CHAPTER 31

Genesis's POV

                A mild jerk to my arm shot my eyes open. My head tipped over. I awoke with a start, paralysed and unable to move for a few seconds, every thought of mine in high definition.

"Wake up!" She whisper-yelled. "Lecture is over already." My muscles twitched. I blinked a few times, trying to bring my vision into clarity. "You've been sleeping all day Gen." Her voice failed to sound like hers as soon as it reached my ears. I turned, catching her flickering gaze as she stood, shoving her books into her bag. My eyes took in the legion of students swarming the front of the hall already leaving.

"You okay? You look like you could really use a queen-sized bed to lay your head." I nodded slightly, indicating I was alright but I felt otherwise.

I had been feeling a little bit queasy since the past few weeks and the need to vomit was becoming violent accompanied with an unbearable, light feeling of hunger. My mouth watered a bit to much to generate concern and stomach cramps which were worse than the ones I often got when I caught the flu were weighing me down. I felt light headed and sick. Burning throat sensations and bile coming up my throat almost every minute. I was finding it almost impossible to concentrate or do much of anything, except laying in bed all through and feeling sorry for myself.

"Man, I'm starving. We should head to the cafe." She grabbed her bag and linked our arms together, stepping out of the class.

As soon as I extended another limb forward, I felt a sharp, shooting pain explode between my thighs and run up to the lower area of my stomach. I grabbed the side, my face contorting in excruciating pain.

"What's wrong?" Amelia stopped walking and jogged to stand beside me. "Are you okay?" I grimaced from the pang of pain, expelling short breaths from my mouth.

I nodded my head, "Let's go."

"Gen, if you're not feeling alright, we could head back to the dorm and get food later."

"No, let's go. You said you were hungry, right?"

"I am but it doesn't look like you..."

"Amelia." My head felt heavy on my shoulders. It felt like it was going to fall off my neck anytime soon. I hung it, turning to look at her. I smiled to ease her worry, re-assuring her, "I'm okay and hungry as well. Let's go get some food. Shall we?"

It seemed like the ground on which I walked on wasn't stationary anymore. In my eyes, they moved. I could swear an earthquake just occurred. The moment she pulled open the glass doors leading to the interior of the cafe, all the smell of the food came rushing in, wafting into my nostrils at an alarming speed. The urge to puke became so strong. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths which helped to keep it down. Nachos, fish, tomatoes. They smelled nasty and turned my stomach painfully.

When a group of seniors four tables from us ordered a large-sized pepperoni pizza, the smell hit me so hard the vomit instantly surged up my throat. I shot up from my chair and dashed for the closest exit, ignoring weird stares and glances from people and yells from my friend. The exit led to the back of the cafe building. I unceremoniously puked the entire content of the little dinner I was able to shove down into my system the previous night on the sidewalk. Again, my stomach lurched and gurgled. Perhaps, some painkillers might help. I raised my heavy eyelids half way only for them to fall shut. I puked some more, even puking when my stomach felt like it was already emptied out.

"Jeez! Genesis! What's wrong? What....oh my God! Hey! What did you take? What..."

"I'll be alright." I retched, spilling my guts out.

"Oh my God! Take it easy. Oh God! Genesis, you're scaring me. Should I call your mum? Or your dad? Should I call Jace?Oh! Your boyfriend is closer. I should call Keegan. I'll call Keegan."

I grabbed her hand before she was able to leave. "No, no, no, don't please. I'll soon be fine. I'll soon be..." My stomach lurched once again. I buckled over, clutching my stomach as I vomited incessantly.

"Genesis!"

"I'm fine. I'm okay. You don't have to worry."

"But I am worried."

"But you don't have to be."

"Hey! I'm meant to be. I mean, picture this. My best friend and I goes out to have lunch after our all day long and boring lectures and just before the food arrives, she runs out alarmingly. I run after her to find her puking without control. Now, that's something to get worried about."

"I feel okay."

Her brow wrinked. She puckered her lips. "You sure?"

I forced a smile. "I promise."

"We should visit the nurse or something. Girl, you look weak and so drained out."

"No, no, no, it's not necessary. I'll just...."

"Sup?"

A tap on my shoulder. I turned at the sound of the voice close to my ear. I was surprised to see it was Ian and more surprised to realize it was I he was referring to. We never spoke or said more than a hi to each other on few occasions. I could count the number of times he even looked my way. This was out of the ordinary.

Quickly realizing this must be something important if he thought to find me and start a conversation, I responded. "Hey, uhh...do you need something?"

"Yeah so, you've seen Dario?"

I frowned, "No, I...I haven't seen him all day."

"I'm just asking cause he ain't at the house and I've been looking for him."

I shook my head in the negative. "I...I haven't seen him. I don't know where your friend is. We...hardly speak. Is there a problem?"

"Friend?" He chuckled.

"Have you tried reaching him on the phone?"

"I don't have his contact." He said and stepped back, flickering his eyes up and down my body. "You look...different." And then, walked away.

I was confused and disorientated for a few moments and more confused he would even come up to ask me about Dario. I tried to make sense of the whole situation but each time I attempted, the speed at which the headache brewing at the back of my skull increased.

Amelia tugged at my arm, mirroring my thoughts. "Why did he ask you about Dario?"

I shrugged, tired and feeling the urgent need to rest my head on a soft surface. "I don't really know."

"That's strange. Well by the way, let's get back to the cafe. I heard the Oreos are down to the last few. You know how I get when I don't have my Oreos. I know. Disastrous, right?"

"No, you go. I'll wait outside for you."

She pouted. " Genesis."

"I'm sorry. The smell of the snacks and food gets to me."

"Fine. But you'll wait outside?"

"Yes." I cracked a smile. "I would."

Just then, a blood-draining head rush consumed me. I experienced a sudden spin in my head, like the earth just titled on its axis. Everything went black for a few seconds. I staggered, stumbling to the ground but was caught by my friend.

"Damn! I knew something was off. I just knew it. Alright, off to the dorm we go bestie. You need a long, good nap." She pushed me up, straining to keep me steady on my two feet.

"I'm alright Amelia. I'm just..."

"Shush...shut it. I'm not listening to anything you say for a whole week. You got me?"

I sighed and gave in as she led the way to our dorm building.

***

Transitioning from the world of dreams into the land of reality, my eyes greeted his silvery blue ones staring down at me with love and adoration. My heart and lungs expanded to see him laying by my side with a sweet smile in thoughts of me and his eyes deeply engrossed on my face.

I smiled lazily, my body doused in exhaustion even though I had just roused from sleep. My head had become foggy, like that time when alcohol took me into oblivion, but I haven't drunk a drop. It was as though every eye lash weighed more than it should and gravity had been turned up ten fold.

He cupped my cheek in his palm, grazing the lower corner of my lips with his thumb. "Hey."

"Hi."

I stretched my muscles, succumbing to the darkness for a second before opening my eyes again, smiling. "How long have you been watching me sleep?"

He chuckled, "Hours. I've lost count already."

Outside, the moon had already taken court up in the sky and the stars, embedded into the black night, bringing beauty to one another, as only complimentary opposites ever can, as if God had sprinkled them so sugar-sweet upon the most perfect of black birthday cakes.

"I couldn't take my eyes off you." He laughed. "I swear to God."

I giggled to hear him say that.

"How are you feeling?"

I averted my gaze from the open window and let them dance on his handsome face. "As usual."

He frowned. "Amelia told me you were sick and had to return to the dorm."

I chuckled. "I'm sure she exaggerated more than she should. I'm actually feeling better. It was nothing."

"You sure?"

"As sure as I can be." I re-adjusted my body to lay on my side for better view of his profile. He raised our clasped hands to his lips and kissed the back of my palm.

"When did you get here?"

"Uh..." Quicking sparing a quick glance at his silver chain watch strapped to his wrist, his lips re-attached a smile. "Around the time of two. You were sound asleep by then."

I frowned, quite surprised. "So you've been here all day?"

"Pretty much."

"I'm so sorry. For keeping you waiting. You must have had other things to do."

"Hey, don't think like that. My girlfriend was ill. I have no other place to be than by her side. By your side."

My heart swelled. Tears sprang to my eyes. He makes me feel too much. He gives me feelings I always fail to put into words. He has been an excellent and the most admirable partner one could ever ask for. He has been so wonderful to me. Making me feel special and worth more than a million dollars and I have been nothing but unfaithful to him.

My lips trembled. I felt the tears roll down my eyes. He reached forward, catching a drop with his thumb.

Brow wrinkling at my display of emotion, he whispered in the night air, "Why are you crying?"

I smiled, shaking myself off the tears. "I'm just...I'm just happy." Shrugging my shoulders. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"I'm sorry we couldn't go out last night like we planned. Something else came up. My dad and mum dropped by."

I swatted my hand. "Oh! It's fine."

"I promise to make it up to you. How about that?"

"I'm fine with that." I lifted my head up and kissed his lips softly. "How was your test?"

He beamed. "It was like a breeze. Met the same questions I studied for."

"Oooh!" I cheered. "That's great."

"Damn! I forgot something."

I frowned, "What's it?"

He grinned. "Got you your favourite doughnuts. They are in my car. I'll go get them." He dipped his head and placed a kiss on my cheek. Pushing up to his feet, he crossed the room and disappeared.

The room suddenly lit up with a flash of white light. The source was from his phone. A muted ding slitted the air. My eyes narrowed from the brightness.

His phone beamed again. It was closely preceded by the sound of a text coming through. Again and again. Constant. Non-stop.

I frowned and scooted over to the device. As soon as I picked it up, it dinged again. It was unlocked. I observed he didn't use a password nor pattern to obstruct a stranger's access.

I tapped the screen and immediately, a text message popped open. My heartbeat quickened to see his name frozen from the top to bottom of the screen. Series of messages from him and few from people their names didn't ring a bell but his held my utmost interest.

I scanned through them.

Bro, you've seen my Nike?

Another message sat right underneath.

Fuck that, I know you've got them. Don't you dare put them on or I swear to God.

Damn! They are fucking new man. I haven't even worn those things yet.

I guran-fucking-tee I'm gonna cut your balls off.

You a motherfucker. No shit.

Fuck you and fuck everything you stand for!!!!

Where you at?

Bro!!!!

Answer me man.

I'm gonna hit your mum up and let her know my legs ain't gonna heal because you stole my Nike. Let's see how you like that.

My brows furrowed at that.

His legs? Heal?

Just then, a call came through. Instinctively, I picked it up. I couldn't stop my finger fast enough. They swiped the answer button before I even knew what was happening.

"He's alive. Oh gahd! He's alive! I thought you were dead man. It would have been much more convenient for real. Right, my Nikes. Pull it off. Wherever you are...get my damn shoes off your fucking legs. I'm coming to get them."

My breathing must have stopped because it didn't feel like my lungs were doing their job anymore. I would recognize that voice anywhere. That voice? They were deeply engrained in my mind so much that when they plunged through the air, I always know the owner was close by. Thick and deep, like the roar of a lion. I closed my eyes, heart poundering so fast at the thundering sound of it.

"Bro?"

They re-opened again. My mouth parted but no words could file out.

"Keegan?"

My brain failed to function in its normal fashion. It felt like I was strangled by the air around me. My thoughts instantly dispersed, normal functioning became almost impossible.

"Damn! Don't tell me you've turned dumb too."

"It isn't Keegan." I gulped. "It's me....Genesis."

***

Hey hey. How are we doing this Sunday? So, I just want to quickly say this before anything else. I got word that my story...this story could be a bit confusing to some of you. Some of the scenes were a bit confusing so I just want to clarify a few things.

These are the scenes I was told wasn't quite understood. It confused a few people here so let me explain a bit.

***

1. Where was Keegan all this while when Genesis was being intimate with Dario?

Ans: I clarified in the story where he was. The gym kiss, he was with Erika in his bedroom. The sex, I clarified where he went off to. To meet a friend.

2. Genny had been sleeping with Dario all this while and Keegan didn't sense something?

Ans: Genny had slept with Dario just once and in his own view, his bestfriend and girlfriend hated each other. His mind didn't go there that there was something going on between them. Plus, he trusted Dario so much and Genesis, his deep love for her obscured his senses and thinking. Remember as well, Keegan doesn't have a POV so we can't really know his thoughts or if he just chose to overlook everything. Love can make you do that.

3. Where did Genesis sleep on the night when they were to get back to campus after the party at the beach and why didn't Keegan ask Dario where Genny was when he was looking for her after he came back?

Ans: Remember she slept with Dario in his room. She stayed with him when he was bleeding from the stab wound and woke up to find him already gone. He didn't bother asking Dario when he was looking for Genny cause of his gf's and bestfriend's rocky relationship. Genny came back to campus on her own that morning and Keegan had to drop Lana, his sister back to campus for her early lectures. This happened at different time intervals.

4. After Genny's make out session with Dario in the gym, she went back to Keegan. Was she the one with him in the gym room trying to seduce him, begging him to take her back?

Ans: That was his ex...but her identity would be revealed very soon. She went to Keegan...They weren't together when she shared a kiss with Dario at the gym though she still felt guilty.

5. Why did she react to Erika the way she did in the last chapter. Crying and then running away.

Ans: Hormonal changes.

These are all the scenes I thought might be confusing. If there's anything else you might not understand, please point it out and let me clarify. Another thing. In chapter 29, it's two months...not three months since the time at the beach house. I made a mistake in that and it's corrected.

Btw, it's my birthdayyyyy💃💃💃 whoop whoop!!!