CHAPTER 2: UNEXPECTED MESSAGE
571 Words
Jemima's POV
My phone buzzed.I ignored it.It buzzed again.Still ignored it.
I was busy trying to finish an assignment that was due the next morning.The phone buzzed for the third time.With an annoyed sigh, I reached for it.
Unknown Number.
I frowned.Who was texting me by this time?
I opened the message.
Unknown Number:
Hi.
I stared at it.Then locked my phone.
A few seconds later, another message came in.
Unknown Number:
Wow. That's rude.
I rolled my eyes.
Me:Who is this?
The reply came immediately.
Unknown Number:Jahiem.
I froze.Jahiem?
THE Jahiem?The same Jahiem Alimat and her friends wouldn't stop talking about?
The same Jahiem who got drunk at a party because his girlfriend dumped him?
The same proud boy who thought he was God's gift to women?
I laughed.
Me:Oh.
The famous Jahiem.
Jahiem:Famous?
Me:The one that got drunk because of heartbreak.
Three dots appeared.Disappeared.Appeared again.
Jahiem:Alimat talks too much.
Me:She really does.
Jahiem:So that's what you know about me?
Me:Pretty much.
Jahiem:Wow.
Me:What?
Jahiem:I expected better.
I scoffed.
Me:From me?
Jahiem:Exactly.
Me:You don't even know me.
Jahiem:And yet I already know you're troublesome.
I laughed despite myself.
Maybe he wasn't as annoying as I thought.
Only a little.
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The next few days became strange.Every morning there was a message.
Every afternoon there was another.Every night there was a conversation.
Sometimes we argued.Sometimes we laughed.Most times we did both.
It became a routine.A dangerous routine.
One I was starting to enjoy.
One evening, I was sitting on my hostel bed when Alimat barged into my room.
"Why are you smiling?"
I quickly dropped my phone.
"I wasn't smiling."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
I groaned.
"Leave me alone."
Alimat jumped onto my bed.Her eyes widened.
"Oh my goodness."
"What?"
"It's Jahiem."
I snatched my phone.
"It's none of your business."
Alimat stared at me dramatically.
"My two favorite people are becoming friends."
"We are not friends."
She burst out laughing.
"You text every day."
"So?"
"You call every night."
"So?"
"You literally smile whenever he messages."
I threw a pillow at her.She screamed with laughter.
That same night, my phone rang.
Jahiem.
For some reason, my heart skipped.I answered immediately.
"Hello?"
"Wow."
I frowned.
"What?"
"You answered fast."
"Don't flatter yourself."
He laughed.
A deep, warm laugh.
The kind that made me smile without meaning to.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Studying."
"Liar."
"I'm serious."
"No student studies by this time."
"Unlike some people, I actually care about my grades."
"Ouch."
I smiled.
The conversation lasted for hours.
About family.School.Dreams.
Random things.
For the first time, I found myself talking about my mother.About losing her.
About how life changed after she died.
The silence on the other end surprised me.
Then Jahiem spoke softly.
"I'm sorry, Jemima."
My throat tightened.
Most people didn't know what to say.
But somehow, those three words felt enough.
"Thank you."
For a while neither of us spoke.Then he cleared his throat.
"Can I tell you something?"
"What?"
"You're not what I expected."
I raised an eyebrow.
"What did you expect?"
"A stubborn girl."
I gasped dramatically.
"I am offended."
"You should be."
"I should hang up."
"You won't."
"Want to bet?"
"You like talking to me too much."
I hated that he was right.And somehow...
That scared me.
Because for the first time in a long time...
I was looking forward to hearing from someone, and that someone was Jahiem James.
- Writer
