"Rose, guess who just packed in next door?"
I asked with a blank expression on my face
"Who?" Rose replied with her attention on her nails.
"Can you imagine? Of all people to pack in next door, Paul Martins had to be the one to become my neighbor." Rose continued chewing her gum like I didn't say anything.
"Rose, I am talking to you"
"Come on Stef, is it not high time you get over your fascination with that guy. He is hot so? I am sure every girl within ten foot radius is at his beck and call. He is so rude and arrogant."
I looked at Rose in horror
"Rose I thought you are my friend. I am not fascinated by him. In fact I hate his guts. How can he flaunt his conquests in our faces? and truly he is so ill mannered. But the problem here is that he is now my neighbor. I thought I have escaped him after that humiliating episode at your brother's party."
I was really distressed. At Rose's brother's convocation party, I got myself drunk over being dumped by the guy I was dating and I threw up all over Paul Martins shoes.
He said some crude things that day or imagined him saying something. Whatever! I made it a point of duty to avoid him. Each time we meet we are always at each other's throats, never a meeting point. Now he is my neighbor. How can the universe be so cruel?
Some days later, I was in a cab coming back from a date when I felt my body break out in hives. Oh no! I am allergic to garlic! I told my date as much but apparently he thought I was joking because he made the dinner. Now I am in for a long night. I managed to pay the cab driver before it got worse. Before I could reach my door, my vision blurred, my body was shaking and I fell to the ground. I tried to call Rose, but my hands were too jerky. "Oh God, I can't die now."
Then I saw a face through my hazy vision. It was Paul my arch enemy.
"Wait is that worry I saw in his eyes?"
"I can't believe I am embarrassing myself again before him" My words were so slurred my tongue was swollen.
Before I lost consciousness I heard "Hang in there Stef, you will be fine. Stay with me." Is that Mr arrogant saving my life?
-Victoria Ukpaka