Chapter Twenty-Two – Communication in Relationships is Harder Than Economics

It has come to my attention that one young reader named Justice, has been enjoying my adventures thoroughly. Justice, this episode is for you. Okay, now back to the story.

I had been pulling long hours at the library to stay ahead of the work and so I was getting to see much of Sly.

Readers, to study Economics is to submit yourself to four years of hell fire. Every day was a test of my mental faculties. Am I glad I did it? Yes. But at the time I was in the fire, I often dreamt of quitting.

College shows make you think academics is but 10% of the college experience. Try that and you’re on a one-way train to expulsion. Here I was experiencing withdrawal symptoms from my boo but I had too much to revise.

I was studying and my phone buzzed to a message from him. I opened it to see a picture of myself sleeping with the caption “I’ve missed you”.

It was a cute gesture but then I was most satisfied to see that I had slept like a lady. My family witches didn’t prosper. Glory to God! He had put a blanket over me and my face was scrunched into the pillow like a little baby.

Of course, he’d missed me. Who wouldn’t miss that.

The words in the book began to mix together and suddenly, I had lost the mental capacity to study. Off I went, skipping my way to Sly’s room. Love is sweet.

I arrived in his room and we spent some time chatting. We decided to get something to eat from the cafeteria downstairs. As we were waiting for our meal, we met a friend of Sly’s. I didn’t know his name but I had seen him with Sly a few times in the faculty.

They greeted each other and then Sly decided to introduce us. “Araba, this is Ian. He’s my classmate. Henry this is Araba, my…eh…my friend” he said.

The word stung my heart. I knew we weren’t official yet but it still hurt that he called me friend. The entire mood was ruined and we walked back to our room in absolute silence. From the corner of my eye, I could tell that he was stealing glances at me trying to determine if I was okay.

*

Boateng was trying his best not to let his situation affect his mood. He was with the boys and he didn’t want anyone to ask him what was wrong. Truth was, a lot was wrong. His mother had called to say that she was taking his father to court since they couldn’t agree on the splitting of certain property.

He was exhausted.

The one paying the biggest price for Boateng’s issues was Marilyn. He had iced her out, being unwilling to share his feelings with her about his parents, he was avoiding her entirely and the poor girl was convinced that it was as a result of her mistrust.

She should not have asked to search his phone. She should not have listened to her stupid friend. Boateng was a good boyfriend. She didn’t find anything untoward on his phone, although she was a bit uncomfortable by the number of girls; especially those who were clearly making advances. Now there was another problem. Could Boateng very well be cheating at this very moment? Which boyfriend doesn’t call or text his girlfriend in so long?

She was in the stage of mulching, turning over the soil and pruning the tree in her mind.

She succumbed to her worry and walked out of her room and into the shuttle. She was on her way to check on her man.

Boateng was surprised to see Marilyn, he must have forgotten that he had a girlfriend. She hugged him very briefly and sat on the bed. Her approach was to make small talk at least and Boateng was not reciprocating her cheerful energy.

“Are you still upset about me searching your phone?” she asked nervously. “No” Boateng responded. That was the wrong answer. He should have said he wasn’t upset with her.

“Then what’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

*

Mara had been receiving the strangest texts from Mr. Mintah. He would ask how her day had been and what she was doing. A few times he had said that he missed her. This was all very peculiar behavior but it was all soon to come to a head.

“Mara, how’re you? I’ve missed you. I’m out of town for a conference and I would need some company. So, you can repay the favor by coming over” he said over text.

Mara may have been naïve but she was no child. There was no two ways about what the text meant. Mr. Mintah wanted to sleep with her.

Her mind was working overtime. How could she say no? Above all, how could she say no without ruining her current and only A grade and possibly all future grades.

*

Marilyn and Boateng were not the only ones experiencing an awkward phase. Sly and I ate our food in silence. We only spoke when he asked me to pass him the sauce. We watched an episode of the Big Bang Theory but none of us laughed.

When we were done with the meal, Sly took out the trash and I helped him wash the utensils. We continued to watch more episodes of TBBT but I couldn’t take anymore of this.

“Sly I need to ask you something” I said. He paused the show and looked at me directly. I could tell that he had been anticipating this.

“Yes. Sure” he said.

“What are we?”