The invitation
1752 Words
By the time Amara got back to the hostel she was exhausted.
It had been a long day. Her first real lecture at Crownbridge, the embarrassing fight with Zara.
And then, there was Chi.
I’d like to see you again.
Amara still didn't understand what he meant. She dropped her bag beside her bed and sat down.
A few minutes later, Grace walked into the room.
“I'm telling you, that girl has a problem.”
Amara sighed.
“Grace, please. I don't want to talk about Zara again.”
“Fine.”
Grace sat on her bed.
“I won't talk about her.”
Silence filled the room.
Five seconds later, Grace looked at Amara.
“But Chi….”
“Grace!”
“What?”
“You just said you wouldn't talk about her.”
“I said I wouldn't talk about Zara.”
Amara stared at her.
Grace laughed.
“Okay, okay. I'm done.”
Amara shook her head, when she was about to close her eyes when her phone buzzed.
She picked it up, and it was one new message.
It was an unknown number.
Amara frowned as she opened it.
Are you free this evening?
She stared at the message.
Another message came in.
—Chi.
Her eyes widened.
“Chi?”
Grace quickly looked up.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Grace sat up.
“Who texted you?”
“No one.”
“Amara.”
Amara sighed.
“Chi.”
Grace jumped off her bed.
“Chi?”
“Keep your voice down.”
“Chi actually texted you?”
“I think so.”
Grace rushed over to check the phone.
She read the message, then looked at Amara.
“Girl…..”
“What?”
“Do you know many girls in this school would lose their minds if Chi texted them?”
Amara shrugged, “I don't know.”
Grace looked at her, “You're not serious.”
Before Amara could answer, another message came in.
There's a quiet lounge not far from the campus, we can talk there. I'll pick you up by seven.
Amara's smile disappeared.
“A lounge?”
Grace read the message.
“Yes. A lounge.”
“I don't know if I should go.”
“Why not?”
“I barely know him.”
Grace sat beside her.
“Go and talk to him, maybe he just wants to talk about what happened. Nothing much.”
Amara remained quiet.
Grace smiled.
“And if you don't like the place, you leave.”
Amara looked at her, “You're really encouraging this?”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
“Because opportunity has knocked.”
Amara laughed.
“Grace. Please.”
“I'm serious.”
She pointed at the phone, “Go. Talk to him. Eat something nice. Then come back.”
Amara looked at the phone then sighed.
“Fine.”
Grace smiled immediately.
“But, I’m only going because I want to know why he invited me.”
“Sure.”
“Don't start.”
“I didn't say anything.”
They both laughed.
**
At exactly seven, Amara's phone rang.
She looked at the screen, it was Chi.
Her stomach felt a little strange, she answered.
“Hello?”
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“I'm outside.”
Amara walked down to her window.
She looked down, and a black SUV was parked near the hostel.
“Okay.”
“I'll wait for you.”
The call ended.
Grace rushed to the window, “Is that him?”
Amara nodded.
Grace looked at her clothes, then at Amara.
“You're not going downstairs like this.”
Amara looked at herself.
“What's wrong with my clothes?”
“Nothing.”
Grace opened her wardrobe.
“But you're going to meet Chi.”
“He's just taking me out.”
“I know.”
Grace pulled out an outfit.
“Wear this.”
Amara looked at it.
“Grace…”
“Just wear it.”
A few minutes later, Amara was ready.
She picked up her phone and bag, Grace followed her to the door.
“And don’t forget something.”
“What?”
“My food.”
Amara laughed.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I’m serious.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Go!”
Amara shook her head playfully and walked downstairs.
The moment she stepped outside, the passenger door of the SUV opened, and Chi stepped out.
He smiled when he saw her.
“You came.”
“You asked me to.”
He laughed.
I wasn’t sure you would.”
“I almost didn’t.”
“I know.”
He opened the door for her, but Amara stopped for a second.
Chi noticed.
“Amara.”
She looked at him.
“We are just going to talk.”
He pointed at the car.
“If you don’t feel comfortable, we can come back, no problem.”
Amara relaxed.
She got inside, Chi closed the door and walked around to the driver's side.
**
The lounge was beautiful, Amara stopped when she walked inside.
The place had huge glass windows, bright light, and soft music.
Everything looked so expensive, she kept looking around.
Chi noticed.
“First time here?”
Amara nodded.
“You like it?”
“It's beautiful.”
A waiter came over, “Good evening, sir.”
The waiter led them to a quiet table.
They sat down, and the waiter gave them two menus, then he left.
“You're nervous?” Chi asked.
“A little.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't have to be.”
He pushed the menu closer to her.
“Order whatever you want.”
“Anything?”
He smiled, “Yes. Anything.”
Amara laughed.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
She looked through the menu and ordered something simple.
Chi ordered his own food.
While they waited, they started talking at first, it was a little awkward.
But after a while, Amara relaxed.
They talked about school, their departments, Grace, and Joshua.
When Amara started telling him about Grace, Chi laughed.
“She sounds funny.”
“She is.”
“She also seems protective of you.”
“Very.”
“That's good.”
Amara smiled.
Then Chi asked, “Where are you from?”
“Imo state.”
“Really?”
“And your family?”
“My mother and younger brother are fine.”
Chi nodded.
“What about your father?”
Amara remained quiet.
“My father passed away.”
Chi noticed the change in her face.
He didn't ask her anything else, instead, he changed the topic.
“What made you choose Crownbridge?”
“It's always been my dream, and it's a good school.”
Chi smiled.
“That's not the whole reason.”
Amara smiled back, “I wanted a better future.”
Chi nodded.
Their food arrived.
They ate while talking.
Soon, Amara forgot how nervous she had been when she left the hostel.
After they finished eating, she looked at Chi.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” Chi replied.
“For the food and for what happened in class.”
Chi waved his hand.
“Don't worry about it.”
“But you paid for her phone.”
“She was making a big deal out of nothing.”
Amara smiled.
“Do you think she hates me?”
Chi leaned back.
“Even if she does, it doesn’t matter.”
“She seems really angry?”
“Zara is always angry at the wrong person, and she knows when she's wrong, but she'll never admit it.”
Amara listened.
“She likes attention. She wants everyone to notice her, and if she doesn't get what she wants, she gets upset.
“So what should I do?” Amara asked.
“Ignore her.”
Amara nodded slowly, “I'll try.”
“Good.”
When it was time for them to go, Chi stood up first.
Amara picked up her bag.
Chi extended his hand. “Come.”
She hesitated for a second before placing her hand in his.
He helped her up and they walked towards the entrance.
None of them noticed a lady sitting a few tables away.
Amela.
She had come to the lounge with a guy she had been seeing.
She was laughing at something he said when she suddenly looked across the room.
Her smile disappeared immediately.
She looked.
“Wait..”
Her eyes widened.
“No way.”
The guy beside her looked confused.
“What?”
Amela didn't answer him.
Her eyes were fixed on Chi and Amara.
She quickly reached for her phone.
“Hold on.”
She began recording.
Chi walked outside with Amara.
Amela followed at a distance, but her camera remained on.
She recorded Chi opening the car door, when Amara went inside the car, and when Chi closed the door.
Then she smiled, “This is going to be good.”
She quickly sent the video to Zara.
She watched the car drive away.
She got back to her seat, the man beside her frowned.
“Are we still sleeping over?”
Amela looked at him.
“No.”
“What?”
“I need to go.”
“But we just got here.”
“I have something important to do.”
She stood up.
He stared at her.
“You're leaving me here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Something came up.”
Amela walked away before he could even argue.
**
Zara was in her room when her phone buzzed, she ignored it, then it buzzed again and again.
Finally, she picked it up.
Three messages from Amela
She opened the video, and her expression changed immediately.
She watched Chi hold Amara's hand, she watched him open the car door for her.
Zara replayed the video
Her jaw tightened.
She called Amela quickly.
“Where are you?”
“On my way to your hostel.”
“Come now!”
“I'm coming.”
The call ended.
Zara stood up.
She threw her phone onto the bed.
“Who does she think she is?”
Twenty minutes later, Amelia burst into Zara's room.
“Zara!”
Zara turned.
“Show me.”
Amela handed her the phone.
“I told you.”
Zara watched again, her face grew colder every second.
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