light & Darkness

CHAPTER TWO: PLAYER WAYS

Mason’s POV:

Friday Afternoon. I headed home after my usual day in detention. I knew that classroom the same way I knew my own room. It had become like a second home.

Riverside High School, a prestigious high school, had me, Mason Archwood, as its resident troublemaker, player, and honor student. That was probably the only reason why I still attended this school without getting expelled.

I had probably broken every single rule if that school and I almost had no remorse for it. All that changed that Friday in the Principal’s office.

**FLASHBACK**

The intercom phone in the principal's office rang, “Hello?” Mr. Williams said into the phone.

After some time, he replied to the persons on the other end of the line, “Let her in”.

Seconds later, footsteps were heard and my mother walked through the doors. She glanced at me, giving me a disappointed look before turning to smile at my Principal, “Good Afternoon Sir, I heard you have some news for me”.

I dreaded the next words that would come out of his mouth because I knew it would wipe that smile off her beautiful face.

“Yes”, he replied, “I called to inform you that the time has come when the school will no longer condone the actions of your son. He is undeniably brilliant, but he wishes to misbehave and cause trouble and we can no longer tolerate this habit of his. We have concluded to expel him because we don’t want any of our students being influenced negatively”.

As I suspected, the smile on her face dropped as she said, “I understand Mr. Johnson, this was long-awaited. Thank you for your patience”.

Then she turned to me with anger, “À bô wa ba loro è (I will deal with you later).

**END OF FLASHBACK**

I decided to accept whatever punishment she gives me to pacify her. My mother was my world and I could sacrifice my life for her to live.

It breaks my heart seeing her cry because of something my bastard of a father does to hurt her. He was a class A manipulator, making a public show with other women in front of her and then feigning repentance later on for her to take him back. My mother was a woman with a big heart and she always forgave him no matter the amount of offenses commits.

My father was the reason for my bad boy ways. You see, he always had so much pride and boasted of my brilliance to everyone, saying I was the product of his ‘intelligence’. Bullshit.
But with everything he did to my mother, and his endless bragging, I lost it.

I decided to hurt him and his ego by not giving him any reasons to be proud of me. The crazy man thinks it’s a phase and I’ll get over it, but he’s got another thing coming.

I know obviously, I wounded his enormously large ego, but he keeps on hiding it. I believe that sooner or later I’d finally break him but I didn’t pay attention to the fact that I’m doing so, I was also hurting my African Queen, My Gem, My mother more than it would ever hurt him.

****

I parked my car in the garage of our house and walked up the front porch where my mother stood, a look of fury spread across her face. I really screwed up this time.

She landed a stinging hot slap on my face and walked into the house. I followed suit trying to beg her to forgive me when I walked into the living room and was met with the sight of the bastard seated comfortably on the living room couch, flipping through channels on the Television.

With his eyes still on the T.V, he said, “Darling, why are you always so dramatic? We both know Mason is going through one of those phases and he’ll get over it. As for the school incident, it’s really Riverside’s loss. A lot of other schools would be begging to have him there because of his smarts and my money”. The nerve of this prick.

we ignored him and my mother turned to me with tears in her eyes. fuck no!. “why tobi? why do you choose to disappoint me and add more sorrow to my life ehn?” she asked with the Nigerian accent i had grown to love and become fond of.

i was about replying her statement when she continued, “tobi, i’m not going to listen to any excuses. i pampered you too much and now i’m paying for it. maybe some time with my elder sister in Nigeria would do you some good”.

it broke my heart that she thought being away from her would help me. i wanted to be there by her side and be the shoulder she could lie on whenever my dad screwed up.

Gerald Archwood spoke up from the living room, “sending him away won’t change anything Tiwa. as long as he’s going through is a phase, his environment won’t influence him otherwise”.

because of his statement, i suppressed my pleads and agreed to her condition, “mom, if that’s what you want me to do, I'll do it. but it’s for you mom, not for him. i just don’t want to see you cry because of me or him ever again”.

she gave me a small smile, “trust me tobi, the only thing that could make me cry is you. I’m a strong woman and i can handle myself” she places a hand in my cheek, “I just want the best for you”.

i nodded and said, “yes mom i understand and I'll do this for you. I'll change for you and i won’t disappoint you”.

And with that, i realized my fate was sealed and i was going off to Nigeria to make my mother proud.