Day Two

Yeah, all they know how to do is bully, no wonder Cynthia had told me that their hatred was not personal, they are only bitter because that was all they can do to feed their empty brain.

"Please, if you know the answer, let me see your hands up. I know that even if we are to stay from now till tomorrow these boys will never find the answer in their empty skulls. So, if any of you know the answer, tell me."

Then the teacher directed the question to the class, and almost all the students raised their hands, including me the new kid. Yes, I know the answer, I've done skin in my former school, and it was one of my best topics in Biology.

"Wow! , Damian, you see? The new kid who just resumed yesterday knows the answer, and you people that had been in this school for years do not even know anything. Please tell us."

Said the teacher, and I stood up to say;

"Melanin is the pigment that is secreted by Melanocytes. This pigment called melanin helps to darken the skin"

"Perfectly said!!"

The teacher said, looking at me with amazement.

"Now all of you should give him a sound clap."

The teacher added, and all the students clapped, but Bright and his clique did not, even though they were still standing.

"Now I want the three of you to clap for him right now, and make sure it's a befitting clap."

The teacher said and they clapped looking so embarrassed.

"You may now sit dull brains, I wonder why you all must be friends, birds of a feather".

The teacher told Bright and his clique to sit and they all sat. 

During break periods, all the students were out of the class, roaming around, some were on the football field, some at the volleyball and basketball court, and some just sat in groups discussing. At first, I never wanted to go out because I wouldn't like to meet with Bright outside the class to avoid any confrontations, but I felt pressed and tried to help myself by locating the nearby restroom, but the problem was that the so-called nearby bathroom was not all that nearby. It was located close to the fence of the school far from the classes, and it was quite an isolated area. Oh, poor me, it seems that I am quite unlucky today because I had been trying to avoid confrontation of any sort with this group only to walk into them in a place that is as quiet and lonely as this place. Their facial expression explained their intentions, the scene reminded me of my past experiences with the crazy four boys in the East.

"Hmm... Look who we have here."

Bright said.

"So we were humiliated today because of you."

Bright added.

"Because of you!!  Hmm. "

Ojo echoed.

"We were clapping for you,  and you were laughing, right? We were clapping and your head was growing."

Sani added.

"I don't even understand the reason for all this dialogue, let's just beat him up and go, you know they will soon share players for the football, and I won't want to miss the lineup."

Sani said again.

"No, I don't think so, we won't beat him, not today."

Bright said

"Not today!"

So said Ojo.

"let this sound like a warning to you, stay off my girl Cynthia, stay off her if you don't want to die."

"And Chinwe, you seductive idiot."

Bright said and Sani quickly added,

"Please don't interrupt me next time, is that clear?"

Bright quickly told Sani and continued.

"Quit being her friend, don't even talk to her, do not sit near her, is that clear? When next I find you doing any of these things I've warned you not to, you will find me on your tail, is that clear? "

"Hahaha! He said is that clear? Mr Demon or is it, Devil."

Ojo added. 

It was still break period, same day, Cynthia and I were together, and this time the super Cee were not with us, Cynthia was beginning to be jealous whenever she sees her friends, flirting with me, yes, she told them that we were just friends, well, that's true, but that was not enough reason for them to try and make me love any of them, after all, "I discovered him". This was the word she had used when discussing with charity and Chinwe earlier today. Earlier this morning, I was with the Super Cee, Cynthia, Chinwe, and Charity, we were discussing circular things when Charity came to me to carry her on my lap, she sat on my legs and that got Cynthia mad, that was when I truly knew that Cynthia got feelings for me. Her reaction was extreme, she dragged Charity off my leg and say;

"Do you want to break his leg?"

And on a serious note, no one should try all these tricks, I know all of them."

She added.

"And who are you to him to tell us what we do around him?"

Charity added.

"Seriously? You don't know who I am to him? I am the girl who found him, I am his founder. So I have the right to say don't go near him, but I won't say that, all I'm saying is stop flirting."

She said.

During break periods, that is; after the incident with the Super Cee, Cynthia and I both strolled as we were strolling we were also discussing, and each of us was with a sachet of ice cream which we sipped occasionally. Just as I was obsessed with cakes, so was Cynthia obsessed with ice cream, within the few days that we spent together in school, I totally lost count of how many ice creams she had taken.

"Your boyfriend and his crew almost beat up today"

I said hilariously.

"When?"

She shouted.

"When I went to ease myself. I met them at that isolated end, around the school fence."

I explained.

"Wait a moment, you said; my boyfriend? You mean those crazy rascals?"

Cynthia asked.

"If by crazy rascals you meant Bright, Ojo, and Sani, then you guessed right."

I responded again.

"That fool is not my boyfriend o, and please I don't have any boyfriend yet, at least not yet."

She said looking at me with a little blush when she said "not yet".

"But hope they did not touch you, because, if they do, we will report them now to the principal."

Cynthia said.

"No, it has not gotten to reporting time yet, they did not touch me, in fact, Bright made sure they didn't touch me, but his mercy came with a clause, and that is that I must stay off his girlfriend."

I explained.

"But seriously, are you sure he is not your boyfriend? Like you guys have never had anything together before?"

"I swear, I never had anything to do with that clown, why would you even think I will date a guy like that? A guy that stupid."

Cynthia said.

"The dude sound pretty convincing o, he thinks I'm trying to snatch his girl, which is you, from him, Even that Ojo guy talking about Chinwe, and Sani about Charity too like they are dating."

I added.

"Please Damie, pay no attention to those clowns, they just sit down there and assume in their sickly dull brains that they are in a relationship with someone. The Chinwe that hates that Ojo like shit."

Cynthia said in the funniest tone. Now I'm beginning to like it when she calls me Damie, this spice comes with it, hahaha, don't even think about it, I'm not trying to replace mom with anyone, and the love I have for my mom is unique, no one can share that.

"Now tell me, will you snatch me?"

Cynthia said funnily but expecting an answer so seriously and she stared at me in the eye expectantly.

"Naa. I've got no plans of doing that."

I quickly blurted like a fool without reasoning. This response of mine sent a wrong message as it weakened Cynthia's countenance. I quickly noticed the damage that my careless response might be causing, so I quickly rephrased my words.

"Why will I snatch that which was never his, I've got no plans to snatch my dear, I'm only taking you for myself, after all, he never had you."

So I said, and I bled out a little smile which sparkled, now this my rephrase actually lightened up the already gloomy face of Cynthia who now blushed as she said;

"You are a bad child."

We both walked to the poolside. The school had a very big swimming pool, a thing that my mom had failed to notice due to her haste the other day. The students were all allowed to swim only during the recreation period, And the school also holds an annual swimming competition in which the students swim for a price. Cynthia and I sat on a wooden bench that was built around the pool. Oh! I wished we never came anywhere close to this pool, and not just that I wished I never made this comment;

"Seeing the way you look at the pool, I could guess you love swimming."

This little comment changed my life totally, don't worry you will see how it actually changed me, and you will be the judge to decide if it is for the best or worse.

"Hmm... Me swim, I wish".

She said laughing.

"I love the waters, that's true, I also wish I could swim, but I don't, I truly like guys that can swim, that's the only thing I like about that clown bright, he is a very good swimmer, he is even the second best swimmer in this school."

She added.

"Oh! He can swim".

I said with a jealous mind.

"Yeah, and you, can you swim, hmm? Please tell me, can you?"

She asked looking very curious, she made that cute puppy face as she looked at me with a desperate desire to hear a "yes" from me.

"Me? Ehmm... I.. I.."

I tried responding but I was too sluggish as it seems that I'd lost my words.

"Please say yes, I'll love you, I swear, please just say you can swim."

What? She just said she will love me... Who am I to say no? Common it's just a "one lie", who will it hurt? I could always make excuses during recreation.

"Yes! Yes, I can swim."

I quickly said looking both left and right like a lost puppy, hmm... I actually felt blackmailed. I have never swum in my entire lifetime, in fact, I will die the day I swim, common I've got allergies.

"Really? Will you teach me swimming, please be my swimming coach".

Cynthia persuaded looking very excited. No, I looked at her like one murderer, like; "who sent you to kill me?" She held me by the hand as she pleaded with me to be her swimming tutor. I felt lost in my own shell, I had just accepted to do that which I can't. Not like I even got any option, I was literally blackmailed, she just said she loves guys who can swim, plus, why must she mention Bright? She even said she loves his swimming talent, and that she will love me if I say yes. It was obvious she gave me no choice but to lie to her. As God may have it, while I was still lost in myself, the bell of the end of break rang, oh! What a relief, I seriously needed the break from this manipulating Cynthia right now.