Twelve Days to Valentine ✨✨

 

Valentine's eve..❤‍🩹

 Four years ago

"Hey, Jenka!" Noah called.

"It's Chenka," Chenka said as she looked back. Noah approached her.

"Whatever. Why did you tell Jannie that I was the one who took her term paper?" demanded Noah.

"Didn't you take her term paper?"

"That's not the question," Noah cut in. "You had no business there."

"What was I supposed to do, keep silent and let you harass the poor girl?"

Noah chuckled, then he said, "You have a lot of guts, for a girl."

"I thank God I do, so I can stand up to bullies like you," Chenka replied bodaciously.

Noah eyed her for a while. He smiled when she stared back at him without flinching. "Your right," he said, "I'm sorry for my actions."

"You shouldn't be apologizing to me," replied Chenka who was surprised at Noah's reaction. Unfortunately, she didn't catch the hint of malice in his eyes.

"I'll apologize to Jannie too," said Noah humbly.

"Well, good for you," said Chenka nervously. She turned to leave.

"Wait. Can I at least have the pleasure of knowing your name?" Noah asked sweetly.

"Chenka."

"Your full name, please."

Without an atom of suspicion, she told him her full name.

"What's your name?" Chenka asked warming up to the charms of Noah naively.

"Noah Ekrong," he said with a kind smile.

"Where were you born?"

"The States," Noah said simply.

"Your accent betrays you, rich kid. I liked your presentation at GSP 201. You were outstanding," said Chenka amicably.

"Thanks. You were pretty great yourself."

"Thank you."

As she left, Noah whispered, "Chenka. I won't forget the name," with an evil grin on his face.

He didn't forget the name. It also turned out that, as the class rep of his class, a lecturer had trusted him to carry some exam scripts to her office. That was the opportunity he needed to get back at her. As it turned out, he didn't have any trouble finding and removing Chenka's script from the pile of papers.

                      *********

I had been seated at the quadrangle all night. My hands and face were still numb from the cold Nsukka air. My nose was starting to get heavy and my throat hurt terribly. Oma looked at me again and hissed in distress.

"Don, go home now," she groaned. Obviously, my state must have terrified her.

I didn't answer her. I just kept my hands folded, waiting for Chenka. She complained for the umpteenth time, "The things people do for love. She said she doesn't want to see you. Go home. If you fall seriously ill, will it make matters better?"

I shut my ears to her words. I wasn't leaving until I had reconciled with Chenka. That was the promise I had made myself and so far so good, I had been faithful to it.

"Hello? Chenka, he's been here all night, please," Oma said over the phone. The call didn't last long. Then Oma said to me, "Chenka won't come out. You are wasting your time."

"She'll go to church," I replied.

"She still won't see you."

"Then I won't leave."

After some minutes of quiet mumbling, Oma left me to continue my penance. As I sat and waited, I brooded over my sin and shook my head sorrowfully. What had I been thinking? Why had I decided to pay her back in such a manner? Why had I yielded to the temptation of the devil? What was my excuse, that I was young and foolish?

"Chenka, please forgive me," I whispered. I also tried her number so many times I'm sure she must have blocked my number. I knew I was the last person she wanted to talk to, but I still wanted to apologize to her for the pain I had caused her.

I sat there all morning. I was getting weaker at midday and would have passed out at 3 in the afternoon had Chenka not emerged from her hostel.

"Chenka," I called with joy. I tried to stand and meet her but my legs were paralyzed from the cold and many hours of sitting down.

Chenka walked up to me slowly. Her expression wasn't friendly at all. She sat down by my left, leaving a big space between us.

I forgot my pains and smiled penitently at her. She didn't smile back so I recalled the gravity of my sin. I frowned remorsefully.

"Do you care to know who gave me the script?" she asked after a while of silence. Her voice was hoarse and weak. She had been crying all night.

"No," I muttered.

"You already know who it is then."

I didn't reply her.

"I didn't want to believe her until I had heard from you."

"I'm sorry," I put in sorrowfully.

She looked at me in disbelief. "Sorry? I trusted you, as a friend. I would understand if someone else did it, but you...! How could you?"

I kept silent; I had no excuse.

She continued, "Maybe some people wouldn't mind but I did. My parents worked so hard to pay my fees. I promised to reward them with a good result. I cried thinking I had disappointed them with a carryover in Physics not knowing it was all your doing. Why were you so evil?"

Her tears didn't let her continue her passionate outpour.

I wiped my wet face and sniffled. "You have no reason to forgive me. My actions are inexcusable. I just want you to know that I'm sorry. I truly am," I said glancing at her sadly. Then I covered my face with my hand and tried to stifle my tears.

She was quiet for a while. Then she said, "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"I didn't want you to find out. I was afraid..." I stopped.

"Well? Is it better now that I've found out like this?" she asked stonily.

"I'm sorry, Chenka. I really am. I was a fool then. I'm changed now. I would never do such a thing to you. I'm sorry. I never knew I had caused you so much pain. I... Please, forgive me," I wept miserably.

"How can I trust you?" Chenka said after a prolonged silence which only my groans interrupted.

I'm not asking you to trust me. I only want you to forgive me. Please Chenka.

These words stayed stuck in my throat as I struggled with my tears which were becoming hot.

Chenka gazed at me for an answer. Then, she stood up and left. I didn't bother calling her back. I knew it was over.

After a while, I stood up and weakly trudged to my room. Chenka's gone, I thought. She's gone out of my life. I had lost her in the worst way. Mikaila had had her revenge.

I stopped when I got to the place where I had first met Chenka. I stood there for a long time staring at the ground. Then I sighed and looked straight ahead. I continued my journey.

I stopped abruptly and watched Chenka walk up to me. Was this a memory because it seemed to me that she was wearing the same clothes she had worn on the first day. The look in her eyes convinced me otherwise.

She stopped before me. I stared at her hopefully. Then she turned to her right and walked into the garden at the vice chancellor's office. I followed.

She sat at our usual spot and I sat beside her. I was careful not to come too close. I still hadn't been forgiven.

"Chenka," I whispered nervously.

She looked at me and smiled a bitter smile. "Rich kid," she began, "I'm still angry with you."

I looked down.

"But..." she gave me her beautiful smile and added, "buy me meshai and I'll consider forgiving you."

I nearly cried for joy. I wanted to pull her into my arms but I wasn't worthy. Thankfully, she saw the longing in my eyes and gently placed her head on my shoulder while interlocking her fingers in mine. I sniffled.

"Rich kid," she called.

I moved a little to show I was listening.

"No matter what you do, you'll always be my rich kid. Don't forget that," she whispered.

It took all my effort to keep back my tears. At last, I managed to say, "Thank you, Chenka."

Gratefully, I rested my chin on her hair and cuddled her. She closed her eyes and I smiled.

          💞💞💞

To be continued.