We sat opposite each other as we waited for our meal to be served. When the waiter brought mine, I didn't want to, or should I say, I couldn't have the courtesy of waiting for him to be served before I delved into mine. We had spent quite some time at the screening centre and I was truly famished.
I was already doing the justice the food deserved when his own food was brought. He ate like a perfect gentleman and even though he tried so hard to conceal the glances with the glass of juice he was constantly lifting to his lips, I could see how much he admired me.
'You never got to tell me your name, pretty!' he said calmly when we stepped out of the restaurant and on our way to our respective destinations. 'Oh that's true. My name is Anita, and I'm here to study law. I only know you're Roy. What are you here to study?' I asked sweetly
'Medicine' he tossed casually. 'It's been nice making your acquaintance,' he said politely, stretching out his hand for a handshake. I shook his hand and bid him farewell before he made the move first.
I was becoming angry with his gentility. What the heck is 'making your acquaintances'? Couldn't he at least say something nicer? Or did he by chance not notice how beautiful I am' I thought disappointedly.
The way he stretched his hand for the handshake made it so clear he didn't even want to have any further dialogue. So a girl has to do what she has to do - I bid him farewell before he got the chance to tell me first!
He turned around and strode in the opposite direction as I moved. 'He didn't even ask for my phone number!' I thought, rolling my eyes. 'He's just too boring, thank God he didn't ask for my number, I can't imagine having to talk to him again!' I told myself or would it be, I lied to myself?
Roy and I didn't get to see each other again until after a very long while. There wasn't any chance of running into each other after all. He was studying Medicine and l was in the faculty of Law. There wasn't the possibility of running into each other at the faculty or departmental office, we had nothing in common apart from being in the same university.
The school of medical sciences was like a 'school' of its own, they were always on their own. I had already concluded that our paths were not meant to ever cross again when I met him in my third year. I had gone for a course mate's birthday party that fateful day.
Students were known for adventures and caring less when it came down to daring stunts, but that day was something else. It was a night party and everyone wanted to be part of that party because Doyin, the celebrant, was a socialite, plus we knew the fun would be in the grades of Pro Max.
The fact that she was from the upper echelon of the society didn't make her treat anyone less; she was a friend to all. She was also known to be a 'happening girl', so missing her party was more or less saying you do not 'belong'
We all had enough to eat and drink that day. Her boyfriend had made sure everything needed for the party was in abundant supply. Doyin was the envy of virtually all the girls in my department. Not only was she from a very rich home, her boyfriend was equally rich in looks and in gold!
The truth or dare game was introduced and many cheered in sheer excitement when the first girl was asked to take off 5 things from her body. 'Truth or dare?' she was asked. 'dare' she chose. She started with her jacket, then her bandanna, then her shoe laces, then her shoe and then she made people wild with excitement as she started unzipping her trousers.
When everyone was sure she was going to pull the trouser, she brought out a handkerchief from her inner pocket! The guys were shouting in protest and the ladies were applauding her for her ingenuity.
She left people gasping for breath as we all laughed so hard. 'Truth or dare' I was asked. 'Truth' I chose. 'What's the name of your crush?' I was asked. It wasn't any problem for me to tell anyways, he won't ever find out. 'Roy' I said unabashedly.
The game went on and the moment of pain came when I noticed who the ball fell in his court. 'Truth or dare' he was asked. 'Dare' he replied. 'Move round the hall, find a girl of your choice and give her a French kiss' he was told. At first I didn't want to believe I was seeing Roy after three years! Where did he suddenly appear from? And he had to hear me call his name as my crush? I didn't know where to hide my face. I could only look on morosely.
When he heard what he had to do, he smiled mischievously and I wondered why it seemed like he got what he wished to get. I saw him walking towards me and butterflies flew in my belly. I knew he was coming to kiss me. The more he inched closer, the more my anxiety grew. 'What if he kisses another girl while I watch?'
And just when I was so sure he was going to kiss me, he walked past me. I noticed he was looking at someone else, the girl besides me. He stood in front of her, the tension in the atmosphere heightened. I was finding the oxygen in the room in less quantity, breathing properly was becoming a problem for me.
I was frowning so terribly already, so angry that I had blurted his name earlier not knowing he was within earshot. And even after he found out about my feelings for him, he had the effrontery to try to kiss someone sitting just next to me?
'This is too much' I told myself and was about to make a run for it when he held me back. It seemed like he already anticipated my move. And before I could prepare my legs to support the weight of my body, he was kissing me hungrily.
My legs buckled and gave way and I could only lean on him for support. He held me to himself, deepening the kiss. 'Why did I have to fight this feeling for too long?' his eyes seemed to say.
To us, we were in a new world, one we have just created for ourselves, void of distraction and interference. The other guests at the party wondered if we were still playing the game or we were playing out our script. The sound of clapping that suddenly erupted in the hall, brought us both out of our reveries.
After the party that night, we spent a long time sitting out under the moon to talk about our feelings. Turned out he had been trying so hard to stay away from me because he loved me too much to be able to concentrate on his studies. 'We're meant to be and there's nothing either of us can do about it' I told him that night and he responded with a kiss that carried on for a very long while. And that was the beginning of our love story.