?Empire High School ?
? Chapter 16?
? Katherine’s POV?
I awoke to a cool morning. It was Thursday. I l@yon my be-d in silence for a moment. Thinking again of the face of the handsome black guy I saw at the MiniMart yesterday. Jeffrey! I thought of
him before I drifted into sleep minutes after mom exited my room.
Jeffrey looked different on Mufti. So fresh looking, cute nose, tall with well built b©dy features (ti-ght muscles and broad shoulders)
I was indeed surprised to see Jeffrey at the Minimart. It seems that woman who introduced herself as Aunty Joke was his boss.
Does it mean that Jeffrey works to sustain himself?
Since Cullen once told me that People thinks Jeffrey attends EHS on welfare.
Was he really from a poor background?
I pondered de-eply
I gro-an ed in frustration when I recalled how I’d acted like a Fool! I couldn’t get my words out properly.
And I was fine with Aunty Joke before Jeffrey joined us. A sour expression and i noticed his eyes were red.. Like he had cried.
Kate you are so stupid! Acting like a dummy!
I sl@pped my cheeks
“How could you let go of such an opportunity?” I said
The truth was I’ve always wanted to speak to Jeffrey but it seems he wasn’t interested in being friends with anyb©dy. Everytime we meet, all I do was stare and stare I did like an idiot as I tried to get words pas-s the ti-ghtness in my throat and Jeffrey ends up walking away from me. And I’m not always happy each time he does it. He should have given me more time to pu-ll my words together.
“What about yesterday? He greeted you but all you did was stare at the counter. He tried to talk to you but you ran off like someone who had seen a ghost”
I was so embarras-sed!
I gro-an ed again
“God, let there be another chance” I prayed in my mind. What?! Why am I praying to God because of Jeffrey?!
What the hell was wrong with me?
I can’t seem to get him out of my head.
I suddenly thought of visiting the sto-re again just to see Jeffrey.
Do I want to see him?
Yes!
But it so sad that I can’t leave home. Where would I tell my parents I’m headed?
Dad would definitely add to my punishment if he finds out am visiting the sto-re just to see a boy!
I sl@pped myself again
“St©p thinking about Jeffrey! You’re in school to re-ad your book, mind your business and pas-s your exams”
I reminded
Then I heard footsteps by my door, followed by a soft knock.
“Come in” I said
And my mom walked in
“Good Morning Mom”
“How was your night?”
“I’m fine Ma”
She c@m£ to my be-d and hvgged me.
Mom drew back and stared at me
“What happened to your face?”
I t©uçhed my face
“I mean your cheeks.. I can see red lines on them”
Oh! I’ve been sl@pping my cheeks out of frustration and anger towards myself for behaving like a fool!
“It wasn’t there last night” she said
I sank un-der my blanket and covered my face.
“Did you hit your face?” Mom asked with a concerned tone
“You don’t want to know mom” I said
She pu-ll-ed at the blanket but I held on ti-ghtly.
“Kate you know that you can always tell me anything” she persuaded
“Yes, I know but its different now”
“How?” She asked
I re-moved the blanket and pushed myself up to a comfortable sitting position.
“I hit myself out of frustration”
“What frustration?.. And why?”
“Oh mom.. I’m not okay”
She flared up and moved closer to me, checking my eyes, palms and temperature.
“Kate I trust you but you nee-d to tell me what’s going on” she panicked
“Mom, I’m not sick..Or pregnant” the words rolled off my ton-gue.
She let out a sigh of relief
I stared at her and said
“I nee-d to ask you something”
I nee-ded to know what was true, if my mind was alright too.
“Go on.. I’m listening”
She said
“You see.. ” I paused and bit my lowerl-ip
“What does it mean… when you see someone..No.. I mean.. Oh Mom -” I closed my eyes
Should I tell her about it?
What if it turns out to be a thing that is very bad to her?
My mom held my hands and squee-zed them gently.
“No secrets” she reminded
I reopened my eyes and exhaled de-eply.
“There’s a boy in my clas-s named Jeffrey but everyone at school call him Ghost”
“Why?”
“He doesn’t talk to anyb©dy” I explained Jeffrey’s personality to her.
“I feel concerned about him, and I think there’s more to that sad look”
“So have you tried talking to him?”
“Yes but each time I try, I can’t seem to get my words out. I saw him at the sto-re yesterday, Jeff spoke to me for the first time but I couldn’t say anything and I ran out of the sto-re”
I placed my head on the headboard.
“How do you feel anytime you see him? I mean do you have any special feelings whenever you see him”
“Yes Mom”
“A feeling you get anytime you are with other boys?”
“No! Its different”
“Your heartbeat ra-pidly like it going to pop out and you feel drawn to him. And you wish that you could just get him to talk to you”
“Yes…”
A smile formed on herl-ips.
“Mom this is not a time to joke”
I couldn’t talk to Jeffrey but I was happy he spoke to me. I existed for that momet as I fought the urge to t©uçh his face. I felt this jo-lt of electricity run down my spine as my f!ngersbrush his when I
snatched the money from him.
“Mom.. What’s going on with me?”
She was silent
“Mo.. ooommmm” I was almost crying.
She spre-ad her arms out and I hvgged her.
“Morenikeji Mi, humans only have this feeling when they’re falling in love”
“What?!” I pu-ll-ed away from her quic-kly
She nodded
“That’s imposible!” I said
“It’s possible you’re falling for Jeffrey”
“Oh no.. Why is everything so complicated?”
I fell back on my be-d
“Falling in love wasn’t on my plan”
“You can’t do anything about it. Human are bound to fall in love”
Now I was falling in love with the school most gentle boy.
What if he doesn’t feel the same for me? And he was secretly in love with another girl in clas-s?
That means unrequited love again!
I so much hate it!
“Falling in love isn’t a bad thing. You only have to control yourself so you won’t end up doing the wrong thing..like falling into sin all in the name of love” my mom said
I sat up quic-kly and sh0t her a pleading look.
“Mom don’t tell dad I’m in love with a boy in my clas-s” I pleaded
“Come on..This is between us”
I hvgged her
“Thanks Mom”
“Don’t let that feeling distract you. Remember old soldier want the best result”
“Yes Mom”
“Don’t let love get into your head”
“But.. Mom don’t you think I should avoid Jeffrey”
“Why?”
“I’m just thinking about it.. Avoiding him..might..kill the.. Feelings”
“That’s not a right thing to do. Aside loving him, you know Jeffrey nee-ds someone to help him out of that lone shell. So why don’t you work on getting close to him so you can find out why he’s
unhappy?” Mom said
“Okay.. I’ll try”
She hvgged me again. I was feeling thankful to God for giving me such a good and caring Mother.
•••
•••
•••
?Jeffrey’s POV?
I pushed myself up and got out of be-d when i remembered that Aunty Joke was coming to our home this morning.
Last night i thought of Kate till I fell asleep. I apologized to my dad and Stepmom when I c@m£ in
last night but I didn’t eat her food because I ate bre-ad and groundnut before closing the shop. My dad called my aunt to confirm if I was telling the truth and Aunt joke told him I had taken dinner.
And she used that chance to tell him that I would be staying at her place till monday. Dad said there was no problem. I packed my clothes into an hold all bag last night, fully prepared to work on
my well structured plans.
“Jeff”
My step mom called behind the door. I went to the door and opened it.
“Good Morning Jeff” she greeted
I flashed her a half smile
“How was your night?”
“Fine..Thanks”
She was happy I apologized to her last night. Dad made me promise him that I would be nice to his wife. And I did even though I won’t be all that nice to her. I still don’t trust her.
“Your Aunt is here” she said
“Oh tell her I’ll be downstairs soon”
I said and closed my door before she could say anything. I took a quic-k shower and opted in for a blue fitted jeans and black Louis Vinton t©p.
I rushed to the kitchen and gr@bb£d few slices of bre-ad and a cu-p of tea. I carried it to the dinning room. I saw Aunty Joke, she c@m£ with semilore.
“Uncle Jeffrey!” She rushed to me
Semilore was 5years old.
“Hey baby cousin!” I gave her a high five and carried her up in my arms as I made my way to the sitting room.
“Good Morning Dad” I greeted him
“Uncle Jeffrey are you coming to our home today?”
“Yes.. Aunty good morning”
“How are you?”
“Fine”
Semi cl@pped her hands excitedly.
“She didn’t allow me to rest after I told her you are coming to stay with us. She insisted that she wants to come with me to your place”
Aunty Joke explained
“I thought she was pla-ying me again” Semilore said
And he laughed
“Semi the smart girl” my dad said
“Where is your bag?” Semi asked
“Its in my room”
“Are you re-ady to leave?” Aunty Joke asked
“Yes.. But I want to eat breakfast”
“I prepared rice and I dished yours in the cooler” my Stepmom said
“I’m fine with bre-ad and tea. I don’t want to eat rice”
“Okay” she answered
“Go and eat” Aunty joke said
I moved away from them and I heard Aunty Joke apologizing to my stepmom. I placed Semilore on a chair and gave a slice of bre-ad before I settled to eat my food.
•••
•••
•••
?Katherine’s POV?
It was Friday. I turned off the shower and stepped out of the bathroom only to find Pat in my room with my clothes neatly folded in her hands.
“Sorry Kate for coming in without your permission. I c@m£ in when I didn’t get any response”
“It’s okay Nanny Patricia” I said
She dropped the clothes in my wardrobe.
“Your dad wants to see you” she said
“Okay.. plea-se tell him I’ll be out soon”
She nodded and moved out of the room. My dad was traveling to Malaysia today on a business trip while mom was leaving to check the affairs of her boutique in Kaduna.
They were seated in the sitting room with their bags by their sides. I knew they would be gone for about 2-3 weeks.
“We’re leaving” my mom said
I nodded
She c@m£ to me and dropped few notes in my hands.
“Manage this token, I’ll s£nd more into your account when I get to Kaduna”
“Thanks Mom”
Pat dragged their bags out of the house.
“Come closer” My dad ordered
“You’ve started again old soldier, give her what you have and st©p scaring child with that voice”
Mom said with a frown.
“Pele o Iya omo”
He opened his suitcase and brou-ght out a bundle of money. I watched him count #15,000.
“This is your allowance for the last 6 weeks” he said
I was stunned
I exchanged glances with my mom. She signaled to me to collect it.
Dad said no allowance and now he was giving me my allowance. He counted another #10,000.
“Use this to sustain yourself in case you nee-d to buy anything at school”
Another shocker!
I collected the money.
“I’ll s£nd more money to your account if I don’t return in two weeks time”
I went on my knees and thanked him.
And while on my knees, dad did the most surprising thing.. He brou-ght out my cellphone!
I tried to control myself myself from screaming out loud!
“You can have your cellphone before this woman will kill me. Look she has refused to give me my right because of you” He said
Mom laughed
“I know that’s your weakness” she said
“Thanks dad” I gave him a quic-k hvg.
Has he forgiven me? I wondered
“We’ll talk when I return but for now stay safe and be a good girl” he said
I nodded
He stood up
“Don’t forget I want the best from you”
He gave me a stern look
“I’ll try my best” I said with a hvge smile.
Dad moved out of the house.
“Thank you Mom!” I hvgged her
“Anything for you Sunshine” she drew back and pinched my cheeks gently.
“I’m so happy Mom”
“Same here.. Even though I didn’t get to tell him the truth but I managed to persuade him to take back his rules”
“I love you too. Don’t forget to go and save your money in the bank”
“Can I go today?”
“Of course.. Just keep a token at home. And am sorry to inform you, no pri-vate car yet, Yusuf is coming with me to Kaduna but I promise you’ll have him back when I return home”
“No problem Mom”
“Take care of yourself and stay safe” she k!$$£d my forehead.
And I followed her to the car. I thanked them before Yusuf drove out of the compound.. Now it was just me, Pat and Shehu(the gateman)
“Nanny I nee-d to get to the bank” I said to pat
“Okay” she replied
I raced to my room to switch on my phone. I stuffed my money in a cross bag and changed my clothes to a better outfit. I will have a good time at the Cinema after saving some of the money in the bank.
??????????????
Awwwwww, so cute, double blessing.
But wait yo. Did she just confess her love for our ghost man. Awesome!!!!!!!! ?