Like the sequence of the rotation of night and day, their visitation to the mountain went non-stop for a week. They gisted, laughed, took pictures of incredible sights of nature, explored the mountain deeper, ate roadside snacks anytime they were not on the mountain. They enjoyed each other's company for a week, created memorable memories, laughed more than ever.
Well, life has its own way to operating and executing plans. Dave found himself speechless at the message he just read on his Samsung phone. He blinked blankly while Nancy watched cluelessly. They were beside a roasted-plantain (boli) seller who is beside the tarred road. She fanned the embers of the charcoal for more intense heat to roast the peeled naked plantain on the iron bar.
The sky had already embraced dark clouds and it would rain anytime soon.
"Dave, what's wrong?"
Dave found his voice after some minutes of silence. "My Mentor who is also my Professor in Medical Science has passed away."
Nancy dropped her jaw. "I'm so sorry. What could have happened?". She looked at his face and saw a glint of tears. She wondered how the relationship between him and the said mentor that could warrant tears for him.
"I don't know. I need to return now. His daughter texted me. She had tried calling on WhatsApp, I wasn't online."
Both of them have been sight-seeing non-stop since morning and they've not been chanced to log in. He just logged in when they were about to buy roasted plantain.
"I'm sorry. May God comfort you and his family members. How do you intend on getting there now? It's already four in the evening."
"It's fine. I'll catch the next flight now…"
"You can wait till dawn tomorrow..."
"No. I need to be there now. I can't wait till tomorrow. I'll text Tina about it, I can't go back to the apartment now."
"What about your parents? Won't you inform them about your departure?"
He gave a wry smile, "what am I, a toddler? I don't need their permission to return to where they once forced me to go." He dashed forward and jumped over the gutter, looking sideways for any vacant bikeman or taxi. As he jumped, Nancy got propelled by a force she couldn't explain. She leant forward and held his right palm. She had done it before she realized what was happening. Dave looked between her face and her hands which were clutched to his right palm. Nancy quickly retracted her hand like a toddler that touched fire.
"Errmmm, actually I wanted to wish you safe journey and be strong." She quickly added a slight smile. Dave jumped back from the gutter to where she was. He covered up the small distance between them and held her hand. They've always knows they had a spark for each other but none wanted to initiate the commencement. When Dave held her hand, he knew he'd never let her out of his reach. If it wasn't for the sudden message, he'd have stayed back to know her more. He had once contemplated doing his residency here in Nigeria. When one is in love, one re-maps one's journey around the love.
"Thank you for your amazing company. I'll let you know as everything goes."
They held each other's gaze for few seconds before Dave eventually lets go off her hand and stopped a vacant bikeman. Nancy watched with a tingle in her heart and flutters in her belly. She knew the flutters were the result of their contact, but the tingle? She couldn't explain. Probably because she didn't know when she'd see him again or because she'd miss him or because they may never see again and their subtle affection would be nothing but figments. Or because he was going beyond her reach as she watched his back on the bike going farther and farther away from her. She swallowed the tears in her throat and blinked away the ones that laced her eyes.
Life's full of surprises. Now she'd have to go deal with Tina and her earthquaking-speakers which she hadn't heard for some weeks due to the company of Dave.
~~~~~~
Back at the apartment, Nancy trudged into the compound. She threw a weary wave and a dim smile at those who greeted her. She obliviously walked by Tina who in turn greeted to bring her back from oblivion.
"Hey baby girl."
She turned like a zombie and smile dimly again. Who's your baby girl? She nodded her head to give the 'I'm fine' response. Tina studied her face and realized she wasn't herself. Then she remembered that she left with her brother and came back alone.
Tina already knew what was going on between them both. She might be a lousy lady or, as other occupants often describe her, an arrogant and saucy lady, but when it comes to her family, she notices the slightest change. Her brother has fallen in love with her neighbor who doesn't have a drop of friendly love for her. Not only that, her brother seemed to have gotten a remedy for his long term illness because since he had met Nancy, he hadn't shown any sign or symptoms unlike the early fifteen years of his life. Tina knew her brother wouldn't leave Nancy for anything, not even if their parents wants to separate and make him marry another daughter of their friends which is what their parents are fond of.
Tina held Nancy's hand. Nancy, shocked, looked at her speechlessly.
"You look tired Nancy, let's get you inside."
Nancy succumbed without stress. If she wasn't this psychologically exhausted, she'd have brushed her hand away; but right now, she needed a long sleep to help her forget how miserable she felt about her crush leaving without knowing when he'd return. Tina helped her to unlock her door and they found their way in. Nancy knew their enmity, more of her dislikeness, for Tina will dissolve someday. She didn't expect it to be this soon. She sat on her bed while Tina sat on the plastic chair which has plastic table and was placed beneath the window.
"Are you okay? What happened?"
She gave a dry smile, "I'm just mentally exhausted, nothing more."
"You left with my brother, you came back alone looking like someone who just heard her date of death. Shouldn't I be worried that you came alone?"
Nancy looked at her blankly. If it wasn't for her lack of motivation for banter exchange, she'd have returned her bullet with word grenade. "your brother said he'd explain to you. He left in a hurry catch the next flight."
Tina loosened herself on the chair. "Next flight you say? He said he wasn't leaving anytime soon." Tina's head was beginning to spin; hope it wasn't the symptoms showing again, hope what happened nine years ago won't repeat itself. Different thoughts went through her head. "Did he tell you why he was leaving?"
"Yes, something related to his mentor dying. Or dead."
Tina flung herself up at what Nancy said. Her face changed to something Nancy couldn't describe. Either pity or fear, or grief. "No no no no. This is a bad time. Very terrible time to die." Tears laced her eyes. Nancy had never seen her like that before. She was vulnerable at that moment. Tina picked her phone from the table and raced out, mumbling something Nancy couldn't hear very well but could grab "... he'll be back to his old self..." She watched Tina raced out and shut the door behind her. Today had been hectic for her, everything unfolding seemed too hard to comprehend. She rested on her bed and dozed off. She'd understand when she wakes up, she thought as she closed her eyes.