… Continued from sour love 10.
I had not made any voice call in the past two weeks since Vanessa fell sick. I stared at the screen for a minute before the Gabriel came in my mind. He was my best friend, a neighbour and an highschool classmate. Unfortunately he never made it to university, probably because he spent his second term in hospital back in 2012 when we were busy revising. Our friendship bond was very strong. It was strengthen further after he was discharged from hospital.
(2012)
The school chaplain came to our class immediately the bell for games period was rang. He said I should follow him to his office, which was located behind the staff room. I never questioned because at times he used to call me for bible classes and so I assumed he just wants me to skip my play for a moment with him, exploring Bible.
On entering his office I met the dull and dry eyes of Gabriel, sitting on the visitors chair, holding his bag on his laps. As I smiled and lightened my face to welcome him back,
” Close the door behind you,” the chaplain demanded.
He sat in his usual chair and placed his hands on the table. He raised his head after close to 3 minutes and faced at my friend, ” have you said you trust him?” he asked. I never got any clue.
” yes”, Gabriel replied in a low tone as if he had not taken food for the last 5 days. I knew what it meant to be hospitalized for close to 3 months, probably he was survived by meagre meals from the the nurses. My eyes and my mind was on him until I was disrupted by the husky voice of the chaplain,
“Samuel, today I have called you here for a different mission, which requires you to keep whatever we discuss here today, ”
he started removing his spectacles and slowly places them on the table,
” I understand you are the best friend to Gabriel and you very well know that he has been in hospital since the start of this term. ” I nodded.
He continued, ” Your friend needs you most this time round and I wouldn’t expect you betray him after being friends and home mates for such a long time. You should remain to be his confidant and uphold the trust he bestows unto you. That way, even God’s blessings shall be upon your way, ”
I was puzzled, what am I hearing? Is chaplain high on something to have confused me with someone else? Where is this narratives ending to? As if he had heard my inner question,
” …to cut the long story short, Gabriel was diagnosed with Gonorrhea,”
he paused as I took a deep breath then continued,
“The information is known and should remain as a secret by strictly the 3 of us. Let me not here it outside this room. ” I saw him point the door as he straighted himself from where he sat. I never wanted my eyes to meet those of Gabriel for I thought my eyes could betray me. ” Since your exam is near, I discussed with the parents and we agreed there was no need to stay at home. We still have hopes in your class and remember he is the index one, so in that case I want you to be his roommate. After here, you are going to your dormitory and swap your roommate with him. You’re going to do that, transferring his box and mattress should take less than an hour. From your room, I want you to monitor him, how the adheres to his dose and in case of any change of behavior, you report to me as soon as possible. Are we together?
***
Fortunately his phone went through and I heard his voice answer from the other end,
” Hello Samike, Long time brother ”
He never sounded jovial as the other days. ” Am fine. Just Imagine am coming home —” he cut me short.
“When, you mean today? ” he asked a little bit confused.
“Yes”, I answered as I moved away from the parking lot. He hanged the phone immediately sending a message to my mind. Why was he cutting the call? Was he probably not expecting the news or he simply thought I was joking?
Gabriel was never like this. I attempted to call for the second time, he never picked. The third time, he aborted the call, and just to empathize as I approached the stage, I tried for the fourth time. ” Leave your message after the tone” was the response from Safaricom. I assumed his phone battery might have issues of low charge. I promised to meet him once I reach home, he was my buddy and spent most of my free time with him while at home. He had got a chance to teach in the local school I taught after high school as a BOM teacher.
Why is he aborting my calls?
To be continued…