The Road of Love

Chapter Eleven

Gerald did keep his promise of never calling Emma again.
He sometimes felt like calling just to hear her voice but didn't.
"Why do I want to hear her voice almost everyday?" he asked himself as he stated at Emma's contact on the phone screen.
"It's because you're in love" a voice said behind him.
He turned around to see his sister leaning on the door.
"Yes, you heard me" Vivian said and walked herself in.
"I'm not" Gerald said defensively.
"Brother, I know you very well" Vivian said and got up to leave.
"Oh yeah, in case you need tips on how to win her heart, you know where to find me" she turned around and stopped in her tracks after five short steps.
"I forgot, it's not free" she said without turning.
Gerald just shook his head.
He needed answers to his questions and no one could give him those desired answers.
He had to find answers.

                                     *****
"Where were you last night?. I called you several times but you didn't answer any of my calls and to top it all you switched off your phone" Emma questioned with a frown on her face.
Silence was the answer she got.
"Leo, I asked a question" she said tapping Leo on the shoulder.
"What do you want me to tell you?" he asked without looking at her.
"What happened last night" Emma replied impatiently.
"Nothing happened, all right?" Leo retorted.
"Please, kindly stay out of my life. You're not my mother and don't try to act as such.
I don't want to be in the relationship anymore" he finished and got up to leave the classroom but Emma held his hand.
"Please don't say that" she said with a broken voice.
"I was just worried" she said and got up.
She looked Leo in the eyes but his eyes were distant.
"I'm sorry Emma, but I don't love you anymore" Leo said.
Emma opened her mouth but no word came out.
"But you told me you love me" Emma said trying to hold back her tears.
"I lied. I never loved you" he said and slowly withdrew his hand from Emma's.
"I'm sorry about that Emma, you didn't deserve this. I'm very sorry" he said and walked out of the classroom.
Emma just stood there for two full minutes before reality hit her.
Leo never loved her and everything he told her was a lie.
"He probably is angry. His mind will be cleared by tomorrow and he'll tell me he's sorry and didn't mean this" she said to herself and wiped the tears that had escaped the prisons of her eyes.
She took her bag and ran out of the classroom. She bumped into someone and mumbled a sorry.
She descended the stairs in haste.
Gerald saw her leave the block. He also saw Leo leave a few minutes earlier. Something was wrong.
He opened his mouth to call Emma but remembered his promise to her and stopped.
She'll be fine by herself he thought.

                                   *****
Emma sat on the bed and remembered everything that happened half an hour ago.
"He's just joking. We'll talk through things tomorrow" she convinced herself.
She lay on the bed and pulled the covers to her neck.

                                   *****
Gerald couldn't get Emma out of his head so he decided to call to find out if she was all right but kicked the idea out of his mind.
"I'll go to her room instead" he said to himself.
"No, let me call first" he said and took his phone his back pocket.
Emma's phone was off.
He was already on his way to her hostel before the pre-recorded voice told him Emma's phone was off for the fifth time.
He knocked faintly but no one answered.
Emma was fast asleep.
He knocked again. No one answered.
He turned to leave but decided to try one last time.
He knocked again. No one answered.
He tried the knob and the door opened.
He peeped in to see if Emma was in.
He saw a figure curled on the bed.
He invited himself in and walked to the bed.
Her face was covered and she still had her shoes in.
He slowly retreated his step but stopped and moved back to the bed.
He slowly removed the shoes and placed them under the bed.
She mumbled a name and turned over.
Gerald slowly took the blanket off her face. He stood in awe. She was beautiful even when she was sleeping.
"You're so beautiful, Emma" the words just came out of Gerald's mouth subconsciously.
Emma's eyes slowly opened. She scanned the room as her eyes widened.
She sat up on the bed and gave Gerald a tired smile. He bowed his head in embarrassment. He didn't want to wake her up.
"What are you doing here?" Emma asked as she rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"Uh, uh" Gerald's mind had gone blank.
Emma just looked at him.
"Well, I saw you leave the block in haste" he said as he scratched the back of his head.
"Oh, I didn't see you there" Emma said and yawned.
"Is everything all right?" Gerald asked.
"Oh yeah, everything's fine" she replied.
Gerald just staredat her. Emma also stared back.
They looked at each other for a few minutes and Emma dropped her gaze.
Gerald kept looking at her. She covered her face with her hands.
Gerald dropped his gaze with his sunshine smile.
"Are you sure there's nothing wrong with you?" Gerald quizzed.
"No, uh, yes" Emma replied nervously.
"What happened?" Gerald pressed.
"We'll sort things out, don't worry" Emma replied subconciously.
"So there's something wrong after all" Gerald said to himself but audible enough to Emma's hearing.
"Do you want to share it with me?. I could be of help" Gerald said convincingly.
Emma weighed his words in her head and decided not to but she felt so comfortable with him she changed her mind and told him everything.
He sat there for sometime without saying a word.
"Give him some time Emma" Gerald told her sincerely.
"He might be having a rough week and need some time to himself" he continued.
Emma nodded.
"Thanks" Emma whispered.
"Oh, I'm really sorry for coming to your room. I promised to stay away..."
"It's all right" Emma cut him short.
"Okay, thanks" Gerald responded.
He got up to leave and gave Emma a pat on the back.
"You'll be fine" he said and left.
Emma felt good. She checked her phone for a message from Leo. There was none.