Chapter Eighteen

A year later, Bianca was entering into her second year in school. She was one of the top undergraduates due to her high GPA. Everybody focused on her. Her coursemates rushed to her for help in teaching and in assisting with assignments. Bianca had noticed that she had turned into such a public figure and she could not control the throng of fellow colleagues that ran to her for advice and how to be studious. Because of the humility, kindness, recognition, and compassion she had for anyone who came to her, she earned the love of her coursemates. Some of them gifted her with money and gifts. She remembered her father's words, "You will always be cherished as gold." She smiled to herself. It was gradually turning into a manifestation. She wished her father was alive to see the word gradually come to pass. Mary would have seen her as the high prospect she was when she arrived at school. Everybody was rooting for her.

After a tedious and hectic task during the day, she had no choice but to go to the library and read; even if she read for two hours and then staggered her way back to her hostel, it would not be a problem to her. Upon getting there, she took a seat, sat down, and was about to take out her book from her bag when she noticed someone's presence beside her. She looked back and saw a fair young man with well-combed hair drawing out a seat closer to her. He smiled and sat down beside her. She continued her reading with a heavy eye. Her mind wasn't stable with the man sitting down beside her. She looked at him with the side of her eye and noticed that he wasn't holding a book but that his attention was on her, and this made her petrified.

"Hello, Dear," the young man said.

She turned to him without any words in her mouth.

"Your eyes look heavy with sleep," he continued, hoping to catch a response from her.

"It's just a war," she smiled, "I must continue raging with it until I am done."

"Oh, so this is how studios you are. Amazing." he said, smiling.

Bianca looked back at her book, trying to send a signal that she was not ready for any discussion on the way.

"It is just amazing how you read. I thought it was only the law and medicine department that read the way you read," he said, trying to get her attention back.

"May I know you? This is the first time I have seen this face," Bianca responded.

He giggled and then removed his eyeglasses. "I am James Brin, from the History faculty."

The word 'Brin' kept on resounding in her ear. She wondered if he was half caste or possibly he wasn't from this country or if his parents didn't originate from this country.

"Nice, how can I help you because my time here is limited," she spoke, hurriedly.

"I don't need help. Rather, I came to help you," he said.

"How?" she asked petulantly.

"To keep you in company," said James.

"I'm alright."

"My car is parked at the entrance of the library. Maybe I can offer help in driving you down to your hostel."

"No need for that," she said boldly, "But at the same time, I appreciate your effort. Thanks."

"I will stay here in case you have a change of mind."

Bianca laughed and continued reading her book. Ten minutes hadn't passed when she pondered having another faculty student force himself into a library specially made for accounting students. She noticed that all the real agendas for reading at that time were ruined. There was no need for her to continue suffering from insomnia. She stood up from her seat, stared at James, who was looking at her, and waved goodbye to him. James stood up and followed her down to the entrance of the library. He urged her to come in the car, but she refused and stressed the fact that she would consider trekking to her hostel as an option for her.

James kept on visiting her every day showing his undaunting spirit of 'never give up' even though Bianca sounded it clear to his face that he should do away with her that she was never looking for a bodyguard to escort her wherever she went. James laughed it off. He bought her gifts relentlessly, as she kept on rejecting the offer time and time again. It got to a time that she had pity on him and considered it as hatred. She remembered the case between her and Esther. How she tagged it as 'pure hatred'. So, doing it for somebody else was quite unfair, she thought. But now how was she going to start collecting the gifts he brought on a daily basis, how was she going to behave when he felt like chatting with her this time, was a great concern to her. She kept having the thought in her head. Everything the lecturer said was complicated, particularly when it came to the topic of debit and credit. It sounded strange and puzzling. It was difficult to figure out which number needed to be subtracted in order to get the balance. She attempted to raise her hands, but she quickly realised that she was in a university, not a secondary school, and that the lecturer might use obscene language towards her. She considered asking someone by her side what the lecturer was saying. She was attempting to get his attention, but he could not see her because he was fully immersed in the ongoing lectures.

When there was no benefit to her from the course, she sneaked out of the lecture hall, and left the building looking dejected. James stood miles away from the lecture hall, scanning the area like a wolf on the hunt for its next meal. When he spotted her, he sprinted over to her.

"How was the lecture?" he asked.

"Please stay far away from me. I hate all those gibberish questions you are asking me," Bianca sighed.

"You look depressed. What went wrong?"

"I said leave me alone." She screamed at him.

Bianca screamed at him, grabbing everyone's attention. James was left to reflect on his life as he stood there in a degrading and akimbo manner as Bianca scurried away to her hostel. She recollected the events that transpired between her and James. She imagined how an innocent James ran to her to greet her and how she flagged him down. When he persisted in asking what the problem was, she shouted at him. Just on a note that she was angry or simply because she could not understand what the lecturer was saying.

Was that the reason you shouted arrogantly at him? She thought. When that thought came to her she felt bad and made up her mind to apologise to him. Actually, going to meet him was a task on its own and apologising was a greater task on its own. But she made her mind up. Nothing would deter her from apologising.

A knock was heard on the door, she quickly took a cloth and covered the upper part of her body.

"Come in." she said.

The door creaked and opened. It was her coursemate who recently came to her for help.

"Oh, Evelyn. You came today?"

"Of course, I saw you in a bad mood today and you left the class. What happened?" she asked curiously.

"Actually, I didn't understand what he was saying, so I got angry and walked out."

"The topic was very simple. This is the best topic I have seen and heard of," she said.

Her response gave Bianca hope.

"Oh, when can I come, so you will explain it to me."

"Anytime. I don't mind using my spare time when you are ready."

"I appreciate it."

"I am the one who is supposed to appreciate you more," said Evelyn.

Bianca smiled at her, still depressed. Probably because of the present burden she had, as at that time.

It was six o'clock. The lectures had ended. After hours of troubled thought, Bianca got out of bed. Surprisingly, she didn't speak to her roommates as she went to her box, pulled out a clean blouse, and put it on. She had a sour look on her face. She left the room and the hostel's grounds on foot. She went outside with the intention of finding James' current residence. She walked around aimlessly, trying to spot James. She kept looking for anyone who might know him as she approached his department. Unfortunately, nobody was aware of that person. The sudden change in their expression when they heard the name as well as the sudden echo of "James Brin "coming" from their mouth as if they had just chewed on something bitter left her dumbfounded. She walked down the path, confused and frustrated. She had run out of options after trying to ask people on the road. What else was there for her to do? She couldn't fall asleep peacefully until she gave him an apology because the night was gradually growing darker.

She muttered while moving slowly down the street, appearing more indignant and defeated. She wondered how she was going to track him down. She had that thought before hearing her name resounding somewhere. She halted her movement to pay close attention. The voice was deeper and more assertive, and it was completely clear that it belonged to a man. She turned her head to look in the direction of a bar intersection to her left. She saw James Brin talking and laughing with some other men she saw nearby. Her heart rate increased. The entire mission seemed insurmountable to her. She was full of doubts, suspicions, and fear as James Brin beckoned her closer. James turned away from his colleague and approached her; perhaps he thought she was afraid.

"I apologise for what I did," she reacted immediately as he came nearer to her.

"It wasn't your fault. I knew you were frustrated. No blame on you," James said.

"I am very sorry," she continued.

"Alright," he said, "how are you now?"

"Fine," she said, "do you attend bar at night?"

"I came here to see my friends," he said. "Why did you ask?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to know," she responded briskly.

"I think you want to attend somewhere urgently; do you mind my escorting you?" asked Brin confidently.

"Don't worry, I appreciate it so much." she said.

James stretched her hand, almost embracing her, but Bianca went back immediately, avoiding the embrace he wanted to offer.

"Do you mind taking a transport fare back to your destination?"

"No, thanks." she quickly said and left.

She was content as she went back to her hostel because, at the very least, her goal had been achieved. She thought back to the moment she decided she would collect every favour he had rendered in order to satisfy him. But she reneged on her decision. Was today the right time to begin accepting his gift following an apology? She pondered. How will he react when I abruptly leave and I rejected the money? Angry? Disappointed? She questioned. I certainly hope he isn't doing all of these expecting rewards, she reflected. She had a fleeting thought that she was deeply attracted to him, but she quickly dismissed it and never wished that she had come up with all of this nonsense.