Matthew had his hair trimmed finally, he was a two hundred level student of Biochemistry, and Lola had no freaking idea that he even attended her school. She was just surprised most of the time to see him in her school and she had no idea. Elizabeth, being Lola's room mate, Matthew was able to gather enough information about Lola from his younger sister.
One evening, Lola had just returned from a hectic class, after a representation headed by her, she entirely felt exhausted. She met Joseph on her way to the hotel. He was kinda of avoiding her, why?
As Joseph turned to walk on without acknowledging her, she grabbed his hand, stopping him. He was wearing a dark top, pale jacket and jeans trousers. He looked down at his held hand then back at her face.
"I don't understand, are you always like this passive?" She had to ask.
"Me, pasive? He asked surprised.
She dropped his hand, "I didn't see you in class today," she said to him.
"Ha, so you noticed," he said, absentmindedly.
She was puzzled at his reply, "what is wrong, Joseph? Talk to me, I will understand. Why are you avoiding me?" She asked him.
He met her calm eyes, he wanted to expose his haunting feelings about her to her, he wanted to lay his naked emotions at her feet, he wanted to feel vulnerable to her but it felt useless, hopeless. Why was he torturing himself? He was slightly afraid of what her response would be, he was afraid that he was risking their beautiful relationship of friendship, but he wanted more out than just a mere friendship.
"I wish you know, Lola. I wish you know, and it makes me sick," he said to her.
"What makes you sick?" She was baffled at his remark.
He turned to look around, but he hardly noticed the guy in black who stood at quite a distance acting like he was waiting for someone. Joseph turned his attention on Lola, he took both of her hands, pulled her towards him as he lovingly squeezed her hand. She was more puzzled at his act, she didn't push herself out of his hands, she watched him intently, looking up at his dark, mysterious eyes. She was uneasy but she tried as much to conceal it.
This shouldn't be what she was thinking, she thought to herself.
"I am jealous, Lola. I am a jealous person," he told her.
"Jealous? What do you mean by you are jealous? Jealous of who?" she asked, surprised.
"Him. Your handsome senior who you seemed so taken after. Anytime, I sit close to you, I am reminded of him. Although, I hardly know him, I wish I did. I don't know if you still had some reserved feelings for him. Surprisingly, I feel he might not be far from you," he squeezed her hands again, as he pointed out.
She scoffed, "I didn't understand you," she said, looking uncomfortable in the way they held hands together.
"I know you do, Lola. You just keep pushing me out, creating a barricade between us and it breaks my heart a lot. You shouldn't be surprised by my act of love to you. I like you, Lola. I love your charisma, the way she walk, your sense of fashion, literally everything about you. I really want to uncover those hidden layers of yours. Show you a part of me that you have never seen, explore every wonders and future with you. I want to know everything about you, Lola," his eyes searched hers as he lean in.
She didn't want to push him away. So this was this, why he had been shuting himself away from her? She did like him, but only as a friend. Why would he think that she could possibly have some feelings of love towards him? She only saw him as a friend, and she wanted to keep it as that. She just wasn't ready for love. Love was an heavy word to her. Maybe, in future, she could possibly share in his ecstatic feelings. For now, she would remain friends with Joseph. Slowly, she let her hands dropped, turning to look away. She felt the sudden chilly air pricking her skin that she hugged herself.
"Are you cold?" he asked her, concerned, pulling off his jacket that he wore.
"No, I'm fine," she stopped him and watched him wear back his jacket, then she smiled back at him warmly. The broken pieces was fixing perfectly before her, "I'm hardly aware of your feelings about me," she said to him.
He studied her as he watched her intricate face, the lines on her face.
"But, we are still in school basked in our studies every now and then. We have important things to do which is our first priority, our education. We are both in our first year and we don't want to mess that up," she explained.
"I know about that, Lola. We can as well help each other. Love covers everything. I can't keep avoiding you, Lola. I can't, I really will do everything for you to see me as the one,"
She swallowed, hearing that, would he really do anything for him to be accepted by her?
"Give me time, Joseph. I'm not sure that I have gotten there yet," she looked back at him, "About my senior that I talked about the other day, I don't see him again," she lied.
Why was she doing this? She should just tell him the truth, it was futile concealing the truth. But she wanted to keep Joseph close to her. He was her friend.
"What is this senior's name?" He asked her.
She chuckled, "Why do you acre for his name?"
"Because I am curious. I want to have some knowledge about your past," he flared up that it starled her, he shook his head, coming close to her apologizing, "I'm sorry, it's that thing again... jealousy," he apologized.
She nooded her head, faking another smile, "His name is Matthew, he is distant now. I hardly even know him,"
"That is good," Joseph smiled at her, "I will give you time, enough time to think about this, about us." he suddenly was brighter.
She nodded as she suddenly became shy before him, Joseph was becoming possessive even when she had not said a yes to him, "I better go," she said, "I will see you later."
"Sure," he nodded, turning to walk away as he gave her one last look.
********
Matthew watched as Joseph walked past him then he went after Lola who was obviously walking the other way back to her hostel. He took pace beside her, walking with her, she stopped dead track and turned to look at him.
"I'm not surprised if all the guys in school are falling for you, you are way too beautiful," he said.
She nearly swallowed her heart as her heart stopped its best, "what are you doing here?" She asked him.
"I am more surprised that the fact that I share a past with you infuriates that guy I presume," he grinned at her.
"You were eavesdropping on our conversation?" she was bemused.
"Relax, Lola. I don't bite."
"What are you doing here?" She repeated the question.
"This is my school as well as it's yours. Aren't you surprise? I am partially a city boy," he laughed.
She moved backwards, creating a space between them.
"I promise I won't hurt you, Lola. Infact, I want us to improve our relationship having heard the confesion you made out here," he smirked.
His smirk nearly cut her heart to shreds as she watched him, what was he having so much effect on her? He was a bad boy, her heart shouldn't be choosing him.
"We will be seeing, Lola. This time I will come in full force, I won't have to waste my time," he said.
"You are wrong!" She yelled at him.
"Really?" He laughed, he knew she was lying though, "I am nice as well as friendly, Lola. So, don't be scared of me. Have I ever told you how I love to call your name, it rolls our perfectly on my tongue," he grinned at her, enjoying the bewildered expression on her face.
"You look pretty when angered, I will be seeing you, Lola," he smiled, then started walking backwards, waving at her, after a while, he turned away.
Lola stood still for a while, trying to control her breathing pace. She found it quit difficult to move her feet, or to even breathe. Why was her heart betraying her? She hated Matthew with the whole of her being yet the way he made her feel was betraying whatever she was experiencing. She inhaled deeply, after recollecting herself. She started her way back to the hostel. Mathew was never going to have her, as long as she willed herself not to be smitten by him.