I sat on my bed trying to gather as much confidence as I could. My heart kept pounding in my chest as the day get darker. Any moment from now, I will be in Sylvia’s house. I stood up from my bed, as it was no more comfortable for me to sit on. I paced in my room trying to rehearse a few words I would say when I get to her place.

My gaze went to the wall clock in my room and I realized it was already 6:45pm. I was supposed to be at her place by 7pm. I was getting really nervous. maybe I should just call her and tell her that I won’t be coming anymore. But she might think I’m still angry with her if I tell her that. I have to go. I have promised her already. I will try my best not to look nervous. I took my wallet from my bed and left my room. I got to her place exactly 7:15pm. I stood beside her door contemplating on whether to knock or not. After 10 minutes of standing, I summoned courage and knocked.

“Hold on please. I’m coming” her voice sounded from within. After about 30 seconds, the door opened. My heart missed a beat when I saw her but I remained calm. “Wow! you came. I thought you won’t come.” she said “I already promised to come. I don’t want to disappoint you.” I said “Please come in” she said I entered and she followed behind me. “Please have a sit” she said pointing to a plastic chair beside a table. “thank you” I said and sat on the chair. She sat on the other plastic chair opposite me. “thanks for coming” she said “now I know you are no more angry with me” I didn’t say anything. “you didn’t attend lectures all through last week. What happened?” she asked “nothing” I responded “you just decided to stay at home” “yes” I responded. “I hope you had gone through all the topics we did that week” “yes” I responded. She looked into my eyes as if she was searching for something. “it seems you are a guy of few words” she said I didn’t know what to respond. I just smiled. “Please give me a minute” she said and went into her kitchen. That was when I took my time to admire the beauty of her room.

I haven’t been able to observe her room since I came. Her bed was just beside her wardrobe. Her room was painted pink. Posters of some popular celebrities could be seen on the wall. While I was still admiring the beauty of her room, she emerged with two plates of rice in her hands. She placed it on the table beside me. She went back inside and returned with a bottle water and two glasses. She placed it on the table and sat opposite me. “Okay, dinner is ready. I hope you will like it” she said.

She served the food and started eating, while I stared at the food like I needed approval before eating. “Are you not eating?” she asked when is realized I have not touched the food “I will” I said and quickly took a spoonful into my mouth. She stared at me as if she was trying to read what was on my mind. She smiled and continued eating her food. “I hope you like the food” “yes.” I answered and fixed my gaze back on the food. She kept staring at me with smiles on her face. I tried not to look up from my food in order not to meet her gaze. Her continuous stare was making me uncomfortable. It was as if she was reading my mind. “for how long have you been this way?” she asked.

Her question got me really confused. I didn’t understand her question “I don’t get you” I said. “You can tell me about it. It helps when you share it with close friends,” She said.  I still didn’t understand what she was trying to say “I really don’t get you. What are you taking about?” I asked. She smiled and dropped the spoon she was holding. “My uncle was once like you. Things didn’t go well for him because he decided to keep it to himself. He had to marry someone he didn’t love.” She said. The more she speaks, the more I get confused. What does her uncle got to do with me. “Sylvia, what are you trying to say? you are getting me confused.” I said. “You don’t have to hide it from me. I know already,” She said.

“What?” I asked

I froze immediately she made that statement. I stared at her in shock.