Naya and Vince

11

He was right.

I was an bitter moody girl with a shitty life.

I pounded his chest as I tried to force the betraying stubborn tears to stop flowing. "Don't. Ever. Say. That. Again. Ever!"

I plopped down on one of the stools. The first person to tell me that I had a shitty life was my "frenemy". It hurt so bad ever since that I couldn't handle anyone telling me that -though much people haven't said that to me. Vincent was like the fourth or fifth person telling me that.

And considering what I faced last night, I just had to cry. It honestly made my heart felt lighter by a fraction.

I covered my face in my palm while I cried.

"Um. . ." I was expecting him to insult me, call me a weakling or whatever. I didn't care anyways as long as the whole class wasn't there to witness it all.

"Are you okay?" I heard him ask slowly.

"Do I look like I am?" I answered not looking up at him. "Of course I'm not okay. I've never been," I admitted.

"I-" he paused. "Why on earth are you crying?" He asked. He was obviously having a hard time apologizing. "If it's something I said, just know that I wasn't serious. I was just angry."

"Shut up! You were serious," I said in a teary voice.

I could feel his glare.

"Okay, I'm sorry. That's what you want to hear, isn't it?" he finally blurted.

I sniffed but didn't look up so he sighed and sat opposite me. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. It's just that I have my own life and issues and you're not just getting on my good side," he said.

I could tell by his voice that he struggled to say those words to me. If our relationship wasn't the way it was, I'm sure I'd be receiving a hug. And even if I wasn't the showy emotions kind of person, I really needed a hug.

"Adebayo what did you do to her?" Mr. Palmer asked alarmed.

I wiped my eyes immediately. Enough crying for the day.

"I'm okay sir," I croaked when he reached me. The man gave Vincent a questioning look.

"Sir I didn't hit her I swear. I think it was something I said," Vincent said looking at me.

I'm sure he wasn't expecting my emotional breakdown. I also didn't foresee the tragic event happening, ever. And I was thinking I was going to stab him with glass. He stabbed me with his words. How ironic.

"Control your tongue Vincent. Learn. I'm so sorry about that, Naomi."

"Nairobi sir," I managed to correct.

"Sorry Nairobi. In fact you know what? You two can go forget about the mess but do call one of the cleaners to come and clean it up," he told us with a smile.

"Thank you sir," we said in unison.

"And don't forget you'd be submitting the manual on Tuesday. Please work on your cooperative spirit," he advised before we left.

We said nothing to each other as we headed to the cafeteria. We were walking side by side but there was about six feet distance.

"You may want to wash your face. Your face is tear stained," he said with an expressionless face before moving ahead.

My anxiety lessened.

At least I knew he wouldn't go telling the whole class that he made me cry.

When I got to the cafeteria, as expected Jessica was at our or rather her normal table with Chijioke. Aliyah and Amanda were seated with them. Two girls, Lydia and Chioma were also there. I was not close to them. The cafeteria tables only seated six people so there was no space for me. They didn't notice me so I considered going up to the class.