Love, Lust And Lost

8 years ago

Love, Lust And Lost

After he (Bala) had left the classroom. Miss Yemisi thought twice what she should do about Bala’s boast. Was she to go report him to the principal? She knew it was best to do that but she felt it might brew some bad comment by other teachers – that she had just started teaching and complaining. What would she then now do when she devotes her time fully to it?.

She tried to forget about Bala’s conduct – took some few steps from where she stood to the front of the classroom, very close to the blackboard. She ordered the students to return to their seats. The ones who were still observing the punishment given by Bala were told to sit down.

“If you are in this class, can you please come inside. We are about having our P.H.E class and it is almost 10:40 – just an hour and few minutes before break.” She said as some students trooped inside while other `busy bodies’ who had come to feed their eyes and curiosity left.

Once they had settled down, she took a chalk and wrote the subject on the board, followed below it was introduction to P.H.E. She turned back to face the students, dropping the chalk on a desk. She smiled as though she had found something amusing about the faces that pierced into her gaze.

It looked as though she was nervous but she maintained her calm and flashed her teeth to the inquisitive looks of the students – why this woman was laughing without any sort of jokes to entice laughter.

“Good morning class,” she finally broke silent, the murmuring and continued speaking as though, if she stopped, that might be the end of her courage.

“I want to apologise for the display of that boy and I hope you are all calm now? Please let’s forget about him and concentrate on this lecture.”

She opened a note she had formed to the particular page she wanted. She was pleased to be standing in their presence and her service was about to begin.

She was 23, a bit plump and 5ft 7 tall. She was dark in complexion yet, she was as beautiful as the clouds forming before the coming of the rain in its season. Her eyes(iris) were pure white with black pupil. The way she smiled, she could heal a sick man struck by `sickness of sadness.’ She couldn’t open her mouth or make any statement without her teeth flashing. Her dimple were so appealing, it felt it had been punctured by an angel at birth. Her beauty couldn’t be really described.

She was on a weave-on parked in a ponytail – resting at the right side of her shoulders – shooting forward. She wore a red lipstick against her lips and it matched her outfit of white gown with some stained colours to form flower designs on them.

She talked at length about introduction to her subject and other sub-topics, – after which she started asking questions to know may be the student understood all she had explained.

“Well, that’s very nice of you to ask,” she replied the question of a student who asked what physical exercise were important to the human body.

She named the exercises and some of the things one needed to do along with them. Foods to eat and water to take on some measurement. When she was done and was about leaving the class. She noticed a boy had not said anything since she started teaching. Not even a side comment had come from him.

She was very observing and had noticed everyone in the class had either laughed, made a side comment or answered and asked a question except him.

“Hello dear! Yes, you. What’s your name?” She asked.

He stood up and was afraid. He didn’t know what she wanted from him and if it were to be a question on all she had taught. He wasn’t sure he would be able to answer them.

“Adefemi ma,” he replied.

“Oh, that’s a nice name. I noticed you are very gentle. Please do see me after the class.” She said and left.

When she left, the whole class started humming to show there must be something fishy – why the teacher had asked to see Adefemi but it died down after sometime.

Once it was break-time, Adefemi left the class without informing anyone. He entered the staff-room and directly, he approached Miss Yemisi’s table.

“Well done ma” he greeted, standing.

“Oh, how are you dear? You can have your seat”

“Thank you” he appreciated.

“So Adefemi, why were you silent in the classroom?” She asked.

He was shy to respond but her smile lighted his heart. If he had had a blood clot, sure they would have melted with such smile. He pushed his courage and spoke.

“Nothing ma, really.”

“Ok then. I see you are the shy type but it doesn’t mean anything. We would get along with each other as time goes on.” She assured.

“Is that all ma? I think I need to go for lunch,”

May be his mind was at Zainob’s class or the food canteen, only God knew.

“I think that would be all for now,” she said trying to bring something out from her bag. She handed him #200 note.

“Thank you so much ma. I’m grateful.”

“It’s nothing. Just enjoy yourself, ok?”

“Ok ma, bye!” He smiled back to her. It seemed her eyes sparkled when he met her gaze but he didn’t notice anything in them. He was so engrossed in the 200naira she had given him.

When was he opportune to have lunch of 200naira? He had never had such. They gave him 100naira from home, of which transport to and fro was 40naira. The remaining 60naira couldn’t buy him more than 4 doughnuts and 20naira Mr. Cream or Banana ice-cream. Or rather when he wanted to change lunch, 10 10 naira dry gala of 4 pieces and sachet water.

He thanked his luck today for the dash and went out of the staff room.

To Be Continued….