Naya and Vince

29

I tapped my pen on my textbook as I waited for Vincent in the library. A familiar teacher was also tutoring a junior student who looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there.

We had mathematics and we were done for the day. We just had to go through his exercise I had marked before we went our separate ways, only to say more than hi and hello on Saturday. Vincent said he wanted to use the gents so I just sat at the table enjoying the breeze from the open window beside me. The library's air-conditioning was faulty according to the librarian.

It was when Vincent pulled a seat and sat down that I knew he was back.

"How did I do?" He was referring to his exercise.

"Well. Five out of ten."

He nodded. "Time for corrections then."

I didn't fail to notice the bitterness in his tone. He had been trying hard recently to impress me for reasons best known to him. I wasn't complaining, if anything I appreciated the energy. He even got me lunch during break period. I still couldn't get over it.

"Before that," I dragged. "Constance's birthday is tomorrow." It came out as a statement though it was intended as a question.

"Who told you?"

"She did. Last Saturday."

I had made it a habit to spend enough time with Constance. The girl had lost her mother and she didn't even know. I felt terrible for her. I had not gotten the courage to advise Vincent to tell her the truth. I was going to made sure I, Constance and Vincent did things together before I left for home. It was obvious Constance's and Vincent's relationship was strained and Vincent was trying so hard to hold it together.

Vincent hummed and said nothing more. I was used to his not having anything to say. He was the perfect description of a man of few words.

"I want you to help me give her something,"  I said. I unzipped my bag and brought out a sorry excuse of a wrapped birthday present.

"I've not wrapped a gift before," I said as an apology for the mess. I had never even given a gift to anyone except Richard. I was definitely getting attached to Constance.

"Um. . .thank you for this," Vincent said putting the present in his bag. "We're celebrating the birthday on Saturday."

He didn't say he was inviting me so I guessed he meant for us to forfeit the session on Saturday.

"Should we make up for it tomorrow?" We had made it a routine to have sessions only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays instead. Since mid term test was next week. I felt we shouldn't forfeit any session.

"Tomorrow's Constance's day." He gave me a look that said dumbass and I face palmed.

"Right." I gazed at the wall clock. "Let's do the corrections and wrap up today's session."

*

I sat outside the door of the room staring at the door opposite ours while contemplating. Dinma had thought it nice to bring a man home so i had to sleep outside with my best friends for life, the mosquitoes.

Stephen had invited me for Constance's birthday party. I wanted to go and I didn't want to go. Stephen said he planned a party that Vincent didn't have any ounce of knowledge about and had invited some of our classmates too. When I had asked why he'd do such a thing, he claimed that it was for Vincent's good.

"He needs it," he told me.

I sighed rubbing my head in frustration. Constance would love to see me there.