BEHIND THE WALLS

Episode2

Carlos got to his room and stood by the door.

"It's been three years yow! The room is still the same though" he said and moved to sit on the bed.

His mom kept cleaning the room for him knowing that he was going to come home any day.

He took off his boots and threw himself on the bed staring at the ceiling.

"Annaya... she's still so beautiful. She's moved on though" he said and turned over.

He recalled the first time he met her.

It was at the barracks of the army and everyone thought that she was lost.

That was three years ago.

She looked stranded and didn't know where to go.

Some of the soldiers had started to tease her already.

Who would go to the barracks dressed so... so sexy!

She was in a white, short, fitting dress with a silver bag hanging on her shoulder.

"I want to join the army" she said and the soldiers burst laughing.

Carlos was standing at a distance and got curious as to what was making the others laugh.

He left whatever he was doing to went there.

"Whats up guys?" Asked Carlos and then Annaya came in contact with his eyes.

The same beautiful eyes.

That was the same way she looked at him.

With curious eyes.

Carlos couldn't forget it at all.

She was his first love but seems like the girl had moved on.

Carlos brushed the thought at took some rest.

He was later woken up by a knock on the door.

It was his mom, with a tray of delicious lunch she had prepared.

"Mom, you could've just called me down" he said receiving his mom in the room.

"It's okay dear. I know you are tired. Just have your meal, rest abit more and then you can join us for supper" said his mom and was about to leave but he held her arm.

"Sit down for abit mom. I'm not that lazy. I'll have my lunch and then join you at the garden. I just want to ask, how has Maya been living? Does she hate me for leaving for so long?" Asked Carlos

"Maliya? Hate you? No way! She might just be a little angry, but she will forget about it immediately she sees you tomorrow. That girl has been talking about you all through her holidays at home. Whenever she argues with your father, she'll simply mention you and your dad would stay mute" Mrs David said and laughed along with her son.

"I've missed her alot mom. I really don't know how to make it up to her" said Carlos

"Seems you just missed your sister alone" said Mrs David joking around.

"No mom. I missed all of you. I've missed Maya, you, dad and An..." and Carlos realised he was talking too much.

"And who? Annie or Ann? Or is it Anniella?" Asked his mom and Carlos smiled shyly.

"I knew there must be a girl. Who is she? Where is she from?" Asked Mrs David curiously

"Maybe you know her too well mom. Bye mom I need to take me lunch before it gets cold" carlos said and took her mom out of the room.

"You are kicking me out now?" His mom asked at the door

"Bye mom" Carlos said and closed the door.

He then smiled foolishly as if he had just fallen in love for the first time again.

After having his meal, he went down to the garden.

"Where is dad?" He asked immediately he got down.

"He went to play Ludo with your uncle. He will be back early today since you are here" said Mrs David plucking some flowers.

"Let me help you with those" said Carlos wanting to take the flowers but Mrs David took them away.

"I'm plucking them for her" said Mrs David and pointed towards the end of the house where some chrysanthemums grew.

And behold, Annaya was down there trying to trim the dried ones.

"Annaya!" Carlos said loudly and Annaya quickly stood up.

"Carlos" she said standing up and there was mud on her face.

Looking at her in mud, Carlos recalled her first training at the army academy.

He was actually his trainer after she successfully joined them.

Her first training was so hectic for her.

They went jogging and she was left behind until it began to rain.

She was almost back to the academy when she slipped on mad and fell down.

Her whole face was covered with mud and she looked so silly.

She was the last person to arrive at the canteen and because of the mud all over, Carlos didn't allow her in.

She was to clean herself up, but she was too hungry to listen to him.

She pushed him off and rushed in to pick food.

She wiped her hands on the muddy clothes, used abit of her serviette on her lips and began eating with all the mud all over her.

It was funny watching her in such a situation and Carlos couldn't help but laugh.

Thinking about it, he laughed again.

This time, he laughed even harder.

"Do you two know each other? Why are you laughing?" Asked Carlos's mom and then he realised he was laughing.

Annaya was again curious about his laugh and gave him that look again.

Seeing that, Carlos couldn't hold his laugh.

"Mama Maya, is there poop on my face?" Asked Annaya trying to touch her face but ended up applying more mud on her face.

"Not poop dear. There is mud on your face. Gentlemen don't laugh, they instead help the damsel in distress" said Mrs David to both of them.

"Damsel in distress? Not this one mom. She eats mud" he said and kept laughing.

That was when Annaya recalled what was making him laugh.

"I didn't eat mud. I used a spoon to eat and I wiped my hands" Annaya said angrily.

"Yeah right. Wiped them on your muddy clothes. You look pretty on mud though. Your mud style is cool" he said and laughed again as he took out a pipe, turned on the tap and walked towards her.

"Don't make me say what you did too Carlos!" Annaya was getting angry

"Sorry ma'am" Carlos said and poured water for her to wash her face and hands.

"I meant what I said though. I've missed you" he whispered to her and it was as if Mrs David didn't exist anymore.

She decided to just sit and watch the show.

"Is the girl Annaya?" She wondered and stayed silent.

Annaya silently washed her face without saying anything.

"Did you move on?" Carlos asked and Annaya looked at him

"Does it matter Carlos?" Asked Annaya in anger

"It matters Naya. It matters because I still... I never stopped..." Carlos said but hesitated.

"The word is love and then you comes last" Mrs David who had gotten closer said and smiled.

"Mom! You are here!" Carlos said

"I never left. You just created your own world here. Now tell me, how long have you both known each other?" Asked Mrs David

"You can just question him alone mama Maliya" said Annaya and left quickly after picking up the flowers.

"Dad needs me to play Ludo. Bye mom" said Carlos and escaped too.

"Don't forget you live here son" said Mrs David in a smile.

Carlos was quick enough to get to Annaya before she reached her house.

"Naya" he called out and caught her hand.

"What is it Carlos?" Annaya asked shaking off her hand.

"Naya, I still love you. I'm sorry I left. But we all know why I left. I've always loved you Naya. I never left you" he said

"Carlos, I don't want to talk about this. Please just go back" said Annaya and wanted to go but Carlos hugged her tight from behind.

"I love you Naya. I said I would be back for you and here I am. I never left you" he said and there was silence for a while.

"Carlos I can sue you for s****l harassment" she said and he moved from the hug.

But she didn't expect him to turn her over and kiss her.

"Is that enough for you to sue me or should I do more?" He said and wanted to kiss her again but she quickly ran off.

"She's never changed and I know she still loves me. I will get you back Naya. My Naya" he said and smiled.

He wanted to go back in but then remembered his mother was going to question him so he just went out.

He came back late in the night just to find that his father had just gotten home and was drunk.

As his mom took care of her husband, Carlos grabbed his supper and walked to his room.

"Goodnight mom" he said and went to his room.

Early the next morning, he made sure to get up before his mom and left a note at the fridge.

"I'm going to visit Maya. I'll send your greetings to her" the note read.

Carlos didn't know where Maliya's school was so he sat outside Annaya's house and waited for her to come out so they could go together.