||TAMIA||

The week unjustly dragged along but here we are, in a matatu entering the Nyeri Town stage. I look outside the window to see the town full of figures with different school uniforms. Seemingly, almost every high school was breaking for midterm today.

A giddy feeling fills my heart when I think of Joe being amongst the students aimlessly or perhaps purposely wandering the busy town. I've been looking forward to seeing him so much I almost lacked enough concentration to study for the midterm exams.

The driver stops at the SPG stage. Sheraw and I wait for a few passengers to alight before we do as we are seated at the back. When I told her about the idea, she was head in first for it. That made me excited. Not only because we will be spending time together along with our guys.

But it is also because I will be getting a chance to experience one of those hangouts my classmates continuously talk about. Hangouts that needless to mention are for the chosen few. Well, when going home or coming back to school, my classmates have prior plans to hang out together on that D-day.

The plans involve them meeting at a particular town or city and then having some fun together. Sometimes they even include friends from other schools who mostly happen to be boys.

Then later at school, we are told about them in damn full detail. At least now, for the first time in my entire high school life which is ending in a few months, I'll live it and get a story to tell too.

Upon alighting, a warm and homey atmosphere blankets me. It awakens inside me, a heavy nostalgic feeling of home where I'll be showing up late than usual.

I hope mom will not make a fuss about it. Although I don't doubt her questioning me even for a second. That she definitely will. Perhaps not verbally but mentally.

Thinking about facing my parents after all I've done is making me feel fearful and somewhat guilty. Of course, they don't know anything about my spiraling life but my conscience is pretty much alive. Silently tormenting me.

"So, this is the famous Nyeri," I hear Sheraw say more to herself than me.

I push the tormenting thoughts to the back of my mind and set my attention on her. She scrutinizes the surrounding. Cars are honking all over while their drivers drive them in, through and out of the stage.

Touts are shouting 'beba beba', a major saying meant to call upon passengers to board their vehicles. Hawkers are shimmying through the parked matatus selling their commodities.

Other busybodies are moving around heading towards their calling or causes. Idlers are busy chatting and laughing about life and its accompanying tales. These are among the majority in this town.

Then, of course, petty thieves are lurking in the shadows. All alert, waiting for the right moment to pounce on an unsuspecting victim. Con men and women too. Recently, they have become quite a festering problem.

"Have you never been to Nyeri before?" I ask her.

"Nope," she shakes her head as she continues to thoroughly check out the place.

Perhaps she is committing it to memory.

"Welcome then," I say with a smile. "Too bad I'll start showing you around by making a stop at the loo first."

She chuckles. I failed to go to the washrooms back in school. I had to suffer the whole ride to town, holding in the pee before I messed myself up.

"It is okay. It's not like we are going to stay there for a long while anyway," she tells me.

I nod in agreement before we start towards the town market washrooms. I lead the way with Sheraw walking beside me. The walk there isn't a smooth one. With every second that passes, we either get knocked aside by a moving body or stepped on our feet by people behind us.

It's annoying but I've gotten used to it. With the matatus taking up the majority of the space, the remaining pathways are prone to overcrowding. And with overcrowding comes a lot of frustrations. People can be pretty annoying.

Especially when someone feels entitled to greet me and then insult me if I give no response to their greetings. Stupid zinjanthropus. Nobody told them to greet strangers in the first place. So they have no right to insult me or feel offended for assuming them. Nkt!

About three minutes later, we get to the northern market entrance. A few feet away from it, there is a stinking public toilet. That one never gets cleaned. I hate to imagine the kind of mess it usually is in. It's disgusting. Ignoring that disturbing thought and the stink, we walk into the busy groceries market.

At the washrooms entrance, I pay a ten to the lady charging for the services. She then hands me a few pieces of tissue and I proceed inside with Sheraw following behind me. I hand her my backpack and walk into one of the sparkling clean washrooms.

Their cleanliness is the major reason I love them. They have paid workers who regularly clean them. Precisely, every time someone leaves a washroom. Anyway, I finish up business quickly and walk out. I wash my hands and then take my backpack from Sheraw.

"I'm going to buy an apple. I've seen a bunch that's really mouth-watering," she says as we walk out of the washrooms.

"Let's go get one for you then," I say, letting her lead the way to the stand she saw the apples.

We pass by several vendors, assuming their call unto us to buy from them until we get to the one Sheraw wants. Truly, the green and red apples neatly arranged are mouth-watering. I can already feel the crunchy feeling on my teeth upon biting them and their sweet juice dripping inside my mouth.

"You have quite an eye," I tell Sheraw as she scrutinizes the apples, trying to figure out which one she will take.

It's hard to choose when all of them look so flawless and mouth-watering. I'm tempted to buy one too. A green apple. I love the red ones but I love the green ones more.

"Ugh, it's so ha rd to choose," she groans taking five of them.

The lady selling them smiles. That will be a hundred and fifty. Oh, the profits.

"I'm taking one too," I say, taking one of the green apples.

"Don't. We will share mine," Sheraw says, taking the apple from my hand and returning it.

"You have all red apples. I love them but I prefer the green ones mostly, "I tell her.

"That's an easy job," she says. She takes two red apples out of her bunch. "Choose two."

I want to argue about her paying for them but she points at me with a hard look, telling me to keep the words to myself and to choose the apples like a good girl. I scowl at her but take them anyway. She then pays with a five hundred note. After she gets the change, we start walking out of the market.

"What time is it?" she asks as she puts two apples in her bag and keeps one.

I check the time on my wristwatch. Damn.

"It's nine-twenty and thank you for the apples," I say.

We were released late than usual today. That was eight am instead of six-thirty am. Though it's because the captains had to issue everyone with their new duties. Form fours now no longer have duties in school. The only one left is class cleaning, which we shall be doing at intervals and in groups of six.

The groups will be formulated according to our sitting positions. For instance, June, Claire, Sheraw, Janet, Sheryl and I annoyingly make one group. I hate to know that I'll be working with Claire and that June.

"Oh, man. We still have about an hour and a half," she grumbles.

"That will be quite the wait," I sigh heavily.

"It would be nice if we had phones. We'd have already known where they are and vice versa," she huffs.

"Let us not talk about phones," I mumble.

Thinking about phones is giving me fear and anxiety. It is also making me feel guilty and tormented about what I'll tell Joe when he asks for his phone. I can't escape him today. He will ask for it and will be expecting me to provide it.

"Ah, shit. I forgot. What are you going to tell him?" she asks in concern.

"I'll have no choice but to lie that I forgot it," I silently say, hating that thought.

We get to a public tap area where we wash our apples. I put one inside my backpack despite it rippling with droplets of water. Although I put it in the pocket without books.

"Make it believable then, baby girl. He still can't know that our life is going down really badly," she says and I nod in understanding.

"Anyway, I haven't seen a single guy from SPB. Probably they haven't arrived yet," she adds.

"I haven't too. But they could still be around," I say. "We haven't explored the town to read enough logos."

Sometimes identifying a boy's school is a task since most of them have similar uniforms. That is black material trousers and white shirts. The ties could be considered a helping piece but several schools share the same colours and material designs. Thus we just result into reading the school logos on the breast pockets of the boys' shirts, sweaters and blazers to get the school we want.

"What do you think? Should we wander around hoping to bump into them or should we just wait for our meeting time and get a place to chill?" she asks me as we step out of the market through the western entrance slash exit.

"I'm cool with both. So, you choose," I tell her, stopping beside the entrance.

"I think I would love to get a place to chill. An hour and a half aren't that long. We can wait," she says.

"Ladies, do you want to take your weight measurements?" a young guy asks from behind us. Sheraw and I turn and grant him our attention.

"It costs just a ten for your accurate weight in kilograms," he adds.

"Do you want to?" I ask Sheraw.

"Well, it has been a minute since I took my weight measurements," she says.

"Try it. You might have added or worse dropped a few kilograms," I teasingly say.

"I should have a little more. I've been eating quite a lot," she defends making me smile. "But you first."

"Alright," I say, handing her my backpack.

I step on the smart weight machine and wait for it to calculate my weight.

"Fifty-one," the weight guy says.

"I've maintained," I say, stepping down with a pleased and satisfied smile.

I take my backpack and Sheraw's too so that she can take her turn.

"Forty-nine point seven," the weight guy reads Sheraw's weight.

"Added a few grams," she says with a pleased smile.

"You just need a few more and get to fifty," the guy says. "But make sure it doesn't drop from the current measurement."

I hand a twenty to the guy, paying for both me and Sheraw. She scowls at me for doing so and I shrug unapologetically. It's her time to shut up and be a good girl.

"V~Girl," I hear a husky and heartwarming voice call my name just as Sheraw takes back her backpack from my hand.

My heartbeat shoots up with excitement knowing its owner as my eyes rise to meet him. Damn, he is standing just about two meters away looking damn great despite his outfit being a school uniform and very handsome. My K~Prince. He gives me a sexy look laced with a lopsided smile. I smile back at him, checking him out.

His blinding white shirt is tucked inside his neat black trousers. His tie is too long and loose on the top where the first two of his shirt buttons are unbuttoned. He has no backpack except for a small bag that would pass for a camera bag. The legend himself needs no books for revision over the midterm break.

I run into his masculine arms and he embraces all of me warmly and affectionately despite the backpack on my back. A moment later, I feel his head dip before he places a warm kiss on the crook of my neck that leaves goosebumps in its wake. I smile before retreating and looking into his drugging eyes.

"I have been looking forward to such a day when I would finally see you outside school gates," he says.

I've been looking forward to that too so much. It feels freeing when we are meeting out here. Nothing much can stop us. Moreover, we don't feel as if we are completely imprisoned. Well, we may have a few restrictions but at least we have the power to influence most of them. For instance, our parents in one way or the other.

"Where we have some freedom?" I ask with a smile.

"Yes," he nods in agreement. "At least we don't have to worry too much about getting caught in the first place."

"Yes, we don't," I agree in a low tone, ignoring the painful memory of the boardroom where we realized our night escapades had been discovered.

He turns to Sheraw who is clinging to Kel's arms with pleasure and genuine happiness.

"Hi, Sheraw," he greets her, taking her hand and pulling her into a hug.

I hug Kel too. He's a lot taller so I have to tiptoe even more than I usually do with Joe.

"Thank goodness you guys found us," Sheraw chirps. "We were about to get a place to chill while we waited for you."

"Be thankful you hadn't dispersed from this area. Else it would have been hard to find you guys," Kel says. "We might as well have decided to just chill while we waited on you."

"Nyeri isn't that big of a place not to find someone unlike the crowded and vast Nairobi," I state.

In a synchronized movement, all of them look at me as if I'm crazy. Then it hits me. None of them has actually been to Nyeri before. I wonder what places they visit if not one of the famous towns in the country.

Then again, it is understandable. Because for me too, if it weren't for the few school trips and maybe my aunt's wedding, I wouldn't have visited Nairobi.

I would only be looking forward to seeing it when joining campus. I've already decided that I want to join a campus that's around the capital after high school.

"That's because you know the place. Probably better than the back of your hand," Joe points out and I roll my eyes with a smile.

"Can we get a place less busy with moving bodies?" Sheraw asks.

"For sure," Kel tells her while Joe and I nod in agreement.

Joe takes my hand in his as we walk towards a corridor less busy across the market entrance. In the corridor, we stop in front of a closed M-Pesa shop. Joe snatches the apple I'm almost finishing and takes a bite.

"Can I have it all?" He asks and I nod without hesitation. "Thanks. It is sweet."

"Sweeter than my mouth?" I rise on my toes and ask him in a whisper.

"Maybe," he teases and I poke his abs. Of course, he doesn't feel anything.

"That is an insult," I grumble, making him chuckle.

"But it wasn't definite. I said maybe," he retorts. "Because I want to taste it again and confirm that it is indeed sweeter than the apple itself."

"Please," I flip him off. In response, he smiles wickedly. "What? You want to do it in public?"

"If you are up for it," he says with a careless shrug.

I would love to turn some faces and gain their attention but I am not sure that would work in my favour for so many reasons. For one, when I said we still have restrictions, I meant some things such as our uniforms. They are a marker for students when in public places.

One mistake and one could land themselves in trouble with their school disciplinary panel. The uniforms might be similar for several schools but you never know who is watching keenly. There is always someone who is watching. Sometimes it doesn't even matter how much you hide. I've learnt that the hard way.

"You are a daring devil," I say and he chuckles.

"Yoh," Kel calls for our attention.

"Since we can't keep on standing here forever. Why don't we get a place to chill?" he asks as he dumps his school blazer inside Sheraw's backpack.

He too didn't carry a damn backpack. He carried a bag smaller than Joe's. I wonder if it even has any book let alone books inside it.

"Do you have any books in that bag?" I ask Joe instead.

"Just two and a ballpoint. Those are enough. Because let's be honest, no one goes home for midterm to study. The break is for relaxation," he responds.

"It's true but as a fourth former--" he interrupts me before I can finish my point.

"I'll not pretend to be a focused student," he shakes his head in refusal making me chuckle.

"Wow, okay," I say, nodding in understanding.

"Like you," he teases, checking out my backpack on my back.

"Don't exaggerate. It only has a few books," I groan.

"So long as you are not sure how many they are, it still screams 'focused student' and you can't tell me otherwise," he drawls.

"Jerk!" I grumble.

"About that chilling place," Kel reminds us.

Guiltily, Joe and I smile at each other. Oops! We forgot that we have them with us and went on about ourselves.

"I'm not sure I'm pretty familiar with a majority of cool chilling points that you guys would love," I say.

"How do you know which ones we love? Or are you stereotyping again?" Joe asks with a knowing smile.

"I think I am. But don't you guys love spots like a PlayStation spot, a movies base, a pool table spot or something closer to that?" I ask.

"Maybe. But we could also love chilling at parks," Kel says.

"Babe, let us not lie to each other. We both know which places are better," Sheraw tells him.

"You don't know of any movie base?" Joe asks. "Well, my flash drive needs a new collection."

"Mine too," Kel says.

"I think I do know several but I've only been to one of them. I went there once with some of my friends," I respond.

"You don't get movies at all or do you have a movie shop at home?" Sheraw asks in wonder making me smile.

"I have a cousin who gets them for me all the time. But lately, with him being on campus, I haven't been getting any. I do try sometimes to get them but only when I am not very busy. Well, it's complicated if I start explaining," I tell her.

At home, sometimes I barely get time to watch. I'm always busy with something. It could be at the farm, grazing, doing house chores and so much more. Although when I get time, I borrow movies from some of my friends and watch them. There is also a shopping centre at home that supplies them. If not those two options, I download them from an illegal sight my cousin showed me.

"It's okay, baby love," Joe says with a soft tone, taking my hand in his again. "Just show us the way."

"Alright," I smile.

We step on the busy road going uptown. The movie shop is somewhere along it. Joe doesn't let go of my hand. The gesture makes me feel proud and great. He doesn't care who sees, who judges or whoever gives a damn. Inwardly, I smile. I also feel like I could make him stop and kiss him. To hell with the consequences.

"I missed you," he softly says, disrupting my dangerous trail of thought. "How were your exams?"

"Not that bad," I respond. "I was eager to do and finish them so that I could come and see you. I missed you so much."

"Damn, it feels so good knowing that I have become the centre of your life," he says with a cocky smile.

"Stop being cocky because I don't like it," I tell him.

"Ouch! That hurts, baby love," he says, feigning pain.

"I don't like it because it's not healthy, K~Prince. At the centre should be me and my studies right now," I explain.

"But who is Joe Danson Karanja?" He asks with a cocky smile. Again. "I have selfishly claimed the seat. And I am not apologetic."

"Your pride cannot allow you to be anyway," I retort and he shrugs with an unapologetic smile.

"Tell me, what genre of movies do you love watching?" he asks as we step on the curb, away from the busy road.

"Fantasy, mystery, comedies, dramas and of course, romance. Although, lately I've been watching horrors. Our entertainment sessions have been all about horror movies. They say it's exciting when watching horror as a crowd."

"I'm not a fan of horrors but they do have an exciting thrill that keeps one on toes," Joe says.

"I thought after watching them I'd have nightmares as people say but I think it all depends on the person, "I comment.

"You are not afraid then," he tells me.

"Of horrors maybe. But I am afraid of so many things," I mumble.

Things like the bleak future I'm seeing ahead of me. Things like him getting utterly mad at me for lying and for failing to keep his phone for him well. Things like losing each other amidst the quagmire I feel we have fallen into despite him not knowing it.

"Like what?" he curiously asks as we walk into the darkish building with the movie shop.

The darkish building is made up of two apartment-like buildings facing each other and are connected by a translucent roof above. A roof that is not even helping light up the central hallway down here.

Something that the people here seem as if they don't care about. Otherwise, they would have invested in better lighting. The movie shop is at the corner next to the stairwell. An even darker place.

"This place has an underground vibe," Kel comments.

Mentally, I thank him for changing topics. I don't think I have the strength to discuss my fears with Joe at the moment.

"I couldn't agree more," Joe says. "But it seems cool."

"Yeah," Kel agrees.

We get to the movie shop on the corner. It's lit with neon blue lighting. Damn, people in this building hate bright light. I'm not surprised though since it was also the same last time I came here. Instead of entering first, I let Joe do that.

He walks in with me following closely behind him. Behind three monitors and a booming sound system sits a young guy with a dark complexion and dreadlocks on his head. He raises his head from one of the screens and looks at us.

"Hello, man," he greets Joe standing and shaking his hand with a loud clap you'd think they know each other.

As for me, he politely shakes my hand before repeating the same loud clap with Kel. I frown at Joe.

"What is it, baby love?" he asks in concern.

"Do you guys know him?" I ask.

"Nope. It's just how these movie guys are," he responds.

"Not all. The one from home doesn't do that with people he doesn't know," I argue and he smiles.

"Then maybe he's just a social person," he tells me.

"That's too social," I counter.

"Baby love, don't sweat it," he smiles before turning his attention to the social guy.

"How can I help you?" he asks us.

"A few movies. How much will it cost for a flash?" Joe asks.

"Not much. Perhaps a hundred and something for a couple of movies. Want the list?" he asks, taking back his seat.

"Yes, please," Joe says.

The social guy gets a couple of printed-out and laminated lists and hands them to both Kel and Joe.

"Those include all the recent movies and series," he tells them.

We then proceed to take a seat at the booth-like black leather seat. I remove my backpack and place it on the floor before sitting in the corner. Joe sits next to me. Then Kel follows and lastly Sheraw on the other corner of the seat. For a moment, Joe concentrates on the list before he turns to look at me.

"I've watched at least a majority of the action movies and series on these lists. Maybe I should do crime this time," he says, checking out my face. I check him out too for a long moment.

"I think the genre suits you," I blurt out when I feel as if the air is growing too thick with sexual energy.

I've been dying to kiss Joe's lips again. I know he too wants to kiss mine. With this neon lightning and the makeshift secrecy in the corner of the seat, I feel compelled to do it. Perhaps he feels so too.

As if to make it somewhat clear or complicated, he wounds his arm over my shoulder and uses his head to block my face from view by others or anyone entering the movie shop.

"Why do you think crime suits me?" he asks, staring at my lips.

"Because you are a criminal. I mean, you do sneak in an out of school to see a girl and that is a major crime," I respond, momentarily staring at his lips.

I feel his hand cup and squeeze my breast over my blouse. I nearly whimper at how good it feels. He smiles nastily at me prompting me to stare at his lips longingly. He squeezes again, calling for my attention. I lock his gaze with mine. His eyes are full of hunger, probably reflecting mine.

"Are you wearing a pushup bra?" he asks in a low and husky tone.

"No," I respond in a whisper. "Just a normal bra. Why?"

"Damn. Your boobs are nicely firm and feel good to the touch," he whispers, nearly on my lips.

"Oh," I mumble.

I'm speechless. It feels damn good and I bet it would feel awesome with the blouse and bra off. I would probably get turned on so badly making me a horny mess.

Sometime this week before we started our midterm exams, Sheraw and I talked about these sexual things. She knows quite a bit from experience and she filled me in on a few things pertaining them.

"You do agree with me, right?" he asks with a crooked smile.

I respond to him by closing the inch distance between our lips. In less than two seconds, he is sweeping his tongue slowly and seductively on my lips. I feel goosebumps rise on my skin as my mouth opens up for him.

His lips, in a slow and torturing manner, take mine. I cup his face in my hand, making sure to keep his cover as we silently, slowly and deeply devour each other's lips. A moment later he retreats and whispers in my ear...