MINE OR NOT

Heart Aches

FLUMINE UNIVERSITY is not just regarded as the top citadel of learning in the region and the entire country at large for just academic history and excellence, It is also because of the affiliations it has with many government and non-governmental organizations, and worldwide agencies. Many times it has raised crazy amounts of funding for projects that pushed the academic advancement of the institution and, as a result, earned its status as the peak of higher institutions in the state and a model to others. For these reasons and more, official events and ceremonies in the school are taken seriously, not just for the sake of the event but also for the reception of the guests, as occasions like that serve two purposes for the school. One, for the whole support system of the school to see their investments in human form, and also a chance to further ask for investments.

Today, it's the annual matriculation ceremony of the first-year students into different faculties and postgraduate colleges. Every student is expected to be on their best behavior and, of course, best official outfit because, in the real sense of it, the event is not really for them, it is for the institution. Every faculty has a peculiar dress code for the event, and it was strictly adhered to because, for no reason or from any angle would today's event would not be glamorous.

Alvaro was as grumpy as anything in the world on the car ride to school today. He had his sleep cut short, and in his defense. He barely had any sleep. He spent the entirety of the night checking through the Crypto Charts and making analyses for the midnight and early morning trades, by the time he felt like he was done, and tried to get some sleep. The alarm went off. A quick text to Naomi to let her know he was not going to pick her up today as he couldn't manage the time to spare, to avoid both of them getting late. A text that was delivered but got no response.

Patiently waiting for his arrival was Rachel. If she dared to ask for his number or maybe his Snapchat handle, she would have blown his phone. For odd reasons, despite him being fond of her, he never asked for any of her contact details, or maybe secretly hoped that if she asked, it would confirm and solidify mutual interests. The waiting game.

Late comer

I promise you, today wasn't my fault. But yeah, where do I start explaining from

Let's just go into the Auditorium, holding his hands, the program is about to begin.

Formalities, anthems, and speeches are the usual order of the day for an official event in every formal gathering, and today was no exception. Now and then, all souls in the 5,000 capacity auditorium would either rise from their seats to honor the presence of a special guest or sing an official anthem. It's business as usual.

Reverting to their seats

Rachel reached for her mini bag, a gift from her shopper on her birthday. It was indeed a thoughtful gift as it had several sections meant to carry different items, and there would hardly be any place that she would go without it, as it serves as the one-stop for all her accessories and basic girly things, and took out two wraps.

I figured, due to the morning circumstances, you might not have had breakfast, so I made one for you. Hope you like it. I made it extra creamy, then stretched out a big wrap of chicken shawarma towards him.

That was so thoughtful of you. Truthfully, I haven't even had anything this morning, and yes, I like it extra creamy, Alvaro replied

In all fairness, he liked many things extra creamy, and that included a lot of things. Alvaro threw in that last sentence as a subtitle hint to suggest that he referred to things more than chicken wraps and sausages.

She smiled... I'm glad you do.

Alvaro didn't press further; besides, he was just being his usual naughty and flirty self, and now is the time for stomach affairs, so not much stress is needed.

Naomi took another glance across the auditorium, which made it a dozen glances in the space of an hour. At the time she got his text that morning, she was annoyed at him leaving her to find her way to school, but now the anger has evaporated. The feeling of unease and nervousness has erased that initial annoyance, what could have happened, she muttered silently.

Can you please share your water with me? I'm a bit thirsty

A nearby voice interrupted her thoughts

It came from her right-hand side and her seat partner, someone she wasn't even sure when she got there, and if she had not said anything, Naomi would argue she sat alone for the event.

Sure, help yourself, handing her the water bottle.

Thank you, my name is Ella, and I would like to be friends with you. I like nice people.

Naomi wished she could tell her that none of what she said mattered, at least at the moment. Something, someone was more important than whether she liked nice people or not. Of what use would that information be right now?

Nice to meet you, Ella. My name is Naomi. She gathered all the remaining strength that she hadn't used to search for Alvaro in the auditorium and replied.

You have been looking over that other side the entire time. Are you looking for someone or looking at something? Ella asked inquisitively.

Naomi, not particularly sure how to respond because not only was she not expecting any conversation, she also didn't know she had made her worries obvious

Oh, don't mind me, just looking around.

And just like a good luck charm, when she wasn't even searching, just with a slight turn spotted Alvaro in a chat with an unknown lady, every lady here is unknown anyways, but what baffled her the most was that he had his phone open and he wasn't texting her. Quite unlike him.

So you know this much about the crypto markets, I wish I had met you earlier. At least these trades would have gone well with what you just told me today alone, Alvaro said, pointing to his phone screen and showing Rachel something on it.

Naomi sent you a chat Snapchat notification interrupted that moment.

One second please

'There you are seated, and you got me worried.'

Alvaro knew from her tone, she wasn't very pleased. He had wanted to text her earlier, but it was time to stand up and acknowledge the presence of an honorable man from the province, and in the space of standing and sitting, he somehow forgot. Then it dawned on him; all through that morning, not even once had he tried to look out for her or remember her. The answer isn't far-fetched anyway, but still, he had to reply to that text.

'Hey baby, today has just been a lot, we are moving out now, I'll see you outside the auditorium and explain better, but I'm sorry, and I can explain,' He typed quickly as it was time to leave the hall.

The next agenda of the day was the photo sessions. This was an unofficial part of the ceremony, not regulated, but it is as important as everything they had done earlier. The students consider it their event, as what they had just finished was for the authorities.

Naomi fought her way through the wrong path and the wrong crowd of people, obviously to make her way to where the Business Management students were taking their pictures in search of Alvaro.

The large number of people at the photo booth would have discouraged anyone else from just going back and trying something else, but not her. She wasn't one to give up on anything that she started already, and even more so, a strong cause to her, Alvaro.

Beside a foldable banner at the end going towards the groundsmen's office were two people you could take for a couple doing pre pre-wedding shoot, and you won't be entirely wrong based on different poses and other things that people in love do. A sharp look, and Naomi sprinted towards them. It was Alvaro and the unknown lady that she would not leave without knowing. The thought of someone getting as close as that to him made her faster, and drawing little attention as some ladies were wowed at her superpower of running that fast while on heels.

Out of breath and panting….What are you doing here

Alvaro was stunned because he had noticed the sprinter but didn't think it would be in his direction; the sprinter was headed.

Naomi, what's the matter….Did something happen to you?

Nothing, I just came to see you…I was worried about you and thought I should come.. she replied, scanning the environment and taking a closer look at the unknown lady.

Ohh, I've been fine…let me just finish taking pictures with her and I'll speak with you about everything, please wait by the side…and oh, meet Rachel, my coursemate and potential business partner, she is so knowledgeable about the crypto world.

Rachel, this is my childhood friend, Naomi.

Naomi felt a deep wave of heat like she had just opened a bakery’s oven.

Not sure whether it was due to exhaustion from the little race she just did, or that yet again, she got referred to as a friend.

She met Rachel’s hands reluctantly, and truth be told, when she said nice to meet you she lied. It wasn't nice meeting her. She never wanted to.

Since I can confirm you are fine, I'll just head back, and you can text me when you are done.

She said, almost exiting immediately without waiting for a response.

Oh, cool…. I’ll text you as soon as I am done here, Alvaro said, waving his hands.

The trip back was the longest she had ever made, and with each step, she became more weary. What made the trip longer was not due to her being tired; under normal circumstances, she could still go that same distance again, but maybe with reduced speed. It wasn't even because of the looking eyes that she attracted while going. She never cared about people and their reactions at any point. What made her weary and mentally tired w

as that even as much as she hoped and expected…..Alvaro didn't ask her to take a picture with him.