AWAKE

Chapter 28

"We are finally done with SS2" Michael shouted as soon as they finished writing their last paper.
The class broke into full excitement, different activities were displayed almost at once: screaming, standing at the top of the tables and drumming on the tables, singing.
The art students ran into the science class after their paper and It didn't take long before other classes joined in their celebration, at their respective classes.
"Nina!" Eunice exclaimed and hugged Nina.
"Hey" Nina stared at Eunice. After the Anny incident, they hadn't spoken to each other besides greetings.
"I'm sorry for hugging you, everyone knows how irritated it makes you feel."
"It is unfamiliar touch." Nina corrected then sat on her seat watching her.
"Whatever it is I'm sorry," Eunice said with a smile spread across her lips. She dragged a seat closer to Nina and sat down. "I know you crushed all the questions."
A fake smile appeared on Nina's face and disappeared immediately. Nina felt she had screamed, "what do you want from me?", But it was just in her head.
"Eunice brought her face closer as she began to whisper into Nina's ears, "I want to apologize for how rudely I behaved, I'm sorry, I just wasn't in the right mood."
"That apology is not for me, you know who you should be saying this to."
Eunice rolled her eyes and sighed, "fine" she stopped for a while then continued talking"Are we cool now?"
Nina gave her a silent stare.
"Please", she pleaded.
"Then do the right thing," Nina said.
Eunice stood up and left.
"Guys-guys listen", Peter shouted, then continued when the noise had lessened a bit. "I suggest we all go to our hostels, change into our different sports wears and come out to play. Thereafter, we gather at the hall to see a movie this evening. Those in support say 'i'"
"But this isn't a new idea, besides it's what we usually do after Exams," Eunice said.
"Thank you Ma for your contribution, this one is going to be more fun if everyone gets involved for once besides, no one said it is a new idea," Fred said.
"Woah" The class got shocked at Fred's reply and then started laughing.
"Whatever" Eunice said inaudibly. She went and sat back in the seat which was beside Nina, crossing her leg and her hands.
"Thanks, man," Peter said to Fred. "As I was saying, those in support say 'I'"
"I", more than half of the class screamed.
"The I's have it" Peter screamed smiling mischievously.
"I'm out of here. See you later Nina" Eunice waved at Nina as she walked out of the class.
Nina smiled at Peter's deceit, he didn't even give those not in support a chance.
"Girlll the witch apologized," Anny said to Nina when she got close to her.
"Anny",
"What? Someone that was talking as if she held vomit in her mouth. That aside, how was the paper?"
"It was good."
"Is there any paper that isn't good for you? I'm jealous of your brain"
"I'm not so good at geography..."
"But you still beat the subject. God just created some people with brains and some without."
"Don't say that" Nina said chuckling after failing at being serious. Anny joined her as they laughed looking at each other.
"Can we join in the fun"
"Hey," Nina said.
"Hi Peter, Hi Michael, how are you guys?" Anny asked.
"We are fine" Peter answered.
"Michael, how was the paper?" Anny asked.
"Cool"
"That paper was cool? You both know what you are doing that is different from us", Anny said pointing at Michael and Nina.
"What about me?" Peter asked Anny.
"You, you that is very unserious"
"Ah, ah Anny," Peter said holding his chest
"Am I lying?"
"Shift abeg. Let me praise the person I came for. Nina the beauty, the dark model, the smart girl, the chocolate breed..."
"It's okay. Thanks for the compliment but chocolate breed?"
"Foolish boy, you don't even know how to say anything properly. You and I know she is not the one you came for. Oya go and meet your girl." Anny said.
"Must you spoil my parole? When did your mouth get sharp like this self"
"Abegi"
"Where is she?"
"She went outside."
"Why is my baby outside now? I'd see you guys later, please come out o, see ya." when he got to the door, he called on Nina, "Nina baby" then blew her a kiss.
"Silly boy" Nina smiled.
"Michael, I almost forgot you were here, you've not said a word, you've been standing and staring," Anny said.
"Peter never gave me a chance" Michael replied.
"True though. I need to use the restroom, I'd be right back." Anny said.
"Always leaving," Nina said as Anny left.
"Hi"
"Hi Senior prefect," Nina said and they both laughed.
"What was that?" Michael asked
"Can you seat?" Nina asked, the words sounding more like a command than a question.
"Oh, thanks"
"Do you see how your boys are ready to support you? Ready to help you out and attack anyone for you?" Nina asked
"Where are you driving?" Michael asked
"You complained of being confused and stressed days ago, you have a lot of people who are willing to help you no matter what and you need to be grateful cause not everyone has this amount of love and support. You don't need to be hard on yourself." Nina stopped talking, she had a lot more to say but pinched herself from saying more.
Michael's cheeks flushed and the thought of how much she cared filled his head. He fumbled with words in his head and "Thank you" were the words that could come out of his mouth.
"Anny is back huh?"
"Yeah, she is much better now"
"That's good but it seems she exchanged her pain with more boldness, and I'm here for it."
"I'm here for it too"
"Heard from your sister yet?" Nina asked.
"Not yet"
"Okay. Daniel?"
Michael's eyebrow rose but he still answered, "I haven't heard from him either. Anything?"
"Nothing."
"I'm sorry I asked it's just that I was surprised at your question after what he did to you"
"After what you told me, I feel pity for him."
"Okay."
"Why isn't Anny back yet? I want to go back."
"I think she had gone already, we can go back together."
"I'd go check at the toilet quickly, if she isn't there, we'd go together."
Nina hoped he didn't think much about what she had said, "Well it wasn't his business" she said to herself.
She wondered why Daniel never replied to the letter she wrote him.
"Did he read the letter? Did he throw it away once he knew it was from me? Did someone get a hold of the letter before him?"
She shook her head in an attempt to clear the thoughts from her mind.
When she got to the girls' toilet, she yelled Anny's name "where is this girl?" She asked herself when she didn't get a response.
"Let's go," She said to Michael once she got to the class.
When they got to Nina's hostel, they said "Bye" to each other as Nina entered the hostel and Michael found his way to his hostel.
"You are here and I was waiting for you," Nina said in anger.
"I'm sorry, I thought you'd be coming back with Michael..."
"Why would you think that?"
"Girl, you were so engrossed in whatever conversation you guys were having that you didn't notice when I came back into the class, so I had to let you guys," Anny said.
"I wasn't engrossed, you would have still told me you were leaving."
"I'm sorry",
"It's okay. Where are the other girls?" Nina asked
"They've gone out. I was waiting for you to come back, so we'd go out together."
"Since you are all dressed up already, you can go, I'd join you"
"Are you sure?" Anny asked
"Yes"
"Don't be long" Anny said and left
Nina laid down for a bit then went to the closet to get her sportswear and changed into it.
She remembered the books still in her bag. She got the books, dragged down her storage box and neatly placed the books in the box when she got a glimpse of the white paper, which contained the letter, stuck out a little from the textbook she had kept it in.
She gently raised the books stacked on the textbooks that held the letter and dragged it out gently to avoid scattering the already arranged books.
She dragged out the white folded paper by the tip that popped out, then she began to read it within herself.
Daniel, writing this letter was hard but it got me reminiscing about experiences we had. We weren't friends, but we understood ourselves due to our common grounds.
I know, that is long over and can never be again cause it had never been real from the start.
All these aside, the main purpose of this letter is to remind you that you have people that care. In as much as you try to hide your pain, we still see it through your eyes.
I might not have shared much with you, but you have to know that I understand everything you are going through. I've learned, well not completely, I'm still in the learning process, but we need to understand that it's okay to be vulnerable.
As much as you hide it, you are still able to care for the one you love, look at King, Michael, your Mum and Aunt.
I have to stop here, but I need you to know, you are never alone. You can start afresh as you leave, to see the wonder of the world.
Delight.
After reading, she smiled at herself and felt content. She didn't know why she read it, but she was glad she did.
"See how happy you are dishing out advice but you can't take it," a voice said in her head.
"You won't ruin this moment, so just stop it," she said.
She quickly set everything back to how it was, she wore her pair of trainers and ran off to the field to join the others.