KELLY'S POV
I was having a chat with Asantewaa when Mari's devastating cry reached my ears. The shrill was deafening, but it caused shivers down my spine. I was forced to rush into the bathroom after Asantewaa. Her body was blocking my view. But I could tell Mari was on the floor, all coiled up.
Asantewaa bent over to check on Mari. I wanted to push her to the side, but I may end up hurting her. I was scared for Mari. She's never been like this before. Even though everyone knew her to be quiet, knowing Mari more closely is like sitting in the VIP room of a night club upstairs; you get to see all the fun effortlessly.
"Girl! What's going on?" Asantewaa asked. She sounded calm unlike me. I was in deep panic. I could not hear Mari's voice. She was not responding to Asantewaa. I rushed back to the room as tears slipped from the corners of my eyes.
"Oh my god!" I cried as I carried my phone to call 911. Someone answered on the first ring, but I could not bring myself to say anything. I was speaking gibberish, my words fumbling as I tried to make a sentence.
"Ma..ma.. she…" but that was it. Asantewaa plucked the phone from my hand as I struggled to cover my mouth whilst letting out a gasp.
"What is wrong with you? Get a grip of yourself girl!"
"She's not dying.. and has certainly not fainted." Asantewaa said. But her words did no justice in assuring me that my friend was fine. My best friend was lying on the bathroom floor unconscious and all Asantewaa could do was maintain calmness. No wonder Mari was barely free with her.
"Don't tell me that! Mari is on the floor unconscious and wet!" I yelled, unable to control my emotions.
Asantewaa looked at me with those judging eyes that quickly broke into softness.
"Get me a towel girl!" she said, sounding like one of those African mother characters in the movies she makes me watch. I turned around in confusion not knowing where to get towel from anymore. Asantewaa clicked her tongue disapprovingly, walked towards Mari's bunk and took the towel hung at the top of it. Then she walked straight back into the bathroom where Mari was. I followed after her, all shaken. Heaven knows I'd never be like Asantewaa. She has everything put together. She walks calmly in the storm unfazed like a god, I'd never compare.
She slowly pulls Mari up. I could tell from her clattering teeth and her vibrating body that she was cold. I rushed back to find the hair dryer I was using to dry mine while talking to Asantewaa just before Mari's shrill cry. She looked pale like she fell off a cliff and has only been discovered ages after. Well…. How do I even explain that, but she did not look well to the eyes at all.
Asantewaa made her sit in front of the vanity mirror. While she helped Mari towel her body, I moved to dry her hair. To be honest, Mari has the softest of hair I have ever felt. It's softness makes you want to rest your face on it. It's as black as the night and its blackness shines like the stars. She's beautiful with a perfect set of white teeth that has a little opening. Her eyes are grey mixed with gold rings. She looks unreal. And most people have come to believe she wears contact. But she doesn't. However, Mari hates attention, so when they ask her if it is contact lens, she nods her head affirmatively.
"Please be fast with her hair so you can do yours. Let us hurry and leave," Asantewaa said to me, bringing me out of my thoughts. I can't believe I was fancying Mari again. Well, it's not something anyone can help. I just hate the fact that she always has a man to be with. Not that they'd be in a serious relationship. She just always have a man she can f*ck. Perhaps it is the reason I was going to tell her to accept Professor Dan's proposal. Sex as far as I know has always been easy for Mari. She was always quick to get it done. It makes me wonder why she refuses Dan. I question her principles but can't say anything to her. I am afraid I'd hurt her. She's the only real friend I've come to have. A friend turned sister, I could say.
"Will you be able to stay by yourself?" Asantewaa's voice broke the quiet in the room yet again. Mari nodded. I doubt she was in the mood to say anything. But it got me pissed. I abruptly placed the hair dryer on her hand asking her to take over. She didn't even lift her head to look at me. She didn't say a word.
"Mari, can't you say something?" I voiced out, finally breaking my own silence after the emotional trauma I had faced when I saw Mari on the bathroom floor with water raining down on her tiny body.
She looked up at me, her face stone cold. At first I thought she looked amused, but it seemed she was being nonchalant. Her eyes suddenly felt like they were piercing my soul and ripping out my inner secrets. It made me look away.
"It is fine if you don't feel like saying anything. I guess I was just worried for nothing," I said to her. But she didn't answer. Instead she dropped the hair dryer and stood up from the chair where Asantewaa had placed her. She mouthed a "thank you", picked a comb and started combing her hair. I felt like pulling her back to demand an explanation for what had happened. But I was never going to get any, even if I try. But that's Mari… sometimes she can be cruel.
"Girl, if you don't dress up so we go, we'll both be missing out on our presentation."
"I am not ready to feed my people with unworthy explanations," Asantewaa's words brought me back to the focal point. I should be preparing for my last performance as a student. Perhaps, my last performance as an undergraduate. Because I definitely have plans to do my master's as well as PhD. I had no option but to wipe Mari off my mind for the time being so I could prepare for my presentation. I felt excited for me. But I also feel sorry for Mari. She's probably the only one not graduating with us.