He looked round the room like someone who found himself in a place he's never expected to be. He entered gently pushing the door behind him.
"Your place is really beautiful. Not looking like a student's room. You are such a big girl. Now I see the meaning of your name, Roselyn - beautiful rose" Richard praised without looking at Roselyn's direction. He had a new hair cut. His face was clearer and well shaped. indeed he was looking more handsome. 
"I didn't know you were coming" Roselyn professed looking at him as if she was nervous.
"Sorry I didn't tell you. I was worried about you, I called and you didn't pick and I didn't get it back so I was thinking something happened. That is why I have to rush down here. Are you okay?" This few words already made Roselyn feel relaxed. He is certainly the type that cares and trusts. She expected he would lay more emphasis on his missed calls which he did not get back but instead he was more concerned about her well being.
"Sorry, about the calls" She apologized lightly walking close to him. She's wrapped her limbs around him. 
"Are you okay?" Richard asked doubtfully, giving back a warm cuddle. 
"Yes, I'm fine" 
"You don't look so. Did anyone trouble you?"
"No, I was having headache but I'm fine now" "Are you sure?" He asked confirming the temperature of her forehead with the back of his hand. it was normal so he didn't say a thing about it. "Sorry. Where is your phone? You should have called me"
"I didn't want to bother you" freeing from the hold. She gestured him to a seat. 
"No, don't make it sound like I'm careless. I care about you Roselyn. you may not comprehend the depth of my affection for you. I can't ignore your call not even if you call a hundred times within a minutes. You don't know how happy I feel whenever I see my phone's screen lighted with your name on it. I always think about you and it's hard to get that thought of my mind. Most of the times it mixes with fantasy and fears. I don't want to go through the same trauma I faced years back"
"Sometimes I feeling like I am falling too deep. Fears of being disappointed when I'm most confident is what meddles with my mind. Richard I love you. I have never loved anyone this way. I only had crushes and close friends but never had someone I call my boy friend. Whereas I've never felt heartbreak, I only imagined it and never want to experience it"
"Am I your first love?" Odinaka asked surprised.
"Yes" Roselyn replied feeling shy. 
"As big as you are? How old are you"
"I will be 21 by February 2"
"Ewo! you are younger than I thought. That means you are still 20. valentine girl"
"hah.. " Roselyn chuckled. "Do I look older?"
"Not looks, composure. You behave like one who's seen everything in life and Is trying not to make any mistake"
"Not bad right?"
"Not at all. I love it. That gives me the confidence that my empress can never do some things. I can swear anywhere because I trust what you can do . But for my trust to become firmer, don't hide anything from me. both past, present and future. As a matter of fact, today is a story day for both of us. You need to start telling me everything I need to know about you"
"That's if you have enough time to listen. it's going to be long. longer than river Niger"
"Even if it's going to be forever I will still be pleased listening to the story of my empress"
"Serious!" Roselyn said, seeing that it wasn't a joke. "So, I will ask first. how old are you?"
"You can guess. know it that I'm not young. I'm an old man. you can see from my face"
"Liar. You are ... 23"
"Excuse me. Did I ever discuss my age with you? who told you? You must be a mind reader?"
"I got it?"
"Yes, with one guess" Richard's response made her excited.
"So which month?"
"October 20th"
"Just last month. independent boy. Nigerian boy. I can't see you as a Biafran anymore"
"I didn't choose that month"
"You look exactly as your age. See your new hair cut too. pardon me for not commenting earlier about it. you look, beautiful"
"Beautiful or handsome? am I a girl?"
"You are too cute to use handsome"
"First time you are confidently lying. I know that's to make me feel puffed. Anyway, any complement from the empress should be taking without arguments"
"This new pet name you got for me is really ridiculous. Don't set me above my standard"
"Why won't I when you are of course the most special, important and precious person to me. Mom, sorry I said this" 
         His last statement caused laughter. it also was an easy way to know he really loves his mother.
"You still haven't agreed to take me to see her"
"I personally can't wait to do that but it's apparent that our times doesn't match. See now, it's getting late. when will you get there and still return? And I don't want you to visit and after few minutes you are talking about leaving. you need to spend a little time with her"
"Tomorrow is Saturday. I'm free" 
"That's great. tomorrow by 10 Am I, your personal rider will be here waiting"
"That's a perfect time too" She gave her face a beautiful look with a smile. her gap teeth and dimble made visible. 
"Do you know that whatever you do to yourself makes you look even more beautiful. And this new all-back style makes you look even younger"
        She smiled in a silly manner touching her new hair. "My neighbor did it. She's all over me today. aunty this aunty that. I gave in and this is the result" 
          After some moments of quietness and admiration Roselyn remembered to ask a question.
"When were you heartbroken? I remember you said something like that"
"Oh yeah, hmm many years back actually. I was in secondary school. SS2. She was my mate. very intelligent too but not my match in that aspect. I have many girls in the school crushing on me but I had my attention only on this girl. She too had the same feelings at first. She was good I must confess. She does things that people would think she was crazy. 
Our relationship was known not just to students but to some teachers. We were love birds, we had many admirers and despisers alike, but we never cared. This lasted for two years. So later I began to notice she doesn't give me much attention but I didn't complain. I was thinking that doing so would make her upset, she needed space at times, I thought. But rumors got to me that she was having an affair with an SS3 prefect. I doubted, I didn't ask her because I trusted her. but as time elapsed I began to see reasons to speak up but whenever I did she would deny it, sometimes get angry and leave me hanging. The most shocking thing that happened afterwards was that she got pregnant. A girl I have never kissed more than twice. it's obvious she's been laid several times before. This girl, I loved her with all my life. I never believed a thing like this will ever happen. Some even thought I was responsible but I'm glad our misunderstanding was obvious to those closer to us, so I was free from that. And since then I have not been able to trust any. I have crushed on many. I've fallen for many even without speaking to them but I can not walk up to the person and say how it is in my mind, after recalling my past experience"
"So, touching. Some people are born to be chameleon. You can never keep 'em. that's always been my fears too. Trust me Odinaka, I'm different. I know anyone can say this, but take my words. I can not leave you if you don't give me reasons to. Just do same. Don't break my heart. Don't let the fear of your past make you love me less. Don't love me with doubts. I will never give you reasons to. Whatever it is you realize or notice about me you don't like, speak up. and whatever you won't let someone do to you don't do it to me. Have conscience and always think of me as yourself"
"I'm not surprised this words are coming from you. You are already doing it all. thank you for loving me and also I'm happy I am the first to be called your boyfriend"
          She smiled. Pulled closer looking straight at his face. Even a novice will understand this movement. She needed something. Richard looked at her as if to confirm she was really ready. On seeing that she haven't moved an inch he pulled close and kissed her lips. First kiss. He could feel her heart beating fast from the pressure that comes with her breath. He tried not to move his hands to her sensitive areas. To avoid being blamed afterwards. But that was not enough, he has to ask, to be sure. She might be forced by desires into doing this, and not that she really prepared for it.
"Your first time?" Richard asked pulling back. she nodded avoiding his eyes. "Hope, wasn't a mistake?"
"Something I must do as a human whether now or later" She said softly in whispers. There was confidence in her tone that implied she was certain about her actions.