Chapter 2: An old friend.

"Real friends aren't easy to find, because you found one don't mean your friendship would last forever. Everything grows and change is destined."

Unknown.

Arsala's POV

I'm occupying one of the tables at grab N go cafe and having a cup of coffee. Black coffee by the way, I like my coffee black. I couldn't sleep last night I was reading and solve exercises from my math textbook. All in preparation for my maths quiz today.

I scarified my sleep for the maths quiz and it was worth it. Amongst all the 10 questions, I was able to answer 8 questions correctly. The remaining 2 questions, I'm not sure about my workings. I have Imran to thank for this, he explain everything I needed to know at the study room.

Before Haider came to pick me up I had already learnt a lot from him than expected. Though we argue every now and then about the most silliest things. I also got my script back from the assignment he gave last week Monday.

Imran helped me with the assignment and I scored a 9.5 out of 10. I was so happy when Mr Ayomide hand my script back to me. I wanted to thank Imran after the quiz but he walked out of the class in a hurry.

Weird!!!!

I'm chatting with Hafsat my childhood friend on WhatsApp. She was telling me about a guy who approached her recently. In her words I develop hatred for him the moment he said I love you.

We relate a lot in so many thing, I understand how she feels about being told I love you. In fact to me I feel I have just been told I'm lying to you and not I love you. That's just how my brain registered those words. All I have are bad experiences with men trying to do nothing but get into bed with me.

Hafsat: the guy was like awfa na. I want us to go out and have fun

Arsala: fun get many meaning oo ( fun has many meaning).

Hafsat: I tell ama say make him dey wait for me, I go con meet ama ( I told him to wait, I will come to see him)

Knowing Hafsat, that was sarcasm. Never would she leave her dorm to go see a guy. She also has bad experiences with men.

Arsala: you no well aswear (you are no mentally stable).

I hit the send button and giggled at how crazy this girl can be. We have been friends for the past 14 years. I just miss her so much, Hafsat and I attend two different universities. She schools at Ahmadu Bello university Zaria a federal university while I school at American university of Nigeria.

Its a private owned university by Atiku Abubakar. The American university of Nigeria is one of the best universities here in Nigeria. The tuition fee is high and Haider is the one who pays for everything.

Hafsat: I know right

Arsala: we will talk later, I have to go for class.

The cafe I'm at is within the school premises, its a 5 minute walk to the 24hrs library. Which is where I'm meant to have my class. Its 10am already and the class starts by 10:15am, I have be on my way.

I hate the class with passion, statistics has never been my favorite course. Probabilities and possibilities, I've never been good at it. After this semester I would be through with all my maths related courses. I will be a math free sophomore.

Hafsat: take care babe

I couldn't help but smile at my phone screen, words aren't enough to express how much I miss my best friend. I would give anything up to see her right now.......3 years ago, that's when I last saw her.

Arsala: you also take care dearie, xoxo.

I place my phone on the table and took a sip from my coffee. I want to finish the coffee before heading to class. The remaining content in the cup is still a large quantity, so the odds aren't exactly in my favor.

"Hi." The hi came a from voice I couldn't quite recall but sounds familiar.

I looked up and.......

"Can I sit?" She asks smiling at me.

"Um...." I nod my head. I couldn't form words, its like I lost my voice.

She took a sit across me on the table and did I forget to say the atmosphere is now suffocating.

"You're still the black coffee lover." Her eyes were glued to my cup.

"Yeah............I'm having a class soon. So see you around." I quickly pick up my tote bag to leave.

"Arsala we need to talk about what happened." Her words fills the air before I could walk out.

"There is nothing to talk about you made it clear that its all my fault." I snap back at her.

She sighs deeply. "I was really hurt that day and ended up I saying thing I shouldn't have."

"And so was I and by you my so-called friend."

"I was so furious, hamza confessed to having feelings for you and not me. My feelings were hurt by the man I was in love with......"

"You as my friend also knew I had no feelings whatsoever for him back then, not now and not never." I interrupt her before she could finish.

"I messed up, we all do please let's talk thing out." Her voice bears a pleading tone.

"I'm late for class. Maybe after my class."

"Okay, meet me back here."

"Okay." I walk out of the cafe quickly.

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Since the lecture commence, I haven't be able focus or concentrate. The conversation I had with Maryam not too long ago kept replaying in my head.

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About a year ago when I enrolled into AUN. Everything was new to me, I needed a friend or someone to talk to, just so I don't lose my sanity. That was when Maryam walked into my life. We met at the commencement hall during the second day of orientation.

We were in a queue, waiting to get our school ID card made. She was seated next to me reading a book, "the undesirable element" one of my best Hausa novels. We became friends right there and then, we were inseparable.

Long story short, along the line she had a crush on a guy name Hamza. Me, being an oblivious human being, I had no idea who he was. Maryam little crush turned into an obsession and a little part of me was scared to be around her. But I couldn't just leave especially when I knew she needed help.

She stalked Hamza around, she knew where he would be, the time and what he could possibly be doing. Hamza is actually a good looking guy but for some reason he gives me bad vibes. There is something about him, I just can't put a finger on it.

Maryam is beautiful, she is a true definition of what we call African beauty. She has a slender body, a gorgeous round face and nice melanin skin to me everything about her was perfect. We all have something we are insecure about as humans.

Maryam's greatest insecurity was that she felt was too slim and didn't had the right curves. I tried telling her like a thousand times, that she was perfect just the way she is but it all fell on deaf ears. Maryam started taking pills for buttocks and boobs enlargement.

At that point she saw me as an enemy since I was always against everything she did. As weeks went by Maryam got worst by the day. She was neglecting her salat (prayers) just to stalk hamza around. I swear, I wanted to beat some sense into her because it was getting annoying.

I and Hamza met. Finally, at the parking lot where he almost ran me over due to reckless driving. That day Haider was seconds from ripping him apart, he was also at the parking lot to pick me up. I had a little bruise on the elbow nothing serious.

My second encounter with him was at the cafeteria, he apologize for almost running me over. No offence but I still didn't like the guy, he stirs up a weird feeling within me. I told Maryam about my encounter with him and it cost me my sleep that night.

On a faithful day Maryam and Hamza crossed path through me. We were heading to IT admin block to have my laptop fixed because it was having issues connecting to the school network. Hamza was also there and when he said hi to me, I had to acquaint them both.

I don't know if hamza felt the same way towards Maryam or if she was the one throwing herself at him. Everything about them was so confusing. What I failed to understand was why they always asked me to join them whatever they wanted to hangout.

Of course always declined but Maryam had a way with words. One way or the other she always ends up convincing me to tag along. I felt like a third wheel between them. Maryam's day and night revolved around hamza.

Is it really possible to love someone this much?

My friendship with Maryam came crumbling down on valentine day. I personally don't like that day, it brings back bad memories. I was with Maryam by the parking lot she was giving me a ride home.

Hamza came up to us and gifted me with a red fluffy teddy, a box of my favorite chocolate and card. For a moment I thought he had lost his eye sight or something.

He confessed to having a crush on me and asked me out. In his exact words

"I had a crush on you even before we met at the parking lot. Arsala, I like you, a lot."

I was silently praying within me this was a prank or a mistake. Maryam has a crush on Hamza. I don't want to be caught up in any love triangle.

Before I could say anything Maryam exploded. Her eyes had turn dark with rage and pain. It was a heated argument, she called me names, saying I always snatch things away from her.

"I hate you." Were the exact words she said to me before pushing me down onto the gravel on the parking lot. She screamed those words with so much intensity, I felt like my heart was just stabbed. It hurt like hell when those words escaped her mouth.

I called and texted her sometimes, so we could talk things out but she never once picked up or returned my calls.

That was the last time we spoken to each other because she always avoided me and acted like we were strangers till today. Now she wants to talk, after acting like total strangers for 8 months.

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