Daniella episode 15

DANIELLA
💥
#Episode_15💊

 

I guess it is only in Nigeria that teachers would tell students to bring one cane each to school that they would still use to beat the students and upon that, threaten to punish the students if they failed to do so. For the first time, I was able to come early to school to meet the ongoing as-sembly and I was alre-ady beginning to regret it. I and the rest of the student b©dy had been standing for so long listening to the slim male teacher, who was standing on a platform, as he threatened to flog any student who failed to bring a cane to school tomorrow.
It’s just Monday. Give us a break!

“…And information got to me from the principal that your examination is going to kick off in two weeks time. So if you’re wise, better start studying for the exam. That said, I would like the ss1 student to give us a marching song.”

“I am a success all the time…” A high pitched and babyish voice started and some of the male s£nior students jeered at the singer before the whole students joined to sing as we marched into our various clas-ses.
Noise filled the clas-sroom as students trooped in.

“Hey Daniella, how are you? You met the school as-sembly today— first time in history.” Adam said as we both took off our school bags and sat down.
I smiled, “There’s a first time to everything, you know? And besides, I woke up very early today. Earlier than I usually wake up.”
Adam looked at me weirdly as though he was studying me. “You look so… so different, so pale. Are you sick?”
“No… Well yes I was. But I’m recovering.” I replied, surprised that he could tell that I wasn’t myself. Such a friend!
“That explains why you’re looking so…” He gr@bb£d my forearm suddenly which caught me off guard. “What happened to your hands?” He explained, his brows marred in a frown.
“Nothing jare! ” I said dryly as though it wasn’t a big deal.
“What do you mean nothing? Your hands are disfigured with marks and you’re telling me nothing.” He said still studying my forearms.

“Nothing really.” I said indifferently, taking my arms away from his hold. “I just crashed and sustained some injuries, that’s all.”
He scoffed, “And you expect me to believe that, you don’t even know how to lie.”

“Hey lovelies!” Gbemi said the instant she got to our seat. She g@sped. “My gosh! What happened to you? Who flogged you like this?” She looked so horrified as she asked. I never knew the marks were so obvious that anyone could just notice it at a glance or maybe Adam and Gbemi were just observant.
“Nob©dy flogged me!” I was quic-k to reply. “I fell down and this happened.”
“Lame Daniella, lame!” Gbemi said, “You’re such a terrible liar!”
“Exactly what I told her.” Adam added, “Why are you even lying Daniella. I mean, we’re your friends. What is there to just say you were flogged?”
“I wasn’t.” I lied again. I knew if I told them the truth, they’d probe further and not only was I scared of telling them about my background, I was also scared of losing two amazing friends. Who knows? Adam and Gbemi could defriend me if I told them that I was from the village. I couldn’t afford for that to happen.
“Then why are your arms like this?” Adam probe-d.
Just then, the clas-s teacher, Mr Nnamdi worked in with a smile etched on his face. The noise subsided and everyone stood up to greet him.

“Thank you, thank you. How are you all?” He asked. He seemed quite happy today.

“Fine sir.” Most of the students, with the exception of me, responded.

“How was your weekend?”
Bad! I wanted to scream, but I kept mute instead and waited for the cliché response the students usually gave. But surprisingly, the students gave different replies this time. Some students shouted “boring”, some shouted “fun”, while others, like Gbemi, shouted “just there, nothing much”.
“Have your seat.” Mr Nnamdi said and Gbemi walked to her seat as everyone sat down. “Clas-s captain, what subject do you have for the first period?”

“Civic education sir.” Ayo replied.

“I don’t always have to remind you to call the teacher, do I?” Mr Nnamdi said and Ayo hurried off to summon Mr Korede, the civic teacher.

Just then, Peter strutted into the clas-s with an aura of pride as though he owed nob©dy an apology or an explanation for coming late to school. His black hair was neatly combe-d, uniform was thor0ûghly ironed to a fault, one stra-p of his bag was resting on one arm and his smell… I could literally smell his baby powder odor from where I was sitting. A rumbling sound erupted in the clas-s and I heard something like ” oya boss!” coming from the row his friends sat.

“Good morning sir.” He mumbled as he made his way to his seat. He looked moody.

“Hey mister man, come back here.” Mr Nnamdi ordered and Peter halted in his steps and faced him. “See the way he even walked into the clas-s like his father owns the school. And even though your father owns the school, are you supposed to come late to clas-s? Answer me!”

He nodded his head. “No sir.” He answered coldly.
“Then why are you late?”

Peter threw a glance at the clas-s and then looked at Mr Nnamdi. It was a gesture of frustration. He took a sharp breath as he answered curtly. “Something c@m£ up.”

“Like?”

“It’s personal.”
Wow! From Peter’s response, one could tell that he wasn’t in a good mood and he didn’t even try to hide it. I couldn’t help but wonder why. To be honest, I was worried. I was alre-ady beginning to develop feelings for Peter so seeing him in such an unplea-sant mood made me feel some kind of way that I couldn’t quite explain. But it was in between sadness and anxiety.
“See me at the teacher’s staffroom during break.” Mr Nnamdi said to Peter as the civic teacher walked in, with Ayo trailing behind.
💖💖

“Yeah, so that’s how I got the marks.” I said to Adam and Gbemi as we walked back to the clas-s from the school cafeteria where we brou-ght gala and soft drinks. They kept pressurizing me to tell them the truth about how I got the marks on my arm and since I trusted them to some extent, I just had to, br@cing myself for whatever was next.

Gbemi curved herl-ips downwards and shook her head pitifully while Adam looked so irritated by my story.
“Wow! Those people are so inhumane. How could they? Don’t they have a heart?”

“That’s not a question Adam. Of course, they don’t!” Gbemi said, “And even if they do, I’m pretty sure it’s made of stone.” I was at a loss for what to say. I just wanted them to pour out their take on my story.
“And so Annabelle and Amanda are your cousins?” Adam asked.
“Uh-huh.” I nodded in affirmation. “plea-se let this remain here. Don’t tell anyone. Amanda could be evil. If she finds out that I told anyone this or that I’m telling my friends about her parents, she would definitely report and that would just land me into more trouble. I really don’t want any more trouble with that family.”

“We can’t possibly tell anyone. ” said Adam.
“Don’t worry, we won’t.” was what Gbemi said.
“So those twins are actually that mean.” A look of disappointment crossed Adam face as he asked.
“I’m even surprised myself. And I kind of liked them o.” Gbemi said.
“Amanda is the mean one. Annabelle is okay. She’s the only one that likes me a little in that house.”
“Why didn’t you want to tell us about this anyway?” Adam inquired, narrowing his eyes as he looked at me. We were alre-ady climbing the staircase to our clas-s.
“I just… I don’t know, I was kind of scared that you guys might not want to mingle with me again because of my background.” I shrugged, throwing a look at both Gbemi and Adam at my sides. I was in the middle of them both.
They bur-st out laughing.

I raised an eyebrow. “What? Why are you guys laughing now?”

“Girl! Wait! Wait!” Gbemi held my arm with one hand and the other clutched around her stomach as she tried to st©p laughing. “Wait, you actually think we’d st©p being friends with you because of your background? No! I was not friends with you because of your background in the first place, so why will I st©p being friends with you because of that?”
“That’s even stupid and childish.” Adam added, “Really I’m disappointed Daniella. You should have known us better by now. You should have known
me better by now.”
“Just leave it at ‘us’ abeg. ” Gbemi cut in immediately.

“I was just speaking for myself . ”

“You both have started. ” After I said that, I bu-mped into Prudence as the three of us turned to the left on the first floor, heading to our clas-s. My gala and soft drink fell from my hand in the process.

“Can’t you watch where you’re going?” Prudence spat out coldly as she eyed me. A slim girl was beside her.
“I’m sorry.” I said as I crouched down to pick up my fallen gala and drink.

“Why are you apologizing Daniella? See me see
wahala oh !” Gbemi cl@pped her hands dramatically. “You both bu-mped into each other, so why are you ma-king it look like she’s the one who bu-mped into you Prudence?”
“And what’s your business?” Prudence asked, gesturing at Gbemi.
“It’s my business. I wouldn’t let some bit-chy girl bit-ch around my friend anyhow.”
“Look, let’s just leave. She’s not worth it.” I told Gbemi who apparently looked like she was re-ady to trade comebacks with Prudence.
The other girl beside Prudence whispered something in Prudence ear and she immediately held me back. “You’re going nowhere. So you’re the clas-sless bit-ch that have been chasing Peter up and down, right?” She eyed me from head to toe. “You don’t even stand a chance.”
I wanted to respond, but Gbemi beat me to it.
“Look who’s talking? You’re so shameless, you know. All the time in this school, you’ve been chasing Peter but he never looked your way. I’m sure you know why. Well if you don’t, let me spell it out to you. You’re fat, ugly and prude. I mean, your name even implies the last one.” Gbemi bluntly said and I fought the urge to laugh.
“The next time you call me fat—”
“Hey Zi-p it.” Gbemi placed her hands in front of her face, hushing Prudence. “Now I see the reason why Peter is always running away from you— your mouth stinks so badly.” Adam and I snickered. Gbemi was unapologetically savage and I found it amusing.

“What’s funny about what she said? She’s so dry.” Prudence rolled her eyes as she said that. She was obviously defeated.
“But not as you dear.” said Gbemi.
“Look Daniella—”
Adam immediately spoke up, cutting Prudence off. “Listen Prudence, what you’re doing now is so petty. Just try to be civ—”
“Abeg Abeg.” She hushed him. “I don’t talk to people with psychological defect, so plea-se get your homo self away from my sight.”
“Ouch!” Adam whispered un-der his breath, but I heard him.
That was the last straw! I have had enough of Prudence. Angrily, I sl@pped her ha-rd across her cheeks, causing the girl beside her to g@sp.
Prudence held her cheeks and glared at me. “You sl@pped me Daniella?”
“The same way you wouldn’t like to be called fat since it probably dampens your self esteem, that is the same way others wouldn’t like to be called homo. Treat people the same way you want to be treated. It’s just a golden rule of life. Obey it and never taunt any of my friends again, unless you’d receive another sl@p from me. Let’s go Adam and Gbemi.” I said, ma-king sure to add enough effect to my voice.
“We shall see.” I heard Prudence say as we walked off to our clas-s.
Gbemi and Adam kept praising me for sl@pping Prudence until we reached the clas-s.
“Serves her right! She thinks she can just talk down on others anyhow. Who the hell does she think she is?” Gbemi was saying as I looked over at Peter. He was on seat with his head placed on the desk. What exactly was wrong with him? He looked so forlorn.
“Hey Daniella, Daniella.” Gbemi’s voice r!pp£dme off my thought.
“Huh?”
“Nawa o! What were you thinking of?”
“What’s wrong with him today?” I asked, gesturing at Peter.
Both Adam and Gbemi’s heads wh!pped to Peter’s direction and Adam said, “If you’re that worried, go and ask him. He’s your friend.”
“When did I ever tell you Peter was my friend?”
“You might not want to admit it, but you like that guy. And what is even more ro-mantic is the fact that he likes you too.” Adam said.

“Abeg! ro-mantic ko! Telemundo ni! Let’s be serious
jare. Has he ever been like that before?” I asked.

“Uh, actually yes! Sometimes Peter could be like that.” Gbemi replied, “The guy is somehow weird. One minute, he’s all out and c0cky. The next, he’s cold and all to himself.”
“And have you guys ever bothered to figure out why?” I asked.
“His cuteness actually intimid@t£s me. I can’t even approach him.” replied Gbemi.

“You know I didn’t like him.” Adam shrugged, “But Daniella since you care so much, why not ask?”

“Okay, I will.” That said, I made my way to Peter’s seat with my gala in my hand. When I got to him, I tapped his shoulder slightly and looked at Adam and Gbemi. They were both staring at us with a smile on their faces. I smiled at them.
Peter raised his head up.

“Hey what’s wrong? You’ve been like this since? If there’s something you’re hurting from, you can share it with me.”
He put on a weak smile.

“Say something plea-se. You are ma-king me worried.” I sat down beside him, held his muscular arm and shook him “Talk to me hubby!” I said in a baby voice.
He snorted as he grinned, revea-ling his white set of teeth.
“You’re smiling?” I smiled as I asked.
“You just called me hubby.”
“That’s my nickname for you.”
“I like it.” He said, grinning from ear to ear.
“So what’s up with you?”
“Nothing really. You’ve actually brightened up my mood.”
“Aw! I’m glad I did.” I t©uçhed my che-st dreamily.
“But why were you moody this morning?”
“Was I?” He c0cked his brows as though he didn’t know what I was saying.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Yes. It was obvious.”
“Wow, I’m surprised. I didn’t know that.” He answered evasively. I knew he was trying to hide the reason behind his moodiness from me, but I wasn’t re-ady to f0rç£ it out of him so I changed the subject matter instead.
“I don’t have your time today. Do you want gala?” I asked as I opened the gala and took a bite.
He chuckled, “No, I don’t. I’m not hungry.”
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Actually I’m not.” He looked at me seriously. “I’m curious about something.”
“Which is?”
“How did you get the bruises on your hands?” His question took me aback.
“Oh wow! He noticed. Well, I was flogged.”
He positioned himself on the seat in a way that he was now facing me well. “You were flogged? How? Who? I mean, what did you do?” He sounded anxious.
“Calm down Peter. I burnt the food in my house and this was the consequences.”
“This is insane!” He looked so angry. “How could a parent do this to his or her child? Parents are
fv¢ked up!” He emphasized the cuss word.
“I’m actually staying with my aunt.”
“Oh, I see. It would be safe to call her an animal for doing this to you.”
I chuckled, “Actually, she didn’t do this to me. Her husband did.”
“Wow ! I swear, if I see him, I’d beat him to death.” Peter bluffed.
I sm-irked, “Hmm, really?”
“If you give me the go-ahead, I would.” He shrugged, “So tell me, why aren’t you staying with your parents?”
I explained everything to him how that my parents died when I was very little and how that I was staying with my grandparents in the village before aunty Caro brou-ght me to the city. The surprising thing was, I did it without hesitation. I think I was letting my guards down for Peter too quic-kly.
“Wow! I’m sorry about that.” Peter said once I was done explaining everything to him.
“I’m over it.”
“Your story is one that I’ve heard a thousand times.” Peter said, “Hope they don’t maltreat you sha?”
“No they don’t!” I was quic-k to reply. I just didn’t think telling him that they maltreated me was safe.

“Daniella…” He held my hand with his warm and surprisingly soft hand and the feel was s-en-sational.

“Huh?” I answered. He looked straight at me with his hazel eyes and for some weird reason, my heart started to pick up its rate.

“I’m really sorry for those spiteful things I did to you then. I was just so stupid.”

“A good thing at least you admit you were stupid.”
He smiled. “I just really… uh… I”

The bell indicating that the break was over went off before he could complete his statement.

_________________

“You and Peter be giving us crush goals.” Gbemi said the next day. We were sitting on the cemented bench un-der the mango tree. By we, I mean Gbemi, Adam and me. It was break time.
“Crush what?” I asked, drawing my ear closer to her. I was sitting between the both of them.

“Crush goals.” Gbemi replied. “You both are so cute together that I just feel like having a crush that would crush on me back.”
“First of all, I’ve not told you that I’m crushing on Peter and secondly, speaking of crushes, do you have one?” I asked Gbemi.
“Nah!” She dragged it, scrunching her nose and the side of herl-ips curved upwards. “I’m so over guys.”

“Why?” Adam immediately asked. He had been quiet since we had our seat on the cemented bench.
“All of them are the same — cruel and heartless. I don’t trust them. Look, I just hate boys. End of story.”

“Wow! That means you hate me?” Adam asked, placing his hand on his che-st as though he was hurt.

“I said I hate boys.” Gbemi stated again and it took some seconds before I could get what she actually meant. “Are you a boy?” She asked and I swatted her arms as we both laughed.
Adam didn’t. He looked slightly offended.
“I was just joking Adam. Someone cannur pl@ywith you?” Gbemi asked in a singsong voice.
Adam rolled his eyes. “You indirectly insulted me Gbemi and it’s not funny. I don’t like that kind of pla-y.” He said with a serious tone.

“I didn’t know. Oya sorry.” Gbemi apologised. I, on the other hand, was still trying to stifle my laughter.
“Whatever.” Adam rolled his eyes and looked away.
Gbemi stood up from where she was sitting and walked up to him. “Oya sorry na. You’re a boy. What am I saying? You’re a man, a real man.” She said, tou-ching his cheeks and then she looked at me and we both bur-st out in a peal of laughter.
“Daniella, st©p ma-king me laugh na. ” Gbemi said, trying ha-rd to st©p herself from laughing.
“Who’s ma-king you laugh? Abeg, I dey laugh my own o. ” I defended.

“Your laugh dey make my laugh to dey laugh. ” Gbemi said in a pidgin English that I didn’t quite un-derstand and the three of us bur-st into a peal of laughter.
Adam’s laughter was the first to subside. “You’re so funny Gbemi.” He shook his head.
Gbemi walked back to have her seat and our laughter died down.
“I hate boys, but you’re not inclusive Adam because you’re different.” Gbemi said.

“But why exactly?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. The mood was now sober.

Gbemi exhaled de-eply and fiddled with her f!ngers. “I’ve never told anyone this before, so what I am about to tell you guys should remain a secret between the three of us. Is that clear?” She asked.

“Yes ma!” Adam and I said simultaneously.

“Okay when I was very little…” She trailed off as she squee-zed her eyes closed and exhaled. “I’m not so sure I can say this.”
I placed my hand on her th!gh. “Talk dear. Your secret is safe with us.” I reas-sured her.

“It’s not really about that. I trust you guys but… I just don’t like thinking about it. I try so ha-rd to clear the thought from my mind.”

Adam and I remained silent lost in our thoughts. I had no idea what was going on in Adam’s mind, but for me I was thinking of the possible reasons why Gbemi might not like the male population. Could it be that a guy broke her heart or that she was R@p£d? What could the reason be? I was curious to know but I didn’t want to f0rç£ it out of her. If she decides not to open up about it, then we had to respect her decision.
“I was just eight years old.” Gbemi said soberly. “I can vividly remember that day like it happened yesterday. My parents were not around. It was only my younger bro and I that were at home. We were actually living in a compound with some neighbours. So on that day, we were pla-ying football together and then I accidentally kicked the ball and it hit one of our neighbour’s ap@rtment door. That was actually our favourite neighbour. His name was Ezekiel. As far as I’m concerned, he’s dead to me. Then he usually bought us cheese ba-lls and chocolates, that’s why we liked him. So when the ball hit his door, I wasn’t scared. He actually lived alone. With a free mind, I ran to get the ball and then he c@m£ out of his ap@rtment. I remember greeting him and he smiled at me toothily. He then looked around the surrounding and told me to come in. I asked why and he said he wanted to give me cheese ba-lls. I was so happy and naive also that I followed him into his house. I remember he locked the door and sat on the chair in the living room and then asked me to sit on his l@p and hvg him. Though I was young and naive, something felt strange about his request, so I refused.” Gbemi took a de-ep breath and cracked her knuckles before she continued.

“Then he promised to buy me a lot of cheese ba-lls and chocolate if I did what he asked. Hearing that made me happy and I did as he requested.”
As she said that, Adam and I exchanged looks and then turned to look at Gbemi again.
“Then he pe-cked myl-ips. I smiled and asked why he did that. He said he liked me and that he was going to marry me and that he had told my parents about the marriage.” Gbemi said, ma-king Adam and I chuckle.

“It’s funny right?” Gbemi smiled, “Well the end of it isn’t. Anyways I believed everything he said and then he started to k!ssmyl-ips. Not the ton-gue to ton-gue k!sses though. Afterwards, he unZi-pped his trou-sers and took out his alre-ady ha-rd and raised d!¢k. Believe me, I was scared. Something told me it wasn’t right, but what could I do? I was young and naive. Guess what he told me to do next?” Gbemi asked rhetorically. “The stupid man told me to stro-ke his d!¢k. I refused and he threatened to beat me and not buy me cheese ball and chocolate if I don’t do it. Out of fright, I did as he requested and then he put his d!¢k in my mouth and told me to svçkit like I svçkmy lolli-pops. I knew that wasn’t right, so I bit his d!¢k and ran towards the door to escape but unfortunately for me, the door was locked. He c@m£ after me and sl@pped me ha-rd across my cheeks, carried me and threw me on the chair. Then he R@p£d me.” Gbemi voice faltered with her last statement.
Unconsciously, tears streamed down my eyes and Gbemi covered her face with her palms and cried on my shoulders. I clasped my arms around her to console her.
“I sincerely feel your pain but it’s all in the past now. It’s okay.” I said.
“It’s not okay!” She said in between muffled sobs. “Men are wicked Daniella.”
“Not all men Gbemi.” Adam said, “I know what he did was hurtful but one man’s act shouldn’t fix the perspective on your mind that all men are devils. Some are actually angels, at least think of the man that got married to your mum.”
“Adam is right.” I ch!pped in.
“When a man that I as-sumed to be an angel R@p£d an eight year old girl, what else do you want me to think again. I don’t even know a good guy when I see one. All of them just appear to be devils to me. I simply can’t trust guys anymore. And don’t bother trying to talk me out of the perspective.” Gbemi withdrew herself from my arms and wiped the tears off her face.

“I would. I mean, why would you generalise something that a single person did? Come on! It’s like saying all Catholics are sinful just because you heard the pope was found fornicating.” Adam pressed on.
“Adam, this isn’t helping at all.” Gbemi said.
Adam shrugged, “Okay o. Anyways, just like you were abused when you were little, so was I.”
Gbemi looked at him with surprise and curiosity. “How? Do you mind sharing?”
“No, I don’t. I’ve actually told Daniella before and I believe that you’re also trustworthy.”
Gbemi looked at me. “He has told you before?” Her voice was lower as she asked.
I nodded my head in affirmation. Afterwards, Adam began to narrate his ordeal with his g@y uncle to both of us. Gbemi kept exclaiming, but since I had heard the story before, I didn’t express any form of surprise.
“What? That’s appalling!” Gbemi exclaimed, scrunching her face in disgust. “That man is nas-ty. He deserves to go to hell.”
“I know, right!” I said.
“So you see, you’re not the only one with a terrible past.” said Adam.
“And you see, it’s still a guy that did that to you. Like I said before and I’d continue to say, men are wicked.”
“You’re entitled to your opinion. “Adam said and then hit my l@p slightly. “Abeg, let’s go to the clas-s before the break is over.”
The three of us stood up from the cemented bench. I adjusted my Sk-irt, Gbemi stretched, while Adam properly tucked in his alre-ady tucked in shi-t.
“Wait, lemme pluck some mango.” Gbemi said as she took a small stone from the ground and aimed at a mango on the tree. The stone hit the mango and it fell on the floor with few leaves. She ran towards it and picked it up. Removing the sand from it, she said, “I’d wash you at home.”
“plea-se pluck for me na!” I begged. Plucking mangoes was something I knew how to do very well. In fact, I could climb trees, but today, I just didn’t feel like it, so I wanted Gbemi to do it for me.

“Let’s go to the clas-s abeg. ” She said.

“Wicked girl.” I hit her bu-ttocks and ran. She chased after me.
As we were climbing the staircase heading to our clas-s, Charles and one other tall guy were walking down the stairs, so we collided. The guy kept going down, while Charles stood in my way. I moved to the right to excuse him but he blocked me. I moved left, he did the same.

I sighed exasperatedly. “What is it Charles?” I asked, Gbemi and Adam had reached the heading of the stairs. “plea-se wait for me o.” I told them.

“No don’t worry, be going. I want to have a word with her.” Charles said, holding the handrails. Adam and Gbemi walked off.
“Word with me? What do you want Charles?”

“Guy you’re coming or you dey toast babe?” The other guy that was walking with Charles asked, as he climbe-d up to meet us.

“I dey come. ” Charles said in pidgin English and then the guy walked off. Charles turned to look at me and a smile danced on his face. He had a really cute smile.
“What? Why are you smiling?” I c0cked one eyebrow as I asked.
“You’re too beautiful, you know?” He complimented and I found it cheesy. “Your beauty is killing me softly.” He t©uçhed his che-st as he said it.
“St©p it plea-se.” I said coldly.

“What’s the matter? Why are you cold on me?” He asked.

“I’m tired of standing. I want to go my clas-s plea-se.” I said tiredly.

“Is that why you’re like this?”

“Duh!” I rolled my eyes.

“Yes I’ve been meaning to ask you, why is that Peter guy always acting up whenever I’m around you?”
“I really don’t have an answer to that. Why don’t you ask him?”
“Is he your b©yfri£nd?”

“No.”

“Can I be your b©yfri£ndthen?” He asked and a smile tugged on his face.

“Sorry?” I said, not like I didn’t hear him the first time but I just wanted to be sure I heard right.
“You heard right. I want you to be my girlfriend.” He stated clearly.

I t©uçhed his n£¢k with the back of my hand. “Oh I see, you’re sick. Why don’t you go to the hospital instead of joking around here.” Sarcasm was laced in my statement.
He lifted one of his eyebrows. “I’m not joking and I’m not sick. I really like you Daniella and I want both of us to be a thing.”
Just as he said that, the bell rang indicating that the break was over. Hallelujah!

“Break is over. I have to be in clas-s.” I said and brushed past him.

He held my wrist, st©pping me. I turned to look at him. “I’d give you time to think about it and plea-se let your response be positive.”
“Okay. Now can I go to my clas-s?”

He let go off my wrist and I walked off to the clas-s. Many students walked into the clas-s with me. I pushed my bag from my seat and sat down.

“Would I be prying if I asked what Charles told you?” Adam asked, lifting his head from the novel he was re-ading.
“You know I don’t un-derstand your English. What’s prying?”
“To be nosey… To… Never mind. What did Charles tell you?” He asked, hitting my shoulders lightly.

“He asked me to be his girlfriend.”
He gagged, stifling his ensuing laughter. “And your response?”

“The bell rang before I could reply.”

“What would have been your response, if the bell had not rung?”
I shrugged and gave him a duh look. “No.”

“But he gave you chocolate?”

“So?”

“My wristwatch o!” Ayo, the clas-s captain, exclaimed. “Who took my wristwatch from my locker?” He asked aloud, earning the attention of everyone. Nob©dy responded. Some boys started to laugh and I heard something like “God have catch you today.”
“This is not funny o.” Ayo said. “I bought that wrist watch one thousand naira.”

“So because of one thousand naira wristwatch, you’re na shouting.” Peter, who was chatting with his friends, spoke up and many heads turned to look at him.
Ayo was going to attack Peter when Mr Nnamdi, our clas-s teacher, walked into the clas-s. “Break is over guys! St©p disturbing the whole school.”

“Sir!” Ayo spoke up. “During break hours, I kept my wristwatch un-der my locker only for me to come back and not find it.”
“You mean your wristwatch is no longer in your locker?” The teacher asked for clarity.

“Yes sir!” Ayo sounded frustrated.

“Have you asked the clas-s?” Mr Nnamdi asked.

“Yes, that’s what I was doing before you walked in.”

“And nob©dy confessed that he or she took it?”

“Nob©dy sir.”

“Search their bags.” Mr Nnamdi instructed. “Everyone bring out you bags now.”

Everyone did as told and Ayo started to search everyone’s bag. Who could have stole his wristwatch? Whoever it was deserved to be punished severely. When Ayo got to Adam and I seat, he searched my bag and I wasn’t bothered because I wasn’t the thief. Now I’m sure you can imagine how shocked I was when he brou-ght out a wristwatch from my bag.

“Looks like I’ve found the thief.” Ayo said.

 

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Story_Continues✔