What felt like love.
1035 Words
I have always liked the name Amaka. I had a crush on a girl called Amaka once. Her house was right opposite ours. We rented the place, hers was a three storey building. Her apartment was at the third storey.
I never forget a face and the stories behind it. This one was more than a story, it was a weird occurrence.
So I was around eleven or twelve and I am guessing she was 10 or so. We met at a birthday party at the second flat beneath her's. I didn't like parties then but a five year old was having a birthday party, and we were invited. So I and two of my siblings went for this party against my better judgement. I can't remember all that happened in the party except from the fact that I was sitting close to this girl and she wasn't friendly at all. She acted like my mere presence was annoying her. We were just giving each other mean looks throughout. So the party came to an end and we all went to our homes. I thought that was the end of it but I was wrong.
I surprisingly noticed her at the balcony of her flat before then but after then, that changed. So the next day, I saw her up there and I smiled at her. For some reasons, she smiled back at me and we waved at each other. That was how it started. Everyday we will do the same thing; smile and wave at each other except when her elder brother was there. He looked at me like I was a pest. I was innocently terrified of him but when he wasn't there we made gestures at each other and laughed. She didn't go out much except to mass because she was a catholic.
The prayer place was far from our houses. We would see each other on the road and smile at each other but we couldn't really talk because her brother was almost always with her.
So this continued for like a month or so until the middle of holiday break. This was how my short love story never happened. One afternoon she signaled me to come to her compound which I did without hesitation. Mind you, she was upstairs, third floor. I looked up, then she dropped a piece of paper. I was too curious to know what was written on it so I caught it and what I saw scared me a bit. Written on the paper was "Do you love me, yes or no?" . My mind raced. Why would she ask me this? We are still children what do we know about love? I watched cartoons a lot so I added a lot of imaginations to a complete mess with my head. So I didn't respond.
When she saw that I didn't respond, she dropped another note that reads, "I love you, come upstairs". My heart skipped a hundred beats. My head raced even faster. Why would she want me to come upstairs? To do what? The answer to that question I didn't want to imagine but something was telling where me this was leading to. I had been in situations somewhat like that before but then I was the younger one. When little kids played mum and dad. I was way younger than ten. I couldn't remember much but I remember a girl almost four years older than i am lying on me. That memory was uncomfortable. Yeah, it is different as a guy but she was older. Asides her obvious weight on me, it didn't feel right. I had to struggle from underneath her.
Also when a little girl, who was a year older than me took me behind the curtains, raised her gown up and then asked me to take off my pants. I remember running away from her. I don't know why or how I knew that it wasn't it right at age of six but I left her there behind the curtains.
Back to the present, Amaka's note and this feeling that told me this would end badly and I will suffer more for it. So I did what seemed right. I left and went back inside my home. I think she sent her younger sister to me later to seek my response but I couldn't give her an answer. I mean I liked her. She was cute. She had this little scar on her forehead that I thought was so beautiful. After then, she stopped looking down at me totally. I know I ran away but it still hurts. She wouldn't even look at me anymore. So I decided to do the same but I could never forget. Girls are mean.
I think a year and months after, we had to leave the place. Our landlord sold our place and we had to move before the quick notice. A month after the quick notice, which was supposed to be for six months, the man the house was sold to, hired some people to remove our roof. So we left earlier than expected. I never saw her again until one day on my way back from school. We crossed paths. I smiled at her but even when she saw me, she just passed by. So I looked forward and kept moving. It hurts but what will boys do?
So yeah many years later, I found out that what I went through could be considered molestation but I don't think so myself. We were just kids, I don't think they had any intention. Maybe it was something they had seen somewhere or such.
So what to learn here. Be careful what little children take in, watch, etc. It could affect them. My parents weren't always around except when dad would return home from work during the evening. Mum is a nurse and there were lots of shifts and all.
Yeah, whatever horrible things that happened in your past shouldn't let you think worse of your future.
Be smart, be good, be human at all times.
A wonderful story from Emmanuel Darasimi Owulmate.
Hope you enjoyed this story, until my next story, stay safe. Peace.
- Writer
