THE PINK CLOUDS🌠🌠
#EPISODE_6
The next day, Richa-rd was sitting in a lecture theatre waiting for his lecturer to come. He had been sitting there for the past hour going throu-gh his book. At about 10 am, the rest of the students started rushing into the lecture theatre indicating the arrival of the lecturer had arrived. He gathered all the books he was re-ading and put them in the bag that was beside him. When he looked up, he unexpectedly saw Janet .
The moment he saw her, he felt so warm in his heart like never before. He kept staring at her and couldn’t take his eyes off her. More than ever, he wanted to speak to her. When she got close to him, she smiled at him and waved. Richa-rd was so happy and didn’t know how he could respond to her. She pas-sed him and proceeded to seats at the extreme of the hall and sat down.
All that Richa-rd wished for was for the lecture to finish so he could talk to her. Throu-ghout during the lecture, he kept turning back to look at her to the extent that the lecturer noticed him.
“Is there anything at the back that we should know of?” The lecturer asked as he walked to Richa-rd who was sitting in the front row.
“No sir,” Richa-rd smiled.
“plea-sed concentrate, this is unlike you,” the lecturer said and turned and walked back to the stage and continued his lecture.
After the lecture was over, all the students started leaving the lecture theatre. Richa-rd was sitting in the front waiting for Janet . She was united with her friends and they talked and laughed as they walked to leave the hall. When they got to where Richa-rd was, he stood up and approached them. “Hey Janet ,” Richa-rd said. “Hey Richa-rd , give me a minute,” she replied and they proceeded to their clas-s repres£ntative who was by standing by the entrance of the lecture theatre. Janet and her friends laughed as their clas-s repres£ntative talked to them. Even though Richa-rd was dying to talk to her, he instantly felt that she nee-ded to be left alone. He proceeded to his bag and took his bag and headed to out of the lecture theatre. As he was walking, his head was filled with words he couldn’t say. Even though he tried to act normal, he was de-eply hurt inside him. He thought the night they shared meant something to her, but the way she acted made him thought otherwise.
As he was about to leave their faculty, he heard someone calling him. He turned and noticed that it was Janet . He st©pped walking and waited for and her friends to get where he was. “You guys should go ahead first,” Janet said to her friends.
“Alright, you should meet us in Auditorium when you are done,” one of the girls said.
“So, how are you doing?” she asked Richa-rd .
“I am doing well I guess,” Richa-rd responded.
“What’s with the long face? Is something wrong?” she asked when she noticed no sign of smile on his face.
“Nothing is wrong, I was told that I long more handsome when I make a long face,” Richa-rd replied.
“Whoever the hell told you that is a terrible lair,” Janet laughed.
When Richa-rd saw her laughing, it made him forgot about short moment of heartbreak he had.
“Oh really? I bet you don’t just don’t want to admit to the fact that I am handsome like that,” Richa-rd smiled. “Alright make that face again let me take your ph0to. You will be a better judge to yourself more than anyone,” Janet said as she brou-ght out her phone.
“That won’t be necessary,” Richa-rd responded.
“By the way, why didn’t I see you yesterday?” Richa-rd continued by asking.
“I caught a terrible cold from the previous rain,” Janet responded.
“Oh that’s bad, I hope you are feeling better now?” Richa-rd asked.
“Much better, I can say I’m healthier than you,” Janet win-ked.
“I hope what you said is true,” Richa-rd smiled back.
“The last I fell sick was almost 4 years ago,” Richa-rd answered.
“Really? As far as could remember, there has never been a day I am completely healthy. I have been sick since my birth,” Janet revealed as she st©pped smiling.
“What has been bothering you?” Richa-rd asked.
“When I was a baby, I took an overdose of drugs that was meant for adults. I miraculously survived as it affected my liver, heart and kidneys,” Janet divulged.
When Richa-rd heard that, he bec@m£ terribly shocked.
“I hope you are all better now?” He asked curiously.
“Actually not,” Janet responded.
“If i were you, I will be very serious with my life. I will avoid anything that will make fall sick, including not been caught in the rain like the day before yesterday,” Richa-rd said.
“Do you mean I shouldn’t have fun just because I am sick? Everyb©dy dies eventually. So why shouldn’t I enjoy while I’m still alive? I know of many people who are healthier than I and they die at a very young age. One should not live a sad life because of fear of death; one should live happily because life is precious. It doesn’t matter how long you live your life, what matters is how happy you live your life,” Janet stated.
Richa-rd bec@m£ speechless and couldn’t say a word. He just kept staring at her like he was seeing her for the first time.
“Are you feeling sorry for me because I’m sick? You better not be, because I hate those who feel sorry for me,” Janet said as
she frown her face.
“I am not feeling sorry for you, I just wish I could be as confident and optimistic as you are,” Richa-rd smiled.
“plea-se don’t say that,” Janet said as she started walking.
“Walk me to auditorium, I will meet my friends there,” Janet continued. “Alright then” Richa-rd said as he started walking beside her.
“I love your clock by the way,” he said referring to the wrist watch she wore. “Clock?” she asked confusingly.
“Yes that thing on your hand that you use for timing,” Richa-rd smiled.
“Oh do you mean my watch?” she asked after looking at her hand.
“No, that’s too big to be considered a wrist watch ” Richa-rd tea-sed.
“What? In case you don’t know, this is the latest wrist watch that ladies wear. But you will never know because you don’t have a girlfriend,” Janet tea-sed back.
“If I have a girlfriend, she won’t wear clocks like this on her hand. Isn’t it heavy for you? I wonder how you even manage to lift your arm with such heavy object attached to it,” Richa-rd said.
“Enough with the sarcasm Richa-rd ,” Janet said after she st©pped laughing.
They got where her friends at the auditorium which was located at the extreme of the faculty.
“Alright Richa-rd , we will talk later,” Janet said as she walked to the auditorium.
“Hey Janet !” Richa-rd called her.
“Yes!” she answered after she st©pped walking and looking back.
“Your clock looks beautiful on you,” Richa-rd smiled.
“Thank you,” she smiled back and continued walking. She entered the auditorium while Richa-rd turned and walked back to their faculty. When he arrived at their faculty, he met Prof. Grace heading to her car. “Good afternoon Ma’am,” he greeted her.
“Good afternoon how are you?” She requested. “I am doing well,” Richa-rd replied.
“Can you do me a favour?” She asked. “Yes I can,” Richa-rd replied confidently.
“I want you to take my car and go Rebecca’s school and pay her school fees. I’ve been caught up with work and I don’t have free a time,” she requested.
“That won’t be a problem,” Richa-rd answered. He received the money from her and her car’s key. He walked happily to the car because he had long wished to drive in cars like that, it was the most expensive car in the whole faculty.
He entered the car and drove to Rebecca’s school. On his way to the school, people kept looking at him as he drove in the , that made wish he owned a car like that. He parked the car in the parking space that made guest at Rebecca’s school. He met an old man who happened to be the security guard of the school at the entrance of the school.
“Good afternoon sir,” he greeted him. “Good afternoon,” the old man replied.
“plea-se sir, I c@m£ to pay the school fees of one of your students,” Richa-rd revealed.
“Alright, go that office over there, they will attend to you,” the old man pointed.
“Thank you sir,” Richa-rd appreciated and walked to the office.
“Good afternoon Sir,” Richa-rd greeted the man he met in the office. “Good afternoon how are you sir?” he replied.
“I am doing quite well sir,” Richa-rd responded.
“How may I help you?” The man asked.
“I come to pay the school fees of one of your students,” Richa-rd responded. “Who is the student?” the man asked. “Her name is Rebecca; she is the daughter of Prof. Grace ,” Richa-rd answered.
“Oh I know her, let me have the money,” the man requested. Richa-rd handed him the money after which he was given a receipt for the payment.
He walked out of the office in an attempt to find Rebecca’s clas-s and give her the receipt. He met a girl and asked her for Rebecca’s which she showed him close to the fence by the right side of the school gate. As he walked to the clas-s, he was reminded of his secondary school. The building was very similar to his previous school. Two clas-ses per building with doors and windows made up of up of metal sheets. The clas-ses were fenced with yellow flowers with a little space provided for entrance. He entered throu-gh the flowers and climbe-d on to the veranda of the clas-s. He suddenly saw Rebecca crying while her teacher was shouting at her.
“This is a very simple thing that you can’t un-derstand. I don’t even know what kind of br@in you have. Even a primary school kid can solve this problem. You are the dumpiest girl I have ever seen, I don’t care who your mother is, what I say is really the fact,” the teacher yelled.
When Richa-rd heard that, he felt an anger he never felt before. He felt as if the blood the in his heart boiling. “With all due respect sir, you don’t deserve to be a teacher,” Richa-rd said and all the students in the clas-s turned and looked at him. “And who the hell are you?” The teacher asked. “I’m supposed to be her guardian,” Richa-rd responded.
“Honestly sir, a good teacher is he who is compas-sionate, supportive and patience to his students. And from the way I see it, you have lost hope in her and no longer patient with her, and good teachers aren’t supposed to be like that. I have gone throu-gh all my junior years receiving insults from my teachers. But when I c@m£ to ss2, I met an amazing teacher that changed my life entirely. I was able to win an award as the best Mathematics student in the whole country because of her. From that moment, I realized that is not only how the teacher teaches you that matters, their behavior towards you and how they teach you also matters. So plea-se sir, don’t lose hope in her, try and change her,” Richa-rd stated.
The teacher remained silent and couldn’t say a word. Rebecca was completely surprised by what Richa-rd did and couldn’t st©p looking at him. “Come on Rebecca, let’s go home. I believe is almost closing time,” Richa-rd said.
Rebecca slowly walked out of the clas-s to where he was standing. He held her and walked with her alongside him. They walked some few steps away from the clas-s when the clas-s bell for the school rang. All students started walking out of their clas-ses. When they saw Richa-rd holding Rebecca’s hand, they started shouting. Richa-rd didn’t care what they rest of the students will say. He walked out of the school to where he parked the car. They entered the car and started the engine of the car. Even after they entered, the rest of her school mates did not st©p looking at them. They kept looking until they drove away. He dropped her home and she turned to leave without saying a word. “Rebecca!” Richa-rd called. She st©pped walking and turned to look at him.
“plea-se allow me to teach you well. I really do believe in you. If I could make in the condition I was before, I believe everyb©dy can,” Richa-rd encouraged.
“Give it everything you have. Your soul, your heart, your pas-sion and whatever it takes. I’m positive that you will make it,” Richa-rd encouraged.
“Thank you for today,” she said and she turned and walk home.
In the evening, Richa-rd went to the Agric garden close to the dormitory and sat there. He brou-ght out his computer and put on his headphone. He laughed as he watched some funny videos online. He was happily enjoying alone. When he looked up, he unexpected caught Rebecca staring at him.
She quic-kly looked away nervously. She was walking with her little brother with his little hand in hers. She wore a red shi-t and a pair of black jeans. Richa-rd wanted to stand up and meet her, but something st©pped him. After she walked to a certain point further away, she still turned and looked at him. She looked extremely beautiful but Richa-rd tried to put away all thoughts away other than her being a secondary school girl.
He continued watching his videos until the place bec@m£ completely dark. He stood up and went to his room and took some biscuits before leaving for his night studies. He went to one of the theatres and sat there alone. He brou-ght out his books and his l@pt©p. He turned it on and started downloading some items before he will start going throu-gh his book.
🎉🎉
Meanwhile, Janet was with her childhood friend who was in her third year studying mechanical engineering. Janet had been with her for the past 3 hours talking and laughing in her room.
“I have to go to our dep@rtment, we have a tutorial organised by the students of our dep@rtment,” said Janet ‘s friend as she stood.
“Oh come on Riskat, why can’t you just relax for today?” Janet said trying to st©p her friend from going.
“I have to go, we are having a test tomorrow. And the lecturer is completely harsh,” Riskat said.
She was a tall girl with an age of about 22 years old and dark in complexion.
“Really? Do you mean you are going to leave me here alone?” Janet asked pretending to be sad.
“Okay, you can come with me,” Riskat as-sured.
“Alright, but I hope the boys in your faculty are not stupid because boys in this school can act crazy,” Janet said.
“Well, I can as-sure you that they are not as crazy as the boys of your dep@rtment,” Riskat laughed.
“What? Let me tell you something. There have been two boys that have been stalking on me since the first day I c@m£ to this school, and they are from your dep@rtment. Even my friends are complaining about the boys from your dep@rtment,” Janet stated.
“Are you going to follow me or you are going to sit there and keep talking?” Riskat asked as she walked out of her room. Janet stood up and ran after her.
They walked for about fifteen minutes before arriving at the dep@rtment of mechanical engineering. When they arrived, Riskat discovered that the tutorial had alre-ady started in a small lecture theatre. They quic-kly entered and sat in the middle because the front sits were alre-ady occu-pied. The tutorial was been has been carried out by five of the best final year students of the dep@rtment.
“Are they lecturers of this dep@rtment?” Janet whispered in Riskat’s ear.
“No they are final year students,” Riskat whispered back.
Riskat brou-ght out her book and write down what was written on the board, while Janet only watched what was going on. One of the boys was looking at her that started to make her feel uncomfortable.
At some point, she wished like getting up and leaving the hall.
But remembering the fact that she c@m£ with her friend made her change her mind.
About an hour later, the tutor c@m£ across a problem he couldn’t solve. He invited the rest of mates to give a try, but they were all unable to solve it.
“I know of someone who can solve this,” Janet said jokingly, and the whole students turned and looked at her.
“Oh really? And who is that person?” asked one of the tutors.
“She is not even from our dep@rtment? Why is she even here?” a girl from the students asked.
“Oh plea-se, we are all here to learn. There is nothing wrong even if she not from this faculty,” the tutor said.
“Who is this person you said can solve this problem?” the tutor asked Janet.
Janet started feeling nervous seeing the seriousness on their faces. She was only kidding when she said and didn’t really mean it. And if she reveals to them that she didn’t mean it, they will think she is childish and it will ruin her image. She began to regret why she even followed Riskat in the first place. Suddenly, the thought of Richa-rd c@m£ to her. She somehow knew that she will be relieved if she mentions Richa-rd because he had the best result in the faculty.
“Is Richa-rd , the guy from the computer engineering dep@rtment,” Janet finally said. The moment she said that all the students there started laughing.
“Isn’t he a 100 level student?” asked one of the students.
“Yes, he is,” Janet responded.
“This is a 300 level problem. Besides, it is easy to get good grades on the 100 level. Once he gets higher, he will know what it means to be in engineering,” one of the tutors said. “Well, you don’t know what he is capable of,” Janet replied.
“plea-se Janet, st©p embarras-sing me,” Riskat whispered to Janet.
“Oh will plea-se get him to come here? We would love to see what he’s capable of,” one of the final year students smiled.
Janet ‘s heartbeat increa-sed. She started regretting why she dragged the conversation up to this point.
“Can you plea-se call him for us?” one of the final year students said again. Even though Janet was nervous, she acted confidently as if she had it all un-der control. She brou-ght out her phone and called Richa-rd .
✔✔✔✔
Richa-rd was busy with a book when he received a call from Janet. He didn’t know she was the one calling because had deleted her number. He picked the call thinking it was one of the regular friends.
Richa-rd : Hello who is this?
Janet: don’t tell me you don’t have my number
Richa-rd : come on I was just kidding.
Janet: Will you plea-se come to hall 104 in the dep@rtment of mechanical engineering?
Richa-rd : I hope is not something serious?
Janet: No is not, but I urgently nee-d you
Richa-rd : Alright, I will be on my way.
.Richa-rd took a taxi went to the faculty of engineering. He entered the faculty and headed to the dep@rtment of mechanical engineering.
He looked around and noticed the lecture theatre Janet describe-d to him. He walked to the lecture theatre and was surprised when he saw a lot of people in it. The hall went silent when Richa-rd entered.
At that moment, Janet ‘s heart was beating fas-ter than ever, thinking that she will encounter the worst embarras-sment she ever had.
“Is this boy you are telling us about?” one of the tutors asked.
“Yes, he is,” Janet replied nervously.
“Alright Mr Richa-rd , your friend said you can solve this problem, will you plea-se take a look at it,” the tutor continued.
“Alright,” Richa-rd said as he climbe-d onto the stage of the lecture theatre.
He walked to the board and peered at the board for a minute before he asked the tutor to hand him a marker. Janet was so relieved when Richa-rd collected the marker from the tutor.
Everyone was surprised when Richa-rd started solving it. As for Janet, she didn’t care if he was solving it wrong or right. The fact that he made an attempt has saved her from the embarras-sment she feared. About five minutes later, Richa-rd was done solving it. The final year students were left completely flabberg@sted.
It was from his solution that they were able to notice the mistakes they have been ma-king.
“But did you attend a di-ploma or college before coming here?” the tutor asked startlingly.
“No, I didn’t,” Richa-rd replied.
“You are really a genius as they describe-d you,” the tutor said.
“Come on let’s go, Richa-rd ,” Janet said. When Richa-rd turned, he noticed her smiling at him the entrance of the lecture theatre.
All the students were silent watching them as they walked out of the lecture theatre.
When they got out, Janet started laughing.
“What really happened?” Richa-rd asked.
“You are my hero today, I don’t know what trouble I could have gotten into if you hadn’t come,” Janet said.
“Really? I’m glad I’ve made your day then,” Richa-rd responded.
“You were really amazing, how comes you are so good at calculations like this?” Janet asked.
“I don’t know, I just find in fun,” Richa-rd responded.
“I wish I could start to see calculations from your perspective,” Janet revealed.
“But you are supposed to love it since you are an engineering student,” Richa-rd urged.
“Well, I have never expected that I will end up studying an engineering course in the university, that’s why I never took Mathematics seriously in my secondary school,” Janet narrated.
“I used to fear mathematics too, but I met a teacher that changed that. I will never forget her for the rest of my life,” Richa-rd told.
“Oh, is she even a woman?” Janet asked.
“Yes she is,” Richa-rd replied. “she taught me how to see mathematics as an interesting game of finding solutions to problems. Since then, I began loving calculations. I look for problems on my own and solve them,” Richa-rd continued.
“That’s wonderful. When I was in secondary school, I wanted to be a medical doctor, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen,” Janet revealed.
“Do you still wish to be a doctor?” Richa-rd asked.
“I don’t think so, it was later that I realized that being a doctor means taking a lot of responsibilities,” Janet revealed.
“What about you? Was being a computer engineer your original dream?” She continued by asking.
“Actually, I didn’t know what to study. I just love anything that has to do with calculation, that’s why one of my friends suggested that I study computer engineering,” Richa-rd revealed.
“Wow! I can see that you trust people easily, to the extend that you to allow them to choose a career for,” Janet said surprisingly.
“Oh yes, I love calculations that’s why I don’t think he made the wrong choice for me,” Richa-rd replied.
They got the gate of their faculty and sat on a rest bench. They talked for more than an hour before Janet said that she is hungry.
“Hungry? Didn’t you eat before coming out?” Richa-rd asked.
“No I didn’t,” She replied.
“You could have eaten something before coming out,” Richa-rd responded.
“Yes, so would you plea-se accompany me to go and eat?” Janet requested.
The moment Richa-rd heard that he bec@m£ shocked because he had no money with at that time.
He bec@m£ confused and couldn’t think of what to say.
“Well I can go alone if it will cause you trouble,” Janet said noticing Richa-rd silence.
“No I will accompany you,” Richa-rd replied and they stood up and made their way to one of the most expensive restaurants in the school.
Richa-rd had only been to such restaurants once. After noticing how expensive their foods were, he decided they are no place for him. Suddenly, an idea c@m£ to Richa-rd . He brou-ght out his phone and texted Paul requesting for help.
They arrived at the restaurant and Janet ordered two plates of fried rice. He looked around in the restaurant and noticed that all students pres£nt were on sort of a d@t£. The tables were all occu-pied by a male and a female student. Seeing himself sitting like that with Janet made him felt like they were also on a d@t£.
The waiter brou-ght the two plates of rice as Janet ordered.
“I would like to have 2 cu-ps of ice cream,” Janet ordered just when the waiter turned to leave.
At that time, Richa-rd wished he could st©p her from ordering, but he made himself looked as if it wasn’t a big deal. About 5 minutes later, the waiter brou-ght their ice creams. They talked and laughed as they to the extent that Richa-rd felt like he was dreaming.
✏✏✏
About 10 minutes later, Paul arrived at the restaurant. When he saw Richa-rd and Janet, he bec@m£ totally amazed.
“Hey Janet,” Paul said as he approached their table.
“Hey!” She said back with a smile on her face.
“Why don’t you join us here?” Richa-rd said and Paul drew an empty chair and sat next to Richa-rd .
“Was she…” before Paul could finish his statement, Richa-rd kicked him on the leg. “Was what?” Janet curiously asked.
Before any of them could reply, the waiter c@m£ with their bill.
“Here, I will pay it,” Paul said as he brou-ght out his wallet.
“What? Who do you think you are to pay for our food?” Janet asked angrily. “plea-se calm down; don’t you know that I’m Richa-rd ‘s best friend?” Paul answered.
“Well, I was the one that brou-ght Richa-rd , so I will handle the bill, not anyone else,” Janet said and she took out her credit card and handed it to the waiter.
After they were done, the three of them stood up and walked out of the restaurant.
Richa-rd and Paul accompanied Janet to Riskat’s dormitory where she will be staying for a while before going to her room.
“Thanks, Richa-rd , I really am grateful for today,” Janet smiled.
“The plea-sure is all mine,” Richa-rd smiled back.
“Alright then, I will see you in the morning,” Janet said as walked into the gate of the dormitory.
“See you too,” Richa-rd replied. Richa-rd and Paul remained still and watched as Janet walked into the fence of the hostel.
“Oh my God Richa-rd , when did it happened?” Paul asked astonishingly.
“The day you left me at that stupid p@rty,” Richa-rd replied.
“Why didn’t you tell me about it?” Paul asked.
“Well, I don’t think is that important,” Richa-rd replied.
“What? What do you mean by that?” Paul asked.
“I think you are misun-derstanding our relationsh!p,” Richa-rd replied.
“What’s there to misun-derstand? You guys went to Love palace. What other proves do I nee-d other than that?” Paul asked.
“We went there because she is hungry,” Richa-rd replied.
“If she is really hungry, why didn’t you go to Mama Toyin’s restaurant?” Paul asked.
“Come on, st©p interpreting this with a different meaning,” Richa-rd insisted.
“Alright, if you say so,” Paul replied
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Janet was sitting by the be-d of Riskat going throu-gh her phone when Riskat returned.
“Hey, when did you get here?” Riskat asked as she walked to Janet.
“A couple of minutes ago,” Janet responded.
“That’s cool, you guys really created a scene at our tutorial today. What was his name again?” Riskat asked.
“Richa-rd ,” Janet smiled.
“He is actually good. Of all the guys you ever had, he is the best,” Janet replied.
“Really?” Janet asked.
“Yes, of course, you guys look cute together,” Riskat win-ked.
“Oh we are just friends,” Janet replied.
“I’ve never seen you going to love palace with any of your male friends,” Riskat laughed.
“Who told you we went there?” Janet asked.
“I saw you with my own eyes,” Riskat replied.
“Well the thing is, we just went there without considering it to be some kind of ro-mantic relationsh!p,” Janet replied.
“That’s good for you then,” Riskat smiled.
She sat beside Janet and they talked at length before Janet announced that she was sleepy.
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#Story_Continues