Chapter Three

Flash back

I sat down in my class waiting patiently for the time keeper to ring the bell for the end of this long break period. I raised my head up, dragging my yellow chair backwards, cringing at the scratchy irritating sound it made. The class was noisy and it being near the staff room which housed all class teachers made us a regular customer for punishments.

I looked around the class like an hawk in search of a prey, everyone seems to be minding their business, preparing for the forthcoming exams which were up in a few weeks time, the white board was already wiped off by the class rep, only the date could be seen on it, to my surprise every chairs and tables were placed in their right places, not the usual upside-down kind of arrangement.

Sam the shortest boy in the whole Empire highschool could be seen chewing a samosa and begging for a gulp of water from Jane the tallest girl in class. Last term he mistakenly kissed Jane when she was explaining an equation to him, I chuckled as I remembered the way Jane screamed like a banshee, the way everyone reacted with laughters and taunts, let's not forget the music David composed for them immediately it happened.

"Senior Sewa the head prefect boy is called you"  A voice rang in my ears.

I looked sideways to find a short tiny girl staring at me and breathing very fast.

I watched her as she brought out a purple inhaler, pumping two puffs into her mouth, my eyes widened at the sight of what came through her nose, gas or something like the smoke that comes out of a boiling water.

"You are asthmatic and you still play around carelessly?" I asked, my eyes lingering on her navy blue pinafore and sky blue under shirt, a junior obviously. So neat and fresh.

"I have a spare one senior, but the head boy is called you" she replied,  I could tell she was impatient, she probably couldn't wait to join her friends in the catcher catcher and hide seek game the junior students involve themselves in.

"And so, that doesn't justify your carelessness, always play with caution, is that clear? Now correct yourself " I ordered, giving her an icy stare.

"Head prefect boy is...... is........ is" she kept on stammering nervously, scratching her head all of a sudden

"Get the correct sentence before tomorrow" I said waving her off.

"This senior has started again" I murmured as I walked out of my large class towards Ss3A block

I entered the spacious class searching for the head boy with the extra large head. Litters of squeezed papers could be seen at every corner of the classroom with the tables and chairs placed haphazardly, some of the seniors were asleep, some were playing scrabbles and others were probably gossiping or discussing about the girlfriends and boyfriends they have in their imaginary worlds.

I was glad the class wasn't noisy, only the rattling sounds coming from the ceiling fans and low voices could be heard. I looked carefully this time and gave a sigh of relief as I found who I was looking for. He was laying down on some chairs placed side by side close to the window at the left side. I was jealous of these seniors, they were done with their exams, but they still come to school despite the freedom they have.

"Senior kene" I called out with a frown on my face, as I walked towards him. His navy blue and sky blue school uniform fits him to perfection, who am I kidding? Everything he wears looks good on him.

"Go and bring your maths note and textbook"  he commanded, not getting up.

I went back to my block, got everything and walked back to his class.

He was sitting up now, flipping through a text book on his bed.

"These are the items" I said, looking down at my toes and wondering what was about to happen.

"Come inside" he said, insisting I sit close to the wall, he raised his legs for me to pass. I walked in gently trying to avoid skin contact with him, then it became clear, I was now caged inbetween the wall's and him.

He brought out a new jotter, slamming it hard on the table, I jolted a bit and pretended to adjust the chair I was sitting on.

"Okay, I'm going to be explaining longitude and latitude to you and we will also treat word problems on equations, elevation and depression, just anything we can cover up. I saw your text script. Sewa you got zero. Was it that difficult?"  He asked, shifting his gaze to me.

My eyes shut up in surprise, I was so embarrassed, he saw my zero. It's not my fault I hated maths. How would the man teach us something and give us questions entirely different from what he solved.

"Yes it was " I replied as I played with my fingers, embarrassment washing over me.

I felt disorganized already, that was the last thing I needed someone to remind me. Zero in last test, my dad would crucify me.

"Okay let's get started " he said shifting closer to me, I shifted to the wall and he moved closer, I shifted again he did the same thing.

I held my breath, shutting my eyes tightly, trying to restrain myself from screaming.

"Sewa, I mean business here, I'm not biting you, okay! let's keep out any personal problems, okay! " he exclaimed, repeating 'Okay' as if the word as nerve magic.

"Okay" I  imitated, inhaling sharply, as I almost turned red from blushing.

He kept explaining, but I couldn't pick anything, maths was just one of my enemies, I kept on basking in his scent and the warmness of his body against mine instead, what a dream.

"Is that clear?" he asked, dropping the pen on the desk, turning to face me.

Wait, what is clear ?  Don't tell me he's done!

"Try these questions " he added, writing them down.

I watched him as he wrote out the questions, I pinched myself hard. Why didn't I pay attention, well let's welcome baby zero once again?

*******

He gave me five questions to solve, just one I have not attempted. I wish Grace and Fatima were the one explaining, at least they would surely prevent me from getting distracted. My pen suddenly became yummy that I couldn't resist the taste. Funny enough he kept watching me as I kept chewing my delicious pen.

"You didn't pay attention right?" he asked, as he flicked my forehead.

I scrunched up my nose, feeling sorry for myself.

"Sewa you are almost in the intermediary class and it might affect you. You know what? I'm telling your mum I'm going to be tutoring you in maths" he said, with an air of finality.

"What!  you won't do that" I whispered yelled. My eyes widened, that would only make matters worst.

"Pay attention then, jeez. You are so dumb" he shouted, unbuttoning the first three buttons of his sky blue shirt to reveal the sparkling white singlet underneath it.  Thank God for Hypo.

I tried to keep a stern look, but my eyes had an intention of its own. His face suddenly looks interesting. The tiny strands of hairs on his chin and the moustache beneath his nose made me realize something. Puberty already started showering its blessing on Kene. Suddenly I felt irritated by the 'dumb' he called me.

"Do you have to shout? Stupid !" I retorted, feeling more irritated.

"Block head " he replied, shifting closer to me.

"Get away jhur, who sent you before. Yes, I'm the block head you want to go out with" I said with the air of a lawyer who just won a case in the court of law.

"I thought I made it clear personal issues are out of this and you are not permitted to insult me, show me some respect" he replied winking. "Now let's get back to business" He replied, picking up the pen and began to explain all over again.

After explaining for some time, I finally understood the topics he taught me. What an accomplishment. I'm totally smarter than I thought, just need to focus more and practice more. As the saying goes 'Practice makes more perfection"

"Can I go now" I asked, packing up my books and waiting for his next order. I can do with a plate of party jollof rice and meats, not meat. Like what can one meat do in my stomach.

"So you are finally tired of staring at me abi" he said, balancing fully on the chair he was sitting on.

I copied his actions, crossing my legs and arms.

"I wasn't staring at you" I whispered, trying to defend myself, though I knew I just lied.

"Before nko, it was the chair you were starting at, girls sha" he said, chuckling.

I immediately dropped my arms and uncrossed my legs, facing him directly.

"What happened to girls ooo?" I asked, raising my voice.

"Sewa when will you give me a reply? or am I that ugly"  he whispered, giving me that look that makes me shiver.

Situations like this, when he keeps looking at me makes me nervous, shy and uncomfortable. I looked away immediately, focusing my eyes on the wall.

"Look at me now, or is my face scary?" he said in a low voice.

I wanted to tell him his face was absolutely not scary, I just wanted to let him know how good looking and delicious he was, but my mouth refused to open. But if it sees meat now, it will open wide on its own.

"Wait just look at me na, oyaa please na" he added, trying to persuade me.

I do not know where the sudden shyness came from. I had to close my eyes immediately.

" Stop.... I can't " I replied putting my head on the desk.

"Why? I'm not your type right, can't meet up with your taste, ugly Kene?" He asked, trying to get me talk, obviously.

Who am I kidding, As if he doesn't know he's the finest guy in school even with his big head.

"It's not like that and you know it" I pipped in, feeling a little bit guilty.

"Wait raise your head up, let's see the face " he whispered, tapping the table.

I raised my head up and our eyes met for a nanosecond before I looked away putting my head back on the desk

"Sewa....." he  chuckled as he brushed his hand over my braids.

I almost melted on the chair, it was like he should continue touching my braids, thank God I'm not butter or else I would have melted and he will just have to use agege bread to pack me.

"When should I be expecting a reply from you mmhh" he whispered into my ears.

Seconds ticked by, I was tongue tied. His questions kept echoing in my ears. His voice, I will gladly pay a sum of money to hear that voice in my dreams everyday.

"I don't know, I don't thi......" I stammered, finally getting the words to try and break up the silence.

"You don't what? " he asked, chuckling as if he noticed the hesitation in my voice.

"Okay a night to your valedictory service" I said in a rush. Feeling glad it didn't come out in a stammer.

"Kenechukwu let that girl go for break, what have you been teaching her since"  A voice shouted, cutting our conversations off.

I looked towards the direction where the voice came from, it was Senior Ada, the tall, slim punctuality prefect girl. Her navy blue skirt was fitted tightly on her waist, the sky blue shirt was unbuttoned revealing a pink tank top.  She made a mistake, she should have stripped naked. I watched as she played with the tips of her already old and roughened ghana weaving hairstyle.

"Small girl go to your class " she added eyeing me, as if I stole something precious to her.

Who is this one calling small girl?

Everyone knows Senior Ada has a crush on the head prefect boy.  I gently packed my things as I walked back to my block.

I could feel his eyes watching me as I walked out of his class.

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