MONICA NAMATOVU

Before he finished digesting this revelation, she suggested. "Since we are going to the same hospital, I was of the view that we travel together."

"When do you plan to set off?" She asked him.

"What?" He found himself saying it aloud.

Bosco Masaba wondered if he had woken up on the bad side of the bed to be ambushed by such questions that put him in a difficult position. He could answer the former question about when he planned to set off, but to ask that they leave together was going too far. He wanted to set some distance between himself and her, but it seemed like she was committed to sticking next to him and complicating things for him.

"Come on Bosco, don't be shy." She drew closer to him and laid her hand on his shoulder; with her high heels, they were at the same level.

As if she had not known that she had encroached on his personal space, she went on. "Don't tell me you are scared of traveling with me. Look at me, do I look like someone who will eat you?" She asked with a mischievous smile on her beautiful face.

"Or is it that am too ugly, and you are ashamed to be seen with me?" Now he did not know whether she was joking or serious. To be on the safe side, he chose to ignore this question.

Monica was too close to him. Her sweet floral perfume had started enveloping him, 'Oh my God! I love this perfume; it must be a combination of rose flowers and Jasmin. Fuck! See how she distorts my mind… I have to tell her something to push her off me.' He lamented to himself.

'Yes, if I am not careful. You look like a man-eater.' Luckily, he had the sense of mind not to tell her so.

Bosco decided to say something to separate her from him. "You see, Monica. I would love to travel with you since we are going to the same hospital. But I have an appointment with my girlfriend, and I am going to meet her parents today before leaving with the night train."

He had indeed agreed to a meeting with his girlfriend Agnes Nzanzu, however, the part about meeting her parents was a lie devised to make Monica lose interest and decide to leave without him. In his calculation, she could not be interested in accompanying him to meet his girlfriend's parents.

"That's great! I have not had a chance to meet your girlfriend, can I come with you?" Monica asked while looking at him with sweet puppy eyes.

'Shit, nothing is going according to plan.' He cursed in his mind. 'Monica, why can't you just be predictable like other girls?'

"Come on Monica, we shall bore you with our love-dovey words. Don't you have to get some special attire for such an occasion? Thinking about it, it will consume a lot of your time, let's plan a different time in the future for meeting her." This was his poor excuse for making her lose interest.

"Are you going to change?" Monica Namatovu asked him while examining him from head to toe.

Bosco was dressed in a fitting navy-blue shirt tucked into sleek black jeans, a testament to his timeless sense of fashion. His short dark hair was meticulously combed, he looked casual and presentable.

Without even thinking about why she asked this question, he answered truthfully. "No, I am already presentable."

Her eyes sparkled with mischief; she knew she had got him. "Bosco, look at me, am I also not presentable?" Monica Namatovu was clad in a fashionable pair of jeans that hugged her curves, and a vivid blue short jacket draping gracefully over her white tank top which complimented her luminous chocolate complexioned skin. Her round and perfectly chiseled face was framed by a chic Bob hairstyle, which emphasized her beauty with the sleek jet-black strands of hair.

He knew he had fallen into her trap, and that whatever answer he gave, it would not be in his favor. He gnashed his teeth in frustration.

"Monica, it is obvious." He answered.

"What!" The once gentle and joking demeanor had changed suddenly.

"Bosco, I did not hear what you said." His response had not been to her liking.

"Monica, what I meant to say is that you are very smart and presentable." To avoid starting an argument, he stated what he knew was the truth, but also something she could appreciate hearing.

"Thank you," she said with a smile on her pretty face. The stern demeanor had disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

Bosco Masaba breathed a sigh of relief, that was close.

Seeing that he could not get rid of her without causing more untold damage himself. He decided to go with her. However, he could not take her along without informing his girlfriend Agnes.

"Monica, it is decided then. Since we are both presentable, there's no need to go back and change. If you don't mind, let me go for a short call before we depart together." He told her.

"It is alright, you will find me here." She said as she occupied the seat next to his. Bosco left his seat and went outside the lecture hall to call Agnes and notify her of the new developments.

He hoped she was fine with these new developments.