AWAKE

Chapter 20

"what about this part?" Eunice asked, pointing at her note.
"Trigonometry?" Nina asked amused.
"Yeah-that," Eunice said reluctantly.
"You couldn't even say the name" Nina sighed.
"Stop it, you're being dryly funny." Eunice laughed.
"Are you talking to me or yourself, cause I don't find anything I've said funny." Nina smiled.
"I wish I could get your brain," Eunice said.
"That sounded cringe though, but I still don't understand why you guys would start reading when it's close to exams," Nina said.
"That's the only time it's suitable for me," Eunice said placing her hands on her chest and slightly bending her head to the left.
"Okay, trigonometry isn't so hard..." Nina put her hand together in a praying gesture, " Eunice please I need your full attention here" Nina pleaded
"Okay, stop being so dramatic," Eunice said.
Nina taught Eunice despite all the breaks she took and was happy when the bell finally went off.
"Thank you so much, Nina," Eunice said after the bell went off for prep over.
"You're welcome," Nina said packing her books in her bag.
"I thought you normally stay back to read a little more," Eunice said as she watched Nina pack her things.
"Yeah but not today."
"Or did you read as you taught me?"
"I couldn't read because of you"
"True but you can't deny the fact I refreshed your memory."
"Maybe..."
"Good. so you still kinda read"
"Fine. Umm, I'm meeting up with the boys and girls for a basketball game." Nina said.
"Oh"
"Yeah"
"Can I come along?" Eunice asked.
"Sure, we weren't expecting any other girl to join us cause you guys dislike sports."
"We don't..." Eunice laughed, "we just love our beauty sleep. Besides, who doesn't love a little competition? I'd inform the rest of the class girls so they would join in"
"Okay," Nina said faintly.
"Alright see you later"
Nina watched as Eunice ran out of the class. " I wonder how everyone is going to take it." She said to herself.
"She is coming," Victor said shoving Micheal with his shoulders.
"Guy-y-y..." Michael yelled pushing Victor, "why do you like bad things, eh? She is also coming with Anny, Des and..." Michael paused as he saw the other girls walking alongside,
"are those, not Eunice and her group of sleepy heads," Victor said.
"Don't call them that" Michael said, even though Victor's words weren't far from what he thought.
"They forfeited sleep today," Fred said laughing.
"More like they were dragged here," Victor said.
"Who invited them?" Fred asked.
"Isn't it obvious, it's the girls" Peter said as he joined them on the field from the basketball court.
"I thought you were waiting for us to come and drag you from the court," Michael said.
"But we are all going to play there, so I decided to wait for you guys there but the girls were taking their sweet time," Peter said.
"Ladies man" Victor shouted.
"Shush-before beautiful Nina hears you," Peter said staring at Micheal as he fought back laughter, but couldn't hold it in anymore as he saw the angry expression Michael suddenly wore. "See your face" Peter laughed as he pointed at Micheal's face and victor joined in.
"Tease me oh," Micheal said.
"Hey guys," Destiny said blushing as usual, as they got to the field.
"Hey girls, I see we are all out in number," Peter said.
"Yes we are"
"Hey peter" Nina waved at Peter.
Peter walked over to Nina, he bent down and took her hand, pecking it and said "My lady".
"Peter" Nina exclaimed in excitement.
He did it to all the girls, which made the boys grow sick in their stomachs.
"Some people are at the court, why don't we play football first then later we go to the basketball court when they are out," Eunice suggested.
"Who invited her?" Michael asked whispering to Anny.
"Nina did" Anny whispered back.
"Okay," Fred said, replying to Eunice's suggestion.
They moved to the field and divided themselves into both teams, and played till the girls started complaining.
Michael left after the first fifteen minutes complaining about his tummy, but no one was listening, they just said "okay" assuming they heard him.
"Okay girls, let's end here before some of you would start fainting," Peter said.
"Yes please I'm tired," Eunice said panting heavily
"Are you tired from the game or your failure?" Anny asked laughing.
"Anny!" Nina and Des exclaimed in disapproval.
"I can't even bring myself to talk to you," Eunice said.
"It's okay girls, I don't think anyone came out to fight," Michael said as he joined back in.
"Adding to that, are we still going to play basketball?" Victor asked.
"No o!" The girls shouted.
"We need to get our breath steady first..."
"By going back to the hostel" Anny added to what one of the girls was saying.
"It was fun, we would love to do this again" vera, one of the class girls said.
"That's if you guys would stop sleeping after prep" Fred said.
The girls gave him an angry stare and it shifted to victor when he praised Fred's comment "My man!" He hailed.
"Umm, what he means is that we would love to do this again," Michael said grinning.
"Anny, I'd love to stay back a little" Nina said.
"Me too" Anny replied.
"Okay girl"
"Nina, see you later," Eunice said before leaving the field.
"Nina, see you later," Anny said mimicking Eunice dramatically.
"Why are you being so mean to her?"
"Why are you being friends with her?"
"Although I'm against your behaviour towards her, I must commend you girrrlll, you're growing a tough skin," Nina said smiling.
"I'm learning so well from you," Anny said smiling too.
"See how Des has left us to meet Man," Nina said pointing at Des at the corner of the field with peter.
"I had a feeling something was going on between them," Anny said.
"Well, I knew since I started hanging out with everyone," Nina said.
"Michael" Anny called as she saw him getting close to them.
"Hi," Michael said as he got to them.
"Are you okay?"Anny asked him, looking all worried.
"You look so worried, I'm fine," Michael said smiling.
"Hey," Nina said to Michael.
"Hey" Michael replied.
"Guys I need to tell victor something," Anny said and hurriedly left Michael and Nina.
"You know she was lying right?" Michael asked Nina, "I think she wanted to give us some space".
"What's wrong with you? Nina asked avoiding his question, "you've been acting funny."
"I should be asking you that..."
"Huh?!"
"Yes. First, you stopped talking to me after that Sunday, secondly, you behave as though we are still enemies, thirdly, I invited you during the visiting day when I noticed no one came for you, fourthly you invited Eunice without telling us...when... When you know I don't like her energy" Michael counted his fingers as he talked.
"Woah! Let's take a step back" Nina said feeling overwhelmed.
"Any explanation?" Michael asked.
"Well, first, you haven't changed your flirty behaviour, secondly we are not enemies neither are we yet friends; thirdly, how can you even invite me to come to see your mum, fourthly Eunice is still going to be around because...she is still your classmate!" Nina shouted.
"Wow," Michael said quietly. He couldn't believe she just said that and he hated himself for ever getting to know her, "Thank you" he said and walked out.
Nina wanted this, she wanted him to leave her, but she felt some kind of way, the way she felt before, "Is this pain? He has to go, no, he needs to go"
"Fine Nina," a voice said.
Nina jumped, her eyes widened as she stared at the person; "Hey", she said a bit relaxed when she realized it was Peter
"I didn't mean to startle you," peter said.
"It's okay, I didn't see you coming."
"Okay. Umm, have you seen Michael?" Peter asked, his eyes roaming around.
"How would you know where he is when you were there doing lover-boy duties"
They both turned to Eunice who was smirking.
"I wasn't doing any lover boy duties," Peter said feeling embarrassed.
"Sure," Eunice said.
"When did you get here, I thought you went to freshen up," Nina asked Eunice.
"I'm done, I came out to look around..."
"Look around or do you mean to meet someone around," Peter said clearing his throat.
"What do you mean by that rubbish Peter?" Eunice fumed
"Just saying," peter said calmly, then faced Nina, "Let me continue my search" he winked at her and started leaving when Nina said, "You should check the hostel."
"Thanks, Nina," Peter said and ran off.
"I don't know why these boys insult me at every opportunity. you see, this is why I don't like getting involved with them. I don't even understand..." Eunice stopped when she sensed Nina's absent-mindedness.
"Nina are you okay? I've been talking to you for like..."
"I'm okay Eunice, I just need to get back to the hostel, I'm so sorry," Nina said and then left.
"What's with her? in fact what's with everybody?" Eunice wondered.
When Nina got to her room, she thanked God no one was there at the time. She sunk into her bed and began to think.
"So much for trying to figure out my life, now everyone hates me; my grandma, my mum, my dad, peter and now him... You are determined to be alone Nina" tears streamed down her cheeks as she let herself drown in the thoughts of her weakness.