Sighing, I checked my watch for the umpteenth time. The professor standing before the class was bald and boring. He was supposed to have dismissed the class thirty minutes ago. Again, I wondered how I was going to get my ass through the two hours lecture for each course. It was no longer the forty-minute period of teaching used in secondary school. It is the real world now.
Glancing around the class, I noticed that half of the students were half-asleep. The wait for the end of the class was torturous and so was the wait for Daniel's call. The butterflies in my belly couldn't allow me the privilege of sleeping the previous night. I had tossed and turned, wondering if he'd forgotten about our encounter. My heart raced with the realization that I might be too dumb struck to even say a word if he had called.
Also, I had woken up feeling groggy. Focusing on the Prof before me, I tried to imagine how his personal life was and if he had a loving wife to return to. Because if he did, he wouldn't want to keep us back as he would be in a hurry to meet his beloved wife. In an attempt to pass the time, I began to doddle on my books since I was too preoccupied with thoughts of Daniel and food to take any more notes.
It was evening now, and this lecture was the last one of the day. Somehow, I managed to maintain one hundred percent focus for the other classes I had earlier. Timi and I sat together during the first class. However, he decided to take the rest of the day off simply because he just wasn't in the mood for classes. I promised to send him the texts reviewed in the lectures he missed and in his gentlemanly style, he got me snacks and a drink before disappearing into the crowd of students rushing around.
Thinking of him now, I was extremely grateful for the snacks because I was sure I would have punched the Prof in his face for keeping us back out of the pain of a hungry stomach. My mind travelled to Daniel once again and I tried to guess what he would be up to. Was he done with his classes? What was he wearing? Would he go to the cafeteria? Would we bump into each other during fresher's night?
Yes. Fresher's night is some sort of tradition at the university where new students are welcomed and entertained. It is something between a mini-seminar and a party; usually organized by the student representative council. It was a chance to relax and unwind and meet new friends. It was scheduled to be held on Friday night at the sports arena. I prayed Juliet would resume before then so we could go together. I didn't want to attend the shit alone.
After doodling my ass into some sort of flowery drawing, I heard the professor dismiss us with "Your essays must be submitted unfailingly before my next class". Snorting, I packed my books into my bags and headed to the cafeteria, not remembering what the essay was supposed to be about.
Once there, I got my meal ticket and purchased lunch. For dessert, I got a cake parfait. Luckily, most students were in their dorms around the time so, the line was quite minimal.
"Evelyn" a sing-song voice attracted my attention. Shocked to be known in the school, I turned around to see the owner of the voice and to my dismay, I wish I hadn't. It was Beatrice. Yeah, the Beatrice who made me feel inferior and jealous during A-level classes.
"Hey baby girl" I feigned a smile.
"How are you doing girl?" Beatrice squeezed me into a bear hug and I returned it with a half-hearted pat.
"surviving. You?" I murmured as I detached myself from the hug. Beatrice and I weren't in the same department, thankfully.
"always doing great." Beatrice beamed, showing off her beautiful smile. Her minions stood behind her smiling to themselves. " And Julie?" I watched as she turned her head, scouring the entire cafeteria.
"Oh, she's not with me." I attempted to save her the trouble of breaking her neck. Pushing past her, I tried to continue on my way.
"Not so fast. Baby girl." Beatrice moved to stand in my way. " you have a date or something?"
"Oh, I just happen to have a tight schedule," I mumbled, shifting my weight from one leg to another in impatience.
"We all do darling." Beatrice flashed me one of her sweet-bitter smiles. " the girls and I are going for a walk tomorrow evening. Would you want to join us?"
"I'd love to but I can't"
"Come on. It would be fun. We have handsome tour guides by the way."
"So?" I raised a brow trying to get her point. I was sure I would not find any male apart from Daniel attractive. This she did not know.
"I know we have this frenemy relationship. But we can start again and be very close friends. Come on."
Taking a deep breath, I gave her a yes; regretting it almost immediately.
"Thank you" Again, she squeezed me into a hug. After giving her finger-tip pats on her shoulders, I hurried out of the hall, saying one more prayer for Julie's resumption.
Upon getting to my room, I went straight to the bathroom for a warm shower. As the water ran down my body, I tried not to think of Daniel. Doing that might make me do unspeakable things to myself. Things that might make me ashamed later. After wolfing down my meal, I climbed my bed and slept with plans to wake up later at night to burn the midnight candle.