THE LOOP (Double Lines)

CHAPTER EIGHT

After the day I revealed to dad that I was carrying his secret . He never liked to be in the same space with me . He was always in a rush each time I appeared . I didn't really notice this till I returned from my trip with Daniel. The trip was so nice , Daniel took good care of me like I was his wife and his dad took us to a lot of fun places and we had desert rides. I tried talking with dad but he seemed like he wasn't interested so I let it go.
Timi was now taking afternoon classes in Saint Bridget. Mum was preparing her for JAMB . Mum didn't like that she stayed idle most of the time so she decided that she would prepare Timi to study mass communication in the University of Lagos. Mum bought her dresses , sandals and books . It was a joyful experience seeing mum show so much care for someone that's not her child. So with Timi spending some time in school , we had to spend extra time in the kitchen making what we would eat . June hadn't talked to me since the day I played her call record to the class . I needed her to stop playing the victim . I was the one that got hurt not them .
Uncle Azeez had been coming to the house steadily to see mum . Their dating life was pretty serious. I saw the way dad died knowing mum was happily moving on . Mum was happier than she had been in the last four weeks . She went out on dinner dates and she participated in playing tennis and volley ball at the sports club . She earned a golden membership card there .

Mum was to travel to Lokoja on a business trip with some executives from DE ROYALS the company she owned , they made jewelries , sold some and exported some to other international countries . She had some international branches and as well as local branches in different states.
She told aunty Affy and Uncle Azeez to check up on us from time to time during the times she would be gone . She ordered a lot of food from Chimney's place and placed them in the refrigerator . She gave us ten thousand naira each including Timi . Valerie begged her to give June and July some money too , she hesitated at first but she gave then ten thousand naira to share amongst themselves .
The day she left was on a school morning . We hugged her tightly and kissed her goodbye . I missed her immediately her cab disappeared from sight.

ASTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

(Daniel's POV)

I planned to ask Valentine to be my girl . She was by far the sweetest person I had ever known and this trip made me realize how much I need to be with her . Jeremy was really stupid for all he did to her , but she was so strong for bouncing back well.

I took permission from the head teacher before adding extra decorations to the cafeteria . I set up a little surprise for her and I got Nimi and Naden to bring her to the cafeteria this early . The cafeteria was a little full , I wasn't expecting this number of people but it was obvious that someone spilled the beans . I could even see Jeremy here with his boys. I got the rhymers to sing a brief love song for her as she walked in . Nimi and Naden did a good job getting her into the cafeteria and when I saw her I got so nervous , I wasn't that good at accepting rejection and I didn't want to spend the remaining school term sinking into depression . I touched her lightly before she asked "Whats going on here?" , I read her a little poem I had written

"In you , I see a friend
In your eyes I see the stars
On your lips, I feel paradise
On your nose , I smell roses
I love you more than I loved you before
If today is a gift , be my parcel
Because in you I see my future"

I wasn't much of a poet but I knew I really tried . She looked so happy , then I asked her to be my girlfriend but just immediately she agreed Jeremy rushed at me and a big fight ensued because some boys came to separate us and his boy squad attacked them . The noise and shouts attracted the principal and supervisor and we all were taken to the dark room , the punishment room , I had seen boys go in and out of that room with girls and from the condoms thrown around , you could tell that this was like sex room for students. The room was a big and we were told to clean every square inch of the room and wait . The place reeked and I had to put an empty transparent nylon over my hands to pick the used condoms and other contraceptives from the floor .
Jeremy still tried to act tough , he threw dirt at me and I got so angry and i punched him really hard and we started fighting again. The teachers from the next class came over and separated us but I swore I was going to deal with him while he rained abuses on me.
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