The Habit

Chapter 19

"Quickly hide" Emmanuel said as they carried their clothes and hide in a corner),the footsteps suddenly stopped at the door then they heard clattering of keys on the door and the person left, They quickly put on their clothes and headed for the door, theresa tried to open it but the door was shut.

" I think the person came to lock the door"theresa said

Then they heard the bell for closing…

Mary jane and chioma were out of the school heading home when chioma heard a familiar voice beside her,hello ladies?

They turned and it was Patrick

"Do you girls stay together"?patrick asked

" No,just that our street faces each other"chioma replied

"you never told me your name"?patrick said

" Really?, am so sorry my name is chioma and this is Maryjane my stubborn friend" chioma said

"Who is stubborn" mary jane asked as she gave chioma a spank on the butt.

They kept walking and joking as they walked home, they said goodbye to mj as she entered her street, now chioma is left with patrick as she suddenly felt shy, she walked faster to her house and he kept following her, she was almost at her house then she turned to look at him.

"Why are you escorting me" chioma asked

"Excuse me?am not escorting you,I live down there" Patrick replied as he pointed to a huge white building.

"Oh,so this is where you live,anyway I live here" chioma said (pointing to her house).

"Now that I know where you live,I will come pick you up tomorrow morning so we can go to school together" Patrick said (and he walked away).

Chioma stood at her gate and watched him as he walked closer to his house,he turned to look back, she quickly entered her gate for him not to catch her staring at him.

Chioma mum wasn’t home yet, she opened the door with her own spare key and went straight to her room and jump on her bed with excitement,she covered her face with her pillow as she remembered the kiss.

"I THINK AM FALLING IN LOVE" chioma said.

After remembering the good times she had with patrick, she quickly took off her uniform and drop them on the bag that she do keep dirty clothes for her mum to wash.

She opened her wardrobe and brought out a purple top with joggers(trouser) and dashed out of her door to get something to eat from the kitchen, as she was pouring the corn flakes in her bowl,the thought of patrick flashed to her mind.

"How can somebody’s lips taste so good, I wish to kiss him again" chioma said within herself.

She poured some water and milk into the bowl,return the flakes carton into the fridge,chioma am home(she heard her mum call from the living room).

"Mummy welcome" chioma said as she ran to the living room with her bowl).

"Chioma is it true about what happened in your school today" chioma mum asked

"About what"?(chioma replied)

"About emeka ,I went to their shop to buy stuff but I found their shop locked,I asked the shop beside them where they were and they told emeka is in the hospital, that he fell down in school" chioma mum said.

"yes,I saw it, I pray he recovers" chioma said

She continued munching on the flakes on her bowl while her mum was busy in the kitchen,after she finished eating she walked up to her mum.

"Mummy pls can I take a walk outside for a bit" chioma said

"Why?,you have never taken a walk before" her mum said

"Nothing just felt I should stretch my legs a bit" chioma said

"Okay be careful,remember what happened the last time,I give you just 30minutes" chioma mum said

After dropping her plate in the sink, she walked out of the house.

"How come I’ve lived here for some years now and i’ve never seen patrick on my street,is it that he doesn’t go out or what" chioma was deep in thought,suddenly she heard her name, CHIOMA,she turned and saw patrick coming out of his gate with his guitar wrapped around from his neck to his waist.

"Where are you off to" Patrick asked

"No where,just taking a walk, do you take this guitar with you all the time" chioma said

"Am off to music class,I go there every evening from Monday to Saturday" Patrick said

"What do you want to study in school" chioma asked

"music" Patrick replied.

"Why music" chioma asked as they stared at each other straight into their eyes.

They kept talking and walking until they got to a particular building that says on the banner(WIZKID MUSIC ACADEMY), some other teenagers who came for practice were also outside with each of the instruments they want to learn,some were holding trumpet, keyboard,saxophone, flute,drum sticks,talking drum,violine, etc.

"Wow, learning in this place will be very fun with lots of friends,I have to start going now before my mum get worried" chioma said

"Why don’t you tell your mum to allow you come and learn here, I promise you it would be fun" Patrick said

Why they were talking, a slim and tall light skinned girl holding a guitar walked up to Patrick.

"Patrick what’s up"(she said in a flirty tone),I’ve been calling your phone for the past 10minutes now.

" Sorry I left it at home in my room,help me keep this inside I will join you guys shortly before class starts"patrick said.

She collected his guitar and gave chioma a look that says,”BACK OFF HIS MINE”(as she entered the building.

"Chioma can I have your number"?patrick said

"Number"?chioma asked as she laughed shyly),am sorry but I don’t have a phone.

"you must be kidding right?,how can you tell me you don’t have a phone at this age" Patrick said

"But my mum promised me a phone after this exams if my result are good" chioma said

"Patrick" (some group of girls shouted)

"What" Patrick replied with annoyance)

"Class has started" (they chorused together).

"Alright chioma I will see you tomorrow morning" Patrick said as he held her both hands), she felt butterflies in her stomach immediately as she felt his hands, She let go of his hands and jogged into the building.

She was beginning to feel jealous over those girls that always push themselves to be close to Patrick.

"I have to tell my mum for me to join this music academy so I can see him more often,even if I didn’t learn anything let me just be close to him" chioma said within herself

"How can he be single when those girls who look more beautiful than I am are all over him,they all look like models" chioma said

She quickly turned back and walk home.

Later that night at Dinner…

"Mummy there’s this music academy I saw close to the estate beside our street,where they teach all kind of musical instrument so mummy am thinking I should learn,you know I stopped learning keyboard when I was little so pls I want to perfect my skill,can I go"?chioma asked as she pouted her mouth.

Her mum looked at her for a while…

" Find out how much is the form so I can register you,since you have nothing doing at home"chioma mum said

"Wow really,thank you mummy, I love you" chioma said as she stood up from her chair to give her a tight hug.

After dinner chioma packed up the plates and trashed them in the sink.

"Mummy what about daddy" chioma asked as she walked into the sitting room

"His fine,he will be traveling out tomorrow for a business meeting, he said I should tell you" chioma mum replied

"Okay, good night mum" chioma said as she walk into her room

She entered the shower for a quick bath, after that she put on her Pajamas before bringing out her book to read for tomorrow’s exam.

She read for 2hours before going to sleep.

6:am in the morning…

She rolled out of bed with a happy face,slid in her slippers and dashed into the bathroom to take her bath.

After spending like forever to wash all part of her body not to stink in front of patrick,she cleaned herself with a clean towel,creamed every part of her body,put on her other clean uniform and shoes, brush down her hair and head out of the door for breakfast.

Her mum wasn’t out yet so she switch on the TV to watch her favorite channel(Nickelodeon) before she comes out.

5minutes later her mum came out fully dressed "Chioma this one that you dress up early today what is going on" her mum asked

"It's because of exam"(chioma lied)

she quickly walked into the kitchen to make plantain and egg.

Few minutes later…

"Chioma come and carry your food"(her mum called from the kitchen)

Chioma got up and quickly collected her food and walk to the dinning table.

Her mum came to join her on the table.

"Chioma I will be coming back a bit late today so I want you to remain indoor as soon as you get back from school and don’t open door for strangers, do you hear me?" chioma mum said

"yes ma" chioma said as she raised her hand for a salute.

Suddenly they heard a knock on the door… (a smile crossed her face immediately.

" Chioma are you expecting somebody"?her mum asked

The person by the door knocked again,

"Mummy I have to go now" chioma said as she carried her bag and turn to leave.

"you have still not told me who is at the door" chioma mum said

"Okay,his a friend of mine that stays down the street,we attend the same school so he told me he will come pick me up so we can go to school together" chioma said

"Oh so tell me is he your boyfriend"? Chioma mum asked with a wink.

"Mummy his just a friend please" chioma said (rolling her eyes)

She quickly ran to the door not to keep him waiting, she opened the door and saw Patrick was about leaving as he turned.

"Patrick"(she yelled)as he turned back.

" So you’re inside?,I've been knocking like forever"patrick said

"Sorry I was talking to my mum" chioma said

"your mum is inside"?patrick asked (and she bursted out looking at both of them)

"Good morning ma’am" Patrick greeted

"How are you doing handsome?,and what your name" chioma mum asked

" my name is Patrick"he replied

"Lovely, what state are you from"?chioma mum asked

"Mummy what with all this questions this early morning as if he came for job interview"?chioma said as patrick bursted into laughter.

"Patrick come let go" chioma said

"Nice to meet you ma’am" Patrick said as he walked out of the gate.

"Chioma my baby" her mum said with a wide grin and a wink

"Oh gosh" chioma said as she rolled her eyes and stormed off.

"Wait come and collect your money for lunch" chioma mum said as she brought out 500naira from her purse.

Chioma walked up to her and collected the money,she avoided her gaze because she know she will say something that will make her blush

She was almost out of the gate when she heard her Mum (YOU WILL LOVE) as her mum shouted.