LOST WTHOUT MR GENIUS

Chapter two

His statement sapped my hopes and made my heart freeze. "I will be in deep s**t if the old man wakes up before I use his ticket.

Damn it, this sc*m!" I mumbled, biting my lip. "Joanna, do something!" I could feel as if Dave was whispering into my ear and I promptly put my brain at work. " This world isn't for the weak and dull." Dave had always drummed this into my mind and it had stuck there. Maxwell stooped and stretched out his hand to poke on the old man whose ticket I still held in my hand. This flaunted danger on my part!

My heart hammered in my chest and almost jumped out of my mouth. Glad that I was swift to act,

"Stop... it's not healthy, Sir," I mustered the courage to thwart him by seizing his hand, endeavouring to keep my end up, "Consider his age, please! You can clear him later when he's woken up." I pleaded with the softest coaxing and smarmiest voice, rolling my Sapphire eyes at him which significantly overwhelmed his essence- as if I cared!" He was reluctant to decide until my seatmate remarked, "My dear, some fanatics might not consider such vital advice. All they care about is their pockets." A sardonic smile lifted her upper lip as she gave him a sarcastic bashing and drew her eyes outside the window. I felt like hugging her for this boon.

She had spoken the snide remark clearly and concisely in my favour and her stinging words sank in Maxwell's ears. If only she knew my intentions! Feeling provoked, Maxwell's eyes turned furtive while his lips arched in fury. He flicked a contemptuous gaze at her and jeered,

"Grumpy p*g!" He whined, seized my assumed ticket, scanned through it and gave it to me.

"You are clean-beautiful lady!" He said and flashed a slushy gaze at me. Ha! A coy smile lifted my lips. My plan was taking effect! I think this savage had a crush on me. I couldn't care less because he was nothing compared to my Dave, but for my benefit, I had to cosy up to him. He passed his tongue over his thick cracked lips and gave me the eye and then proceeded to the next row.

"Whew!" I sighed in relief, relaxing my thumping heart. I had jumped the huddle but wasn't sure if I could keep on without being discovered.

"So, which part of the city are you going to?" Milly asked me with raised eyebrows trying to make an acquaintance by initiating a conversation.

"Ah…" I was mute and merely smiled bashfully to avoid her question. How was I supposed to answer? I knew no place in the city in particular.

"Ah, I get it. You are paying a visit to some rich relative, huh?" She batted her eyes and showed her pearly teeth in a light smile. She was pretty with a unique chumminess.

"Yeah," I nodded in a charade. Which relative? I knew none there. It wouldn't be the first or last time to lie. I'd be a dupe not to agree with her knowing that if I did otherwise, she would ask more questions that I might not be able to answer and could end up being exposed by my foolishness. Therefore, I was constricted in my speech. I found Milly approachable and lively. As our conversation thrived, I decided to get to know her more. Perhaps she could be of great help- a brick in the unseen future.

"Um, and you- do you stay in the city?" I asked.

"Hmh, for more than twenty years. I'm addicted to city life," Her face brimmed with a smile as she pursued,

"Staying in the city isn't a barrel of smiles, but one has to survive by hook or crook. If you are strong- as hard as a rock, and can easily cope with the challenges, life becomes easier and more interesting…" I kept nodding as she went on with her seamless chatter which I construed as a good orientation about the city life that I was desirous to embrace. Certainly, Milly was clued up with the city and I envied her.

Suddenly, someone tugged on my sleeve and passed me a small folded paper.

"This is yours," said the voice from behind. I received it coolly and as I turned to see the face of the person that had given it to me, I was obstructed by the conductor who stood right behind me facing the opposite direction. Milly bestowed a glance at me and our eyes met.

"I think that rogue wants to take you to bed, shameless cuss!"

She said and pouted.

"Huh!"

"Yes, he won't take his eyes off you. He's shameless. All men are the same- lustful."

"She's being protective like Dave!" The thought made me flash a smile as I opened the small chit and discreetly read the message scribbled on it,

"Hey, great acting, dear J! I am watching you. Be careful!" I quickly clamped it in my fist. My heart froze and I was paled by fear. I could feel sweat trickling down my entire body. The message was cryptic. I almost crawled out of my skin knowing that someone had been watching me. It's as if I was sitting on a time bomb that would soon explode. "Who is it? Joana, you are doomed?" I could hardly guess anyone, but instinctively knew it must be someone who might have seen me use the old man's ticket.

"But- how did he know the initial 'J' on my name? Could they have read it on the hankie? Perhaps…" I pondered, fearing to look behind. Eventually, my body was feverish.

In a moment, there was a sudden commotion behind me that attracted my attention and I jerked. I dared not twist my face because I felt guilty, so I stuck out my ears and listened with intent.

"This is a trained fraudster. That ticket is mine, not his!" claimed someone in an indignant voice,

"Liar! It's mine. I think you must have misplaced yours," countered another. The voice was familiar. For a moment, I felt I heard Dave speak but then presumed that it couldn't be him. He was far away in the village. People often resemble each other in different ways! I was stunned!

"Shut up mother fu**er! Thief!..." There ensued a hot feud.

"Ah-ha! It seems there's a fuss behind us." Reckoned Milly. Of course, I wasn't deaf, not able to hear or understand. She shifted her bottom and focused her gaze behind. I wanted to follow suit but was seized by fear. Sooner than later, it would be my turn. "Perhaps I will be stripped n***d and flogged until I am a dodo." At this thought, I felt uneasy and wiped the cold sweat on my face with a hankie that had Dave's name inscribed on it, which he had gifted to me on the previous valentine's day. The sweet memories of that day soon welled up in my mind and soon my heart was filled with regrets, "Joana, you shouldn't have taken this risk- making a chancy journey with no certain destination, without anyone to lean on. You might never see Dave again. It is foolhardy!" I thought in my heart and shuddered. I yearned to see Dave. Were he with me, he would have comforted me in this difficult moment. Thereupon, I hungered to go back, but it was too late. The bus was now filled with a round of murmurs as the passengers pointed fingers and made judgements on whose ticket Maxwell held in his hand. People are always good at that. The murmurs were shortly rendered inaudible by the sudden ear-splitting barking;

"Shut up both of you!

What evidence do you have to claim this ticket?" It was the rude Maxwell whose voice crackled.

"I had written my telephone number behind it; 0787... You may check if you can, but I am confident that that's my ticket." The presumed owner said with certainty, sounding cranky.

"Let's see..." Maxwell mumbled the digits roughly to confirm.

"Mmm, good!" I heard him say with a perilous chuckle.

"I think his claims are valid." Milly asserted and gave me a cuff on my shoulder.

"The way your crush has flexed his muscles portends trouble. There's a looming danger." She stated candidly and clucked to convey her emotions. When I heard this, my heart streamed with a deluge of fear and I fretted.

"Speak, Mr man, what do you have to say?" Maxwell thumped. The sound of the smacks he gave him made me turn in terror and I saw the leaden face- my Dave!