Fourteen

Sighing as she sat on her bed, she closed her eyes and held a jacket close to her.

His jacket.

Last night had been tough for her. She knew she would never get any sleep because of her nightmares. She did not feel any better as she thought she would due to lack of sleep.

She had ransacked her things to check if there was anything that could keep her busy before she slept.

But then she found his jacket in her school bag and then remembered she did not give it to him before. It felt so soft and cuddly, his cologne mixed with his scent was still in the jacket. She had slept the moment her head touched her pillow and woken up in the morning.

And for the first time in years, she had slept like a baby.

Nestling into his jacket, she inhaled his scent. It was so comforting and alluring. She wondered if he had noticed she had his jacket. She sighed as she closed her eyes again.

Those blue eyes.

Those beautiful blue eyes.

She had missed them. She would have gone to school today but Madam Garcia had told her to stay back home to rest. Of course she could not disobey, besides she needed some time to herself for now. But she wouldn't lie to herself....

She missed him.

She closed her eyes again. Those beautiful blue eyes...they were her hope....her peace. She was so lost in her thoughts, paving way for sleep. But as soon as she was about to sleep, Lisa ran into the room and sat close to her, trying her best to avoid her bandaged hand.

"There is a call for you. I do not know who exactly but he says he wanted to talk to you" Lisa said, heaving a sigh as soon as she had said those words.

"Me?" She asked again, wanting to make sure she meant her.

Was she playing a prank?

She knew she had never answered a call in her life. This was the very first time someone was calling her, who could it be?

"Yes,yes...come on. He is still on hold" She said as she helped Crystal out of the bed, holding her hand as they rushed out of the room to the telephone in the middle of the sitting room.

Lisa picked the phone and told the person she was already here and when she had given the phone to Crystal, she held it, her hands shaking.

"No, no that is not how to hold it, you are holding the phone upside down. Here, let me help you" She showed her how it is being held and Crystal slowly put the receiver on her ear.

"Hello" A masculine voice said from the other end, making her eyes widen.

It was him, the boy with the beautiful blue eyes.

And he was talking to her on the phone!

"Hello" He said again, making Crystal nervous. Her heart slipped a bit as she slightly moved the phone from her ear and stared at it in confusion.

He called?

How or where did he get this number from?

She felt happy that he called. That meant he did notice she was not in school both the day before and this day. Was he worried about her? Or was he just calling just to check on her? He didn't even know how much this call meant to her because for the first time in her life, she picked a phone call.

Because of him.

She bit her lips as she started to blush, making Lisa stare at her in utter surprise. Lisa tapped her on the shoulder and said what? using her hands. Scratching her hair in confusion, she looked away.

"Crystal?" He said again, making her heart skip a bit. He was the only one that had this effect on her and she didn't know why.

Why does he affect her so much?

"I'm....I'm here Justin. Uhm.....uhm....well...i didn't...i did not know....i really didn't know....you....you...would call. I am sorry....i think....i think something....something is stuck in my throat" Her heart was beating faster and she couldn't help herself from stammering. She had to get a grip on her self.

"Get a grip on yourself Crystal" She told herself as she heaved a sigh of frustration. She had to control herself and try to hide her immense stupidity because right now, she felt like a stupid moron.

"Are you okay Crystal?" Justin said over the phone again, making her put the phone back close to her ear. His voice is always this manly but assuring. For some strange reasons she felt she safe and content when she hears his voice.

"Yeah...sure I'm fine Justin. Are you okay?"

"If you are okay then i think i am"

"Uhm....okay. Well you called?"

"Just....just wanted to check on you. How's your health now?"

"You...you knew i was not okay?" Her eyes widened as she got to know the main reason he called. She started to wonder if maybe her seeing him in the hospital was not a hallucination. Maybe he really came!

"Well kinda yes. Are you okay now?" He said, jilting her out of her thoughts which were mirroring different possibilities.

"Yes....yes i am"

"You will be coming to school tomorrow then right?"

"Yes...yes i will be coming to school tomorrow"

"Okay, I'll check on you in school then"

"That's nice of you Justin, thanks"

"It's okay Crystal. And one more thing....."

"Yes?"

"Don't ever take yourself for granted. Your life is valuable Crystal. Taking drastic measures on yourself wouldn't help what you are going through. I won't say you should tell me anything but i wish you would just value your life and protect it just like a mother protects her children. Everything will be fine....that is if you trust me"

She knew she trusted him. Somehow the trust was just there. She didn't know she had said her thoughts out aloud but she didn't regret it. She wanted him to know she will always trust him.

"I....i trust you Justin"

"Thanks"

"Uhm Justin?"

"Yes Crystal?"

"Uhm perhaps did you....uhm did you maybe uhm....yesterday did you perhaps go to....uhm...."

"Crystal i have to go now. We'll maybe talk later in school. Make sure you take care of yourself. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye"

And the line went dead.

And she didn't even confirm her doubts. Why was she always stammering? She rested her head on her lap, telling herself what a fool she was.

"Crystal?" Lisa asked, making Crystal lift her head and look at her. She didn't miss the confusing look she had on her face. Why was she looking at her like that?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Crystal asked, sitting straight, her eyes still on Lisa.

"Do you really want me to tell you? Because i think what you did just now is disgusting"

"What?"

"You heard me. I have never seen you act like that and seeing you in that state was kinda disgusting and maybe funny but kinda cute. Who is this guy? Because all i know is he came over yesterday asking for you looking all worried. Is he perhaps your boyfriend?" Lisa asked, looking at Crystal's face, not missing the surprise her eyes depicted.

"He...he came here? You...you saw him....what...what did he come to do here?...why didn't you tell me?"

"I forgot. Now tell me..is he your boyfriend?"

"No answer me first. What did he come here to do?"

"Fine! He asked for you and i told him you were in the hospital. Happy now?"

"You...you told him?"

"Yes i did. Did i do wrong?" Adaobi asked in confusion. This situation was just confusing.

"I didn't say so. What was his reaction?"

"He seemed worried and he gave me money. Three thousand naira. Can you imagine?"

Crystal looked away as she bit her lips, her eyes seeming to be lit in happiness. She knew she had saw him. It wasn't a dream.

He was there....in her room.

She felt his touch and she knew he was the reason for those sparks she felt. She felt his hand on her hair, his lips on her head. Justin did come to the hospital...he came just to see her.

Did this mean he cared?

She got up, not wanting Lisa, who was very confused at her reaction to see the state she was in. She walked back to the room and lay down, drawing his jacket closer to her and snuggled into it.

For some reason, she knew he cared for her.

He cared.

And that is what makes her more attracted to this boy...this alien who has come to claim her heart.

This beautiful earthly god with breathtaking blue eyes.

*

"So my boy has taken a liking to this girl huh? So her name is Crystal. This will be more easier for me now. My son will do all the job and i won't even have to raise a finger. Oh Peter! I hope you turn in your grave when you realize you made a Mistake by not letting me kill her when i had the chance to.

"I will make sure she withers slowly with pain and suffering. She does not know that letting my son in is going to be her death. Oh my Crystal! You will be wishing you were dead"

He said, leaning close to his son's door. This was the beginning....and he would let it end well this time. No one will come in his way again. Now that he has found the owner of the wealth of the dead billionaire, he would snatch it just like he had planned fourteen years ago.

He couldn't wait to get his hands on the property. This was his chance and he would let it slip by him again.

Reaching out to the door, he knocked. He entered inside his son's room as soon as he had heard he was able to come in. His son was sitting on the bed reading. Sitting close to him, he smiled and patted his hair.

"How are you son?"

"I am fine father" Justin said and he smiled. He didn't understand why his father was in his room at that moment, because as far as he could remember this was the first time he had seen his father enter his room. He would always be summoned or called. What made his father walk all the way here just to see him?

"I am glad to hear my son is fine. I came here to see you. There is something i have wanted to tell you but i wanted to wait till you are old enough. You are sixteen now and very soon, you will be eighteen. I think now is the best time"

"What is it father? I am all ears"

"I want to tell you a story....a story of a man who had stolen all from me"