Avoiding Kevin

Ever since Nadia's warning to Chantel, she tried to avoid Kevin anytime he came around on a visit. Kevin did come around to visit like he promised, but when Chantel caught sight of him, she ran into the dorm and hid under one of the beds where she could not be seen. Cynthia came into the room and almost jumped up when someone touched her leg. She knelt down and saw Chantel under the bed.

"What are you doing there? Where are you under the bed?" Cynthia whispered.

"I am hiding away from him. He will be here any moment, you need to tell him I am not around if in case he asks of me from you," Chantel replied.

"Who? Who are you talking about?" Cynthia asked, looking confused.

"You will soon find out. Can you please meet him outside before he comes in here, I don't want to meet him please," Chantel said and repositioned herself under the bed.

Cynthia narrowed her eyes at her and walked out. She turned to go downstairs when she came face to face with a brown skinned boy. He was tall and handsome. He is muscular for his age, maybe from too much sporting activities and has the most gorgeous brown eyes she has ever seen. His eyes reminded her of someone, but she could not remember who.

"Hello," the handsome boy greeted her.

"Oh hello," she replied.

"I am looking for one fair beautiful girl, slim, with Afro kinky hair. She looks more like an half caste. She said she was in this dorm," the boy began to describe.

"Does this girl have a name?" Cynthia smiled.

"Yes, she said her name is Chantel."

"Why didn't you just tell me her name instead of going through the trouble of describing her? Anyway, if I may ask, who are you?" Cynthia laughed.

"I am sorry, forgive my manners. My name is Kevin. I am a friend of hers."

"Oh, right, Kevin. I now remember. Chantel did mention you sometime ago."

"Really? Please, do you know where I can find her?" he asked excitedly.

"I am sorry, I have not seen her. She said she was going to the library and that was the last I have seen of her today. I don't know where she could be. Maybe you should come back some other time, okay?" Cynthia said, still smiling at him.

Kevin frowned a bit. He was disappointed. "Oh! I thought I might get the chance to see her today. Well, is she your friend?"

"Yes, she is my friend."

"Okay then. If in case you see her, can you please tell her I came around? I will come again another time."

"Sure, I will let her know, don't worry."

"Thank you. I will be going now. Good bye," he turned and walked downstairs. Cynthia on the other hand, ran back to the room and knelt down. She looked under the bed, and found Chantel there. She almost jumped up in fright and hit her head on the wooden part of the bed. Cynthia laughed so hard at her that she finally fell on the floor.

"It's not funny, stop laughing. Why did you scare me like that? I thought it was Kevin." Chantel held her chest.

"Why... Why would Kevin come in here? Come on. Come out before you hit your head again." Cynthia said and stopped laughing.

She got up from the floor and helped Chantel up. They both sat down on the bed.

"You did not tell me Kevin was this handsome," Cynthia joked.

"But, I thought you said I should forget about him." Chantel said.

"I know. And I still stand by my word. I now understand why Nadia feels so threatened by you. The guy is fresh. Anyway, why were you hiding from him instead of telling him that you don't want to see him?"

"I can't tell him that. He will ask me why and I wouldn't know what to tell him."

"You are kidding, right? Chantel, just tell that boy you don't want any trouble and that he should leave you alone. It's as simple as that."

"It's not. I can't face Kevin. I...I..."

"You, what?"

"I like him. Ever since we met, I have not been able to stop myself from thinking about him. He is always in my thoughts. The only thing stopping me from acting on it is the fact that he is the boyfriend of senior Nadia. I really can't see him, now," Chantel confessed.

Cynthia had this serious look on her face. She let out a deep breath. "Chantel listen, I know Kevin is handsome and all. But, you need to understand that, we are still young and have our lives ahead of us. Let's concentrate on our books first, then boys will come later. At least, try and forget about Kevin for now, please. You don't need him now, neither do you need Nadia and her friends on your tail."

"But, what happens if I am not able to take him out of my mind? What happens then? What do I do?" Chantel said, sounding worried.

"That is why I and Adiepena are here. We will be here with you to guide you," Cynthia said.

Chantel nodded and smiled.

So, that's how it went. Chantel continued to hide from Kevin and tried to avoid him anytime he came around to visit for two weeks. One hot Saturday afternoon, Kevin came around again, but this time she could not hide from him because he caught her right at the entrance of the dormitory.

"Chantel, wait! Please I beg you. Don't run away from me," he called out after her.

Chantel had no option than to stop. She turned towards him, with her head down. She still could not face him. Her heart began to pound very hard when he got closed to her and held her hand.

"Chantel, why have you been avoiding me? Have I done anything to you? Have I done anything to hurt you?" he asked her again.

Chantel shook her head.

"Then why? What is wrong? Don't you like me? Please look at me, Chantel," he held her chin and raised her head up making her look him directly in the eye.

"Tell me why you have been avoiding me," he said again.

"It's just that, I don't want to be seen with someone's boyfriend. I don't want any trouble. Please, let me go," she said, almost in tears.

"Who told you that? Who told you I am dating someone?"

"Aren't you seeing senior Nadia? She said you and her are a couple and warned me to stay away from you. Kevin, I am sorry but I can't do this. I don't want any trouble with anyone, much less senior Nadia. I am sorry." she stepped away from his reach and ran back inside. He called her name several times but she did not turn, not even once.

Kevin was angry. Why would Nadia tell Chantel they were dating when they weren't? Why would she lie to Chantel like that? Without wasting time, he headed towards the senior dorm. he found Nadia seated with Naa under the mango tree.

Nadia noticed him first and began to smile widely at him. Kevin got closer to them and Nadia tried to hug him but he gently pushed her away.

"What did you tell Chantel about us?"

"What do you mean? Who are you talking about?"

Kevin narrowed his eyes. He knew Nadia, maybe he knew her too well and he knew what she was capable of doing.

"Stop pretending as if you don't know what I am talking about. You go around, telling people that you and I are dating when you and I know very well that is not true. Why would you even do that?"

"Come on, baby. Calm down. Why don't you come inside so that we can talk about this?"

"I don't want to go anywhere with you. Listen, stop telling people that we are dating because we are not. You are just my friend and that's that. I know my cousin here is the one putting ideas in your head. I don't want to hear about this again, because the next time I do, I won't take it lightly with you,"he said and walked away from them, leaving Naa Shika shocked and Nadia, fuming with rage.

"I know this is all because of that girl. She is going to pay for this. She will definitely pay for this humiliation." she said and angrily headed toward the dorm with Naa following behind her.