Two days had passed since David had asked Vivian out and the pair had been almost inseparable since then.
It was now common knowledge in the whole school even to some of the teachers that the both of them were seeing each other.
It was the last day of the week before the weekends and English Language was the subject the students were facing today, and since it was a general paper, everyone was expected to finish at the same time.
The atmosphere was calm, after the week's hustle and bustle, everyone eagerly anticipated the coming weekends.
Every student and teacher in Jordans High knew they had two more weeks for the end of the terms exams and so they all valued and relished each of the weekends as they came.
The SS3 students were also in school to get the timetable for the senior West African Examinations that was due around mid-April.
On the other hand, David's mom who had been discharged a day ago from the hospital hadn't wasted much time to begin legal proceedings against Oliver, whom know one had heard from ever since he fled the shooting incident that got his wife admitted into the hospital in the first place.
They could only get in contact with his lawyer who claimed that Oliver was indisposed and refused to give any other details concerning his lengthy absence. That wasn't too bothering though because he (Oliver) would have to appear in court when the time came no matter where in the world he was or have security officials rat him out from anywhere he has got himself holed up.
Essien was the first person in his class that finished his paper with minutes to spare; it was like a norm, he had always it as a point of duty to always finish his English paper on time and before anyone.
No one thought it odd though because at the end of the day he still came out tops, besides that was his strong point alongside Biology, David's was Maths and Chemistry, Chioma's Chemistry and Biology while Prince's was Maths and Physics; so apart from the good grades, this was one of the way he usually proved his mastery and dominance of the subject.
As soon as he left the exam hall, he went upstairs to his class to once again go through the questions he had helped David line up for the quiz between J.S.S 3 and J.S.S 2 class during social gatherings, after he was done, he left the class and strolled leisurely around the floors of the school's building.
As soon as he got to the wing of the S.S.S 3 class, Chidinma popped out from almost nowhere and cornered him at the doorway, leading to her class.
"What's up?" Essien asked, eyeing her warily
Chidinma didn't answer; she simply glanced at the direction of his class and dragged him to the mouth of the stairs, she then gave him a very sympathetic look before she finally spoke.
"How are you doing?"
Essien recoiled slightly in surprise at this question; to him it sounded weird hearing this question from no other person than Chidinma herself.
Chidinma was naturally arrogant and rarely talked to people she considered wasn't her class. Even when she was going out with David, they only greeted each other and hardly spoke; it was only after the breakup she tried reaching out to him to get him to get David to accept her back.
So the motherly attitude she was displaying right now was quite unnerving to Essien.
"How exactly do you mean?" Essien asked, seriously wondering what she wanted.
"Aren't you tired of playing second fiddle to David?" She replied with another question of her own, her eyes carefully scanning his facial features.
Essien blinked at her, he was clearly taken aback by the question, but before he could think of his reply, Chidinma went on a rant.
"David beat you as the school's ambassador.... you've been in this school before him but he's gained more popularity in the whole school....pardon me! In this entire municipal in just a year and a half than you've accumulated in your entire stay at this school. He more often than not beats you in studies and now you let him beat you to the girl you fancy? Are you even a man at all?"
Essien this time was completely astounded, he made his lips as if to speak but no word seem to come out of his mouth. In fact, at this point, he doubted if he was capable of producing any kind of sound at all.
Chidinma however was still looking intently at him, her eyes not leaving face obviously anticipating his reaction.
Essien slowly regained his composure, the earlier shock now replaced by indignation.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Essien growled, "David is my best friend... "
"Oh! Come of it Essien", Chidinma said tartly, cutting him off.
"Here you go again with the David is my best friend line while he hogs all the limelight and you are being relegated to the background.....wake up, if everyone is scared to tell you the brutal truth then I will and if you're scared to embrace it, then I'll help you."
"Look, the point I'm making is that you shouldn't give up on Vivian, you could still win her over."
"And what gives you the impression that I'm interested in Vivian?" Essien asked rather sharply.
Chidinma raised an eyebrow at him and let out a short derisive laugh.
"Essien stop deceiving yourself" She said with a sneer "everyone in this school knew you had a thing for Vivian and still do, it's common knowledge and this even makes it more embarrassing."
"I did like her but that didn't mean I was interested in her" Essien insisted obstinately.
"Look" Chidinma carried on like if she didn't hear Essien at all, "you can still get Vivian if you want and I can help you"
"Get Vivian?" Essien asked incredulously, "and you want to help me?"
As far as Essien was concerned, these were two impossibilities; trying to get Vivian from David and Chidinma offering a helping no matter the kind. He almost couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"How do you even plan to help me? In case it escaped your ears, she's presently going out with David, so what kind of magic do you intend to conjure?"
"That is not a problem" Chidinma replied in an airy manner "I just want to know if you're interested?"
Essien considered her for a moment, there was a huge amount of truth in what she had just said if he wanted to be frank to himself. Right fom childhood, David had always been everyone favourite; everyone adored him, he was the one always getting the most attention in their age group, but he( Essien) hadn't bothered about all that until their early teenage years.
David was the one every girl wanted to hang out with because they thought he was cool while he(Essien) was always on the sideline, but because of that childhood bond, he had always been trying to shove these ill feelings away but when he thought he was over them Vivian came along.
He had liked Vivian ever since he set his eyes on her but David had somehow managed to win her over, it had taken him a kind of self control bordering on the line of immortality to keep every fibre of his emotions in check, but he couldn't take the helpless feeling and frustration that was in steady ascendancy almost reaching the point of an hysterical outburst of emotion.
Just when he was looking for ways to negate these feelings, Chidinma had come with a 'glimmer of hope', it was like a full English breakfast served on the head of an anaconda in the middle of a desert; but he will take it, he had to take it.
"As long as it doesn't harm my friendship with David" Essien mused, "I'll take it".
Chidinma beamed at him, "my plans are hundred percent risk free"
"Your plans?" Essien retorted with a slight look of disbelief
"How many pl--"
"Shhhh!" Chidinma exclaimed cutting him off, her eyes monitoring the people that had just climbed up to their floor.
"I'll call you so we'll talk."
She looked back at Essien, a smile playing on her lips,"believe me, everything will return to normal."
YOU ARE READING
High School Dilemma
AcakDavid, a very brilliant lad losses his dad and all of a sudden, his mom remarries a very unpredictable but violent character, his mom seems blinded by 'love?' His new dad beats up his mom at the slightest provocation and yet his mom still doesn't wa...
