THE GIRL NEXT DOOR

Moving into the new lodge after my mother, sister and I moved from Lagos was not easy. I was scared of how I was going to restart my life in this strange place called 'the sunshine capital'. My mother had wanted to come to the city immediately after the death of my father but situations have hindered us. Akure was not that big when we moved but when the new Governor came in, he changed the town into a city. With all these changes,the city remained boring to me. The city has a pleasant weather and cool structures like the building at Adegbemile, the Wema bank and Fisco house around leo, a fountain at Alagbaka and so much more. We stayed in Adinlewa, one of the local streets in the city. Everywhere and everything made me miss Lagos. I got admission into a university but was not resuming till the next year so I had to stay at home browsing or watching movies. It was a quiet life to live. As all these were going on, a new family came into the new house that was built beside ours. Before then, I was wondering who were the owner of the house. My mother told me earlier that an old family owned the house but I did not put it to mind. I needed something new to change my life. I was sitting outside when the family came around in their car. I saw the father get out of the car, then a boy who shouldn't be more than 10years and probably a woman who should be the mother. I thought that was all of them and was about to enter when I heard the woman call a name "Caroline,wont you come out of the car?". I waited to see the stubborn girl who didnt want to get out of the car. To my surprise, a beautiful young girl probably a year younger than me came out in a blouse and tight jeans. She was slender, tall and beautiful. I was surprised when I saw her. She was so beautiful that when she looked at me, I turned my face away from her. When I turned it back, she was looking sadly at her dad. I went back inside and closed the door. After that day, I did not see her again for a week. I would go out hoping to see her but i did not. One night,I had a dream.... "I was sent on an errand so as I passed through her house, she called me but not by my name. She said hey and I turned towards her. I was struck by her beauty. I answered her and moved nearer. She told me to stop when I was moving so close to her. I stopped and we talked.I even forgot I was sent on an errand. When I checked my time, I discovered that we had been talking for twenty minutes. It was great and lovely. When I stood up to leave, I woke up instantly." I had this dream repeatedly for many days but I didnt see the girl. I thought maybe she had travelled until one day that I saw what shocked me. I saw her hugging a guy around a corner not far from my house. I wasn't sure she was the one so I looked again. I realized it was her. I became so sad that all I could think of was why she would do that. To make myself feel better, I told myself that I don't really know her. Deep down, I knew that was a lie. Caroline has taken over me. I now have a target I want to reach before resuming school. While waiting for resumption, I had nothing much to do. So sometimes I play football in front of the compound. I was very skillful in football and this made me popular in secondary school. I was playing ball one sunny afternoon when I kicked the ball so hard, it flew and fell into their compound. I have never entered their compound before but because the ball was expensive( a real leather ball), I had to go in. The gate wasn't locked so I made my way in. After closing the gate, I looked around and to my surprise, I saw her looking at me. I was shocked and embarrassed. My jersey was dirty, I was sweaty. I saw disgust in her eyes. I snubbed that and asked her if she saw any ball come into their compound. She pointed at it and continued with what she was doing. I was angry at myself. I went to where the ball was, picked it and thanked her. She didn't respond. I left there and closed the gate.