Twelve Days to Valentine ✨✨

 

ELEVEN DAYS MORE 

"Good morning, Mr Noah. It's another day in the den. Your programmes for today are; the meeting of the executives of the faculty of engineering, the lectures series by Professor Chike Obi and Eng 413 class. Motivational quote for the day, 'You can move mountains only if you move yourself towards the mountains.' Do you wish for some music from your favorite playlist?"

"No, thank you," I said to my smart alarm clock which my father had bought for me in my first year, from Japan.

I sat up on my bed, stretched and began my morning protocols. I was unusually slow today. Instead of sticking to my schedule, I spent my breakfast time inspecting myself in my standing mirror. Due to this, I got to school at 7.30 in the morning, one hour later than I normally do. Just before I stepped out of my residence, I said a prayer. Chenka had taught me the importance of commiting my day to the Almighty. If not for anything, I prayed every morning for her.

I strolled through the gates of Guest House and jovially greeted the security officer on my way. He responded with "My oga!" and a wave. I really did feel like an oga, so I didn't think the title too prestigious for my humble person.

I passed the Nnamdi Azikiwe library; I crossed the road to the other side near the Vice chancellor's office. I always did this as unnecessary as it was. Why? That was where I met Chenka for the very first time in my life.

I crossed the road again when I reached the round about and headed for the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences. Then I headed for Jimbass and went straight to my faculty. The cream building always made my heart swell with pride. Was it easy to have the engineering annex as a faculty hall?

I strolled through the hall with my usual feel of confidence. The first familiar face I saw was that of Danny, my guy.

"The don," Danny hailed.

"Honourable," I replied and gave him a friendly knuckle grounder.

"Ah, Don, you dey set?" Danny asked as he looked at my decent clothes.

"Of course. Why won't I be prepared today?" I retorted.

"You never hear dem don cancel the lectures series?" he asked with a sly smile.

"Dey play," I chuckled. We walked on in silence. I predicted he was going to tease me about Chenka, and he did, as soon as we reached Dr Griffin's office. He said, "Ah, Don, wetin Chenka dey do for Dr Griffin's office? Abi you no know wey she dey?"

"Werey," I said and thumped him on the back. He slipped away though and I missed him by a hair's breath. He knew well to run. I wouldn't tolerate any nonsense from him concerning my... I mean, Chenka.

I walked into the office and had a discussion with good old Dr Griffin. I was the course rep of Phy 416 and Dr Griffin was briefing me on his plans for our classes and project defense. He was a kind man and was very fond of me due to two reasons; I was a first class student and I was handsome.😎

The meeting was taking too long. It was almost nine o' clock and I hadn't seen Chenka's face. It felt disturbing. I was about to display my discomfort when Dr Griffin asked me to leave. I stood up delightfully and ran out. I went to my classroom and looked about. I met a tall bespectacled girl with nice blue hair. She smiled at me.

"Oma, good morning," I said.

"Hey, Noah. What's up?"

"Cool," I replied. She began to talk about something but I didn't care; she wasn't talking about Chenka.

"Don't you think so?" she asked suddenly.I stopped scanning the class for Chenka and looked at her. "Ah, yes I do," I replied convincingly but her expression convinced me that she wasn't deceived. She moved away looking for someone else to talk to about... Whatever it was. She stopped almost immediately and said, "If you're looking for your sweetheart, she's downstairs, in the first year classroom."

I smiled at her and jogged to meet you know who. I stopped at the door of the classroom. There she stood, before a class of first year students, speaking to them like a lecturer. She held all their attention for they were very quiet. Even I fell for the magic of her voice and listened like a fresher.

"In school," she said, "you must learn to put God first in everything. Never make him a second option. Next comes your academic. Don't joke with it. Don't say, I have arrived. Don't think of flexing a little only to be serious later. The grades you want to have when you graduate start now. First year is the best time to aim for that first class. I won't tell you to target a second class or a pass. No. It's important you aim for the sun, so of you miss it, you'll land on the moon or on a star."

Someone whispered something in the class and the freshers laughed. Chenka laughed too. I stepped closer to the door but she didn't notice my movement. She continued, "Now, who can tell me the next item in the scale of preference?"

"Relationship," I said loudly. She looked at me and the students laughed and began to jeer. "What? Am I not right?" I asked with a chuckle. She didn't reply. She beckoned me with her eyes into the classroom. I strode in coolly and stood beside her. Then she introduced me, "Sorry, guys. This is Noah Ekrong, the former president of the faculty and current adviser to the faculty of engineering executives."

They seemed impressed, these green first years, for they applauded. I smiled coolly and some girls began to murmur in admiration. I got that a lot. I turned to Chenka and said in a low but audible voice, "You didn't add that I am your one and only friend that you can't do without."

"Awwwwn!" went the freshers and Chenka laughed silently.

"Why did you interrupt me?" she queried as we left the classroom for the stairs.

"To wish you a good morning, sunshine," I said and bodaciously planted a kiss on her cheek. She stopped and looked at me with steady and expressionless eyes. I fidgeted a bit hoping she wouldn't get angry. Thankfully, she resumed her pace and said in a calm tone, "Rich kid, you were late today. What happened? Did your super clock not wake you up?"

"It did."

"What was today's motivational quote?"

"You can move mountains if only you move yourself to the mountains."

Chenka stopped, looked at me queerly and asked, "Where do you get these quotes from?"

"I make them up."

"That is a very bad source of personal motivation. What if you wake up one morning with the motivation, I was born to rule the world?"

"I'll work hard to become the next Adolf Hitler," I said and she laughed. I added, "And you will be my Josephine."

She smiled quietly. I said dramatically, "Together, we will rule the world and bring glory to the Arian race!"

She laughed and said, "Why didn't you just go to theatre and film studies?"

"I would have, but you were in civil engineering," I said sweetly. I observed her face for a long time to get an expression. All in vain. I knew Chenka to be a focused and serious young woman. When she meant business, she meant business. She was also impartial to everyone about her feelings, even to her best friends. If she had zero tolerance for something, she would not hesitate to let you know. I hated and admired that side of her. It made me love and fear her. It also made me nervous about the kiss I had given her. She had quarreled with me about the same thing in our year three. I hoped she didn't feel cross.

I was glad when, during our walk back from the distinguished lectures series, I reached for her hand gently, and, to my surprise, she let me hold it.🥰 Chenka! What bliss I felt whenever I was with her, around her, near her.

"I have to surprise her this Valentine," I whispered to myself when she smiled that smile at me during ENG 413 class.My phone shook as it vibrated on the table. I picked it up and checked the message. It was from...

"I still want you."

Angrily, I typed, "Who is this?"

"My friends in Anatomy call me Mikaila, but you can call me sex..."

I slammed my phone down in rage. Chenka looked at me and her eyes seemed concerned. I quickly relaxed my angry face and smiled at her reassuringly. She shrugged and looked straight at the lecturer. After class, I picked my phone up. Mikaila had sent me five more messages. I turned off my data, pocketed my phone and quickly went after Chenka.

To be continued.