dad who has let her in on it. "Well, I have sent you a gift. Let me know how you like it." She says expectantly. " Yes, sure." I reply, ending the call.
I throw the phone on the bed in frustration.
Lynn's mom, Kirst, is a family friend. I don't like her though, she gives off some wrong vibes. Everytime she visited she would bring her daughter along, and I was forced to play with her. I've looked at her like a little sister since childhood. The brotherly love started to slowly fade as we grew older and as she became more annoying.
I totally distanced myself from her five summers ago. We had gone on vacation at our mountain top house up in Mone. She had tagged along with her mom. The week went by smoothly until the last evening before our return.
She came to my room and threw herself at me. I quickly freed myself and told her to get herself together. She bawled, screaming that she loves me, she's always loved me and she won't ever marry if it's not me she gets married to.
Then the strangest thing happened, a strand of her hair started to glow red. I just stood there, frozen in place,confused. It faded back to normal when she'd stopped crying.
She wiped the tears off, craned her neck, looked me in the eye and said "Marry me or die single." Then storms out of the room.
I was shaken to the core, but decided to tell no one about it...
My dad seems to like her, that's why he tells her everything about me. I wonder why he does that despite the evidence that we are not that close.
The door bell rings, I rush downstairs to get it since I'm the only one home. There's a mail man by the door. He hands me the small box and a clipboard to sign on.
I tear the paper wrap on my way back upstairs. I sit on the upstairs lounge couch and open the box.
My breath is caught in my throat as soon as I see the contents. A picture of Haz and me in the Karaoke bar is neatly framed in a gold rimmed picture frame. A note is tucked under the picture. "Marry me, or die single." It read.
The first thought that comes to my mind is Haz's safety. The day I met Lynn at the Sky mall pushes into my mind. Could she have gone there to do some kind of harm to her. I didn't think she would take things that far.
I'm frantically looking around for my car keys when my phone rings. I'm too confused to think straight, let alone even remember where I'd left the keys.
Joey answer the phone I hoarsely command my voice assistant. "Voice not recognized," she rings back. I take a few deep breaths and try again.
"Mr Richards," a tense voice pierces through the speakers. "Miss Moleens, how can I help you?" I ask, still looking around for my keys. "We need you to drop by the campus as soon as possible," her voice strains through. "Can't it wait," I counter back. "I'm afraid not." She replies trying to sound composed.
She hangs up leaving me torn between checking up on Hazel first and going to the college campus. I decide to do the latter first, since I was just assuming Haz was in some kind of trouble.
I speed through the driveway, ignoring the speed limit signs dotted along. I'm received by Mr Dimp, who is already waiting for me outside the Engineering block. " We need to go to the police station," he says, skipping all pleasantries, as soon as I brake beside him.
"We found him dead in his bath tub," the stout black detective tells us in a cool manner as if he were talking about the weather.
"We confirmed that, Tim Mark, was the 'he' involved in your case yesterday evening. We had planned to call the police department to help us handle the case and when we did, that's when they called us over." Mr Dimp fills me in on the details.
I'm in shock. Tim was one of my close friends and stiff competition in class. We have been friends since our sophomore year in college and he never seemed to have any hidden motives. I never saw any red flags either.
"How did he die?" I ask, with my voice grief striken. "Reports from the homicide detectives team say that he was electrocuted. We are awaiting autopsy results from the forensics team." He explains flatly. "We need your statement, Mr Richards." He says, with his full attention on me. I'm about to ask how they can suspect my involvement, but say, "Sure. When?" Instead. To avoid trouble. " Tomorrow will be convenient." He replies.
I'm drowned in thoughts of Tim's sudden passing the whole night. I barely slept.
There are dark rims around my eyes when I finally drag myself out of bed and look myself in the mirror. I can't sleep in anyway. I take a quick shower and head to the police station.
The detective from yesterday introduces me to another black detective who has taken on Tim's case. He asks me questions which we both know won't bring him back but I comply Incase something I say may bring him justice. It's two hours later when they finally dismiss me.
I'm irritable and exhausted so I decide to go for a drive to clear my head. I'm surprised when I wind up at Sky mall. It seems to be my go to place when I'm in a foul mood now.
I look at my watch and smile. Haz is still in.
She's serving a customer when I get in so I take it as an opportunity to take her in.
She's a real piece of art. My frustration dissipates during my admiring session, worked like therapy. She lifts her eyes and meets my gaze with a fully fledged smile. I smile back thinking I've finally found someone who has interested me for more than five hours.
We head for the park when she gets off work."Let's get lunch." I suggest as we walk down a concrete isle lined with carnations. "I've never been to the beach." She says. I'm ecstatic, firstly because it's the first thing she has told me about herself and also because what I thought would just be an hour's hangout is definitely going to be more.
I drive us to a convenience store and buy snacks for our picnic. We drive down the palm trees flanked road to the beach.
We set up our picnic space but Haz can't seem to settle down with excitement. I offer her my hand and we go running in the white sand chasing the seagulls, played tag and finally settle down to watch the sun set over the blue of the ocean. "It's beautiful." Hazel remarks, marvelling at the orange strokes cast over the water. "So are you." I smile staring at her. I stroke her cheek and kiss her. Our first official kiss.
I drive her to her apartment after dinner. I walk her in today, I'm intending to ask her if she has had any confrontations from Lynn.
She leaves me sitted on her mattress and goes into her cubicle to change out of her work clothes.
She walks out wearing a black short night gown which barely covers her. I'm distracted from my resolution as I get carried away in the moment. We're kissing, she's tugging at my shirt and I'm tugging at her dress. Her hand is buried in my hair and mine is holding her nape. I push her backwards until her back hits the wall. She moans, slightly parting her lips, already on mine. I lose my cool and surrender to the passion brewing inside me.
I move my hand into her hair and when I draw back out, I tug at some strands. The chestnut hair I know her to have drops to the floor and flame red aurburn hair spills out.
I step back, shocked. Confusion and guilt stains her perfect features.