None was compared to the Piccadilly circus that met Amopha at her arrival to the university. Every venue she explored all holding great promises. The eager chattering of young adults, the brisky steps of learned lecturers, the aesthetic rustling of the flora and fauna that blended with the modern hair structures , all contributing to a hope that Amopha kept within her. The rest of her days were occupied with the one registration or the other, taking folders and documents here and there, and answering to the frustrating calls of registrars and non-academic staffs.
On one of registrations, she had trotted to her department, a set of documents held to her arm, her smallish backpack moving to the speed of her hurried pace. She got to her department just in time but was greeted by a long line of freshers like her who were queueing with their own documents. The executives of their department were all seated at the front of the line cross-checking , recording and perforating each of the documents. She sighted an opening in between the lines, this was her opportunity to get into the queue. Just as she wanted to enter the space, she got hit by a firm bod thereby making her fall, her documents and stationary scattering on the floor. In the midst of gasps and pitiful remarks, Amopha felt a towering presence looming over her. Raising her head from pairs of combat strong boots to a set of intense dark eyes, her inferiority complex took the better of her.
"Watch where you're going, blind bat" she heard the guy say as a swift air blew over her. He was gone with his enigmatic superiority and impressive arrogance. Hoarding the mortification from the crowd, Amopha tried picking up her documents herself until she felt another shadow standing above. This time it was not the conceited remark that got to her ears but a soft and tender voice.
"Let me help you" Amopha heard the voice say as a Caucasian lady with blonde curls crunches down beside. Together they were able to arrange the document and stationary back to the way it was.
"Thank you" Amopha said nervously
"I'm Sarah, Sarah Campbell, a sophomore student in this prestigious department" Sarah sniggered ironically placing emphasis on the prestigious.
Amopha didn't know whether she should laugh or not to the joke. Her first encounter with a student landed her on her face that she didn't even have the courage to look up to another one again.
"Amopha Murray. Definitely, I'm a fresher" Amopha said , still trying to look at Sarah
"You say as if you're bound to it. Hope you know you won't be a fresher forever?" Sarah said as Amopha nodded "Chin up, Amopha. Don't you mind Drey"
Amopha raised her head knowing that she was talking about the boy that shoved her
"He can be a jerk sometimes. It's best to just avoid him" Sarah said putting her hand beside her mouth as if to conceal her words "I better be going. If you need anything Amopha, just reach out to me "
Amopha watched her go down the hallway, her light steps rippling after her. In just ten minutes, Amopha had encountered the nicest and most arrogant person in the world at the same time. What was more fascinating was the aura that emitted from this Sarah girl. Maybe it was the way she flipped her curls both recklessly and elegantly, or the way she sashayed; her waist ticking side by side with such sophistication. Maybe it was her pristine facial physiognomy that consisted of her almond eyes, her little curve nose, her freckles and her attractive hue of lips. Amopha knew she had met a golden girl. She knew she couldn't keep up with the trend of this sophisticated savior of her character and shaky disposition, but being a crony of hers was sure to keep her on her feet. She began moving with Sarah even though she had friends with high fashion taste. Girls who allowed gossips about dreamboats to dance on the apex of their tongue, whose train of suitors were nothing less than working class business men who were either single or married with wives they weren't satisfied with. These friends wore the parties and events they attended like the multiple hued wigs on their head and disdained scaling through their academics without sorting lecturers like the tasteless gum they spat away.
Amopha couldn't possibly keep up with them as they had many times cringed at her dull colored outfits or her simple ebony ponytail. She was fine with Sarah as their friendship was already blossoming. At least Sarah had been with her since the first day at the department. She hadn't seen Drey since that encounter until the day she crossed paths with a fluffy dog. She was walking through the school park and this dog had snatched her pen. She chased it down the school gardens until it stopped at a set of strong combat boots. Amopha could suspect less. Her countenance change when the owner of the boots carried the dog still with the pen in this mouth to his face.
"You?" Amopha said sternly as Drey raised the dog up to see her more clearly. He squinted his dark eyes and smirked
"I know you. You're that blind bat from the accounting department"
"Excuse me. You clearly pushed me when I was trying to find a space" Amopha said querulously
"We both know that you bumped into my firm body" Drey said smirking indirectly praising his physique
"And we both know that I'm clearly here for my pen which your dog snatched from me. Speaking of dogs, who brings a dog to campus?"
"Me" Drey said placing the dog on its feet. "Spit it out boy" he said as the dog spat out the pen which was covered in spittle
"Ew. I will not have that pen. You have to get me a new one"
"Your pen is literarily right here. You can just pick it..
"No. You will have to get me a new one" Amopha retorted sharply, her voice wrapping his voice to a halt. She could tell from his visage that he was irked. She watched him move towards her with an easy swagger, taking his time as if the world was moving slower than him. Abruptly he halted in front of her, his tall presence lingering all over her. His dark eyes fixated on hers. She could smell his cologne: it was an alluring mixture of spicy burnt umbers and something wild, she couldn't just tell. Although she could feel the threatening heat from the proximity of his body, she didn't fret. He noticed this as he stared at her trying to decipher her undaunted disposition. Every girl submitted to his every bidding but this girl was too head strung.
"Dare me" he whispered, his voice tingling in her ears but making her unmoved
"Get me a new pen" she said, her visage straight and neutral. She could feel his aggravation spreading all over him like toxic fumes but he sucked them all in when he slipped his hand into his pocket and placed something into her palms. The same swift wind blew over her followed by the frisky barking of the dog. He was gone and all that was left was the customized ball point pen heeft with her. It had a tiny inscription of FV crafted on it.
Maybe it was the stern eyes that concealed a thousand mysteries, or it was the lasting cologne that kept scenting out of the pen that Amopha held. She was at the school's cafeteria. Although, the place was noisy, she couldn't seem to get the previous event out of her mind. Her mind kept projecting images of Drey's strong jaw lines, a pristine straight nose which seemed like a perfect declivity Santa Claus could ride his sleigh on. Sarah has apprised of several brawls he had gotten involved in, his academic escapades, his harem of girlfriends bit yet she still felt there was some mystery to him.
"Amopha" Sarah called jolting Amopha out of her thoughts "I searched through my collections and I found some past questions to help you out" she said sashaying and sitting besides her
"Oh wow. Thanks Sarah" Amopha said bringing the stack of books closer to her. "This would be really helpful"
Amopha opened one and saw a name inscribed at the front
"Natasha Mackenzie" she pronounced " Isn't that one of your friends? Would they be okay with it?"
"Or Nath would be fine. Besides it's not as she or any of my friends actually read these" she said lowering her voice again and placing her hand beside her mouth.
"That's assuring" Amopha said nervously as she began glancing through the books. She became so engrossed in it that she didn't realize when Sarah exclaimed
"Goodness gracious" Sarah said placing her long pink butterfly embellished nails on her chest.
Amopha followed her gaze and sighted a young man striding with light firm steps and a confident gait. His shoulders were so broad, it portrayed long years of experienced labor. His hair wasn't silky and jet black like Drey nor was his eyes intense. His hair was a hybrid of brownish yellow. His eyes were hazel, endearing and innocent. Garbed in a beach shirt and a pair of denim trousers, he made his way through the cafeteria as if he was searching for something.
"Who is that?" Amopha asked
"Only the most gorgeous man in the world. Louis Chandler, former best graduating student and first class graduate from the faculty of Law. Won a lot of cases and ended up to everyone's surprise as one of the youngest judge in the city. He's every girl's dream and of course, Drey's brother" Sarah said at one go. She didn't take a breath nor did she take a break, all was said like she was an AI.
"Wait, that's Drey's brother!" Amopha said bewildered.
"Keep your voice down, he'll hear you. It is said that Drey's father, old man Sheldon Fitzgerald took Louis in when his parents couldn't cater for him. Ever since then, Louis and Drey have been living as brothers. Louis' s Father, Mr. Frazier is actually one of Mr. Fitzgerald company drivers"
"More like a typical Mufasa and Taka story to me. Only this time, I can't tell who's who. Maybe Drey would turn out to be Taka but I can't tell for sure how Louis behaves" Amopha said as Sarah gasped
"He's coming. Quick, how's my hair?" Sarah said flipping her hair to cascade down her shoulders. She dusted imaginary specks from her dress and admired herself with her phone which she used as a mirror.
"You're fine Sarah, don't worry" Amopha said as Sarah smiled, not to her but to Louis whose nervous aura Amopha sensed even before he came in front of their table.
"Hello ladies" Louis said shyly
"Hi" Sarah said, putting on a charming bubbling disposition. Amopha simply smiled trying not to impose.
"Please I'm looking for the administrative block. I don't know if you ladies might know where it's located"
"Oh Mr. Louis, weren't you once a student here? You supposed to still know your way" Sarah teased
"Well actually but pardon me for spending six years away from my alma mater after graduation" Louis said
"Believe me sir, I deeply can't relate for I am still a sophomore"
"Oh wow, what department?"
Sarah rose swiftly but elegantly seeing this as an opportunity to make the conversation longer. "Accounting. One of the most prestigious department in the school"
Amopha stared at Sarah with an eyebrow raised. Her first encounter with Sarah was her ironically placing an emphasis on the 'prestigious' now the 'prestigious' was more grand and edifying.
"Allow me to tell you how this my prestigious department is treating me as I show you to the administrative block ". Sarah said and as if flying, she was already beside Louis, arms locked in his.
Amopha could hear Louis continuing the colloquy as they left
"I love when students are passionate about the course they study. It seems you're one of the good ones in this generation of…
She sighted Drey coming from another part of the cafeteria and bumping towards them. Louis released himself from Sarah, went towards Drey and placed his hands on his shoulders. She watched his mouth and figured he was introducing Drey as his brother. Nevertheless, from Sarah bubbly movement, Amopha could tell she acted like she already knew.
"I know so much about you. Everyone knows so much about you" she said Sarah say as she interlocked her arm back in his and stole him away from Drey who began walking through the cafeteria.
Immediately, she used a book to conceal her visage. When she was sure he was gone, she dropped the book and continued her perusal.