FICTION : Internet love

Ooh no! Not again! It’s raining! I muttered to myself as I hurriedly took my towel and dashed to the bathroom for a cold shower despite the chilly weather. It was around five o’clock in the morning. The wall clock had rudely interrupted my sleep but I thanked God all the same for the gadget as I had a very important meeting later in the day. The birds were singing and I could notice from the bathroom window that they flew in pairs. “Do they have any idea what love is?” I asked myself. “And if they do, how do they feel when in love?” I wondered though not expecting any answer. Three weeks before this day, I had met a young lady in one of the chat rooms on the web. We chat with her almost on daily basis and had even exchanged our photos online. I must say she was gorgeous! She was from a neighbouring country and single. She had never had a boyfriend, according to the numerous conversations we had had online. She sounded honest to me. I really wanted to meet her. “Hello sweetie” that’s how I would normally start our conversation and she would go “am fine, my first love.” That would normally drive me crazy. We found ourselves advancing from chat rooms to now talking through our cell phones. Her voice was soft and humble and I could never have enough of it. We could stay late in night just to have ample time talking together because calling rates are normally low at that time. “My first love, I am coming to Kigali,” she wrote to me on the chat room. “Did I hear you right sweetie?” I replied. “I thought you told me you like surprises,” she wrote back. “Yes, I do dear but I didn’t expect it in this magnitude,” I replied. “That is just the tip of the iceberg my love. Fasten your seat belt,” she interjected. “I will be at Kigali International Airport tomorrow morning!” She continued before I could write back. “I have booked Rwandair to arrive at 0600hrs,” she added. I was flabbergasted! I did not have words. I was excited at the same time worried. I had not expected this but again I wanted it. In the midst of this confusion, the power went off. “Hallelujah!” I said to myself. It came at a time when I lacked words to write back to her on that chat room. My mind was running fast and I noticed thin sweat on my face. It is funny how our bodies react under different circumstances. “Baby won’t you tell me why, there is sadness in your eyes I don’t want to say goodbye to you,” my mobile phone was ringing with this song from Michael Learns to Rock as a ring tone. “Hello dear, what happened?” my chat room friend inquired. “Am sorry the power went off my dear,” I answered. “Am serious I will be coming tomorrow morning. Will you wait for me at the airport?” she asked. “Yes, I will. Please, welcome,” I answered. I couldn’t wait to see my internet love. I visited the barber on my way home that evening. I had to look neat. From the mirror at the barber’s shop I noticed a small pimple on my left chin. I tried to remove it with my bare hands but noticed it was getting bigger. I hated it! How could it stick on my skin at such a time as this! I cursed silently. I noticed I was drawing the attention of the barber and did away with the exercise. I wished the pimple would have vanished by the following day. I was at the airport by 0530hrs. I had inscribed the name Sarah on a placard so that my visitor would easily spot me. The plane touched the runway at exactly 0615hrs. My heartbeat quickened and raised my placard immediately the travellers started arriving. She spotted me and literally run towards me. We hugged and she sobbed. “I can’t believe it,” I said and she just eye-balled me with her wet eyes. Her dimples were appealing and became conspicuous when she smiled. Ooh boy, did I love them! We took a cab and we both sat at the rear seat. “How is Kigali?” She inquired. “Fine, we are doing great economically in the region,” I said. “I saw your president with US president just the other day. He is making big strides,” she commented. There was an awkward moment of soliciting for better topics to discuss. It took us less than half an hour before arriving at Serena Kigali Hotel. She looked young to me to afford this kind of accommodation. I took her luggage and accompanied her to her room. “What’s your occupation?” I had to ask after placing her belongings on a small wooden table at the corner of the room. “I thought I told you I am a business lady. Didn’t I?” She asked. “Yes, you did dear, only that you did not specify what kind of business,” I said curiously.Her Black berry rang before she could specify the kind of business she is involved in. “Am already in Kigali. I will inform you of the outcome. Just give me time.” She answered back her caller and then turned to me and said, “That’s my business partner. I know you are curious to know the kind of business I do. Relax. I will let you know. In fact I want you to be my partner too.” “Accompany me to the bathroom if you don’t mind my dear,” she said ignoring answering my earlier question. “It’s still early for that. We hardly know each other,” I said. She went to the bathroom and I was left seated at the gigantic elegant bed. My instinct led me to pick up her diary which she left at the table. The journal had strange and weird chronicles. She had travelled wide and far to recruit new members. After a day’s work, she would attribute her achievement to some being and express her dedication to him in writing. All the writings in the diary were in Red. I have heard of serial killers who fetch their victims through internet and this made me not wait for her to get out of the bathroom. I almost fainted. I slowly tip-toed, opened the door and fled. My internet lover had turned to be a goblin. It’s the e-world and its challenges! So I thought. Better the devil you know than the angel you don’t. Ends