You're my encyclopaedia

Dave and I had developed a sort of routine. The word routine traditionally symbolises a sort of repetitiveness, a lack of innovation and boredom. But I give you the guarantee that nothing was boring.

'So what do you two lovebirds do all day long?' Roy asked me, putting his arm around Gaya's shoulders.

'We play.'

'Ooh, love games. I like it.'

Cheeks flaming red, I shouted 'No' causing the other students in the canteen to turn around. I smiled sheepishly and this time, I softly said, 'No, we play badminton everyday, except during the weekend.'

'That's it? What kind of couple are you?'

'We're not a couple. We're just good friends. For the moment.'

I felt slightly wistful when I thought of all the messages that Dave and I shared. He was what I like to call him, my encyclopaedia. I would use that opportunity to quiz him about boys.

'So what do boys like about girls?'

'Uh, the fact that they're girls,' he had replied teasingly.

'Not that. What features do they look for?'

'They should be good to look at, funny, intelligent, understanding...'

Oh, humour, this I had it bucketloads. I was very funny. The proof, I always laughed at my own jokes and I was a very tough nut to please.

So these were the qualities that Dave was looking for. I didn't know where I fit on that scale and that worried me.

I suddenly felt my head starting to ache and felt nauseous. I just had time to get up from my bed and rushed to the wash basin in the bathroom where I promptly emptied mg stomach. My palms were all clammy and legs like jelly. I pinched the bridge of my nose and massaged my temples to try to alleviate the pain.

'Jade, are you ok?' my mum asked in a concerned voice. I hadn't heard her come and walking to behind me, she touched my forehead with the back of her hands.

'No fever. But you've not been well since a few days. We'll go yo the doctor in the morning.'

I protested weakly as I did not want to miss class and the opportunity to meet Dave, but I knew that she was right.

'Go back to bed now. '

With heavy steps I moved back to my bedroom where U saw that my phone was still open on the text message I had started writing. I erased it and instead wrote,

'Sick. Won't come tomorrow. See ya.'