It was the first season of the year and just like it was in Danbank state for the (East side) the sun was the hottest and it descended mostly in Pelinburst city where I stayed.
I stood behind the windows of my room looking out the bustling under, new students that were being admitted into the university had circled the administration building, each in a rush. I remember the first time I came to the university, it was with my mother, and she had gotten easily past because of the professor we knew at the school and before I comprehended it I had settled down in my room with a roommate the next day. Those were great moments, the excitement of freshmen. Now I was done and we the graduants would all be vacating before the next week.
If it was the former years, I would have been reluctant to leave because I had something to keep me addicted to the school walls and that was Mandelyn Madoc.
Madelyn Madoc was the daughter of the professor at the university who helped Mother and I.
it had been like a fated meeting.
I happened to be in the professor's office ( Mr Sherlock Gilbert), who turned out to be Godfather to me. He was an acquaintance of my mother before I enrolled in the school. On my first day at the school, she led me into his hands to guide and teach. I found him quite a trustworthy and virtuous gentleman to be precise, and was pleased to be guided by him.
He proved a good tool for good grooming. He encouraged and taught me and we were seen most of the time in the school to the extent many scholars thought I was his son.
On this fateful day, I was at his office when a bustling and quarreling started outside. His office was on the third floor of the school building. He urged me to look through the window to gain reason for the noise.
I was supposed to observe and report to him the nature of the noise, but amongst all, the only thing I could see was the slim blonde girl in an echoing blue dress that seemed to elevate every of her physique and deportment, who was actually, the one quarreling with the security guards at the gate. She was asking to come through. I had seen many blonde's in my life but she managed to capture my attention more than any other. Who was she? And what was a lady like her, giving her appearance, doing at the school gate?
"Eugene!"
"Sir" I jolted and turned to the professor.
"What is going on?"
I looked out the window again. "A fine young lady is at a Clash with the security men"
"A young lady, at the school?"
He stood from the chair to have a look.
"Oh, God!"
"What sir?"
"That is my daughter, Eugene, please do go down and ask them to send her in"
"Your daughter?" You can imagine the thrill and excitement on my face. What coincidence!
"Go, go, ask her to come upstairs"
I jumped down the stairs in a frenzy to get outside. But before that, when I got down to the hall, I fixed my appearance to not appear pathetic or juvenile in her eyes. I was going to bring her upstairs not propose! And why the sudden discomfort? Why the need to please, I don't even know her.
"It is very urgent, just let me pass, or you can at least send forth a message to him"
"You're not allowed on the premises, miss, so please leave"
"He is a professor here" she continued to plead with them, her physiognomy was masked with worry, and the closer I got, the more her appearance appealed to me. It still looked beautiful despite her state.
"Who do you say you're looking for?"
"Mr. Sherlock Gilbert" she answered even before she knew who spoke.
She turned to me when the security asked if she was my sister. No, she was not, I have no sister, thank you very much. And this one I would never agree to be. Thank God she was not.
"She is Professor Sherlock's daughter" I informed.
"Indeed?" the guard asked in surprise.
"Yes," I stood upright. "He asked me to bring her up"
Her forehead was clouded with worry suddenly relieved, and her baby blue eyes shone with gratitude and thanks even before she said it.
I was glad.
"Pardon, miss, we were just following instructions"
Despite the uproar she had gone through, she still smiled at them and asked me to lead her.
"You work with my father?"
She asked as we climbed up the stairs.
"Yes," I replied. "I'm one of his students"
"Oh"
Was she disappointed? I knew not.
But she smiled. A very sultry smile, that made me spend more than the usual time staring at her face. I was thankful though, that I didn't fall on the stairs. That would have been the most embarrassing scene of my life.
"What is your name?"
"Eugene," I smiled. "Eugene Houston"
"A nice name you have there"
She commended me before I opened the door for her. "Thank you" I retorted with gladness though I doubted she heard.
"Father"
She rushed to him.
"You're needed at home"
"Why?"
I didn't know what had been the emergency since I closed the door and waited outside for them to speak. I was smiling like a fool when the door opened a few minutes later to reveal the professor with his briefcase ready to leave.
"Are you leaving sir?"
"Yes, Eugene, something calls at home"
"Oh, have a safe journey, sir"
"Take her to my quarters, you know where the keys are. She would be staying for the weekend till I return"
No matter how hard I tried not to look at her to know her countenance regarding the circumstances, I couldn't help it. And to top it off, she was already looking at me before I did. My heart skipped for no apparent reason.
She seemed okay with it.
"See to her needs till I return, everything she would need would be there." he patted my shoulder. "I trust you"
"Be safe papa"
She sent him off after he kissed her forehead.
We watched till he retreated down the stairs.
"You haven't told me your name," I said to her.
"Not until, I confirm you, a trustworthy gentleman to take care of me, these few days"
I smiled. Brash. I liked that.
"Well, Miss Gilbert, before the end, you would beg me to know your name"
She flashed another of her disarming smiles. "We shall see".