Must Read: King Arthur

6 years ago

Must Read: King Arthur

Now it was time to start dating a girl whom you were not sure of your feelings for anymore.

**DAY: 1**

It was a very hot sunday morning, the rains were gone. I was preparing for church, Dad woke us 6:30 on the dot. Bisi was at home. Mass was scheduled for 8am, we did our chores. I cleaned myself up, took my shower.

My mobile phone beeped, it was an SMS. I thought it was one of those unsolicited SMS from MTN, so I ignored it. It was 7:49am and we were ready to roll.

From Ajao estate were we lived, to St John Catholic Church, was a five minutes drive.
We got to church that morning before the beginning of the Mass. The church looked beautiful, the choir sang beautifully, St John’s choir had won Best choir in the state for 3years in a row and that year was not going to be an exception.

That sunday in church, the sleep I was deprived of, had the better part of me, what can I say?.

There was this pretty girl, I did not know her name so I called her ‘Lady X’, in maths they will say where Lady represents the girl X represents the unknown LOL.

From her (nice)attitude, I knew she wanted me to talk to her, but I was not just a fan of approaching ladies. Apart from the occasional stares, during the new year eve, she had done something that was more than just a coincidence or the usual stare. I knew she liked me, and there was no doubt I liked her too.

That sunday my gaze met hers. Non of us, seemed ready to stop gazing at the other, we were simply lost, until someone stood up, in such a way that I could no longer see her.

The other people in church stood up too and were moving.

OMG it soon dawned on me that I had been so lost, that I did not even know it was offering time.
I dipped my hand into my pocket and brought out two neatly arranged hundred naira notes. How I hated to sq££ze money in my palm. She was seating in the roll a my right. It was the turn of my pew (seat) we all stood up and moved in ‘unism’ , I was standing beside her now, I took a quick glance at her, and saw that she was really endowed with an all rounded goodness, she had those bright smiles, nice pair of teeth.
She wore a white gown, that fitted her perfectly, she also had one of those designer wedges on, like the one I hid from bisi. There was no doubt whatsoever I liked her, the feeling was mutual, yet I did not want to cheat on vanessa, at least I could wait for seven days before am free.

After church, I checked my phone, I opened the sms that was hanging there since morning, it was from Vanessa. It was a good morning text it read; “Last night I sent an angel, blah blah blah at the end it had an I love you” I did not reply cause it was simply pointless.

There was power, I watched some indian movies, they were my favourites, I loved them because there was always a twist which ended either way. I slept off, after watching “Arya” which almost lasted for two hours. I barely closed my eyes when my phone started ringing “Gangnam Style”. I did not even bother to check the caller, because I was not expecting a call from anybody and as far as I was concerned there was no special person that would make me leave my sweet sleep. I slid the phone under my pillow to reduce the sound and continued sleeping. For the first time in a while, I had a very nice dream, although I could not remember it, but I knew it was nice, I felt better. I went to the dinning, ate my sunday traditional meal of Rice and beefed Stew. When I was done with my meal, I picked up my Economics textbook. I had barely opened it when my phone rang. It was Vanessa. I picked the call, the following conversation ensued;

Vanessa: Hey boo

Me: hey

Vanessa: I called you but you did not pick.

Me: oh you were the one, I was sleeping.

Vanessa: ok oo

Me: yh.

Vanessa: Can I request for something?

Me: sure

Vanessa: For the seven days can you just pretend to love me please?

Me: (I laughed out so loud, it made her angry)

Vanessa: what’s funny na

Me: Am sorry but, they way you said it was funny.

Vanessa: Really?

Me: Ok have heard you.

Vanessa: ok bye, love you.

Me: Ok

Vanessa: Real-l-y
Before she could complete the word I ended the call. The rest of the day was ok, I did not come online on whatsapp that evening because it was a lot of distraction, I needed to read.

**DAY 2**
I woke up and met yet another sms from Vanessa, I replied this one, only because she wanted me to. I knew I would hurt her if I did not reply her.

I did my morning routine and rushed to school, I was late for the exam already. It was a good thing the ‘invigilator’ was not yet in school.

The exam started 30 minutes late, it was due to the heavy traffic, as we later heard.

The hefty man, looking like a gym instructor, dropped his bag and immediately rearranged us. I was seating next to Vanessa, by my left was Emeka. I did not care who was there and who was not, I was prepared. I looked at vanessa, she looked cheerful and was smiling at me, why was she smiling at me?

The exam started at exactly 10:32am. We exchanged ideas quietly and smiled for the remaining part of the day. How I missed that smile. After the exams, for the first time in my life, she hugged me. I was shocked, was that really Vanessa.

Back there at home, I saw two missed calls from Vanessa and Maxado. I called them in the order they had first called me. Vanessa was the first so I called her, “It isy well” was her caller tune. I was singing along when she picked it;

Vanessa: Musician

Me: (laughing audibly)

Vanessa: You called me

Me: No I saw your missed call and unlike you I called back.

Vanessa: Unlike me ke, I would have called you back.

Me: Story for the gods

Vanessa: Not fair

Me: Buh you know is the truth

Vanessa: Whatever

Me: so you called me

Vanessa: Wanted to say hi

Me: Ok HI

Vanessa: (laughing softly but still audible) hey

I was about to say something important when my phone went awol. At that moment I felt like crushing the phone, but that would be mare stupidity. The rest of my day was a bliss.

**DAY: 3**
These days my day revolves around three things;
My exam, Vanessa and Myself. Vanessa wanted me to pretend to love her, and I was going to do just that.

I called her that tuesday morning, she was rather amazed, I reminded her of her request “pretend to love me??”. We had Biology Practical on Wednesday. We were going to school to practice the specimens for the practical.

I intentionally rose late. The practice was to start 8 am, I left home 8:30 am, what a student!
That tuesday morning was a market day, so coupled with the fact that I left home late, I arrived school at about 9:15 am. I did not feel lazy, until Miss Edem-Bassey our Biology Mistress, gave me a pep talk in front of the whole class. That was a mini disgrace.

As soon as she was through with the bunch of advice and stories she told us about Punctuality, she ended the class, at that point, I felt stupid. I began to ask myself questions like why did I even come? Why did I not just stay at home and complete thee movie I was watching? I was lost in my anger when someone tapped me. The tap was angelic, I could feel the soft hand down my spine. I turned to look at the person, but she (as it must have been a she) was gone, instead I saw Miss Edem-Bassey walking very fast like someone who was in a haste to use the toilet, behind her was Vanessa. “Were you the one that tapped me”? I inquired. Instead of answering me she did it again. We talked about random stuffs ranging from why I came late, biology and so on… We were walking like newlyweds, with our fingers interlocked. I could feel those emotions running wild through her. I was beginning to feel uncomfortable, thank God Sade came to my rescue. “Let’s go o” Sade pleaded, “Love birds” she added, (“love ke”) I bid Vanessa goodbye. We were still on our way home when one ‘wayward’ bus driver who must have had a lot of Ogo’goro (local gin) splashed water on me. I felt like hitting the bus driver or just smashing his vehicle, but when I saw those looks on his face, the thick-red colour in his eyes, I could not help but walk faster.

I got home a little bit later than usual, told my tale, and then had a nice evening chat with bae…

**DAY: 4**
I used to wonder how someone gets to know when they are in love, until I met Vanessa, I could not explain the feeling, but I knew something was definitely unusual, when ever thoughts of her dazzling look and how striking her personality struck me, I could not help but just smile and thank God for sending her my way, Until…

Today is Biology Ye! I did not read properly, I murmured, I joined the family for devotion, when we were through I did not bother about my house chores after all my ‘padi’ Bisi was at home for only God knew what.

That day I remember going to school so early so as to revise a thing or too. I looked so scared when the exam started. I was not totally dependant on my seat mate, I knew a little of Biology.

After the exams, I was relieved, like someone who had just seen the results. I walked over to were Vanessa was standing, she made tiny braids that made her even more beautiful, her eyelids and eyelashes were neatly brushed, she looked like a model.

Me: hey cinderella

Vanessa: (smiling) hi prince charming

Me: (smiling)…

We talked for a while, we were hungry so we shared a meal at the cafeteria. I knew her fav so I ordered for it, she was smiling all through. Trust me we did not eat in silence, we talked for so long that the little meal we ordered for lasted forever. That day was another exceptional day…

**DAY:5**

Let’s just skip to day:6, I don’t want to bore you with long gist.

**DAY: 6**
Unlike my normal rising time on saturdays, I woke up around 5, just to surprise Bisi, it was her birthday, I carefully left my room, brought out all the card and stuffs I bought for her and placed them were she would easily see them when she gets up. The surprise cake though small, was carefully planted inside the fridge in her room.
That was the least I could do for my sister.

Bisi was like the imaginary best friend I always dreamt of, she knew almost everything about me she knew about me and Vanessa, I also knew about Dayo her boy friend, although she did not know about my falling apart relationship.

That morning when she woke up, she came to my room and gave me a hug, Mom as usual prayed for her, it was wonderful. The only part of the Morning I did not enjoy was the fact that I did all the chores because it was her birthday.

Bisi was talking to somebody, she was laughing, it was non of my business sha, I was busy mopping when I heard bisi say; hope you are taking care of my brother Ooº°? ?°ºoo, I stopped what I was doing, looked at Bisi she was smiling devilishly. When she ended the call she refused to tell me who it was, I suspected Vanessa but she did not know Bisi, Sade nah.

Later that day I called Vanessa,

Vanessa: hey boo

Me: hi swt

Vanessa: how is Bisi’s birthday going

Me: fine, wait were you the one that called her this morning?

Vanessa: I think so

Me: (laughing)

We talked about us and then tomorrow being the last day of our seven days relationship, you needed to have heard the way it killed the fun in her voice, I even regretted it. We were still talking when I heard a door open from her own background, then the line went dead. I tried calling back, but she was ending the call, until someone called with an unknown number;

Caller: Hello

Me: (it sounded like a matured male voice) Good evening

Caller: Evening, how are you?

Me: Am fine, please who is this?

Caller: Bayo, Vanessa elder bro

Me: Oh, Good evening (I was becoming nervous)

Bayo: yh, so I guess you are Victor?

Me: Yes

Bayo: So who is Vanessa to you, don’t lie

Me: emm (stammering) My friend em girlfriend

Bayo: Hmm that’s nice, you did not deny her, don’t you think you guys are a little bit too young.

Me: (with confidence that came from nowhere) Bro we are not doing anything bad sha oo

Bayo: hmm, so do you love her?

Me: Sure, 100%

Bayo: You are sure

Me: Positive

Bayo: If you break her heart I’ll break your head

Me: Yes sir

Bayo: (laughing) ok o take care.
He gave the phone to vanessa;

Me: hello

Vanessa: Did you mean it

Me: Mean what?

Vanessa: Never mind

Me: Say it

Vanessa: When you said you loved me

Me: Yes

Vanessa: Did you say it because I asked you to pretend to love me?

Me: No, it was simply the truth

Vanessa: So…

Me: Will you be my girlfriend once more?

Vanessa: No I won’t

Me: (shocked as hell) Vanessa?

Vanessa: Will you be my boo?

Me: (laughing) Yes

Vanessa: I love you

Me; Love you more…

**Day 7 was a bliss**