At long break, Godwin wanted to use the toilet. As he was going he saw Lovett returning from that side, immediately his heart skipped. Thoughts filled his mind. Doubts dominated. He contemplated on whether to greet her or pass quietly. If he greet and she snubs he will be embarrassed especially as they were students loitering around.
“Lovett” The did not know when the name slipped out of his mouth. To his greatest surprise Lovett turned which squinted face.
“How do you know my name?” She asked with a slight friendly smile. This was the closest Godwin has ever been to her. He realized Lovett was more pretty than he thought. As he tried to reply he began to stammer due to the fact that his mind was far absorbing his discovery.
“I heard you call it to our form master” Godwin finally said.
Lovett smiled again and left leaving Godwin rooted at the spot. Not like he was lost this time but he could not believe what had happened was reality. As he turned to go, he did not look so he bumped at somebody, a female junior student
“Hey senior!”
“Sorry, please”
Ever since then Godwin could not pull off the memory. It was beginning to affect his activities. Making mistakes became a continuous occurrence and that was due to the very fact that his mind sneaks away, revolving around Lovett. This time he was left with a choice to try talking to her again believing that if he succeeds getting her attention he would have the chance to tell her his intentions. But doing it wasn’t as easy as saying it.
He usually plan to meet her but something always stops him. Sometimes she’s surrounded by mates, sometimes talking with people, sometimes his own friends are with him. Waiting for this chance lasted over a week. The only time he got a chance was when he saw her going to the market place. He was alone so he followed her walking slowly behind her rehearsing what to say and how to start. She stopped near a flower as is she was waiting for someone. Godwin waited behind walls to see what would happen. For five minutes Lovett stood at the flowers doing nothing and Godwin have not built the courage to approach her.
At a point Godwin noticed that some of the SS2 students were staring at her. His plans all shattered in a twinkle of an eye. He decided to go. As he was going, turning repeatedly he noticed she was coming behind him.
“Oh great!” He thought. He slowed his movement so she could meet him but before she got close David appeared. Godwin was very disappointed.
“Why now?” He muttered. “Why must he come this way?”
“Here you are. I have been looking for you” David said getting closer.
“Why?” His tone clearly explains his mood.
“Hi?” Lovett waved as she passed them.
“Fine girl” David called diverting his attention wholly on her. “I beg, wait! I want to tell you something”
“Tell her what?” Godwin sparkled pulling him back “You just told me you were looking for me. You are yet to tell me what you wanted to see me for you still want to abandon me here and follow another person.
“Actually, I was looking for you but that doesn’t entail I have something to discuss with you”
“I am not talking about discussion. I seek to know why you wanted to see me” Godwin said still looking mean.
“Guy, I don’t understand. What’s going on? Why so mean. This is not you”
As Godwin noticed he has over reacted and David is beginning to sense something he walked away with the same look on his face. He went into the class and sat alone but not long Peter and Solomon came in.
“You want to know how many of us will contribute to your burial right?” Peter asked a girl who was twerking on a bad desk.
“Is it your concern?” The girl asked.
“No it’s not. But when you fall down, hit your esophagus on the floor and break your liver you will know. But before that make sure either your mother or your father collect LAPO lately so that there will be enough rice that day. And again, the food needs to have a better taste. She can hire others to help in cooking”
“You are the one going to die, fool”
“See how insensitive you are. Somebody is enlightening you on the consequences of what you are doing whom you are supposed to appreciate in return you are insulting him instead” Solomon said.
“You better shut your mouth. You are not called into this” Immediately she said that the desk shook but she didn’t fall down. She was only filled with sudden terror. Peter and Solomon taunted at her incessantly while leaving.
“What do you mean by saying she would hit her esophagus on the floor and break her liver?” Solomon asked. “First where do you think esophagus is located”
“Here of course” Peter replied touching the back of his head smiling. From that smile Solomon understood he was rather making things funny.
“So what is this place called?” Solomon asked touching his neck as indication.
“Outside of it is neck and the inside is throat”
“Its called esophagus too”
“One spot three names?”
“So it is”
“No, I refuse. That’s cheating. How can there be neck, throat and esophagus at one spot and lungs, liver and kidney in one spot while there’s no name for some parts?”
“Who told you they doesn’t have names? You are just yet to discover”
“Until I discover it back of the head remains esophagus and the waist liver”
As days elapsed different things continued to happen. SS2 students continued to show hatred for the SS1 and some the teachers, they would try exaggerating whatever happens and prolong it. So far Solomon is beginning to have his way into Lovett. What connects them now was beyond ordinary greetings. They talk but it was always a short snappy talk.
Apart from that there’s something that’s beginning to happen that the entire class is suspects. It was about Mr. Stones. Whenever he comes to the class for anything he makes Lovett the center of concentration. You hear things like, Lovett come wipe the board, answer this question, see me in my office, come collect your notes, collect the assignment or tests and bring to me, what is your opinion on this? He must have a way to involve her.
Many were getting jealous and angry as well, including the girls. This made some of the girls hate both of them but they could exercise their hatred to Lovett.
“Some people comes to school not to study but to date teachers” A girl said as she saw Lovett passing. The rest of them laughed annoyingly. They were deliberately audible so that it will pain her.
“Eventually they will have nothing other than pregnancy to present to their parents”
“They will drop out of school and that will be the end of their beauty parade”
They laughed again. They kept contributing one after another.
“You are the one they are referring to” Lovett’s seat mate told her as she walked in and sat down.
“I know. It’s a gossip. They are not saying it directly. I don’t listen to gossip. It’s only when they mention my name I will know what to tell them” Lovett replied confidently. That was how they ignored the girls.