My Encounter With Kate - Episode 26

 

I checked my wrist watch it was just  3:25am, I felt my head aching, I was surprised and annoyed that my roomates were making noise at the time of the night, It wasn't more than two hours since I slept, the  noise from people arranging their luggage increased,  the room was well lit, the more I tried going back to bed the more impossible it was, I had to endure.

I rechecked my luggage's and made sure everything was intact and complete, making sure they fit into a single bag, Kunle helped in binding my matrass so I could easily carry it.

When I finished having my bath, I, Kunle and Biodun  took our luggage to the Pentecostal church, it was where it was most safe, we were made to sign and were given a number tag  for identification, we were left with our matrass, both boys and girls littered everywhere, the deadline was to evacuate the hostel latest by 7pm.

The moon was now visible, on my way back to the hostel, I stumbled upon Cynthia a  platoon- mate of mine, she pleaded that I should accompany her to the centre for phone charging, she spoke confident of her PPA , she said so because she was a member of the cultural group which automatically meant she was posted to the state capital. I told her that I expected Lagos, we both shared the good memories we had together before I left her, on my way back I saw Ada, we both greeted and I told her to keep in touch, because we couldn't know what to expect, Ada didn't look happy. 

When I was settled, I lay my matrass on a pavement and leaned on it, trying to get some sleep, from where I was, I had a food view of e erywhere, my eyes were heavy, the atmosphere was tensed, it was still early, there was no parade, I sighted Uddy from a distance, I moved closer and sure  it was her, I expected Kate to be nearby, but I didn't see Kate.

I was doubtful if I should still apologize to Kate or just let it go since she was aware that it was the rainfall that stopped me from taking her out. 

After about five minutes, I went to meet Uddy, she was leaning on the Yusuf shoulder, my attention woke her ...

Me: "Sorry for the disturbance, how are you doing" ** shook hand with Yusuf**

Uddy: "Fine  and you good"

Me: "Good to hear, please where is Kate?"

Uddy: * points*  "she was there a moment ago, just check back in few minutes time"

Me: " alright".......

My eyes were as alert as an owl hunting its prey, I was focused on the direction that Uddy had shown,  Alas Kate walked in slowly, I couldn't see her face clearly, I waited for about five minutes before approaching her, I was anxious, I wanted to see her probably for the last time.... 

Me: " hi"

Kate: "Hello"

Me: "How was your night?"

Kate: "Good"

Me: " I just wanna say my final good bye, I pray destiny bring us back"

Kate: "Hmmn"

Me: "And for yesterday night, I didn't mean to its was because of the rain"

Kate: " you are saying this because you want to fulfill all righteousness" ** hisses**

Me: " Kate! Why would you say something like that? Its too harsh o, I have no point of telling lies, I wanted to, that why I called again, see trust me, I have no point of telling you lies, please believe me"

Kate: "Please its okay, let's forget everything"

Me: "I just want us to leave on a friendly note"

Kate: " I have heard you"

Me: " thanks for your understanding"

Kate was smiling as I cracked some light joke, I went to pick my matrass from where I left it and I brought it to where she was, I placed a chair beside hers and we were gisting so freely like never before, when it was time to submit our mattresses for the collection of a clearance tag, We went together, she was at my front, when I submitted mine, I helped  Kate to carry hers, she was grateful, 

When it was dawn, we were clustered around our platoon officer, it was time to receive our identity card in exchange for the clearance tag, there were rumors around, people exchange contact, I received mine earlier than Kate, she was nervous at first, I had to calm her down till she received hers too.

We were into each other, she told me more about herself, at a time I was surprised and I wanted tempted to ask her while the unexpected friendly  behavior, I saw a different  verison of Kate, it was as if I was in the dream world.  

I left  Kate for a while, I needed to answer nature's call, when I was back,  we continued from where we stopped, she was an amazing person, I did most of the talking and she spoke occasionally, we went to a shade, where we became more comfortable. 

It was already shinning bright early in the morning and the sun was hot, Kate complained of back ache, I tried to calm her down, I gave Kate my phone while she took nice shots of me, the shots were adorable especially the one where I stood beside the fully kitted Corp member statue at the front of the auditorium

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/my-encounter-with-kate

. I request I and Kate take a picture where we were together she declined, it made me really sad, but she was not willing so I gave up.

Kate complained bitterly about her back ache, I offered to help her massage it but she mocked me emphasizing that I had a corrupt motive despite my claim of being a born again Christian. 

As we went to collect Kate phone where she was charging it, we stumbled upon our Platoon commander, Sergeant Friday, we both greeted him, he called Kate aside and spoke to her for about a minute, I felt an instant jealousy, I didn't bother to ask Kate what he discussed with her.

We moved closer to the pavilion, we were in the mist of people, we gisted about the different places that we could be posted and their advantages and disadvantages. It was very debatable, opinion difference was the main thing. I sat beside Kate, we were involved in the discussion, I locked hands with Kate, her hands were soft and mild, I pretended as if I wanted to deflate  pimples on her face and I was sure Kate was comfortable with me.

When the three girls that were beside us went to the Kitchen to collect breakfast, they told us to look after their chairs, a guy came for the empty chairs, he wanted to forcefully take it, I explained that we were in custody of it and that the owners would soon be back, Kate held on to the chair,  It led to the exchange of harsh words, I came with a dispute resolution, I allowed the guy to sit pending till when the owners came back, Kate eyes were wet, she was almost weeping, I consoled her, I wanted to engage in a fight with the guy but I restrained, I just had to compose myself. I console Kate to forget everything and lighten up her mood, she explained that she hate intimidation.

When the owners came back Kate affirmed her claim, it difficult to get  her to the mood before encountering the guy.

When I proposed to share the gospel with Kate, she accepted, it was my way of making her get back to her previous mood, and it  worked, she smiled and nodded in in agreement.

We were then informed to assemble to the parade ground, it was the final event, the governor was to address us, it was tagged the closing ceremony, Kate still complained of the back ache,  I offered to help her carry her bag, she accepted and  was glad, I gave her my waist pouch to hold, it was past one, the sun was very hot, they were side talks and mumurs, anxiety fill the air, Kate was also anxious, I encouraged her to trust God, there was a small gathering of about five people and when I went to enquire, it was confirmed that those that applied for relocation had been approved, I was scared and nervous, Kate noticed it and gave a warm smile, when I tried logging my details, the website was packed, too many people were trying to have access at the same time, I was impatient and couldn't concentrate anymore. 

Kate approached me holding a piece of pie with a bottle and fanta offering to share with me, I just took a sip and thanked her.

When the governor representative gave his final speech, different platoons converged in their respective areas, I exchange Kate's  bag for  my  pouch as a way of relieving the back pain and quickly went to the cyber cafe to check my relocation status.

When I came back, I combed for Kate, I saw her in the corner of the crowd, she stood still, she held her posting letter in her hands, I knew something was wrong, she was almost in tears , she was posted to a secondary school in Olamaboro local government area, which was below  her expectation, I consoled her and told her that everything would be alright.

Many buses  were trooping into the field to convey people to their various local government, I was confident my relocation had worked because I wasn't given a posting letter, but the worry was if it was Lagos.

I accompanied Kate to where her luggage was, it was in the Catholic church, Kate walked like someone who just lost a family member and everything i said to encourage her didn't make sense, she was too crestfallen to speak, I wanted to carry her box for her, she declined, she lifted it on her head not minding the environment, she looked looked a village woman hawking plantain coupled with the way she tied her jacket around her waist. I felt her pain but I was more pained because I will  miss her aura and i was already in love with her.