Chapter 11: Chapter 11
" of course honey, I'd love to be friends with you and don't worry, I'm not upset with you because of what you said earlier today," I replied smiling. "But you're still not allowed to marry my dad," she warned, " you don't have to worry, I won't try to marry your dad," I said. Together we ate a good quantity of the food hastily, by the time Jade came back, the table had been cleared and desserts were placed but we were too filled to eat anything again.
I was telling Juliet about the time I went to a pool party for the first time even though I knew very well I couldn't swim, "when I got into the water, it was at my waist level, someone threw a ball and it hit the back of my head, I lost my balance and fell with a loud whop. No one noticed, they were jumping in and disturbing the water so the force pushed me to the deeper part of the water. I was only able to hold my breath for a few seconds, I tried to stand straight but my feet couldn't reach the floor and my head couldn't break the water surface. Luckily for me, I saw someone swimming beside me, I held unto one of his legs and he pulled me to the shallow part. He was ready to throw a fit but when he saw me crying and spurting water, he took pity on me. Since that day, anytime I enter a pool, I only stop at area where the water is my waist region even if I'm using a floater."
Juliet was laughing at my story and Jade sat there with his hands crossed over his chest, looking amused. "Is my near death experience really that funny?" I asked feigning annoyance. We didn't go straight home, the car moved around the city, giving me the opportunity to see the beauty of New York at night, it was so beautiful and surreal, it warmed my heart that Jade really thought to do this for me, " come, I want to show you something," Jade said. The car came to a halt in front of a talk building, I and Jade went in, leaving Juliet with the bodyguards in the car, we went in and I saw that this was a library, " UK, this is a good friend of mine, he's in charge of assigning tutors for you. I brought you to see him tonight because he'll be traveling tomorrow morning, so you guys can get to know each other better." We met a middle aged man closing the windows, seemed he was about to lock up for the day. "Good evening Mr. Blue, how are you doing", Jade greeted.
"oh Jade, welcome, welcome son, it's good to see you, and who is this lovely lady by your side?" Mr. Blue asked gesturing towards me.
" This is Ukpono, I told you about her, she'll be writing the scholarship exams next month." Jade told him,
" you only said you were bringing a special friend, you never told me she was the daughter of Aphrodite," he said to Jade. He wiped his palms on his trousers and brought it out to shake mine, I shook his and he inhaled the hand I shook him, I raised a brow at Jade and he just laughed and winked at me, "is Shane in?" he asked Mr Blue who just nodded but never took his eyes off me. "Well I'll let you too get to know each other better, be back in a jiffy. Mr Blue, do well not to creep her with your gestures, will ya" Jade said and disappeared behind a curtain to meet Shane.As soon as Jade left, Mr Blue became serious.
" so, Ukpono, which part of Nigeria are you from?" he asked
" I'm from Akwa Ibom State," I replied
" oh, I've been to Calabar once, for the Calabar carnival", he said
" really? I've not been to Calabar before, my parents never let us go out anyhow we wanted," I replied smiling, remembering the time I asked my dad if I and my sisters could attend Calabar carnival 3 years ago, they warned me never to bring up that topic again.
" Anyways, Nigeria is really a beautiful place, there are some places you'll visit and it seems you are in Paris or Hawaii. Ok let's get to business, what would you like to study in the University?" he asked
"Education. I've always wanted to be a teacher, an English language teacher to be precise," I replied, filled with excitement.
"I know that look, you really sure you know what you're getting yourself into right? 4 years, you'll be drilled in English language and literature in English and steps to be a qualified teacher. Are you up for it?"
"Yes. I am ready". At least I have an idea of what I'm studying, even though the Nigerian educational curriculum is different from the American educational curriculum, I knew what I was supposed to do.
" Great. I'll get your tutors ready, you'll be writing 3 subject, English language, literature in English and History. I think you use the rest of this week to get familiar with the environment and the way things are done around here, on Monday, tutorials begin. If no one said this to you before, let me be the first to say ' welcome to America, welcome to New York City'. "
He opened his arms for a hug and I hugged him, Jade and another guy who I assumed was Shane came and saw us hugging
" Mr Blue! " Jade exclaimed while the other guy chuckled, " what are you doing with my friend? "
we disengaged ourselves, " we just finalised our elopement plans, I was getting ready to kiss her when you two knuckleheads showed up," Mr Blue replied and we all laughed.
"alright, alright, I've heard you. Well be on our way now, Juliet is waiting for us. Good night guys and have a safe trip Mr Blue," Jade said and held the small of my back as we went outside.When we went out of the building, a gush of wind blew past us, was sleeveless so I was feeling cold. Goosebumps rose on my arms, I rubbed my arms to create some kind of warmth, America was really chilly than Nigeria. Jade must have noticed my action because he took out his jacket and placed it on me, " you should have carried a coat. the temperature drops in the evening and if you're not wearing something thick, you may catch a cold", he sounded really concerned. I wore it well and pulled the zipper to my chin, " thanks, I'll keep that in mind when next I'm going out.
Juliet was already asleep when we got into the car, Jade took off her shoes, I slowly lifted her head and placed on my thigh and the car drove away. When we got back to the house, Hannah was standing at the main entrance waiting for us, immediately the car stopped, she lifted her thick skirt and descended the steps to meet us. She got the sleeping Juliet from Jade and took her inside, when we got in, I took out the jacket and gave it to him, " keep it, I want to have an excuse to come to your room someday," he said smirking.
"Jade, it's getting close to 8pm, aren't you tired of flirting with me?" I asked and turned to leave to my room.
" Darling, I'm not flirting with you, if I want to flirt with you... trust me, you'll be tossing on your bed tonight thinking about me," he breathed behind my ear, sending chills down my spine and making the hairs on my neck spike up.