180 days with my crush

Rachel POV

The golden sun shines brightly, casting a glow over the grasses. The breeze feels so soft like a feather and the scent like that of fresh earth and blooming flowers, fills my nostrils. The trees dance gently like it is listening to the beat of a solemn "Bata" drum. This would have been more than beautiful if I'd been out here on a date with a man instead of a picnic with few of my classmates and friends.

Lecture weeks were getting pretty strenuous and hectic as the exam gets closer and the best way to cool it off was for someone to suggest a picnic. Of course, it is a nice distraction but sitting on matted grasses with foods and drinks suits a date rather than a gathering of classmates trying to talk and chat. When Mary suggested that we should attend a few days ago, I was almost grateful. A distraction from my uninteresting life wouldn't be that bad. My love for Aderemi waxed stronger each day. At some point, I told him I'd love to stay in school for sometimes but that didn't dim the light of his love in my heart. The fact that I'm in an unrequited and arranged marriage feels like an heavy weight on my shoulders. I'm in love with a man that will never return my feelings. I sighed, but felt people looking at me and turned my gaze to my classmates

"What?" I asked, oblivious to why I was the centre of their discussion

"Johnson asked why you weren't part of the squad that went for the friendly in Osun state" Fred repeated

"Oh" I muttered

"You seem to be distracted these days" Johnson said

"No, I'm not. Exams aren't for the weak. You fail this qualifying exam, you have regrets" I replied defensively. I've been able to distract myself with reading, unsuccessfully though.

"You should all stop questioning my friend, we came here to have fun and not because of Rachel" Mary came through for me at last and the discussion shifted from me immediately. I was amused at how a few words from Mary could change things in a jiffy.

"We should bring those bottles of juice here and serve everyone" Sarah the nerd said and I made an excuse to go get the bottles. I needed to stay far away from their prying eyes. I was about pouring a bottle into a cup when I felt Mary's hand on my shoulder

"Are you okay? Have you been getting those texts again?" She seems to be genuinely worried but I'm not ready to discuss my loveless life with her at the moment

"No I'm haven't. Do I look like I'm not?" I lied. I've only gotten one more text after the first time. I do not want to be paranoid which is why I've kept it to myself. Who knows, it might be a spam.

"No, you don't but it seems an admirer feels like you are getting distracted" she mocked

"Admirer? You are not talking about John, are you?"

She burst into a snort of laughter. How she could think that Johnson was interested in me is beyond understandable. Johnson is an annoying brat forced to study nursing after three failed attempt to study medicine. Mary must be joking. I returned my attention back to the job at hand with a smile on my face. She definitely knows how to keep you amused

"I think my brother is in love" she muttered

I almost dropped the disposable cup in my hand

"Love?Tommy?" I burst into laughter. It's not so bad that Tommy found someone to love, it's just funny imagining someone who was a player, turns into a lover boy

"How did you know that?"

"I saw him smiling sheepishly while chatting with God- knows- who when he came to see me. It's scary" she squeezed her face in irritation

It must have come as a surprise, seeing her brother falling in love. We both know the kind of person Tommy is. He plays women like guitar strings even though he's not the handsome type. Well, they say the player always falls too hard. Maybe that's the case with him

"Maybe he's just a secret admirer?" I questioned

"Speaking about an admirer, Femi should be here soon" I looked at her like she's grown horns overnight. She just dropped a bombshell and she expects me to be calm?

"Are you crazy? What will he be doing here? Why will he come here? Isn't he supposed to be in his big well furnished hospital?" I have questions to ask this girl. She knows my stand about him and yet, she's still playing a match maker

"Calm down girl, okay? He called to say hello but sounded off so I thought asking him to come here will help him blow off some steam" she tried to explain

"Some steam? What if Aderemi finds out?" I whispered. Femi is a man. A distraction.

"Aderemi doesn't know anyone here" she looked at me like I've lost my mind

"Why are you giving this guy a whole lot of privilege? He doesn't even know what that your disobedient heart is saying"

"He..."

"He what? You are trying to defend him? Grow up Rachel. He married you for his benefit not yours" She was getting too frustrating because this was supposed to be a secret, something only the 3 of us know about, something she can't scream to the whole world about. We both know if this truth gets out, Aderemi will be in trouble

"I'm not trying to defend him. I'm not supposed to be with every guy in the world if I claim to be married" I defended

"You are not? How many people knows that you are married to this guy? Did you sign something I should know about?" My heart jumped from zero to a million In a bit of a second. I can't tell her I signed a prenup contract, can I? Is that why he agreed in the first place?

"I didn't sign anything, Mary"

"Look Rachel, it's okay to love someone. It is okay to help someone. It is okay to be your brother's keeper but definitely not love your neighbor more than yourself" she wrapped her fingers around my wrists, a gesture to make me listen? I don't know.

"He's falling for me, Mary" I looked her, praying inwardly that she believes my lies

"How sure are you?"

"Can you just trust me and stop questioning my decision?"

"I'm not against your relationship, love, I just want you to be fine" She paused and continued

"If he doesn't work out, Femi is a cool guy. My brother vouched for him, and even his personality precede him" As much as I know that she's saying this as someone that cares for me, I can't help but feel sad for rubbing salt on my injury. Femi is a nice guy and has been a friend since we agreed on that, he's just not been someone I saw as a husband prospect.

We heard some murmurs coming from our friends and we both turned our attention to the source of the murmurs. Who will it be if it's not our topic of discussion?

"Rachel, how did you meet this fine man here to see you?" Someone screamed from the gathering

I almost melted