In a lecture hall, Mary sat alone with her book, staring at a page of the book thoughtfully. She sluggishly flip the page to the other and returned to the former almost immediately. She brought out a pen with a white lid, uncovered it and used it to circle a portion of the page she was staring at. She flipped to the next page more relaxed and more willingly with satisfaction. She turned her head towards the back seat, searching for something indeterminate, but she saw nothing, no one but herself. she gently returned her head without wasting much time, she look at her front, but all she could see was chairs and table. She was all alone in the hall. Not only in the hall to be precise, but in almost the entire faculty. What could be heard from the faculty was a faint distance noice coming from an unknown destination.
"Mary, this is way to dangerous you know?" Talking to herself. "Yes I know. I got to take my self out of this environment. But to be candid, what take people away from the faculty so soon is a mystery. How could one explain this in a precise term?"
She stood up, packed her books in one stack and put them away in her bag. "It is high time i left this place for the ghost to wander, less i become one." She made to leave, took few steps and stop. "I have this assignment to submit tomorrow, and sure, my house is obviously not a perfect place for me to do this assignment, I'm sure i won't concentrate." She turned her head over her shoulder and looked at where she was sitting, her phone stared at her and she stared back with her mouth wide opened. "I can't believe i was leaving you behind." She went back to the seat, picked the phone and sat down.
"I guess I'm Lucky. Mary, why can't you stay back and do your assignment?" She talked to herself again. It was like an habit to her, to address herself as though there was a second person around talking to her, especially when she's alone. She wouldn't want to feel lonely, so she would address herself as if someone is there with her.
"After all, you can dine with the ghost today and leave them to their food tomorrow. It would be an honour to them dining with human as well. Let's both enjoy the honour today."
"Not the honour of you dining with a ghost anyway, but the honour of you being my reading partner for today." A voice from outside the hall echoed.
Mary was evidently frightened. She had checked and no man was around, who on earth owns the voice? The ghost? She wouldn't wants to really dine with the ghost. Dining with the ghost was just an exaggeration of her willingness to stay behind in order to finish her assignment in school, why would the ghost take such a light statement so serious?
Her heart was already pounding furiously. She would have love to disappeared if that was possible. Alone in such part of the school at that hour is truly scary. She was in fact a man to stay alone in that area in the first place.
"Are you afraid, won't you read with me? The voice was heard again, now very close to her. As close as the voice was, she could only hear the voice but not recognize it because of the fear in her. Margret came in through the door way at the rear. She could tell Mary was frightened.
"Calm down dear, it's me Margret."
Mary looked at her with a confused reaction. Though happy it wasn't a ghost talking, she was annoyed to have been frightened like that by her friend. She looked at her shabbily, and hissed to her relief.
"You shouldn't do that to people, copy that? That's so inhuman and so much inhumane. Can't actually believe you did this."
"I'm sorry. I don't know it would have such an effect on you. By the way, what are you still doing in school? And why here of all places?"
"Hey, madam detective, one thing at a time. Which one do you want me to answer? Why I'm in school or why here of all places?"
"Well, the two, but you can chose to answer them one after the other."
"As your lostship wishes."
"Hey, I'm not lost, I'm only making an enquiry."
"Then if you're not lost, i assume you already know the answer. By the way, why are you here?"
"You've never answered my question."
"That? That's bye gone. Don't forget, you're not lost."
"Oh, okay, your lostship ma.
"Oh, really? Okay, let assume that balance the equation. I have lot to do. I'm not done with my assignment yet."
"Thesame here. In fact, I'm here for that purpose. I needed somewhere calm so as to be able to think well, but you know, my hostel is off it."
"Well, i don't need to say much about my hostel, you already know." They smiled at one another and get down to business.
"Are you writing about your love story?" Asked Margret without lifting up her head. Mary gave no response. She was deeply connected to what she was writing.
Margret stopped. Gently dropped her pen, and turned her head sluggishly towards Mary and stared at her. She touched her gently without causing much distraction. "Madam writer, I'm talking to you."
"Oh, you're talking to me right? And what's that all about. I can't waste much time discussing, I'm yet to be done with my assignment."
"I know. I never intend taking much of your time either. I know the time is not on our side. But i was just wondering if you will be writing your love story in the essay assignment."
"I'm not sure if i would love to discuss what I'm not sure about. I'm not sure about my feelings, nor is the relationship assuring. You know, you need to be careful with things. Especially what you say to the cosmos. I shouldn't circulate what is not true, nor is it likely to be true."
"But you said you like him."
"Yes, i did. But you know what? I think i made a mistake. I shouldn't have tell anyone about it until it's certain. I'm not even sure if I'm doing the right thing by falling in love with a guy first."
Margret looked at her doub foldedly. Mary was in a pitiable state. And if the guy had seen her in that state, he would have change his mind even if he wanted to say no to her request. Margret couldn't say a thing, she watched her silently as she returned to her assignment without asking her any other question.
A sound was heard outside the hall. It was a faint one at first. Gradually, the sound became clearer. Soon, footstep was heard approaching. It was alarming. No one was expected to cross that lane at that period of the day. It was already around seven in the evening. Margret looked at Mary as she dropped her pen to listen. None of them say a thing. They exchanged glance with the door, then with each other. Mary's heart was already beating fast. Margret was obviously scared as well. They locked at one another's arms vividly panting. The steps suddenly relax, then stopped. It made two step backwards then stopped. The rhythm of their heart beat has risen, anyone passing from the window could easily hear their heart beating if he or she could pay attention. Suddenly, the sound started again, now moving faster than ever towards their direction. They made to hide themselves when they saw victory hastily walking pass the window. They looked at each other and relaxed.
"I can't believe i got myself worked up because of him." Said Mary.
"It's a relief we're safe. But what is he looking for at this late hour, walking so mysteriously?"
"He is the one who could give a better answer to your question. Thank God we are safe, but we can't risk it any longer. I have just the conclusion left to write, i can do that much at home. Let's go, it's too dangerous for us here."
"I guess you're right. We should go."
They packed their books in their bag and walked towards the doorway.
"But why don't you tell him your mind?"
"That's a joke right? How would you expect me to say that to a guy? Someone I've never talked to before."
"Really? Then you should make advances."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you should start with friendship.?
Mary looked at her with a mixed gesture without saying a word. She dropped her head. They walked the remaining part of their way without talking to each other.
