Chapter Fourteen

SAMIRA

The couple of weeks that followed, I began to perceive a whole lot of changes in Chiké. He smiled more, laughed more, dressed more casually and helped more. It was awe inspiring to watch and quite mind blowing to know I had an influence on these dynamic changes. Also, it was fully liberating on my part, the fact that I could roam the streets of Canada without the fear of being arrested and deported. No words could describe how blessed I felt! As soon as I got home that night, I called my parents and narrated everything to them. My mum was so full of concern over what I had endured these years and cried while handing over the phone to my dad to speak with me. My dad on the other hand, sternly gave me a word of advice "Don't give up, my child! I believe in you! It will all work out for the better sooner than you expect!" and then he prayed for me. I placed his words right next to my heart for comfort and the strength to overcome.

Days later, I began to plan my next step to follow, based on my career. Deep down, I knew I couldn't sell Ice cream for the rest of my life. I needed something substantial, something worthwhile that would cater to my family and personal needs. I had gotten a ten year stay in the country, I had to make the most of this opportunity given to me on a platter of gold.

I planned on seizing any opportunity, legal of course, that presented itself. But then I knew that sometimes, one had to press forward in order for things to align. I had to toss the bait into the sea for the fish to gather around. Therefore, what I did was to go to a Smart phone slot, bought an iPhone 11pro by installment and on Sunday, after the usual church service, invited Rose over to my house to help take some modeling inspired photos with the purse Chiké got me from Christian Dior. I would then send these photos to numerous agents to see if I could get some modeling deals and by God's grace, million dollar endorsements. Rose was as excited as I was over the prospect and together, we spent the entire day, dressing me up in different sophisticated outfits I had gotten in my recent years in Canada and stored them for the perfect timing—which was now— and taking amazing shots. By the time we were done, we sat on the couch while I brought out my laptop to edit them before sending. At midnight, we were still wide awake, sipping margaritas and eating Oreos, trying out numerous editing features and laughing over random jokes.

"Lest I forget baby girl, what's going on between you and African lover boy?" Rose chimed in unexpectedly. I tried to sound nonchalant as I responded, "Nothing, we're just friends."

"Oh cool, that means I can shoot my shot guilt free." she purred, twirling her hair in that sexy way of hers.

"Don't you dare!" before I realized it, I was fuming smoke from my ears and nostrils. The thought of her going after him was enough to make me see red.

"I knew it! You like him and don't you dare deny it. It's written all over your face and your actions confirmed it." I opened my mouth to speak up in denial but I couldn't find it in me to counter her words.

With a sigh, I confirmed, "Yes, I do like him, I just don't know what to do about it."

"You're beautiful and got what it takes to attract any man you want, ease into your confidence. Let him see how much he's missing out on. I'm very certain that he likes you too. Both of you just need to confess it to each other and know the next step to take."

I mulled over her words momentarily, agreeing that she had spoken nothing but the truth. For all the times we'd spent together, all of his assistance and the changes I had recently noticed, I had concluded that I liked Chiké very much. He truly was a great guy, a true gentleman. However, he hadn't relatively shown any major interest towards me other than friendship. One thing I've always loathed is assumptions. I couldn't adopt the idea that he was into me if his actions spoke differently. I guess I had to bring the subject up when next we met. On cue, my phone rang and the caller ID showed Chiké, speak of the devil. A little excited, I answered the call immediately.

"Hey, how you doing?" I asked, trying to make small conversation. As if knowing who I was speaking to, Rose winked and picked up our empty glasses to rinse them in the kitchen.

"A little tired and hungry, and you?" I laughed over his response. Hungry at midnight? So weird!

"I'm tipsy." I replied with a hiccup.

Silence.

"Hungry at midnight?"

"Tipsy at midnight?"

We both chorused simultaneously and guffawed.

"Do you have company?" he inquired, after our round of belly laugh. Nodding, I realized he couldn't see me so I confirmed that indeed Rose was with me.

"Oh!" he sounded disappointed. Just then, Rose walked out of the kitchen and joined me on the couch.

"Were you hoping I was alone before you called?" I enquired in response to his exclamation.

"Yes." was his answer.

"Oh!" it was my turn say the word.

"I was also hoping I could invite you to have coffee with me." He added, surprising me.

"What does he want?" observing my reaction, Rose questioned.

"He wants us to have coffee together." I answered, covering the speaker side of the phone so he wouldn't hear her if she had plans of saying anything lewd and inappropriate.

"What are you waiting for? Say yes!" she said almost immediately, smiling up at me.

"What about you? You'll be all alone here. I can't just leave you all by yourself." I opposed her decision.

"I'll be fine, duh! I'm a grown woman in my best friend's apartment that's more like a cubicle. It's not like I'll get lost or something." she replied while rolling her eyes. However, all I heard was "my best friend" and that made me smile. She confessed it and I was in support. Therefore, we were officially best friends.

"Aww, you just called me your best friend!" I hopped on her, giving her a suffocating hug which effect was like a tickling sensation for her because she laughed rather than gasped for air.

"Get off me, will you?" she was still laughing as I unwrapped my arms from her, not before pecking her and stating, "It's official! We're best friends till infinity!"

"Now answer the poor man on the phone and tell him you would very much like to have coffee with him." she commanded, reminding me that Chiké had been on the line the whole time. Oh no! I covered my mouth in shock and placed the phone bak on my ears.

"Hello, are you still there?" I asked, baffled by the silence on the other end.

"Yes, I am. Just here listening to best friends banter." he emphasized the words 'best friends' making it clear that he had been on to our full conversation. So much for trying to place him on hold. I face palmed, extremely embarrassed.

"I guess you overheard her saying she's fine spending the night alone. So um, where would you like us to meet?" he told me to stay put that he would be coming over instead. He didn't want me walking alone at midnight. He'd stop by my place and we'd visit any coffeeshop nearby. I told you; the perfect gentleman!

Minutes after he hung up, I relayed our plans to Rose and then we went into my room to get what I would wear. I chose a pair of blue skinny jeans, a pink t-shirt and my light woolens in pink colour coupled with my ankle length brown boots. I dressed up this way because Fall had arrived and I needed to protect myself from the wind chill. While I waited for him to call me, announcing his arrival, Rose queried me further.

"So were you for real when you told me the other day that African Lover-boy has decided to go into charity work?" I rolled my eyes at her question. She had hounded me for days trying to get more information about Chiké's newly birthed resolution.

"Not charity per se. All he told me was he had made a personal decision to put a smile on people's faces and help them in any which way he can." I clarified.

"Oh! Sounds altruistic! That reminds me, I don't know if he'd be interested in helping out an orphanage I came across about a year ago." her words caught my attention and I implied her to enlighten me. "Well, its just a little orphanage in Ontario. I found the place while I visited my family for Thanksgiving. The kids need help and I've tried my best possible to cater to them but hearing what African Lover-boy has decided, I believe he could change their lives forever."

"Hmmm sounds like a great opportunity for Chiké to help and for those kids to have a better life." I said in deep thought.

"Yes, yes, oh my goodness, yes! Can you please discuss it with him? He likes you so he'll listen, I bet." There were stars in her eyes, pleading with my soul to agree. I couldn't refuse.

"All right, I'll speak to him about it tonight." I conceded at last. My phone rang the second time tonight with the same caller. Rather than picking, I grabbed just my phone and some money which I placed in the pockets of my woolens. I hugged Rose one last time and wished her a goodnight and then hurried out of the house.

A strange feeling of euphoria ran through me. I felt like a teenager sneaking out of my parents' house at night to see my boyfriend and making out with him until the early hours of the morning. I lobbed the awkward thoughts out of my mind.

When I exited the building, I found a sports car across the street. I couldn't recognize it but I knew it was his because no one owned a luxurious car as this in the neighborhood. I crossed the street and moved to the shotgun side of the car. It had tinted windows so I had to place both palms on the window to shade my face as I peered in. He was immune to my presence, replying a message on his phone. I tapped delicately on the window, apprising him of my presence. When he saw me, he hastily clicked on a button by his side of the door to unlock my end. I opened the car door and got in, immediately welcomed by the car's heater, warming me up.

Scratch that, I was definitely warmed up by the delicious sight of the man sitting right beside me, all dressed up warmly and cozily in black jean trousers, a white Tommy Hilfiger polo shirt and a black Cardigan. At this point, I could completely agree with Rose in calling him Mr Sexy African butter, the name suited him.

"Hi. I kept calling you to announce I was outside but you didn't pick up, I almost came to the conclusion that you had gone to bed." as he narrated, I checked my phone and saw three missed calls from him. Oops! It was actually silly of me to not have picked up his call. I had assumed he was outside and so I rushed out to see him. What if he had called to say that something had come up and he wouldn't be coming over? I didn't want to think about that at all.

Assumptions... Ugh!

"Forgive me, I just assumed you were here already and so in excitement, I ran out to see you without thinking." I expounded.

"You were excited to see me?" he asked with a faint smile. Realizing my narration, I blushed but answered in all honesty.

"Yes, I was and I still am." I blushed all the more.

"So am I." He dittoed. We stared deeply at each other for a moment, smiling, and broke eye contact when we eventually had to get the show on the road. I grinned in appreciation of the car.

"You drive the fanciest of cars and I like them all." I complimented his stream of cars. He ought to have over a dozen of them. For the past few months that we met, I had seen him with numerous cars than I could count.

"Thank you. Out of all my cars, this Ferrari F150, is my favourite. It's a vintage car, an heirloom I received from my father. My dad bought it when I was very young and gifted it to me in high school. It holds a sentimental value to me." he drove quietly after his words. It didn't take rocket science to detect that he was reminiscing his childhood. I did the same thing, thinking about the fun times I had as a child.

Later on, we dropped at a gas station that had a coffeeshop built adjacent it. There, I ordered an expresso and a muffin while he ordered a cup of hot chocolate with low fat milk and then a vegetable filled shawarma since he complained of hunger earlier. I examined him up and down in scrutiny, wondering why he picked a hot chocolate in lieu of coffee. I couldn't believe I liked a weirdo.

We proceeded to talk over trivial matters, asking basic questions, not too personal. For a moment, I wondered if we'd ever be comfortable enough to talk about real matters. All too soon, he began to cough profusely and gasp for air. I grew afraid when it refused to subside. The cough went on and on until I jumped out of my side of the booth and sat by him, rubbing his back, praying it stopped. He reached out into the pocket of his pants and brought out a handkerchief which he coughed into for more than a minute. Fortunately, the cough subsided and my heart leaped with joy! I was about to call the barrister to get him a glass of water to further ease the aftereffect of coughing when something caught my eye.

As he was about to place his handkerchief back into his pocket, a drop of liquid stained his white Polo shirt. My concern grew into alarm as my brain registered what I was seeing.

BLOOD!!!! HOW COME???

I was at a total loss of words. I stared at the shirt for what seemed like eternity and then my gaze went further up, to study his features. Observing him closely this time around, I noticed all the signs of weakness and emaciation I had never ever noticed before. I blinked, trying to figure out if this was a prank or something related to it. Alas, the sight of blood and his dramatic weight loss spoke volumes of a harsh reality I was afraid to acknowledge. But then I had to face it.

"I'm fine! You don't have to look like you've seen a ghost." Chiké said after seconds of getting nothing from me.

"Th-There's bl-blood on your shirt." I stuttered recklessly, afraid of my very words.

I saw the fear in his eyes before he checked his shirt to confirm my statement.

"Are you all right, for real?" I enquired, hoping that by some miracle, he'd laugh and say 'You just got pranked' but the opposite was the case.

"Shit, I have to go!" he jumped out of the booth, dropped some wads of cash in payment for our late night snack and ran out, pushing the Entrance/Exit glass door open. I had no choice but to run after him. I got to him just in time, when he was about to start the car. Was he truly going to leave me here alone at midnight? As if hearing my thoughts, he waited for me to hop in before the car ignited to life. I sat uneasily as he drove into the night, desperate to talk to him yet petrified of his reaction. Was he hiding something from me? After what I witnessed, was this the end of our friendship? I didn't want the latter to happen. He was too good a friend to let go.

Ultimately, we arrived at my building and he pulled over. Surprisingly, he turned off the engine and the car grew silent. I had expected him to drop me off and zoom off away from me forever. I remained motionless, confused and scared shitless but one thing I knew was, I didn't want to leave this car with the fear of losing him.

So, I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Until...

"I have a terminal illness." his confession broke my heart.