K.C Philips

Chapter Three

The Head Boy, Head girl and their deputies were already seated in Class J. Others present included the other two prefects, as well as three honorary members. Altogether, the social committee was made up of twelve students. The Head Boy was addressing the eight seated members when K.C walked in. Jessica moved further down the corridor to greet other friends of hers.

"Good morning guys. I sincerely apologize for my lateness. This is unlike me, you know." K.C said immediately he got in. The Head Boy, Abdulmajid Olalere, paused when K.C got in. He replied, welcoming K.C to school and to the meeting. K.C had barely sat down when the power couple of Fisayo and Dotun walked in, amidst hails of 'Husband and wife!'. The hailing began to last longer than expected-at least, longer than K.C expected. He opted to speak.

"Can we like, focus on why we came here? We all know Fisayo and Dotun to be a couple; they've been together since Class Three."

Everybody was quiet for a while. Then Majid spoke, "K.C is right. It's high time we focused on this meeting. We don't have all day, you know." Almost immediately, Dotun chipped in,"Don't mind him, Majid. He's just jealous Fisayo likes me and not him".

Fisayo was visibly embarrassed by Dotun's last statement. If, at that very moment, K.C had two bullets, with the Devil and Dotun presented before him to be killed, he would have shot Dotun twice, both bullets going straight into his inconsiderate, pompous heart. That statement took K.C down memory lane.

His mother died in a plane crash on her way back from the United States three years earlier. She had gone to see Ikenna,
K.C's eldest brother. His wife had given birth to the couple's second child two weeks before. Every passenger on board the plane perished, including his mother.

The news reached the school management in no time. Dotun was aware, and so was Fisayo; they were his close friends. The plane crashed on a Saturday. The day before that, he had poured out his intense feelings to Fisayo. While he did, she cried and told him off, that nothing could ever happen between them. K.C followed suit that night; his eyes were red, not because of his lack of sleep, but due to the pain in his heart. The following night was obviously not different. Truly, night began the day Fisayo said no. The darkness was only compounded by his mother's death.

The first two days of the next week were filled with his schoolmates consoling him, including Fisayo and Dotun. By Wednesday, Fisayo and Dotun avoided him. That same day, rumours of a relationship between them began to circulate. To confirm his curiosity, K.C confronted Dotun, who confirmed that he was dating Fisayo; a relationship that began a day after the death of K.C's mother.

Dotun was the first and only person he told of his feelings for Fisayo. He always knew. But he felt Dotun and Fisayo decided to hurt him by starting a relationship a day after his mother's death, knowing fully well that K.C would be hurt if he ever found out. That same Dotun had the audacity to say, "Don't mind him. He's just jealous Fisayo likes me and not him". Dotun being an idiot about it just freaked K.C out.

K.C said nothing. The others didn't. Majid, once again, broke the silence.

"Like I said, we should stay focused. As we know, our valedictory service begins at twelve noon sharp. By five in evening, everything should have ended. Then we will have two hours to wrap up our prom preparations. When it's time, we will rendezvous at the venue........"

As far as K.C was concerned, his friendship with Dotun was over. As for Fisayo, he didn't know yet. He didn't particularly fancy her silence.

K.C walked out immediately the meeting was over.

I should not have come to school.

He was edging towards the school gate when the thought of his incomplete clearance paper struck his mind. He still needed to meet his Chemistry and English teachers for their signatures. He decided to start with his Chemistry teacher, Mr Lawal. On his way to the man's office, he saw another friend of his, Chinedu.

"Hold up Chinedu, just hold up." K.C called out. Chinedu looked behind him, smiled, and stretched out his hand for a handshake.

"Going for clearance, right?" Chinedu asked, taking K.C's hand.

"Yeah. Chemistry and English."

They walked at the same pace for a few seconds before Chinedu spoke again, "You guys in social committee are mad. V.S and prom? On the same day?". K.C shook his head, unfazed. He had heard this from many people since a majority of the social committee decided to fix their prom and valedictory service on the same day.

Two weeks prior, the social committee convened to finalise the general outlook of the prom. The set in general had agreed to fix their prom a day after their valedictory service. Suddenly, Dotun stood up and moved that the prom be fixed immediately after the conclusion of the valedictory service. To K.C's dismay, Fisayo stood up to support Dotun. Fracas ensued. Majid managed to pacify the committee, after which he called for a hands-up-or-down vote. To K.C's greatest surprise, seven members of the committee voted in favour of Dotun's motion. K.C was shocked to the marrow. He had no choice but to break the news to his set mates, who were equally surprised and disappointed.

"I tried my best," K.C said. "If I had decided to go against the committee's vote, they would have revolted against me while endiup having their way. So, lose-lose for us. For me." They entered the Chemistry laboratory. "Who knows, Dotun and Fisayo did that to spite me." Chinedu let out a sigh before K.C knocked on the office of their Chemistry teacher, Mr Lawal. He knocked twice before going in. The duo found Mr Lawal in a discussion with the second teacher K.C planned to see-his English teacher, Mrs Macaulay.

"Good morning sir, good morning ma." K.C and Chinedu said in unison.

"Good day, K.C and Chinedu. How are you both doing? Your journey in Nova Gus will come to an end by 4pm today." Mr Lawal began in his usual boisterous and relaxed manner. Mr Lawal asked if Chinedu was also there to sign his; Chinedu said he was only escorting K.C.

"I'm fine sir. My journey will not end till you sign my clearance, sir." K.C said.

"Oh yes. So ironic that the best Chemistry student of the session is the one whose clearance I get to sign last. Save the best for last, eh?" He said, smiling. K.C forced a smile in return. K.C was about to turn to Mrs Macaulay for his English clearance, but she took the lead. Meanwhile, Mr Lawal was signing his clearance.

"I haven't forgotten you, Kelechi.", Mrs Macaulay said with a smile. She never called him by his nickname K.C. She continued, "Let Mr Lawal finish. Once again, congratulations-Oh, he's done already."

******************************************************************************
His clearance was over with. It was 11 am, one more hour before the valedictory service began. He wasn't sure if his dad would make it to the occasion; he'd probably never come.

He would give the age-old excuse of him making money for my education and future enjoyment.

K.C never really felt his dad's presence. They were like the North and South poles. Sometimes, K.C wondered if Izuchukwu Philips was indeed his dad. On days like this, he missed his mother. He never worried about his dad making it, he didn't even think of his dad. His mom would always make it no matter what. She would have made it today, but for her death.

He remembered six years ago, after the conclusion of the orientation, when he awaited his mother's arrival. That very day, he was dejected. He went to sit down on a wooden bench under one of Nova Gus's numerous trees. He folded his arms, worried. He wanted his mother. He looked around. He did not know anybody in Nova Gus; He was sure Aunty Ifeoma had already left for home. He bent his head, looking sad. Then, someone tapped him on his back. He jerked up in fear. Within a second, his fear turned to relief.

"My darling! I'm so sorry I came late. Ahan, you want to cry. I'm here. I will always be here. I was here with you today, your first day at Nova Gus. I will also be here on your last day, to smile and take pictures with you. By that time, you will be a big, tall boy, taller than me. For now, it's time to go home. How about we drop by KFC on our way back?"

As K.C remembered the experience, hard tears began to well up in his eyes. He couldn't control himself. He covered his face, trying to hold back the tears. His mother would not come, just like his dad. At that moment, he felt as alone as he felt on his first day at Nova Gus.

Someone tapped him from behind. It was Jessica.

"K.C, are you alright?" Jessica asked.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I just remembered some personal stuff. I should be getting ready for the main event. See you in an hour." He said, walking away briskly.