Love Birds Cont'd-See the twists and turns of the story as the love birds go to college

                CHAPTER NINE

                LIFE IN COLLEGE

                  WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 10, 10:00 am

         Exactly, three months later, Naomi was discharged from the hospital.

              “Young lady, you have to stick to your medications, and keep away from things that could frighten you, or get you too excited” Doctor Bristol warned Naomi with a serious tone in his deep voice and British accent that made her feel she was been interrogated for killing somebody on the streets of Brooklyn. Her hands shook under the coldness of his hands clasped around hers. She only nodded without speaking a word.

             “Thanks doctor. We will ensure that” Mrs. Graham said.

             “I think she is pretty cold” she added sensing Naomi’s fidgety hands.

             “We should be on our way now” she said speaking with her eyes to her husband about their leaving.

             “Yes Doctor. Thanks a lot” Mr. Graham said shaking the doctor’s hands.

             “Oh the pleasure is mine, Mr. Graham” Mr. Bristol said letting out a broad smile that revealed his white enamel dental structure, slightly opened at the middle.

             Carrying a ventilator around was really cumbersome for Naomi, but she still had to go to college. She and Henry had earlier applied to Johns Hopkins University, and were accepted for their high SAT scores, and high Grade Point Average. Their excellent high school grades, was also a reason they couldn’t be ignored. They were also given free accommodations and a scholarship. The scholarship however was not due to their lack of funds for College, for their parents were among the elites of the state. The choice to take the exam was to prove to themselves that they can actually get through College without their parents having to pay their tuition, and perhaps as a symbol of the fact that though they are of wealthy parents, that couldn’t change their values evident in their diligence towards their academic work and that they were not dependent on their parent’s money to go through school; a reason for which most of their colleagues at College later respected them. On Friday morning, all was being put in place for Naomi’s first year at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. While her mom packed her clothes, and her father was seated on the couch, his eyes glued to the television screen, Henry came in, all set to leave.

       “Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Graham” he greeted as he dropped his luggage by the door, and took a seat on the couch close to Naomi.

       “Good morning Henry” they said simultaneously laughing at how the words came out of their mouths at the same time.

       “I can see you are ready. Just a moment and we’ll be on our way” Naomi’s father said in order to prevent him from being bored or angry. But Henry who at the time was caressing Naomi’s supple and soft blonde hair and gently nibbling at her ears seemed not to care if it took Mrs. Graham the whole day to pack, provided he had the love of his life by his side. In twenty minutes, the whole packing was done. It had taken long because Naomi who couldn’t do the packing was busy pointing at the things she needed and yelling at her exhausted mom to hurry up at the same time.

           “Mom, put that red sleeveless pink gown. Or maybe I should go with the red one” still undecided about that she moved on to something else.

          “Aha mom, you forgot my sleeping gown. But I’m not sure if I should go with the white one, or the grey one. Before I forget don’t forget that my flat summer slippers ” she said as her mom paced up and down the room, making sure nothing was left out, while she waited for her daughter to make a decision on the clothes she wanted to take with her.

         “Oh Naomi, just pick one! And stop stressing your mom!” her father shouted, forgetting her condition.

         “And stop yelling at her, she is not deaf!” he added.

         “Sorry dad, but I have to make sure I don’t leave anything out. I won’t be home until vacation” she said in a low voice.

   “Oh honey, take it easy with her, please. I’m the one doing the packing and not you” her mom said in her defense, not minding if her daughter stressed her.

    “I see, but please, the young man is waiting” he said, referring to Henry who seemed to be oblivious of the scenario, as Naomi’s mom ran upstairs to get some more things.

    “Mom, please don’t forget my make-up bag” she said as her mom ran upstairs. After the whole process Naomi’s dad drove Henry and Naomi to the school in his blue painted Lexus jeep, with the two seated at the back seat as though he was their driver. But Mr. Graham was an easy going man and so did not care.

          They soon arrived the university compound of the prestigious Johns Hopkins University, and although Naomi had seen lots of magnificent buildings, she seemed to be awe-struck by the tall brightly colored buildings of the living quarters, the tile covered compounds, the well planted and neatly leveled daisies and rose flowers, and the circularly planted mistletoes which were usually lighted up during Christmas.

       “Awesome!” she said smiling.

       “What do you think dad, Henry?” she asked.

       “Sure, awesome” her father responded. He was not used to speaking much.

       “Cool, you know what Naomi? I think we are going to have a great time here. Just see the way that building over there is built almost completely in glass” he said pointing at the Medical school. ‘It’s the Medical School’ Naomi said.

      “We’ve have to be going” he said getting their luggage from the trunk of the car.

      “Henry is right, you two have to start going, and honey please be very careful, you know your health condition. Henry please take good care of her for me. I should be on my way now, the forecast prognosticates rainfall and some thunder storms” Mr. Graham said as he dipped his hands into his pockets and gave a thousand dollars to the two of them. ‘I’ll do my very best Mr. Graham, you know Naomi is more than a friend to me; she is part of me’ Henry responded. Mr. Graham treated Henry as his own son, and never wishes his daughter to get married to any other man apart from him. Few weeks after, they arrived school, Naomi had boldly walked to the Johns Hopkins hospital, and demanded the ventilator be removed, saying she could live without it. The doctors decided to contact her parents, who said that if she was okay with it, then they had no other choice, than to let her have her way, after all she was now eighteen years of age. After, confirmation by the doctors, the ventilator was removed, but she still had to stick to her medications. Dr. Bristol was so shocked and surprised to hear about the removal of the ventilator. He didn’t believe Naomi could live without the ventilator in so short a time.

     The first few months at Johns Hopkins University went well for Henry and Naomi, as they were finding their studies really easy, until other guys, who are sophomores soon became attracted to Naomi. One of such, guys who turned out to be desperate was Carlton, a British born lover of poetry, who was fair in complexion, with great muscular physique, and always wore a long pony tail, with curls all over. Carlton had always had his way with the prettiest girls of Johns Hopkins Art department as a result of his poetic ability, and so decided to try it out on Naomi, whom he and most guys didn’t care about, until her ventilator was removed.

      It was a warm summer afternoon, and the cool breezes rushed through the Pine trees arranged in rows along the sidewalk, producing a whistling sound, as they swayed from right to left. Squirrels kept jumping from tree to tree eating fruits from tree branches strong enough to carry their medium sized bodies. Henry and Naomi were standing in the shade of one of those pine trees, when Carlton walked up in a swagger.

          “What’s up Naomi? May I have a word with you?” he said ignoring Henry’s presence.

         “Carlton haven’t you got any manners. Can’t you see I’m with my boyfriend?” Naomi asked squinting as though the breezes sipped through her eyes.

         “Oh! Your friend boy uh? I see. What’s up… what’s his name again? Oh never mind.

Who cares about his name” Carlton said scornfully, while Henry maintained his calm.

“Do you mind if I have a minute, or two, or three, or the whole day with your friend girl?” he asked laughing patting Henry’s back, but Henry seemed indifferent.

  “That’s it Carlton. You have gone too far. Please leave now! I am not speaking with you!” Naomi said angrily.

 “No- no Naomi it’s okay. I’m cool with it” Henry finally spoke in a mature voice. He trusted Naomi very much.

  “You can go ahead and have a chat. I’ll be in my room when you are done. See you around buddy” Henry said patting Carlton’s back as he left, while Carlton quickly dusted off his neatly iron check shirt as though Henry’s hands left dirt on it.

    ‘You see Naomi, shall I compare thee to a summer’s day,

      Thou art more lovely and…” Carlton was rudely interrupted by Naomi as he tried quoting one of Shakespeare’s sonnets.

     “See Carlton just spare me those poetic jargons of yours. I haven’t got all day please. Just say what you want to say and leave!’’ Naomi retorted.

   “Naomi what I mean is I love you so much and would want you to be my…”Carlton was abruptly interrupted again.

   “Hello, have I been speaking to the winds this whole time. Henry is my boy friend” She said in monosyllables, stretching the friend like the tail of the little squirrel that just ran past, and then walked away.

     “Carlton Geoffrey will always get what Carlton Geoffrey wants’ he said laughing mischievously as he bounced down the sidewalk to join a couple of boys in front of the arts department. Carlton’s words showed he wasn’t going to give up any time soon.

     One month later, Henry and other members of the Neurosurgery department were scheduled for a school trip to Tampa, Florida. Prior to the period, Naomi’s room had become Carlton’s haunt, and after series of turn-downs, he persisted. That evening, the weather at the Johns Hopkins University campus was unusually cold, with gusty winds swaying the daisies and roses violently. The pine tree swayed as though it will break, and Naomi’s room was pretty cold with the first winter breezes. Normally, Henry came by at such cold evenings to cuddle her up and talk sweetly into her ears till she was dizzy. But now he was away and she missed him greatly.

     Naomi lay cold snuggled up in a blanket, when she heard a knock at the door. She reluctantly stood up and shuffled to the door to open it. It was Carlton who was standing there with some daisies in his hands. She was about slamming the door in his face, when he gently pushed the door and pleaded.

     “Please Naomi, be hospitable for once. Besides, it’s cold out here” he said shivering.

     “Sorry, but I can’t remember asking you to come to my room, did I. Anyway, come in and have a seat if you like” she said with a frown walking gracefully to her green colored couch, which blended with the brilliant white walls.

    “Actually, I had come by to give you these” he said stretching his hands, giving her the flowers.

    “Just drop them on the table” she said looking in a different direction as he dropped the daisies on the round glass table supported on four gold colored legs.

    “I also thought that since Henry is not around and you’ll be feeling lonely, I could read this poem I just wrote to you” Carlton said holding out a sheet of paper in his hands.

    “Carlton I didn’t ask for company, but I can see how desperate you are, so read I am listening” Naomi said walking down to her mini-refrigerator to get a tin of coffee.

       “The sun rises at the sight of you,

         The radiance of your face, drowns the glow of the moon,

          Even the birds sing of your tenderness and beauty,

          And the smell of the winds remind me of the softness and fragrance of your skin,

I can’t help but kiss those tender lips of yours,

Caress those luscious thighs of yours,

And feel the sensual warmth of your skin” Carlton read with so much love, or perhaps lust and passion in his eyes. At this point Naomi was melting under the influence of those romantic words and she didn’t mind that Carlton was now rolling his tongue all over hers and moving his hands up her white silk sleeping gown. The Escape perfume, from Calvin Klein that Naomi was covered in seemed to worsen the situation. Carlton apparently had had his way with Naomi. She was very emotional and susceptible to romantic words, which was one of the reasons she avoided Carlton on learning he was studying to be a classic poet. She was very sure of her weaknesses and strengths, and though she loved Henry so much she couldn’t resist Carlton’s charm, his command of the English language, and romantic nature. The two were now cuddled up against each other, making out, when suddenly and unexpectedly the door opened.

       “Jesus Christ, Naomi!” the voice exclaimed. It was Henry. He had requested that he joined the next group of students, so he could spend some more time with Naomi. He was supposed to have come around earlier, but had some important assignments to complete. Naomi was shocked to death when she saw Henry.

      “Hen- Hen-Henry, it’s not what you think. We were just…” she was interrupted by Henry.

       “Just doing what? It’s not what I think uh?” Henry retorted. Although Henry was a disciplined, caring young boy, he couldn’t stand the chance of loosing his girlfriend to someone else, or having her cheat on him. It unleashed the beast in him. May be it was because he’s been there for her through the good times, the bad times, and the worst times. He was there when she first had a heart attack, when she was in coma for three months, and he was also by her when she carried the ventilator around. So, Henry couldn’t understand why Naomi would cheat on him. It was clear they had been so in love all these years, they hardly found time to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. May be Henry needed to know Naomi was highly emotional, and was thus easily turned on by romantic words. And may be Naomi needed to know Henry is not just a socialite but also as jealous as she was. Just may be they needed to know each other better.

        Henry being so enraged had dashed out of the room slamming the door behind him. Just then Carlton ran out of the room with his daisies. It turned out he needed that as part of the bait to allure his prey. Naomi was then left alone weeping and sobbing. She felt so miserable, and felt she didn’t deserve Henry. Then she realized she needed to deal with her weaknesses.

         For the next two weeks, Henry and Naomi never spoke to each other, Henry would not pick her calls or respond to her text messages, and neither did Naomi look at Carlton’s face. She raged with anger within for him.  Then Henry met this Hispanic boy with slightly red colored skin, plump- bodied, and with blonde bobs which curved under his chin revealing his smooth round face. He observed Henry was not his usual cheerful and exuberant self during lectures and so decided to find out what the problem was.

            “What’s up dude” he said his English having a stylish Hispanic accent to it.

             “You’ve been acting strangely lately. What is the matter?” he leaned forward after lectures as he talked to Henry who was initially silent as though there was nobody by him.

             “I don’t want to bother you with my problems” Henry finally spoke up, seeing Fredrick’s persistence and concern.

             “Come on man, I wouldn’t walk up to you, if I didn’t care? It’s your girlfriend right?” he asked startling Henry as he responded with surprise in his eyes. Fredrick must have been observing the duos.

             “Yes, but…” he was interrupted.

             “I’ve watched the two of you ever since you stepped into this school. The way you got on easily. The way you sat under the pine trees in hot summer afternoons your hands clasped against each other’s. No doubt, you both are really in love” Fredrick said with his squint eyes starring in opposite directions behind his thick rimmed cylindrical lenses.

             “You are right, I really love her, and would like to spend the rest of my life with her, but I found her cheating on me, with the same guy who treats me with disregard” he said not intending to reveal Carlton’s identity. But Fredrick didn’t ask anyway.

        “How long have you guys been dating?” Fredrick asked his glasses giving him the look of Professor Ben, the psychologist who happened to be the youngest professor of Johns Hopkins University.   

        “Since our childhood” Henry answered without details as if attending an interview.

        “Since your childhood?” he asked stressing the childhood.

        “Do you have problems regularly” he asked further.

        “Sometimes, but we usually reconciled after wards” Henry said.

        “Look Henry, I think you two are so in love, you hardly have time to study yourselves. I mean you should know your strengths and weaknesses, that way you can help each other overcome it. May be there is something about most guys that makes her defenseless, you know” Fredrick said sounding older than his age.

          “Yeah, I think you’re right. I don’t think I know Naomi inside out. And maybe that’s why we’ve always had disagreements over little issues” Henry said in a low voice, looking thoughtful.

          “You see man, what is yours, will always be yours. See you around” Fredrick said patting Henry’s back in a friendly manner.

         “I’ve got work to do” he added as he left the class.

              The next day, Henry decided to pay Naomi a visit following his discussion with Fredrick. He knocked on the door, but refused to enter, when Naomi said, “come in”. He apparently wanted her to open the door herself. Naomi then walked up to the door and opened it to see Henry standing before it. She was surprised, nervous, and happy all at the same time, and so stuttered while she spoke.

             “He-He-Henry, what a surprise, c-c-come in” She said shaking feverishly as she asked him in, but Henry did not notice. She seemed to be too ashamed to face. Henry didn’t even sit down, before he started apologizing.

               “Look Naomi, I am sorry for the way I reacted the other night. I guess I over-reacted and that our relationship has been all bumpy because we didn’t know each other well. I think we should spend some more time now studying each other’s lives since we are going to spend the rest of our lives together” Henry pleaded to Naomi’s utmost surprise. She was so astonished she wasn’t even paying attention to Henry.

              “Sorry, you were saying?” Naomi asked like one who just regained consciousness.

              “Naomi, all I ‘m saying is future life partners should spend time together knowing each other at great length and not just share love. I am really sorry” Henry rephrased with passion in his eyes. It was that passion that made it had for her to stare into his eyes without a desire to kiss off his lips. He spoke as though he was very certain they’ll end up as life partners.

              “You’re right Henry. I am sorry too. It’s just that the passion with which Carlton spoke made me defenseless” She said casting her usual sexy glance into his brightly colored eyes, before the two kissed lightly, Henry withdrawing first.

              “Speaking of Carlton, just a moment” Henry said leaving the room, with Naomi in suspense. He came back later with Carlton. Although Naomi, felt like pushing him out, she didn’t understand what was going on.

               “You see baby, Carlton apologized to me yesterday and said he wanted to do same to you too, but was afraid you’ll throw him out” Henry said as he held her tender hands and kissed them.

               “Tell her Carlton, my good man” Henry said. It was now clear to Naomi, that the two are now best friends. But what now confused her was why Henry a natural born citizen of America who has spent most of his life in Fairfax, Virginia, spoke in such an accurate British accent.

              “Naomi, it grieves my heart that I welcomed the iniquitous idea to lure her majesty, the queen into a bed of infidelity, and shatter the bond of her love with this handsome gentleman, over here” Carlton said in his usual poetic tone. He has become so used to poetry he could hardly make a sentence without being poetic. At this point, Naomi giggled as she hugged Carlton, appreciating his sense of humor and poetic endowments. Now Henry was surprised; he had expected Naomi to decline Carlton’s apology, at least for the first time.

              “Permit me to say your majesties that we have lunch together at the school cafeteria” Carlton said gesticulating like a professional British butler.

              “I’ll be honored, Carlton. And that will be all for now, Carlton” Naomi said partaking in the drama, as the trio laughed leaving the room, now best of friends.

           The years following went well for Henry and Naomi, who surprisingly did not have any attacks, until after their graduation from Johns Hopkins University with first class in Neurosurgery, and Gynecology, respectively, although they graduated at different years.

On the day of their individual graduation, they were awarded best graduating scholars, and received cash awards from the university. Their emotions seem not to have any effect on their studies, provided they were in good terms. Naomi had given a very moving speech that attracted a standing ovation, with tears rolling down some parents’ and students’ cheeks.

         “We are gathered here today to celebrate these great champions who are now ready to take on the larger society in professionalism and excellence. However, the joy of this great occasion is not in our graduation, or in the prizes presented to some of us, but in the story, behind the glory. To some, it is a story of joy, and peace, stability, and prosperity, but to others like me, it is a story of pain, of sorrows, of weeks and months in the hospital, with a ventilator which I boldly pulled out, with the conviction of being able to live without it. It is a great miracle that I stand here today, hail and hearty, without any attacks. To God be the glory” she said raising her tender hands slightly to the sky in a shrill, but mature voice, typical of a full fledged woman, her voice sending pulses of joy and sympathy across the 1000 seat capacity multipurpose hall.

          “But the glory of my story is that by the grace of God, through determination, grit, resilience and the support of my lovely parents, and my childhood friend, Henry all present here today” she continued with Henry beaming wildly as he blinked one of his eyes at her. Although he wished she called him “her love” in public, he didn’t seem to show it.

        “To all of them and the rest of you, especially my able, knowledgeable, determined and supportive teachers I say thank you. I also want us to live by the truth in all we do, the truth that life does not depend on background, but on purpose, harsh conditions cannot separate us from our dreams, but we only can, that a positive mind is the first step to success, and that greatness lies within. On this note I say,” Veritos Vos Liberabit” The truth shall always make us free. Thank you.” She finished stepping down from the podium and walking towards her parents. After the ceremony Henry walked up to Fredrick.

    “What’s up man” Henry said.

    “Ho, ho dude, how are you, I can see you too are back together, ain’t that right? He asked smiling revealing his neatly arranged teeth, with equal spaces.

    “Yeah, and all thanks to the psychologist” Henry said as the two walked away arms around shoulders.

                

YOUR BEAUTY...III

It's the light in my dark world,
So bright and glowing,
It's the healer of my painful plights,
So real and soothing,
It's the companion of my lonely nights,
So close and comforting,
Your beauty is my strength on this journey of life,
It's the hands that wipe my tears in moments of grief and strife,
It's the ears that hear my calls of sorrow,
And the arms that pick me when I fall, and ushers me into a brighter tomorrow,
This beauty is unblemished; it's perfect,
It's true, tried and proved, tested and approved,
And when everything else fails,
I know your beauty will stay to the end,
And that's why my grip on it will be for eternity!

LOVE SLAVE III

People say you're not so pretty,
And others think you're not so beautiful,
But honey to me, you're ecstasy personified; and possess beauty in your personality,
And through my lowest moments you're still the reason I'm cheerful,
Honey, sometimes I wish you were perfect,
But then if you were, you wouldn't be the one for me,
'Cos with your imperfection, you make me perfect, and in you I envision a glorious prospect,
Hence the assurance we are meant to be,
And the reason I don't desire another,
'Cos when it comes to you, I feel so helpless and enslaved,
Sweetie you make me feel like a love slave.

YOUR BEAUTY...II

I long for words to describe you,
So I say indescribable,
I search for a way to quantify your nature,
So I say immeasurable,
Sometimes I even try searching for another to replace you,
But I discover you're irreplaceable,
And to those who contest your beauty,
I say indisputable,
Your beauty is superficially outward,
But essentially inward,
Within the soul of your personality lies its roots,
Deep in the glamor of your appearance are its shoots,
Some say beauty is ephemeral,
But I say yours is eternal,
Others think beauty is physical,
But I say yours is divine and spiritual...

TO BE CONTINUED
Copyright Lysious

YOUR BEAUTY...

Ever since I met you,
One thing has been impressed on my mind;
Ever since our paths crossed,
There was something about you, I couldn't put behind,
Memories of this remains fresh on my senses,
Images of this engraved in my fibers are indelible,
And for this I'm unwilling to take any chances,
For there exists none other for me out there,
Besides you my dear,
I trust in this, I'm confident of this, I don't doubt this, for this is very conspicuous,
And I know this will never fade away,
It forms the very essence of my love,
Baby, it's Your Beauty!

LOVE SLAVE II

Sometimes you make me sad,
At other times you even break my heart,
But in an unfair world, you're still the only reason I'm glad,
And that's why we can never be torn apart,
Baby, there are times I drift away, so I can be away from your presence,
But then I realize that in your absence, my life lacks its essence,
For through all my pain and sorrow,
You're my only hope for a brighter tomorrow,
And that's why I can't stop thinking of you,
'Cos when it comes to you,
I feel so helpless and enslaved; like a love slave...

TO BE CONTINUED
Copyright Lysious

Battlefield by Jordin Sparks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTjgKLRg5p4
This is a link to Jordin Spark's Battlefield; one of my favorites. Ever wondered why love sometimes feels like a battlefield when it doesn't have to? Miss Sparks wonders why. Check it out!