In the Loving Arms of Servitude

20. Spellbound

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The Inter-House Sports competition between the three houses of Kandore High is next week. The students have been getting about an hour of lecture-free practice time everyday, for a while now. Uju does not like sports much. But she plays a little volleyball and some indoor games like swimming. She loves swimming. However, the swimming competition was cancelled this year, so all she does mostly is stroll around the school premises, relishing the soothing sensation of the cool breeze; thinking and imagining to her heart's content. The truth is, she loves being physically idle. Her mind is always very busy, and she does more than enough work at home. If anything, she wants more time to rest; more time away from the Balogun family drama. Thank goodness Tobi attends a different school. The last thing she would've wanted is to have had to look after him here as well. At school, she is able to cultivate her own life; do what she wants when she wants it.
Family is good. But sometimes, one just needs a place to build a personal identity, learn to adapt, make friends and achieve personal goals, while untethered by the caprices of family life. And unlike in the outside world, here at Kandore, everyone is equal. Well at least, they are supposed to be.

Uju is always careful not to stray too far from the crowd during sports time. Many things can befall students who in search of solitude or otherwise, venture away from public safety into deserted parts of the school premises. In such places, no one can come to your rescue, should anything happen. 'Be where others are!' is always the watchword.

Uju also loves to take part in the march-past parade. She was the leader of her troop, back at St. Agnes Grammar School in Imo State. But there won't be any marching practice today, so she is free as a bird. She is equally alert however, to make sure that she escapes the watchful gaze of Mr. Akintola, the principal. He does not like to see students idle or loitering during sports periods. He always wants everyone to be fully involved in the recreation process, particularly Uju, whom he has noticed always avoids participating in social activities. The last time he caught her idle, he almost punished her severely. Therefore, Uju has devised a means to remain within the busy crowd, yet not participate in any activity. The field is large and crowded with people. So instead of remaining in one spot for too long, she keeps on migrating from the midst of one cluster of people to another. Mr. Akintola wouldn't be able to spot her then.

Sometimes, when Bayo is not playing football, he joins her on her migratory stroll. Then they would talk and laugh about so many things, ranging from God, human nature and politics; to life, love, music, fashion, feminism and whatnot. Today might be one of those days, because Uju can already see him storming off the football pitch; no doubt, because he got into an argument with some of the players. In anger, he trudges to the edge of the field and forcefully sits on the grass. Some of the players run after him and beg him to return, but he refuses.
Upon noticing this, James quickly rushes to pull them away from him, yelling, "Why una dey beg am? Abeg leave am, make ee dey go jor!!!... Substitute the idiot!"
Eventually, they all agree and start to walk away, although reluctantly. Afterwards, James rudely raises his middle finger at Bayo, who does nothing else but give him an extremely cold stare. The barrage of hostile fumes seeping from Bayo's mind right now are quite vicious. And Uju keeps observing them from afar, but does not go near. She has actually never seen Bayo get this angry before. Frankly, she had always wondered if he ever did.

Shortly after James leaves, Bayo slowly turns toward her direction and their eyes meet. The mysterious way in which this happens makes some chills run down Uju's spine. And the look on his face is so deadly, that it is almost as though she is seeing him for the first time; a different person; a dangerous person. That warm and kind guy she had come to know seems to have disappeared rather too abruptly. 'Why am I not surprised?' she echoes within herself. But then almost immediately, Bayo's acrid face gradually begins to morph into a smile, which makes it all seem even creepier. His eyebrows slowly part again and his cheeks progressively widen, reforming that comely demeanor she is used to. Although right now, he may be trying to make her feel more comfortable with his smile, in truth, she has never felt more unsafe around him. While Uju tries to process this uneasy feeling, Bayo immediately rises majestically and starts to walk towards her.