Naya and Vince

13

The foursome looked at me like the decision I was going to make was going to prevent rapture. Vincent's look seemed to say: just talk yes, na one trouser we go enter while the looks of the remaining three seemed to plead with me.

"Make it fifteen," I demanded. Vincent rubbed his palm on his forehead muttering 'oh my God'.

"Ah ah Nairobi what are you doing with fifteen thousand?" Ms. Daniels mused.

"A lot ma. Five thousand naira is my compensation since you guys forced me to put up with him," I shrugged.

"Naomi you are something else," Mr Palmer chuckled.

"Sir it's Nairobi!" I snapped. The adults seemed surprised. Why wouldn't they be? A student just got angry because of a name. "I'm sorry sir," I apologized immediately. The man left me wondering how he memorised the name Naomi.

"It's alright."

"Fifteen it is. Fifteen thousand every month –-". We're going to be rich, my heart sang. No more pathetic horny drunk men. Vincent's father must be very rich to be willing to give up fifteen thousand to a sixteen year old.

Well that's because he loves his son, my inner mind said.

I heard Vincent mutter under his breathe, 'waste my mother's hard earned money' bitterly.

"-can I have your account number dear?" That was a problem I didn't foresee.

"Uh. . .sir, I don't have one."

"Really? Every child should have an account number," the man said. Well this child didn't.

"You can give him that of your parents. But do tell them to open one for you," Mr. Palmer suggested. I played with my fingers. I didn't have a parent with an account number, obviously and I didn't know if Dinma had any. Even if she did, I'm not mad to let her know about my monthly payment. I'll only end up using five percent of it – if she wants to be merciful.

"I-I don't know their account number," I stuttered. I could ask to be paid in cash but won't that be. . .somehow?

"Okay. You can submit it to your form teacher on Monday, she'd forward it to me," he suggested. I wanted to tell him that I would prefer cash but I decided against it. Richard might be able to help. Mr. Adebayo glanced at his obviously expensive wristwatch before speaking, "I have to go now. I have a board meeting at the office." He stood up and turned to Vincent.

"Ayo, can you escort me to the car?". Vincent looked like he was going to say No because he was frowning like hell but he agreed. He has been like that since his father arrived. I was forced to believe that the two had something going on. The teachers and I bade Mr. Adebayo goodbye.

Ms. Daniels turned to me, "You are a naughty girl Nairobi. I thought you would have said you'd do it for free since he's your classmate.

"Free keh? No way."

Mr Palmer laughed. "Anyways, I'm suggesting you guys start the lessons on Monday. It would be fair, there's no time again. The school is planning on either making the GCE compulsory for your class or taking a mock examination at the end of the session," he informed me.

Vincent walked into the class, his face more relaxed than before – by a fraction. "Are we not done?"

"No sir. Come and sit your butt to this seat now." The boy grumbled something before doing so.

"So we're planning-" correction, they were planning. "-on letting her tutor you after school and on weekends," Ms. Daniels explained.

"Weekends?" I and Vincent chorused. He seemed more panicked than expected. "But that wasn't part of the deal," I lamented.