Chapter 9: Last Days
Tuesday after prep, driver dey wait for gate. Last week rain still leave puddle everywhere.
Pei Yan carry Lin Xi enter car before me. She lean for him shoulder, face pale.
He press lips, voice low, worry for eye.
"Xixi just faint. I need carry her go hospital now now."
"Go house by yourself today." Him eye get small guilt as he look me.
He pause, like e wan add,
"...E go dey okay?" Voice soft, near apology.
Driver remind am,
"Mianmian still never well." Man scratch head, look both of us.
"E safe for her to take keke alone for night like this?" Real worry, as person wey sabi street.
Pei Yan frown. "But Lin Xi bad, I no fit wait. If I go find keke now, e go waste time." He tap foot, dey torn between us.
Driver look front seat, open mouth, but I know wetin he wan suggest—make I follow them go hospital. But I no fit watch them together.
I quick talk,
"I go enter danfo, e no bad." I try smile, form brave.
"Una fit go." I wave, turn before dem see my pain.
Pei Yan quick talk, "Text me when you reach house." Voice low, worry dey there.
Driver start car, engine cough, dem waka go.
Ten seconds, car turn, disappear. Taillight vanish.
Soon as I reach house, I open app, buy plane ticket for three days time. Heart dey race as I type detail. E feel like freedom, even if e dey fear.
Front door creak. Wind follow Pei Yan enter, swirl for my leg.
Pei Yan show, shoe leave mud print for tile.
I hold phone, close booking page. No wan make am see.
As I wan go room, he call me. Voice soft, unsure.
I turn. "You need something?" Hand grip doorframe, steady myself.
Pei Yan come near, still get rain and worry for body.
"Why you no message me when you reach house?" Eye sharp, troubled.
"I forget." I shrug, look away.
We stand for half minute, him dey look me with strange eye, but no talk. Silence heavy.
I wan waka pass, Pei Yan grab my wrist, voice serious. Finger warm, grip gentle.
"Me and Lin Xi na just friends." Him eye dey beg make I believe.
"Today na emergency. I for do am for anybody." He loose my wrist, but no step back.
Surprise hold me. Heart skip, then slow. Maybe I still mean something—maybe not.
I wait, then nod calm.
"I know." Voice flat, no emotion.
"I no think too much." I pull hand, waka pass. No look back.
Pei Yan still stand, eye uneasy, lost for words.