Red-lips obsession

Chapter one

8 years ago...

Terry was jumping up and down overly stressed of where her best friend was at such an odd hour. The sun was setting and the evening remedials were bound to start soon." Tayken!"she called out desperately in the hallway waiting for a response that never came along. She spun around quickly heading to the playground. She has to be there. 

Valence academy was one of the best schools in the country and a school of class. Performance,discipline co-curricular activities and meals were excellent. The buildings towered over Terry's small figure as she madly ran along the corridors. No one was in the corridors or hanging on the railings,a clear indication that everyone was in class. 

She pushed the small gate open and dashed into the large playground to where Tayken was,alone,watching the sunset with tears in her eyes. Tayken was yet to notice Terry who was standing behind her listening to her silent sobs.

"Hey,Tayken are you okay? What's wrong?"

Silence.

"I'm fine Terry."Terry  lay her hand on her slumped shoulders as she sat beside her. They sat in silence for a while watching the golden rays of the setting sun as its rays cast shadows of the trees opposite from them. The wind hushed pronouncing their prolonged silence. 

"Tayken?"

"I like watching the sunset,I've started liking it today,"Tayken said trying to brush off the main subject.

"Same to me,"Terry said with a warm smile. 

"I mostly love the moon though, how it rises, its colour,the roundness. Why do you love sunsets?" Tayken asked.

"Symbolic!"she replied.

"Meaning?"

"It symbolizes that everything has an end even your problems honey. Why do you love the moon?"Tayken laughed aloud and and looked away getting a distant look and with the same playful tone she replied,"Symbolic! Every darkness is conquered by light. No situation is impossible." 

"WOW!you are inspirational,"They were silent once more but this time it was comfortable. Terry suddenly stood and grabbed Tayken's arms forcefully making her stand.

"Hey, I'm not going to class,"she shrieked in fright. With a knowing smile, Terry yanked her up and towards the trees.

"If the T.O.D passed by he would see us and we'd end up getting a detention. I'm smart?I know. I hope you won't mind t telling me what's up with you."Tayken was more than annoyed, wasn't she supposed to lead a private life? She wasn't ready to tell her pains, fears and disappointments,she was so okay all alone.

"Okay Terry, I'm just bored and tired of my life, school..."

She was lying, she could see it in her eyes as she tried to put a blank expression to cover her face. Tayken looked away as she fidgeted with her fingers. She only hoped her face wasn't transparent enough to show she was lying.

"You didn't have to lie to me but it's okay if it makes you comfortable. Do you know what love is?"

"I wasn't..."

"Stop it Tayken. It's a yes or no question."

"Love?Love?"

"Yes, it's what I feel for you. A raw feeling in the heart,a kind of connection, so sweet yet painful. I hate I love you 'cause you can't reciprocate my love for you."

"What do you mean? You know I love you so much."

"Trust me there is no love without trust. You can't tell me your problems because you don't trust me and you can't love me because you don't trust me."Tayken made as if to talk but Terry raised her hand in dismal. Her shoulders were shaking from her silent sobs. She wished she could reach out to her and comfort her and tell her how much she loves her. She was almost losing a person she really loved.

* * *

"Where's Tayken and Terry?"Mr Samuel asked."We dunno"the pupils replied in a chorus.

"I last saw Terry in the hallway calling Tayken's name."Simon said.

"No lesson today, just go to your discussion groups."Mr Samuel was an extremely good teacher whom everyone loved because of his kindness. He cared about everyone's well being, especially Tayken, who was so passionate about science and mathematics."She's deeply troubled."he concluded to himself

* * *

The bell rang and Terry stood up hurriedly wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. At the same time, Tayken shot up and straightened her sky blue dress.

"Terry,I didn't mean to..."

"Mum told me to be early today. Bye," she said heading towards the classes. She didn't even huh her nor wish her a good night, she simply walked away.

"Tayken, you missed my class, why? Anyway, to my office there's something I have to tell you."

Present....

Earlier experiences had taught here how to get all the attention she wanted with a snap of her fingers and a great warming smile. She had to do this, she had all she really needed to trap the cat because she was the mouse, the food."Hurry, you're already late!"her best friend Nancy Makiki said.

"It's the first day dummy, not such a big deal. Furthermore, people just love me"She knew the plan by heart, at exactly 12:30 I enter the class, nine steps to the front of the class and seven behind...she sang to herself in the head. At exactly 11:10, she left for tuition.

She stood by the door clenching and unclenching her fists in nervousness. The class was a bit quiet. From outside, she could hear the reality voice of the Swahili teacher as he taught the already-bored students.

"Why does it have to be Swahili the most boring subject of all time?"she complained to herself. She glanced at her watch, just one more minute. 5,4,3,2,1...go

She silently opened the door and closed it behind her. The murmurs subsided as she took nine sure steps to the front, grabbed a stool and took seven to the back. All was quiet and every head turned to her,except one, the cat's. She sat, opened her bag and took out her Swahili book and her blue pen. She looked at the one person she was to trap. It's not gonna be so easy. She looked at the teacher and smiled in dismal and all at once the murmurs rejuvenated.

"Karibu darasani,"the short teacher said.

Hey,what do you think Mr Samuel said to Tayken?

And why does Tayken not tell her best friend her problems?

Okay, note let's see all about the cat.He is already strange... Our what do you think?

VOTE, SHARE, COMMENT!:)

:-)