AWAKE

Chapter 14

"I just dislike this subject, ah! Nothing is even entering my head" Anny complained.
"If you'd just calm down, you will surely understand something," Destiny said.
"Des, you think I haven't tried? Not all of us are blessed with the brain."
"You can't be serious Anny," Destiny said, then tried advising Anny, before they both got distracted by Nina's chuckle.
"Nina Really?" Anny said feeling disappointed.
"I couldn't hold it in anymore. Anny has been complaining ever since we started getting ready for the midterm test." Nina said still feeling amused.
"I'm just happy I'd soon go back home to spend time with my family after this horrible test," Anny said.
"Me too" Des shouted.
"Not again, "Nina thought to herself. She barely came out of the torment they gave her after the visitation. Her roomies sang their parent's good praises but it just reminded her of where she stood.
"Seems I'm the only one who just left this group chat," Nina murmured.
"What did you say?" Des asked.
"No-Nothing" Nina quickly said.
"Not forgetting the forthcoming cultural day. I've so looked forward to participating again" Anny said excitedly.
"Anny" Nina called
"Yes"
"I think you should concentrate on what you were reading, then later, you tell us all about it," Nina said.
"But... I... I Was"
"I think that's a good idea, thanks, Nina," Destiny said.
"You are welcome" Nina whispered, then winked at Anny who just rolled her eyes.

"Oga reader, spare some time with your friends now," Victor said and closed Micheals's book.
"At the detriment of my result," Michael shouted angrily, shooting Victor a furious gaze.
"Gosh man, sorry. I was only joking."
"Well, I'm not. You guys have been having a lot of fun right? So please let me have my fun, reading."
"So sorry," Victor said, confused over Micheal's reaction and turned walking away.
"Come back here jor. I was just pulling your legs."
"Man you got me scared," Victor said with his hands on his chest.
"Let me pack up my things, so I'd join you guys at the court," Michael said, smiling at his mischief.
The sports area was mostly empty. A lot of the students had decided to spend their extra time reading. It was always like that when tests or exams were fast approaching. Everyone suddenly wears their seriousness, especially when it is a day or two before the exams.
The boys had finished playing and decided to rest at the court before they head back to the hostel.
"Honestly, if you see the way I almost ran off before he called me back and told me it was all games"
"Wow"
"Yes. I didn't know he had acting in him."
"There are a lot of things you probably don't know about me," Michael said. he laughed throughout Victor's narration of what went down in class. He felt pity for him, the poor boy was so scared, but it was totally fun until...
"We know almost everything about you if not everything"
...yes, until Fred decided to open his big mouth.
" And that you believe? Hmm," Micheal laughed slightly, almost like Fred didn't know what he was talking about.
"You want to hear it?" Fred asked, which sounded rather like a statement and continued without giving Micheal a chance to give him a reply.
"Mummy's boy, sisters boy, teachers boy, all female students boy, the good-intelligent boy...
" I wonder if his acting earlier was because of fun or maybe..." Peter covered a side of his mouth with his right hand in an attempt to whisper as he said "we are friends with Nina, and he isn't" The three boys burst into laughter.
Micheal looked at them as they laughed and it pained him so deeply what they said about him. Their attempt to make it light "it's just a joke", " Micheal my man, belongs to everybody", And the rest which he didn't bother listening to. He couldn't fathom words, he just sat there and looked at each one of them.
"Fred you forgot to add Eunice's playboy," Victor said rashly and proceeds to laugh again till he saw the disapproving expression on everyone's face and realised what he had just said.
Micheal couldn't stand them anymore, "I hope you guys have used the opportunity well to insult me to your full. Thanks for letting me know what you guys have always thought about...
" Michael please we are sorry..." Peter attempted apologising but Micheal wasn't taking it.
"What you guys have always thought about me." Michael completed his statement.
"Michael..."
"I know we stay in the same room but let us just live as flatmates okay?" Michael said.
"We were only joking man," Fred said.
"Joking?" Micheal snickered. "You always have words to say right? You think you are cool..." he chuckled dryly, "go on. You guys should never talk to me again."
"Micheal you can't be serious"
Micheal grabbed one of the basketball balls and left. Despite the boys calling and shouting, he never turned to even glance at them.
"Hey, where went you?" Anny asked.
"Nowhere, why?" Nina answered surprised with a lot of things running through her head. "Anny hasn't found out she read extra hours with Daniel" she hoped.
"Some minutes after prep, I went to your prep class and I couldn't find you there, I also didn't find you here," Anny said.
"Ummm... I...I was in another class" Nina stammered.
"I went to all classes and I didn't see you..."
"Then it should be when I left to ease myself," Nina said sounding so convincing, despite Anny shooting her a suspicious glare.
"Okay" Anny finally said.
"Why were you searching for me?"
"I wanted to ask you some questions."
"Oh, what about Des?" Nina asked, as she dropped her books and started pulling off her daywear.
"She went to teach the boys."
"What happened to their perfect friend?" Nina asked as she sat on Nina's bed with her towel tied around her chest.
"With that, I assume you are talking about Micheal," Anny said.
"Maybe" Nina shrugged.

"Well, he isn't on speaking terms with his friends...
" Interesting"
"... Something like-they said terrible things to him jokingly."
"People joke a lot these days. Well, it's none of my business." Nina grabbed her soap dish and entered the bathroom.
"Nina you need to start caring more about your class boys" Anny called out.
"I don't care" Nina shouted.
"Silly girl" Anny shouted.
Nina smiled.
The test finally came and everyone did their best. As soon as the test was over, the remaining week for them to go home, students played as they'd never played before. They called it freedom time, where they could do whatever they wanted. Micheal was the only person not having any fun whatsoever. His friends had tried severally to talk to him but to no avail and that was something they knew about Micheal, when he decides and agrees on something, it's always hard before anything changes his mind.
"Hey, pumpkin! The ladies man!" Daniel hailed Micheal as he entered his room.
"Daniel," Micheal said and tried sitting down.
"Yeah, it's me. You haven't been having anyone's time what's going on?" Daniel asked, standing beside the bunk opposite Micheals.
"I don't have the strength for anyone or anything," Micheal said slowly.
"Are you ill?" Daniel asked.
"I think so" Micheal replied.
"Have you gone to see the school nurse?" Daniel asked
"There is no need for that I've already called home and they would be coming to take me tomorrow," Micheal said.
"What is going on Micheal?" Daniel asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean."
"Okay..." Micheal narrated everything to Daniel.
"Why didn't you come to tell me?" Daniel asked feeling so sorry for Micheal.
"You have been very busy and occupied with your external exams coming up..."
"That's not an excuse, you know I'll always create time for you," Daniel said then sat on his bed.
"So you are telling me your friends said all that to you"
"Yes"
"I'm sorry about that, what is the reason again you aren't speaking with Nina"
"We haven't spoken at all. I think she hates me and I don't know why. Well that's good for her cause I don't care anymore"
"Well, I can't leave you here to continue sulking. I want you to follow me, let's go and see a movie in the computer room." Daniel said.
"I don't feel like seeing anything" Micheal protested.
"You know I don't beg, I request, so don't keep me waiting for long."
"Oh oh," Micheal grumbled as he stood up from the bed and searched for what he was going to wear.
"Micheal's parents just came to pick up Micheal," Des said.
"Oh my! I feel sorry for him, he looks so pale." Anny said shaking her head.
"Poor boy," Nina said to herself.