“I live here. I stay at room 10.” Tina replied. She felt happy, of some sorts, that he lived there too.
He liked the idea too, from the way he reacted.
“That’s amazing then. I stay at room 8.” he answered. He put the keys in his pocket before continuing.
“I just moved in hence the lack of prior contact.” he said.
“I have been here since I resumed.” Tina replied.
“I have an appointment with some people right now. I’ll be back by evening, will you be in?” he asked.
He had gone past her down the stairs. He turned back to see her reply.
“I’m around for the rest of the day. I’m still new here so outings are on a low for now.” Tina replied.
“I’ll come around then. You’ll hear my knock before six.” he answered.
He waved as he went out of the building. Tina heard him unlock a bike by the stand. She couldn’t hear the bike wheels as they rolled away. She shook her head as she went into her room.
What a coincidence.
About two hours later Tina heard a knock on her door. She had forgotten about his promise of showing up and her surprise was evident when she opened the door.
“Oh, Toby.” she said. Her brows were raised and her eyes opened wide.
“You felt I wouldn’t show up?” he asked as he entered her apartment.
His eyes swept around quickly. She saw him note the stack of books beside the shelf. She had brought all her books, necessary and unnecessary, and had been feeling very lazy to arrange them in the shelf. The only books in the shelf were her comics; she read them regularly so they needed to be arranged. Her law textbooks had been bought in school and were on her reading table.
Tina wondered why she was mentally justifying the arrangement of her books. His eyes fleeted past her kitchen door, taking a few seconds to look inside before it went past. When he sat down on the cushion he tested its firmness first. It was almost absentminded the way he did it, his thoroughness in doing things. It was covert but Tina noticed. He had brought two packs of pizza for which Tina was grateful.
“How did you know I was hungry and reluctant get something to eat?” she asked him as she placed a slice of the pepperoni pizza in her mouth.
She watched him. She saw him go into the kitchen and wash his hands. Then he wiped them clean with a paper napkin. He opened the pizza packet and looked closely at the sectors with sprinkled spices on top. Then he picked one and put it in his mouth, tasting the first bite instead of eating. He seemed satisfied before he started eating it well.
“This guy is finicky to the marrow.” Tina thought to herself.
“I didn’t.” he replied her. “I just brought it in case you were hungry. I was and it didn’t seem to be in the spirit of camaraderie to buy something to eat without bringing yours.”
“Thank you, Mr. Big words.” she replied.
“Big words? What big words?” he replied.
He looked puzzled. She saw him raise his gaze as he tried to remember the big word he used.
‘Oh that. It means friendship. It just looks fancy, there’s nothing to it.” he said when he realized the word was “camaraderie”.
They started talking about class and the different behavior of their lecturers. Toby liked Professor Eaden, which was obvious. Tina didn’t have a liking for any particular one, she just wanted to do her best and score great grades.
“So what made you choose to study law?” he asked her.
They had been chatting for a long time. Tina looked up at the clock and saw it was a few minutes past six. Toby had spent three hours talking with her. Tina enjoyed the time with him and he didn’t look like he wanted to leave anytime soon.
“I don’t think I have any particular reason. It appealed to me most of all professions.” she replied.
Toby turned up his mouth at that, his lower lip forming an arch that crossed over his upper lip. The face was funny and she had an urge to laugh. She pushed it down and focused on the seriousness of his tone instead.
“So there wasn’t any striking occurrence, no role model, no encouraging tutor.” he said.
Tina tried to remember if there were any of those things. She couldn’t remember any. She knew she had woken up one day and had wanted to be an attorney. Her dad had been encouraging but Tina imagined that was how most dads were.
“No, nothing of that sort.” she said.
Toby nodded his head when she answered. He looked like he was expecting a different answer.
“Why do you ask?” she asked him.
“I was once told that the decision to be an attorney most other than not is as a result of the direct impact of the justice system. That impact might be positive or negative.” he said.
Tina knew no such impact in her life. Her life was what she regarded as relatively uneventful. She liked it that way.
Toby got up and walked to the other side of her room, where her shelf was. He looked at the comics as she had arranged them, superhero by superhero on the top slab.
“You like comic books a lot. You like superheroes too.” he said, his voice was even. She couldn’t tell if he was impressed or disappointed by her fondness for what was regarded as childish.
“Yes I do. Although I do not have time to catch up as I once did.” she answered.
They had eaten only one pack of pizza. The other pack lay in front of her, untouched. She picked it and walked to the kitchen. She wanted to see the look on his face as he scanned her comics. As if he knew what she was doing he turned away when she got to the kitchen door. She went in, dropped the pack of pizza and was back in her sitting room. He was flipping through one comic when she got there. His expression was like his voice had been, unreadable.
“So what spurred you to study law?” she asked.
“There must have been something for you. You asked me, expecting something to have done it for me, something must have done it for you.” she said.
“Yes.” he answered. “Something did.”
The set of his face, the tight purse of his lips and the edginess in his voice told her not to ask any further. She didn’t.
“I’ll leave soon.’ he said.
Tina wondered if she chased him away with her question.
I can’t be chasing him away, he asked first. He would have expected me to do the same.
“Your question is not chasing me away.” he said looking at her as if he could read her mind on a slate above her head.
Tina was sure she looked shocked at his question. She saw him smile. His smile was gorgeous; it was a smile that made you feel like smiling too.
“I guessed you would think so especially given my reaction to your question.” he said.
“I just feel I have taken enough of your time today. I have been here for long.” he said.
Tina didn’t feel like he had taken any time at all. He had a way of speaking that was direct and without fear. He spoke as if he didn’t think care what the other person felt only for Tina to realize he did care what she thought. He wasn’t rude or overbearing, just direct and not fearing that his feelings might be in conflict with yours. Tina hadn’t met someone like him.
“Stay.” she said, she said it softly. He didn’t hear.
“I’ll check you tomorrow before I leave for class. We can go together.” he said.
Tina said nothing; she only nodded and saw him walk out of her room. His shiny head had caught the light from the bulb, deflecting a few rays into her eyes. She saw her doorknob turn. She wasn’t sure felt about Toby just yet.
CHAPTER 11
TINA AND TOBY
H
e did come the next day, knocking her door a full one hour before Tina planned leaving her room. She wasn’t prepared in the least.
“Hi, Toby.” Tina greeted when she opened the door. He looked manly in a plain deep wine shirt and black pants. Tina had checked herself in the mirror before coming to open the door. She looked horrible. She had just woken up a few minutes
before he came, her hair was still scattered. She was sure she had a couple of sleep lines etched unto her cheek. She expected him to notice given his observational abilities. If he noticed, he didn’t react at all.
She let him in before turning to close her door. She was in her still in her sleeping robe but Toby was dressed for school. She looked at his shirt and pants; there wasn’t any visible crease on them.
“I don’t want to delay you Toby. I am yet to have my bath and clean up.” Tina said, punctuating her words with a yawn.
Toby shook his head. She saw his beard well now, the silhouette the morning light created allowed her to differentiate his beard from his skin. His beard was thick and black, darker than his dark skin. She wondered what it took him to keep it clean and shiny like that.
“I will wait Tina, although only for today.” he answered.
“I will keep myself busy with your comics.” he said.
Tina nodded and walked towards her room. When she got to her door, she looked back at him.
“Our first class is at 10, this is just past 8. Why are you going so early?” she asked.
Toby didn’t turn back from the comic he had opened. She saw the bristles of his beard move with the motion of his lips.
“I go early like this every day Tina. I make sure I am prepared for each class we have in the day. I go to the library to read and keep up.” he answered without lifting his gaze from the comic he was reading.
“Really, wait for me then I’ll be done in a jiffy.” Tina said, rushing into her room.
She came out twenty minutes later in a short gown and flat-heeled shoes. When she came out of her room, Toby lifted his gaze to look at her.
Was that longing I just saw? Or interest?
Toby’s eyes had clouded over the flick of emotion she saw in them. She walked to the mirror beside her shelf and checked herself again. Her make-up was light and accentuated her high brows and round face. She saw Toby stare through the mirror; he was looking at her in the mirror. He didn’t notice her looking at him till it was too obvious. When their gaze met he didn’t drop it instead he walked to her, standing centimeters from her back. He stretched an arm around her and removed a white speck she hadn’t seen from below her lip.
“Now you look perfect.” he said.
She could feel his hot breath on her neck. Every word warming up her hair making them stand as bristles. He moved back after removing the speck, he went to pick his bag. It was then Tina realized she had been holding her breath; she let it out in one big exhalation. Toby was already at the door.
“Let’s go Tina.”
Tina moved to join Toby outside her room before locking it.
They went to the library first, reading up and discussing topics before going to class. They went together to every class, taking up seats beside each other. She saw how he kept rapt attention in class; he hung onto every word that dropped from the lips of the lecturers. His notes were brief and succinct, straight to the point. He took care not to include extraneous information, only the important things. Tina started copying what he wrote in notes by their third class that day, he was so much better at making notes than she was.
After all their classes for the day, Tina was tired and hungry; she was desperate to get home.
“Let’s go home.” she told him, tugging at his arm.
“I want to go see Professor Eaden first. Please come, I won’t take time, I promise.” he replied.
Tina decided to follow him. She had never entered any Professor’s office before that was her first time.
The Professor had a brown panel door with carvings on it. His office could be described as bleached, so much white. His walls were white and shiny. His shelves had been painted white. Only the black wooden table in front of him added a variation of colors. The Professor seemed pleased to see Toby.
“Toby, how are you?” he said.
Toby smiled a broad smile.
“I am fine sir. I came to borrow that textbook sir.” he replied.
“Yes, I guessed so.” the Professor replied, extending a small black hardcover book to Toby. Toby collected it and mumbled thanks.
“Who is this? Your girlfriend?” the Professor asked.
Toby smiled at that, the smile was so broad it was almost a laugh. Tina looked at him, refusing to meet the boring gaze of the Professor.
“She’s also a student of your class sir.” Toby replied.
“What is your name Beautiful?” the Professor asked.
“Tina Jordan sir.” she replied.
The Professor nodded his head and turned back to Toby.
“This one is for keeps Toby. She’s a beauty.” he said.
He had assumed she and Toby were dating. Toby had said nothing to refute it. Tina didn’t know whether to feel pleased or embarrassed. There was so much she could to stop the blush when Toby turned to wink at her before they left the Professor’s office.
They went to Tina’s room when they got back. Tina cooked up potatoes for them to eat. Toby stayed at Tina’s place, reading some law textbooks and jottings he had made in class. Tina wouldn’t have read if he wasn’t there but she didn’t want to look lazy so she read while he did too.
Toby came every day after that. He would come early in the morning before class and they would go everywhere together. They soon became inseparable, a lot of people thought they were dating. Tina started getting more involved in classes; her reading with Toby started paying off. She answered a couple of questions that got her the looks only Toby used to get. Toby would hold her hand and give her a small squeeze when she sat back down after giving another correct answer. Her face would be flushed; she wasn’t used to the extra attention just yet.
One Saturday, Tina had just come back from the gym. Toby made her start visiting the gym as he went every Saturday. When she told him she was going, he just opened his door to a small crack and mumbled an inaudible answer. Tina knew something was up but Toby was a closed book sometimes. He would only give up information when he was ready, her prodding would only bring an angry spark into his eyes, and he wouldn’t talk. When she came back she went to have her bath before going back to Toby’s apartment. She knocked on the door and the door moved in with her first knock. It wasn’t locked. That was strange, Toby never left his door open.
“Toby, Toby, are you in?” Tina said.
She went past his well-arranged sitting room. It was well furnished too, having three armchairs with blue leather skin. There was a centre rug with a short glass table and marbles in a decorative bowl in its center. She went into the kitchen to get a drink of water when she saw him. He was sitting on the floor, his knees raised up to meet his face. He didn’t have a shirt on, and he only wore a small short. He didn’t look up despite the noise she had made coming in and Tina thought she heard a small sniff from him. His arms formed a barrier around his knees on which his head lay.
Tina ran forward to meet him. She knelt beside him and touched his arm with a small ginger movement.
“Toby, what is wrong?” she asked.
“Toby?” she said again. That was when she saw a phone still on beside him. The phone still had an active call even though Toby had dropped it.
“Toby, you have not finished your call.” she said, picking up the phone.
She put the phone by her ear and spoke into it.
“Hello.” she said.
She was replied by the dying tune of a dropped line. The person had dropped the call when he or she heard her voice. It was obvious the call had a lot to do with Toby’s current state.
“Toby, Toby please raise your head.” Tina said.
She pushed his head up and saw his eyes. They were red, swollen and raw from crying. Tina wondered what could cause Toby to break down like this. He had a strong character normally.
“What is wrong Toby?” she said into his ears when his head drooped back into his knees.
He didn’t respond. He had stopped crying but he wasn’t willing to speak. Tina got up an
d went into the next room in his apartment, his bedroom. She saw his bed, laid as she expected it to be. She went back into the kitchen and helped him up.
“Toby, stand up, let’s get you to bed at least.”
She dragged him up by his arms and he stood up. When he was up, he pushed her hand away more as a gesture of independence than defiance. He walked slowly to his room and sat down on his bed. Tina stood in front of him; she expected him to lay down and try to sleep. Instead, she saw tears start dropping again, Tina was confused. She didn’t know what to do. She just sat beside him and wrapped her arms around him.
Toby placed his head on her chest and Tina felt tears drop past her collarbones into the valley between her breasts. She had just worn a small sports brassiere and bum shorts after her shower. She felt underdressed for such close interactions.
She wanted him to sleep. He was not in a state to talk right now even if she wanted him to. So she lay down, taking him down with her. His head had moved off her chest to lay beside hers. She turned to look at him and saw his lips still quivered, she could see them clearly now. They stood out forming a puckered protrusion around which his beards gathered.
Tina watched as the tears stopped dripping after some minutes. A few minutes after that Toby was asleep, his deep breaths reverberating in a drawn-out pattern. Tina felt sleepy too. She didn’t realize when her eyes dropped their lids.
*******
Tina smelt the thick aroma of hot beverage before she opened her eyes. She saw thick white linen; she turned to touch her lamp on her stool.
“That isn’t my stool.” she thought.
She looked to the ceiling.
“Yes, this is my ceiling.” she mumbled.
Then she disagreed, seeing how the triangles near the walls weren’t triangles but rectangles. Her ceiling plates had triangles.
Where am I?
Tina saw a face hover above hers. Her eyesight cleared, it was Toby holding a cup of steaming coffee. She could smell the sweet aroma of the coffee. She remembered what had happened that led her to sleep off; she was surprised to see he was smiling.
After All This Time: What She Wished Page 7