11

It turned out to be...a teacher.

"Why are you still here?" The unfamiliar, middle aged, woman asked.

Isoken didn't recognize her, 'She could be a teacher for one of the junior classes.'

"My mom is picking me up late, Ma."

"So, you cannot greet me again, I've now turned to your age-mate." The woman said, shouting at her.

Isoken was starting to get upset, her mood had also worsened at this point.

Although she was in the wrong, that didn't mean the woman had to scold her to correct her, saying it without shouting would have done the job.

"Sorry Ma, good afternoon Ma." She said while standing up.

The woman smiled and left the classroom to God knows where.

For a minute there, while she could hear the beating of her own heartbeat at the anticipation of who was coming, she almost thought it was Emmanuel.

Isoken was upset, she even thought that may-be the devil had decided to send this woman to work on her, making her mood worsen.

She was feeling uncomfortable staying in the classroom and didn't want to keep staying in the classroom. She picked up her bag and decided to head to the garden.

There was a big tree at the center of the garden, which is where she was headed.

I wouldn't exactly call it a garden, because it wasn't maintained. It was more of an open field with a lot of grasses, beautiful trees, flowers, fruits and a few harmless animals, etc.

Her footsteps slowed down a bit, as she spotted someone there but wasn't sure who it was.

As she got closer, the figure she saw made her heart pound faster, a trace of doubt flashed in her mind.

When she confirmed it was Emmanuel, her mood literally soared, her lips broke into a smile. She decides to play a little game with him.

She approaches him stealthily, while hoping he doesn't notice her.

She gets closer and closer, just when she is about to put her hands over his eyes to cover them, she freezes.

Her heart keeps on pounding, an unknown emotion rises in her chest.

She rejoiced too quickly.

She is thrilled to see Emmanuel but just that...

He wasn't alone.

There was a very beautiful girl, sitting next to Emmanuel.

She spots Isoken and gives her a puzzled look, which makes Emmanuel to turn around.

He smiles the instant he sees Isoken.

Isoken would have loved to return that smile, but all she can feel is a sense of crisis.

What if I'm too late?

What if this delay has caused him to be trapped by another?

Is this what fate has been trying to tell me all this while?

Isoken has been optimistic all this while but this scene gave way to a wave of negative thoughts.