Campus Life; Good Boy Gone Bad: #2-05……..Kiss of Diversion

I had to apologize to Chema, it was the right thing to do. I woke up, reached for my wallet; there was only an old fifty shilling note, where had the money gone to? I had just withdrawn two thousand bob, the other day. I quickly took a shower and a swallowed two tablets of Panadol to keep the headache away as I headed to Chema’s room.

Just a few metres away from my room, it came to my mind that I was not just going to apologize. I had to carry something to wrap up my apologies. A card or something would be nice. I quickly walked to town and straight to the ATM. I withdrew two thousand bob and realized that my balance was running low and the semester had just begun. Anyway those were things to worry about later as it was time to make a girl happy first.

At the 4th row of the supermarket, the neatly arranged cards stood out. I picked up several cards and it was like they had predicted my situation. They came in various flavours and prices but one message in all of them, I had to admit I was wrong! Admitting to be a player, is not in the player’s rules, I guess. After a second thought, I realized the card might not work. I walked away thinking of something that would liven Chema up. I bypassed a number of teddy bears and instantly took interest in one large teddy bear; yeah the inanimate thing would probably work. Then with the sun, ice-cream would possibly help. I quickly paid for my purchases and as I walked out of the supermarket, the hawker outside called out to passersby,
“Flesh… Fresh flowers,” he shouted out to me, lifting the flowers to my face. They were not fresh.
“Red roses, girls like them man!” he said excitedly seeing my interest; of course I could see they were red and they were roses. I thought for a second, and realized the flowers would be overkill. I turned down the hawker’s offer even as he insisted on a ‘negotiated’ price.

I slowly walked back to campus while at the same time trying to compose what I would tell Chema. First I would confess my love to her, no I would first offer her the teddy bear and the ice-cream the talk general stuff, and just when I would make her laugh, I would tell her how I love her. Then when Stella’s name would come into the picture, I would look straight in her eye and say the best lie; she was my past, while she: Chema, was my present and my future.

I was just about to bypass hall 20, when I heard my name being called out, “Rain!” That voice could only be of one person; it was Stella. I was utterly shocked, but I had to turn slowly, in a composed manner.
“I have been trying to catch up with you,” Stella said walking up to me. She wore sunglasses and smiled broadly.
“Stella, you are back!” I said trying to sound okay, which I did not perform so well.
“Yes I am, you look surprised to see me, what’s up” Stella said removing her shades.
“No I am not,” I said fighting back feebly.
“You turned off the phone earlier, why did you do that?” Stella said, now holding her waist.
“It’s was actually the battery, I forgot to charge it. How is your family,” I said trying to change the topic.
“They are good,” she said with little interest. “Look what do you have there?”

She quickly scanned through the contents of my Uchumi bag. This was the hard, nay impossible part. What would I say? As she rummaged through the bag, I could see in her face, an element of surprise.
“A teddy bear… ice-cream,” she said slowly, her voice growing croaky, “Who is she?” she asked now looking directly at me. Did it have to be a she?
“Stella, you would never guess it,” I said planting a fake smile and buying some time to think.
“Rain, what?”
“Guess what…” I snapped my fingers in the air, “They belong to you!” I said throwing her into an array of confusion.
“You are lying! How did you know that I would be here?”
“It’s called instincts girl. I just thought of surprising my girl today and what a better way to do this, than this?” I handed her the plastic bag.
“Wait a minute…” she paused, shaking her index finger in thought, then continued: “You knew I would be at home, so how did you…” she said her trail of thoughts failing her.
“Well, as I said its instinct and then I thought there is no problem in trying. See hall 20 is just here,” I said pointing to her hostel. “In any case, I don’t know anyone in that hall except you,” I said as I confidently held her shoulder.
“Rain!” She screamed out. Don’t I just love it when they say that name loud! “I love teddy-bears, and this ice-cream its just perfect for this sun and having walked this far…Thank you,” she said sincerely.
Time was right and I kissed her, a kiss that diverted Chema’s gifts.