Esse - Episode 5

 

It was noontide already, the sun was out and hot, but the weather was still cool; a little breezy and hot, I didn't know how to decipher that. The girls had finally decided to carry their books to class, including me. We had been aimlessly playing, chatting, and doing a lot of non-academic things in the hostel. We had no lectures today, because of unknown reason . The teachers were busy, that was the only info I got when I went to Mr. Jonathan's office, earlier that morning.

I trolled my box of books lazily behind me as Amarachi, Dammy and I were chatting animatedly about Wattpad; our usual topic. We were talking about which of us should write a book, and what it should be about. "It should be themed elsewhere jhoor, Nigeria is a not a nice setting," Dammy said in her thin voice, trying to make a point that only pissed Amarachi off.

Amarachi frowned angrily as she hissed. "It's now I know you're dumb. People have been telling me oh, but I was doubting them, but now it's confirmed. Your own country. You're a disgrace to Nigeria." She hissed again.

Dammy felt bad, and knew she was wrong, but she didn't want to accept defeat. "I'm not a disgrace to anything, is this even a country? See how everything is, is it a country? Abegi, you're just being aggressive, like you always are."

Amarachi laughed humorlessly. "What concern aggressive in the matter

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. You're just proving everyone right. And for your information this is a country. If it's not a country, why are you nah here? If it's not a country, why are you schooling and living her? Chai! You're foolish oh!" Amarachi said in her cocky tone as she laughed, she only made it pain Dammy more.

"Enough!" I shouted as Dammy was about to reply. "Stop the bickering, we've passed that stage nah," I said hoping it would calm things down, but I was deceiving myself.

"No, forget bickering now. Dammy is fond of this nonsense. Comparing Nigeria to other countries, saying we are nothing. Her own country? Ah, that one is not sense nah. Abeg tell her." Amarachi tried to drag me into their fight, but I wasn't interested in joining.

Amarachi had a point, and Dammy had hers too. But seriously arguing over it? Not me.

"Amarachi nah." I gave her the pleading look. As i turned to Dammy. "It's so funny, you know deep deep deep down in your mind that Amarachi is right abi?" I asked her, she didn't reply me. "So stop comparing Nigeria, and Amarachi would stop 'doing you anyhow', isn't it Amarachi." I looked at both of them. We had stopped on the road, to settle their funny fight.

"I can't promise I won't bicker with her again oh, me I like it. But if she stop comparing Nigeria, I won't argue Nigeria." I laughed at Amarachi reply.

"Esse!" I looked straight, to the direction of the person that called my name. It was Matthew. I ignored him and turned to the girl to continue talking, I hated when people shouted my name. "If you like snub me, but your parents are in the class oh, they've been waiting for you oh! Better hurry, they're getting impatient." With that he entered the school compound back, shutting the wine gate behind him. What are they doing here?

I hurriedly continued trolling my box towards the school building, Dad didn't like waiting. He detested it with passion, that why he hardly had a case that would be adjourned a lot. The girls tried lifting their heavy bags, but it was a little too heavy for them. "Don't worry I'd try to see if I can get two guys to help you guys, I have to go now. My parents will be mad by now." I didn't wait for their answer, as I left them behind and continued my journey.

"We should be allowed to fill the form without her." My dad had started his complaint. "If you people knew you wanted the child decision, why call us?"

I rushed into my class, and spontaneously trolled my box to my desk  and left it there. "Joseph pls tell two boys to go and help Amarachi and Dammy, their bags are too heavy." With that I rushed out.

"You owe me one!" I heard Joseph shout as I exited the class. Joseph and I had gotten strangely close, within one week.

I walked into Mrs. Olumide office, which was beside our class, that was how I heard my dad's complain. Mrs. Olumide was my class teacher, and also my C.R.S educator. "Oh, there she is," Mrs. Olumide said in joy. I'm sure she was never more excited to see me, than she was that moment.

"I'm sorry I was late, I wasn't informed about this meeting. " I tried to give a wise excuse.

"What? Weren't you at the assembly last week Monday?" she asked completely shocked. Assembly? Assembly? Oh...principal's important information. I wasn't concentrating. My mind was in Prince Charming. When i didn't talk, she sighed. "All SS3 parents are all arriving today, to make decision with them on the nine subjects they're pleased to do," she explained patiently to me. She brought out the form and gave it to my parents, my dad collect it and walked out. I followed him, sheepishly.

My dad didn't waste a sec when he got to the car, he brought out a pen from his trousers right pocket and started filling the form. My opinion was useless.

I stood there, until he finished. He gave me the form, and got into the car without saying a word to me. "The next time I have to wait for you again, you'd regret that day. I'd not flog you. You know me well no cane or violence, but what I'd do to you, you'd never forget it," he said after he had started the ignition. My mom didn't say anything, she simply waved me as my dad drove off. I was supposed to feel hurt, but I was used to it.

I opened the form and check what he put in for me, all the subject were fine except, economics? I don't want economics! I don't like that subject! I'm still struggling with maths, and economics is simply an addition to my headache! I want music! I started crying internally. What is this? He didn't give me a chance to choose. I'd definitely call him, we must argue this.

Grrh!

The bell went off, that day academical period had ended and the students had started rushing to the dining hall. Instead I walked to Mrs. Olumide's office, dropped the form, and went back to class instead of the dining. I started arranging my books in my locker. I made sure I finished my arrangement, before I finally went to the dining.

When I got to the dining, it was empty, except for my table which still had a member on it. The closer I got, the sooner I realized it was Ebun. "That's your food," she said immediately I got to the table as she pointed to the only plate of beans and plantain on the table. And with that she walked out to the washing arena, to wash her plate.

I sat down on the first seat; my body was there, but my spirit wasn't. I looked at my food blankly, as I kept on wondering why I was born into such a family. A father that's so selfish and cares about nothing except what he wants, and a mother who won't fight for you but instead makes matters worse. I fiddled with my food. I had lost appetite. "What's wrong? Why are you thinking?" Ebun asked as she took the seat opposite me.

What's her business with what I'm thinking? She trying to pry into my life, so she could turn it to school gist abi? "What's your business? Your amebo is too much, better go and mind your business. It's no longer school matter you're prying in now abi? You now pry in people's private life," I said with pure anger, the anger of my father's aggressiveness and her intrusive spirit. "Must you be so intrusive all the time?"

She laughed, real hard. What's funny? Why is she laughing? I didn't crack a joke, I only asked her a question. After laughing, she finally spoke up. "I know you hate me and all, and I also know you prolly hate me because you heard my new year resolution was to do amebo and know every school latest gist, but that doesn't mean I spread rumours. And I'm also not intrusive, I have a sharp sense of hearing. And when I hear, I know the information I let out, and the ones I don't." She gave me a warm smile, and all I could do was smell trust. Why do I hate this girl? "You know, I lost my paternal grandfather to high blood pressure, he used to think a lot. He was the only grandparent I met, and I was very close to him. His death was one of the most awful things that happened to me. Ever since then, I don't let people think."

Her words stringed my heart, I suddenly felt like a bad person. "I don't know." She looked at me bemused. "When you started your sentence, you said 'you know'. And now I'm telling you, that I don't know." She laughed heartily, and all I could see was a sweet girl. The hatred I felt for her had all suddenly disappeared. I felt weak, and wicked. I seriously didn't have a specific reason to hate this girl. I was simply jealous because of the fact that, she was loved by a lot of people. And the fact that she was once Joseph's girlfriend. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" she asked confused.

I'm sorry for everything, for hating her, for my prejudice, and for every wrong thing I have said about her and done to her. But I didn't want to look weak. "For your loss."

She chuckled. "It's no p, I'm getting over it already. And can you do me a favor of telling no one, I've told no one." I felt sincerely flattered. I'm the only person she has told? I was more than glad.

What am i doing? I must be very tired. It's affecting my thought and behavior.