TST, 2020
The door wasn’t locked. SJ entered the room trailed by three men. There was no one in the room. The bed was well and straight dressed. The clock on the wall ticked 0800hrs. Tuesday, SJ read at the calendar hanging on the wall.
“We’re looking for something like this.” SJ raised her card, “search every corner of this room. The card must be somewhere.”
The men started searching the room. SJ opened the drawer. Leo Felix, she read the student ID card. Her heart was beating very fast.
The men searched for about an hour. They got nothing.
“Madam, looks like the card isn’t here.” A tall strapping man said, hands on his waist. The man looked like Batista. The muscles in his neck were like they were going to tear out.
“Keep looking.” SJ said.
“If the card is important, why shouldn’t we ask Leo?”
“Leo is not supposed to know this… so is my husband.”
The men continued searching the room. They removed the mattress from the bed. They removed the pillows. They looked over the curtains. They looked everywhere from the floor to the ceiling. There was no sign of the card. The clock ticked 0930hrs.
“Madam, they will be out of class soon. We better arrange the room and leave.” Batista said, wiping sweat from his face.
SJ sighed. “Fine… I didn’t want Leo to be a part of this. I have no choice.”
“Sorry madam but can I ask something?”
SJ looked at Batista.
“Why is the card that important?”
“Tell your men to put the room in order. You go to the class and fetch Leo for me.”
“What if a professor is in the class?”
“I don’t like to get bored and don’t like to repeat myself.”
Batista asked the other two men to arrange Leo’s room and left. SJ scratched her long-dressed hair. She moved here and there as the men arranged the room. Her eyes peeked over the watch several times. After 15 minutes, Batista returned.
“Where is Leo?” SJ snapped.
“He’s not in the class.”
SJ raised her eyebrows. “what? It’s Tuesday.”
“According to his classmates, he hasn’t shown up in class since yesterday.”
“What?”
**********
Isla idly sat in the canteen. She gazed over the sky as she sipped her tea. Her heart was empty and lonely. At least the tea gave her warmth. She tried hard to fight the emptiness and loneliness but love is just like a quicksand, the further you fall in, the harder it is to get out. Your heart isn’t plastic, and it isn’t a toy but if you want it broken, give it to a boy. She thought.
As she continued sipping, someone knocked on the table. Isla raised her head. Macy stood in front of her, two girls behind her. One was white and the other was black. The three girls crossed their arms and their feet were slowly taping. The muscles on their faces tightened.
Isla grunted. “What do—”
“Where is Leo?” Macy said.
“Am I his mother?” Isla said.
“Macy… why are we wasting time?” The black girl said, brandishing her fist.
Macy leaned on the table. “We have heard the rumors.”
Isla chuckled. “Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots.”
“Macy, we should teach her a lesson.” The white girl said, rocking back and forth on her heels.
“Yeah..! Her mother didn’t teach her proper manners.”
Isla exploded out of her chair. “Don’t da—”
“You went away with Leo last night. You came back, he didn’t.” Macy said.
“Macy c’mon... My hands are itching.” The black girl said.
“Let’s teach her a lesson.” The white girl said.
“She should never mess with your boyfriend.” The black girl said.
“Where is Leo, you daughter of a bitch?” Macy snapped.
Isla exhaled, jutting her chin.
“She won’t talk voluntarily.” The black girl said.
Macy grabbed Isla’s blouse. “Where is my boyfriend?”
Isla flared her nostrils. “I’m no—”
Macy extended her hand to slap Isla. Isla closed her eyes. Before her palm hit Isla’s face, Macy’s hand was blocked.
“What’s wrong?” Daniel asked, his hand holding Macy’s arm.
Macy moaned, pleading Daniel to release her arm.
“Nothing wrong.” Isla said.
Daniel chuckled. “I just stopped a hand from hitting your face and you tell me nothing is wrong?”
“She knows where Macy’s boyfriend is.” The black girl said.
“What?” Daniel said.
“She knows where Leo is.” The white girl said.
Daniel turned to the girls, his face was red. “Disappear and never appear in front of her again.”
The girls moved backward.
Daniel gritted his teeth. “I said, disappear.”
“If you want us to disappear peacefully, tell your girlfriend to return Leo to me before the sunset. If not, she’ll have to suffer the consequences.” Macy said as she left, trailed by the other two girls.
**********
Baraka was on the way to his room. He walked slowly as he whispered and sang. A few meters to his room, he met Daliah.
“Hello!” Baraka waved.
“Hi!” Daliah said, giving off a slow and sexy smile.
“Daliah..!”
Daliah stopped and turned.
Baraka scratched his hair. “Excuse me, can we talk for a moment.”
Daliah nodded.
“I… I…I…” Baraka bit his lips and glanced away. “Never mind, it can wait.”
Daliah gave a toothy smile. “Don’t worry, and just tell me.”
Baraka forked his fingers through his hair. “I wanted to tell you something.”
“I’m listening.”
Baraka avoided Daliah’s eyes and gazed over the sky.
“If you can’t talk then goodbye…”
“No, wait.”
Daliah crossed her arms.
“Daliah, I always wanted to tell you this but I never got a chance.”
“Tell me what?”
Baraka exhaled. He dropped his head.
Daliah smiled. “You are wasting my time.”
Baraka inhaled a deep breath and blew out slowly. “Daliah I love you. I want you to be my girlfriend.”
Daliah gazed at Baraka. Baraka dodged her eyes.
Baraka smacked his lips. “I really love you.”
Daliah chuckled. “Can I give you a piece of advice?”
Cold sweat seeped over Baraka’s face. “What?”
“Concentrate on your studies.”