Sing Of A Tree In The Wild

Save The Last Dance

23rd of July

15:19

Elfrida

I still can't believe any of this. It's like I'm in a lucid dream, but I know I'm not dreaming....at least, I choose to believe so. It's hard to fathom that the antisocial girl who started off this session, like other sessions, as an introverted geek now has trusted friends who can't seem to stop talking about today's special occasion.

The same social function that I know I will never honour. At least, not in this school.

"I like the whole concept! It's just too beautiful!"

I never hated Kofo for any reason. I always saw her- and I still see her- as the embodiment of everything I will never be in this life. It's funny how our friendship grew out of a ploy that was supposed to make me hate her. It loosely reminds me of 2Pac's anthology, 'The Rose That Grew From Concrete'. In my case, I could as well say, 'The Beautiful Tree that Grew in The Wild'.

"I know, right? The moonlight theme and the delightful posters put everyone in the mood...why are pinching yourself like that?" Dunni shoots me an amused look. I didn't even realise I was still trying to confirm how real this 'reality' is.

"Don't mind me. It's my personal OCD." I smile, trying to clear the tight air. Not that they'd be worried the less, anyway.

"You want us to believe that your OCD began barely two minutes ago." Dunni says.

"Don't mind her. She doesn't know how to lie." Kofo says, patting my shoulder. Our exams ended yesterday and we're here in this deserted school to assist in the formalities for the SS3's prom. My set mates involved volunteered out of sheer joblessness.

But not me.

Dunni folds her arms. "We can't be so sure. This prom thing is making me anticipate our turn next year."

Kofo lights up with glee. "I'm telling you! The catering service, the hall decorations, the outfits, the prom proposals-"

Dunni cuts Kofo off. She points at her sharply, trying to recollect something. "Tonye and Azuka! That proposal was out of this universe!" She's already jumping excitedly as if she were Azuka herself. Azuka is our effervescent assistant-head girl who happens to be good friends with Dunni.

"Even if she didn't like him at all," Kofo begins, "there was no way she could have said 'No'. No way. And again, they've been dating for a long time."

I can remember the proposal day vividly. It was a week after the ill-fated final; I had Chemistry right before break that day. Raucous chants had begun to rise from downstairs. People from every class in the block all ran out to meet the wonderful display put up by Tonye and his goons. After he got up from his half-kneel to hug Azuka after her acceptance, I began to smile, turning my eyes in different directions...

Until they found you-know-who's eyes. Already staring at me.

He was probably envisioning our 'promposal' in an alternate reality where everything was perfect and I didn't have to leave the country for any reason. I wish I could experience that moment, real or unreal. But life is cruel.

"I'm sure Dennis would put up a better display for you next year." Adunni says. Only a smile can hide the truth right now. "You're coming next year, aren't you?"

I turn to look at Kofo who knows fully well, the state of things. I turn back to Dunni. "It's still a little far. I don't know yet."

"You don't know yet." Adunni repeats. "It's much better that the emphatic 'No' you would have said if you had been asked a months ago."