Torn Between

Chapter two

Seline and I had a close bond from the beginning. We spent most of our time together, we ate together, showered together, walked to the assembly hall together and not forgetting those nights we spent together. Rumors had started spreading faster than we imagined as people kept giving us side glances everytime they saw us together. I had so fond of her that I had forgotten about the feelings of Lou, ignoring all her confrontations, I still wanted to have my way with Seline. She was everything I wanted and more, I felt my eyes staring into her body everytime we were together.
I had to ignore my friends so I could give her the maximum attention, not like she asked for it but I just didn't feel the need to keep other friends while I had her.
" You're choosing your new friend over us? You don't even know her that much" Sharon lamented. We had been friends since Form 1 but I had always tried keeping my distance since I didn't want any friendship drama but despite this, we still had each other's back but since Seline came into the picture, I had totally ignored everyone. The rumors had intensified and nobody knew the source it was coming from. I didn't have a problem being talked about like that and we weren't being talked about just because Seline and I were close but because I had been close to other girls before and we ended up splitting eventually. The rumors were about how I had made up my mind to get intimate with half of my colleagues before completing, at least that's what they thought. Most people saw me to be this pervert who took a chance at any girl that got close to her. I got close to girls I was interested in but even with that, they would either tell me they weren't interested in the friendship again or just ignored me so I had got used to being alone. It seemed Seline wasn't comfortable with how my bad reputation was affecting hers. It was never my intention to give her a bad name but I guess the harm had already been done and besides we had just some few months to complete.
That fateful day that our relationship took a turn around was on this dimmed visiting Saturday. My parents came by as usual but had to leave early for a business trip. I went back to my dormitory to take a nap since Seline was with her parents. She hadn't bothered to at least introduce me to them as a friend but I didn't bother myself much about it. I knew she wouldn't boast of me as her girlfriend in public but I bothered less about it. I lay on my bed trying to catch a nap after unloading the provisions my parents had brought me.
" Girl wake up you have a visitor"
Sharon tapped me on my shoulders. I looked at her in confusion
" My parents had left already"
" But there are some people waiting in the visitor's room for you"
" Silly jokes" I laughed straightening my pillow well so I could lie down.
" I am serious. It's even the house prefect who asked me to check if you were around"
" You know you're not getting anything from this prank, right?" Still not taking her serious.
No one visits me other than my parents and since I am the only child with distanced cousins and relatives, it's just my parents and I everytime.
" Oh there you are!" I saw the house captain moving towards my bed
" There are some guys waiting downstairs for you"
I followed the house captain in hesitation as Sharon followed from behind.
She pointed the guys to me and I walked over to them. I tried checking for any familiarity among their faces but realized none.
" You're looking for me?"
" I guess you are Frankie" the shortest amongst them asked.
" I am but I don't think I know you" I said
" Oh yeah, we just want to have a little conversation with you"
" About?" I asked
" Seline" he said in a forghorn voice
" What about her? Is everything okay with her?" I asked in alertness
" Relax" the last guy spoke.
I sighed in after confirming Seline wasn't in danger.
" Okay then what about her?" I asked feeling more comfortable. Sharon had left me after she realized I wasn't in danger.
The guy in the forghorn voice opened up to talk. His voice was irritating and quite loud attracting visitors to us. "Seline is my girl"
" I am sorry, what did you say?"
" You heard me right" he answered
Even though I was stupefied at that instance. I managed to keep my cool. " And how is this piece of information of essence to me?" I asked
" I didn't come to give you just that. I came here specifically to ask you to stay away from her." Visitors had already started checking what was going on. He continued " I know you like her but please and please leave her for me. She's mine alone"
" Don't you think she deserves to make that decision herself??" I asked calmly
" Herself? After you have tuned her mind with your charms" He started raising his voice at me
" You might want to talk a bit calmly if you want me listening" I replied nonchalantly ignoring the fact that this guy was dead serious.
" Leave her or you will have to face the consequences" he stormed out as his two purposeless friends followed him. I slowly walked to my dormitory in confusion. I didn't know whether to confront Seline about this or just keep my cool. I wondered how she could keep something like that from me. I had told her everything about my life, not because she asked me but because I felt she had the right to know me better and accept me for who I was but here lies the case where she didn't see me worthy enough to know about her personal life. She hadn't trusted me enough to tell me this. Different thoughts were running through my head as I lay on the bed. "What was I thinking before I even got into all of this?" I asked myself
" Was I thinking she was so queer to choose a girl over a guy?"
I slowly drifted off to sleep. I woke up to the screams of the house captain ushering us to come downstairs for roll checking. I got there in time just to respond to my name. I realized my mood had changed, dullness had overcome me and I hadn't even seen Seline anywhere. Visiting was over so definitely her parents had left but I guessed she was in her dormitory packing the stuff her parents had brought her. I quickly changed into bathing coat after roll checking to take my bath. Supper was in 5 but since it's a visiting Saturday, it wasn't really effective and I didn't even feel like taking in anything. I showered, changed into my school tracksuit and lay down for sometime till it was time for entertainment.
I got up from my bed, wore my black slippers and descended the stairs when the house captain started announcing that it was time for entertainment. Seline would normally pass by my dormitory so we go together but today she didn't appear. Maybe I should have gone to check her out in her house but I just wasn't ready to face her yet. I walked absent-mindedly towards the assembly hall. My class takes the first three pews in the assembly hall and Seline's class took the last ones since they were fewer in number. Since we started getting closer, I would normally go to the back of the assembly where her classmates sit to be with her but today i didn't feel like it. I took a glance at her sitting place in the hall but it was empty. Guessed she was busy in her dormitory or even at her aunty's apartment.
I put my head on Sharon's lap when I got to where I sit. She and I were in the same class, we sat on the same table at the dining hall and she sat beside me in the assembly hall.
" Please are you in this class?" One of my classmates questioned me in a teasing way. They knew I had been sitting with Seline's classmates for sometime.
" The prodigal daughter is back" Sharon said trying to make the conversation lighter.
" She will leave us again. You don't know this girl" another mate shouted.
I just giggled at their comments.
" Hey are you okay?" Sharon asked with concern in her eyes.
" oh yeah I am. Why what's up?"
" You look a bit dull"
" I am fine. Just some little headache"
" I have painkillers in class. I could go for some for you"
" oh don't worry. Just need to rest my head and I will be fine"
" Okay then lie down for sometime." She said as she swaddled her hands around my head that was still on her laps.
" What did those guys want? You know them?" Sharon asked me.
" It seemed they mistook me for the Frankie in Visual Arts class so I directed them to her house" I had no intention of telling anyone what actually went on between those guys and I.
" They're not correct. How they came with full vim and they don't even know the person they're looking for" Sharon commented jovially.
I felt someone tickling me from behind. " Girl wake up. Why are you sleeping? It's entertainment." It was Seline.
I stared at her for a second and I raised my head to sit down properly. She sat by me. " where have you been?" I asked casually.
" Was on doing some cleanup in my aunty's apartment. Why you missed me?"
" oh yeah, of course" I answered.
" Awn I missed you too. I could barely breathe without you" she held my hand saying those words passionately.
" Okay where from this?" I asked laughing
Now she was laughing too " Words that came straight from my heart." She responded
" Those words escaped from your lips"
" I know madam. Let's go sit with my classmates" she said as she held my up hand up ushering me to get up. I sat down instantly.
" I want to sit with my mates today. You should sit by me. Let's sit here for today".
" oh naa, I would just join my mates . We will meet after entertainment??"
" okay yeah sure"
" I will come here so we leave together then so don't leave"
" Okay take care"
She had barely got up to leave when I held her and asked her if we could have a little conversation after the entertainment. She agreed and I watched her back as she left to sit with her classmates.
The night started with performances from the Form two's. It was Form Two's night so all the Form Two classes were given ten minutes to perform. The entertainment prefects had brought in old girls of the school to be judges of the night. Some classes combined dance moves with poetry, others sang together, others performed drama and the night was gradually drawing to and end. I felt my heart churn as the various positions were given out. I really don't know what came over me to tell Seline I wanted to talk. What was I going to talk to her about? I was scared to know the actual truth because my insides told me it would hurt in a way. Entertainment closed and people started moving out of the assembly hall. I sat down waiting for Seline. I told myself I will just ignore everything when she came. She eventually appeared beside me. My classmates had all left to their various houses and it was just left with few people in the hall.
She slipped her hand around my shoulders as she sat by me. " I'm here girl. Should we go already?"
" let's wait a while. I think I am enjoying this song"
They had closed entertainment but the Entercom girls still had some music playing in the background as they packed up.
I started singing to the song till I gradually infected her. She sang along with me.
The night wouldn't be so bad after all. I thought.
" oh no" was what I said when the song was stopped.
" Just when I was really enjoying it" Seline also said with disappointment in her face.
" Lets talk now. What's up?" Seline asked
"Um... let's get to the dormitory first. I am starving"
" Everyone would be awake and listening so let's talk here before going."
I didn't think I was ready for the conversation yet.
" I really don't know where to start from and I don't even know..."
" Start from middle. I got you b"
Her words encouraged me a little. I wasn't scared to talk to her about what was going on in my mind, I was scared of the aftermath of our conversation.
" Your boyfriend came to see me" I mustered courage and spoke up.
" My boyfriend? Who?"
" Seline you know just stop pretending and let's settle this. You didn't think it was necessary for me to know that you were with someone?"
" Okay first of all, I don't know who came to see you but I do have a boyfriend"
I already knew it but it coming from her seemed to hurt in a way.
" Right!" was all I could say.
" I am very sorry for not telling you. I just thought it wasn't of any importance. It's not anything serious between he and I".
" He didn't sound like that"
" What did he even come to see you for and how did he get to find you"
" He came to tell me stay away from you and oh, as to how he got to me, you might have to ask him yourself since he is your boyfriend"
" I am really sorry babe. I just didn't know how to tell you"
" Okay so then what are we?" I asked
" You and I are together"
" Don't tell me more lies. How long have you been with him?"
" A year now" she answered hesitantly
Now my heart was tearing apart.
" Wow Seline. This is news you know. I have been in the dark all this while?"
" No dear, it's not that. I would have told you. I promise, I would have"
" Then what happened? what kept you from telling me that you had someone somewhere else so I shouldn't take anything that happens between us too serious"
" You're getting me wrong"
" Am i ? Okay now tell me, if you're to choose between he and I ? Who would you go for?"
The assembly hall had become quiet and dark. Everyone had left except Seline and I.
" Are you planning on answering my question or not? You see I just want you to be honest with me. Please don't lie to me"
She opened her mouth slowly. I realized she was unsure whether to talk or not so I told her I was ready for anything whereas I knew I wasn't ready for what was coming.
" I really like you Frankie. A lot. But I love Kendrick and in a long term relationship, I would cho - choose Kendrick" she stammered
My head shot up. I wanted to be sure I was hearing that from her. There was this crushing sensation coming from my chest that I felt it had been ripped out. I felt numb unable to move any part of my body. I just stared at her in awe.