AWAKE

Chapter 16

Nina didn't let any of her friends visit her, she didn't even agree to visit them. She gave them excuses, "I'm still observing the environment", "we are not fully done with our place", and "My mum doesn't support me going out".
"Ping" The notification sound from her phone, alerted her as she grabbed her phone from the bed and went back to her table where she was doing her midterm-break project, and sat down.
"A message from an unknown number." She said.
She opened the message and read aloud "Hi Nina, it's Eunice. Please save my number."
"What!" She exclaimed and read it again to make sure she had read it correctly.
"How did you get my number?" She texted back.
It didn't take long before the notification sound came again. "It doesn't matter, looking forward to being your friend."
"My friend... What nonsense" she rolled her eyes.
Nina threw her phone back on the bed and continued with the project.
When she was done, she went back to texting with the girls before reading again. She wanted to tell the girls about Eunice, but she decided otherwise.
It was almost time to come back to school, and they all discussed how they were preparing themselves.
"Ping" Nina checked and saw she had gotten another message from Eunice, "I'm not as bad as people make me, I like you which is a good thing, and I'm sure you'd like me too."
Nina wanted to ignore her, but after much contemplation, she texted her back, "I hope you know who you are chatting with cause I ain't a boy"
"I talk with girls too" Eunice texted.
"What do you want from me?" Nina texted.
"I can do a lot with a friend right now."
"But you have friends."
"Maybe someone new and someone who I could tell my parent's fight."
Nina felt pity as she read her message.
"Are you still there?" Eunice asked.
"How are you coping?" Nina replied.
"Thought I'd get used to it by now but it never happens, that's why I reached out to you."
"To be your distraction?"
"To be my friend. I had the feeling you'd understand me."

Michael's friends had come visiting and they had a heart-to-heart conversation, Micheal had already forgiven them (everyone knew he had a soft heart) but he still needed an official apology from them.
After that, they played games, ate a lot and enjoyed themselves.
Mimi had informed Micheal when they came, she stood at the parlours door eves dropping when she noticed they had reconciled, she took permission from her parents and went to her friend's house.
Michael had told everyone in church bye, as he was about to go back to school that evening.
His mum, as usual, had prepared food and baked the cookies he would be taking to school.
His dad had advised him too and they all ate lunch together before dropping him off.
"You are still with that phone... Or don't you want to go back to school?" Nina's mum asked as she came into Nina's room.
Nina giggled then switched off her phone and dropped it inside her drawer.
"I'm ready," Nina said and left the room.
When Nina got into the car, she looked out the window and watched the streets and people as they passed.
"Mmmh mmmh" Nina's mum cleared her throat to get Nina's attention.
"Nina baby," she said calmly, sounding as best as she could.
When she saw Nina raise her eyebrow, she took that as a go-ahead sign. "noticed you were on your phone throughout this Break, you looked so happy how a teenager looks when..."
"Please go straight to the point," Nina said, getting tired of listening already.
"Okay. I feel you may be attracted to a guy, which is a good thing but..." Nina's mum looked at Nina, who was confused by what she was saying but let her go on.
"I'm just saying you should be careful dear, boys tend to have the sweet mouth but are dangerous."
"Hahaha" Nina burst into laughter. "I wish you had told me this when I needed it, but you weren't around, rather nature taught me and I would never let any man toil with me."
"Nina please..."
"...please what? I was on the phone with my friends, not just that, I did my project and I read my novel."
"Oh, yes..."
"...so please can you concentrate on driving so we don't get knocked over? Thanks" Nina turned and continued looking out the window.

Michelle hugged Michael tight when they were about to leave his school. "Stay well and don't give mum and dad any more headaches" Michael whispered.
"Go jor" Michelle pushed him releasing herself.
He hugged his parents and then waved at them as they drove off.
He stood there for a second, thinking about the possible things he and Michelle would have been arguing about if he was still at home.
"Hi son" Michael turned to a woman talking to him.
"Good day..." He noticed Nina standing beside the woman and realized it might be her mum. "...ma"
"Good day. I see you're missing home already." Miss Cynthia said smiling.
Michael blushed like a 5-year-old. "Hi, Nina" he waved.
"Hi" she responded like she was forced to.
"You guys know each other."
"We are classmates ma," Michael said.
"Mum" Nina whispered
"Nina baby why don't you introduce me to..."
"Mum!" She yelled.
"Oh," Michael gasped.
"I'm sorry dear... Michael, it was nice meeting you" Miss Cynthia said.
"It was nice meeting you too Ma" Michael smiled.
"Miss Cynthia-call me Miss Cynthia."
"Okay, ma...Miss Cynthia" Michael smiled. "Bye," He said as they left.
"Her mum is cool," he said to himself, "how did she become evil," he thought, she even yelled at her mum, she is indeed evil." Michael sighed and took his bag to the hostel.