When the sun comes

THIRTEEN

He watched her wearing her favorite pajamas, a pink singlet and purple sweatpants, she was holding a book but she was not reading, she just sat there staring at nothing.

He coughed, no answer, he sat beside her, she looked at him.

"What are you thinking about" he asked,

"Nothing"

"Seriously? You always say nothing even when something is bothering you"

"Do you want a child" she cut him off, staring into his eyes.

"Yes",  he replied slowly watching her expression, "where is this question coming from" he asked.

"Nowhere, I just wanted to know" she said.

"Wait a second, I hope you are not just asking this question because of my stepmother".

"No, it's not because of her, I also want a baby, I don't think we have given much thought on having a baby, we have been married for almost three years"

"Listen to me our marriage is still young, we are young too, I mean I'm just twenty seven and you are like nineteen right? We still have a lot of time so why should we bother ourselves"

"What if I get pregnant"

"Then I'll be very happy"

"You won't be worried about time and age".

"I still think we are young but if God gives us a child now, who am I to refuse, I'll be very happy, after all you are still my wife, if a baby doesn't come soon you are already my baby" he laughed, they hugged.

"Come to think of it, if you want a baby now why don't we start making them come, he whispered lustfully into her ear,

"Your are a naughty boy"

"I know, now come here.

***********************

After about two weeks in the village, they bade goodbye to everyone, they left and went back to their home, Mmasi resumed, and was now preparing for their final and certificate exams, Richardson was now very much avoiding her and she noticed, though he still talked to her and the other girls, he wasn't staring and kept distance,

Ikem also resumed his work, thankfully Jessica had not come back, he hadn't seen her and he was happy about that, the girl was a bad luck charm.

"Hey Richard", she greeted talking by his side,

"Hi, where are you heading to?" He asked,

"If I'm correct this same place you are going" she said,

"Really do you know where I am going?" He asked,

"To class"

He laughed, "wrong, I am actually going to the back of the school, I want to go and study there"

"Oh I was wrong, let's go together" she suggested,

"Really? He asked with raised eyebrows

"Why not" they headed to the back, and sat at this same spot where they had almost kissed, they were few students there too, some studying and some talking, some of them were even sleeping.

"When is your first paper" she asked.

"Next week Thursday" he replied while bringing out a note book from his bag.

He scooted away from her a bit,

"Richardson I know you have been avoiding me for a while now, you don't even talk to me, I thought we were cool"

Her words cut him off and he found himself staring at her

"Aren't we friends?" She asked.

"Yes"

"So why are you avoiding me so much"

"There is no reason for that"

"Really, so sometimes you just feel like avoiding me? She asked.

"Mmasi you are my friend, I'll tell you the truth, yes you are my friend but I can't seem to stop thinking about you, I can't seem to control some feelings I have for you and this hurts me so much because you belong to someone else"

"You like me?"

"Isn't it obvious"

"I thought........"

"You probably thought it was a just friends relationship right? But it isn't, I thought that after we almost kissed, I thought you liked me back, but I forgot or tried to hide the fact that you were actually married"

"What will we do"  she asked confused,

"Nothing, I would never like for you to leave your husband for someone like me"

"Leave my husband? That is impossible'

"I never asked you to leave him"

"But you indirectly suggested it"

"I did not do that" he yelled,

"I never knew you liked me that much and even if I knew nothing would make me leave my husband"

"Seriously you still think I would ask you to leave him, I'm not going to have this conversation with you" he said grabbing his bag and leaving her there.

"What happened" Tiwa asked she was with Susan and Ronke,

"Nothing" Mmasi replied,

"We just saw Richardson walk out on you angrily and you say nothing happened" Susan said,

"Hope it is not what I am thinking? "Ronke asked.

"What are you thinking" Tiwa said eyeing Ronke,

"I want to go"Mmasi said and walked away, her so called friends were not helping matters at all.

"Mmasi are you okay" Tiwa asked sitting beside her.

"I'm fine"

"I'm sorry for what I and the other girls said" she apologized

"It's okay, I didn't take it to heart"

"Do you want to talk about what happened"

She looked at Tiwa, she had been the nicest to her among her other friends, she understood situations better.

"Yes, was it obvious that Richardson liked me"

"Yes a bit, he always stood beside you and was looking at you one kind of loving loving eyes" she said,

"He told me he liked me a lot but because I am married, he stayed away, then he indirectly suggested to leave my husband"

"He really did that, I can't believe it, Richardson is a quiet man and very considerate I don't think he would say that to you, maybe he meant another thing"

"So you think I am lying"

"No but you two might have misunderstood each other, if he really asked you to leave your husband, then of course it is very wrong, because you can never force someone to love you back, I really do not want to see two of my best friends fighting"

"You are right, I have to apologise to Richardson, and you too, I am very sorry"

"You do not need to apologise to me after all we are best friends right?

"Yes".