On the first day of Fred's exam, Lynn gave him her pen and wished him good luck.
They both finished their exams finally. Fred passed the cut-off marks and Lynn was promoted to the senior class. They became closer and stronger.It turned out the Fred has to forfeit his U.K scholarship because he didn't have a means for survival when he gets over there. The school are not providing that.
Fred started preparing for college, he needed to go to Ibadan for college. "I would be leaving next week," he said when she came around his place.
"Yeah I know" she tried to act tough like it didn't matter, distance is not a barrier; we would keep in touch was her comforting song. He kïssed her because that was the only way he could express his love at the moment. Nothing more, just kîsses.
***
"Happy Birthday!" Lynn and Derek had sneaked into Fred's house very early in the morning. They decorated and made food while Fred slept like a log.
"Thank you so much" He hugged Derek and kissed Lynn.Derek looked away because he would rather not experience the bizàrre sight.Derek and Fred were about to have their first alcohol since they were already 18.
Lynn watched them as they had their first alcohol. Their grimace was something Lynn would never forget. She had laughed until tears came out of her eyes that afternoon. Derek vowed never to take it again. Lynn had wanted to try it, but they didn't let her. They played games, ate, and slept together until it was time for Fred to go to work.
"You are leaving tomorrow" Lynn whispered while she lay beside Fred.
"Yes. Trust me, Lynn, I will come back. Your wait wouldn't be in vàin. But please, wait for me."
"I will wait for you, Fred."
***
Fred left for Ibadan the next morning. He had resigned from his job and moved to Ibadan. He acquired another part-time job over there and despite the challenge of survival, Fred exceeded in his grades, the best in his department. Not only that, but he made friends, and all thanks to Lynn that helped cooled his quick temper. Not only that, but he called Lynn every day after lectures, and they talk at length. Likewise, he still communicated with Derek, who was at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
He would call Derek and Derek would make fun of him for missing him.
"Don't tell me this is Fred on the line" Derek teased.
"Don't misunderstand me, Derek, it's not like I miss you, just wanted to be certain you are safe over there" Fred defended.
"I miss you too Fred, stop playing tough and admit it"
Fred would laugh over it, and they would tease each other until they got tired and diverted to the business of studies, and then they talk about Lynn and Derek would talk about his new girls who think he is a geek.
"I talked to her about an hour ago" Fred would brag about how he and Lynn kept in touch.
"Aww, love is sweet"
"Yes, I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her"
"You want to be my in-law, right?"
"I intend to marry your sister is an important fact""What if she falls in love with someone else back in Lagos?"
"If we were meant to be, she won't fall in love."
"Fred, let's be realistic, there is a barrier between you and Lynn and that is distance. She could find someone else who will be able to give her that love right at her doorstep because she isn't mature enough to handle her emotions"
There was a moment of silence. Fred was thinking, "Derek, I am not going to force her if she stops loving me nor am I going to stop hoping she never stops loving me."
"Hmm, it is well. I do see James around, he exudes the ugliness of drûgs and cûltism."
"Wow, that's a lot, I hope he gets out of it, what about Freda?"
"Freda… Freda is so hôt. Dãmn! She once invited me to an obscéne pàrty"
"Is she now a hœker? I wouldn't be surprised."
"Yeah, she does a lot of sugàr dàddies".
They laughed over numerous other things, but what Derek said about Lynn finding someone else kept prîcking Fred in his heart. He thought about it every day, and it scared him. He made sure he returned to Lagos after he was done with a session.