My Days
At Crown School
✒{Yewande Joseph}.✅
#EPISODE_40
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My little niece took her bath first, and before I c@m£ out of the bathroom, she had packed her clothes, and everything she nee-ded to my room. Still walking around in my towel, she ran inside with her shoes. I dressed her up, and immediately, she went out of the room parading the whole house for everyone to see her go-wn.
In my un-derwear, still deciding which of the go-wn to pick out of the two I brou-ght out. I heard my sister’s voice coming closer to my room. She entered my room, closing the door behind her. “Won’t I join you guys like this?” She walked towards me with her big tummy appearing first. She was getting bigger, and fatter. Pregnancy added so much flesh to her b©dy.
I turned to look at her. “So that you can eat the whole rice at the p@rty.”
She laughed and hit me. “It will soon get to your turn.”
“I’ve been fat once, so if today I become so fat again, it won’t be new to everyone. But this your own.. Is hmm…” I decided not to talk. She hit me again. “Ouch. Your hand is painful. Are you sure you’re the only one beating me?”
She laughed. “You’re not okay.” She carried her heavy b©dy out of my be-d, and walked out of the room calling her daughter to eat before leaving. I was dressed, in my off shoulder go-wn, matching it with one of my black heels.
Love and I hopped inside Austin’s car. I sat beside him, while Love took her seat at the back. I gave Austin a quic-k k!sson hisl-ips, but he moved closer and stole another k!ssagain.
“Austin,” I quic-kly cautioned him, and fastened my seat belt.
“One day, instead of us going, they will be the one to come for ours.” He said, and I smiled, followed by ‘Amen’. Austin is a kind of guy every girl wants. Sweet, caring, and faithful. I won’t think twice before saying yes the day he will propose. I love him, and he loves me too. I was sure of that.
Austin drove into the compound of Saint Anglican Church Victoria had told us. The building of the church was very tall and beautiful. Austin parked his car, and win-ked at me. “You gonna meet my sister for the first time,” he said.
“Your sister!” Guess that was why he insisted on coming too
“She’s also coming here. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“Just want to surprise you. And she is actually coming with her b©yfri£nd.”
“Surprise?” I couldn’t help laughing. Couldn’t believe Austin called that surprise. And the frown on his face when he mentioned his sister’s b©yfri£nd.
“Hey, why that frown when you mentioned her b©yfri£nd?”
He hissed. “I don’t like him. He’s one arrogant guy, and he’s not really into my sister. But my sister won’t get it that they weren’t young anymore. She likes the guy so much.”
I laughed seeing him so protective over his sister. “You’re just worried. She will be fine, and the guy will come around.”
Finally, we stepped down. Beside me, Love stood, clinging onto me.
Walking towards the entrance of the church, a Lady’s voice shouted from behind, and I joined Austin in turning my head to the back. Tall, slim, and fair in complexion. Her fitted go-wn ba-rely tou-ching her knees. Clinging to her b©dy, but made her look so beautiful.
“Gabi, you guys are here?”
The lady moved closer and smiled at us.
“Meet my girl, Suzy.” Austin introduced me to her sister, who immediately embr@ced me, and I couldn’t help but love her personality.
“Gabi we are late.” A very thick, rich, and S-xy voice said somewhere around, and I found myself swinging my head to see who it belongs to.
As much as I wish it wasn’t the voice. Two magic eyes landed on me, and I stood frozen, with my heart racing. As if waiting for me to look back, he stared back at me. I couldn’t help but immediately closed my eyes and looked away. It was ha-rd to keep staring. It was so ha-rd to deceive myself that I didn’t admire this man. Why was it so ha-rd to see him just like every other person sees him. Just as Victor. Just as Victor Stephen. Breathtaking wasn’t enough. Handsome wouldn’t fit in. My Victor was incredibly handsome. That young man had grown mighty fully big. A man every lady will de-sire.
Now I’m scared Austin alre-ady dislike Victor.
“Suzy,” Gabi interrupted my thought. “Meet my b©yfri£nd, Victor.” She announced, but I couldn’t trust myself looking at him.
Austin’s hand on my w@!st was so ti-ght as if someone would come take me away from him. I nee-ded to act strong.
“Hi,” I said, and brou-ght my hand towards him. He shook it, but I found my eyes stared back at him the moment I felt something on my palm.
He c@m£ prepared.
I quic-kly hid the small paper so Austin won’t suspect anything.
“Hmm..” Gabi cleared her throat. The atmosphere was not nice at all. Especially the two men who were not getting along. “Victor say hi to my brother.” Gabi said.
I saw Victor eye me, and his eyes roamed my b©dy. It was as if my breath was gone, because I couldn’t breathe, and I almost choke on my saliva.
“I won’t pretend to be friendly with you.” Victor’s thick voice c@m£ out harsh and rude. He re-moved his hand from his pocket raising his index f!nger.
“You have what I want, and I don’t think you will like the idea of me taking back what’s mine. So is better we keep hating.” He said and stared at me.
Stupid me.
Tears alre-ady formed in my eyes. I saw Austin’s head moving to my direction, and I quic-kly looked away. My eyes were becoming teary. I just hope Gabi didn’t see it.
“Now will you excuse me,” he said and walked away.
“You see what I told you!” Austin said in Anger. “He’s never going to marry my sister. Just see the way he was looking at you like.. God! I hate him. And what is that fv¢king thing he wants from me?”
“Austin! It’s okay,” I said. “Love stay with Uncle Austin, I’m coming.” I said to her. “Want to use the rest room, will join you.”
I excused myself. I asked from people, and found my way to the ladies room. When I got there, I allowed my tears to fall. It slowly rolled down my checks, as I couldn’t hold it anymore.
Oh Suzy, you shouldn’t cry.
Yes. I didn’t want to. But I just couldn’t help it. Why was it so ha-rd ? Why? I really love Austin. I love Austin, and he loves me too. I’ve moved on. I’ve
moved on. I tried to convince myself.
I brou-ght out the small piece of paper to re-ad what was inside.
?
“I miss you. Let’s talk.”
I to-re the paper with all the strength in me, and scattered it around.
I heard the door of the toilet closed and I quic-kly ru-bbe-d my face with my hands ruining my make up with it.
“It’s not up to this. ” I heard that familiar voice behind me like a whisper. “Talk to me.” His voice sounded pleadingly. I knew I nee-ded to be strong. I turned around, even though I knew my eyes, face was displa-ying something else.
“Suzy,” he called, and I met his face with my small hand landing him a h0t sl@p.
His eyes blinked, as if he saw stars. As I expected, he looked angry and furious. Hit a typical Nigerian man, and you just hurt his ego. I never expected a k!sslike the American actors would have done. I’m
in Nigeria. And it is Nollywood, not Hollywood.
We will have to settle this Shouting at the t©p of our voices.
“Don’t you t©uçh me!” I shouted, immediately I saw him moved closer to me, even after the h0t sl@p he got. “Victor can’t you get it. We don’t have anything to talk about. I love Austin, and he loves me too.” I made it clear to him. “And st©p with that nons-en-se you’re saying about. Who’s mine? Who is yours? I own myself. I am mine.” I said, and he started laughing.
Guess have been saying ru-bbish too.
“What’s funny? All I’m saying is I own myself, so quit saying that nons-en-se you said earlier. I’m happy now.”
He didn’t st©p laughing. His laughter was rowdy, fun, and contagious as always. But I managed not to smile. “My Suzy is becoming so fierce. Guess we will continue this conversation later. I still have other things to attend to. And plea-se t©uçh that make up. Hope that five f!ngersaren’t showing on my cheek.” He said, smiling at me, while I stood dumbfounded. He acted like nothing happened.
Did I suddenly turn to Helen Paul?
Or I look like Basket mouth that my look is enough
to make him laugh.
“You can take this to ru-b off, and adjust your make up.” He dropped the hanky and left, not looking back.
So what was the next thing I did?
I gently use the hanky to adjust my make up. Dabbing it gently on my face, I was finally good to go. Opening the door of the bathroom, a voice made me halt. It was familiar, but I didn’t know if it was for me.
“Wow!” The voice repeated again. “Isn’t she beautiful?” I turned and I was greeted with one of the faces I hate to see.
“Daniella.” It c@m£ out as a whisper. I wasn’t expecting to see her.
She laughed. “Exactly beautiful.” She laughed again, not reaching her eyes. “You just couldn’t forget me. One of your rivals right?”
She win-ked at me.
She’s crazy. I don’t like her, and I never for a
second thought of her.
“He looked more handsome shey?” She said. “S-xy, successful, rich, and that b©dy-”
“Just st©p!” I raised my voice. “How does that concerns me? I’m not here for him okay.” I st©pped her from saying anything about Victor.
She laughed wi-de, and moved closer to me. “You’re lucky you know. He c@m£ back for you. He left me for you. It’s just you.” She was sounding very angry, her voice was no longer sounding nice. “I don’t think it’s your beauty alone. What else are you using? You’ve not forgotten him too right?”
“Daniella, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve moved on. And he did too. He has his girlfriend, and I have mine. Sorry but this conversation is over.”
She laughed, enjoying herself. Flashing her red nails at me, she st©pped me. “You mean that one?” I knew she was referring to Gabi. “She’s too slow, dense, and she’s just one girl who doesn’t know what she wants. But our Victor. Our Victor…”
Why was she putting our?
She’s really insane.
She was even repeating ‘our’ as if Victor was some kind of property available on eBay.
“Why the face?” She was really enjoying what she was doing. I was angry, boiling inside of me, but I decided to keep quiet and just stared at her. “Well, our Victor nee-ds something like this. Like you,” she pointed her f!nger at me, and I felt like chewing that f!nger off. She stared at my b©dy, almost breaking her stiff n£¢k. “Be careful dear Suzy. Don’t go back running into his arms yet. I see he can’t take his eyes off you. And as every other girl, he would only end ul slee-ping with you, and enjoy this smashing b©dy.”
She finally reach the peak of my anger.
And not giving it a second thought, I met her face with my active and strong hand. Her eyes blinked at me in tears. No doubt. It was h0tter than the one I gave Victor, and her mouth which was dancing before, kept mute, and she bec@m£ voiceless. I didn’t see it coming. My right cheek bec@m£ h0t, and I could feel it throu-gh my b©dy. Fast and furious, my left hand struck her left cheek.
She would never get away with it.
Tears alre-ady formed in her eyes, as she was preventing it not to fall. She was surprised by my reaction. She stared at me in horror, re-ady to rip me all over. I caught her hand before she could repeat what she did earlier. “Really!” She sh0t back her tears. “I know you’ve always being a wicked bit-ch, but now, you’ve become so bit-chy.”
Still holding her hand high up, I returned the look she was giving me. “You can say Daniella. But this is not Crown school. Now I’m sure you will caution your mouth starting from today, to save yourself from a situation like this. Now plea-se excuse me.” I dropped her hand, and hurriedly walked away. I quic-kly dab the hanky to st©p the tears that was about to fall. My eyes bec@m£ filled with water. It was ha-rd to be sincere. But I knew I had to be strong, to save people from staring at me.
I hate them all. Especially her. Pretending to be
sweet and friendly.
I walked towards the entrance of the church, and took a step in.
“Now you may k!ssthe bride.” I was glad I witnessed that. I joined the rest in cl@pping, as the groom moved closer to his bride and k!$$£d her. I could see Victoria’s smile from where I was. This has always being her dream. And of course, every girl’s dream.
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Story_Continued