Chapter 7 The good bodyguard

Gabrielle quickly removed his hand off her neck immediately after they had gone out of sight. Brian put his hand back in his pocket as they walk silently to an eatery. 

He ordered two plates of food and drinks. Their order was carefully set on their table. Gabrielle was very hungry so she ate hurriedly. 

"You need more food?" he asked. Gabrielle nodded her head. He placed another order and she was served again.

"I will be outside, I need to smoke." Brian stood up from his chair. 

"You smoke?" Gabrielle asked. 

"Isn't it obvious? I am proudly a smoker." 

Gabrielle tilted her brows and focused on her food. It was none of her business anyway. Brian was not even a friend to her. He was just helping her overcome the bad boys in her lodge until she moved out. 

Brian  walked up to a provision store across the road and took fresh menthol sweets to freshen his breath. Gabrielle came out, she did not see him. She stood still and was looking around. 

"Smallie," Mike called from behind. Gabrielle rolled her eyes before looking in his direction. 

"You looked so beautiful in your tight pants." Mike grinned after running his eyes on her. 

"Thank you," Gabrielle said without putting up a smile.  

"I know you are still mad at me over what happened earlier. Smallie, I'm sorry." 

"Mike, you owe me no apology nor explanation. See we can't be friends. You talk too much and I hate men who talk a lot. Just leave me." 

"Momi, is he bothering you?" Brian, who had been watching them from the store, came out. Gabrielle hesitated before responding to him. 

"No" 

"Okay, give me a second, I'll be there," Brian said and paid for the items he purchased from the store. He crossed the road as though he owned the road. 

"Guy, how far?" Mike brought his hand out for a handshake. Brian stared at his hands for a while before accepting his extended hand. He relinquished Mike's hand and put his arm on Gabrielle's neck as he led her back to her lodge. Mike could not believe his eyes. He wondered what Gabrielle was doing with Manga of all people. 

A hand tapped him on the shoulder, Mike turned, it was G-boy. G-boy was his best friend. His real name is Blessing. They were two blessings in the Political Science department. Blessing-girl and Blessing-boy. Blessing-boy always bragged about his ability to locate women's G-spot in a jiffy. The people in his department changed his name from Blessing-boy to G-boy. 

"Why are you staring at them?" G-boy asked. 

"I love that girl, but she wouldn't give me a chance." 

"She has a boyfriend already, can't you see?" G-boy smirked. 

"I think they pulled that little drama to throw me off. I'm not going to give up on her. I love that girl. She must be mine. Where the hell does she live for Christ sake?" Mike asked and bounced the ball he had under his armpit. G-boy laughed and patted his shoulder as they continued staring at Gabrielle and Brian until they were out of sight. 

Mike was one of the tallest boys in the school. He liked to play basketball every evening. He was always seen with a ball.

"She is such a beauty to behold. Well, good luck buddy. Don't forget Jane pays your school fees unless you want to drop out." G-boy said. Mike left without responding to him. 

Brian put his arm around Gabrielle's waist again as they approached the lodge. He led her to her room. 

Gabrielle sat on her bed, while he sat on the small plastic chair that was close to her window and hung his legs on her window. He supported his head with his palms. 

"Why did you choose to be a builder?" Gabrielle asked with heavy eyes. 

"All men must not go to school," he responded.

"Would you wait outside for me, I want to bathe," Gabrielle said. 

"Gabby, listen, naked women, don't move me. You can do whatever you want to do, change your clothes, don't worry about me. I won't look at you." 

"How old are you?" Gabrielle asked. 

"I'm twenty-five and not a baby. I'm a man." 

Gabrielle began to undress. She put a towel around her chest and proceeded to the bathroom. The female occupants pulled the towel she hung on the bathroom door. 

Gabrielle looked up and could not find her towel. She wanted to shout, but they would laugh at her if she had shouted. She stood still, waiting for Brian to come to her rescue. She knew he would come. 

The noise outside woke Brian who slept off as soon as she left the room. He looked around, she was not in the room yet. Brian glanced up at the clock she hung on the wall. He was surprised she had been gone for thirty minutes. He quickly moved in the direction of the voice he heard. 

Some female occupants of the lodge wanted to have their bathe, but Gabrielle refused to open the door. They were trying to break the door down when Brian came out. 

"What is she hiding that we did not have? What boys see and fuck every day, please come out and look for your towel, we want to bathe," one of the female occupants known as Ava continued ranting. 

"Momi, what is it, Brian hit his hand on the bathroom door. 

"Brian, please I need your help. They took my towel..." 

"Okay, I'm coming," he hurried back to the room and got one of her clothes for her. Gabrielle opened the door a little and he passed it through the small space. She wore her clothes and stepped out. 

"Yeye girl! Ava yelled. Gabrielle ignored her and continued walking. 

"Look, I don't hit women, but if you call her that again I swear to God, I will beat you up black and blue. Try it and taste my wrath," Brian yelled and there was silence everywhere.

Brian walked away swiftly. Ava gave out a long sigh and the girls busted into laughter. 

"Gabby, you are leaving this lodge tomorrow. What do you think would have happened if I had gone back?" 

"This is too much, Brian. I'm scared." 

"Your beauty is beyond description. They want you by all means. My presence scares the hell out of the boys, but it doesn't move the girls because they know I don't hit women." 

"Why?" Gabrielle asked.

"No, reason, but I don't hit them, I have never tried it."

"My eyes are heavy, I'm so confused right now." 

"Gabby, climb that bed and close your eyes. I'll go in the morning." 

"What? No, I just met you today. I...don't know you." 

"Gabby, you have no option. The school gates close by 9:PM. You can't go to the hostel now." 

"Take me to your girlfriend's lodge." 

"I don't have a girlfriend," Brian said and sat back on the chair. He hung his legs on the window as he did before. 

"Why?" Gabrielle asked. 

"Nothing, just a personal decision." 

"Are you going to sit there till morning?" Gabrielle asked again. 

"Gabby, ascend your bed and close your eyes. Forget about me, I'll be fine.