Naya and Vince

25

REUNION

It felt nice to always come back home and rest from surviving the traffic and school. The thought of not going to Madam hips' place overjoyed me.

I was about to close my eyes when I heard a knock. I was surprised. When last did someone knock on the door? Only the knock made me know it wasn't Dinma. And It couldn't be Kojo either. He wasn't that civilised.

I groaned. "Who be that?"

"I want to see you." It sounded too much like Richard. I promptly stood up from my bed.

"I say who be that?"

"You know it's me. Richard."

What on earth was he doing here? I suddenly started feeling hurt and guilty. I don't know if it was tears that pricked my eyes but my chest burned.

"I don't want to see you."

Who knows which other hurtful statements he wanted to spill? He didn't say anything. I waited but I heard nothing from him. I couldn't believe he just left. I felt the sob bubble up my throat.

"Naomi open the door."

The hell?!

"Don't call me that!"

"Why is it not your name?"

"No!" Why did he choose to do this? As if leaving me is not enough, he had to bring up the topic of my name. It always stirred up stupid emotions!

He. Knew. That.

"It is your name-"

I unbolted the door and whipped it open. "Stop! Why are you saying that? You're not being fair!" I said slapping his chest. Tears were threatening to fall. He hugged me and pushed us inside then bolted the door.

"I'm very sorry. I just wanted you to open the door."

"You shouldn't have said that. I was going to open the door. I really want to talk to you," I said. I pulled away from the hug and wiped the little tears that escaped. I don't know why but I felt shy with Richard standing in the room. It was ugly and shabby.

Richard sat on the bed and stared up at me. "How are you?"

I sat on the bed too but not close to him. "I've never been better." I scoffed at myself. Who was I kidding? Even a baby would tell that I was just bluffing.

Richard shook his head and smiled before looking back at me. "I just wanted to know how you're doing. I'm glad you're good. So you said you wanted to talk to me?"

I blinked at him. He must be kidding. I expected him to apologize and say we were cool.

"First of all, why did you come?"

"To know how you're doing," he shrugged.

"I. . .I don't have anything to say to you."

Richard shook his head in disappointment. "Alright then." He stood up and headed towards the door.

I opened my mouth but no words would come out. I wanted to say something. I didn't want him to leave a second time. He might not come back.

"Rich-"

"You don't want me to go." He stopped and faced me when he said that.

I stood up from my sitting position.

"Yes Richard. I don't want you to go," I started. "And I've thought about it and I realised that i'm just being selfish." Richard took some steps closer to me. "The thing is that I cannot imagine being alone again but-but if going to Abuja would make you happy then as a friend I am wishing you a safe journey and good luck."

It was hard to actually say these words, I'm a terrible person I know but I had reasoned it during the weekdays. If these few words were all it took to save the only relationship I had in this wretched life of mine then I was going to say them over and over again.

Richard smiled and opened his arm wide for an embrace and I gladly embraced him. "I'm so proud of you my friend," he whispered in my ears making me giddy.

When we separated from the hug, he proceeded to say, "Trust me I do not want to leave you. I still want to hang around you but I also have to go. I have a life to live too, Nairobi. I'm not saying the work is more important than you but maybe it's the right thing to do. Maybe if I leave you for a while you might actually find another person or persons to lean on."

"I don't want to lean on anyone."

"Okay. Let me put it like this. You need to form an alliance. Life is a race quite alright but it's not a competition."

"A race is a competition," I said.

Richard held my shoulder while staring straight at me. "Not life's race. There are huddles on the race of life and once in a while you would need help from your fellow racers. You don't have to act like you can do it alone. Nairobi I know that you know that you need people. Friends Naya. They are going to be your family, if you'd let them be. You want that right?"

"I've been without a family for as long as I can remember. I don't  think I fancy it anymore," I lied.

Pathetic.

"I know you're lying. You've not really told me anything about your classmates but you've never complained about them after that first day. I can see a great friendship growing. Hold them tight."

My mind wandered to the guys. Jessica, Chijioke, Stephen and even Aliyah. They gave me joy. Joy that i have only ever felt with Richard. They really made me happy. Lydia, Chioma and Amanda were also among. But I was scared of them. I didn't want to get too close for the fear of being betrayed.

But then Richard was right.

I needed to  form an alliance. Not everyone was going to stab me in the heart. Life is about taking risks, life itself was a risk that I was already taking. It was only right that I risked making friends again. I was too lonely for my liking and my own good. The people I mentioned above were good candidates for friendship.

"I will try."

Richard smiled. It reached his eyes. I couldn't help but smile back.

"Oya gist me."

"About what?" I asked sitting down once again. He joined me on the bed.

"Everything that has been happening in your life since regal high duh!" He said dramatically. And I told him every damn thing. It was the last time I was going to see him.

Short Chapter
But how was it?

Richard still initiated the reunion tho. Pathetic Nairobi, hmph!

Vooottteeee. Please.

Byee.