Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Chapter 2

I fall for it. She is so cute!. With her white soft skin. She has pink lips. And it's adorable. I don't talk much because of my weird English tone very different from theirs.

"Are we ok now?” She insists on her silly look, the look which makes me fall for her. Her stare is funny, thou.

"Okay!." I drag my words, and with a weird look, I am holding my laughter" Then, what will you say about us having lunch together?” She asks. I don't think this will be possible!” I flinch

I don't have a part-time job yet and I don't even know when I will find one. The money I received from the scholarship is really small, I don't think it will last for the three coming months, no matter how economical I am. I can't afford to eat out or waste food! It's so expensive here.

"Don't bother, It's my treat!” She insists. It's just as if she read my mind. Wow, free lunch I am practically jumping in my mind. "Okay, if you insist!” I calmly answer, not exhibiting my enthusiasm. "3 pm, 'New land restaurant'. It's beside the entrance of the University. Please be on time!” She insists

"Okay!” I accept. With that, she leaves. Now I am dancing on my way to my next course.

~~~~

I enter the restaurant, literally running right now. "So sorry!” I exclaim as I move closer to her. She is seated, staring at me with a nasty glance of disappointment.

This makes me feel culpable.

"I am truly sorry!” I insist. She scoffs. "You better be!” And she frowns. I nod. “Okay...” I pull my words as I take a seat. “Wow, this place is Fabulous!” I'm staring at places with my eyes wildly open, stunned as usual

“Yeah!” She nods at me. Yet, she is still frowning. “You made me wander like a lost goat. I was about to leave before you entered."

She is still mad at me. I don't know what to do. “Anyway, it's cool” She smiles and her smile colds my heart and makes me feel more relief.

“Oouufff! I nearly missed this free lunch” I tell myself without any bad thoughts. I'm just being happy and grateful. “Let's start ordering what to eat first before anything” she notifies me

Then I pick up the menu at her words. And I start glancing at the menu, hoping to rapidly grab a nice dish. "I insist because here they cook as you order and it takes time, not too much thou! But we can have some drinks too” She describes. I widen my eyes at her words.

“Nice suggestions but no money,” I tell myself. "Don't bother still my treat” She exclaims at my reaction. “Embarrassing” I hit myself in my mind. "Thank you” I just nod at her like everything is okay, meanwhile, within me, I am withering with shame. She simply gleams at me.

"Waiter, Please waiter” She calls for one. She hasn't opened the menu since we entered. I guess it's because she is familiar with this place.

While, I'm here, totally confused about what to order from this big menu. It's so big, I don't know which page to open and the names are so confusing. And I'm scared to order what I won't be able to devour because I am damn hungry. This menu is more of a catalogue, this isn't a menu.

"Oh, my God!” And it's so costly. Forty dollars just for a simple cocktail. Oh my goodness this forty dollars can buy a whole crate of juice or more in my country.

“Welcome back Miss. Natasha” The waiter moves closer, now he is standing beside us with his pen and notebook in his hands. “Thanks" She nods at him, in a very low tone and a smiles. “So what are you ordering” She impatiently stares at me, with the waiter facing me too.

This makes me quiver. I am speechless, with my eyes roaming on the menu. “It's okay” She smiles at me, calling for the waiter's attention to her. “One portion of greasy nachos tacos with some fries, don't forget the sauce. Drink...” She hesitates about what to take.

“Hmmm, one drunken monkey cocktail. And a chocolate 'key lime pie' for dessert” She lists without peeking at the menu. I'm just admiring her. “Wow! This girl is wealthy” I tell myself. "That will be all” She concludes.

"Noted. What about you Miss” The waiter turns back his eyes in my direction. Like he was sent by the evil people of my village to torture me. I thought I was done with him! His stare freezes me up.

“Same thing” She immediately replies. With that, the waiter leaves

Now. She is staring at places so do I. No one is talking and it's getting weird. “I don't know your name and I guess you don't know mine too! So let's start with the presentation” She breaks through the silence dwelling.

“Great!” I nod. “Then I will start with” She takes a deep breath, with lots of assurance. “I'm Natasha, 22yrs. First-year of Master in business administration and analysis” She briefly introduces herself

“Sheila is 23 years old and in her first year of Master of Business, same as you. I am from Cameroon in Africa” I take over and I insist on Africa because I was told that many people on this side of the world don't know my country and I have to always say “in Africa” so that they have a clear understanding since Africa is well known. Also, I usually say, Africa to cut things short with no lengthy explanations.

“Nice to meet you! Cameroon! Hmmm, will search online but Sheila from Africa is easier for everyone” She offers her hand, sending it forward to me. “My pleasure, Natasha” And I offer my hand in return. We rapidly shake hands. Although I'm not sure if this thing between us will work. Anyway let me not run too fast, I have to understand her intentions first, why is she offering me this expensive lunch?

The waiter then comes with our cocktail and places it on the table “Wow, it looks delicious” I can't wait to savour it. I take a sip, and she sips. We concurrently sip at the same flash. Spontaneously.

Hahaha!..." We are both staring at each other and laughing at our prosecution. “That was weird” She exclaims with a laugh on her face. “Really” I nod. She seems cool…

~~~~~

Later on, the food is been served. We start eating and we can barely talk, we are eating like starved animals.

"OMG, it's so delicious” I exclaim with food filled in my mouth. Not very nice to see. “Hahaha...” She laughs at me. Immediately chew, swallow the food and wipe my mouth. “Sorry” I exclaim. She is still laughing, it sounds more like a mockery to me.

"If my friends see you...” She exclaims without concluding her statement. I can't get why!. It's kind of embarrassing. “Which friends? What are you talking about?” I get nervous and I start asking myself if accepting this fee for lunch was a good idea because nothing good comes this easy.

“Never mind” She holds her laugh. “Stop giving me attitudes and eat your food” She smiles back at me.

Then we continue to eat. However, I don't want to talk again and I avoid anything that will make me open my mouth. Until I finish eating before speaking again…

When we got done eating and drinking, we moved out of the restaurant. Now, we are strolling, on our way to the campus. I guess she has a room too.

“So you live on campus” She inquires. “Yes..." I drag my words, like “We all live on campus” I add. ‘Weird question’ I tell myself. “Those rooms are so small! How do you cope?” she asks with so much arrogance.

“Really?” I exclaim in shock. “It's obvious” She gets stunned at my question. “I love, bigger rooms like I got more space for myself. Anyway, I'm happy because I don't stay on campus. I have my apartment. It's not too far from her! You can come someday” She describes.

“Wow, cool. Regardless, I'm contented with my room” I confide. "Yeah, that it's surely because you come from Africa” she careless and arrogantly exclaims.

‘This is like a slap in my face’ I frown at her audacity. I couldn't take it. “No!” I get hostile. She feels my change in tone. “Whatever, I don't want to fight over it” She moves ahead. I stay back without following her.

“Like seriously” She turns back her face in my direction, whispering to herself. She stops and waits for me. I remain stagnant, gazing at her, frowning. “Sorry…” She moves back to me, pulling her words along. I don't say anything because I don't even know how to react. I want to lose it but she just offered me lunch, I should be grateful for that.

“Can we move now?” She clenched my hand. “Africa is a nice place with human beings like you and me” I clarify, illustrating with my hands pointing in her direction. After second thought, I decided to forgive her silly condescending comment.

“Noted, professor!” She exclaims with a weary look, rolling her eyes at the same time faking a nap. It's unusual and very funny. “Like seriously” I walk away hiding my laughter, just to tease her. Yes, I decided to let it go but I have to pull her legs if not what will be the fun in it?

Sorry... Sorry…” She pursues me.