5. Unexpected Visitor

Chisom

Tired.

That was how I felt and it showed in the way I slowly descended the stairs. My thighs felt like bricks; every step I took seemed heavier than the last. It was punishment for joining Jessie in doing squats. I didn't enjoy any form of exercise so, my willingness to tag along to the stadium had surprised even me.

Friday was the only day Jessie and I didn't have the same lectures which meant I had to make the short walk to the female hostels alone. Halting on the last stairs of the second floor, I toyed with the idea of going through the back where there was a short cut. It was a lonely path but any other route seemed too far at this point.

My phone vibrated in its confines and I pulled it out to see a grinning Greg staring back at me. A playful smile graced my lips when I remembered our last encounter and the promise of a kiss, causing me to temporarily forget my discomfort.

It was easy to explain my plight to him which only resulted in him laughing at me, with a promise not to hang up till I reached my hostel. Greg; the best of the best.

"Babe." His voice sent tingles to my ear and I pretended not to hear him so he could repeat himself. I liked him calling me babe.

"Baby! Oh, baby!" I could imagine him holding the TV remote to his lips as he said this in a singsong voice and I laughed.

The silhouette of a male figure came into my side vision but I paid no heed to it, determined not to give in to any form of paranoia. My hostel was a few minutes’ walk and I also had Greg on the phone.

A feeling of fear washed over me as I noticed the silhouette edge closer to me. Ever so slowly I retracted the phone from my ear, slipping it inside my bag without ending the call. I had to be strong for me.

I whirled around to face the stalker and my pulse quickened in recognition of the person in front of me. He shouldn't be here.

"What are you doing here?" I awarded myself a mental pat for sounding stronger than I felt at this moment.

A quick survey of my environment showed we were alone, that knowledge was enough to set off the alarm bells in my head. Scared by this fact, my feet met the ground with purposeful strides in an attempt to escape whatever horrors that could befall me.

His calloused hand on my wrist pulled me back to him, the impact of my face on a rock hard chest stunning me momentarily.

"You should know not to run by now." His voice whispered into my hair.

I pushed myself away from him, the distance between us beginning to seem shorter than it was.

His arms reached for mine and I let out an ear-piercing scream which kept his arms rooted by his side. His eyes watched my every move, chortling at the dying echoes of my voice before flashing me an evil grin.

He stalked unbelievably closer to me, each step a promise of what was to come. My eyes darted left, right and to all random places in hopes to catch anybody's attention or find a means of escape.

Like in the past, there was none. I was all alone and no one was coming to save me.

The sudden realization hit me hard and my eyes watered. All I wanted was to get to my hostel, take a hot bath and a much-needed nap, that wasn't too much to ask. I chewed on my lower lip, raising my hands in front of me like it could keep him at bay. 

He chuckled but it was devoid of humour and it sent chills down my spine. My legs refused to move, the feeling of fear was indescribable, at the same time, familiar and so, I didn't resist when he pulled me into an empty class.

No sooner were we in the class when his lips crashed onto mine, his thumb and index fingers pressing hard on the sides of my mouth to keep it open. My hands hung from above my head while his tongue thrust into the lips of an unresponsive me.

Fight! Don't give up!

Spurred by the sound of an unrecognizable voice whispering somewhere in my head, I thrashed and turned in his arms, begging him to let me go. My feet felt too heavy to be lifted to his groin area and a wave of helplessness swept over me again.

His groans of pleasure reached my ears with his fingers hanging over the waistband of my palazzo. Feeling detached, I closed my eyes to block out the images of his hands violating the body I was now pretending didn't belong to me.

The vibration coming from the phone in my bag distracted him for a second. I took that chance to bite down hard on his tongue, not stopping till I felt the taste of blood and his hand loosened his hold on both of mine.

"Bitch!" He grunted, swiping the back of his hand across his lips then his eyes took on a happy glint. "Still feisty, huh?"

He smiled. Within a blink, his gaze turned murderous and his eyes held promises of terror that I knew about. I didn't wait for the rest of his statement nor for him to regain his stance; with the adrenaline now pumping through my veins, I fled the room.

When I was a few feet from the entrance of my hostel, where I was certain people would see me if I screamed, then I stopped to catch my breath. I took another look behind me, he was gone but it didn't stop my heart from pounding. I didn't feel safe.

Digging into my bag for my earpiece, I let out a frustrated cry when I couldn't find it, I was too disoriented to count. Chewing on my lips, I resumed walking until I was standing at the front of my hostel. 

The familiar figure crouched on the stairs with his head hung over a phone stopped me from going in. He had waves on his hair like Greg, he was also fair too and I would have believed him to be Greg if he wasn't putting on mismatched slippers. 

Remembering now the phone in my bag, I brought it out to see missed calls from Greg and text messages that ranged from where are you to please pick up to call me back. 

With a sigh, I shoved the Tecno phone deep into the bag. I didn't need anybody worrying over me. I saved myself today, I could do it another time. 

"Where have you been?" The guy on the stairs asked, causing me to jump back. 

I screamed and threw my bag at him, unable to move. Why were my feet always failing me at the wrong times? My head raised slowly from my feet and to his face that was now visible. I blinked; how? 

My eyes went back to his feet; Greg had a better fashion sense than two mismatched slippers. I opened my mouth, shocked.

Both of us engaged in a staring contest, then I noticed his eyes, they were undoubtedly Greg's. Still in a daze, I picked up my bag, made to sidestep him when his hand caught my wrist in a firm grip.

"Chisom, where have you been?" He asked.

My eyes glistened with unshed tears and I winced audibly as Greg's hand on my wrist only brought with it the painful reminder of the events of a few minutes ago.

"Stay away from me," I muttered, yanking my hand from his grasp.

"Where were you?" He started but made no move to come any closer to me. "I called and you didn't pick. Sent messages and you didn't reply. I was worried sick about you." 

His fingers were running through his hair, a sign that he was frustrated and my eyes softened at the worry ringing loud in his voice and on his face.

Encouraged by that, both of his hands reached for mine with his eyes searching for the answers to his questions in my brown coloured orbs. We were in a world of our own, unbothered by the whispers of the nosy students who had not bothered to come to my aid after I screamed for help.

Would they really have ignored me if it was someone else? Someone like him? 

"I just need to be left alone, please." My voice sounded broken towards the end of my statement and when Greg's arms drew me into a hug, I broke down crying.

He hugged me tighter to himself, his fingers drawing comforting circles on my back until my sobs reduced to sniffles. When he heard no more sounds from me, he pulled me back gently to wipe my tears.

"Whatever it is," Greg began and I was afraid he would leave me; I would be all alone again. "Take care of yourself, okay?" 

His eyes peered into mine, searching for answers. I wanted him to stay but I needed to be alone, I needed to talk to Bubbles. 

"Are you sure you want me to leave?" Greg asked. He was hesitant to leave; afraid I would do stupid things again. I might not.

Greg knew me all too well and right now I hated that he did. I wanted to appear strong in front of him. He had already seen enough of my embarrassing moments; I didn't need to add this evening to that long list. 

"Chisom?"

No.

"Yes."