"Hey baby!" Alisha shouted, hugging her friend from behind.
"I told you several times to stop calling me that," Kaira's voice amused."And don't choke me, please," she added, removing Alisha's hands with a firm voice.
"Be nice, at least to me!" Alisha pouted, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"This is me being nice," Kaira retorted. "You know quite well that your head would have been off your neck already if I were being mean."
"You know that story you posted yesterday..." Alisha began, her voice trailing off.
"Which one?" Kaira asked with curiosity staining her voice.
"The one you posted yesterday... girl, I love it. The one about a psychopath. Maybe it's because you're one," Alisha teased, laughing. But Kaira's face remained serious, her eyes fixed intently on Alisha as if daring her to continue.
"The thing is, ma... I didn't really mean it like that," Alisha said, quickly turning around and starting to run away.
"You'd better wait for me to catch up today," Kaira said, as she chased after Alisha. "I'll fry you!"
"Let's meet in class!" Alisha shouted back, her backpack bouncing behind her as she jumped and dodged Kaira's playful threats.
Kaira and Alisha had been inseparable since childhood. Kaira was slender, tall, and uniquely beautiful, while Alisha had a lovely stature. A softer, curvier figure. They had attended the same school from a young age until college, where they both enrolled at the same time.
Despite her beauty, Kaira's perpetual somber expression had stopped others from approaching her, leaving Alisha as her sole friend. As they entered the lecture theater, they took their seats and pulled out their books. As expected, Kaira rested her head on the table and dozed off. Alisha looked at her with a smile and shrugged.
The lecturer finally dismissed the class after what seems like an eternity, Kaira slept peacefully like a baby, less concern about what went on in the class. Alisha gently tapped her shoulder, waking her up immediately the lecturer left the class.
"Sleepyhead, let's go home, please?" Alisha said with a frown.
"Are we done here?" Kaira asked, still half asleep.
"Yes, we're done. Stand up, I'm starving!" Alisha replied, helping Kaira to her feet.
"Girl, be patient. Let's grab something nice at the restaurant," Kaira suggested, adjusting her backpack.
"I hope you took some notes for me, since you were so attentive throughout the class". Kaira added
"Let's discuss that after we eat," Alisha said hastingly. Her mind solely on the meal.
"Alisha, you know you love food more than me" Kaira teased, and they both walked out of the lecture theater toward the restaurant.
"Never will I do that! You're my one and only," Alisha replied, wrapping her arm around Kaira's shoulders affectionately.
"What should we get? Are snacks enough?" Kaira asked holding her friend's hands.
"Let's get jollof rice," Kaira suggested. They entered the restaurant, and their order was served as soon as they sat down. Alisha's eyes lit up as the enticing dish was placed before them. She savored the flavor and dug in instantly without much ado.
Just as Alisha had eaten halfway through her meal, Kaira's phone rang. She tensed up, her hands shaking visibly as she hesitated to answer it.
"Your dad or mom?" Alisha asked, her eyes on Kaira's as she continued having her jollofrice down her throat
"Mom," Kaira replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's fine, just pick up," Alisha encouraged her with eyes that seems curious of what her mother would say this time around.
Kaira answered the call, her hands still shaking slightly. Before she could even say a word, her mom's voice boomed through the phone.
"Where are you, Kaira?"
"Mom, I'm at a restaurant," Kaira replied, trying to compose herself.
"So, this is how you spend your time? Eating out instead of cooking for yourself? You're just wasting money on unnecessary things," her mom scolded.
"Mom, it's not like that. We had a long day at school today, and..." Kaira tried to explain.
"So what? Can't you cook?" her mom cut her off.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I've just been feeling off lately," Kaira said, unable to compose herself anymore, her voice trembling.
"It might be malaria. Get some antimalarial meds and rest. You'll be fine," her mom said before abruptly hanging up.
Kaira dropped the phone on the table, visibly struggling to hold back tears. Alisha immediately sensed this and patted her back with sincerity on her cute face.
"Let's go home," Alisha suggested, worries mixed with fear written all over her face.
"No, we should finish our food," Kaira replied, though she was barely touching hers.
"Are you sure you'll be fine?" Alisha asked.
"Yes, I'm sure," Kaira said, forcing a smile.
Alisha continued eating, her gaze frequently drifting to Kaira, who was subconsciously playing with her food. Her spoon, making some sort of noise.
"Want me to feed you?" Alisha teased, trying to lighten the mood.
"Don't be silly!" Kaira said, faking a smile.
"Don't give me that smile. Eat, or I'll feed you?" Alisha persisted.
Kaira managed a few bites before pushing her plate away, claiming she'd lost her appetite. As she reached for her purse to pay, Alisha quickly intervened and settled the bill.
Their walk back to the hostel was silent. Upon entering their small room, which housed their kitchen, toilet, and living space, Kaira collapsed onto her bed, fast asleep. Alisha took on the task of preparing dinner and eventually woke Kaira up when it was ready. She couldn't hold herself back while serving their food .
"Girl, I think you should take a break from writing for a while. You haven't been sleeping well lately, and you really need to rest," Alisha said, her voice laced with concern.
"Alright, Mum," Kaira murmured, half-asleep .
"I'm serious, Kaira. I'm not joking. You've been sleeping like this for the past four weeks. It's not healthy," Alisha pressed with concern.
"It's fine. I'll stop, I promise." Kaira said and sat up using her hand to rub her eyes.
"You could've woken me up instead of doing everything yourself," Kaira replied, her voice still heavy with sleep.
"Let's eat. Trust me. You're going to love this" Alisha said and started digging in. Kaira had only eaten few bite when she said,
"Foodie, do you want my food?" She pushed her plate away.
"What's going on, Kaira? You barely touched your food this afternoon, skipped breakfast, and now you're not eating dinner?" Alisha said putting a halt to her food with her mouth spilling out concern.
"Let me just sleep," Kaira replied, her voice weak.
"My love, come on. Eat a little, okay? Or do you want noodles instead?" Alisha suggested, trying to coax her into eating.
"Let's go for noodles then. But finish your food first," Kaira said, her eyes half-closed resting her back against the wall while sitting on the bed.
Alisha quickly finished her meal, almost choking on the last few bites. She gulped down some water and then walked over to a carton of noodles in the corner of the room.
"I'll just grab a pack of noodles or you want two?" she asked, pulling one out waiting for her to respond.
"Are you okay with one?" Alisha asked again, but there was no response.
She turned to look at Kaira and saw that she was fast asleep. Alisha dropped the noodles and quickly went to check on her. She placed her hand on Kaira's forehead and recoiled, realizing she was burning up with fever.
Cold sweat had also broken out on her skin. Alisha gently helped Kaira lie down comfortably and covered her legs. Kaira didn't even move a finger. It was as if she was not aware of the world and it's environs. Alisha grabbed her purse and headed out, determined to find a nearby pharmacy despite the 8:00 PM hour.
Alisha returned with the medications and cooked a pack of noodles. She gently woke Kaira up again, cradling her head in her lap. To her surprise, Kaira remained asleep.
"Kaira, come eat and take your medication." Alisha announced.
"Okay" Kaira murmured.
"Kaira, you need to put something in your stomach. You're burning up with fever," Alisha said her voice dripping with concern.
Kaira slowly sat up, and Alisha began feeding her. Just as she was finishing her meal, Kaira clutched her chest tightly, her expression pained. Alisha's eyes widened in alarm as she dropped the fork.
"What's wrong?" Alisha asked, holding her to her bosom
"I'm having chest tightness," Kaira replied, her breathing labored.
"Oh my God, what am I going to do?" Alisha panicked.
"The meds?" Kaira asked, her voice weak, as she smiled faintly.
Alisha handed over the medication with a skeptical look.
"Is this a joke?" she asked, her eyes pretending to burn with anger.
"Whatever," Kaira replied curtly, gulping down the medication with water.
Kaira stood up afterwards and walked over to Alisha's bag, pulling out a book and sitting down at the reading table. Alisha who had been looking at her, voiced out.
"Don't tell me you want to read instead of resting?" she asked.
"Mum mm" Kaira hummed, a tint of a laugh in her voice. She had always called Alisha mum because she talks like one.
"Don't think you can fool me with that," Alisha said, her tone firm and serious .
"Kaira, you know you need to rest, not overexert yourself."
"I know, Alisha, but I really can't afford to have my grades slip this semester. I don't want to deal with Mom and Dad's lectures," Kaira said concentrating on the book .
"Should I speak to mum and dad on your behalf. We just started this semester for crying out loud.". Alisha said
"Don't even try it. Just be yourself little girl"
"Goodnight then!" Alisha went to bed annoyingly
"Little girl. Are you angry? " She teased in a weak voice but Alisha gave no reply.
Kaira continued reading because she knew Alisha would not reply her anymore.
She screamed in pains and Alisha rose up