Empire High School Episode 12

EMPIRE HIGH SCHOOL Episode 12 BY ADEMIDE

Jeffrey’s POV
“Your dad called me this morning” Aunty Joke said to me.
I stopped mopping the floor.
“I’m not interested”
“Jeffrey we need to talk”
“Aunty,there’s nothing to talk about”
I moved away from her side and carried the mop bucket into the restroom. I didn’t go home after we closed at school. I drove down to my mom’s store straight Because I wanted to avoid the discussion with my dad. And now I’ve to talk to aunty joke.
I inhaled deeply before bending down to rinse the bucket.
“Jeffrey, listen to me, you have to listen to your dad and give respect to your Stepmom” Aunty Joke
“Never”
I went back to the main store and moved to sit at the counter.
“Kilode to n se bayi?” She asked
(Why are you acting Like this?)
“I can never accept that woman”
“I’ve told you countless time that It wasn’t her fault or your dad’s”
“No, you don’t know what happened -“
“My sister told me everything”
“Can we not talk about it now?” I said
“I insist we discuss it -” she tapped the counter
“Your dad said you’ve refused to eat whatever Lola cooks at home. Why?”
“I don’t want to eat her food”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to die” I spat
“Ah! Jeffrey! This is unfair o!”
“Aunty -“
“Why would you think like that?! Lola mean no harm Jeffrey”
“Aunty let’s forget about it” I said
She stared at me
“Ema gba mi o! Ehn Jeffrey in your mouth!” She exclaimed
“Aunty can I stay at your place for this break?” I asked
I don’t want to stay in that house
She eyed me
“No” she spat
I frowned at her
“Since you’ve decided to do things your way then don’t come to my house. You are growing wings now abi” she said
“Aunty no.. Try to understand me”
“Go to your father’s house. He’s waiting for you. And mind you, am going to report you to Aunty Lara”
“Ah! Why now?!” I asked
Aunty Lara was my mom’s elder sister. Grandma had four kids (3 girls and a boy). Aunty Lara, My Mom (Molade), Uncle Jide and Aunty Joke.
Aunty Lara was the strict type. I don’t like really like her. The truth was I’m scared of Aunty Lara.
“Aunty Joke Don’t tell her anything” I pleaded
“Don’t beg me”she walked away
I got out of the high stool and followed her.
“Aunty Joke now.. “
She pressed her cellphone. She was calling Aunty Lara!
I thought of what to say to my Aunt.
“Hello Sister Mi” she said
I stood in front of her and gestured to her not to say anything. I placed my palms together.
Why won’t she listen?!
“Ehn.. He called you?” She said
Looking at me with a wicked grin. Oh no! Don’t tell me Dad called her!
“O wa ni bi” she said in her native language meaning
(He is here). My mom was from the Yoruba Tribe but my Dad was an Igbo Man.
“Sister Mi Talk to him. Jeffrey is too stubborn” she said
“Yes, I already told him Lola doesn’t mean any harm. Three years now, and he’s still holding grudge against his dad” she paused
And continued
“Sister Mi eba Jeff soro dada”
(My Sister talk to Jeff very well)
She handed me the cellphone. The bell at the door Jangles, someone was in our store.
“Gba phone lowo mi, kin Lo da customer lowun”
(Take the phone from me and let me attend to the customer)
She squeezed the phone into my right palm.
I placed it on my ear and walked Into the restroom to pee.
“Jeffrey what is your problem?” Aunty Lara asked
“Big mummy nothing is wrong. Everything is fine with me”
“So why are you rejecting Lola’s food?”
“I don’t want to eat her food”
“Why?”
I was silent.
Is it by force to eat food?
“Jeff listen to me the dead is gone. And do you think your mom will be happy to see what you are doing now?” She said
A tear slid down my cheek. Memories of my Mom flooded my mind.
“I already told you, everything that happened to Lade wasn’t your dad’s fault. It was her fate and there was nothing to stop it from happening”
It was a lie!
Mom would have gotten better if Dad was around to take care of her. No one knew my mom had cancer until she collapsed at the store. My dad wasn’t home, he was out of the country as at that time. I called him before anyone else and hoped he would come home in the next two days but he’d said he was too busy at work. My mom spoke to him when she regained consciousness, she begged him to take care of me if anything happens to her. I became very scared after hearing her words. I didn’t want her to die. In tears I asked her to stay alive but then she confessed the cancer was in the last stage. I felt bad, and guilt filled my mind Because I didn’t know she was terribly sick until she collapsed. I never suspected anything before that day. My mom died four days after admittance into the hospital.
More tears dripped down my cheeks as I recalled the event. In the morning I was reading a book to my mom when she gave up the ghost. I didnt believe it when the doctor announced her death to me. They covered her face and soon after breaking the news to my Aunts, they moved her to the mortuary in the hospital. It was then I believed it. She was really gone! She left me!
My dad came home the next day, the man who said he couldn’t make it few days back, he made it the next day. Definitely he could have made it home the day I called him or the next but he didn’t want to come home. His wife was sick and he didn’t know about it.
He admitted that he never suspected that she was I’ll. Aunty Lara blamed him back then but now she was supporting him.
How could she forget her sister easily?
“Jeffrey all am saying is that try to let go and be yourself again. Stop blaming your father for Lade’s death”
I was speechless
“So ti gbo?”
(Have you heard?)
I couldn’t talk because of the tears.
“Jeff are you there?” She asked
“Yes.. Thanks Ma”
“I know how much you loved your mom. Don’t think am saying you should let someone else take her place in your heart. All am saying is that you should give Lola a chance in your life”
“Okay.. Ma” I said shakily
“Ma binu oko mi.. Anything just let go of it”
(Don’t be annoyed my dear)
“I’ll send money to you before the end of the week” she said
Aunty Lara gives me #5000 every week for allowance.
“Apologize to your parents when you get home because your dad wasn’t happy when he called me. So please give him another chanced cause I know he regretted what he did to your mom”
“Okay” I said
“I’ll call you later”
I hummed a response with a sniffle
“Take care” the line dropped
I cried for seconds. I calmed and rinsed my face and I moved out of the room.
I stopped on track when I saw the person at the counter. Unbelievable!
“You’re pretty” My Aunt Said
“Thanks Ma”
Kate was there!
A sanitary pad was on the counter.
I listened to their conversation.
“Do you know Jeffrey?”
“Yes.. Jeffrey Adams”
“So.. How well do you know him?”
“I don’t know him too well because he doesn’t talk to anyone at school” Kate said
Then my aunt eyes fell on me
I was surprised to find Kate in our store!
“Oh Jeffrey, look your schoolmate is here!”
Kate looked at me with a wide eye before glacing back at the sanitary pad on the counter.
“Do you know her?” Aunty Joke asked
I nodded
“She’s my classmate. . “
“Oh! Really?!” she said
I hummed a response and walked to the counter. Kate packed the sanitary pad into the nylon my aunt gave to her. She avoided my gaze in the process. I stared at her – and tried to figure why she was avoiding an eye contact with me.
“Well.. Jeff, it seems you are not close to anyone in your class” Aunty Joke Said
I didn’t respond
Kate gave her #1000 and our gaze met. Her cheeks flushed deeply. I could see the red colour on them. She wasn’t blushing. Kate was embarrassed.
Why?
Oh! It was because of the pad!
That’s not a big deal
“What’s your name?” Aunty Joke asked.
“Ka.. Ka” she paused
Kate shyness has set in once again. What happened? She was talking fine with my Aunt before I came in. She fixed her gaze on the counter, staring right at the nylon on it. I exchanged glances with Aunty Joke. She needs someone to help her out.
“Katherine Adebowale” I completed her statement
“But you can call her Kate for short” I quoted the lines she had said the first day Kate stepped into class.
“My name is Katherine Adebowale but you can call me Kate for short”
Kate glanced up at me but she looked away quickly.
“Nice name” Aunt Joke said
“Tha.. Thank you Ma” She replied in a low tone
“Jeff why don’t you give her change while I ease myself in the toilet” Aunt Joke said
She moved away from the drawer and I filled in her place. She walked off.
What should I say to her?
Hello? Hi? How are you?
Kate was just heading home because she still had her uniform on. I left school right after Mrs Salako distributed the cards. I didn’t wait to check others report cards. My classmates are fond of comparing card just to know who scored the highest point.
“Hi”
I said to Kate as I sort out change in the drawer. She didn’t reply. I guess she was still finding it hard to talk. “Don’t mind my Aunt.. I know she talks a lot” I said
The lady care sanitary pad costs #270,so her change was #730.
I looked up at her. Kate was toying with the nylon with her head slightly bowed. Kate’s shyness was out of the world. I leaned forward on the counter.
“Hello Miss Kate” I said
She didn’t raise her head
“You can have your change” she stretched her head to receive it without raising her head.
“Do i scare you that much?” I said
I don’t understand!
Why won’t she look at me?!
I’ve seen her talking to our classmates!
Kate looked up.
Our gaze met again and this time she didn’t look away but she did the most surprising thing. Kate snatched the money from my hand.
“I’m.. sorry” she said
She raced out of the store!like she ran at a fast speed.
Kate! I wanted to call her but I held back.
Why did I want to call her?
She already purchased a good and I gave her change.. Just like I would do to a random customer.
I rushed to the transparent door to see where she went, I noticed a black toyota Camry with tinted glasses.
I trecognized it!
What was Kate doing in Emeka’s car?!
The car pulled out of the driveway and drove off.
Emeka? Kate? Emeka and Kate?
Kate in that guy’s car?! Unbelievable!
When did they became close?!
“Jeffrey” Aunt Joke called
“What’s wrong with Kate?” She asked
I felt uncomfortable! And suddenly I became concerned! I wanted to know something about them. I need to find out what in hell was Kate doing in Emeka’s Car?!
I rushed to the drawer and grabbed my black Jacket and keys.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll be right back”
“Jeff..” she called out but I was already out of the store. I looked at the time 3:45pm.
I started the bike and followed the route Emeka’s Car went.
I searched for Emeka’s Car in the sllight traffic on the highway. I felt my hands tremble as I pressed my horn. I need to find the car before i lost track of them completely.
How long has he been driving Kate home?
What was going on between them?
I wondered
Finally the cars moved and in no time I found a better space. I looked around through my helmet and I spotted Emeka’s car behind a trailer. I couldn’t see through cause the glasses were tinted.
I don’t trust him!
An image of Emeka’s using this traffic as a chance to touch Kate improperly flashed my mind’s eye.
No! No! No!
“Kate is different! She isn’t Like some girls in our class” A voice reminded
The road was free, so I followed them closely. They won’t recognize me because I had my helmet and back jacket on.
I packed my bike at a far distance when Emeka pulled up in front of an Estate gate.
Kate stays in this Estate!
I should have suspected it when we were heading to this place. It was a familiar route. Why?
Well it turned out to be that Aunt Joke stays in this Same Estate!
Wow! What a coincidence!
Perhaps is Emeka living in this Estate too?
I doubt it simply because he should have drove in if he was residing in the Estate.
I Watched them from afar. Kate came out of the Car. She went to the driver’s seat.. Probably to thank him for driving her home.
What’s he up to?
Emeka got out of the car and stopped Kate by grabbing her upper arm.
I clenched my fists.
She stared down at his hold on her and he withdrew. I couldn’t hear what he was saying to her. He opened the backseat and brought out a nylon. It was Mrs Jeremiah’s store package. Emeka gave it to her but Kate didn’t take it from him.
She said few words to him with a smile on her face.
Did she just smile at him?! OMG!
But
She was totally shy with me!
Was that shyness or she was trying to avoid me?!
Damn it! Emeka of all boys!
How did he manage to get Kate to be free with him?!
Did he cast a spell on her?!
Kate waved at Emeka and he did the same. He did the sign of call me and she responded with a nod!
What?! Emeka has Kate’s contact?!
Jeffrey you don sleep too much!
I started my bike and drove off. If Kate could flow with Emeka like that.. Then why was she acting differently with me?! She didn’t even look af me Like that!
She avoided my gaze but she smiled at the school baddest boy!
Maybe she doesn’t like me!
I thought deeply
It’s all my fault!
I’m so stupid!
I recalled Kate told my Aunt that I don’t talk to anyone at school. My attitude at school had pissed many student off.
Kate must have felt the same too. And when we met in the hallway.. I think twice. Kate would stop and stare at me as if she had something to say to me. And I won’t say anything.. All I did was walk away.. Like a dummy!
My heartbeat rapidly. Why on earth did I follow them?
I don’t know!
And I had no idea why I was feeling this way.
I drove at a high speed as I was in a hurry to get back to the store.
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