Her Other Half

Chapter Four

"Am Yvonne Wandera." she answered, placing her hand his and gave it a light squeeze. The simple gesture made her insides more giddy.

"Nice to meet you Yvonne." his smile grew more and something pleasurable caught in midsection. Oh my! What was he doing to her?

"You can call me Yve for short."

The teacher came in and Gideon let go of her hand in an unhurried manner. Just then, Noel and a two other boys came in too. His eyebrows creased when he saw Gideon sitting in his seat. Who the hell was he? And why was he occupying his seat?

"Can you all take your seats. The lesson is beginning." the teacher said and Noel followed his friends to the back. Noel's eyes were locked on Yve and Gideon throughout the lesson. He could see her glancing at the boy from time to time.

Give him a break!....first Mitch. Now it seemed he had gotten another rival.

Yve couldn't stop staring at Gideon. She hadn't had enough him. His dark brown smooth looking skin added sweetness to his aura every time she looked at him. How good it would feel to caress it! He was sitting graciously with his back leaning at the table behind him. His long legs stretched elegantly.

He abruptly moved and placed his hands on the table. There was a ring on his index finger. It was black in color and with a heart symbol on it. It was beautiful and intriguing. His thumb caressed it from time to time. It must have had some sentimental value to him.

"And that was the organization of Buganda." Yve grasped the teacher's last words. The lesson had ended so quickly. Was he some kind of time machine god. Who made time fly in a blink of an eye. "We will begin from there on Wednesday." the teacher said and gathered his books.

"Hi." immediately after the teacher was out, Nandera and her squad were at Gideon's table. Of course she had caught sight of Gideon.

"You're new here, right?" Nandera placed her hands on his table. Yve winced. She couldn't be more disgusted at the way Nandera was talking. Her voice was slick unlike the domineering tone she always has.

"Yah." his voice was clipped. He wasn't interested in the conversation, unlike Nandera. This was enough to put a smile on Yve's face. But she couldn't enjoy this for too long. The next teacher would come in anytime from now.

"Call me Nandera, am the leader of the netball team." Yve heard her say as she stood up from her chair and headed for the door. Gideon saw Noel join Yve, holding her wrist.

"Whose he?" Noel asked as they walked.

"What?"

"The boy you were sitting next to in History."

Judging from his tone, she knew he was jealous. When will he ever understand that there will never be her and him. But then she remembered the saying, "Never say never." "His name is Gideon."

Noel sucked down his next words when he saw Mitch. All he knew was that Yve and him had broken up. But still he hated him. He was so full of himself even in football. He always wanted all the credit. Good thing he was now gone.

Yve hadn't seen him again after the party. Maybe his conscious pricked him and couldn't bear to look at her.

"Yve." he put on a smile. Noel's clenched his fists. He hated his guts.

Yve wanted to walk off but her body had become rigid and heavy for her legs. A small part of her, the naive girl deep down who had missed him even when she denied it. The one who had wished he had ran after her. After the incidence at the party. Still existed and was happy to see him. Oh goodness, couldn't she be any less stupid.

Mitch to wasn't pleased to see Noel too. He knew he had had a crush on Yve. Even when they were dating. Maybe they were now together—

"Could you excuse us Noel." Yve said.

Really! So he was the uninvited one now? She wounded his ego.

"You want to talk to this bustard."

"Watch your tongue Noel." Mitch's teeth were pulled together as he uttered.

Come to think of it, the word bustard suited him— Yve thought. But she didn't want things to get messy. Not right now when it was class time. "It's just a talk Noel. I will be fine."

Noel looked at Yve worryingly and she reassured him with nod. He gave Mitch one of those l-hate-you looks before walking off.

"How have you been?"

Seriously! Did he have to ask that?! What a way to talk to someone you betrayed not many months back. She wanted to punch him straight in his face. Maybe break his nose. After all he deserves it. Every bit of pain.

Damn! The perfidy hurt her more than she had thought. But the good thing she wasn't breaking down with tears. Which she expected would have happened. But would she even manage to hit him. Her hand would be the one to get broken. She smiled inwardly at that. Things would have made a U-turn.

"Fine." Did he expect her to be grieving. Some kind of nerve! Even if she would have been, she wouldn't tell him for his satisfaction.

"That's cool. I had come to pick my Passlip."

Oh! Was he already going to Jinja? That was quick. He still had three months of vacation.

"Are you going to Jinja already?"

"Yah." he sighed. "I got a job there too."

"Oh." her brain was whirlwind. She couldn't come up with what to say.

"Yah."

Whether they were in a relationship or not, he would have of course gone. His choice of university was there. Jinja wasn't too far from Kampala. But that didn't matter anymore. Their relationship was over. She shouldn't have any emotions right now.

"I will just let you go to class." he said. "Goodbye Yve." He wanted to hug her but stop in mid air.

"Bye." This was it. There was no more Mitch. No more "I love you-s." from him. Her subconscious scoffed at her for still believing in those. Obviously his main goal must have been taking her to bed. But he didn't manage. And that she should be glad. She had never lied to him. But him, he had told the biggest of all which had brought about their relationship. He looked all so good on the outside but the inside– was rotten and unpleasing.

"Yve." Odrah called her as soon as she entered the library. She was sitting at a table with Annabelle and two other girls.

"What's wrong you look– sad? Did something happen to you?" Odrah asked and she shook her head, pulling out the chair next to Odrah's.

"I just ran into Mitch."

"What?! What did that p*****t say?"

"Nothing." she answered. He said nothing. That was the problem. He didn't even apologize. A lump grew in her throat. "His going to Jinja." her voice was sore.

Odrah moved her arm around Yve's neck, placing her head on Yve's comfortingly. "It's ok Yve. He doesn't deserve you."

Odrah was right. She was too good for Mitch. But..... she still loved him. She was still in that phase. Where everything was so messed up and confusing even when you try to make meaning out of it. She was cold and numb, having tangled thoughts in her mind. She had had eyes for only him— until the new boy maybe.

There was sudden glee in her heart when she thought about him. His mesmerizing voice. She had only captured bits of it. She wanted to hear it again, to be able to have it fully in her mind– in her heart. Wherever place it would be stored, she didn't care. Oh Gideon..... Was she falling for him?

She wanted to tell Odrah about him. But what was she going to say. She only knew his name. And also that would be too quick. She wanted to see him again. Just to confirm if her feelings.

"What's up with Mwesigwa?" Yve asked inorder to change the topic. Odrah eyes gleamed as she told her they were having a date after school today. She wished she could have a love story like Odrah's. Mwesigwa and her were childhood friends and then the dating came in when they were in form three. He was in a different school though but things still worked out for them.

Recess came by. Yve and her friends remained in the library, talking with the librarian.

Yve's thoughts drifted to Gideon, thinking about the two hours they had shared together. But they weren't enough, she needed more, more of him. His charming smile. His dazzling eyes.

Recess time was almost done when she went back to the history classroom. And yap, she found him there. He was still sitting where she had left him. But he wasn't alone, Nandera was sitting beside him. They were chatting, grinning from ear to ear. She felt like a maniac for coming back in search for him.

He saw her. Looking all so broken and shattered. His grin slowly rubbed off. He could nolonger hear what Nandera was saying. His focus on girl standing by the door. That girl he had found looking so divine and lost in the book she had been reading. He wanted had to get to know her more. But she had left too quickly. And worst of all with some boy. Just then, the siren was sounded and kids came flooding in with a second.

Yve moved from the doorway and left. She had an art lesson to attend instead of looking at the pulchritudinous creature who seemed to be into the control freak.

After the art lesson, Yve went in for divinity class which was her last lesson of the day. She planned to go to Wandera Designs after and have lunch with Mugisha.

He was a thin light brown Rwandan in his early twenties. Girlish and super friendly. He worked in the design department. They had become friends during her vacation and got to work on a couple of designs. She had taken along without visiting the company. She could imagine how thrilled he would be when he saw her.

The sample room was quiet when Yve walked in. It was lunch time, so this was expected. She had called Mugisha before coming and he had assured her he would be there. She found him sitting at a table which had scattered papers of sketches on it. Mugisha as if sensing her presence turned.

"Babe, you have finally arrived." he said pushing from the chair and wrapping his arms around her. " I missed you." he pouted playfully when he disengaged.

"I missed you too." she said with a smile.

They walked to the nearby restaurant and asked for their usual. Mugisha took her through the company's gossip. He was the best distraction after today's events.

After class, Gideon had walked around the school, hoping to find Yve. But it was all in vain. He gave up and was now on his way to the parking lot.

"Gideon!?" he had someone say and he turned, only to find his former couch in primary.

"Couch CJ!" What the– ?! What was he doing here now?

"What's up couch." He clapped his hand with his and hit his shoulder with his, ending the greeting with a pat on the back.

"Nothing much."

"You work here now?" the statement was more of a question. He had told them that he was going to play professional football back before leaving their school.

"Yah. Stuff didn't work out. So, here l am. But– am cool." He looked down on the floor for a moment.

Gideon pitied him. He was a great couch and on top of all friendly. He had never given up on them. Or maybe the day he decided to leave and pursue his dreams. They were all sad when he told them about his departure. They had never had any other understanding couch like him.

"Small world isn't it. I didn't think I would meet one of my best players again." the couch said and Gideon grinned. He loved football so much. It was his hobby, stress reliever from a young age. The day his mother bought him a ball was the happiest and most memorable. How he missed her! "We are going for practice. You should come and meet the team."