Subtle Double Misfortune

 

It is the last day of school and the school compound is already deserted, except for the field where few students gather in group to play and perhaps bid each other farewell. I just don’t know why most of these students are eager to go home. Home that I sometimes wish I never return to, except just to see my mother. Well, most of them are not mature anyway. Spoilt little kids everywhere, especially those urchins in SS1 and SS2.   

Today is the only day left to seal the deal with Sandra and I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I calmly settle down on the concrete seat at the school meeting point at the left angle of the field, patiently waiting for her and for my chance to convince the hottest and brightest girl in the school to be my girlfriend.

The weather today is the perfect one for this occasion. Gentle breeze that caresses the skin, a calmly warm weather that tastes pleasant to the skin, and a bright sky that sheens immaculately.

“Collins.” Sandra called out.

I go to meet her and we saunter down to the tulip tree standing confidently at after the meeting point.

 

“Love isn’t my thing, and I don’t want to do it.” Sandra said. Subtle and timid.

I hold her left hand, squeeze it, and begin to stroke her index finger down to her sleek nail. She seems to enjoy it as the expression is printed on her full lips.

“Damn! I terribly want to kiss and softly bite on those luscious lips.” An unsolicited thought dropped in my mind. I dispose of it immediately.

Sandra had terribly avoided my eyes until this moment. The look in her bright eyeballs gives her away, and I know she is only being difficult with words.

“Sandra,” I begin, looking at a bird navigating the endless sky.

But I deliberately allow my eyes to wander away with the bird. My tactic works.

“Speak up now. Don’t be distracted.” Sandra moans.

I look into her eyes again and purse my lips for a second or two.

“I am also just like you. I don’t want to do love too, but with you I want to do anything and everything.”

I could see the blushing all over her face. And I knew my game was just about to hit.

“Okay. I have heard you, Collins. Actually, I will also…”

She stopped to a voice shouting to her. Segun paced in our direction from the far end of the field but his voice seemed as though he was near.

“Sandra, Sandra. The Physics teacher is waiting for you in the teachers’ room.”

“Ok. Segun. I have to go now. We’ll see some other time.”

I put my hands akimbo as I watch Sandra and Segun sauntered away from the field area, and the only thing I feel is disgust. Disgust for Master Mikel-the Physics teacher-, popularly called MM, and for Segun the most idiotic boy who has turned himself to a slavish messenger for him. Now, this is the second time these two devil-faced partners would frustrate my effort to hash things out with Sandra, who I consider the most beautiful girl in the entire Krystals College.

I start to think what the, hands folded around my chest.

“One doesn’t get lucky with one’s desire, when people like Segun and MM are the jinx to success”

I know I may not see Sandra again after today because she will be going to Scotland. And I will be going to Ijebu, on my father’s rickety bike, to live with grandpa.

 

I can’t cry, but I dare not laugh for my situation is a dilemma.