A VISIT

{Kenneth's pov}

The past one week was stressful, the training was more difficult than I imagined, my body ached, most times I felt like giving up but I couldn't, I wanted to make my parents proud. Everyday, I thought of Evelyn, I tried snicking out everytime but the security was tight, I would always be caught by someone.

"Dad I would like to visit a friend tomorrow, he returned back to Country H yesterday and asked me to come see him" I said as we had lunch that day.

"But you have to train tomorrow" Dad said almost opposing.

"No honey.... he's been training for the past week nonstop, just tomorrow let him have fun, at least only tomorrow" Mum chipped in as she gave Dad pleading eyes.

"Okay" Dad accepted immediately.

"Thanks Mum" I looked gratefully at Mum.

"Make it count, make tomorrow worth it" Mum supported me.

"Darling can I come with you?" Delilah asked.

"No" I snapped.

Delilah's smile dropped, she looked disappointed at me.

And I stared angrily at her before resuming on my meal.

I was so excited I was going to see her tomorrow, all my body reacted happily, I requested for another plate of food for the third time unlike me and everyone noticed how excited I was.

"You seem surprisingly happy to see this friend of yours" Gina said.

"I'm always happy Gina don't make a big deal out of this" I said as I gave her a look.

"Yes sure you are always excited but this..... you requesting for the third plate...." Silva was saying when I cut her short.

"Can we just eat our food in peace and SILENCE" I stressed the last word.

"okay" she accepted.

***********

I drove round trying to remember the exact street I had parked that day, it was hard to locate the place, everywhere led to an opening and I didn't ask her what the name of the street she lived was.

I asked questions but nobody seemed to know any 'Evelyn Daniels' after driving for two hours, I parked and alighted, I moved to a shop.

"Please excuse me" I greeted the woman who was attending to a lady.

"Yes what do you want to buy?" The woman asked me.

"No I'm not purchasing anything, I just want to locate someone" I said politely " do you by any chance know 'Evelyn Daniels' I asked.

"No" she shook her head and I moved to my car and kicked the tyre out of frustration.

"Ahhhhhh" I screamed loudly as I was already getting pissed off.

"Good day sir" I heard someone greet, I turn around to face the person.

"Yes" I answered frustrated.

"I was at that shop when you came looking for 'Evelyn Daniels' I hope all is well?" She asked.

"Yes, everything is fine. She's my friend and I want to see her badly, do you know her? He asked with a glint of hope in his eyes.

"I'm Judy, Evelyn's best friend please what's yours? Judy asked

"Oh my, I'm Kenneth" I introduced myself

"Okay Kenneth, I remember you, she told me alot about you, thank you for saving her. I'll take you to where she stays but I don't know if that is okay"

"She did say she has an aunt, I don't know if this will make her happy, why don't you bring her to me, I'll be here waiting for her"

"Sir Kenneth, this place you parked is quite a distance from where she stays, drive down a bit, there's a left and right turning, take the left and park by the mango tree, I'll take a shortcut so that I can get there quick before you"

"Thank you Judy" I thanked her before she took a bush path.

{Evelyn's pov}

"Evelyn" I heard my aunt call and I rush to her bedroom to answer her.

"Take the money on the table and deliver it to Diana's Mum, she'll give you something, bring it here straight" Jane ordered and I tiredlessly took the money and walked out.

Outside, I saw Judy running to me, she was panting and breathing heavily when she finally got to me.

"Judy what happened? What is chasing you? I asked.

"It's Kenneth" when she said this, my heart skipped, I was expecting her to say that.

"What do you mean Kenneth" I asked dragging her out from the compound.

"Kenneth...is...is ...here...to...see ...you....he ...has ..been... looking for.....you since... morning" she narrated.

" What? Judy I don't know you to be a joker" I said as my heart was beating rapidly.

'why did he come?

'i thought he wouldn't come back looking for me'

'i thought he left'

'after one week'

'why is he back'

'how did he know Judy'

I kept asking myself questions.

"I'm not joking, he parked at the mango tree, he'll be there now waiting for you" she said.

"Judy I'll be in trouble if anybody sees me with him" I shouted at her

" Don't blame me, he was the one that asked me to bring you" she shouted back at me as I left her angrily running to the spot where she said he was.

I sighted him standing handsomely by his car, today I had a clearer view of this man and I asked myself

'God when you were creating him where were others'

I chuckled at what I thought.

"Mr Ken, you can't be here, it's not safe, you can't be here" I said panicking.

"Good afternoon Evelyn" he greeted with a smile and I wondered if he wasn't understanding what I just said.

"Mr Ken you don't understand, you can't be here...if my aunt finds us here... she'll kill me" I said almost sobbing.

"Judy thank you, I owe you one" Ken thanked Judy, he completely ignored me "come" he said to me after thanking Judy, he directed me to the car, I fearfully and hurriedly got into the car with him and he reversed the car driving out from the area, Judy waved at us beaming before she turned to leave. I wondered how happy she felt seeing I and Ken together, Judy is truly a friend worth keeping for life.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Anywhere you like since you are not comfortable staying here" he said and I sighed frustrated.

"Mr Ken can we talk here in the car, my aunt sent me on an errand and if I don't return in the next thirty minutes, she'll kill me" I said, I was really scared but I knew that the one thing I won't do is to put up with him because I feel like I need to pay him back for the other day under the rain.

"Evelyn you are always being insecure, you are always saying 'she'll kill me' sometimes I want you to take risks not for me but your happiness, I'm not saying you should put up with her or fight with her, I sincerely advice that most times you challenge her, to balance nature" he said as drove through the portholes. He wore a wicked grin on his face.

"Challenge her?" I asked pointing to the left lane and he took it driving slowly into the street. I was directly him to where my aunt sent me.

"Not in a bad way though but you are old enough to make your own decisions" he said and I wondered why he was so good at giving advice.

"Mr Ken you can't understand" I said as I closed my eyes remembering all the promises I made to myself few years ago "Aunt Jane used to be a good woman, I don't know why she changed, she just started from sending me on difficult errands and started getting angry at every little thing I did until she became more wicked and heartless" I added sadly with my eyes still closed.

"I may not be able to understand what you are going through but comparing your case to how I was treated in school, you are being bullied, as someone who is being bullied, I think you should stand up for yourself. I was bullied in school during my junior year" he said flashing me a smile and I gave him a weird look "don't look at me like that, I'm not a bad person okay" he added and I chuckled.

"I'll drop here to deliver the message so that this doesn't get suspicious" I said and he parked, I alight and moved straight to Diana's house.

"We still have twenty minutes more, shall we talk some more while I slow down the drive back? He asked after I got back to the car

After giving it some thoughts, I nod. It is not a bad idea and he's not a bad person, he's jovial and funny to be with. I prayed internally that no one sees us together.

"So tell me about yourself, you know a bit about me but I know nothing about you except your name ofcourse" I said.

He laughed "there's nothing much about me actually, I just returned from Country V some weeks back, I live at the capital of City S with my parents and siblings" he narrated.

"I heard that people staying at the capital are very rich, I also heard that the prince lives there"I said grinning playfully "have you bumped into the prince before? Do you know the prince? I asked.

"No I don't know the prince and I haven't met him before" he said as he concentrated on the road.

"You know the King tries for his people but the east side of City S is abandoned, City S is a very peaceful state because the ruler is a good man but his brothers who are assistants to the king are cheating the people" I said, I don't know what gave me the urge to talk about politics, I like Mr Ken, he's a good listener and advicer.

"The east side of City S is abandoned, why? He asked.

"Like I said the king is a good man, he trust easily and because of that, his brothers whom he put in charge of the north, south, east and west of City S since he can't control all four regions are cheating the people especially the east, I hope with the prince being back to the country, things will change in favour of our people" I said and Ken looked proudly at me and I flashed him a smile.

"When can I see you again Eve, I'll like to see you again" Ken said as he parked the car by the mango tree where he picked me up from.

"Mr Ken, I don't know....I don't think you should come back here again....I might be lucky this time but not tomorrow" I said.

"Okay then tomorrow 3pm" he said and I flashed him a surprised look, wasn't he getting what I was saying.

"I said I might not be lucky again tomorrow" I said

"Ok tomorrow then" he flashed me a charming smile and winked at me.

"You are unbelievable Mr Ken" I said before alighting and watch him drive off before I found my way back home.

I was in the kitchen humming as I made supper when Jane walked in with a cup in her hand.

"You didn't return on time" she scolded me.

"Sorry aunty" I apologized with my heart thumping, I pray she didn't see us.

She hissed and left.

I sighed in relief.

'thank God, she didn't see us together'

I said as breath in heavily, I've never been so grateful to God for saving me.