'Settling Down'
AFTER I HAD unpacked my bags, I sat down on the soft bed and stared at the different objects in the room. A couple of minutes later, my phone began ringing.
Mom.
"Hello mom." I lightly brushed my hair with my fingertips as I waited for her to speak.
"Hello baby, how was your flight?"
"It was stressful mom, but it's over now."
My mom let out a little laugh. I smiled in return and laid back on my bed.
"I'm guessing you've met Eric."
I sighed, thinking about my humiliation earlier.
"Yes mom, he has shown me to where I'll be staying, and my classes start tomorrow."
"OK then."
There was a long silence and I interrupted it.
"Where's Tamara?"
In response, I heard a loud bang accompanied with a shout.
"I'm right here baby!"
I rolled my eyes as I realized mom placed my call on loudspeaker.
"Tam, can you quit being childish for once?"
She scoffed and I bit my lips to seal in a laughter threatening to escape.
"Miss Grumpy, how are you doing?"
"Miss Grumpy?" I demanded, feigning anger.
"Yes." She responded, lacing her speech with a short laughter.
We ended up bickering over the stupid nickname she had cooked up until mom snatched the phone from her.
"That's enough for today, I'll call you later baby, enjoy your stay in London."
She hung up. After tossing my phone to the other side of the bed, I pushed myself off the bed, deciding to explore the house.
I went out through the door and turned right, pushing open the first door my eyes caught.
Wow.
Although the kitchen wasn't so large, I loved it anyway. Closing the door, I moved elsewhere.
I opened another door and my eyes drove round the large number of books seated on lots of shelves. Some were merely stacked on a table.
After a few minutes of looking around, I was drained of energy so I headed back to my room and took a refreshing bath and changed into more comfortable clothes.
While I lingered at the window overlooking a large garden, my stomach rumbled and it was a reminder that I hadn't eaten anything since I arrived.
I set an internal reminder so that I'll remember to go shopping for appropriate food. But for now, I needed something to fill my stomach with.
Heading back to the kitchen, I unapologetically descended on the suitable food items there. Their owner could kill me later, my food first.
While I ate, I stared wistfully around the kitchen. I took notice of the coffee maker perched atop the marble slab, hopefully, I wouldn't be needing it.
The sound of a door opening dragged me out of my reverie. I twisted my neck in the direction of the kitchen's door and I saw a pair of brown eyes staring suspiciously at me.
The owner of the eyes was a girl my age, only that she had dark skin and her hair was black and curly, she had on a pair of jeans shorts and a tank top with a small jacket partially concealing the tank top.
A black backpack hung from her shoulder, some books were held in one hand and the other was placed on her waist.
"Hey." She genuinely smiled at me and approached me.
"You must be Florence, Eric told me about your arrival." She continued and forcefully placed her books on the marble slab.
"Yes, I'm Florence, I'll be attending the Fashion Management School for a few months."
She nodded.
"That's good, because I also attend there. I'm Kilani by the way."
She extended a hand and I took it in an handshake.
I continued eating and she watched me carefully, I knew that look, the same weird look anyone who's not aware of me being a vegetarian, gives me.
"I'm a vegetarian too." She spoke. I gave her an approving nod, glad to finally find someone who understood one area of my life.
"I'm glad we have something in common."
She laughed and picked up an apple and began munching it, while we talked about different things. She offered to show me around London and I accepted her offer. She told me a few stories about the Fashion Management School, all of which I found quite interesting.
She said she was a Nigerian but her parents lived here in London, at Knightsbrigdge precisely.
After a few hours of talking, we retired to our rooms. Kilani offered to cook dinner and asked me to freshen up and get well rested.
I showered and changed into a pair, of black sweatpants, a white tank top and a white and black checkered bandana tied on my hair. My phone was still lacking any message from Peter, even when I tried calling, he didn't answer the call.
I remembered what my mom told me and Tamara a few years back.
"Don't allow a man conclude that you're desperate. If he chooses to ignore you, ignore him too till he travels back to his senses. If after a couple of tries, he still refuses to come back, let go of him..."
***
The next morning, after I had taken my bath and dressed appropriately for my first day at school, ridiculous as it sounds. I stepped out of the house with Kilani who had on a pair of turquoise blue Jeans trousers and a button down shirt, on her feet was a pair of Converse shoes.
Outside, like Eric had promised, a car was waiting for me, the driver who gave his name as Mr. Andrew opened the door for us and we slid into the car.
When we arrived at the Fashion Management School, I was overwhelmed by the beautiful buildings which were orderly arranged. I could see other students hurrying into the buildings with their books and bags.
"Let me warn you beforehand, we have so many cliches here, just like college, and we have bullies too, only that they are often serious in carrying out their threats." Kilani warned while we walked up the numerous steps that led to the main building.
"Another thin..." my phone rang, cutting off whatever she wanted to say.
"Excuse me, I have to take this." I raised my phone to my ear and listened.
"Hello, Angel." The voice I had so much desired to hear spoke into my ears, arousing different feelings in me, but I locked them up in an imaginary prison. If there's anything I hate, it's allowing my emotions control me. Your emotions can make you make rash decisions that you'll never forget. Even though I'm still in love with Peter, he still needs to be taught a lesson.
"Hey." I replied flippantly.
"I'm sorry." Peter apologised. I looked in Kilani's direction, she was conversing with a chocolate-skinned girl, judging from the way they occasionally glanced at me, I knew they were talking about me.
"Peter, this isn't just about you saying sorry."
"I'll prove it to you, if you want."
"Peter, how else do you want to prove it, I don't need any proof, I have a school to attend here, I need to concentrate on that."
Kilani walked away from her friend and stood next to me.
"Promise me that we'll talk when you come back."
"Yes, Peter, we will."
"Good bye Angel, I love you."
I'm beginning to seriously doubt that.
He hung up and I breathed deeply.
"Are you alright?" Kilani placed a hand on my shoulder, peering into my face.
"Yes, I'm OK."
Clearly, she was in doubt but she shrugged.
As we continued our walk up the steps, Kilani pointed at some buildings and told me what they were for.
I met up with Eric after I and Kilani had parted ways, he showed me around the school and introduced me to my new Teacher and my class. I ignored the glares and stares my new classmates gave me and I took my seat at the back of the class.
Majority of my classes were just to introduce me to the basics of Fashion Management, but I enjoyed everyone of them anyways.
After classes, Kilani and I headed back home, driven by Mr Andrew. While the drive was in progress, so many things sped through my mind, including Peter. He promised me that we'll talk when I get back, I just hope things will go back to how they were before, the romantic dates, hilarious moments, and all that. See, this was why I didn't want to get into a relationship, I'll think about my significant other so much and be oblivious to every other thing around me.
My phone beeped and I checked it, I received a text message from Tamara.
📥📥📥
I've got great news for you, Mike and I fixed our wedding for December, when you'll be back, I hope you'll be my bridesmaid. I'm at work, but I just thought I should inform you, BTW, I love you sis.
I smiled at the message. I sent my reply immediately.
📥📥📥
OMG! That's great, I'm definitely looking forward to being your bridesmaid...
Tears streamed down my eyes as I went down the Memory Lane, remembering when I and Tamara were little girls, playing together, eating together, walking to school together... all of it seems like it was just yesterday. Time really flies, doesn't it?
***
Hey there lovelies, how are you doing today? I hope you liked this one.
The Weekend's here already, you know my routine, I won't update much during the weekend, I have tons of things to do at home, so I'll update on Monday.
I have a lot of plot twists coming your way, I'll really appreciate if y'all wait for them.
I dislike stories that are rushed and that's what I'm trying to avoid here.
Until then ..
Tris.❤❤❤