First Acquaintance

On Tuesday morning, Preye set out to meet up with his first lecture for the day. Damn, since I have tried to speak with this strange girl in her apartment and her friends have made a conscious effort to ward me off, I trust God wed spend quality time knowing each other someday, Preye thought and smiled. Bike, stop me at the new lecture hall, he told the bike man who wanted to stop him at P.S. He paid for his fare and walked up to the new lecture hall.

Preye saw Paul and Onyx talking at the ground floor of the new lecture hall, and decided to say hi to them before going upstairs in search of the love of his life, since it was obvious that no lecture was holding. As he approached Paul and Onyx, he lost breath when he saw the person sitting next to them.

God, I thank you for creating the opportunity I have been waiting for, Preye said to himself ignoring Paul and Onyx; he sat beside the Charming Queen.

She did not notice him because a pillar of the building blocked her view. Hello, Preye said pushing his head forward. Hi, she responded with a hidden smile. I have been yearning to speak with you, but your securities tend to be too strict with me, he said. When she did not reply, he continued.

I am actually dying to be your friend, but since I could not tell you I decided to allow my embarrassment speak on my behalf. It was not my fault, Queen said and smiled. I know, that is why I did not take it personal Preye said. I am sorry for the embarrassment, said Queen, freely discussing with Preye as if they had been friends all the while.

How am I going to see you again, asked Preye, when he noticed one of Queens friend who embarrassed him few days ago coming to meet them, he decided to hasten his conversation. If you come to my room, you will always find me there, she said. Queen, I could not find it, so I had to buy another one, her friend said, and continued, let us go home.

Is that an order, asked Preye? What is this one saying, the girl asked, and started laughing. Go and call the others, Queen said. Julie are you ready to leave, asked Queen. Not yet, she replied and continued talking with a boy.

How far? Sandy asked. I am just there, Queen replied. Preye, I can see you are busy enjoying yourself, Sandy said and shook hands with him. Sandy, how now, asked Queens friend who just came back from her errand. I am fine, Sandy replied. Shall we? Queens friend and personal security asked? Queen looked at Julie and replied, we shall. They all started walking out. Preye said, I am sure you already know my name, but in case you do not, I am Preye, and i will call on you later in the evening. I am Queen said the girl, who had captivated his mind. Goodbye girls, Preye said to her friends who were leaving with her, but they all laughed and walked on with pretense that they didnt hear what he said. Preye turned and walked back to the new lecture hall, and saw Paul concluding with Onyx who was on her way out of the premises.

Paulo! Preye hailed Paul who was walking back to him after accompanying Onyx to the entrance of the lecture hall. Let us go to the apartment, said Preye. Okay, since there is nothing happening in school, let us go and listen to some Timbaland, Magoo and Missy Elliot tracks, said Paul.

On their way out, they saw their friend Busty. Preye I wanted to go for that girl, but I left her because she behaves strange and since you are my man, there is no stress, said Busty. Anyhow, replied Preye. If you get tired of her fast, I would not be happy with you, Busty told him. No stress, Preye answered, wondering why Busty thought it was possible for him to get tired of somebody that had captivated his heart so much. Has she agreed to go out with you? Busty asked. Are you an investigator? Preye replied. Well, see you some other time he said. Herdsman joined them to their apartment.

On their way to the apartment, Preye wondered how his first welcome visit to the palace will look like and smiled to himself.

Missed Out By a Stone Throw

Later in the evening, Preye asked his friend Ben to accompany him to the palace. Ben, I chatted with Queen, and she told me I was free to visit her at the palace, he said excitedly. Now you are happy and your mind is at rest, Ben said. If you were in my shoes, I think you will be smiling at anyone that offends you, said Preye.

Let us go there, right now, said Preye to Ben who was cleaning his shoes. All through their walk to the palace, Preyes mind was filled with great anticipation for the treat he felt awaited him in the palace. When they approached the palace, they saw Queen walking out of the palace, with a boy holding her hand, as they walked across the road and entered the First Park.

Preye, I suggest we better go back because this is a big embarrassment, Ben said. The best Preye could do was to bend his head in shame and disappointment. If I were in your shoes, I will let her go and never bother myself about her anymore, Ben said. How can she tell you to come, and yet walk out with a boy when she saw you coming to visit her, Ben asked.

Dont worry, let me be the fool and satisfy my heart, said Preye. I will just follow my heart, and anything I see, I will accept, even if it causes me pains, Preye said and resolved to call back later in the night. Let us board a bike home and not bother ourselves entering into the palace, Preye said to Ben, who had suggested they enter the palace and say hi.

Later in the night, Preye returned to the palace alone, and called Queen out for a brief conversation. Your highness, I came to inform you that since today we could not spend time together, I will call back tomorrow evening so we can spend the time we missed today, Preye said. Alright then, I will see you tomorrow Queen said and waved him goodbye.

Accompanied To Dinner

One Wednesday evening Preye and Donalds cousin Victor who came to see how Preye was faring since he left him alone in the apartment, set out to eat in a restaurant close to the palace. Victor, please can we go to the palace to say hi to some friends before we return to union restaurant to eat, Preye said. I hope you are not taking me to meet some people that will disappoint me, Victor said. Men! You need to check out the Queen of the Palace, her charms will force you to bow for her, said Preye. I do not think anybody possess enough charms to make me bow Victor said. They entered the palace, and Preye tapped on Queens door.

Come in, said a soft voice from within. Preye entered into the room with Victor, who stared in wonder at the figure of the queen, which was clad in a black jean and a black sleeveless top. Her neck was graced with a necklace having the pendant of a sharks tooth. Hello girls, Preye said. Please meet my pal Victor. It is nice meeting you, replied the girls who took his hand for a hand shake in turns. Queen just ignored the introduction and proudly made herself comfortable on her throne. Victor meet her highness, Queen who has captivated my mind with her charms, Preye said.

Queen shook hands with Victor and remained silent. Queen, how are you doing? Preye asked. Im doing great? She replied. This girl looks like a Caribbean, Victor whispered, and she is too sweet. Queen, we are going to union, Tola said. We were about going there too, Preye said. Queen can you please accompany your friends and us down to union restaurant? All right let us go, she answered. On their way out they met Paul going into the palace.

Paul, why are you coming now that we are on our way out? Preye asked. Where are you off to? Paul asked. We going to union restaurant replied Tola. They all walked in pairs, Preye and Queen walking in front of Victor and Ruth, while Paul attached himself to Tola, Joan who felt left out, walked slowly behind.

When they got to union, they occupied a table and placed their orders. Guy, please give me rice and plantain, said Preye. I will take the same, Paul said. Give me a bottle of beer, Victor ordered. Ruth, Tula and Joan ordered for soft drinks. Let me have a cold bottle of beer, Queen ordered. Which brand please, the bar tender demanded. Any brand will be fine, Queen said. Preye looked at Queen and saw purity radiating through her. I know she cannot drink that beer. She is only trying to play, and it takes a lively mind to engage in a play like that, maybe if I dig deep enough, I might find a great character in her, Preye thought.

The food and drinks arrived in a tray and after threatening to open the bottle of beer she told the bar tender to return it. I have changed my mind, so I no longer feel like drinking the bottle of beer again, Queen said. Please take it away.

Queen, please take something, Preye said. Dont worry am fine, she answered. A bottle of soft drink will cause no harm to your stomach, Preye persisted. No thanks, she replied.

Excuse me, Joan said feeling left out when she was not in the pair. I will like to talk with that girl sitting close to the bar she said and left.

After a long conversation between Preye and Queen, they decided to leave. Can we leave now, Queen asked the girls, where is Joan? asked Ruth. She will take care of herself replied Tola. They walked up to the entrance of the palace, where the guys bided Queen and her party goodbye.

Confidential Transfer of Gift Items

Preye, are we going to the palace, asked Paul on their way from the house. Of course yes, replied Preye. If there was cash it would not be a bad idea to buy them maybe biscuit and juice, said Victor. An idea occurred to Preye. Since he has money he can buy anything available from the store for Queen, he thought. Let us check this store out, said Preye.

Do you have good biscuits? Preye asked. The only biscuit available is cream crackers, the store girl replied. Victor, do you think this biscuit is too common, asked Preye. It is a good quality biscuit, replied Victor. Let me have the biscuit and that juice over there Preye said. When they got to the palace it was late. Queen in the company of her friends met Preye and Victor outside the palace on their way into the palace. After their discussion, they left Preye who was ashamed to offer what he brought for them, wishing he got them something better. A wild feeling dominated him and he called Queen back and handed the bag containing the biscuit and juice to her.

Will you come tomorrow? Queen asked. I do not think so, replied Preye. Then collect your bag back if you are not coming Queen told him. Who am I to be invited to the palace by her highness, Preye asked. Preye, you are now my friend, Queen replied. He pretended not to hear, as excitement welled up within him to know that he was now her friend. I will call back tomorrow; Preye said and left the palace with victor and Paul.

When we get to the room we will gulp down the juice and biscuit because I am very hungry, said Victor. Is it yours? Preye Asked. It is ours replied Victor. I dropped it with the girls in the palace, said Preye. Let us go and collect it, Victor said. Go and collect something I bought for Queen? You must be from another planet, Preye said. They dropped the topic and went home.

Settled Conscience of Gift Items

On Friday, Preye went to visit his friends somewhere in the Orchard metropolis but met their absence. He decided to go to a fast food joint along the road since he was hungry. He entered and stood in front of the cashier, good evening, please let me have two plates of fried rice and chicken burger and some canned juice, said Preye. You will have to wait for about five minutes the cashier replied. Preye waited with a plate of tasty fiesta, and after he got his orders, he headed for school. When he got to the palace, they were all out except Ruth. This is my only opportunity to make this Ruth girl know how much I esteem Queen.

Preye felt a hand on his left shoulder which brought him back to the present. I have been looking everywhere for you, said Captain Malcolm. I was lost in deep thoughts, said Preye. Captain Martians wants you in his office Malcolm told him. As they walked along, Preye told Malcolm how he was lost in pleasant memories of the past and missed someone he met then.