The stare of Ronald

chapter 2

Study start, very stressful . After the mathematics teacher was done, he gave us classwork as all go for break.

Mathematics is one of my best subject, other are; physics, English and Biology. I never like chemistry.

The element and compound mixing is strange.

How on Earth do teachers expect us to know the hundred and eighteen element off hands. I always thought to myself.

----------

I stay to complete my mathematics classwork as all go to catch fun, eat in the school restaurant, and rest.

Treasure, I will join you later, I'm hungry that I can eat an elephant. Flora said rubbing her stomach.

I smile lightly remembering the type of figure of speech she made.

I will join you there too, I told her and she exit.

I continue with my classwork as someone walk inside. I didn't bother to know since this is a classroom and anyone can work in.

Hey!!!!!!!!A musculine voice greet.

Hi!! I answer his greeting till solving my classwork.

Solving yours, right? He ask.

Yeah, I answer till didn't look at him.

okay. he said softly.

So........is the maths hard or simple? he is till trying to start a conversation with me.

Mathematics is never hard for me, unless I didn't pay attention. I explain till solving. Just don't want to look at him. I want him to just go away.

I'm Ronald, he introduce himself.

Can't he just leave, I didn't ask for his name. I thought.

I'm..........I raise my head to introduce.

Gosh!!!!!, you school here?!! I ask him after recognizing him.

He is the guy that usually stare at me during seminar.

Since JSS1(grade 7). he told me.

Really?!, I ask uncomfortable.

I think I'm done with my classwork, I said closing my maths and stand up to exit.

See ya, I exit out of the classroom.

"Ronald","Ronald". That name echo in my ear as I eat at the school restaurant.

He's been in this school all this while and I never noticed. Hmmmm, maybe he isn't my classmates. I thought.

Hey there!!!!!Flora bring me back to reality.

Done with your classwork?

No, how will I be done when one male human keep on disturbing me, he said he's Ronald. I told Flora.

Whhhoooo!!, she exclam in a suspicious tone.

Having a male friend already?Flora smile.

I didn't say he is my friend. I remind Flora but she keep on gazing at me suspiciously.

Flora, stop it, I'm till young for whatever you are thinking. I told her.

Yeah, too too young. She scoff.

We return to the classroom, class starts. All science student goes to the chemistry lab. We need to do some silly practical, mixing chemical as usual.

You all should prepare hydrogen and write down your observations. Our chemistry teacher announce and exit.

I just stood in front of the apparatus, don't really know the one to go first.

Need some help?A musculine voice ask. That voice seem familiar, I look at the owner of the voice, it is Ronald.

Nope, I lie.

If I need help, the help should at least do not come from him

Okay, he leaves.

***

All get busy preparing hydrogen, some were even done, just writing down their observations.

I only prepare the round bottom flask and thistle funnel ready.

Just then, I feel some one presence. It look familiar, I look and it's Ronald.

He started aiding me prepare hydrogen.

What?!! I said I don't need your help. I almost shout

I didn't remember asking if you need my help. He said till focus on preparing my hydrogen.

Go away, I can do it. I lie.

Ronald remind silent.

I said go. I repeat but he is still silent preparing hydrogen.

Seem like he's kinda the stubborn type. I thought and really don't know when I release a smile.

Why are you smiling?He- Ronald- finally speak.

Did I? I ask myself and later get words to say

Isn't it funny that someone is helping a person who doesn't even need it? I cover up.

Really? You don't need my help? He ask smiling.

I see. He end his statement.

What do you see? I ask frowning .

I see someone who look at an apparatus used in preparing hydrogen like she had not seen it before and yet till claim she doesn't need help. He preach.

Hhhhhhmmmmm, my usual word came out.

All you got to do now is observe me as I prepare the hydrogen and you are the one that gonna pen down the observations; he stop to look at me.

I'm not doing that for ya, he continues.

I never need your help. I mutter.

***

After the preparation, Ronald face me. Our eyes lock and I can swear that he's really handsome.

What do you observe? He ask till fix into my eyes.

Do you expect me to tell you? I said breaking the charming look.

I begin to note down my observations as he gaze at what I'm writing ✍️✍️

You forgot one, he told me.

One? Which one? I ask concern.

Colourless gas, hydrogen is a colourless gas. He said.

Is that also an observation, I mean, I have written the popping sounds, gas evolution and so on. Colourless gas is it also an observation? I ask till concern to know what I miss to write.

But Ronald stare at me. He stare at me in disbelief.

I was just asking, I said to relief myself of his stare.

I just wonder why I hardly comprehend chemistry. I said almost in tears.

Each time I remember the fact that chemistry is always hard to comprehend by me, it make me feel sad and in pain. The only thing to release me of the pain is to cry it away.

Now those tears were threatening to fall, but I hold still. Even though I wanted to cry, not in school, most importantly not in front of Ronald.

Everybody is not perfect at everything. There must be something you are weak at. All you do is to work towards it and practice. Practice makes perfect as the saying goes. Ronald advice like he could read that I was in pain.

I just nod and write down the remaining observation.

Thanks, those words came unannounced and I exit, leaving him in the lab.

***

After school, I went home with Flora not with school bus, but with our driver driving us home.

...........and she was just there claiming like she could least tweenty theme in the play we read.....I ask her and then she continues splitting rubbish. Do you know what I ask her?

It was Flora speaking all that but my mind wasn't there. it was re echoing Ronald last words.

"practice makes perfect"

I have thought much and employ a special personal chemistry teacher, but nothing work. I was amazing in all other subjects, my report cards are always great, but chemistry makes it look poor. I had even given up on chemistry.

Flora would not understand because she's an Art student busy reading novels here and there and now babbling nonsense.

Treasure......... Flora shout in my ear.

I almost fly through the car window.

What!!!!!!!!!!, I shout in fear.

That was much Flora, I said breathing heavily.

Are you okay Treasure? Flora ask in a concern tone just like my mom.

I made Flora worry now, I thought to myself and speak loud.

Flora, I'm great, no need to worry please. I assure her.

Look at me. Flora demand.

Flora, please don't play your charming trick on me. I told her.

Treasure, look at me and tell me you are great as you clam. She said till worried.

okay fine, I'm distress right now. I confess .

What happen to you cutie, did anyone hurt you? bully you? fight you? Flora threw thousand questions at me.

Come on Flora, don't sound like my mom, my dad, my elder brother and elder sister. I said.

I'm not sounding like anyone here, just talk to me. She said almost in tears. I saw it, I saw the tears in her eyes threatening to fall.

Are you gonna cry? I said and gave a light smile.

it's about chemistry, I finally speak up.

Flora became quite, no words, no reaction.

Just don't worry, I'm fine. I hug her and place her head on my chest.

Mommy, I'm good. I jokingly told her and she smile widely.

You better be, she said.

Continue what you were saying, I was listening. I said to her.

Hhhmmmmm. she sounded like me and we laugh aloud.

***

At night, I couldn't stop thinking. Words keep coming. Words like"Ronald", "Practice makes perfect"

Why do his words keep coming? He had been my classmate since JSS1(grade 7) and I never even notice his presence.

Not that we are even much oh, even in SSS1 that we all departed into our various departments, I till didn't notice his presence. I knew him during seminar. I knew him as the guy who also stare at me. I speak to myself walking slowly out of my bathroom.

***

The next day, at school during break, Flora and I were chit-chatting as usual in the school restaurant as two boys interrupt our conversation.

Hi ladies, the first one greeted.

Hi, Flora reply back.

Can we join you? The second ask.

Nope, I quickly shouted before he could end his statement.

Oh!!! Cool baby girl! Just trying to be friends. The first one said.

This is a school for learning not a school to join us or make friend with a lady, oh, I mean, ladies. I said frowning at them.

Relax oh, just wanted to enjoy vibe with you two. The other is till talking which got me angry the more.

Is this want your parent pay your fees for? to vibe with ladies? You should listen to your foolish selves. I shouted in anger as Flora stood to calm me.

See this s**t, we are trying to vibes with them and they are doing like that. The other told the other.

Guy, let's leave here. They concluded.

Go to hell with your vibes. I was till angry already panting.

Calm Treasure, calm. Flora brought me back to my sense.

Is that the way you should talk to a guy who's trying to chill with us? She ask.

Flora, don't even said that, chill with who? You should be asking them if they drunk because they just displayed there drunken state. I was till panting.

Look, it was you that displayed your drunken state. Even though you didn't wanted them to chill with us, you should at least talk calmly to them. She enlighten me.

I know what you will say;