Peace the Savage

Chapter 13: Embarrassing Act

IT WAS WEDNESDAY AND almost a week after the competitions now. On Monday at the assembly, Peace had been brought up to the stage where he was congratulated in front of the whole school and given a prize. It surprised him that he had taken all the attention when there were others who had been extraordinary the previous Friday. But that did not matter, did it? After all, who did not want attention and praises from all sides?

He had not talked with Roy ever since that day. He had tried to talk to him when they had arrived at the school but Roy gave him a cold shoulder. He would wait for him to calm down. But it seemed like it was going to take forever since it was almost a week now and Roy was still giving him an attitude and still not talking to him. Peace also had not yet called Alice or even look for her at the school.

Right now, he was heading for the main gate of the school, looking at his wrist watch at least three times per minute. It was dismissal time and the paved pathways to the main entrance were crowded with school children. He was going to meet his employer for the first time today and he did not want to be late. That was why he was burrowing through bodies right now as he headed for the bus terminus.

WHEN THE BELL RANG meaning the last lesson for the day was over, Lucy let out a sigh of relief as she closed her books and put them in the satchel. The lesson had been boring. She dozed throughout the whole lesson, and had not heard a thing the teacher had been saying.

"Guys, can we go," she called to her two friends, Shalom and Kudzie. They both came from rich families like her but unlike their friend, Shalom and Kudzie were both humble. And unlike Lucy who liked to spend profusely or extravagantly, they never showed if they had any money or not. "God knows if I spend another minute in here, I might pass out," Lucy complained.

They started on their way to the gate. At a corridor filled with people, a form four girl behind them called to her friends in a very loud voice. Lucy felt irritated and covered her ears with her hands.

"Some people are so annoying," Lucy said looking disgustedly at the girl shouting, as if sizing her up. "Why shout like that, huh?"

"What's wrong with that?" Kudzie asked nicely. "You always scream like that when you are angry."

"No, I don't," Lucy said. "That's primitive."

"Yes, you do," Shalom put in.

"No, I don't-"

At that moment the girl came running in their way in a flash, yelling something that Lucy and her friends could not make out. As she neared them, she tried to reduce her speed but it was already too late. She tripped. Kudzie, Shalom and a few others jumped out of the way and stood against the walls of the corridor when they realised the girl was not going to stop, or if she would, she was not going to stop in time as she tried to find balance. Lucy, on the other hand was frightened and she froze as she watched the other girl coming straight at her. She only managed to let out a scream before the girl ran into her, knocked her and they both fell to the ground, Lucy under the other girl's huge body. She struggled to get free but as the other girl tried to get up, she pressed Lucy down making it impossible for Lucy to get on her feet.

Eventually the other girl managed to get up and Lucy got free. But now she looked enraged and there was no mistaking what she was going to do to the other girl as she approached her swiftly. It's true, hell hath no fury than a woman enraged. Her rage is like a consuming fire and it removes all beauty from her face. Lucy's face had turned red, her eyes producing tiny drops of tears. Blood drained from her face as she breathed heavily, staring deeply at the other girl with piercing eyes. Her friends caught and restrained her but there was no restraining or avoiding the words that now came from her mouth. Hurtful words, filled with contempt, scorn and disdain. Everyone just covered their mouth in astonishment as the words of humiliation kept coming. The girl, who knew Lucy very well, tried to apologise but Lucy could hear none of that. She remained quiet as she was insulted and eventually started crying.

"Yeah, you go ahead and cry," Lucy said. "That's what you’re good for -" At that moment she lifted her face and her eyes met Peace's and she fell into an unexpected silence that surprised Shalom and Kudzie who had been trying to calm her down but in vain. Peace was at the back of the small crowd that had gathered around Lucy and the girl. He had been passing and had heard the commotion so he went to see what was going on. When his eyes met with Lucy's, he shook his head slowly and turned away as he continued his way to the main gate. She felt rather embarrassed that he had caught her in such an act.

"Let's go," Lucy said to her friends as she picked her satchel from the ground. Her eyes were on Peace as he walked away without turning back. She was surprised to see him going to the bus terminus where she boarded her taxi. Why was he going that way? she wondered.

She increased her pace trying to catch up with him dragging her friends into a small run.

THE BUS STOP PEACE stood under a shade waiting for the public transport. A few taxis came and left. He could not afford those so he let those who could afford the fare get in. He was surprised to see Lucy and her friends a few metres from him. Wasn't she in a fight just a few minutes ago?

A TAXI CAME WHICH was headed to Lucy's residential area.

"You go ahead," she told her friends. "I'll catch up with you later."

"You need to go home and dress that up," Kudzie said pointing at Lucy's knee which had been scratched when she fell on the concrete pavement.

"Yeah, sure."

About ten minutes later, Lucy felt tired of waiting and she swore to herself that she would get into any car that was going to her residential area, be it public or private transport. Luckily, a couple of minutes later a kombi came.

"Screw Peace," she thought as she went to the vehicle and got in.

When she looked out of the window, she was surprised to see Peace following to the vehicle. He got in and went past her to the back seat.

"You are a 'backseat' guy, aren't you?" she thought to herself.

The vehicle started moving as soon as it was filled with school learners. It was about five miles from the school to Lucy's residential area. About seven minutes from her stop she texted her driver to come and pick her up. She didn't want to waste time, her wound was now hurting badly.

When they arrived at her bus-stop the car was already there waiting for her. She got out of the kombi, took a moment to pay the bus fare. Then she noticed Peace coming out and paying his bus fare.

"And now you are following me," she thought as she looked at him looking as serious as ever.

She felt like asking where he was going and perhaps offer him a ride but she knew he would decline. Instead, she went to the waiting car and went away leaving him behind. She took a moment to look through the window at him as the car drove away. He was already on his phone. This guy's ignorance was beginning to be a bore and a nuisance.

***