The Moment I Met You (Chapter 446)

 By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

Celine arrived class after going to the dining for breakfast. She kept her look causal by wearing black jeans, a Dior navy blazer, matching flats and a Chanel scarf, which she later removed once she set down her rucksack and pulled out her notebook. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

  ‘You’re still working on your Economics 101 project?’ Maximo asked Celine.

 Celine rolled her eyes at him. ‘We have no business, do we?’               

Maximo pulled a face.                                                                                   

‘You’ll ruin your handsome face if you keep doing that.’                    

‘Really?’ Maximo chuckled, closing his laptop. He was a handsome young man with blonde hair and blue eyes.                                            

‘Have you finished yours?’                                                                                 

Maximo pretended to get something he needed out of his rucksack. It was a box of chocolate that he finally took out from his bag.            

‘Can’t you answer me?’Celine frowned at him.                                               

‘You started it, so why should I answer you,’ he said, pushing his open notebook towards her. Celine flipped through it and saw that Maximo was almost done. ‘What about you?’                                                             

‘Not yet. I might tell my boyfriend in the Chemistry department to write it for me.’         

‘That’s cheating.’                                                                                                

Celine shook her head. ‘No, it’s called being ahead of schedule.’                                                                                                            

 Maximo tore open the chocolate and took a big bite. ‘Anyway, all I should think about now is this delicious chocolate.’ Then, he nudged his notebook towards Celine again. ‘You can read mine and do some editing or maybe copy and paste.’                                                                          

Celine wanted to laugh but held it in. ‘I’d rather not write at all,’ Celine said.                                                                                                                    

‘You will want to fail then?’ Maximo asked.                                         

Celine shook her head. Her ponytail brushed Maximo’s neck. ‘I have never failed in my life, Maximo. I have always been a straight A student, just so you know.’ She pulled out her pen and began to write.                           Maximo leaned over and watched her write. ‘You have the finest writing in the world.’                                                                                            

‘Failed pick-up line…’Celine rolled her eyes at him.                              

 ‘Maybe you should meet me at the library later…we could be study buddy. What do you think?’ Maximo took a big bite of his chocolate. 

 ‘If I need to go to the library my boyfriend will go with me.’                    

‘That’s okay. We can all go together. I stay at Holworthy Hall…’                                                                                                                  

 ‘I don’t care about your dorm. I will think about what you just said.’                                          

 Maximo nodded. Celine looked down at her desk.

 

On the morning of the party, Louisa came to the living room with a large tray and set out the tea things on the centre table. A plate was piled with slices of bread, and a plate of biscuits.                                              

Chioma lifted her cup of tea to her lips, taking a sip, she said, ‘Mum, Michael really wants to see you at the party.’                                        

 ‘I don’t think I will go,’ Louisa said.                                               

 Andrew took a mouthful of tea and said, ‘I won’t go as well.’             

 ‘But Chisom wants to come…please be there with her.’                        

Louisa turned to Andrew. ‘You have to go. Chisom will feel disappointed if you don’t go with her.’                                                                               

‘Mum’s right, you have to come.’                                                           

Andrew sipped his tea and didn’t respond.                                                    

 ‘Today will be the annual party, hoping that nothing goes wrong. According to Chioma’s special status I’m sure that she’ll get more fans. I won’t let her win over me,’ Jessica said over the phone. She was speaking to her mother who was already at the Imo State Airport waiting to board.  ‘If that girl was to appear at the event, she will definitely steal the spotlight.’ Jessica’s eyes looked full of schemes. ‘Chioma is indeed hard to control, especially now that she thinks that Michael will marry her. Mum, I don’t feel right about this party. I just feel that something is about to happen but I can’t quite figure it out yet.’

 Rebecca didn’t know how to respond. But, to be exact, the thing she really didn’t know was the main reason for this early annual party.                                           

 ‘It could have been that stupid girl that forced him into this party…but you have to make sure that she won’t make an appearance at the party.                                                                                                      

  ‘Mum, I tore her invitation card in front of her…’                                   

‘That’s not enough. She’s the special guest right? That means she can go even without any invite. Call Sharon, she might know better.’                                                                       

Jessica pulled out her second phone and dialed Sharon’s number. ‘Is Michael coming alone tonight?’                                                                        

‘He will be coming without Chioma. But I’m sure that Chioma will be there,’Sharon responded calmly. ‘As she needs to be with Michael. What’s wrong?’                                                           

  ‘Nothing. Pray that she doesn’t fall. You know that she’s not used to going grand places. She might not be able to manage her high-heels. Michael might be too busy to give her a piggyback.’                                              

Hearing these words through the phone, Sharon felt disgusted. It was obvious Jessica wanted to be sure of whether Chioma was coming or not.                                                                                                                

‘What did Jessica say?’                                                                            

At this moment, Erica was currently applying her makeup in her room, getting ready for the party.                                                                               

‘She’s asking if Chioma will be at the party,’Sharon put her phone away and replied. ‘Erica, from what I see, Jessica is planning to hurt Chioma again.’                                                                                                         

Erica was a model, whose beautiful face sold any magazine she appeared on the front covers. She was born into a finance family; she had a rich financial background. So most times, she didn’t rely on modeling to make money. She was in the entertainment industry simply because she enjoyed it. She was definitely aware of how jealous women who wants to be at the top are like. They will do anything to get what they want.                                                                                                         

 ‘Jess, should stop else she might end up losing everything. I wish that doesn’t happen tonight. Nathan loves her so much, she should embrace him instead.’                                                                              

Meanwhile at this time, Audrey was trying out clothes to wear for the party in her bedroom. She knew that the event would help her parents to find their long lost friend. She was still afraid that the finding of Louisa might cause a big problem. She wished it doesn’t come to that point. Of course, Louisa was a woman that never loved trouble.          

‘What will you do if you find your friend?’ Audrey asked her mother as she tried on her dress.                                                                                      

‘I heard that she might not be coming,’ Isabelle adjusted the glasses sitting on her nose bridge. She was certain Louisa might not really come, but she didn’t know the main reason behind it.                              

‘I refuse to believe that Aunt Louisa won’t come. She might hide away from the press but she will definitely come. Mum, go and dress up. We need to solve this puzzle today. Honestly, I really wish for Chioma’s mum to be the Louisa you’ve been looking for.’