Veritable Amigos

Chapter Six

Chapter
Six

   After an aeon, Vin rang Gayles.  She was in class when her phone tweet but didn't answer it to avoid distraction.  After the last lecture when she was on her way to her room, she reached out to get her mobile phone from her bag and was surprised at whom the caller was. "Vin? After a long time, it has now come to his realization that I still exist. Hmm... but why was he calling? It should not be a problem calling back. Let me ring him", she thought.
   "Hi! Gayles", said Vin.
   "Hi", she replied.
   "I can't believe you forgot about me soon, I thought we were friends?" asked Vin.
   "I know you will flatly bring this up because I wasn't the one that called first", said Gayles trying to free herself.
   "So what is the truth?" clamoured Vin.
   "Oh really? You are accusing me falsely what about you? You didn't care to even text me in a long period, you just called me and you are picking a fight", said Gayles in defense. She got to her room, unlocked the door and went in.  None of her room mates were back as at that moment. "Hold on please", said Gayles. She took water from the refrigerator and satisfied herself. She sat on the bed when she was done. "We can continue now", she resumed.
   "I don't understand the nature of ladies, you were waiting till I call. You did this to hide it that you have missed me, but I am sorry I know of it. Truth is, I have come to know you so well and you can't keep anything from my knowledge". Gayles' temperature rose, it was so overwhelming to hear Vin say that to her, when all her life she had never thought a human would understand her that much to know what was on her mind. Vin was so different from the people she had encountered, there was a huge difference between the guys that harassed her in the past and Vin. "Why are you mute? I presume you have nothing to say to defend yourself" .

   Gayles said, "I just do not feel like arguing with you that is all".
   "Is anything the problem?" asked Vin.
   She replied, "no, I am just overwhelmed with dread".
   "Why?" he asked.
   "You forgot me till today", Gayles said.
   He asked again, "is that what you think?"
   "Not that. I do not know what I'll do without your comfort, she elucidated. Don't you ever leave me even when you're angry or when I'm cold".
   "I will surely leave you unless you give me reasons why I shouldn't", Vin stated.
   Gayles stammered, "and if I have no reasons?"
   "Gayles dear, you don't have to be scared of such a silly idea. Get yourself busy and stop thinking of such things. Be watchful you do not get sick because I will not be available to take care of you", he cautioned.
   "I completely trust you and your words. I was so scared. I thought I lost you", Gayles became rest assured.
   "Freshen up and eat something till you can swallow no more then rest, I will check on you afterward", Vin said and hanged up. Gayles felt relieved after she had spoken to Vin. Initially, she had thought he had also left her as Stellie and Rennie had done.
But no, Vin after so many months had called again, he didn't forget her as a mere friend would have done. Gayles had an assignment to perform but would be needing a helping hand, her only hope was Vin whom she completely trust now. He too, isn't available now, she was rather busy talking to him of fears. The assignment was undone, nobody to help. Gayles' head was bursting, she had been thinking too much. Not long ago, a fear of hers was taken care of but now she's got another one. What was her actual problem? At times, she wished Vin was there with her and when he was with her, all she would deliberately do was to fight with him. 
   Lying in bed, Gayles decided to text Stellie. "What is really wrong with me?" she asked.
   Five minutes later her phone vibrated. "What are you saying?"
   "I do not even know what has come over me", she texted back.
   "Calm down and tell me what had happened", came the reply.
   "I asked Vin not to leave me ever", she texted.
   "You what? Oh God, how romantic. And what did he say?" Stellie texted.
   Gayles felt embarrassed, she was conscience stricken. Hmm, if she had known what really was it's root she would have uprooted it before it grew much bigger and stronger.
   "You know what friend? Gayles texted back. "I am dying in guilt, I can't seem to live a stress free life any longer".
   "I know what it is and I have it's solution as well", she replied.
   "Kindly help me out! I feel sick without him", she begged.
   "You are in love with him, that is the problem. Accept the fact to clear your conscience is the solution", was her result.
   "You are misunderstanding things, I mistakenly asked him not to leave because I had lost you two already not that I loved him". Gayles texted again. "Oh he is calling, I will text you later". Gayles knew that shortening her chat with Stellie for Vin's call would be a big deal to her friend. How on earth should she choose a new friend over a longed time friend? She needed to urgently speak to Vin too, she could use her assignment as an aside.
   "How do you feel now?" he asked after Gayles had said hello.
   "I am better now", answered Gayles.
   "You didn't rest, did you?" he asked again.
   "How do you know?" she questioned.
   "I knew that from your voice and I also know you are stressed, he informed her. "Will u do me a favour?"
   "What is it?" Gayles asked haltingly, wondering what he was going to ask of her.
   "Please lay down and get some rest", he politely requested.
   "I have a lot of things doing, I can't just sleep", she laid her objection.
   "Remember I said please", he retried.
   "What about my assignment?" she asked again.
   It was a point Gayles would not easily accept to rest when her work hadn't been done to her satisfaction. To convince her was a waste of time and resource, the only way was to finish her assignment and later talk of her rest. Vin hatched a way to make her mellow, he might be able to make her lie down but to make her close her eyes to sleep was a different hassle altogether. Gayles became mathematics, all needed was just to derive a formula and work her step by step without missing any of the steps. "It is your assignment you are worried about, right?" Vin asked. "What if I propose I do the assignment for you, will you take the rest?"
   "Why would you do it for me?" she questioned, impressed with his efforts.
   "I want my favour done", he replied.
   "Hmm... It should be submitted via email. You can have the password to my account, do it and when you're done, submit it".
   "I have heard you beautiful", he said. Gayles entrusted her assignment into his hands, she gave him the access to her account also. Not doubting his capabilities neither minding his going through her mails. "To be sure you are asleep, do not end the call now. Just sleep, I will know if you are asleep and will end it", he instructed.
   "I actually don't feel like sleeping. I want to be with you", said Gayles.
   "You will have to sleep. Let me sing for you", Vin said, clearing his throat. "Okay, all set, ready! Let's go".
(So rare to find a friend like you. Somehow when you're around, the sky is always blue. The way we talk, the things we say. The way you make it all ok and how you know all of my jokes but laugh anyway.  If I could wish for one thing, I would take the smile that you bring. Wherever you go in this world, I'll come along.
   Together we dream the same dream, forever I'm here for you, you're here for me. oh-oh-oh. Two voices, one song.
   And anywhere you are you know I'll be around and when you call my name, I'll be all ears for the sound) he sang.
   "Do you like it?" asked Vin. There came no reply which signified that she was asleep, he hanged up. He was grateful to God for he had put a difficult baby to sleep. The next was for him to fulfill his promise.
   Gayles woke up very late the following day, she had had a much better sleep and felt more energetic than ever. She quickly rushed to get ready for class. Gayles for the first time in history was very late for class, when she entered the class everybody in there contemplated her in amazement. She felt awkward until suddenly there was an applaud from the lecturess.
   "That was brilliant of you", she extolled. "Class give her a round of applause". After the sound from their palms, "I have already told the class about your presentation. See me later, I have something to discuss with you". Gayles saw all that happened as day dreaming. She had not the slightest clue of what the rapturous applause was for, there was nothing she had done to deserve it. Applause for sleeping well or attending late for class? It sounds weird and absurd. As she sat in the class, her brain had lingered from her head, all the words the lecturess spoke went into her head and bounced back like a ball thrown to a wall.
   Gayles left with her afterwards. "Your presentation was perfect. I am amazed with how you managed to bring up with this in less than a day. Girl, you are fabulous", she commended.
   "Presentation you say, which presentation?", she asked her.
   She replied, "I am referring to the assignment you presented last night".
   "Oh, I forgot that", she said trying to figure out because she had not done a thing like she was been credited for.
   "Haylie, there is an opportunity for you. I know you desire to be a writer, how about publishing your books?", she asked.
   "Publishing my books?", she also asked, surprised. "I'm about being an author? Oh wow! I am so happy".
   "Think about it, I will see you later for your reply", the lecturess said and walked away.