Chapter 2

Chapter Two

I almost couldn't believe my eyes, He was there, like really there!, in the flesh I could feel my heart about to beat out of my chest "What is happening? Like what is really happening?"my mind was everywhere, another headache starting to form! "Who is that at the gate?" I heard Neel ask but I couldn't answer, the words just couldn't form, My whole face was pale, confusion all over. I stood still, my whole body frozen to the spot, not even when Neel came to stand in front of me, Not even when he shook me awake, I raised my head, my eyes teary as I stared at him, my emotions over the place, my breath quickening Reina! Reina!!! I heard my name, Neel's lips was moving but I didn't hear any sounds, Reina! Louder, More Stronger and I heard myself answering "Yes" my Voice was soft, a whisper, Are you okay? I heard him ask. I blinked, looked at the gate and back to Neel, Strange there was no one there, I looked around again to be sure, rubbed my eyes and asked Neel if he saw anyone while he came to meet me, He gave me this strange look that says "Are you crazy" and "are you okay?" all in one, I nodded my head, giving him a slight smile. I looked towards the gate one last time, breathed once, twice and went back inside. "Are you not done cutting this carrot ehhh, why naa" I heard mama quarrelling just as I reached her side where she was cooking,"I'm sorry mama, I thought I saw someone at the gate" I mumbled, but my mind just couldn't stop, What is wrong with me? Am I letting Him bother me this much to the point of hallucinating about him?  I finished helping with food and washed the dishes, while Mama was picking out plate she wants to dish out food for our neighbors which happened to be the whole neighborhood, I sighed pitying myself on all the short visits I was going to make to all the houses, except maybe Neel would accept to help, which he hardly does, always saying something along the lines of "I am too old for that shi", which always annoy me, but he always gets me a present for Christmas and I take that as a bribe.

Telling myself I am in my head these days, I decided to take it easy. Visitors are starting to come, friends from everywhere already trooping in and yeah! I begin to really feel Christmas, We chatted a lot,Played games and even danced, all the time praising Mama for her scrumptious party Jollof rice. Soon enough, everyone started leaving, I messaged Marie again wondering why she hasn't come to visit lately and her number has been unreachable, the last I saw her was at her party, and since then, she said she was travelling to see her aunt in Mexico and should be back in a week, it's over two weeks now and I haven't heard from her, wondering if something was wrong or happened, I called her again,but this time, I got connected to voicemail.

She didn't say anything but I know her parents are having some kind of problems, I didn't want to intrude so I didn't say anything to her, had it become serious,that she had to go off like this? Thinking to myself that I should go see her tomorrow, I went back inside from seeing my last group of friends that came around. Mama went out to see her own friends and Neel was expecting friends,I didn't want to actually go anywhere so I decided to stay with Neel just until his friends come around before going inside my room. Soon enough, his friends arrived and Neel went to welcome them, while I stood up heading to my room.

"Boys are Soo noisy!"  I grumbled to myself praying for the umteenth time for Nepa to atleast take their light so I can have some peace and quiet. Music was blasting everywhere, and they were chatting so loudly, about school memories,girls they dated and even about football,not being able to hold it In any longer, I stood up from my bed heading for the living room where Neel and his friends were, just as I rounded the corner to the dinning room, thankfully, Neel was standing there taking some drinks from the fridge as I approached him, silently thanking God in my heart that I don't have to go all the way faking smiles, I have no energy. "Reina" he called just as I was about to call his name, He turned facing me, dumping some of the canned drinks in my hand, I Gave him a one side stare and he just smiled at me "help me with those, will you?" Before I could even say no "my friends want to say hi" I sneered at him while he rushed past me to the living room  where his friends were, taking a deep breath, I followed him to the living room to meet his friends, where he introduced me. "You?!!!" We both shouted together shocked, how are you here? I asked Him, I thought, You were, I was shocked, I could feel my face start to heat up, my heart beat increasing by the second,willing myself to breathe, I stared, like really stared, He looked different from the last I saw him, at the party, I didn't get to look at him at the hotel room, I was scared, all I thought about was running away, I felt my cheeks burn with shame, but quickly covered it up, "is it possible he wasn't dead when I saw him?, Did I assume wrong? maybe I did,willing myself to smile I stretched my hands, courtesy demands, "it's good to see you" he shook it and drew me to him enveloping me in a hug, dumbfounded I could not do anything, and then "I miss you" soft, deep and dangerous in my ears and, I Froze!! Literally because, What the Hell!! What game is he trying to play now?!! I pushed him off me, Hard, Looked at all the surprised faces and a shocked Neel staring at me ,as if he could find answers just by looking at me, I speed-walked all the way to my room banging my door in the process and slipped to the floor not being able to control my tears and my shaking hands as memories began flooding my mind.