Love?

Chapter 2

   He was my second crush since my first crush occurred whilist I was in secondary school. I didn't know his name and then I resolved to giving him a nickname which was 'Apple' 😂 (My favourite fruit). I figured it'd suffice pending the time I'd know his name eventually. I told Anike and she was skeptical. "Really? Is he handsome?" She peered at me with her eyes. "Handsome? For God's sake Nike if you see this guy... He's just too fine!" I never knew how to describe how handsome Apple was. "Well I'd have to see him first besides I doubt he'd be so fine." Nike talked like that because she didn't have a crush yet. I was surprised as to how I could be attracted to a boy in my first year with  my course being a five year course. While Nike who was offering a four year course was not crushing on any guy yet.

  During recess the next day, after lectures, I made Nike see Apple. "Oh my word! He's too fine. I mean I used to see him around the school campus and assuming you didn't state you had a crush on him sis I'd go for him." My countenance had changed then because of her statement. She gave me a side hug then. "It was a joke joor. But I must commend that he's good looking ooo.😌 Nice one Sis." She gave me a round of applause while she left for class. I started making eye contact with him in class and sometimes I'd catch him staring at me. I didn't take it all to heart because I doubted he'd ever like me with the girls I normally saw him with. I stole glances at him in class and would often sit in one side of the canteen beside the Law Annex just to get a look at him. I liked him and when he happened to be beside me my heart would skip a beat.

  I called Mum regularly to check up on her since I was unsure of Dad's behaviour. He didn't beat her these days but was not consistent with dropping money for food. "Mum will you come to our school so I can withdraw three thousand naira for you incase you need money for anything?" "Don't worry Abike. If I need it I'll tell you and besides that money is for your foodstuffs. Olorun a to se Iyanu( Yoruba dialect meaning The Lord will soon do wonders)." Mum was expecting a certain amount of money from her working place since she had been working in the bank for awhile. Dad didn't know. Mum plans to use the money to start a business since Dad was proving he didn't care. He called frequently but I picked his calls randomly. I didn't care about him a bit. He was a heartless bastard.

   I found out Apple's name whilist looking for my course form a particular Wednesday afternoon. I was surprised at his name. His name was Anjola Amos Udoh. I didn't know he was half Igbo, half Yoruba. I was glad to know his name. I told Precious( my course mate/ a friend kind of) about my feelings for Apple. She was 17 but she expressed great Wisdom. I was 19 but I was kinda new to the whole 'love' thing. She listened to me gush about Apple while she ranted about Anime all day long. We had different priorities but I felt at peace with her. She was also studious and she motivated me to also read. You should know that whenever I came across Apple whilist going to Bible study I'd just pass him by although we'd have made eye contact. I questioned why he looked at me.
1. Maybe he was mesmerised by my beauty. I mean I didn't use earrings and my skirts were awfully long.
2. Maybe he was amazed as to how Nike and I looked alike etc.
I didn't know what to think and I couldn't get a mental picture of his face in my head. I didn't see him in the School Campus (generally speaking) on Thursdays to Sundays based on my observations. I often wondered why.

  Apple did three things to further confuse me.
1. On the day I wore a blue long sleeve shirt I saw him walked towards me after a lecture. Maybe he wants to profess his undying love? "Please do you know where the attendance is?" He didn't attend the Lecture and just came to sign attendance. "Oh. You'd have to ask Tolani." Butterflies were dancing in my tummy. "Tolani right? Please where is she?" He talked so calm and he had innocent eyes. I pointed across the room. "She's over there." "Thanks." And then he trodded off. God in heaven knows I was so happy he talked to me that day. 😂😊
2. He greeted me "Hi" when we standing beside each other to queue for an exam. I just replied "Good Morning" and quickly trodded off to sit down before I started sweating. He didn't need to see how nervous I was.
3. Precious told me that Apple greeted one of our course mates "Hi" also. I was not happy because I thought it was only me not other girls he greeted.

  I told Mum I had a crush. Mum believed a girl should be with a man who truly loved her and was pursuing her with good intentions. And not that a girl would be running after a boy. Nike was quick to announce his name continuously in front of Mum. Mum got the idea he was Igbo. She was skeptical about the fact that he was fine and he moved with girls a lot. She told me to face my studies first and that boys could come later. She stated that as he was very fine he would only go for the girl he liked since he has streams of Girls around him. Mum told me that the boy who truly loved me would be willing to wait for me no matter what.

  God was my refuge and as I continuously had crushes, I questioned what love was since Dad maltreated Mum. I loved God and my conscience pricked me anytime I did anything bad. Not that I was perfect but I tried my absolute best to do the will of God. I never expected Apple to pay attention to me since I didn't wear trousers in school( I did wear at home though), didn't wear earrings and was not so outgoing. I did dress well though. I saw him on the day after exams. He wore a sport jersey with shorts and held a ball in his hands. I noticed he loved sports since he was always at the sport centre alongside the fact that he talked with girls an awful lot.
During the holidays, I pretty much avoided Dad and whenever we had Dinner together with Mum and Anike it was always so akward. I would just ignore him and eat in silence. He could be married to Mum and be my Father but that didn't mean he could maltreat us. The fact that he was not remorseful pissed me off the more. Whenever Mum went out to a party during this time, Anike and I watched Mum's movies she had in the house. I happened to come across a certain actor in one of the movie. His name was Niklaus Parrish. He was tall, had long hair and a beard, blue eyes and had muscles. He was so handsome. I followed him on Instagram and would like every single one of his post whilist commenting. He was eight(8) years older than me but I didn't care. He became my everyday fantasy. I was like every other girl day dreaming about Niklaus (obviously) being my knight in shining armour.
  
  I didn't get to see Apple all through the beginning of second semester in class. I either saw him on the road or in the canteen beside the Law Annex in the university. I missed him and his innocent eyes. I was surprised when Niklaus Parrish sent a message to me on Instagram. He asked me to DM him.