03: Project Jael
1803 Words
Jordan
We had a free period...
Gideon, Benson and Cameron sat with me. They were having a good time chatting freely.
And yes, they were talking about Jael.
"Gawd, why did I miss school" Cameron feigned sadness.
"Bro, you missed oh. She was like a Ninja. Gawd, it was like a live Marvel movie in the classroom" Gideon said.
"She was like... You don't want to know me, so don't cross me" Goodness said and and joined us.
Didn't realize she was hearing.
"Finally someone to put Majesty in her place" she added.
"She dey always do like Barbie (She behaves like a Barbie)" Benson said.
They burst out laughing.
"Omohh una dey laugh una Princess oh(Laughing at the princess you guys)" Josh said from behind.
"She's pretty isn't she?" Benson said only to me.
I followed his gaze to Jael who was with Kamsi. She had a lollipop in her mouth and she pouted.
"I think I like her"
I blinked quickly and turned swiftly to him.
"She's no match for you bro" Cameron said and burst out laughing.
"Awwwn, he likes Jael?" Goodness said and giggled.
Josh wrapped his arm around Benson's neck.
"This lover boy"
"Just give up bro, she'll turn you down at the spot"Gideon said.
"She'll like a hotter guy. Someone cool and awesome. Someone like..." Goodness said.
"Like Jordan" she concluded.
I coughed immediately. Somehow I always got involved in these conversations.
They all turned to me, expecting me to say something.
"Get in your seats!!!"
Mrs. Toke came just in time.
Phew..
Majesty spoke carefully and rounded up.
"So what do you say?" She asked.
"About what?" I asked.
"Seriously??"
"Come on, you made a whole speech" I said.
"I want to teach the little girl a lesson" Majesty said.
"Who?" I asked.
"Jael" she replied.
"Who's Jael??" I feigned ignorance.
She rolled her eyes "your seatmate"
"And how's that my business?" I asked.
"You're the best for the job. Make her fall for you then you break her heart" she said and I burst into laughter.
Was she serious?
"Jael isn't even soft enough. How's that even possible??" I asked.
"Actually I don't care how you do it" she replied.
"What do I get in return??" I asked.
"We've got 20K" Felix said and smiled.
"Not enough" I said.
Majesty widened her eyes.
"What nah? You think it's easy to break Someone's heart?? I'll settle for 25" I said.
"Fine. If you do your job well you'll get it" She said
"Now you're talking" I said and gave Felix a handshake. I knew he wasn't in support of paying me 25K.
"Nice doing business with you" I said and he left without a word.
Gideon, who was watching us the whole time approached me.
"Don't tell me those two brought a deal to you" he said.
"How do you know?" I asked.
He said "Bro, they'll screw you up. I've been in this school for five years, I know what I'm saying".
"I know them longer than you so shut it" I said and he angrily left my seat.
Jael walked in with Kamsi and Majesty winked at me.
I smirked and nodded. I made up my plan while walking home. I got to my room and rounded it up.
"Perfect!" I said and fell on my bed.
It felt unusual. There were no clothes on it. It was then I realized my whole room was clean. I was sure I didn't clean my room since I got to Aunt Ayo's house.
I was just too lazy to do it.
I went out and met Esther making a call
"Just try to come tomorrow, we missed you today" she said and hung up. She rolled her eyes when she saw me.
"Ka nyi?(what is it?)" She said and I raised my eyebrows.
"I don't understand Tiv" I said.
"Whatever" she said.
"Who cleaned my room" I asked.
"Grandma did" Vinz answered and I widened my eyes.
"Your very own Nemesis" Esther said and smiled while looking into her promise.
"Hello" I heard a little voice say.
"Hey" I answered after realizing it was the newspaper boy.
"I'm Ralph. What's your name?" He asked.
"Nan ya" I replied.
"What?!" He asked, confused.
"Nan'ya business" I replied and he pouted.
"Jordan" I said " you can call me Jay" .
"Nice to meet you" he said and he shook me.
I held his small palm in mine and felt the warmth.
"Can we be friends?" he asked.
"Nah" I said " I don't keep many friends"
"Cause you lack the skills?" He said
"Nope. Cause I don't want to" I replied.
"That doesn't seem to be the case. Sometimes people can't keep friends cause people don't like them. So they decide to keep people at arm's length" he said and I turned to him.
He made a point, a bitter but true point. I couldn't keep friends. Since my best friend Dominic died, I only got stuck in a friendship with Richard and I ruined myself.
"Look, you didn't even thank us. I assisted Grandma to clean your room. That shows pride. Proud people don't keep good friends" he said.
"I don't even have a friend" I said and went away.
No one ever loved me except Zaya. Not even my mum understood me. Everyone saw me as a nuisance.
My Dad's way of getting rid of me was bringing me to stay with Aunt Ayo.
At night Grandma and the others were around the fire they made to roast maize.
I sat far away from them and stared at the sky. The stars twinkled and I remembered how I met Richard. He gave me a ride home on a day I got drunk.
I sighed and thought of my first approach on Jael. Majesty just didn't want to accept defeat.
That wasn't my problem. I needed the money.
Jael
I munched on my plantain chips while watching a movie.
"Aren't you hot in there?" Bryan asked from outside.
"Nope. I'm good here" I replied.
I never liked staying outside for long.
When the movie ended, I went to drink water when I heard Bryan and Bella talking in low tones.
"I think she's doing well, I mean there are no reports of her causing trouble" Bella said and I raised my eyebrows.
"But she's disturbed. She still sees Rachel" he said.
"It's not that easy. Though she's still young, she went through the pains of motherhood. She needs time to heal" she replied.
I sighed and went to bed.
I got ready for school the next day and while looking into the mirror. I saw myself two years ago. I was very cheerful.
I took a deep breath and decided to change to my old cheerful self. I smiled and turned to see Rachel wearing a uniform.
I smiled and said "you're going nowhere and you'll not disturb me".
I walked to school and let the breeze fill me up with good feelings. I saw students from other schools going their ways. I met Favour who walked with me to school.
"Why did you leave our school?" He asked.
"I got a scholarship in Sounds minds" I replied.
"Guess we'll be classmates then, I just got admitted" he said.
"Bro, that's cool" I said and we continued talking till we reached the classroom block.
I walked to the classroom and the class fell silent and I realized they were staring at me. I took a step backwards to get out of the class and I hit someone.
"Robinhood?" I said.
"It's Jordan"he replied.
Whatever...
During a maths lesson, he whispered "you were trying to get my attention right? Well, now you have it".
Seriously? What a line..
"Dream on" I said.
"My dreams come to life" he said.
"Then I'm a nightmare" I replied.
I started studying in the school library to avoid him. He turned overnight to a nice guy trying to woo me. It was so annoying.
I was buried in my physics textbook. I was weak in the subject. The subject teacher suggested Jordan as a tutor.
I rolled my eyes at the thought.
"Sorry I'm late" I looked up to see Jordan holding a pen. He sat next to me and said.
"We've got a tutorial now" he said and opened my notebook.
"Judging from your notes you have a problem with Waves. We'll begin from progressive wave equations" he said and I rolled my eyes.
"I never agreed to this" I protested.
"It's for your own good" he replied.
"Whatever" I said and rolled my eyes.
He hissed and began talking. He kept explaining till I zoned while watching him talk.
It was my first time to see him up close. He was nothing less than adorable, Worthy of my eyes to behold.
I heard Ralph's voice in my head.
"Snap out of it Jael, it's not time to fall for him"
"What?!" I said out loud as my heart raced.
How did that happen?
"Is there a problem?" he asked.
"No, don't worry" I said and bit my lower lip.
"You looked lost some seconds ago"
"I'm okay" I replied and cleared my throat.
The rest of the week was jumbled up. Jordan kept annoying me.
On a certain Tuesday Favour was telling me about a movie.
"You don't like horror movies, do you?" He asked.
"I hardly watch them" I replied.
"Hmmmmm, you know something else I like watching?" he said with a smirk and I rolled my eyes.
"I don't want to know sef" I replied.
He said " you and and Jordan"
I shot him a glare.
"You'll make a good couple".
I smacked him on the head.
He said "I'm serious. You need to loosen up and get out of your shell. You deserve some happiness".
"I don't have a shell" I said.
He had a point. I was too withdrawn from people.
Kamsi walked me home in order to know my house.
"Your house is really beautiful. You grew all these flowers, it's so cool" She took out her phone to take pictures.
"There's something I wanted to tell you" I said before we entered the house.
"I have a child"
"What? Really??"
"Yes, I'm sorry, I really wanted to tell you but I didn't know how" I said.
"What, seriously? Can I meet him, or her?" She asked and I nodded.
She met Ralph and she loved him.
While trying to do the assignments Jordan gave me, I remembered Favour's words.
I didn't expect that reaction from Kamsi. I thought she'd judge and criticize me.
And it got me thinking. Maybe I should start seeing things from a different point of view.
Deep down I wished I could but it just wasn't that easy.
- Writer
