A loud, piercing scream jerked me awake from my sleep. I tore my eyes open and glanced around my dark room. I'd worked a night shift and I was trying to catch up on sleep but the noise wasn't letting me. Whitney's scream increased in pitch and the stomps of her feet drew nearer. A groan escaped me as I reached for a pillow and threw it over my head.

The third trimester was kicking me in the behind. The lower back pains, occasional Braxton hicks, constant tiredness, frequent urination, swollen feet and my extremely sensitive nipples made the pregnancy journey exhaustive. If I got into the right position and was at peace enough to fall asleep, I'd hate to be disturbed by anything. Which was why thoughts of throwing Whitney out of the apartment flashed into my mind.

My door flung open and Whitney burst into my room, yelling my name. Oh, God. I lifted my head, the pillow dropping down to my side. I shut my eyes and shielded my face with my hands. Whitney had taken the liberty of pushing my curtains back and letting in sun streams of the warm afternoon sun.

I sat up and dropped my hands unto the bed with a huff. "What is it?"

"Take a look at this," she shoved her iPhone into my hands. She settled down at the edge of the bed and bounced her feet against the bed frame.

I shot her a wary glance before lifting her phone to my eyes. Her screen was set on her profile page on our medical school website. What is this? I looked back at her with furrowed brows.

"Okay?" I held the phone out to her.

She rolled her eyes and pushed the phone back to me. "Scroll down,"

I kissed my teeth. "Can't you just tell me?" I let out a heavy sigh that weighed down my shoulder and lifted the phone back to my eyes and scrolled down. She leaned forward and tapped the bottom of the screen with her fingernail.

My eyes grew wide and I dropped the phone on my bed. "Oh my God!" I slapped a palm over my mouth. "You've cleared your loans. When? H-How?"

She shook her head, grinning. "That's the thing. I didn't pay in anything, I mean I was planning to make a deposit" she picked up her phone from the bed. "I went to check how much I had left to pay and I- I saw this"

My head dropped to the side and my forehead creased downward. "What?" I leaned back and reached for my phone on my nightstand. "Is it some kind of glitch?" I muttered as I unlocked my phone.

Whitney folded her lips inward, suppressing a giggle and gestured that I checked my own profile.

"What?" I narrowed my eyes at her and then focused on logging into the portal. I skipped all the newsletters and went right to the student's financial aid section. With bated breath, I scrolled down to the bottom of the screen.

"Oh my God," My jaw dropped open and I shoved my phone into Whitney's hand. I climbed onto my knees and sat back unto the back of my legs. "What does this mean? Is – Is it like some kind of error?"

Whitney broke into a wide grin. "You see, I thought the same thing as well. I called the school and they said it wasn't a mistake. It was paid off by someone"

"What?" my whole face scrunched up in confusion and I reared my head backwards. "Why? Did they tell you who it was?"

Her smile faltered a bit and she smacked her forehead with the pad of her fingers. "How are you not getting this? Nick. Did." She spelt out, hitting the blade of her hand against her other palm. "Girl, your man paid off our loans"

"No, he doesn't even-" The words cut off before I could even complete my statement. I gasped, my mouth dropping wider than the first time. "No..."

Whitney chuckled and nodded. "Yes..."

I placed my palm over my mouth as I picked up my phone and gaped at the screen. "Oh my God," I dropped my phone back unto my bed and lifted my trembling hand to Whitney. "Look, I'm shaking. I can't even-"

Asides from my muscles experiencing an aftershock and my brain shutting down on me, I wasn't sure how to react. Do I call him? Should I leave a text? I wasn't sure what I would say or do. I couldn't even decipher what emotions I was feeling at the moment. What was the right reaction? I blinked and cradled the sides of my head with my hands. Whitney chuckled at my dumbstruck expression as I moved back to a sitting position.

"What do I even say to him?" I massaged my forehead with the pad of my fingers. "I can't – I don't know what to do?"

"I'd say go give that man some kids but—"she gestured at my bump. "–you were way ahead"

Laughter sputtered out of my lips and I sent a playful smack to her upper arm. "Are you mad?"

She stroked her arm, laughing. "That would be my most honest response," She picked up her phone, glanced at the screen and climbed down from my bed. "I have to start getting ready to head to the hospital. If you do call him, tell him 'thank you' for me" she made her way to my door. "I'd thank him myself but I probably won't be back till tomorrow"

I took a glimpse at the time on my alarm clock, on the nightstand. It was 2:54 pm. "Isn't it a bit early to leave now?"

She sighed as she leaned against my door frame. "I know but my notes need to be updated,"

"Oh," I nodded.

"Yeah" she tapped my door twice, then stepped out and closed it behind her.

I looked back at the dipped imprint on the bed, where I'd laid minutes ago. Well, I can't go to sleep now. The groggy feeling of sleep deprivation had vaporized into thin air. I picked up my phone and opened Nicholas's chat tab. My fingers hovered over the keyboard. What should I say? I clicked down the keypad and scrolled through our chat.

I can't make it today, super busy at work It's fine, thanks

I'll be there in ten minutes. Okay

The next appointment's on Thursday, right?

Yeah

Are you ready? Give me five minutes

I'm waiting outside.

I'll be right out

Most of our lengthy conversations occurred in person because we saw ourselves almost every day. Even on days, we had absolutely nothing to talk about, we would still hang out in silence. Was that weird? I clicked my tongue and shook my head. I was straying from the pressing issue. I felt beyond grateful for this gesture, I still couldn't believe it. Who pays off someone else's student loans? And their friend's as well? I placed my phone down between my open legs and released a sigh. Did that mean something? Or was it just a kind gesture? The important question was; would I want it to mean something? Or was I just overthinking it like always?

My student loans had been such a huge deal for me that it had morphed into a goal on my mental vision board. For it to be wiped out, just like that, felt like too good to be reality. I'd dreamt of a day when I'd mention knocking off my loans as part of my success story, I'd never once thought it'd be so easy as this.

My mind roared with conflicting and contradicting thoughts all at once, but one thing was clear. We'd eventually have to talk about it and I'd rather express my gratitude in person. I picked up my phone and left him a text.

Would you be stopping by, tonight?

I waited a few minutes before my phone pinged with a text notification.

I could drop by right after work. Do you need anything?

I smiled at the text. Always after my comfort. My smile dropped. I've always been after my own needs, my work and my happiness. I don't think I've ever done anything remotely nice for him. I climbed out of bed and waddled over to my closet. I needed to get him something as well. This time around a simple 'thank you' wouldn't cut it. I just needed to figure out what was thoughtful enough to get him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I drummed my fingers over my thighs as I glanced at the wall clock and back at the TV. My mind was nowhere near interested in what the TV characters did. I'd rushed out of the house like a woman on a mission, except I had no idea what the mission entailed. I had strutted the alleys of a mall, searching for something worth getting but ended up walking out, empty-handed.

Until today, I hadn't realized how difficult it was shopping for a man. Not just any man, one that paid off my years-long debt. The gift had to be perfect. After wasting an hour at the mall, I branched into a small café to reenergize and strategize.

I was glad that at the end of the day, I turned up with some gifts worthy of their name. I only hoped that they weren't something he already had because that would really suck. I had to pay more for the item to be delivered express. I returned home with a few hours to spare and I attempted to make dinner but that didn't work out in the end.

A series of knocks landed on the front door and I almost lurched out of the sofa. I caught myself as I came to the door and counted to five before unlocking the door. Nicholas had his fist balled up and raised midair, as I pulled the door open.

"Hi," I smiled and stepped back, opening the door further.

"Hey," he greeted as he walked into the apartment.

I closed the door behind me and lingered back a second before pushing forward into the living room. "Didn't you go to work?" I remarked as I took in his mint green long-sleeved t-shirt and dark pair of jeans.

"I spent my day on the field. Overseeing a project, boring stuff" he waved a hand in front of his face. "You never responded to my text. Did you need something?"

"Actually, no" I gestured to the three-seater sofa. "Sit down, please"

His brows knitted as he slowly lowered himself onto the sofa. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh no," I shook my head and moved around him. "I have something for you instead. One second"

I rushed off to my bedroom where the gift bag stood atop my bed. I peered into the bag for a split second as I picked it up. I hope he likes it. I blew out a mouthful of air before venturing back into the living room. I took slow tentative steps toward him and placed the bag on the wooden centre table.

"Go ahead," I gestured towards the gift back and took a step back.

He looked between the bag and me then slid forward to the edge of the sofa and pulled the bag forward. He pulled out the large box of LEGOs and held it up to his face, turning it from side to side.

I scraped my upper lip with my lower teeth as I rocked back and forth on my heels. I cleared my throat and pointed at the box. "It's an architecture studio building block set. Now that I say it out loud, it sounds childish but . . . I got it for you because you said you liked designing in your free time –" I took a step forward. "– and it says on the box that you can create a bunch of structures. It also says it's for adults as well"

He didn't say anything, only stared up at me.

"Uhm," I scratched my eyebrows. "If you don't want that, I registered for Patrick Garry's class. He's a world-renowned architect and it's an online class that teaches design and architecture." I let out a nervous chuckle. "I'm not even sure if that is true, I saw it online and signed up. Well, signed you up"

"I know who Patrick Garry is," Nicholas said as he placed the box down.

"Okay good" I sighed as I placed a hand over my chest. "Wait, have you already attended that class?"

"No," he ran a finger over the edge of the box. "Why are you getting me gifts?"

"Because," I picked up my phone from the centre table, unlocked the screen and handed it over to him. I had my portal opened up on my phone. "I wanted to say thank you"

He glanced at the screen for a brief moment then back at me. He stood to his feet and held out the phone to me. "You didn't have to get me anything in return. I didn't do that for any favours"

I nodded. "I know. I wanted to." I took the phone back and held onto it. "You do so much for me and I just wanted to do one little thing for you"

"But you don't have to," he said. "I did that only because I wanted to help out and I knew you would've never agreed to it if I offered"

I nodded. "And Whitney's?"

"She's like family to you, it was only fair." He shrugged and hooked his thumb through the belt loop of his jeans.

Awn. I stepped up to him and wrapped my arms around him. "Thank you so much, from both of us"

He returned the gesture and wrapped an arm around my back whilst the other smoothened out the front edges of my hair. "You're welcome"

I pulled back and gestured to the box on the floor. "So, do you like your gift?"

He glanced down at the box and picked it up. "I do, thank you. And for the class, as well"

I clapped my hand together and grinned. "Oh great. You know, I actually tried to make lasagna for the first time, with the help of YouTube. But I got tired just stirring the meat and sausage beef."

He chuckled. "You really went all out"

"I know, right? I-"my phone rang out in my right hand. I glanced at the screen and my heart skipped a beat. It was my mom. "Excuse me," I held up a finger to Nicholas as I turned around.

"Hello mummy, good evening ma" I greeted as soon as I answered the phone.

"Good evening, my dear" she replied, an announcement played out in the background. I couldn't discern the words. "How are you?"

"I'm good, you?" I glanced back at Nicholas. He had settled back unto the sofa and now had his eyes on me.

"I'm better now that I am here" she chuckled

My brow knitted in confusion. "Here, where?"

"Guess?" I could picture her grinning through the phone. Her voice was high-pitched and filled with excitement.

That's weird. "Uh... I have no idea." I shook my head as if she could see me. "You have to tell me, mummy"

She chuckled. "I'm at the airport"

"I'm sorry, what?" I blurted out.

"The airport." She repeated and giggled. "Chimamanda, I'm at the airport o. The international airport in New York"

My blood ran cold and my eyes went wide. "H-here? Y-you mean you're here? In the US?"

"Ah ah, don't you understand English again?" she kissed her teeth. "I'm in the US o, yes. Come and pick me up. I can't find that your address on my phone anymore, if not I would've come myself"

Jesus Christ.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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