Why did you do it Ruby?

*****†***†**†**†*******

I don't watch tv, please don't ask me why? My inner world is turbulent enough without the demm thing.

So many images on one big screen. But since it has become a standard in society, I don't mind following the crowd, you never know who may come visit you, and wish to see the world of the rabble.

Staring at the black screen gives me solace though… I stare at it till my eyes look for something a little chaotic.

I lay on the three in one couch, and stare at

the whirling ceiling fun… but that too soon felt boring until I dosed off on the couch.

For how long? I didn't know. The phone vibrates, and my eyes flipped open… no ringing tones, I don't care how melodious it sounds.

The feel of a vibrating phone on my skin always makes me feel alive in this reality.

It was Ruby; I checked the time on the top left corner of the screen and it says 09:09pm, a double number, well let's see the mysteries it had in store from the maiden.

"Hello Ruby", I say grudgingly into the phone… "sorry, did I wake you up?" she asked.

"Yes, you did Ruby."

"Sorry I bothered you, let's talk tommo…".

"No Ruby, don't hang up! I am fully awake now!" I said, a little edgy than intended.

"Hey, thanks this morning, I really appreciates it Ruby… and sorry for my reaction in the car afterwards."

"You are a strange guy, Kuga; I guess that's why my curiosity kept me hooked to your wimps". Wimps…

'Spooky, did you hear that?'

'yeah, I think she likes you Kuga'.

'stop dreaming spooky'.

"Hellooo, are you there, Kuga?"

"Yeah Ruby, I think that makes two of us"

I heard rumbling in her background before she came back to the phone.

"Oh really… you mean the feeling is mutual?"

"What feeling Ruby?"

"Oh, I might've misunderstood you," she replied and pursued;

"What do you mean that makes two of us?".

"I mean the strange guy thing. I think you are also strange; I am still trying to figure you out Ruby. To be frank with you, I am not used to people being nice to me."

"That is quite pessimistic, and straight forward," she said, and asked;

"Are you truly the one who wrote the message to me on the tissue paper? And why do I have the feeling that you are two people in one person?".

'Kuga, the lady really struck some nerve ha?… "shut up, spooky".

"What makes you say that, Ruby?"

"I don't know, it's just some kind of gut feeling. And I feel like you are hiding something, not like deliberately, is just like you have this shield covering you sometimes… and you seem to be communicating with someone, even as we speak?".

What? Is the lady a witch or something? What the hell is she talking about?

"I understand what you mean Ruby… and will you believe me if I tell you I don't have the answers you seek, because I am trying to figure this person call myself….

But hey, I think the knife cut two ways. The fact that you sense these things about me, which I can't fathom, only means there are dimensions to you worth exploring."

"Be careful about exploring dimensions of others, when you can't figure your own" she countered.

"I am a sceptic in the super natural though. Let's not walk on the clouds," I said, in an effort to divert from the creepy subject that makes my skin crawl.

"Why did you do it Ruby?"

"Did what?" she asked.

"Hugged me in front of everyone as though we… umm..."

"That is what I am trying to figure out… it was pure instinct. I still can't believe I did that… and the grape juice I shared among you was supposed to be share among I and my friends at breakfast" she said, laughed and sneezed…

"Haha... Rhymz is still going nuts… talk about the devil… excuse me Kuga, let me pick this call and get back to you in a jiffy. Its Rhymz".

"Go ahead ruby".

The line was quite for a while as she put it on hold.

"Helloo Kuga, are you there?"

"Yeah, I am here".

"That was Rhymz on my other line calling to remind me about the grape juice I owe the group... hahaha" she laughed again.

"What is the deal between you two? I mean you and, Rhymz".

"We are dating Kuga…. I really don't know how to grade it yet. But, I think Rhymz is okay".

"What do you mean okay?"

"I mean the guy is not hard to figure, he is easy going, a perfect courtier and a gentleman. Perhaps, the I deal kind of guy in a girl's fantasy…".

"Ah! The dream guy?" I couldn't help but teased.

"You could say that" she replied lively…

"Today I received so many calls and messages from my social media groups. That hug I gave you is going viral, Kuga. I don't know who took a short video and post it on virtually all my group pages.

I am pleading to them to drop it. Personally, I don't have a problem with that; but the bloggers at Wodmax are having a field day with that one, I think you wouldn't like that. That's why I was to see you at the office this afternoon…"

"Don't worry, it will blow away soon enough, and stop trying to stop it from spreading, that will only worsen the situation."

"Ah! I can now breathe. here I was worrying you will get mad" she sighed.

"Don't worry Ruby, I'm good."

"You know, I have to convince Rhymz a thousand times, that there is nothing between us. Maybe tomorrow if we meet...".

"No Ruby, I will not be coming to work tomorrow, or subsequent days that may follow."

"What is going on Kuga?" don't tell me you quit?".

"No Ruby, just some few things I have to straighten out".

"Straighten out? does it has anything to do with me?"

"No Ruby".

"My bad, I was beginning to warm up to this whole idea of seeing you every day at work."

"Be careful what you wish for, lady. As you already know, I am not Mr. nice guy".

"But you surely are a head turner. I saw how the ladies and the other guys stared at you

at the cafeteria".

"No Ruby, it only means folks like to gossip behind my back. they call me all sort of names you know; dumb guy, yahoo, freaky geek, woozy...". her giggles rumble across the line at this comment.

"Oh Kuga, I am going to miss you tomorrow at the office". My heart jolt at the statement.

"Now, you be careful with the way you talk to me lady, some one ever told you about the flip side of jealous nice guys? … please don't make me a target for Rhymz to wreak his vengeance".

"You are so hilarious Kuga…hahaha".

"No Ruby, I am damn serious, because if I found myself in his shoe I probably will act worse. No man can hug my woman and walk away a free man".

The giggles from her end of the line was almost deafening. "Oh, good Lord Kuga. Is that your way of being romantic?

"If you can call it that, perhaps something a little more."

"haha haha… and what is that?" she asked.

"Something not for girls dating nice guys."

This time, her giggles turned to cackles.

"I'm so excited I can't sleep".

"Why is that?"

"You made me laugh so much my stomach aches."

"Oh well, I never thought stomach aches could be exciting…".

"hahahahah… oh Kuga, please stop now, will you? I can't breathe… maa! please get me my inhaler… mummy!".

Oh what have I done? Damm kuga, she is asthmatic "Ruby! Hello… Ruby! Answer me, are you alright?" I asked desperately.

"No she isn't; I am taking her to the hospital" a different female voice answered. That must be her mother, my nemesis.

I could hear myself asking "will she be alright? hospital, which hospital?".

"And who are you?" she asked.

"A colleague at work".

"Rhymz is that you?"

"No its not Rhymz… this is Spooky."

There was a pause at the other end as though she hangs up "spoo… what? sorry… my apologies Sir, but what sort of name is that?".

"sorry ma... it's kuga".

"It's already late… the driver is taking her to Rabwa clinic on 15th avenue, don't worry she will be fine" she encouraged.

"Alright thank you… will be there" I said and hang up. I run into the garage, and removed the tarpaulin covering the black heavy duty Yamaha bike.

Quickly I put on the helmet, turned the ignition, press the starter and it sprung to life.

I rode into the cold night and headed to Rabwa clinic using google map…. I got there in less than twenty minutes.

In my hastiness I run into the clinic still wearing my helmet.

When I reached the reception, the night nurse on duty was busily engaged on her phone typing. She nearly fell out from her seat, when she saw me rush to her desk. I level my questions at her before removing the helmet.

******†****†*****†*******

All this was needless because when I turn around, Ruby was walking out of the female ward accompanied by the mother. They look like identical twins…

My high school crush and nemesis. I was so concern about Ruby I paid her mother no attention.

Instinctively, I closed in on them, and Ruby rushed into my arms. Her skin felt delicately soft and I held her with all the tenderness I could muster, then I heard myself crooned into her ears, "I am sorry babe".

'Oh lord, spooky get out of my head right now, babe! Really spooky'

'kuga come on let's not fight over this, she needs us'.

'okay, but be quite right now…'

"Mr. kuga, is that you? are you kuga?" Ruby's mother asked, then I nodded without releasing Ruby.

"I am Kate, Rubiana's mother, thanks for coming". I nodded again, managing a faint smile.

"Mother you can go with the driver; I will come home with kuga." Ruby said softly, so soft her mother couldn't object.

But she did asked politely, "I thought you are scared of motor bikes?".

"Yes, but not with kuga".Kate smiled and nodded.

This are rear instances I wish I could open my mouth and speak freely, but what if I open it and Ruby laugh at me like her mother did in the past.

No, I will never show it to her. I don't think I can bare the humiliation. It will be very painful, and my fury may turn deadly. No, I will not make the same mistake again.

I exhaled with relief when Kate left with the driver without recognizing me. it's been such a long time.

"kuga, you look different in casual wear", Ruby said and I held her to my chest again.

"And I can't believe you could act this crazy. Like covering all that distance with a motor bike to come and see me."

"Will you stop talking?" I whispered into her ears again. Then we cuddle and nuzzle for a while before walking out into the cold night. It felt so natural, we seem to have known each other forever.

She beamed when she saw the heavy machine, "oh kuga, the bike is so gorgeous and new… you don't seem to ride it often…."

I put on the helmet and gave her a spare helmet. I mounted the bike and she climbed astride behind me, wrapping her arms tight around my waist, leaning on my back with her soft warm body.

Two miles away we reached Ruby's place. And we both regretted it when it was time for us to part ways…

"Nice place you have here" I declared.

"thank you, Kuga."

"Do you mind coming inside for some juice, tea, coffee or something? I want to say thank you in a proper, way" she said.

"You already did, by feeling better. That is all the thank you I truly need. Goodnight Ruby".

"Goodnight Kuga… umm… please wait, remove the helmet let me tell you something" Ruby instructed and drew closer.

When I did remove the helmet, she gave me a peg on the chick, before I put the helmet back on.

"Be careful how you handle me Ruby, I don't want to get use to this".

"I don't know; I can't help it Kuga".

"I probably shouldn't have written a birthday message to you on a tissue paper".

She pout seductively, and said, "don't ever say that Kuga, and don't think I gave you the call that night because of the message. I called out of...I don't know." She paused and asked;

"Do you know why your message interest me among all the romantic messages all the other guys send to me?" I shake my head.

"Because it's been the most unusual, unromantic birthday message I did ever recieve from a total stranger. I guess my curiosity took hold of my better judgement. Amidst all the celebration that night, my mind was wrapped around this one message a mysterious guy from my work place wrote to me on a tissue paper. Sweet Lord a tissue paper… who does that?" she laughs enticingly.

"You are quite intriguing lady. It's getting cold out here".

"Looking for a way to escape ha…Kuga?"

"Goodnight Ruby"

"Goodnight Kuga"