Chapter 24: A Date in the Carnival

A strong wind was jiving at Rakiza’s mood of anger as she ran to the dormitory for a hide. She hated Theo for something she couldn’t point out. A few meters away from the dorm, Theo caught Rakiza’s hand.
"Let’s talk in a civil way, Rakiza," Theo yelled. "Are you hitting on Alex?"
Rakiza’s hand flew onto Theo’s face, "How dare you talk to me like that?"
"What made you so angry at me?"
"You just stated about the "civil way" thing. What do you think of me? Do I look like an uncivilized animal? "
"Look at me, Rakiza!" Theo drew her in close, their noses an inch apart. Her nose picked up on the masculine sweetness of his scent. Theo's eyes were saying something to her that she couldn't quite understand.
You must obey my instructions for your own safety. Theo hissed, "You don't know what this world has in store for you."
"I don't know what you're talking about; all I know is that you're being too mean to me and hurting me; you pretended to be kind by guarding me, but the truth is that it was you I should be afraid of! Let me go! "
Theo drew her close and kissed her on the lips. His hold was torturing her body. It wasn't a grip; it was more of a caressing touch, as if he wanted her to submit to his domain. It was a firm but not too firm touch, and his kiss was irresistible.
"Why are you so beautiful to me?" Theo whispered angrily between his kisses. "You make me crazy, Rakiza." He kept on whispering, "Why can’t I just let you go?"
Rakiza’s mind told her to push Theo, but she melted under his caresses and kisses. Theo was almost crashing into her excitedly with his physical needs of a woman.
I will always love you. The whisper was on again and that brought Rakiza back to reality. And consciousness made her motionless.
"Push me," Theo hissed angrily between breaths, struggling to stop himself from kissing Rakiza. "Push me hard," he hissed angrily.
Rakiza pushed Theo hard, but his kisses lessened her strength to do so.
"Punch me in the face, Rakiza!" Theo screamed.
Rakiza was startled by Theo's scream, and her right hand landed so hard on Theo's face that Theo's feet retreated a few steps. They were both taken aback by what had transpired. Rakiza wanted to ask Theo why he demanded to slap him, and secondly, was the whisper she heard saying,
*I will always love you,* coming from Theo's mouth? She was still gasping for breath from the excitement of Theo's kisses.
Theo was silent, and Rakiza ran, leaving Theo immobile.
Rakiza slammed the door and leaned against it in her room. Why do men have a little respect for me? She had been subjected to more than just bullies since childhood, but also to the physical infliction of pain. And she recalled that her grandfather, Joseph Zanier, was her only protector.
Theo was her first kiss, and she could feel that his touch was so personal, but his eyes were too distant. And she hated him, not because he kissed her, but because she was jealous of Ajella.
*What a stupid feeling,* she thought.

Rakiza was too early in school to avoid the question and answer session with her friends, and she was at peace to climb to the top floor for her art class because the lobby wasn't crowded at the time, but she was surprised to see Alex in the corner leaning on the wall, with a dark spot on his cheek.
"Let’s talk," Alex said grimly. "Where’s that barbaric? He has to pay for what he's done to me. "
"Forget about him. We had a deal. I agreed to be with you at the carnival tonight. Let it be his payment for hurting you yesterday, "Rakiza sighed.
Alex took a deep breath and looked at Rakiza before saying, "Okay, meet me at the carnival gate tonight; I'll be there at exactly seven o'clock." He then went down to the second floor.
Rakiza moved quickly to her last turn left when she almost collapsed to see Theo leaning on the wall.
"You're not going to see him tonight." Theo’s words were emphatic. And his sea green eyes were sharp like a cat’s eyes.
"Are you spying on us?" Rakiza glared.
He snorted, "I was here before he came. And you must listen to me, Rakiza. Don't go with him tonight. "
Rakiza said emphatically, "I already accepted his invitation." A promise is a promise. " She then rushed into the room, leaving Theo astounded.

Rakiza quietly left school later that afternoon while Theo was busy talking with other classmates, mostly female. She doesn't want to have any more venomous conversations with him.
The night came, and Rakiza forced herself to focus on a first date with Alex. "Tonight would be the night to remove Theo from her system," she reasoned as she reflected in Muriel's mirror in their room.
Her phone rang once, and she answered it quickly, thinking it was Alex. "How are you, Alex?"
There was silence on the other end of the line.
"Alex, answer me; is this you?" Rakiza inquired eagerly. However, the other end clicked off. And the dial tone could be heard.
Rakiza frowned and snorted, "Jerk," as she put down her phone.
She chose the red dress she wore to the Blue Lagoon Bar and remembered Nikolas. She sat on the edge of her bed, holding the red dress, wondering what had happened to Nikolas. She then turned around and saw the two bouquets of flowers, one from Theo, who had begun to wither, and the other from Nikolas, who was still fresh in her eyes.
Chin and Susan entered the room and inquired about her rumored date with Alex.
"Don't go with him," Chin stated emphatically. "You don’t know him much."
Susan took her cue and said, "It's unusual for a man to tell everyone about his debauchery with a girl."
"I heard rumors that Alex and Teri had a fight, and then here comes the unexpected date with you. That’s odd," Chin interjected.
Chin said urgently, "It's obvious that he was planning something favored by him and not you, so it's better for you to cancel your date with him."
Rakiza said, confirming her decision, "Whatever lies ahead, or whatever plan he is likely to devise, I should see it. So, tell me what I should wear."
"You should look stunning tonight. Put on my blue short dress," Susan advised.
"Susan, she's dating Alex at a carnival with a lot of rides. A dress would not be appropriate for a carnival," Chin argued, and turned to Rakiza, "You should wear jeans."

The carnival was held on the outskirts of the forest, miles away from Saint Ann's dormitory. Rakiza arrived first, and Alex was already standing by the side of the gate. And he was smiling, with his boyish appearance. In his black jacket, he appeared mature.
"Thank you for coming," he said as he led Rakiza into the carnival's happy crowd. Rakiza smiled as they blended into the crowd, enjoying the festive atmosphere. Alex purchased cotton candy for the two of them.
"Do you want some beer?" Alex inquired politely.
"No, I'm not a drinker."
"A little bit of everything can give you the experience you need for your writing," Alex said with a smile.
"How did you find out that I was writing?"
"I know a lot of you, Rakiza," Alex said as he snatched her hand and drew her into the ferry's wheel. They went on a lot of rides at the carnival.
Later that night, Rakiza asked Alex to accompany her home.
"Okay, I'll take you home," Alex said.
"How sweet!" Teri and her group of friends arrived. They were holding ice cream cones. "The crocodile is always waiting for an opportunity, right girls?" She said sarcastically.
"A crocodile is a slimy reptile that cannot be trusted." Teri’s allies agreed.
"But the crocodile we have here has the thickest face I've ever seen," Teri laughed, "and is known to eat anything that comes close to her mouth," she said as she slammed the ice cream cone on Rakiza's chest.
"Teri? What's wrong with you? " Rakiza didn't see it coming.
The other girls mocked her and laughed.
Rakiza was enraged on the inside, but she kept it to herself. She didn't want to attract the attention of the other carnival-goers. "I'll go ahead, Alex," as she ran away, leaving Teri and her friends laughing and making fun of her.
Alex ran after her and led her into his car, "I told you I'd take you home."
They were driving home in silence. Rakiza's mood was negatively affected by Teri's actions. Her borrowed blouse was ruined by ice cream.
"I owe you an apology for what Teri did to you. She was a total jerk. That's why I ended things with her. " Alex was furious.
"It's all right, so we're even now. The debt was paid off, "Rakiza stated.
"I want to be closer to you, Rakiza," Alex stated solemnly.
"Sorry, Alex, but this is our first and last date." Rakiza said silently.