Twenty eight

Things were a little too different for comfort. The mock examinations had began and while we were all stressed, I felt I had more causants than most. For one, my friends and I never studied together as we'd normally do. Our room was filled with a slight tension that only only intensified when we were silent and trying to concentrate. 

Vivian studied with Tolu, the talkative because she didn't trust herself to remain quiet and not address things between us which wasn't a bad idea, fuelling misunderstandings wouldn't have been good at the moment. Abike ignored everything, she could've been immune to the awkwardness because she had so much class work to catch up on and practicals to learn. 

Henrietta was basically a ghost, to me at least, she was only in the room when she needed to be and disappeared whenever I decided to study there. Rasheed was my go-to study partner but studying together had become hard since he couldn't go twenty minutes without questioning me about Marcel. 

Even outside study hours, I spent most of my free time in the classroom studying. Most times I was alone but a few people joined sometimes, one of them was Marcel. He was never a bother, we usually studied quietly except the few times I had him explain something to me. 

"Why do St. Paul have so many teachings?" He asked from beside me at our seat in combo class. 

"I think he was a scholar or something".

"Isn't he the converted persecutor? Maybe he just felt an extra need to prove himself".

"Or he had a deeper understanding of life and righteousness after living a vain life for so long".

CRK was one of those subjects I had real interest in. 

"If only Mr. Okon was like Paul".

"He'd have to give up his vain life first". We laughed lightly, gaining glances from the other three students in the room. 

Our CRK teacher was rumored to be a disowned son of a pastor. More than once he'd be caught shamelessly ogling at girls buttocks. He was your plug if you needed to smuggle in contraband but he was good enough in the classroom and managed to fool Ms. Flora with his bow ties and clean shave. 

Every examination was a surprise with different invigilators and syndicates trooping in and out, trying to cajoole us into paying for answers and the freedom to do whatever we wanted without supervision but this was Apex secondary school, a school for the seven percent, we weren't going to insult our teachers and the entire management board by succumbing to examination malpractice. 

Apex was known for producing academically independent students and that was what we all strived to be. The exams weren't easy but they weren't as difficult as everyone said they would be.

Everyday, I entered the hall a little less anxious and a bit more confident. Sir. Dom said I was showing overall improvement, my teachers agreed, so did I. I wasn't an A-Student but I wasn't finding it as hard to comprehend things as I used to. 

Ms. Flora hadn't wanted to send us home after our examinations because the term was hardly over but without anymore syllabus to cover, we spent the majority of our time noisily distracting the rest of the student body who were preparing for their forthcoming exams so she was forced to let us go. 

Mrs. Dapo was there to pick us but this time it wasn't just Abike and I. Marcel had insisted on using public transportation but no one argues with Mrs. Dapo. Abike was quick to climb into the backseat and I wasted no time in joining her. Marcel caste us an incredulous look when he realized he was stuck in the front seat with the woman. 

"Fasten your seatbelt". She instructed and he obeyed swiftly with Abike and I secretly laughing at his nervousness. 

Bike's mom paid us no mind until she had bid farewell to the security guards and we were out the gate.

"Abike". She began sternly. "What happened?"

"Where?" Abike asked but we both knew what her mom was talking about. 

"Your body. What happened to your flesh?"

"It's under my skin". Abike said stubbornly. 

"Did I not tell you to eat well and not lose weight?"

"Which is like the opposite of the advice you should be giving me" 

"What sort of mother asks her child to starve herself?"

"What sort of mother asks her child to become obese?"

I caught Marcel's confused expression in the rearview mirror and shook my head. 

"Obese? Mogbe. This girl, who told you that you're obese? You are not even fat oh, you are just healthy".

"Okay but I want to be as unhealthy as Mandy".

"Ah. Rara o".

We couldn't help it, Marcel and I erupted in laughter and were soon joined by Bike and her mother. The tension had left his stance but not for long. 

"So, you are Kunle's son. Marcelinus?" Mrs. Dapo started. 

"Yes ma. Marcellus, Marcel". I had never seen him so nervous, then again I had never seen him around parents. It had been different with my mom because she loved him immediately, the charm wasn't working on Mrs. Dapo. 

"You look like your father. Abike told me you're the senior prefect". We both glanced at the girl who resorted to staring out the window. 

"Eh. Yes ma".

"Impressive. Hope you've been nice to our Amanda".

His pause gave away his guilt. 

"Aunty mi, I'm not a baby". I said

"I know but..."

I knew what she meant, my mom's previous house guest hadn't been very nice to me but she didn't have to worry about Marcel, he was a lot of things but he wasn't that. 

She was quick to change the topic, asking us about school and exams before finally settling for drilling Marcel. 

The drive was shorter than usual, universities were on strike so there wasn't a lot of traffic on the road. Ekpe was outside the gate waiting to take my bag, he shook hands with Marcel and gave me his usual greeting.

"Oga and madam no de but small madam, aunty say food de fridge weh you go warm for us".

"Us?" I quirked a brow. 

"Eh, na since morning weh I chop". He said with a grin. 

"Ekpe, it's still morning".

"Anyhow, just do me Christmas". It wasn't even Christmas yet. 

The house was the same but now along with my mom's, I could catch the lingering scent of Kunle's cologne. Just as Ekpe had said, there was food packed away in the freezer but we were still okay with what we had been served in school so I returned to my room, showered and fell asleep. I woke to a knock on my door. It was my mom, she smiled and engulfed me in a hug. 

"I've missed you, this house wasn't the same without you two".

She too looked the same, albeit a little brighter. 

"You mean there wasn't anyone to clean up after you?"

"Shut up and come and eat". She pulled me out to the dinning room where Kunle's and Marcel sat in a familiar awkward silence. I greeted him as I took my seat and he responded with a slight smile. 

Dinner started out quietly but as usual blossomed into something else with our parents asking about school, listening to our external examination tales and telling us tales of theirs from work, church and everywhere else. Mom told us about the little girl who always came to visit her sick mom chiefly to watch zeeworld.

Kunle told us about how mom had worn her charcoal face mask on night duty and scared a patient who refused to believe she wasn't a ghost even after she took it off. 

They were stories about a rat trap, a mechanic, a traffic warden. Even as our plates became empty, we sat there sharing loud laughs and small giggles until Kunle let out a massive yawn that dispersed us. Marcel set himself on the couch while my mom and I returned to the kitchen to wash the dishes. 

We talked a little and laughed some more but I could tell she had something important to tell me, that is why when she cleared her throat noisily, I wasn't alarmed. 

"Amanda, I need to tell you something". She said as she dried her hands. 

"Okay".

"I know you must be thinking about when Kunle will be packing out".

It was surprising that I hadn't even thought of that. somehow, I had gotten used to our living arrangement.

"It's just, he and I have gotten a lot more serious and I think this could be good for all of us. He's stabilized now but we decided there wasn't any need to move out, the house is big enough. We are sharing the rent and everything else. I want this to work, I think he does too".

"I want it to work too".

"Really?" She perked up and I nodded. 

"Honestly, he is not bad and I want you to be happy".

"Are you sure you're comfortable with it? With Marcel? Honey, if he is giving you any problems..."

"I can handle Marcel he's not that bad".

She chuckled. 

"No, he isn't".

We stood there for a while staring at each other before she pulled me close and planted a kiss on my forehead. 

"Thank you".

I wasn't desperate for family but it was obvious my mom was, maybe because she had it once and missed it. I never had a family, just Alade, maybe that was why I didn't crave it as much. I mean, how can you miss something you never had? 

Anyway, I wasn't opposed to the prospect even if it included Marcel Wurade. He wasn't a saint or a perfect gentleman but he was more than most men I knew and if giving him a chance meant giving my mom one to finally be satisfied with her life, I was going to try.