The Unknown Series

ISSUE 3: KNOWING HIM. PART 1.

THE_UNKNOWN (A series of short horrifying stories)

Author: Sam Freddy

Issue 3 [Knowing Him]

Part 1

I was new in this town. I barely even knew anyone, and I was already enrolled in school. A popular high school at that. One which fits perfectly with the status of the arrogant big men's children I'd seen around here. Yes, arrogant. Mark that particular word in quote, if you don't mind, because it's nothing but the truth. Ninety-five percent of the students in my new high school, Royal Dreams College, were overpampered, spoiled, uncultured and arrogant to the bone. Different crude behaviors as expected of poorly trained Nigerian teenagers from their respective wealthy homes. But who cares, anyway? After all, as the saying goes, "Money answereth all things." They were all young, wild and free to explore to their satisfaction. Nothing could get in their way as long as money talks.

Left to me, on a very normal day, I wouldn't even think twice before scrapping off the envelope that contained some essential documents for my admission the same day I received it, but I couldn't do that. Why, you might ask? Well, the only candid reason is because I was granted a scholarship into this particular good-for-nothing school, so I basically had no choice but to receive it with wide open arms, which I now regret so much.

I was not the regular type of girl you'd see every day, wearing fancy gowns, crop tops, jumpsuits, leggings, high heels, bum shorts or anything girly. No, that wasn't me at all. I barely even used make-up. I hardly followed trends. I was well reserved, not just because I couldn't afford those things, or because I wanted to impress my family and society, but because it's just who I am innately. I preferred wearing normal T-shirts, leather jackets, trousers, khakis, shorts, caps, and wristwatches. I looked sexier in my regular slippers, simple shoes and rubber sandals, and even though I wasn't as beautiful as most of the 'happening girls' in the estate where I live, or in school, I knew for sure that I definitely slayed better in my style. I wasn't pretty or ugly. I was just somewhere in-between.

However, as a 16-year-old teenager who grew up without a father since age 4, I made sure I did everything in my power to make my mother proud of me. She's been the only companion I've had ever since my father left us to our fate. She's been a single mom right from the very day they both got divorced, and she doesn't seem to have any intentions of getting married again, or giving love another chance. Work, work, work and more work was the only routine she developed over time.

She was always travelling, day in, day out, engaging in several business deals just to put food on our table and pay the bills, which made the connection between us very unstable unlike before, but I never complained about it. Even though we talked on the phone seven times a week, during her business trips, it just wasn't enough to fill the vacuum of her absence in my heart, but I understood everything quite well. Like they say, life is not a bed of roses, and we don't always get what we want, so I carried my cross alone.

Shift the spotlight to a month later, specifically after I'd gotten used to life around here. Would you believe I actually made friends? I mean, reasonable and decent female friends, to be exact. Who would've thought that I'd blend in so quickly? I never would've thought so myself. I was excited when I met Shania, Janice and Elsa, my three new cool friends.

The boys were all silly and immature. Or so I thought, until I saw him. Yes, him! The only hot, cool-headed guy I'd seen so far in my overhyped school. Perhaps, he was different and unique, I thought to myself, stealing glances at his face in the middle of a class session. I liked him already. He was very calm, cute and all, but there was a problem, though.

He was always alone, always gloomy, always quiet. I could tell he was new too, judging by his naïve behavior. He was quite meek and vulnerable, so the other rough boys took advantage of his vulnerability and bullied him from time to time. They'd call him all sorts of names, pull his dark hair, spit on his face, perform silly pranks on him and snatch his snacks and food occasionally, but he would never retaliate. Instead of defending himself by informing the teachers about such brutality being thrown at him, he'd rather walk out of their presence like a coward, giving them more reasons to prey on him like a helpless sheep. And the cycle goes on and on, every single day.

I was tired of watching him suffer. Sometimes, like now, I wondered why he was too gentle. Why couldn't he do something about his predicament? Why was he so meek? Was he weak? Was he afraid? Why does he hardly talk to people? I questioned myself, shaking my head on the bench where I sat with my new friends, watching the new boy getting bullied, as usual.

It was break time.

"Janice, look at that boy. What's his problem?" I didn't know when the words slipped out of my mouth. I had my full concentration on the mysterious boy's table, where he'd been surrounded by the bullies who were teasing him and pinching his face.

"How am I supposed to know that?" Janice responded, rolling her eyes. "He's a weakling! It's very obvious."

"No, he's not."

"Yes, he is!"

"No, he's not." Shania intervened, making gestures with her hands for emphasis. "He's not a weakling. He's just scared because he's outnumbered."

"I don't think so." Janice argued. "He's just a mere coward. Stop defending his lack of courage because of your unnecessary pity for him."

"Enough!" I cut in sharply, clenching both fists in a desperate act to suppress my raging temper. I was getting pissed off by Janice's words. "What are you even saying? Hear yourself out!"

"What?" Janice only shrugged and rolled her eyes, acting completely unconcerned. "I only stated my opinion!"

"Well, your opinion isn't needed anymore." I stood up from the bench and dropped my half-eaten doughnut on the table, wiping my hands with a napkin. "I want to go and help him. Who's interested?"

Janice, Shania, and Elsa exchanged glances in utter shock, and then they looked back at me with their eyes wide open.

"Have you lost your mind or something?" Elsa questioned, her mouth agape.

"Maybe. Maybe not." I said, dropping the napkin back on the table. "I don't have time to spare. Who is coming with me?"

"No. Not me!" Elsa said, shaking her head too fast like a ceiling fan.

I looked at Shania. "And you, Shania?"

"Definitely not me!"

I averted my eyes from Shania's face to Janice's shocked face. "Janice?"

"Not in this life! No! No way!"

I shook my head dramatically, more than disappointed in my friends. "Fine then! I guess I'll go alone. Who needs you guys anyway."

With that, I took a deep breath, blew it out, did the sign of the cross three times, and then proceeded to the new boy's table. When I finally got there, I just folded my hands and looked up at the tallest bully's face, and he and the others glared back at me like a hungry pack of wolves. I instantly felt like the helpless sheep this time around, but I didn't let my fear weigh me down. I summoned courage, standing my ground and glaring back at all of them.

Unknown to me, all eyes were now on us. Almost everyone in the cafeteria were murmuring and pointing fingers in our direction.

"Please, leave him alone."

The tallest boy among them scrutinized me from head to toe, before asking, "And who do you think you are, little girl?"

I swallowed hard, suddenly tongue-tied.

He laughed. "I see you are deaf, aren't you?"

"No, I think you are the deaf one here!" I didn't even know what came over me, but whatever it was, was surely needed at that point in time.

"What did you just say to me?" He frowned and took up his drumsticks from the table, coming towards me. I could see fear and anxiety written on everyone's faces, especially the new boy, who kept giving me a 'what-are-you-doing?' look.

I wasn't left out, either. I was definitely afraid to the bone, left on my own to face the music and dance to its tune. The more steps he took towards me, the more my heart skipped some beats, worsening my fear.

Finally, he stood right in front of me and looked into my eyes, daring me to say something again to his face. I was like David in the Bible, so small, short and fragile compared to his intimidating height, and he was Goliath, the strong, mighty giant.

"I dare you to repeat what you just said, if you have the guts to." He challenged me, swinging his drumsticks in the air.

One thing I despised so much about him was his pride. I hated being challenged for anything, so I garnered some courage and spoke again. "I said you are the deaf one here. Do you have any problem with that?"

Immediately I said that, two other boys stepped forward and positioned themselves behind their leader, glaring at me with bloodshot eyes. Almost immediately, my friends stepped behind me as well for support. Four fragile, young girls against three older, strong boys. What were the odds of success in such a situation? Probably none, but we had to try.

"What is going on here?" Fortunately, a teacher walked into the cafeteria, much to our relief. She was our messiah at that moment, and we couldn't have been more glad to see her coming towards us. Finally, she stood amidst us and asked again:

"I said, what is going on here?"

"Good afternoon, Miss Sarah." Elsa said immediately, with a big smile on her face. She pointed at the three bullies and continued speaking. "These boys here are the ones giving us a hard time. They were about to assault us before you came in, ma."

Miss Sarah looked at the boys one after the other, studying their facial expressions, and then she looked at some other students sitting at a round table and asked them, "Is this true, students?"

"Yes, ma!" They all chorused, nodding their heads for emphasis. "It's the truth!"

"In that case, you, you and you, follow me!" Miss Sarah pointed at all the bad boys and started heading to the door. "You all are in big trouble!"

Shamefully, they all followed the teacher without hesitation, glaring back at us with spiteful eyes. As they stepped out of the cafeteria, everyone started murmuring, screaming and chanting my name so loud, praising me as a Godsend and describing me as a hero!

I felt so proud of myself than I'd ever been! I knew I had done the right thing for sure, not just because I liked the boy in question, or because I needed the fame and respect, but because I just knew it was due time someone stepped up to those inconsiderate bullies. So, I had every right to own my pride!

But almost immediately, the worst thing happened right there and then. The very person I took all this insane risk for just stood up, picked up his bag and walked out on us without even sparing me a glance. Not even a common 'thank you', at least.

"How rude!" Shania gasped in shock, hardly believing her eyes. "He just walked out on us?"

"Just like that?" Janice chipped in too. "I mean, just like that? Is that it? Not even a little word of appreciation?"

"Like, who does that?" Elsa complained, clearly annoyed.

"Relax, girls. It's okay." I assured them politely, in order not to create a scene in the presence of everyone. "I don't blame him, anyway. It's my fault. Let's leave this place. Shall we?"

Hours upon hours passed by, and we soon closed for the day. My friends and I engaged ourselves in a conversation on our way back home. When we got to a certain junction, we all hugged each other and split up right there, proceeding to our respective homes.

In what seemed to be a split second, I looked across the road and I saw the new dark-skinned boy climbing a pedestrian bridge, walking quite fast. He was wearing a small headset, and he held a smartphone in his right hand. I was curious to know where he was going to, so I crossed the road and followed him quietly, leaving some distance between us.

'Should I call him or not?' I contemplated from time to time, still following him for over 15 minutes, and he never noticed me behind him.

Twenty-five minutes gone and counting, and I was still following him. If he turned right, I turned right. If he turned left, I did as well. I didn't know where he was going to, and I was losing my patience already.

At that very moment, I looked at my wristwatch and I instantly lost all hope. I gave up. 'Maybe I should just call him,' I decided, increasing my pace toward him. He had almost gotten to a particular bungalow, but then he stopped, took off his headphones, and turned around very slowly, fixing a very intense glare straight at me.

"Why are you following me?"

I was beyond shocked at his words. How did he know? He never even looked back at all, all the time I trailed him.

"Excuse me?" I feigned total ignorance right away. "I wasn't even following you! Don't accuse me."

His facial expression turned to a frown. "Stop pretending. I know you've been following me all along, but I never knew you were desperate enough to follow me here."

He pointed at the house ahead of us when he concluded his statement. I realized that it was his house, but I still had to defend myself, anyway.

"Alright, fine. You're right. I've been following you for sure, but it's only because I need to borrow something from you." I lied.

"Why couldn't you just stop me along the road and ask?"

I was speechless. I tried to speak, but I only stuttered and stammered badly, unable to form coherent words.

He sighed and shook his head dramatically. "What is it you want?"

"Can I at least know your name?"

"No."

"Please?"

"I said no."

"Pretty please?"

I couldn't believe I was begging a boy to tell me his name. Yuck! It wasn't like I had a choice right now, did I? I had to swallow my pride and just do it, since I liked him already.

"Fine." He agreed, rolling his eyes. "I'm Dafe."

"And I'm Anita, thanks for asking." I stretched a hand to him, smiling sheepishly. He ignored my sarcastic remark and stared at my hand for a while, acting reluctant, as though he was having a mental debate on whether or not to accept it.

Eventually and reluctantly, he shook my hand, and said, "Nice to meet you, Anita."

"Nice to meet you, too, Dafe!"

"And thank you for what you did for me earlier on. I truly appreciate it so much."

"You're welcome." I smiled even more than before. This was really awkward for me to handle. And with that, we both released our grip from each other's hands, and he stepped back a bit. He hardly smiles or laughs. I wondered why.

"So, what is it you want?"

"I need to borrow a textbook from you, if you don't mind." I lied, trying my best to sound convincing enough. "It's the Current Affairs textbook I saw with you at the cafeteria."

Without saying a word, he opened his crossbody bag, took out the book and handed it to me. "Is that all?"

"I'm afraid that's all for now." I nodded affirmatively, still smiling sweetly. "Don't worry, your textbook is in safe hands. I'll give it back to you at school, first thing tomorrow morning!"

"You promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

"Okay." He simply said and turned around to leave.

"Please, wait!" I called out before he could take another step.

Dafe stopped, looked back in annoyance, and asked, "What is it this time?"

"Are we friends now?"

"No, I don't think so."

"But why not?"

"We just can't be friends."

"I don't get it. Why can't we be friends?"

Dafe turned around once again, came up to me, and looked me right in the eye, like I was an ignorant child.

"Do you want to die?"