4. I think I am in love

Abel's POV

   When I said good night to Lyn, I couldn't move my hand to cut the call. It seemed as if my heart came alive again. It kept beating fast but kind of sweet feelings enveloped me. I could feel her joy as I kept my ear hooked to the phone. I could sense that she was as happy as I was. Then she said good night again and cut the call. I wish the phone would just be in my ear like that. I felt as if I was hearing her heartbeat in my room.

     I dropped the phone and chuckled, as the voice in my head came. 

    "Guy what is that? It seems to be happening again. Are you sure you are ready for this?". I responded to myself, "Yeah, let's give it a try but we will tread with caution". I lay there on my bed smiling alone with all the anger and worries forgotten. 

   The next day,  I kept checking my watch to see what the time said. It seemed as if the time was deliberately sluggish. I wish I could make the hands go quicker so I would get to stare at her beautiful face. I would imagine her sitting opposite me all smiles. I was looking forward to seeing her. 

    Once it was a quarter to three, I couldn't wait anymore,  so I went straight to the cafeteria and settled in the back seat so I could watch her while walking in. It got to ten minutes to three but she had not shown. I waited, five minutes too, and she still had not come. I became impatient. I started wondering if she had changed her mind. I kept checking my watch. Then it clocked three but she was nowhere around the vicinity. I couldn't bear it anymore, I picked up my phone to dial her number but changed my mind. 

    In anxiety, I waited for another thirty minutes but she didn't come. I decided to call her. The call went through but she didn't pick up. I called the second and third times, but she still didn't pick up. I became angry as I cautioned myself that I shouldn't fall for any girl again. I should be a man and just have fun. I ended with the conclusion that she stood me up. I became angry with myself for even asking her to meet up in the first place.

    I stood up and started leaving the cafeteria, still very angry. When I got to the exit door, I turned to stare around making sure that she was not there. Then walked out gazing around to make sure that she was not coming in as I was leaving. Unfortunately, there was no sight of her. 

    I went around the rest of the day sadly but hoping that she would call back. After the day's work, I went home in a sad mood. When dinner was served, I couldn't eat well. I kept thinking why she would treat me like that. She didn't even call to apologize. Last night she sounded excited and agreed amicably. I wonder what made her change her mind. I felt so hurt to the extent that my dad noticed. He said,    

     "Come on son, eat your food". He said with concern. 

     I responded that I was not that hungry.  

    "That's the answer they always give". My dad said I didn't understand what he meant so I asked for more light.

    "What do you mean, dad?". 

   "Do you like her so much that you couldn't eat up your food or is it Angela again?". To my surprise, he chuckled and continued eating. 

    I swiftly gazed up at him. I was stunned at first,  but then I shook my head negatively. My dad seemed to know everything most of the time as if he was monitoring people.

     "It wasn't Angela and never will be. How do you know about her?" I asked. 

     "I suspected that someone stood you up but I am sure now that the person is a she". He said with a chuckle. To my astonishment, I asked, 

   "Come on Dad, were you monitoring me?". I asked him seriously. 

    “Not exactly, I happened to be in the monitoring room when engineers were fixing some wires. So I saw that you kept checking time at the cafeteria. At last, you left without meeting the person. Even your expression showed that you are not happy with the outcome". He responded.

     "Yes, I was disappointed. I thought maybe we could, just maybe but I guess I was wrong". As I opened up to my Dad, I felt like crying. 

    "Dad, I hardly know her. I just met her, but I think I am in love". My Dad said,    

    "Come on son, you need to be strong. You need to give it time,  don't jump to conclusions. Don't feel too bad because she didn't show up. Maybe something happened that made it impossible for her to meet up with the date. Have you tried calling her up?". 

     I responded that I had called three times but she didn't pick up. He said,

    "You see, something must have made it impossible for her to meet up with the appointment. So eat your food and call her again". He encouraged me. 

      "I have decided that I will not call her again". I said. 

      "Come on son, if you care about her, give her a chance to explain, okay?".  Then he stood up and left me sitting alone in the dining room. 

    I started wondering what made me think that I had fallen in love all of a sudden. I wondered why I even thought of that. I said to myself that I had to forget about love to avoid getting another heartbreak. I mustered courage and started eating my food. 

    When I finished with my meal, I headed to my room but got a call. I thought it was her at last so I rushed to pick up but it wasn't her. It was my friend Nathan. He wanted to hang out. I picked up my keys and headed out of the house thinking that if I had a bottle or two, I would feel better but I didn't feel any better. 

   I wanted her to call me back and apologize for not meeting up with our agreement. I wanted her to tell me that she was feeling how I was feeling. I kept on making wishes until I fell asleep forgetting all my worries. 

   The next day I woke up and still had my worries with me. I checked my phone for messages or miscalls. There were missed calls and there were no messages but none came from her. 

    "Damn it, "Why is she like this? She should have said no from the onset. Did Angela send her to me? I hope not because if it was what happened, I would not take it likely with both of them". 

     I decided to get her off my mind for good.