The Duat Dreamer

CHAPTER 2: New Sides

I got inside the room and, Billy followed me quietly. Immediately he got in, shut the door and turned, he rushed out four words 'I Like a girl.'

With a bewildered expression, I answered Ok! I pondered the connection between me and the truth that he liked a girl. Before I could talk, he spoke again, breaking more rules of our contract but, I didn't pay attention. I was raving mad and looking for the right opportunity to go in for the kill.

'I like a girl whose friend likes you but she can't talk to you. No one except the lecturers and me talks to you. It is her birthday party this evening. I was given an invite but only if I came with my ticket which, is "you". You said not to speak to you and, I did not want three things:

To annul my contract with you.

Lose the opportunity to connect with her and,

Make you refuse the offer even before you hear it.

Not knowing what to do, I was in a bind. I did not know how to approach, ask or bring up the conversation. So I wanted to put you in a position where you could not decline the offer and, the best way I could do this was by coming to your home.

Not that I thought it would work because I knew nothing about you or how to blackmail you, Ops, convince you to attend with me. I thought maybe you were scared of your parents or something so, I decided to leap with faith in my right heart and hope on the left. Not, knowing what the outcome would be.

Before coming here, I wrote some benefits you would get by going with me.'

And without waiting for any confirmation from me, he continued with his nervous pattern.

'BENEFITS OF INVITE

Freedom to let loose, get wild and do whatever you want.

You can choose to leave the party whenever it displeases you.

You can do something spontaneous and out of your daily routine.

A sleepover at my house whenever you want. Do not include it in my pay; it would be a bonus for employing me. I can convince your parents to let you sleep over.

Do not pay me for the next month or two; whichever you pick is ok by me.

If these benefits aren't up to your liking, feel free to add. I just think some change of environment would do you good. Please and please, overlook my selfish reason for breaking the rules. Think before making a decision, do not refuse before consideration.

Please, do not fire me. If you still want to fire me, do it after coming to the party. I am desperate.'

I wanted to say no even after his long and courageous speech. Even if it took a lot from his soul; It was like watching him die right in front of me just by talking to me. But, when I thought about how I could utilize this opportunity to have more time with the gods, joy shivered down my spine.

He was about to enter another endless speech of random useless benefits when I said yes. He smiled and shouted yes before the shock came and, he kept saying 'you said yes' like he thought he was hallucinating. I began to rethink if I made the right choice.

Billy dressed me up as the one amongst us with experience in partying. He said it would get me the ladies but, that was not my goal. I planned to stay for 20 minutes before running off to Billy's home.

All through the way to the party, we never spoke. Now, I could not tell whether the source of his anxiety was me or seeing his crush. We got to the party: when I saw Billy's crush, truth be told, just a glance at them and, I felt that they were all men sucking leeches; I never made known my thoughts to Billy. Plus, making assumptions on the first encounter seemed rude and judgmental. I only just arrived and, it is giving me unwanted thoughts; I wanted to leave the moment I walked in.

The party was lively. I have never been to this kind of party before with loud music and squished bodies dancing (or jumping yet mistaking it for dance) and people screaming in the name of enjoying a good time. Not that I was judging because my definition of a good time differs in so many ways from theirs. We sat down, not a minute later, they pounced.

'David, it's nice to have you here. We thought you would turn down the invitation. I'm glad that you are here.' Billy's crush said. The introduction started but, I did not bother to remember their names because it is of no importance to me.

Soon after, the sitting arrangements changed. There were two girls at our table, Billy's crush and her friend. Instead of sitting next to Billy, she sat down next to me and opposite her friend. I knew that I was spot on her real identity. She paid no attention to Billy despite his attempts to talk to her.

Instead, she focused her attention on me while her friend did on Billy. I refused every one of her advances, from drinks to conversation. My main focus was on Billy's reaction. He knew that they used him and, you could see the hurt written all over him yet, he kept quiet and put on a fake smile. At that moment, watching Billy reminded me of myself and, I thought of how I am not the only one with a mask. Everyone has a different type of mask and wears them when the need is there. On Impulse, I wanted to do something for Billy.

I stood up at once and told Billy to leave with me. She also got up with a fake smile on her face and asked me a stupid question. Yet, it was not enough for her; she thought that putting her grubby hands on me and showing some dry cleavage would seduce me; It only got me more upset.

'Why are you leaving David? You just got here. You refused to take anything; that is not nice. I am trying to have a conversation with you and, you are leaving. That is not a gentlemanly thing to do.' She said, trying to act all sweet and sexy.

Immediately, the lid on my anger came off and, I gave her my honest reply.

'Firstly, you are a parasite. You know that Billy has a crush on you. It is very cunning of you to use him to get to me. If that were where you stopped, I would not be this pissed. You ignored him like he did not exist and hurt his feelings. You did not even have the curtsey to talk to him: not even if it is by saying hi. You passed him on to your friend like he was nothing. Here you are pissed off because I served you the same meal you dished out. It is true; someone can be pretty yet so ugly; It is a shame!

Secondly, I never claimed or wanted to be a gentleman. You putting that filth you call hands on me makes me want to chop them off. If you want me to be a gentleman and keep your body parts, then I suggest you take yourself far away from my sight. Though, you are welcome to keep showing me that thing (I said while pointing to her chest) you call breast and who knows, you might not have any when dawn comes.

You are not worthy enough to breathe the same air as Billy talk less me. I would never want you; Not as a girlfriend, friend, course mate, woman or ghost. One Billy is worth more than a million of you. Even if you were a gift, I would reject you.' I said to her.

She looked at me terrified and on the verge of tears as If I insulted her when I only told the truth.

While this was happening, Billy said nothing and kept staring at me. We left that skank of a place and went to his house.

We got to his house, entered his bedroom, undressed and got comfortable; Billy spoke to me.

'I was honestly surprised that you stood up for me; I was not expecting much. It is not the first time something like this happens yet it is the first someone got angry on my behalf. Thank you! I am very grateful.' He lay down on his bed, ready to call it a night but, on the brink of sleep, he spoke softly. 'That was a friend-like thing you did. It surprised me but, I liked how it felt. This new side of you is not bad.' He slept off.

I stayed for a while just analyzing my earlier actions; wow, I stood up for some who is not me. I do not stick my nose in things that are of no concern to me so, why did I do so for Billy?

Like a flipped coin, I saw another side to Billy and me. Maybe we had begun to change each other unknowingly. That thought did not bother me; instead, I thought, just maybe, it would not be so bad to have Billy as a real friend.

That night the urge to delve into the world of the gods was not there. I slept soundly but had an odd dream far too different from the normal ones I usually have.

I could not understand my actions or this new me. But I had a feeling that even more stranger things lurk in my tomorrow.