Watch your back.
1295 Words
At the restroom during closing hour, it was raining.
Thunder rumbled softly outside, the rain tapping on the roof like a steady drumbeat. The restroom smelled faintly of wet concrete and old disinfectant.
Kevin stood still for a moment, longingly gazing at his reflection in the mirror.
His eyes looked tired, older than his years, shadowed with secrets he couldn't tell.
He looked at the small window high in the middle of the restroom wall. The rain gently rolled down as it hit the surface of the small window, making rivulets that distorted the gray light.
Kevin slowly blinked, the sound of the water drops seemed louder in the hollow space, breathing deeply while he remembered the incidents before his death.
Memories flickered: shouting, blood, a falling sensation.
As the sound of the rain echoed through the restroom, he gripped the sink. The cracked porcelain bit into his palms.
His heart raced. He swallowed, shook his head, then removed his hand from the cracked sink, staring at his reflection.
His breath fogged the glass briefly.
He rubbed his face. Suddenly one of the toilet doors opened behind him.
The squeak of rusty hinges cut through the silence.
He rolled his eyes in that direction with no reaction.
The Japanese girl slowly came out from the stall with slumped shoulders, her long black hair covering her face. She went to the exit of the restroom.
“This is the boy’s restroom. Girl's, left turn after the boy’s.” Kevin said flatly.
She stopped without looking back and replied in a monotone voice.
“Very well.”
Her voice was ghostly calm.
She opened the door and left.
Kevin watched the door swing shut slowly, the metallic latch clicking.
Kevin took in a sharp breath, adjusted his rumpled shirt, dressed his top uniform properly in front of the mirror and exited the restroom.
Before entering his class, he was stopped by the leader of the guys he had easily beaten earlier, blocking his way.
Raindrops on his shirt collar steamed faintly in the warm school air.
Kevin sighed.
“I don’t have time to meet anyone.” Kevin said.
The leader folded his arms.
“Even if it is the Head boy.”
“Yes, even if.” Kevin said, staring straight into the eyes of the leader.
The hallway lights reflected coldly in Kevin’s eyes. The leader's throat bobbed as he swallowed.
“Kevin.”
Feyi called from inside the class. She walked towards them, her shoes squeaking slightly on the wet floor.
“Kevin, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing much, Feyi. Pack your books—we are leaving.” Kevin commanded.
His voice brooked no argument.
Feyi nodded and reluctantly went back, arranging her books into her bag.
“Leave here, unless everyone will know how bad you suck at controlling your junior.” Kevin leaned closer, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
“That is, breaking every bone in your body.”
The leader swallowed hard.
Beads of sweat were visible on his forehead.
Feyi came back with her bag on her back and Kevin’s bag in her hands.
Kevin looked at her with a smile, then scowled at his senior, giving him the eyes that said: you’re blocking my way.
The leader slowly moved aside.
Feyi stepped out from the class, stretched his bag to Kevin, which he took and wore over his shoulder.
He walked out.
Feyi turned to the leader.
“Goodbye, Senior.” She said sweetly, then immediately turned and flittered to Kevin.
The leader glared but didn’t say a word.
---
Walking down the steps.
The metal railing was slick from the damp air.
“Kevin, why is Senior Femi talking to you?”
“Hm. Femi—that’s his name.” He said, as if trying to remember something unimportant.
“Like I said before, nothing much.”
“Nothing much?” She stopped halfway down the stairs. Kevin stopped too.
“Kevin?” she asked, voice shaking.
He turned.
Suddenly Kevin’s eyes went round as he saw tears rolling down from Feyi’s eyes.
Her shoulders shook as she tried to hold back sobs.
“Why are you like this?”
Kevin immediately went to her.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t cry in front of you….I…promised myself….”
She hiccupped, voice cracking.
Kevin hugged her gently.
“Shhhhh. I should be the one saying sorry for always ignoring you whenever I want.”
He broke the hug, cleaning the few tears on her eyes as she sniffled.
“I’m going to the hospital today, for—”
“For what?!” Feyi interrupted, staring at him.
Her eyes were wide and wet.
“Girl. Let me finish.” He smiled.
Feyi nodded, biting her lip.
“You look cute when you stare at me like that.” Kevin teased.
Feyi slightly smirked, eyes still glistening.
Kevin tilted his head.
“Are you blushing? Remember we are still in school.”
“Huh? See who is talking.”
Feyi said as she sniffled then smiled.
Kevin nodded.
“Let’s go, I will tell you on the way.”
---
At the Senior Secondary Three class only Gregor, the head girl, Femi, and two other classmates were in the room.
The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly. Rain tapped on the windowpanes.
“Are you sure he is like us?” Femi asked.
“Maybe or maybe not.” Gregor responded.
“Serious?! We all know he has only this month to live.”
The words hung heavily in the stale classroom air.
“You knew and you went ahead to attack the boy and his sisters?!”
The head girl yelled.
Gregor walked to the window, staring down at Kevin, Feyi, and his twin sisters walking toward the school gate with a few pupils under the drizzling rain.
The playground looked blurred and wet, the sound of light rain muffling the world outside.
“But my brother said he threatened them with knives.” Femi debated.
“Now that the new Principal is here, we will tell him everything concerning him. Only if he survives this month.” Gregor said.
His voice was flat, almost bored.
The head girl clapped her hands, smiling.
“Sure, Gregor. We will do as you say.”
She scowled at Femi.
“During that time, stay away from him or I will crush you myself.”
Femi swallowed and nodded.
Gregor looked at the two classmates seated in the class.
“Xavier, Safiya. Watch him closely.”
Femi put his hand on his chest.
“Watch me?”
Gregor shook his head, looking back through the window, glancing at Kevin.
“The kid.”
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
“I noticed someone in his class also.” Femi said.
Everyone looked at him.
“The Japanese girl who came to our school last month as a pupil. She was not in class when I tried to call the kid.”
“She might have gone home.” The head girl said dismissively.
“Gone home? Yet I saw her bag on the desk.” Femi countered.
“Should we watch her also?”
Femi looked at Gregor.
“Maybe.” Gregor said, turning his gaze to the head girl.
“Will you watch her for the meantime?”
The head girl smirked.
“That’s not a problem. It’s the best job for a shadow like me.”
She said, her eyes glinting darkly.
Femi scoffed.
“Femi. Did you want to die?” She ground her teeth.
Femi immediately stood up.
“Am coming, Basirat!” he said, walking quickly out of the class.
Xavier and Safiya smirked.
“Remember, guys. We do it in a low-key manner.” Gregor said.
Outside, the rain kept falling.
- Writer
