Chapter four

And I dreamt of him.

I wouldn't admit just how much I'd wanted to meet him again until I woke the next day and recalled that I dreamt of him.

The setting had been the same as the evening we'd met. Only that, we didn't speak a word. We just sat there on the bench, admiring the flowers and the colourful illusion on the evening sky. At last, he held my hand and we slowly turned to face each other. His eyes were speaking the same language as mine and we began to lean in but I woke up before it could happen and ashamed as I am to write this, I really wished I woke a bit later.

I let out a sigh in disappointment and lay back in bed. Caleb must have gone home because the only people standing over me were Doctor Benson and mum. They were talking in muffled voices and I was beginning to get apprehensive. Perhaps something had gone wrong again (not that anything was right), maybe I wouldn't be discharged soon after all, maybe, maybe, and a whole lot of maybes, but mum smiled at the end and I heaved a sigh of relief. They turned to me

"You're awake" mum said still smiling

"Good morning, mummy"

She stood beside me, caressing my receeding frontal hair.

"How are you feeling, Jane?" Came The doctor's voice

I sat up and whinced a little "I'm as good as can be" I replied.

He smiled at me, nodded and said "you're doing great" as though he owns my body as well and knows exactly how I'm feeling.

"I was just speaking to your mum," he began "you'll be discharged in two days"

I feigned indifference "it's about time" I said but deep down, I was screaming silently. This time, I'd been in the hospital for nearly three weeks. Although I was a frequent patient, I never got used to the hospital smell and the constant remainder that life is a mist.

He tapped my shoulder, adjusted his white coat and went on to continue his ward round.

"Excited, aren't we?" Mum asked, sitting at the foot of the bed whilst grinning ear to ear. I smiled and nodded. She cupped my face in her hands.

"My baby" she called me fondly, then released me and glanced at her wrist watch. Her eyes widened as large as saucers "Oh my, I'm running late!" She got on her feet "Lunch's in the drawer and Caleb should be here any minute. Be a good kid, love you..bye" she rapped and walked briskly out of the room.

Mum is someone who loves keeping to time with everything. A hardworker who, despite the stress of working nine to five, still makes out time to care for a sick child, cook and even make my favourite snacks sometimes. Ever since dad left, she'd been the only one catering for our needs and even paying Caleb's tuition in the university. I won't describe my dad as a bad person though. His second family consists of his wife and three children whom he must cater for. Once in a blue moon, when he manages to sneak past them, he visits us with some foodstuffs and fruits. I resent him at times but I still love him. That's one thing about family; You can never stay mad at them for a long time.

Mum on the other hand, is my superhero. I just pray I grow old enough to spoil her with gifts and exotic vacations. Whenever I see her, I feel sorry for being sick and augmenting her worries, expenditures and stress level. The same goes for Caleb. Just like now, his mates would go around, visiting former schoolmates and friends and doing a lot of catching up but not him. He's stuck here with me and I am very sorry to put them through this every now and then.

I picked up my phone and texted him.

'You don't have to come here this morning. Get some rest or visit your friends. I won't miss you till evening'

It wasn't long till his message popped up on the screen "You sure?" He asked.

'Uh-huh..and get me another novel from the bookshelf please'

'Ok then...see you by 3'

I read it with a smile on my face. I'm sure I'd made his day. I knew I was in for another boring day. I could see a movie on my phone, have a chat with Maureen or any of the other girls, play music or games, but I was sick of those. At least, that morning I was. I felt like doing something new and there was nothing that came to mind.

I went on with my daily routine: Freshened up, ate breakfast, listened to music as I counted the flowers on the ceiling yet again. I slept and woke at intervals, considered a little trip to the garden but discarded the thought as soon as it crossed my mind. It was too early for that.

Towards afternoon, fortunately, or rather unfortunately, Alice paid the promised visit and she came along with one of her close friends back in high school. Her name, I couldn't recall but I knew it began with a 'C'. I know we were all classmates back then but I wasn't really close to anyone and I find it hard to recall names with the exception of those who were very popular and those who were the bane of my life. Alice, you see, is one of them.

I smiled at them as they came in, still struggling to recall the other girl's name. Alice sat on the bed while the 'C' girl sat on the plastic chair.

"How are you today?" She asked

I forced another smile and nodded without saying a word to her. "What's up?" I asked the other girl

"I'm fine" she said, rubbing her palms together. I glanced at her feet which she was tapping rhythmically, then back to her hands and then her face. She couldn't even make eye contact for once as though as was guilty and feeling uncomfortable.

"You sure?" I asked

She shook her head yes.

"So," I said, getting my feet off the bed "what can I offer you guys?"

Alice laughed and slapped my arm playfully "Is it the trend now for patients to offer something to their visitors?" She asked and continued "I think it's the other way round"

There she goes again, I thought. Trying to establish the fact that I'm a patient. I hated that about her. I really did.

"I wouldn't say I'm a patient anymore. I'll be discharged tomorrow" I lied but what does it matter? Tomorrow or next, is almost the same thing.

"Oh" she said acting all surprised

"I'm glad you're all better now" said the other girl who seems more sincere to me.

"Thank you" I replied sweetly

We talked on and on, reminiscing about our school days, discussed some of our popular classmates and what they're put to presently. The other girl had also gotten accepted into one of the prestigious universities in the country to study Pharmacy. Figures, the really successful ones don't even make noise about their achievements. We kept on with the gist and she loosened up a bit. I must say that I began to like her and wondered why we weren't friends back then.

"How about your uncle who was admitted here? I suddenly asked Alice

"Uncle?" The other girl asked, quite surprised. Then glanced at Alice, who was visibly red in the face. She managed to shoot a look at her friend and said something in eye language.

"Oh, her uncle!" Her friend exclaimed, now keeping quiet and let Alice take over. Alice let out a fake sounding laughter "He's fine. He'll be discharged tomorrow as well" she said, thinking that she'd successfully covered up her lie, not knowing that I am quite fluent in the eye language.

I began to wonder why she's lied about visiting an uncle. Since this guy isn't really her uncle, he must be her boyfriend. But why on earth would she lie about visiting her boyfriend? Unless of course, this 'boyfriend' is not really a boyfriend but...a sugar daddy?! My eyes widened as I came to that realization. I looked at her in awe and she was still blushing a little.

"So what are your future plans?" She tried to change the subject.

"I'm learning to bake," I said "but next year, I plan to apply for admission to study Pharmacy"

"Oh, really?" The other girl asked, beaming with smile upon realization that we have passion for the same course. I'm not aware of what drives her passion for it but mine is purely illness-motivated.

"That's a nice one" came Alice's voice "but you have to score very high for that"

"I can do it" I said affirmatively

Could I do it? Why, I don't even know if I can outlive the year. Save for that, I would be able to. I'm not all that smart but I'm someone that gets whatever I set my heart to do. That's one charm of mine.

"Here" said the other girl, getting a black bag she'd come with "we got you some apples"

I really don't like apples but I collected the bag cheerfully "Thanks" I said and kept it at the top of the drawer. I'd share them to the others when they leave.

There was an awkward silence after that. The kind of silence that ensues when someone is about to take a leave but doesn't know how to bring it up. So my mind went back to the previous discussion that Alice thought she'd successfully thwarted. So she has a sugar daddy? I thought. Why exactly do some ladies do that?

I scanned her attire from head to toe. No wonder she dresses this flashy. I knew her family and I know they wouldn't have been able to provide her with the designer shoe and bag she came with. Unless she has a side hustle, which I'm now convinced she doesn't. Unless you think of 'sugar babying' as a side hustle.

"How do you like my blouse?" asked Alice and that was when I realized she'd been looking at me and probably thought I was drooling over her dressing when in fact, I detested it. Especially the black flowery blouse she wore over a pair of jeans.

"Not bad" I shrugged and looked away. If I could overlook everything I disliked about the blouse, I just couldn't overlook the sleeves. They were long in layered frays. She may have loved it but for me, it was a no-no. I caught the other girl glancing at me, I believe, in disbelief. She'd caught on and I wasn't surprised one bit. She's smart. I watched her do the eye language thingy with her friend again then after a short while, Alice sighed and got down from the bed.

"We beg to take our leave now"

Of course, I knew that was next.

"I don't quite recall your name" I said to the other girl as she was getting on her feet. I can't say why I changed my mind on the spur of the moment. I mean, I thought of it as rude and all but at that moment, I decided to speak my mind even if they felt it was rude.

She laughed as she stood up "Are you serious? All these while, you didn't remember?"

"We weren't that close back then" I said in my defence.

"Still," she said then shrugged "it's Celestina"

Told you it began with a 'C'!

I smiled at her "It was nice to meet you again, Celestina"

"Same here" she said

But once I had decided to speak my mind, I just kept going. As they were about to leave, I called Alice and she turned

"I don't really like your blouse. If anything, I don't think it complements the rest of your dressing" I said and she stood there utterly bemused but I kept going anyway "I don't really know, but one thing is certain about you and I; one of us has a terrible sense of fashion" I concluded with a smile.

She couldn't fathom why I had to say that and to her face too. I felt this sense of ease, I wasn't holding anything back and the feeling was blissful. Celestina grabbed her hand and made to leave once again but I wasn't don't yet.

"Oh, and Celestina," I called "I appreciate the thought but I don't eat apples".