Eventually mine

CHAPTER 2: Lawyer

Adrian’s Point of View

Liana turned to look at me, her eyes as bright as always.

“What’s up?” she asked with a smile on her face which always took my breath away. My throat went dry. All the words I had researched to tell her since senior one suddenly vanished.

I couldn’t form a single sentence. I looked at her uniform. It was of course new and clean. She would get a new set every single year. Her shoes were black and shiny. Her hair was tied up in a high pony tail as always.

Then I looked at my own uniform. It was worn out from six years of washing since I had used it since senior one. And my shoes… they could tell a story on their own.

I burst out laughing at my analysis. I didn’t deserve to talk to this lady in the first place. Funny of me to think I could date her. I was indeed very stupid.

“Are you okay?” She woke me from my train of thought. Confusion was plastered on her beautiful features. “Yeah sure,” I replied, shrugging as if I wasn’t busy battling with my mind.

“Thank you for not laughing at me though,” I said as she turned to leave. “And why would I laugh at you?” she asked with a frown.

“Well…everyone does.” I said and looked down embarrassed.

“They are all just insensitive. Don’t take it to heart,” She said and turned to leave. Her ponytail swung side to side as she moved.

I wanted to tell her more. I wanted to tell her that on that Monday morning she walked into class in senior one, I thought she was an angel that had lost its way. I wanted to tell her that her scent always had me smelling her from two blocks away.

I wanted to tell her that her smile heals the deepest wounds in my heart.

But in my current status, I didn’t deserve to say any of those words to her. She deserved a better guy with money to take care of her.

Hell, everyone would laugh if they even suspected that I was madly in love with her.

So, I am going to work hard so that I get to deserve her. I will make so much money so that she doesn’t get to refuse when I finally open up my heart to her.

With that motivation, I opened my history book and started reading about human rights and justice. I will become an influential lawyer one day and she will be proud of me.

As I was halfway through the topic, my stomach grumbled so loudly and for the first time, I was glad that Liana had left me alone in the classroom. Otherwise I would be too embarrassed to face her. I took a sip of water from my bottle to ground my dear stomach.

Lunch time ended and the history teacher Mr. Emma came to class. The class always seemed to fear him because everyone would become attentive the moment he entered the class and today was no exception.

“Today, we are discussing human rights and justice,” he said as he positioned his laptop onto the podium. “How do you understand justice? Is it achieved after a criminal is punished? Is it achieved when fairness is observed? Who can help us understand it in layman’s language?”

No one raised their hand to try. Maybe they were still sleepy from lunch. But as someone who actually didn’t have lunch, I was pretty awake.

I raised my hand exposing the small tear near my armpit and I tried to hide it.

“Yes please, Mr. Ssemwanga Adrian?” I stood up and with a Pak.Pak.Pak sound, I made my way to the front which earned me some giggles from the boys behind. I was used to them laughing so it wasn’t a problem.

“In my opinion, justice is not all about punishing criminals.” I said, my voice steady and confident as always. “Justice is exercised when a poor man and a rich man stand before the same law, and said law does not discriminate against them based on their status. Real justice is achieved when the poor man’s voice is heard however small it may be. If it only serves to protect the rich, then there’s no justice. It is simply fear in disguise.”

The class went silent at my submission. Mr. Emma pushed his old glasses up the bridge of his nose and stared at me without blinking.

For five long seconds, no one dared to take a breath

Then Mr. Emma slowly nodded, his eyes shining with pride.

“Oh my God, Adrian,” he said and looked around the whole class. “Did you all hear his submissions? This boy has defined justice better than the scholars have!”

He then turned back to look at me. His eyes shone with pride. “Adrian, you are definitely going to make a great lawyer in the future. The way you articulated your views just now, please keep it up!”

For the first time since morning, I felt proud of myself. I walked back to my seat with my head held high. Even the annoying sound my shoe always made felt less shameful. The teacher said I would make a good lawyer. A lawyer. I will definitely make a good lawyer. I will be the smartest lawyer around town. I will wear clean suits and speak for the voiceless.

The moment I sat, I noticed Liana looking at me from her desk. She bent closer as though to whisper in my ear. “You see? You are the best around here.”

She didn’t even wait for a reply before turning back. Of course she didn’t know the magnitude of her words. They made me feel like I was the best thing to exist in this entire world.

The rest of the lessons went by in a blur. I participated as always. That was the only thing I was good at anyway.

When the end of the day siren rang, everyone rushed out. The following day was a weekend anyway. Everyone was excited to rest, party and spend time with loved ones.

I packed my books into my old bag slowly but steadily and headed for the door when I heard her voice calling my name.

“Adrian.” My name rolled off her tongue as though it was a song. The sound of it was intoxicating. I would never get used to it. Not when it did so many things to my poor heart.

"Yes?” I said and turned around to face her.

“My birthday is tomorrow,” she said as she looked at me. Of course I knew her birthday by heart _10th/10. It is marked at the deepest bottom of my heart.

“I’m holding a small party at our house in Kololo. For just family and….some few classmates.”

My heart actually stopped for a second. In Kololo! That’s where rich people actually live. I was born and raised in Katanga. How could I go to Kololo? I only heard about it in stories as it had a rich community with expensive mansions…

“I would like you to come and celebrate with me,” She said and looked at me as if waiting for an answer.

Before I could answer, Jamima burst out laughing from behind. “Liana, did I just hear you inviting this cheap boy to your birthday party?” she asked with a stupid smirk on her face and Liana’s face changed instantly.

“Jamima, the party is mine and I can invite whoever I want.”

Jamima laughed again clearly amused. “Of course it’s your party. I am just worried about your dear friend. He is clearly going to feel out of place you know. There won’t be people with torn shoes except him.” She said and walked away, laughing so loudly. The sound rang in my ears.

“Maybe she’s right. I don’t deserve to be there,” I said and watched her beautiful face fall in disappointment.

“Don’t listen to her. I will be by your side. You won’t feel out of place,” she said with a pout. Of course she made a pout. She knew I couldn’t refuse a thing if she did so.