AWAKE

Chapter 21

Exams were finally over. As usual, the students stayed for a week before going home. Each day that made up the week, they involved themselves in fun activities. The seniors, the SS3 students were the only ones that weren't going to enjoy their two weeks' holiday because they were having an extension ahead of their External Exams.
Everyone was having such a fun week, but Nina's was so tough. She struggled to interact with people because they included Michael in everything and she still felt guilty for what she said.
She could only talk with her roomies when she got to the hostel.
"Nina are you okay? You seem so laid back" Destiny asked.
" Y'all know she's naturally reserved, so please leave her." Anny jokingly said and laughed trying to make Nina laugh, but Nina felt like punching her cause there was no reservedness in what she was going through. But could she blame Anny, she knew nothing, moreover, loneliness was part of her personality.
Michael packed his luggage earlier with the help of his friends. He had a family wedding to attend, and it wasn't one their family was going to miss, it was their favourite aunt getting married, so he was to leave on Wednesday, to prepare for the wedding which was to hold on Friday.
Michael just had till the end of the day to catch some last fun with everyone for the term before going back.
He played all the games he could with his friends, he chatted with a few girls before his one-on-one basketball game with Daniel.
He was so happy to be playing with Daniel. Daniel hardly came out to do anything when their mock Exams started. When he did, he played a little and went back to his usual spots.
"You missed again," Daniel said as Michael missed a basket for the fourth time, "Are you, good little man?" Daniel asked.
"I'm fine. Your attention is distracting me I guess" Michael said, dunking the ball.
"I hope it isn't what I'm thinking?" Daniel asked looking at Michael suspiciously.
"Of course not, I'm not gay, it's just that I haven't had this amount of time with you."
"Gosh, you are sulking like a woman"
"This is the reason why I didn't want to say anything."
"You can always say anything to me but don't sulk geez"
"Whatever that means, "Michael said, still bouncing the ball, trying to distract himself.
"What about her?"
Michael knew who he was talking about but he preferred acting obnoxious, "Who?"
"Hmm, I could remember you talking about a girl to me some time ago, the new girl-Nina, I think that's her name," Daniel said.
"I always talk about girls", Michael said, bouncing the ball to distract himself.
He didn't want to talk about Nina-well not yet. Although her dark-skinned oval face, her subtle deep voice, her elegant walk, her full carved lips, her confidence in walking, eating and talking when she felt like it, her careless attitude to classes-especially when it involves questions, the way she tapped her desk with her pen subconsciously. He couldn't get her off his mind, but maybe, not talking about her verbally was going to help him stop thinking about her.
It was so funny how he always shared everything that burdened him with Daniel, but when it came to Nina, it just wasn't the same.
"... are you going to continue bouncing that ball," Daniel said after getting Michael's attention.
"I'm sorry" Michael smiled nervously and passed the ball to Daniel.
When Daniel got the ball, he rotated it with his two hands at each edge, looking at it as it spun, "hey pumpkin, I don't expect you to tell me everything anymore, but I need you to take care of yourself and your mental health, you don't know how many people depend on your almost perfect life" after saying this he bounced the ball and dunked it, making a basket.
Michael didn't understand what Daniel said. He always knew Daniel to speak parables, but that one felt so overwhelming, "How can people depend on me and who are they?" He wanted to ask but decided otherwise, rather he nodded his head, not knowing what he was nodding for.
"Michael has gone," Anny said as she walked into the room.
Nina nodded.
"I thought you guys talked the other day?" Anny asked.
"What?" Nina replied. She was so tired of hearing people talk about them, it just raised the level of guilt in her.
"You guys talked after the little game we had, so why are you too still indifferent about each other," Anny said.
It wasn't that Nina couldn't lie, it was just that she couldn't stand the way Anny looked at her as she asked those questions.
"I don't know what you are talking about. Wait where has Des been? I haven't seen her for some time." Nina said, purposely changing the topic.
"My dear, Peter has snatched my friend away oh," Anny said.
"Someone is at least enjoying this week," Nina said and lay down on her bed.
"What are you doing, get up, get up and get dressed let's go and see a movie at the computer lab. You didn't come yesterday, so surely, you have to come today." Anny said tapping Nina as she spoke.
After many failed attempts at asking Anny to leave her, she finally agreed to go.
Nina refused to join them to watch anything because she didn't want to see Michael. She found it so hard to apologize to him and She didn't find movies as distracting as the exams they wrote.
She was so glad Michael had gone, now, it was time for Daniel.
"Hey," Nina said as she walked into the class. She had stood in front of the class for some time, trying to put herself together as she saw both Daniel and King in their classroom chatting. It was rare seeing the both of them together, she could feel fear rise at the pit of her stomach, but she shut it off and walked inside.
"See who decided to pay us a visit," Daniel said, clapping his hands slowly.
"Hey" King stood up "you look more pretty up close", he said, his face as cold as ever "catch you all later", He left the class.
"He is an interesting character," Nina said.
"I know",
"I'm sick and tired of this game we are both playing..."
"A game? What game? If there is any game, then I'm sorry you are the only player." Daniel said.
"It's been months now Daniel" Nina began saying but stopped when she noticed he stared at her amusingly, his hands were folded, his legs were crossed, he nodded at every word she said and his lips slightly parted, "what is so amusing..." She started softly before yelling "what is funny!" Which she regretted instantly.
"My darling, you can't come to my class shouting at me," Daniel said glaring at her.
Nina knew he was right. It just didn't make sense for her to shout at him, but he wasn't helping the situation.
"I'm sorry, I just came to talk," Nina said softly.
"Then talk. It seems you have no one to comfort you today." Daniel said.
"What do you mean?" Nina asked.
"You only roam through empty classes when you are not feeling yourself, Daniel said smirking.
Nina knew it was all about the cultural day, she and Michael.
"I see what you are doing, but I won't let you annoy me any further," Nina said.
"Won't you like to seat? You have been standing throughout the time you came here."
It was at that time Nina realized she was still standing and then she sat two seats away from him, which made him chuckle dryly.
"How have you been?" Daniel asked.
Nina was surprised at his question, but was more surprised at how fast she replied, "Fine".
"I'm saying this genuinely..." Daniel said and looked at Nina who didn't say anything, so he continued "I missed talking with you", I mean it" Daniel said after the look of disbelief Nina shot at him.
"Then why didn't you try?" Nina asked.
"I didn't know how to," Daniel said.
"How is your exam prep going?" Nina asked.
"I'm trying my best, I don't want to rewrite these exams."
"Mr brainy doesn't rewrite exams so you won't."
"Is Mr brainy me?"
"Yeah"
"You give accolades."
"I'm not always stiff."
"Thanks for believing in Mr brainy."
Nina smiled, "I missed this."
"Me too, that's why we shouldn't go any further."
"What do you mean?" Nina asked bewildered. She wondered how the lovely conversation was now going downhill.
Daniel didn't say anything, he couldn't. He tried to bring himself to say something but it was too heavy.
They sat staring at each other for a long time in silence as Daniel didn't want to answer the question. Nina couldn't take it any longer, so she stood up" I think I should leave," she said and started walking away but stopped in her tracks upon hearing what Daniel said ", I think it's better for us this way."
Nina turned to face him, confusion still written all over her face.
"We are so alike, maybe that's the reason we repel so much. Although hard to say, it needs to be said anyway, It would be good if we stay away from each other." Daniel said.
"You ain't serious, are you?" There was no response from him so she began wondering how long he had decided on that. She agreed with him though, but the words sank bitterly in her stomach.
"I've guarded myself for so long and when I tried to reduce the bar, reality struck again, reminding me of who I am. I agree with you. It was nice talking with you" Nina said and left the classroom.
As Nina walked through the hallway, she inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying to fight the urge of submerging in her sorrow. Despite feeling, she also felt the rush of relief at the same time, she was finally done with boy's drama