UNFORGETTABLE HISTORY

17

Clara tossed around the room, confused on what to do.

Where do I get five thousand naira from??- she thought.

Asking Samuel would be difficult because he would want to know what she needed for even if had it and lying to him once more was something she never wished for.

"Has Daddy sent money?"Annabella asked, entering the room as she struggled to remove her sandals..

"Uhm I don't know,he hasn't called...would he send some money today??"Clara asked, fighting hard not to stutter or review how restless she was.

"Can't you see there's nothing in the house??..."Annabella hissed,flinging the sandals behind her.

"Where are the other kids?"she asked with a sigh as she rested her back to the cushion.

"Probably playing..."she replied.

"Let me try calling dad,my phone is still on"She switched the subject immediately.

"Yeah sure"Annabella responded with a sigh of tiredness.

"Dad isn't picking up"Clara stated after much effort on trying to reach their father.

"Call mum"Annabella suggested.

"Mum's in the village, how do you expect me to reach her huh??"Clara reminded.

"Arrrgh,would someone remain hungry then??!!!!"Annabella groaned.

"Good thing,I had my pay today"Annabella hissed opening her bag.

"Here,that's four thousand"Annabella stretched her hand to give her some money.

"Buy this list of things"she stated writing down some things in the s**t of papers.

"Even the four thousand wouldn't serve hmph!"Annabella murmured to herself as she handed the list to Clara.

Clara smiled,taking it.

Normally she would have murmured just to make sure she wouldn't leave the house but she needed money right now.

"You don't mind if I go to the central market right?"Clara suggested.

"Ah that'll be better,at least the things would be big to serve us two days or so"Annabella remarked.

"Oh I see..."Clara mouthed as she set to leave.

*******

"Here,this is four thousand..."Clara stated handing the money over to Silas who had a broad smile.

"Actually...I could have completed it but I don't have money,I had to borrow from a friend to complete it to this extent,you could get one thousand from a friend"she explained suggesting.

"Nah it's okay babe,thanks a lot for this one"Silas muttered with a pout.

"Tsk whatever,just do whatever you want to do with the money,ain't my business anymore"She stated about to leave.

"Babe just like that??"He asked.

"Jeez we're on the road!"She reminded pushing him slightly.

"No one is coming,besides people hardly pass here"he reminded.

"Please shift!!,go and do your business I'm off to the house before my sister starts looking for me"she dismissed him,hiding her already flushed face.

"Ehhhh....is that how you want to do it now?"he whined a bit pissed off.

"Fine.."She stated pecking him lightly on the cheek before running off.

She could tell he was staring at her,smiling broadly.

She rushed home panicking as she sneaked into the room.

"Ehm there you are, I've been looking for you..."Annabella stated immediate she walked in.

"Come,help me with this soup preparation..I'm a little tired right now"she added.

"Sure,ain't busy anyways"Clara responded as she rushed to the kitchen, fighting back the urge to jump and squeal for no reason.

"Hey you look super happy"Helene whispered next to her ear mockingly.

"Shut the f**k up!"Clara whispered back with a giggle,slightly pushing Helene away with her shoulders.

"Uh huh,it's Silas right???"Helene questioned with a suspicious look as she picked up an onion.

Clara blushed unable to hide the feeling, "yes"She snickered.

"I knew it"Helene muttered.

"So what happened?,have you guys settled already?"She asked again.

"Yeah we did"Clara responded.

"Oh I see..."Helene said nodding her head lightly like she was trying to process her sister's words.

"Is that why you're happy??"She further asked after a short while.

"Ugh Helene!!!"Clara murmured.

"Who wouldn't be happy when he or she settles with their loved one?"she asked back.

"Wooow!!!!!!,so he's now your loved one??"Helene mocked In a sarcastic manner.

"Nice one!"she added.

"Come on Helene,don't start with your mockery...you've never been in love before"She stated.

"And look who's been in love"helene retorted.

"Anyways I'm ever ready to see how this relationship ends"Helene added scornfully.

"Jeez!! Helene,it would never end!"Clara fought back.

"Uh huh,I see"She stated.

"Shut up!!"Clara hissed angrily.

"Whatever"Helene muttered, purposefully letting Clara hear it to piss her off.

*****

One years later...

"Ugh,I can't believe I'm writing my WAEC soon"Clara squealed, giggling on the bed as Helene just watched her in amusement.

"Sister would you join sister Annabella in her own school after you write your exams?"Samuel,her little brother asked.

She say upright,"Yeah sweetie,I'll go into the university soon.... urghhh I can't help it,I'm so happy!!" she collapsed back to the bed.

"Then who'd take care of us?? Isabella,her younger sister asked.

*Am I not here?"Helene voice attacked.

"We don't like you,you like to beat us"the kids said I'm unison with pouted lips as they folded their arms.

"Huh??...me beat you???,when??!!!! but I do buy something for you guys right??"Helene asked defensively.

"Sister Clara buys more for us, she pets us too"Samuel said.

"Ohk.....ohk....no problems!!!.....Sis Clara would soon go right?, you'll see me"Helene clicked her fingers in a threatening manner which got Clara chuckling.

"Won't you just leave them alone,besides you like bullying them anyways"Clara pointed out.

"Ehhh even you too?!.."Helene mouthed.

"You're supporting them?"She pointed at her.

"Why won't I tsk"Clara responded with a chuckle.

"No probs, 1:0!!!....it'll be my turn soon"Helene responded,defeated.

They all chuckled.

Knock knock knock...

They all heard on the door after a short break of silence.

"Who's that??"Clara voice came up.

"Uhm it's me"The least annoying voice spoke up.

"Mariam!!"they all whispered in unison with a hiss.

"I'm coming"Clara sighed lazily pushing herself up.

"Yeah??...good afternoon,any probs?"Clara asked as soon as she opened the door.

"Uhm I wanted to ask if your senior bro is around"She asked with a smile.

"Nope,he isn't yet back from school...bet he'll be back this evening"Clara explained.

"Oh..I see, please tell him I came to check on him when he comes"Mariam requested,a warm smile which Clara found pretty annoying still plastered on her face.

"Yeah I will"Clara responded, feigning a smile which disappointment just as it came.

"Ugh...."she groaned closing the door as she sat down on the bed.

"What did she ask for?"Helene asked, adjusting herself for a full gist.

"What else,if not looking for her hobby"Clara hissed.

'i don't know why brother like that girl"Isabella voice came up.

"For real,first she's ugly and secondly my spirit doesn't match with her at all,she sucks"Clara hissed.

Helene chuckled, "well,there's one fact!,....you can't do anything about it cos your brother is madly in love with the so called ugly girl just like you're in love with that so called ugly boy"Helene whispered her last stated in mockery.

"Shut up!"Clara pushed her away,hissing.

"That reminds me self..."she stated,her eyes scanning around herself.

"What are you looking for??"Helene asked.

"Did you see my phone??"Clara questioned,not minding the question.

"Here..."Helene handed it to her.

"Ah thanks!.."She mouthed.

"Want to text Mr handsome?"Helene mocked teasingly.

"Shut up"Clara chuckled lightly as she concentrated on her phone,her face suddenly brightening.

"Uh huh,I knew it!!"Helene pressed, fighting hard to see what she was typing.

"Close your eyes,this ain't for kids"Clara pushed her face away.

"And look who's an adult!"helene hissed while the other kids who were dumpfounded ended up engaging themselves in a play.

****

Later that night...

"Babe I'll be going for computer training in a week time!!!"Clara squealed hugging Silas tightly as she met him at their new usual spot.

It was a pathway, quite and secluded.It was pretty hard for anyone to pass there even if it was a short cut to a different route entirely and this made Clara and Silas visit there often under a dead,yet strong tree at the side end of the lane.

"For real?...that's cool"He commented, smiling.

"yeah, I'm so happy ..my dad agreed to give me some money for my lesson,you know...tho he doesn't know I'm working yet"Clara snickered sheepishly.

"Jeez Clara!!what if he finds out??"He asked.

"He won't get that mad, he'll just yell at me that's all....besides the money I'm working oit on helps us alot,at least when my pa or ma doesn't send money on time I use it to cook and take care of you too"She explained cupping his chin.

He chuckled, "silly girl"he muttered.

"Alright then,I got you...but don't better let any guy touch you there,you know you're mine"He warned.

"Jeez!!!"She bursted out with laughter.

"Are you that jealous??,I've not even started"She reminded.

"I know,but it's not when you see another guy you'll forget me"he pouted.

She chuckled wrapping her hands around his shoulders, "why would I forget you huh??"she smiled,pecking his lips.

"Girl,you're teasing me right?"He smirked.

"Maybe..."she replied,a sheepish smile plastered on her lips.

He grabbed her waist closer to himself,as he buried his lips on hers sucking on them.

"I love you Bea"he muttered.

"I love you more"she whispered back disengaging from the kiss.

Her phone rang abruptly as ther were about to kiss further.

"f**k!"He cursed under his breath which got her chuckling.

"It's my brother,I've been long gone from the house"she explained picking it.

"Where are you?"he half yelled.

"Uhm I'm coming,I went to return my colleagues lesson note"she responded sharply.

"This late??.... Come to the house now"he commanded.

"Okay,I'm on my way"she replied back,cutting it off.

"I have to go Silas"She pouted pecking him before running off.

She knew he wanted to say something,but listening to him would only delay her from going home.

"And where did you say you're coming from?"Francis half yelled,a bit annoyed.

"Eh..uhm...I told you I was going to give my college her lesson note"she stuttered.

"This late??..."He asked.

"What's the time?..."he checked his phone.

"It's 9:46pm"

"Her house isn't that far..."She defeated and I didn't want the children to play and get to where the book was that's why I returned it immediately after I was done"she explained.

"Hm.."he sighed suspiciously.

"And why haven't this children eaten this night?"he asked again.

Clara panicked,her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt as her eyes scanned the room finding an excuse.

The kids were eating already,which she guessed Francis must have dished the food for them.

"Am I not asking you a question?"he flared up

"Oh about that...I told them to wait lemme return the note before I dish out food so that they won't touch the pot themselves"she rasped,unsure of what she just stated herself.

"Next time don't try this nonsense again!,any where you're going...make sure they eat on time"he warned as she bowed in acceptance.

"Okay...."She replied still recovering from what just happened as she sat on the couch immediately.

Francis just stared at her for while shaking his head,before leaving for the kitchen.

She smiled picking her phone as she texted Silas immediately.

"Hey babe...."She texted.

"Yo," came his abrupt reply

"Bro got mad,but we're cool now"She explain texting.

"Oh boy!!!, hope he didn't flog you??"He questioned.

"Nah he didn't,just got a little pissed off that's all" she responded, giggling.

"Whoops!!, that's good then"He texted back.

Soon,they were flooding about their love for each other, Clara kept giggling and blushing, always fighting the urge not to squeal in other not to attract her senior brother and others who were in the room.

*****

Three weeks later....

Clara started her computer lesson which was pretty much annoying for her because she wasn't taught well.

The instructor hardly had her time,he was always on his phone and had to just give her Mavins to test her typing skills.

She complained severely to his boss who just kept encouraging her, telling her she needed to learn more on her typing skills and speed.

She felt devasted always, whenever she visited.

She sighed placing her mini bag on the table as soon as she visited one certain day.

It was pretty hot,but as usual she's always on her cardigan regardless the heat.

She huffed, switching on the system.

"That man isn't here again"Hse murmured to herself annoyed.

"Good thing I don't pay for a complete six month course,after this month I won't come again"She murmured.

She refreshed the page as soon as the softwares were displayed as she logged in to Mavins,still learning how to type which was pretty boring for her.

"Yo what's up"Am unfamiliar male figure came together with three other set of young boys.

She got nodded at them with a warm smile.

He walked in, opening his bag as he brought out a laptop and its charger.

"You work here??"Clara couldn't help but ask.

"Well not anymore,but I freely come here anytime,my boss still regards me as one of his"he responded.

"Who's toturing you?"he asked, seeing she was lost.

"Mm Titus,but guess he isn't around as usual"she responded.

"Ah I see...how many weeks now?"he asked again.

"Three weeks..."

"Huh??,and you're still in Mavins??,you're supposed to be in another package by now,are you really a slow learner?"He questioned.

"Nah..."Clara responded sharply.

"Titus barely have my time,either his on his phone or an errand for your boss"She explained.

"Oh I see..."he mouthed..

"Lemme see.."he adjusted himself close to her as he minimised the app she was using, switching into another one.

He turned to her, their face barely inches away. His eyes trailed to her lips as she pushed her face away immediately.

He snickered, "wanna learn how to use your computer keys???"he asked.

"Uhm...well,if you're free then ....you can teach me.."she stuttered.

The other boys were dumbfounded with what was going on but kept quiet as they kept themselves busy with the available computers in the room.

"Okay...I'll teach you how to use your control key with alphabets,you ready??"he asked,peering straight to her face which she wasn't comfortable with but kept mute.

"Yes"she nodded.

"Uh..ok...you see this key?...that's control key,so you'll have to press it with any letter but I'll start from A,and tell you the function..okay?"he explained as she nodded in confirmation.

"Okay!!...control A, means alignment..just like writing a word then probably you want to select it for a specific purpose either copying it or whatever....,here's an example"he explained giving illustration which caught her fancy.

"Wow!! Can I try??"She asked, "I normally do this on my phone"she stated.

"Yeah,"chuckled as she gave it a go.

"I did it"she squealed.

"Hahah...yeah,you're a pretty fast learner "he commented.

"Let's move on to B"

The class was going smoothly as soon he was done teaching her.

"Okay....my time's up,I've got to go"He stated checking his wrist watch.

"i just came to charge my laptop a lil bit"he explained.

"Aww ok..."Hs pouted feeling dismayed.

"Thanks tho...I really appreciate"she thanked.

"Really??"he questioned zipping up his bag.

"Yeah"she responded,nodding.

He chuckled pulling himself closer to her, "how about thanking me in a different way then??"he suggested.

"Huh?? What way?"She asked a bit confused.

"Kiss me!"