Some say love makes you do stupid things; things you won't normally have done. But what do I know? I'm not an expert on the subject love-- infact, I have never even fallen in love before or fancy any girl. But all that was about to change when I met Cynthia.
**** 7:00 am, Monday ****
I stood in my room, fastening the buckle of my belt on my school uniform trouser when I heard my mom's footsteps accross the corridor towards my room until it finally stopped halfway. Then she called out to me in a loud voice. "Tobi, breakfast is ready. Hurry up so daddy can drop you off at school"
"Just one minute mom" I called back in haste and rushed to carry my school bag ontop my bed before dashing out of the room to join my dad at the dining table.
"Good morning dad" I greeted and lowered myself to sit, placing the bag on the floor next to my chair.
"Mm-hmm, morning" My dad hummed and nodded from where he sat accross the table, barely raising his head to look in my direction. His eyes were fixed on the newspaper he was reading. And shortly afterwards, my mom appeared in the dining room, holding a large tray of steaming bowl plates. She leveled it on the table and began serving my dad who immediately closed the newspaper and placed it at the far end of the table.
I was hungry for what my mom had just prepared. Plus, I will also need my energy for the chemistry test I was going to be writing this morning. I prepared hard for it, and I felt so ready.
"Thanks mom" I smiled the minute she placed a plate before me. Then I edged my chair closer and, looking down at food in the plates, the smile on my face instantly vanished.
'Pap and Akara!' My mind chorused in annoyance. Then I sharply turned my head sideways to look at my mom who was now seated and already digging at her plate of pap. And when she caught my stare, she exclaimed in a startled voice. "Aha! Tobi, what is it?...Is your pap not enough, or do you want me to add another akara?" She asked, unconsciously raising a ball of akara from her plate.
"No!" I blurted in refusal and lamented. "But we had pap and akara for breakfast yesterday, and even the day before yesterday. Me am tired o"
Truly speaking, I was tired. This 'pap and Akara' combo was now becoming like a breakfast ritual in my house; all thanks to my mom.
"Is that the problem?" My dad chipped in with his mouth full.
"I... me I don't want to eat Akara on a Monday" I grumbled, folding my arms with my eyes lowered in protest.
"When did they say it's bad to eat Akara on a Monday or everyday for breakfast?" My dad chuckled.
"Honey are you minding your son" My mom sided with a brief chuckle before returning her gaze at me. "You better finish that pap o. I don't know when you started selecting food, or you think we're plucking money from trees" she added and continued eating, savouring every mouthful like it was the most delicious meal on earth!
Lord knows I felt like skipping breakfast, but I was too hungry to do so.l
'Me I'll stop eating this akara sef.' I mumbled under my breath in frustration, my voice so low my parents didn't hear a single word of my muttering. I was left with no other option but to eat it.
So I sighed; took the spoon in my right hand with a ball of akara in my left and began eating. And as I ate, I kept saying repeatedly in my heart 'God please don't let in run my stomach while taking my test in class' because truly, that was my only fear now.
FEW MINUTES after breakfast, my dad dropped me off at school. And as I strolled down the main hallway towards my class, I saw my best friend Kelechi coming out of the class with a sheepish grin on his face as he trotted to meet me. I wasn't in any a good mood to entertain his teases; not after what I was forced to have for breakfast.
"Guy, how far Na?" Kelechi said and stopped in front to block my way. "Which one wey your face long like this?" He chuckled in jest.
"Mtcheww..." I started with a hiss and went on to ask without answering his question. "Has our Chemistry teacher entered the class?"
"Abeg o, make him no enter today, I no dey ready for any test" Kelechi expressed with a shake of his head.
I scoffed. "That man that has never missed a class"
Then I moved past him to walk away, but Kelechi's sudden grip immediately halted my steps.
"What now?" I turned to give him a look of displeasure.
"Chill..." He said rather quietly. Then he took a step closer to my side and in a whispering voice, he revealed. "Ee get one new student wey dey sit for your chair inside class"
I grew vexed on hearing what he'd just said to me. I never shared seats with anyone in my class, not even with him. And all my classmates knew this.
Still annoyed, I stepped away so I could really see his face before asking with a frown. "Why didn't you tell the person to find another seat?"
"Ah no, Na girl wey she be" Kelechi shrugged his shoulders with an even wider smile that elevated my annoyance.
"So?... You should have suggested to her to share seats with you" I fired.
"Ehn..." Kelechi started with a pondering slant of his head before asking. "Na wetin I been dey try reason you... U fit tell her make she come sit with me?" rubbing his palms with a mischievous grin.
The Kelechi standing before me was never a serious person, but he was a loyal friend. And when it came to girls; that was his weakness. But not me-- I could never bend my will for a girl, never!
So I turned around sharply and walked forward, my mind made and ready to tell the new girl to leave my seat.
"Wait, ur blood too dey hot" his voice broke out calmly as he followed behind me into the classroom. And on reaching my seat, I halted my steps in front of my desk with Kelechi standing by my side.
'She'd better look up at me' these words echoed in my mind as I stood, my eyes lowered at the new girl who wasn't aware of our presence as she had her face buried inside her school bag, searching for only God knows what.
So in a bid to get her attention, I cleared my throat out loud and said. "Excuse me, but this is my..." But as soon as her face lifted, and her eyes met with mine, I instantly fell mute.
"Hi, Good morning" She greeted with the warmest of smile. Her stare was filled with innocence, her voice tiny and sweet. She was fair in complexion with her natural brown hair braided to match her face shape. I won't be lying when I say she was about the most beautiful girl in my class.
I could hardly find the right words to respond her warm greeting. I just stood, speechless, like I'd been hypothesized or something. And why should she have a strong effect on me?!
I blinked and swallowed to regain consciousness before saying rather coldly to her. "This is my seat"
"Oh okay, sorry" She smiled curtly before asking in a nervous voice. "It's just that I couldn't find a nice spot, hope you don't mind me sharing your seat, only for today?"
"Uhm..." I slurred in confusion, thinking up the right answer to give.
If I said Yes to her, Kelechi will take great pleasure in ridiculing me for not having the courage to send her off. And if I said No to her, then she'll only perceive me to be rude and insensitive. What was going to be my response?
Stay tuned to find out in the next episode.