serendipity

un appel manqué

"who was that?" rakim asked out of the blue. the more we walked, the more it got cold, and the more it got cold, the less i didn't feel like talking. i just wanted to go home and be warm. at least that hot chocolate was helping me.

i shivered as the wind hit me. i looked at him perplexed, "eh, what?"

he looked back at me, replying, "the guy at timmy's."

for some strange reason, butterflies were flying in my stomach and my face flushed. i took a big sip of my drink before answering him, "oh him? that yennick. yennick smith."

"okay... and y'all friends?" rakim asked with his eyebrow raised.

i shrugged, "i don't know, but he saved me. from that night."

for some odd reason, his hold of my hand got tighter, like as if he was squeezing my hand and he stayed silent to whole walk home. i didn't bother knowing why, i just really want to go home.

i haven't realized i was smiling from ear to ear when i mentioned his name.

but it felt great.

YENNICK

i slouched myself on the couch with a mug on the coffee table filled with hot ginger tea. the hot vapour lingered in mid air as i stare blankly at the phone book in silence while the sound of the clock was echoing in my ears. tonight, i was on a mission to get in contact with her. forget calling her 'her'-i meant emani.

she remembers me, right? it's been three weeks since i last saw her and it's been a month and a few days since i've met her, i hope she's okay. maybe if i gave her a phone call, things could be good. i was alone on a wednesday night, so why not? my friends are mostly my partners at work and they're all working tonight, i don't think there should be anything else i could do.

i brought the mug to my lips and attempted to sip my drink just but i quickly put it back on the coffee table as i cursed loudly, "fuck, that shit burned my tongue!"

i inhaled a few times while fanning my tongue with my hands to cease the burn from my tongue-obviously, it didn't work at all. so, i hurried myself to the kitchen, grabbed myself a spring water bottle from the fridge and chugged the shit out of it.

as i returned to my seat, opening the thick book. this is the first time i've used a phone book but i noticed how it wasn't complicated at all. it worked in alphabetic orders so that's fantastic.

"now i'm guessing it works by last name?" i thought to myself.

i went over to the 'B' section of the book, my eyes scanned through it as i was trying to find her name in the book.

"banks... banks.. banks... ban-" my eyes stopped. there was no banks in the phone book. i must've done something wrong or i didn't search properly.

i searched another time, stopping my index finger below every name. finally, my finger stopped at her name written in all capital, bold letters: BANKS, MARIELLE EMANI

right beside her name, her address reminded me of the morning i went to go drop her off. i quickly pulled out my phone, my heart race as i started dialling the number. i tensed up as it rang, my mind was exploding with a bunch of thoughts and my stomach was making knots. i don't understand why am i feeling this way for a phone call, the worst that can happen is that she doesn't pick up.

"hello?" the faint voice spoke on the other line. my face lit up, as if she answered my call, jackpot!

"uh, hi? emani is that you?"

"who's this?" a very congested but deep voice replied to me. i then start to realize i wasn't speaking to her.

"yennick... smith? don't you remember me?"

there was a rather uncomfortable silence, until the man spoke up. "if you're trying to get in contact with emani, she's can't take your call at the moment."

stunned by his response, i decided to ask myself who he was, "who am i speaking to?"

"rakim, don't you ever think about calling here again."

next thing i knew, the line cut off on the other end. i stared at my phone screen as the phone call vanished. "what the fuck?"

EMANI

"who was that?" i asked as i tried to take my phone from rakim, but turns out the phone call already ended.

"no one in particular." he stared at me deeply with no emotion, but he quickly shot me a smile. i took the phone away from him, looking at the unfamiliar number. rakim was right, it probably was no one in particular since i've never seen this number before.

"but it looked like you were having a short conversation with that person, it can't be 'no one in particular'." i said while doing the air quote sign. rakim shrugged and left my room without saying a word. something about that phone call was fishy.

"i'm gonna leave now, if that's alright with you?" rakim cut me off from my thoughts. he looked at me from my bedroom as he tried to unlock the front door.

i gave him a smile indicating that he can leave for tonight. i've gotten better and i can sleep on my own without having a physical hold to keep myself asleep at night. talking about sleep, i was feeling a bit tired and i am ready to go to sleep anyway.

i took my iphone and plugged my home phone in its charger. i unhooked my bra while i crawled backwards to my bed and engulfed myself with my cozy comforter. the number was keeping me awake.

i can swear to you i stayed awake for at least two hours, just staring at the ceiling. i've decided to shrug it off, it's just a damn number.

just when my eyes were about to roll back in my skull, my home phone rang. who could possibly calling me so late?

i answered the phone without looking at the caller ID. "hello?"

"emani?"

that voice... too familiar, could it be?

That cliffhanger tho. 😏

Omg, I'm the worst author EVER. it's past 10 chapters and Emani and Yennick are still not getting closer.

I promise you in the next chapter, some shit 'bout to go DOWN.

So sorry for not updating and VERY sorry for people who don't like stories that doesn't go on a fast pace. To me, I honestly just find stories that goes on a fast pace is unrealistic and ruins the story.

I'm very sorry for the readers who would like Emani and Yennick to unite. It will come soon, DON'T YOU WORRY.

If you're reading this, it's not too late. (get it? 😂😩 no? 😐 okay.)

Vote and comment please!

Love you guys.

Sincerely, Aïsha.