Chapter 4 LATE NIGHT TALKS AND LINGERING STARES

That night I heard noise coming from the door. At first, I thought it was thieves so I had to wake Joy up. She confirmed she heard noises too. We checked the time and it was 2:30 AM. We were both scared, but we tried to be courageous. We each picked up a knife for protection.

"Who's there?" I asked, deciding to speak first since I presumed I was older, though I hadn't asked Joy her age yet.

"It's me," a voice responded.

"Fred!" Joy and I said in unison, surprised.

Joy opened the door and truly, it was Fred. He stood outside in a party outfit. My mind screamed in panic, wondering why he was here by this time. As I looked around, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I looked like a swollen pig. My bald front hair didn't miss the opportunity to embarrass me. I quickly rushed to my wardrobe, grabbed a pink scarf, and tied it around my head in the funniest manner possible, but at least it was better than letting Fred see my exposed hairline.

"Sorry girls, I had to disturb your sleep. I was talking with your caretaker to let me into your room, which he eventually did after much persuasion. I can't blame him though, it's awfully late," Fred explained, his tone apologetic.

"What are you doing here, Fred?" Joy asked, clearly annoyed.

I sat down silently on my bed, trying not to drool over Fred. He looked so good. His pink lips moved gently as he talked. I couldn't take my eyes off them.

"I'm just coming back from one of my friend's birthday parties, and I misplaced my key. I had nowhere else to go, so I came down here. It's not far from my hostel. I'll only be here for the night. First thing tomorrow morning, I'll leave," he explained.

"Okay, but what about Khloe? Why didn't you call her or rather go to her side?" Joy asked, folding her arms in irritation.

"Well, I called Khloe. Her phone was switched off," he said casually.

I cleared my throat loudly, deliberately interrupting the sibling exchange.

"Joy, why don't you offer your brother a seat," I said.

Joy reluctantly went ahead to give him a seat.

"Thanks," Fred said politely.

"He's so polite," I thought to myself. Our eyes kept meeting. There was no doubt I liked him already. It was written all over my face.

I picked up a book from my bag, pretending to study. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep with Fred around. He was already lying on the floor. Joy had given him one of her wrappers to use. He wasn't asleep. He was pressing his phone.

"Do you need help with any assignment?" he asked, standing and coming to my side of the bed.

"No thanks, I just wanted to do a quick revision on today's lecture," I responded shyly.

"Good student, huh," he said, chuckling.

I chuckled too. Our bodies accidentally touched, and it sent a jolt through me. My whole body reacted. It was so unhealthy to be that close to him. I could practically feel the warmth of his skin.

Joy, probably disturbed by our whispering, tossed on her bed. Fred went back to the floor, and I tried to keep my heart from jumping out of my chest. My cheeks hurt from blushing.

The next morning, Fred was up before Joy and me. He had already freshened up. I was still on my bed when I saw him tucking in his shirt and styling his hair in front of the mirror.

"Good morning," I greeted.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty," he teased.

I rolled my eyes and smiled.

"I have to go now. Thanks for accommodating me. I owe you both," he said.

"No problem," I responded. Joy was still asleep.

He walked out, and just like that, the room felt empty.

That day at school, I couldn't concentrate. My mind was with Fred. His scent, his smile, his voice. I kept replaying everything. I was falling for him. I didn't know what to do about it. Was it wrong to like your roommate's brother?

The next few days went by slowly. I hadn't seen Fred since that night. Then one afternoon, as I was heading back from a lecture, I saw him standing outside our hostel. He smiled when he saw me.

"Hey, Vanessa. How are you?"

"Hi, Fred. I'm good. You?"

"I came to check on you and Joy. She said she won't be back until evening, so I waited to see if I'd meet you."

I smiled awkwardly. "Well, you just did."

He laughed. "Want to go for a walk? There's a new spot around the corner."

I nodded. We walked, talked, and laughed like old friends. Fred was so easy to talk to. We talked about school, music, food, and even politics.

As the sun began to set, we sat on a bench under a mango tree. A soft breeze blew around us.

"I like talking to you, Vanessa," he said, looking into my eyes.

I smiled. "I like talking to you too."

From that day, we became closer. He would sometimes wait outside my lecture hall. We exchanged numbers and started chatting every night. Sometimes, we'd sit outside the hostel just to talk. Joy noticed but didn't say anything.

One evening, he came with his guitar. I didn't even know he could play.

"Wow, you play guitar?"

"Yeah, a little. Want to hear something?"

"Sure."

He started playing and sang a soft love song. My heart melted. It was like he wrote it for me. I couldn't hold back my smile.

After the song, we both sat in silence for a while.

"Vanessa," he said, breaking the silence, "I know we haven't known each other for long, but I feel something. Do you feel it too?"

I was silent. My heart was screaming yes, but my mouth was sealed.

"You don't have to say anything now. Just think about it," he added.

The next few days, I avoided Fred. Not because I didn't like him, but because I did. Too much. I was scared of what Joy would think. I was scared, I didn't actually know what I was scared of.

The weather the next morning was windy, it was a rainy day, the cold breeze brushed through my skin as I opened my umbrella stepped into the rain rushing to school. Joy had called me later that day that she would not be coming home that day, she would be going to her parent's house and she was going to stay the weekend.

I didn't want to go to my dad's house this weekend even if I missed them, but I need to stay alone for now and try to figure out my life. My dad doesn't miss to check up on me daily, and I speak to my siblings everyday.

Lecture didn't hold because the lecturer got stuck in traffic and we were all tired of waiting for him. I was happy because no lecture till Monday. I got home , undressed, and silence dawned on me that very moment. I won't lie, I missed Joy, our gist and how she made everywhere lively. I was getting hungry, so I decided to cook some smokey jollof rice and fried meat, paired it with a strawberry juice that I bought in a supermarket in our street.

My phone rang I was gulping down my juice and I nearly choked on it when I saw it was Fred calling.

"why on earth is he calling me" I said to myself. I intentionally declined the call, in no time, I heard a message notification. It was a message from Fred.

it read " hey vanessa, hope you're good? I'm wondering why you are not taking my calls. anyways come meet me in my lodge , I've got something for you."

After reading the message i got wet down there instantly, the weather was worsening how horny i felt." does he mean he wants me to come over" i asked myself blushing like a kid that was offered ice cream. " vanessa focus, nothing like that, he just want to talk to you then you leave " i said to myself this time around in a hard tone. he texted me the number of his hostel.

"THE KINGS HOSTEL, ROOM 12."

I saw the message and shivered I stood in my room for a few seconds after reading Fred's message, holding my phone tightly. A thousand thoughts ran through my head. Should I go? What if he just wanted to talk? What if something more happened? My heart raced as curiosity and nervousness battled inside me.

I checked the time, it was 3:42 p.m. There was still daylight, and the rain had stopped. I decided to go. I couldn't explain it, but I wanted to see him. Maybe it was boredom or the fact that Joy wasn't around. Or maybe, deep down, I just really wanted to see Fred.

I freshened up and applied a bit of lip gloss, then changed into a casual outfit black joggers and a red fitted top. I didn't want to look like I was trying too hard. As I picked up my umbrella and phone, I glanced in the mirror. My scarf was neatly tied, and I looked presentable. I convinced myself again that I was just going for a quick visit.

The walk to The Kings Hostel wasn't far, but the dampness of the earlier rain made the road slippery. I walked carefully, my heart pounding faster with every step. Room 12. That was what he said. I arrived at the building, greeted the gatekeeper with a nervous smile, and made my way inside.

I knocked gently on the door. A few seconds later, Fred opened it. He looked calm, in a grey hoodie and black shorts. He smiled when he saw me.

"Vanessa," he said, sounding surprised but happy. "You came."

"Yeah... I did," I replied, stepping inside.

His room was tidy. A small bed, a reading table, and a stack of books beside a portable speaker playing soft music. It smelled like fabric softener and body spray. He offered me a seat on a small couch beside the window.

"I hope I didn't disturb you," he said, sitting opposite me.

"Not at all," I replied. "I wasn't doing anything."

He stood up, walked to his drawer, and brought out a small paper bag.

"Here," he said, handing it to me. "I got this for you."

I opened it slowly and saw a cute pink notepad and a set of colored pens. My heart melted. I loved stationeries.

"Fred, this is so thoughtful. Thank you," I said, smiling from ear to ear.

"I remembered you said you loved writing and organizing your notes," he said, scratching his head. "So, I thought you'd like it."

I was touched. No one had ever paid that much attention to such a little detail about me.

"You didn't have to, though," I replied.

"I know," he said, still smiling. "But I wanted to."

We got talking, and the conversation flowed naturally. He told me about his course, his hometown, and even some of his childhood memories. I laughed more times than I expected. I shared a few things about myself too my dreams, my writing, and how the university experience was already reshaping me.

As the evening progressed, the sky darkened, and it started raining again. The soft patter on the window added to the calm ambiance in his room. We were no longer sitting apart. I had shifted closer to him on the couch without even realizing.

At some point, there was a silence not the awkward type, but the kind that makes your heartbeat louder. I looked at him, and our eyes met. He held my gaze gently.

"Vanessa," he said softly, "you're really easy to talk to. I feel comfortable around you."

I smiled nervously. "I feel the same way too."

He reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. My breath caught in my throat. The tension between us was thick. I wasn't sure what was happening, but I knew I didn't want it to stop.

"You're beautiful," he said, almost in a whisper.

I couldn't find words to reply. My heart was pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it. We sat there, staring at each other. Then slowly, he leaned in.

I froze. Then, without thinking, I leaned in too.

Our lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. It was slow and sweet, full of hesitation and electricity. When we pulled apart, I was breathless.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to rush things."

"No," I whispered, still trying to gather my thoughts. "It's fine."

I stood up, my legs slightly shaky. "I should get going. It's getting late."

He nodded. "I understand. Let me walk you back."

We didn't talk much on the way back. But the silence between us was different now, intimate, warm. When we got to my hostel, he stopped by the gate.

"Goodnight, Vanessa," he said.

"Goodnight, Fred. And thanks again... spending time with me"

He smiled and left.