“Finish your food, love it’s getting dark.” He reminded me, scooping a spoonful of rice and placing it in my mouth.
I could stay here with him, like this, in a field of grass talking about whatever happened to be on our hearts perhaps forever.
“I love you, River,” I said.
“Samesies.” He responded and I laughed.
Three days later
Everyone had returned home from holidays by then and I heard that Keomi's flight had come in yesterday night. I made River drive me back to campus so I could explain my sudden move out to her because she was the sweetest souls and deserved an explanation more than anything. I felt horrible for just leaving her like that all of a sudden but I didn't regret my decision. Living with River and spending time with his family had been so amazing and healing for me.
We'd been parked in the campus driveway rehearsing what I was going to say for at least fifteen minutes now.
"Okay okay how about, hey Keomi I'm sorry I just got up and left all of a sudden but I like making out with my boyfriend on a balcony without having to worry about someone sleeping next to me?" I explained and River laughed.
"Yeah, she's going to murder you." He said blankly, "Just be open and honest I'm sure things will work out yeah?"
"Yeah, okay." I sighed leaning in to kiss him, he tasted like procrastination and I needed to go,
"Stay." He insisted,
"No." I retorted, giving my best River impression of being blunt and straightforward,
"I'll wait for you in the car." He told me, and I got up and left.
The second I was in the hallway to the dorms I made my way to my old dorm room and opened the door, but it was locked. I could hear hushed voices on the other side, and I knew it'd be wrong to eavesdrop but I was curious so I leaned in closer.
"You can't ask me to keep quiet about this any longer." Keomi's voice spoke, it was more serious and intense than I'd ever heard it before, "You need to stop playing the fucking victim and own up to your shit."
"Don't suddenly go all Hail Mary and gain a moral compass now Keomi, you're just as guilty as I am, because you were there too. And you know what really happened." The other voice spoke mockingly,
"It was all fun and games until it wasn't and I won't be going down with you," Keomi said.
And what I heard after that made me wish I learned to mind my business every once in a while. This was the second secret, the one that would change everything I thought I knew about everyone.
This was the match that lit the fire to where we are now, burning alive.
Chapter 31
The Beginning Of The End
"And it was exactly as I feared, the inevitable beginning of the end."
ITWASChristmasmorningand it was already snowing outside, the buildings and pavement were coated in a thick blanket of white. Not to mention it was like 3° outside and as someone who was used to the hot weather in Jacksonville and Nairobi, this was torturous. I walked around the house in fluffy socks, two layers of clothing, and a blanket I wrapped myself in. River was baking a carrot cake to take to his parent's house today for Christmas, we'd be spending the day there. Just then my phone started ringing, it was papa, so I picked it up.
"Merry Christmas Oyana." Papa greeted joyfully and I could hear Jaadi's voice asking for the phone on the other side,
"Thank you for calling, Merry Christmas papa." I replied, "I hate that this is my first Christmas without you guys."
"The house feels empty without you, but knowing that your heart is full in Paris brings me comfort." Papa said warmly, "I hope that River is treating you well nne?"
I turned my gaze to River, who was covered in flour and mixing away at the bowl, a serious expression on his face that made me giggle. He then turned to the kettle and poured me a mug of hot cocoa, just as he was about to hand it to me he pressed it against his cheek to check the temperature, he did that often- he knew I didn't like it when it was too hot. I loved that he paid attention to the things many would overlook, I loved that he cared enough to do so.
"He does, I hope you can visit soon and get to know each other better, he's almost as hard-headed as you are so you would take an easy liking to him," I assured him and he laughed,
"Your brother wishes to speak to you, let me hand him the phone," Papa said as he handed the phone to Jaadi,
"How could you just leave without telling me?" He asked running upstairs with the phone, "You never even said goodbye, I woke up and I was all alone again."
