Chapter five

 Weruche's eyes scanned the car. It was a Lexus, far from the latest model but still in good shape. She went over to the passenger side front seat and the man leaned over to push open the door for her. "Thanks." She murmured as she got in and strapped up, noticing the man himself didn't have his seat belts on.

  "So what's the name?" He asked, casting her a side long glance, his hand back on the wheel.

  "Weruche."

  "Nice name..... What does it mean?"

  It means -- aren't you Igbo?" She tried to clean her tear stained face with her palms, wondering how much of a mess she looked. She didn't have her make up on and so didn't have to worry about her mascara or anything bleeding but crying always made her eyes puffy, it wasn't a pretty sight.

  "No, I'm not Igbo."  He answered.He reached into the glove compartment, brought out a clean hankey and handed it to her. "Joseph Yakubu at your service."

  "Thanks."  she said, taking the handkerchief and finally looking at him. He was dark and from what she saw from where she sat, he was in good shape. His hair was full and curly. Not long enough to be called an afro and yet not a low cut. His side burns disappeared into his beards that was again not a shadow and yet not bushy. He was the kind of person whose good looks stole up on you, so that you weren't hit with it at first but gradually came to the realization.

  "So?" He turned and caught her starring.

  " So what?" She asked feeling embarrassed.

  " So are you going to tell me the meaning of Weruche?"

  "Are you going to tell me the meaning of Yakubu?"

  He laughed and in a moment, she knew she had been wrong. That laugh though friendly  had a hint of a predators laugh in it. A predator with many conquests. There was nothing genial about him.

  "Weruche, I don't know the meaning of Yakubu."

  She liked the way he said her name, with only a hint of an accent. Her expression was in-between a frown and a smile, her eye brows drawn together and her lips curved in a reluctant smile. "And you expect me to know the meaning of Weruche."

  " Yakubu is my surname. Most people don't know the meaning of their surname. Do you know the meaning of yours?"

  " It's Chukwu." She replied. Not knowing why she decided to keep up the charade with him. "It means God."

  "What so you'll just answer God -- Just like that?" He was genuinely surprised. " I guess your ancestors took it literally when the Bible said we are called by God's name."

  She laughed, a little louder than she had wanted but she realized he had really cheered her up. There was something so relaxing about his company yet with hints of danger around the edges. "At least I know the meaning of my surname." She answered. " And to answer your first question, Weruche means -- in direct translation; take wisdom."

  Joseph shook his head and glanced at her briefly as they pulled up in front of the Flora Nwapa hostel. "So you are 'take wisdom God' -- just like that?"

  She smiled then frowned a bit. ''How did you know this was my hostel, I forgot to tell you.''

  He looked a little sheepish. "Well I might have seen you come out of there a few times. My sister stays here too and I visit often."

   She gave him a side ways glance. " Might have?"

   He ducked his head, smiling as he got out and opened the door for her. "Have a nice day, 'take wisdom God."

   She smiled. "Thank you Mr. I - don't - know - the - meaning -of -my -surname," she said as she headed into her hostel, surprised that Joseph didn't ask for her number -- well! Chilvary did exist.

   When she got to the two man room she stayed in, her roommate Kachi, a mass communication student in her level was preparing to go to class.

   "There's a package for you." She told Weruche as she headed out. "It's  on the table." 

   Weruche walked over to the table and saw the package, it was wrapped in a florists paper but she could not make out if they were flowers or not.

   Curious, she opened up the wrapper to see several wilted roses. The sight of flowers once so beautiful, now shriveled up and dead stopped her heart for a beat. She did not know why but instinctively, she understood it was the will of the sender for her to receive the flowers in their current state. This was no case of delayed delivery. The cold hands of dread squeezed mercilessly at her heart.

   She picked up the note that had been attached, hoping to see a clue that would point to the sender but there was no name, instead the notes said in capital letters. "HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR ROSES?" There was a hand drawn face of a joker even though the note was typed and Weruche knew this was no joke, it was a threat. A threat from someone who hated her.

   Her eyes stung as they went up again to look at the roses. The stems were twisted -- she was sure, by human hands. Suddenly, she did not feel like staying alone in the room. Even with the sheen of January's afternoon sun seeping in through the shear window blinds, she was afraid.