Chapter 2
1300 Words
“The only thing I’m holding on is my sanity.” Mia Lee blurted.
“For one, I’m glad she’s keeping it down.” Olivia Rodriguez said as she took a spoonful of rice pudding.
“Yeah, who knows for how long?” Julian Styles chipped in.
“Whatever. I just need her to stay in her space.” Mia snapped and dug her spoon into her food.
Brief silence and it was interrupted by Babatunde.
“May I sit here with you ladies? The seats are occupied except yours,” He tried pointing with his finger to the empty seat, “I mean it’s the only vacant one.”
He smiled upon making that request, which revealed his dimples. Over the years, he has learnt that ladies have a soft spot for guys with dimples. They can’t resist, at least the girls back at home.
“Yes…No.” Mia and the girls said in unison. And of course, Mia chose the negative answer. Without further ado, Babatunde sat down and Mia gave what-the-f**k-is-wrong-with-you-guys glance at her friends.
After a few moments of silence, Olivia couldn’t keep the questions to herself anymore. As if Babatunde sensed it, he turned to her before she could say anything, “Do you have something to say? I can feel your eyes burrowing holes into my face,” he gave the rest a quick glance, “actually, all of you.”
The girls shared a quick glance.
“You want to know where I came from, right? How I’m the only black student the school has had in years? How did I come about my name because I’m sure I’m pretty popular now, no?” Babatunde said calmly, too calm that Mia noticed.
Control freak, Mia thought.
As if Babatunde read her thoughts, “yeah, I’m always like that. Dad’s principles.”
“Where are you from?” Mia asked.
“Nigeria.”
“What tribe are you?”
“Yoruba.”
“Is that one of the significant tribes in Nigeria?”
“Major, as in population,” He corrected, “not significant.”
“Why Edwardian?” Mia asked coldly.
“Am I supposed to answer that?” Babatunde inquired.
“Yes.”
“And why would I?”
“I mean you said we can ask any questions.”
Babatunde took a while to answer as if he was thinking, “same reason you’re here.”
All this while, Olivia couldn’t keep eyes off him. She has never come close to a dark-skinned person, especially someone from Nigeria. Then, her phone buzzed, it was a text from Julian.
‘Jesus Ollie, you’re burrowing holes in his face.’ Julian texted.
‘He’s hot. Can’t help it.’ Olivia replied.
‘I think he’s hotter than Liam.’
‘I know, right? If this is how Nigerians are, I’m definitely marrying one.’
‘He’s a snack.’ Julian replied and added a drooling emoji.
The whole cafeteria went quiet, immediately Charlotte Davis stepped in, her nose in the air, and chest out.
This got Babatunde curious and he got more curious when he saw the students whispering.
“Who is she? Why are they whispering?” Babatunde asked no one in particular and before Mia could say Jack Robinson, Olivia had blurted everything that happened last year in one breath.
“Wow.” Babatunde exclaimed quietly.
“Do you mind if I get your number?” Julian blurted, “sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”
Olivia mouthed b***h, that was my line. She gave Julian a scornful look and decided to stroke the fire, “me too.”
Mia Lee couldn’t believe her eyes nor her ears, she has always considered them a disappointment, they have no pride, and she was going to ditch them for someone more of her class. She knew she was smarter than them, their IQ couldn’t top hers.
“Yo, man!” Noah Kim tapped Babatunde’s left shoulder, “you done?”
“Yeah.” Babatunde replied, grinning, and he turned to the girls, “Thank you.”
His departure was met with smiles from Olivia and Julian.
“Do you play basketball?” Noah asked as he looped his hand over Babatunde’s shoulders which was not a stressful one because they were the same height.
“Nah, I play football. You know, soccer or whatever y’all call it in this part of the world.” Babatunde replied as they retraced their steps away from Mia’s table.
“Okay, what the F was that?” Mia asked.
“Wh..What do you mean?” Julian asked.
Mia shook her head and left the cafeteria.
*************************************************
Meanwhile, Liam Chen was trying to tell his friends that he didn't pick on the scholarship students, that he was a new man.
“Nah, I think Liam Norman Chen was cloned during the holiday,” Ethan said with a short laugh, “boy, this ain’t you. Are you serious right now?”
“Nah, I think he’s joking,” Warren chipped in, “boy, if a chick is telling you otherwise, you of all people know that thing ain’t gon’ last. You a hot boy, you gon’ find another better chick.”
“No, no chick involve,” Liam defended as he adjusted his sitting position, “look, man. I’m grown, yeah? I’m a grown man, I think there is more to life than this baby, picking on people thing. Plus-”
Ethan cut in, “Yo, shut the hell up! I even thought this blud was joking, man!”
“You don’t need that.” Alexander said, gripping his grape juice.
“What do you know little man?” Ethan snapped.
“Okay, I think you should leave,” Liam stood and pointed to the door, “now!”
“So, you wanna form righteousness now? Did you forget how cool it was when you put a dead rat in Charlotte’s locker? Or how do you wipe Manuel’s face with a handkerchief soaked in a chili pepper?” Ethan growled angrily.
“Okay, stop!” Liam yelled.
“No, I won’t. Not until you come back to your senses.” Ethan yelled back.
Okay, tell me, what’s the fun in all that?” Liam asked, “you’re grown, drop all those childish acts.”
Ethan drew in a breath sharply, “Yeah, good luck trying to convince them - convince over seven thousand students that you’ve changed. Horseshit!” He said and retraced his steps out of the classroom, he met Babatunde on the way and bumped shoulders with him deliberately. Contrary to his expectation, Babatunde didn’t budge or ask for an apology.
Ethan stopped and turned to face him, “You didn’t see I bumped shoulders with you deliberately, uh?”
“Yeah, I saw that and I knew it was on purpose.” Babatunde said, expressionless.
Ethan folded his arms, would look down on Babtunde, he would have come closer to him and tried to bend his head over his, to look down on him literally but he couldn’t because Babatunde was one centimetre taller, “Aren’t going to ask for an apology? Is that how you Nigerians? Righteousness and s**t?”
Babatunde scoffed, “Obviously, you’re looking for someone to pick a fight and so sorry to disappoint, I’ve got a lot of more important things to do than pick up a fight.” He emphasised the important.
Ethan scoffed, still folding his arms, “we’ll how long you can hold on. I’ll see you around, eh?” He gave a last scornful glance at Liam and walked out with his friends as Babatunde sat on his seat to read a novel. He was never a fan of libraries - except he needs a new book.
- Writer
