**Selina**
I kept wondering where that sweet sound was coming from as I wondered in the woods. Running on the dry leaves and stumbling on weak roots of trees. I kept running and gasping for breath. I felt like I was trying to reach the slowly closing gates of paradise.
Then finally I saw him. He was there, sitting on a large rock with his back facing me. He played a slow sweet song which carried a lot of emotions I couldn't make out. I walked closer and when I reached him, there was something pulling me back. I stretched my hands to touch his dark skin and couldn't make it. He stopped playing and turned to me. Everything was blurred but his smile was very conspicuous. I struggled with the pulling force but failed so I just collapsed into its thousands of imaginary hands looking at his disappearing face.
I quickly sat up in bed and I squinted as my eyes adjusted to the light. I pushed the sheets off of me and stepped out of bed.
"It was justta dream." I whispered to myself as I walked to the window. I pushed the blinds and looked at the beautiful woods through the window. I could see the stream I was not able to reach yesterday. It looked peaceful and the perfect place I could use my leisure time.
"Seliinaaa..." Mom called from downstairs. "Past time for breakfast. Remember we're going out today."
I sulked and glanced at the clock on my nightstand. The blinking green light said nine-thirty-seven. I slowly walked to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and went downstairs for breakfast in my PJ's.
"Isn't the floor cold for you. Put on those." Mom pointed at a new pair of slippers.
"What's for breakfast?" I asked and sat on the dinning chair in the kitchen.
"Just an oatmeal and pancakes. You okay with that?" She asked as she pressed the buttons of the microwave.
"Yyaaayy...I love oats." I said in clear sarcasm.
"Hmmm." She shook her head and placed a tray before me. "We're going out with James today."
"The only thing you didn't add the first time you said it is his name." I smirked and stuffed a piece of pancake in my mouth.
"Oh really? I already told you?"
"Hmm. I never knew forgetfulness was also a symptom of menopause." I smirked at my bowl.
"Seliinaa!" She gasped. "That's so harsh. I'm still too young to get to that stage."
Duuuhhh...
I spent the rest of my breakfast time trying to upset mom by telling her how menopause can miraculously get you. She hated it but it was fun to me.
"Mom, I'm done." Marian said when I stood up to leave the kitchen. "I like the view outside your window."
"You entered my room?!" I glared at her.
"Your door was slightly open and I couldn't help it." She confessed.
"Just shut up!"
"Marian, do not sneak into rooms okay?" Mom said to her. "Its just like opening someone else's dairy without permission."
"I'm sorry Sel." She apologized.
"Its okay. Mom I'm going up to change."
I showered and put on a red shirt and a short blue jean skirt. I pulled my hair into a bun and matched the hair clip with my flats and shirt. I put my iPad into a leather bag and walked out.
James drove us to town. The roads were not so busy as they were in Accra. He parked at a filling station and we walked to Melcom shopping center. It was a huge and a little crowded. We bought a few stuff and left for the market. There were lots of people and so much noise.
"The language widely spoken here's Dagbani." James said. "They're trying to call the attention of people to their products."
We bought a few more stuffs and went back to the car.
"Oh, I almost forgot. You need SIM cards for Ghanaian mobile networks."
"Yeah, I really wanna make calls." Dad said.
We went to one of the telecommunication centers and bought the SIM cards. Then he drove us straight home.
"When was your car sent to you?" Dad asked James as we offloaded it.
"Aarrh...I think it was almost a week after I got here. Yours might get here earlier."
Dad nodded. We went in and left the two of them outside. I helped mom pack and Marian was in the sitting room jumping from channel to channel.
I skipped to my room to have some rest. When I lay in bed, the music from yesterday started playing a few minutes later. I wasn't sure if it was just my mind tricking me or it was real. It was very faint and you had to be very attentive to be able to hear. I jumped out of bed and went downstairs. Dad was still outside with James but they were facing the road so I just walked away.
The woods was just the same as yesterday; dry leaves, grasses shade and the smell of wood. I went the same way as yesterday and the farther I went, the fainter the sound became. When I got to the rock, there sound had vanished completely. I walked to the stream and squatted there looking at the chaos between the water and the rocks. I took of my shoes and sat on the ground allowing the rushing water to wash my toes.
I sat there for like forever and stiffened when I heard the sound again. I tried to turn but my body was so rigid. My joints felt tight and at the same time jelly.
It is real this time...so real.
I finally got the strength to turn. He sat at the same spot on the rock. His eyes were closed and he seemed lost in the pouring sound. His skin was dark and his hair was black. His head was a little raised and as he blew, his fingers jumped from hole to hole on the flute. I simply loved it.
He slowed down and finally stopped. All of a sudden, his eyes flew open and when he caught me ogling, he smiled. I felt like melting and flowing along with the running water. I couldn't help but smile back invitingly. He stood up and strode gently to me.
"Hello." He greeted and smiled.
"Aarh...H-hi." I stammered.
"Do you mind if I join you?"
He reminded me of Sandra. I promised to call her when I get to Tamale but didn't.
"Umm...no problem," I stammered.
He mumbled a "thanks" and plunged about a step beside me. He stared at the water and looked deep in thought then he turned to me again.
"I'm Bilal."
"Selina."
"Selina alone? No Gomez?"
I chuckled. "Naaah."
I turned to steal a glance at him then I noticed his features. Thick brows, plump lips and a medium sized broad nose. His sideburns run down the side of his face to his square jaws with a few sprouts of hair on his chin. His brown shirt was tight on his torso, chest and upper arms.
God!...What a supermodel!
"This your first time in Ghana?"
"Yeah. Four days today."
"Okay. Not so long though. So what's your first impression of Ghana?"
"Oh umm...its a nice place."
"Really?" He looked at me and chuckled.
"Y-yeah, really."
"You said it like you had to and not because it really is." He laughed.
"Haha..." I shook my head. "Didn't know that was how I sounded."
We sat again in silence for a few minutes then I decided to break it.
"How long have you been playing the flute?"
He looked speculative for a while before he said, "Almost three years now."
"Wow! That's kinda long. No wonder you play so well."
"Haha...thanks." He smiled. "Do you play any instrument?"
"Naaaw, I just enjoy listening."
"Haha...maybe you should learn. You enjoy play just as someone enjoys listening."
"How did you learn?" I asked.
"My father taught me." His face suddenly turned serious. "I used to sit there--on that same rock with him and enjoyed while he played. He promised to teach me when I get to senior high school and he kept his word."
"But why does it sound like a sad story?" I looked at him.
"It actually is. He passed away two years ago." He clenched his jaws.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Guess I shouldn't aaarrhh..."
"Its okay...don't worry." He forced a smile. "I think I've basically told you something about myself. Tell me about yourself."
Even though he was trying to change the subject, he still had a slight sad expression.
"Umm...I'm just a normal teenager--no, not normal--with an annoying kid sister and an I-love-to-travel parents. That's how come I'm here in Ghana."
"Interesting!"
"Huh?" I raised my brows at him then he laughed.
"Yeah. I love to travel too but my parents didn't like to."
"Then I'll fit in well into your family. Haha."
"Maybe we should swap sometime." He looked into my eyes briefly and diverted his gaze somewhere else. "This is my first time of seeing green eyes."
"Really?"
"Yeah. They're more amazing in reality." He smiled cutely.
I got dumbfounded by his indirect compliment so I just returned a shy smile. We sat in silence listening to chirping birds and occasionally throwing sticks or stones into the stream.
"I think I have to aarrh...get going. Mom might need some help at home." He scrambled to his feet.
"Yeah, me too. Here, your flute." I took it and handed to him.
"Thanks." He extended his hand to me. "Let me help you up."
I looked up at his smiling face and slowly placed my hand on his palm. A jolt slightly run through me when I touched his palm. He easily pulled me to my feet and I stood right in front of him. Our faces were inches apart and we stared eye to eye. I looked down and stepped back before I realised I had caught my breath.
"Thanks."
He nodded and we started walking.
"You're alone with your mom?" I asked him.
"Yhup. I'm an only child."
"Wow, no annoying kid bro?"
"Yeah, no annoying kid bro," He laughed. "I wish I had one though."
"You're wishing wrong...trust me."
We walked in silence again. My hair clip loosened so I took it off and played with it in my hands as we walked. The wind slowly blew it away from my face.
"Can I umm...touch your hair?"
"Uummm...y-yeah. Sure." I stopped walking and he stepped closer. His fingers brushed through strands of my hair and my heart skipped a beat. I closed my eyes and tried not to hyperventilate.
"Its...so soft and beautiful." He almost whispered. He moved back and I opened my eyes.
"Thanks." I managed to mumble.
When we started walking again, I felt dizzy and I tripped on a root. He noticed quickly and grabbed my waist and pulled me to his chest before I took the next step.
We looked at each other intently and this time, I couldn't help but hyperventilate at our closeness.
"Are you okay?" He asked and loosened his grip on me.
"Yeah, I just felt a little dizzy."
"Should I walk you home?" He sounded worried.
"Naaa...thanks. I'm okay. It happens mostly." I lied.
"Alright then...if you say so."
We walked a little bit more and out of the woods.
"It was nice meeting you." He smiled. "Looking forward to seeing you around."
"Same here." I grinned back.
He looked at me one more time and said, "take care" before walking away. I smiled all the way home and thinking...
Maybe Ghana isn't that bad.
That night I dreamt again. Almost the same dream but this time he appeared clearly and my fingers brushed the side of his face as he smiled at me. There was no pullback and it felt so real that when I sat up in bed that midnight, everything felt so right.
*****
Hello,
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Next chapter will be out soon.
Thanks for the read.
Stay blessed!