Jealous Gore And The Victim

Cafe

“He’s perfect,” she grinned. “You have to give him a chance! You know you want to.”

I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through me. Maybe this was the beginning of something beautiful. Maybe I could let myself feel, let myself love again.

As we made our way back home, the night sky filled with stars, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was changing within me. I was ready to embrace this unexpected twist in my life.

That night, after Aisha had left, I sat on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my heart still fluttering from the day’s events. I picked up my phone, contemplating my next message to Yusuf.

“Thank you for being so understanding,” I typed, my fingers flying over the screen. “I’m not used to this level of honesty. It’s refreshing. I’d like to get to know you better.”

I paused, my heart racing at the thought of what I was about to say next. “How about we meet up for a study session? I could use some help with my math.”

I hit send, holding my breath as I waited for his response.

A few moments later, my phone buzzed again. “I’d love that! How about Saturday? We can meet at the library at 2 PM.”

A giddy feeling washed over me. “Saturday it is! I’m looking forward to it,” I replied, feeling a sense of excitement bubbling within me.

As I set my phone down, I felt a rush of hope. The pain of the past was fading, and with it came the promise of new beginnings. Maybe, just maybe, love was worth the risk after all.

As Saturday approached, my excitement grew, mingling with a touch of nervousness. I spent hours choosing the perfect outfit—something that made me feel confident yet comfortable. I settled on a soft blue sweater that complemented my skin tone and a pair of jeans that fit just right. Aisha insisted on doing my hair, styling it into loose waves that framed my face beautifully.

“Remember, just be yourself,” she reminded me as we stood in front of the mirror. “He already likes you for who you are.”

I nodded, though my stomach fluttered with anticipation and anxiety. What if I stumbled over my words? What if I made a fool of myself? Aisha sensed my worries, and with a reassuring smile, she gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze.

“You’ve got this, Salma. Just relax and enjoy getting to know him.”

Finally, the moment arrived. I grabbed my bag, filled with my math notes and a few snacks, and headed out the door. The sun was shining brightly, a perfect day for a new beginning. As I walked to the library, I felt a mix of hope and trepidation. Would this be the start of something wonderful, or was I just setting myself up for disappointment?

When I arrived at the library, I spotted Yusuf sitting at a table near the back, his curly hair bouncing as he leaned over a textbook. He looked up as I approached, and a smile broke across his face, illuminating the room. My heart raced at the sight of him.

“Hey, you made it!” he said, standing up to greet me. He looked even better in person, wearing a casual t-shirt and jeans that accentuated his tall, lanky frame.

“Of course! I wouldn’t miss it,” I replied, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in my stomach.

We settled into our study session, and I quickly found myself at ease. Yusuf was not only intelligent but also kind and patient as he explained the math concepts I struggled with. Our laughter filled the space around us as we joked and shared stories, the tension of our initial meeting fading away.

“Did you always enjoy math?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“Not really,” he admitted with a chuckle. “I used to dread it, but I found a great tutor who made it fun. Now, I actually like helping others with it.”

“Wow, that’s really great of you,” I said, appreciating his willingness to help. “I wish I had your motivation.”

As we continued, I noticed how easily our conversation flowed. We talked about everything from our favorite books to our families, revealing pieces of ourselves in a way I hadn’t expected. The chemistry between us was undeniable, and with every shared smile, I felt a deeper connection forming.

After an hour of studying, we took a break. “Want to grab a snack?” Yusuf suggested.

“Sure! What do you have in mind?” I asked, eager for a little adventure.

“There’s a café just down the street. They have the best pastries,” he said, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm.

We walked to the café, chatting comfortably as we strolled. The sun was warm, and the world felt vibrant and alive. I couldn’t help but notice how Yusuf’s presence made everything brighter.

Once we settled at a small table, Yusuf ordered us both chocolate croissants and hot chocolate. As we waited, he looked at me, his expression earnest. “I’m really glad we did this, Salma. I was nervous about meeting, but you make it so easy to talk.”

“Same here,” I replied, feeling a warmth spread through me. “I was worried I’d make a fool of myself.”

He laughed lightly. “Trust me, you’re doing great.”

When our order arrived, I took a sip of my hot chocolate, savoring the rich flavor. “This is amazing!” I exclaimed, and Yusuf nodded in agreement.

As we enjoyed our treats, our conversation turned more personal. “What do you want to do after school?” he asked.

“I’m not sure yet,” I admitted. “I have a lot of interests, but I’m leaning towards something in the arts. I love writing and painting. What about you?”

“I’m thinking about studying engineering,” he replied, his passion evident in his voice. “I love building things and solving problems.”

“That sounds awesome! You’d be great at it,” I encouraged, genuinely impressed by his ambition.

The afternoon melted away as we laughed and shared our dreams. I felt like I was floating, lost in the moment, wrapped in the warmth of his company. As we walked back to the library, I knew this was the start of something special.

When we arrived, Yusuf paused at the entrance, looking a bit shy. “Salma, I really enjoyed today. Can we do this again sometime?”

“Absolutely!” I replied, my heart racing with excitement. “I’d love that.”

He smiled, a genuine smile that made my heart flutter. “Great! I’ll text you?”

“Definitely,” I said, feeling the thrill of anticipation.

As we parted ways, I felt a sense of hope and possibility blooming within me. Maybe love was not just a fantasy after all. Maybe it was real, and maybe, just maybe, I was ready to embrace it. My heart had opened even wider, and I couldn’t wait to see where this journey with Yusuf would lead.

The following morning, I received another message from Yusuf, and this time, I woke up on the other side of the bed, and I was feeling irritated as my stomach hurt.

"Hello, beautiful. I can't do much right now, but I will start practicing soon. I want to put up rehearsals so I can write you some good love songs. The book will be written in your name, celebrating the love between us. I plan to drop albums dedicated to every letter of your name. I will write you a love letter and love you even better.

We can meet every day if possible, and I will love you until I lose myself in it. It won't be silent; my wit will shine through it. You can tease me, and I won't take offense," he replied.

"But can you stop already? This whole bunch of flattery is irritating me. How can you claim to love me like this when you can’t stand up for it? You're just behind your keyboard, typing what you found in a love novel," I replied.

"If this sounds like mere blabbing and my words are mischief, then I deserve no joy. But, dear creature of love, let my heart be sad if all this is a lie.

I'm not just behind the keyboard ranting; I’m brave enough to tell your dad. I’ll go to your mom and confess this love. I would tell the whole world if you want me to. I stepped up to you several times, and I hope you remember that. Everything was about reaching you and connecting more with you so I could tell you more, and now I’ve done that," he explained.

"What if I said I am not interested anymore?" I asked.

"It would be a plague to my health, and the only cure is you. I’m not expecting you to love me the same way; I just want you to give me a chance to show you how much I care for you," he replied.

"See? You rhyme! 'How I’m made for your way.' I guess you should become a rapper or a singer, not just a songwriter, so you can keep delivering those rhymes.

Now, if I shut you out, what would you do?" I asked.

"Your love. I must pursue it—learning how to love you, how to show you, and make you proud of me," he said.

"Your language is a bit too fancy. You sound like you watch a lot of love movies and read a lot of love poems."

"You sound and behave very maturely. How old are you?" I asked.

"Thank you for the compliment! I’m 23, and I’ll turn 24 on August 25," he replied.

"Wow, you look younger than your age! But too young to be feeling that way. Where are you studying, and what level are you at?" I asked.

"I’m at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State (FUT Minna). I’m in my final year, studying Computer Engineering, and I’ll be graduating in a few months," he answered.

"That’s interesting! My eldest sister goes there too; she should be in her 400 level by now. What are your plans after school?" I asked.

"To serve the nation, focus on my job, get married, and start a new life," he replied.

"Seriously? Are you kidding me? Marriage?! What do you know about marriage at your age? Do you have a place to keep her? Do you have a job already? This sounds funny," I said.

"Yes, I have a place to keep my wife. My dad has several houses in the city, and I believe he will give me one when the time comes.

I have a job; I work as a software engineer in my dad’s company, and I’m also building my own brand, developing mini-computers for small companies, wholesalers, and retailers to simplify record-keeping," he explained.

"Wow, nice! That means you are productive, well-trained, and focused. What are your relationship goals? What type of woman do you want to marry? How would you raise your family? How many kids do you want, and how would you like a woman to treat you?" I asked.

"The goal is to be happy in the relationship. The type of woman I want to marry is someone like you: intelligent, educated, disciplined, religious, ambitious, well-mannered, respectful, communicative, friendly, kind, honest, presentable, and straightforward," he said.