CHAPTER 14- A BOOK TO YOUR SITUATION

  "This one you are smiling at, did you win an award?", my dad asked.

  "Good afternoon dad", I said, prostrating to greet him.

  "Afternoon, I have been noticing you from outside the shop, your look shows that you are super excited, what is happening?", he asked

  

    Can't Nigerian parents just stop this? I am excited because I have a reason to be happy. Should I just tell him

 'Dad, I have a crush on one of my best friends, my other bestie told her that I have a crush on her, now I feel happy because she reacted reasonably to the news', I thought

  " Dad, I am presently 16 years and I have a lot of things to be happy about. For example, I will be graduating very soon, I have good friends that are looking after me", I said hoping it would just end.

  He nodded and set to leave, I heaved a sigh of relief and closed my eyes.

  "I just hope it is not about one of your friends, remind me of her name? , he asked and my face flushed with shyness at the fact that he is almost getting me. 

  "Daddy, I hope you are not trying to tease me", I said

  "You are a teenager and it is obvious on your face that you might have developed feelings for that girl, mmm, Rachael. It is important to always control these sexual impulses and not act on them purposefully", he said and I felt relieved to know someone knows and cares about my predicament.

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  "Michael, you should sleep at your dad's office, are you ok", someone said tapping me as I slowly opened my eyes to see Brother Joe, who happened to be one of my dad's workers. I can't believe I just went into my imaginary world. I only imagined my dad  lecturing me about my feelings, Oh Lord of Mercy, please guide my imagination realm', I said inwardly

  We only ended our conversation when I cited some of the reasons why I can be happy. He left only for me to be imagining a lecture in my head. 'I am weird', I mused.

  "I am perfectly fine, I was just thinking about something Brother Joe", I said and left the room before he starts to ask me another question or some sets of questions 

   I got to school the next day with my normal routine, greetings, and a bunch of other stuff. I no longer feel lonely when Joshua is around, and as a matter of fact, the class is quite lively.

  It was finally lunch break and I kinda lost my appetite so I brought out my Mathematics textbook to solve. As much as I am a brilliant fellow, Mathematics is the only subject I get a B+ in. It gives me difficulty solving some questions in it, and that is why my percentage always falls between 65-70%. No wonder they say 'No one can be an island of knowledge. It is either you are good in many aspects but lack at one aspect or the other.

  I was solving a simultaneous equation question when Ethan suddenly moved his chair closer to my side, leaping a little bit forward to my right ear. "I missed you", he whispered, his warm breath fanning my ears that I almost squirm if not for some self-control.

  He moved back a little and I smiled at him. He reciprocated and I felt my stomach twisting and a warm sensation filling my body. I returned my gaze to my book to continue solving, as he continued to gist me about how he spent his holiday. It seems he had my time today, I thought.

  I progressed with solving and at a few intervals, I raised my head and contributed to what he was saying. I can't face him, he is too close for my liking. Thinking about it alone makes me blush on its own. I suddenly felt a hand grab my books from my desk, that act alone scared the half-wit of me.

  " Don't stress yourself too much my hero or you might die of too much brain", he said smirking and I almost choked at his stupid acts. He should just have told me to close my books instead of acting like a maniac.

  I moved my chair back a little at least to give us some space and we continued talking. I must confess, I enjoyed that very moment. His face was more handsome, and his laughter made me smile. I did not feel tired just staring at his face or scanning his look.

  He asked me for some advice and I willingly gave him some that I think are quite beneficial.

  Friday came like always, I must say this week was filled with a little bit of fun by Joshua's comedy acts and filled with a lot of blushing and smiling due to Ethan's gentleman's acts. I can't stop thinking about both Rachael and Ethan. The moments I shared with them on a one-on-one basis kept creeping into my imaginary world.  

  I was strolling down the corridors when I suddenly heard Gloria's voice" Michael, please come here", she said and I decided to spend some time in her class. I kept on greeting everyone in SSS 3 GAMMA which was designated for the Arts students. Gloria and I chatted for a while before I decided to leave for my class only for me to bump into someone.

  I looked up and politely said sorry as I quickly picked some of his books that fell on the ground. As I was arranging his books back, a small book caught my attention as I held it looking at it closely. 'Young People Ask Volume 2' was the title written on it. 

  "Do you like it? I can give you if you want it", the voice of Stephen, the boy I bumped into said jolting me out of my concentration on the book.

  "I am sorry, you said something about giving me this book, are you sure about it?", I asked unsure whether he would give the book to me.

  He chuckled lightly and said "Someone gave it to me and to be sincere, I have the soft copy of the book on my phone and I use to read it anytime I need answers bothering me as a teenager", he said and then continued 

  "It is a book every teenager should read, a book for all teen situations. It might be a book to your situation", he concluded.

 'A book about my situation?'