Chapter 3 THE OFFER...

Something that has never happened to me before happened. As I browsed through the internet for songs, I got a message. Not a regular message from my regular MTN, but an unknown number messaged me.

'Oh, that's new,' My subconscious peeped in curiosity, staring at the message with me. I clicked on the message.

'Hey Railah, it's Drevy,'

I looked at Brelany who sprawled on her bed tiredly.

"Did you give anybody my number?" I asked her.

"No... I didn't" She replied, looking in my direction "Why did you ask?"

"Never mind." I looked at the message again.

'Where did he get my number from?' Curious overwhelmed me again.

'Perhaps from the group,' An answer popped into my mind.

No.. it can be. My picture is not on my profile, there's nothing on my profile that stands me out as 'Railah'...

I pushed away the thoughts and continued what I was doing before his message popped up. I got tired and stood up from my bed.

I stretched, packed my books with my headphones, and looked at Brelany who was already asleep.

Quietly, I went out of my room and headed out of the hostel, going straight to my favourite spot where I read sometimes to get away from the world.

'Flashlight' by Jesse J blasted in my ear as I trod along the way and observed the scenery before me.

Everywhere was dark and quiet except for the music and the blue light that blinked on my headphones.

I got to my favourite place, a secluded place at the back of the school library. It is surrounded by trees which make it hidden from view, so no students go there except the ones who care enough to discover it like me.

I dropped my things and sat down on one of the long wooden chairs allocated there. The moon was shining brightly which made it possible to see through my book as I laid it in front of me. The music playing through my headsets was doing a good job, and I vibed along.

Something touched me and I jumped in shock, ready to hit it with what I was holding in my hand. It was just a pen though, but I was willing and ready to fight with it. That can't do anything but at least praise me for trying.

That thing grabbed my hand, 'Well, that is a human's hand, not a thing,' I was rest assured.

I looked closer at the supposed human and it turned out to be Drevy. I removed my hand immediately from his grasp and looked at him with surprise.

"Woah Woah Woah, Chillax," He said in a defensive, yet mockery way,

"You almost killed me with your weapon, my vital point was in danger!!!" He cried out.

"What are you doing here? I asked.

"Emm, I was just walking around and something enchanted me, I moved closer and there you are!" He replied in a sarcastic tone.

"That is not funny, this place is hidden enough for you to have noticed me, whereas it's dark already, so that can't be true. So how did you know this place? I mean, why are you here? I restated my question.

Maybe he noticed this place like I did, but I haven't seen him here before. Or maybe...

"Well, I came here to read and I saw you, so I decided to come and greet you, but you responded by wanting to murder me" He replied with a smile.

"You are lying," I pointed out,

"I haven't seen you here before because only a few people know this place, and since I've been coming here, I haven't seen nor met anyone here, not to talk of you, so tell me the reason you are here," I demanded.

"Okay, fine. I was at the library when I saw you pass, I was nosy to know where you were going, so I followed you," He said then looked around,

"Wow, this place is nice, since when have you been coming here?" His attention was back on me.

"It's been a while... " I paused then sat down,

"...well, you can go now, thanks for caring." I picked up my book and headphones from the floor.

'Running up the Hill' by Kate Bush was playing, which overwhelmed the silence. I wanted to put on my headphones then he stopped me.

"Wait, is that Kate Bush?"

"Yes, it is," I answered.

"She is one of my favourites!" He exclaimed

"That is nice," I smiled.

"Can I sit with you?' He pointed at the chair in front of me.

"Why? I asked in a state of confusion rather than a question.

"C'mon now, I can use a partner right now, so many things I want someone to explain to me," He demonstrated the many with his hand.

"No, I'll pass, I don't read with people." I opened my book and continued to read.

Before I could read one or two lines, my book was taken away swiftly by him. I quickly stood up and tried to collect the book from him.

He was holding the book up high and I couldn't keep up with his height, not to talk of how high the book was. All I could do was jump as high as I could to collect it from him.

"Stop it, give me my book" I demanded

"Just agree to be my reading partner, and then I'll gladly give you your book" He looked down at me, his eyes meeting mine.

"I don't want to be your reading partner, you were reading just fine on your own before you saw and stalked me, so go back to where you are coming from, you don't need my help," I said looking away from his gaze that wants to blind my eyes.

Even as dark as the night was, with the moon giving light to it, his blue eyes were visible enough to make me notice.

"Are you always this aggressive? You can't help a friend in need?" He pouted.

I almost laughed at the way he did that. I couldn't believe that facial expression was done by him.

"Okay, fine" I surrendered and walked away from him. I sat on my previous seat while he occupied the one in front of me.

'Stuck with U' by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber was booming through my headset. This title and part of the lyrics gave a perfect scenario that I was in, 'STUCK WITH HIM'.

"I like your taste in music," He observed,

"At least just the two songs I heard from your playlists say it all that your taste in music is great." He complimented.

"Thank you, but are you here to comment on how great my music is or are you here to read?" I watched him for a moment...

"Which subjects are giving you issues, someone like you can't be lacking academically," I doubted.

"What do you mean by someone like me? You being stereotypical by saying someone like me is not clear enough, please explain," He urged me.

"Like being popular...a figurehead. Not that I know you but at least you and your group of friends look like a genius," I explained.

"Genius in what sense? Looks or the way we present ourselves? Trust me, genius isn't born but made, I may look and act like one, but I have my difficulties too, so don't look at me like one" He disclaimed.

I checked my wristwatch "I have to go, I've spent more than I intended to," I stood up.

I packed my books inside my backpack, slung it over my shoulder and made my way to the path I came in.

"Wait Railah, are you leaving without me?" He asked.

"I came without you," I said, put on my headphones and walked away till I left his sight.

'What a long night, That's the lengthiest I have ever talked to someone in my life.'

I got to my room and dropped my backpack. I sat down and checked my phone, and a new message popped up immediately.

'Guess that's Drevy..'...Since he is the first and only person apart from my regular MTN.

I unlocked my phone and opened the

message.

'This is Drevy... again, because I know you might have deleted the message I sent you earlier and wouldn't have saved my number.. Pls do.'

Another message popped in again,

'You left me alone in the middle of the night, what if I'm kidnapped or something? You don't care about my well-being, that's not a nice thing to do to someone who wants to be your reading partner'

I chuckled. His sense of humour is just so... wait...

'Did I just laugh?' My subconscious called me back in the middle of analysing his sense of humour,

'What could be so funny about that?? Since you are so engrossed in rating his sense of humour, how would you have rated him? His sense of humour is so funny. That is a bad rating I must say or is there anything like a bad sense of humour? Well..there is but that doesn't justify your laughter...' My subconscious rambled on and on in my head and all I could do was agree with her.

I tossed my phone away and lay on my bed. I looked at Brelany on the other side of the room.

She was sleeping peacefully the way I left her. I closed my eyes hoping the peacefulness would take me to an unknown life without stress.