In Jimmy's dream, he found himself, bare chested and only clad around his waist to his knees, a thick woven cloth, and bare footed, in a vast, lush forest, surrounded by towering trees adorned with vibrant foliage. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of earth and flora. As he wandered deeper into the forest, he felt a sense of tranquillity wash over him, as if he had stepped into another world entirely.
Suddenly, he heard the faint sound of laughter echoing through the trees. Intrigued, Jimmy followed the sound until he stumbled upon a small clearing. There, sitting on a moss-covered log, was the same girl who had cheered him on during the Taekwondo competition. She wore a short wrap around, two piece ethereal clothes that seemed to shimmer in the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy above, one covering her burst and the second covering her hips. Her natural hair was long, parted in ancient patterns and tied with black treads and adorned with cream coloured beads.
Upon seeing Jimmy, the girl's face lit up with a radiant smile, her eyes sparkling with warmth and kindness. Without a word, she gestured for him to join her on the log, and Jimmy found himself drawn to her presence, as if they shared a connection that transcended time and space.
As they sat together in the peaceful clearing, Jimmy couldn't shake the feeling of deja vu. It was as if he had known this girl his entire life, yet they had only just met. They talked for what felt like hours, sharing stories and dreams as if they had known each other forever.
Eventually, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the forest in a warm, golden light. Reluctantly, Jimmy knew that it was time to leave. But as he stood up to go, the girl took his hand and looked into his eyes with a knowing gaze.
"Don't worry," she whispered softly. "We'll meet again soon!"
With those words lingering in the air, Jimmy woke up, feeling strangely comforted by the memory of his dream encounter and her words. Though he couldn't explain it, he knew deep down that the girl he had met in the forest was her angel of strength and would always hold a special place in his heart. And perhaps, one day soon, they would meet again, in the present time, a different place, dressed differently, but bound by the invisible threads of fate.
It wasn't easy for James to convince Liliana to go with him to the Chinese restaurant she had booked for lunch with Jimmy, rather than forfeiting it. She was sobbing in the back seat of the limo, all the way from the campus at the outskirts of Lagos to Victoria Island. James, who managed to smuggle in next to her, before the driver took off, had a bad time calming her down.
"Would you please stop crying already?" He pleaded as he rubbed her back. "Why are you feeling this bad? You should have been used to Jimmy's inconsistencies by now. You should know he doesn't mean bad for you please, don't take it the hard way please!"
"Why is Jimmy always treating me coldly? Why does it seem like I'm the one forcing things between us?" Liliana snorted. "James, am I irritating? Am I not pretty enough? Is anything off about me? Why is it difficult to win Jimmy's heart all these years, after all we've been through and how I've stood by him?"
"Don't be so hard on yourself Lily!" James took her hand and comforted her. "We have had this discussion before and I have warned you several times not to attach your heart too much to Jimmy. He takes you as a good friend the same way he sees me. I know him well and I don't think he's ready for any commitment with anyone." He caresses the back of her palm, "There's nothing wrong nor off with you! You are very pretty, charming, caring, intelligent and not to mention a daughter of a multi- billionaire. Who wouldn't want to have you as a girlfriend?"
He pushed her teasingly at the shoulder and she smiled a bit!
Cheer up girl! Let's go and eat Chinese food please! I'm famished! Let's not waste the valuable cash!"
Eventually, Liliana cheered up and ordered the chauver to head towards the cosy restaurant. It was a three course meal and the food was great. James was always very charming with Liliana. He showed her more care and attention than Jimmy and whenever he had a rare opportunity of spending time with her alone, he always made sure it was indelible in her memory.
But no matter how much he tried, Liliana was always tripping for Jimmy. Her heart belonged to Jimmy.
From the Chinese restaurant, James and Liliana headed to the international airport where she was to check in for her flight back to London! When she was done, James gave her a warm friendly hug and a peck on the forehead to bid her farewell before he headed back to the campus.
James found Jimmy in his room studying on his reading table when he got back.
"Hey!" He said
"Hey!" Jimmy greeted as he turned around to face him.
"How did it go?"
James ignored him, sat on the coach and pulled off his shoes. He stretched out and exhaled.
"Was it that bad?" Jimmy asked!
"It was! Why do you do this to her all the time?" James asked in exasperation.
"Do what?"
"Hurt her! Why don't you pretend at least once! Be considerate!"
Jimmy stood up from his seat and went to his bed. He sat down and put his feet together as in a meditation pose, composed and calm.
"I don't hurt her, she hurt herself! I have never misled her, encouraged her nor in anyway made her feel I have feelings for her. I have always treated her with respect and decency as a woman but I don't know why She keeps putting it in her head that I'm her man."
"She's in love with you! She has always been and she can't help herself. Do you blame her?"
Jimmy changed his sitting position into reclining with an arm under his head and stretching out the rest of his body and foot on the bed.
"I don't blame her but I can't tolerate her impositions. She doesn't own me and can't keep planning and running my life as if I'm betrothed to her. I don't answer to her and you know I'm not good at pretence."
"I know that! All I ask of you is to at least be considerate. Be patient with her and sit with her some times and make her reason with….."
"Like you have sat down with her and made her reason with you?"
Jimmy stood up abruptly, went to his closet and pull out a t-shirt.
"You know, all this is your fault!" He stated as he pointed a finger at James! "If you have been man enough to own up to your feelings for her and confess to her, maybe both of you would have been a couple by now and I wouldn't be the escape goat."
He put on his t-shirt and went on to put on his sneakers.
James stared at him thoughtfully before massaging his forehead. "I don't want to ruin our eight years friendship, I will rather continue to die in silence than confess to her and have her hate me!"
Jimmy stared at him and rolled his eyes. He turned around and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" James asked.
"Going for a walk. Don't follow me!" He stepped out and closed the door behind him.
Jimmy wanted nothing more than to walk around the quiet paths of the campus, the less crowded and the most serene area. He craved for a quietime in a quiet place closest to nature, where he would be at peace and one with nature, to exhale, meditate and daydream about the girl of his dreams and his angel of strength.
The only place that could come to Jimmy's mind was the university's botanical garden. It was a serene and beautiful place that was rarely visited. He had only been there once since he entered the school and that was by accident because he missed his way to the school clinic. He stumbled into the garden and was thrilled at the lush greenery and peaceful atmosphere of the place.