I Did Not Want To Fall For You

13: Replacement

On Tuesday, Kaito walked up to her and asked if she was practicing for the heat or if she was studying. She had just come back from doing a few stretches with Taiwo and the rest of them; Because they could not afford to spend too much time not reading, they stayed for only thirty minutes. She agreed to study and that was how she ended up battling with herself; not to cut off Daniel's head, brush off Nonso's sarcasm and deal with Kehinde's moodiness.
The week passed quickly, each day busier than the last. On Friday, she was told she was to represent the school along with Kaito in a maths competition coming up in a week.
She felt honored until she learnt that she was picked only because Danielle Smith, who was originally supposed to go, had fallen sick; Taiwo and Kehinde A were too busy with school activities to replace her; Chizoba, their set's maths guru, declined to go and lastly because Kaito had suggested her name to the school board.
It was a big blow to her ego, she hated being the last resort but at most, she could take pride in the fact that the board acknowledged her fit to represent the school. Inside, she felt tired.
"About Saturday," Kaito spoke, sitting up.
They were in the maths department. It was recess time. They were seated in a corner, practicing the maths questions the H.O.D, Mr. Kola, put before them. She still half disliked the man but at least, he kept his mouth shut this time.
"What Saturday?" She asked.
"Last Saturday. Sorry about what happened." He apologized.
"Sorry?"
"You were being considerate. Sorry for snapping at you."
She nodded, focused on the job at hand. She wanted to ask if he was still hard on his h&f but she had a feeling he wouldn't like it.
"I felt you were being too nosy," He continued, picking up his pen and going back to work. She raised a brow. So much for an apology.
"I still feel you were too nosy. You talked like you... you were controlling and I don't like it when people talk to me that way. You can correct me but don't force it on me."
Was she controlling? She began to feel awkward.
"Sorry," She murmured. He nodded. She felt tears prick her eyes and she sighed inwardly, annoyed. Why did she have hyperactive tear glands? Why did she have a wavering self-esteem? Why did she have to feel so bad when she was corrected? Why did she have to feel so self-conscious?
She blinked, the tears winning. It was blinding her and she could barely see what she was writing.
"I'm coming," she stood up quickly, "I want to ask Daniel about something." She hurried out as unhurriedly as she could, cleaning her tears when she turned the corner. Stupid tears.
Recess was over when she got to class but thankfully Daniel and Sarah got her something to eat. She left the class just as the Economics teacher entered. Getting to the maths room, she met Mr. Kola with Kaito.
"Eheh? And you, where have you been?" Mr. Kola asked with narrowed unfriendly eyes.
"I went to get something from my class," She answered politely. His eyes drifted down to the bottle of Pepsi and the nylon bag she carried.
"Food every time," He sneered, "you cannot sacrifice eating for a few hours of studying. Laziness. If you know you cannot do this thing, tell me now, and let me look for a better partner for Tochukwu. I don't condone laziness. Laziness begets failure and this school does not need failure." He eyed her with disdain before leaving for his office. She watched him leave before sitting quietly. She immediately blinked back the tears that came.
"Do you care?" She asked her partner who was staring at her, offering him the nylon bag that contained three gala sausage rolls. He thanked her, taking one.
"You can take another one," She told him, avoiding his eyes. She placed the bottle of Pepsi in front of him.
"You're not going to eat what you brought?" He queried.
Her appetite was gone.
"Just drink," she answered, "I'll drink when I'm ready."
After a moment of silence, he spoke, "Don't mind him. Don't listen to what he says."
She acknowledged his words but wished he would disappear or rather, she. The tears were coming back with force and she was having a hard time sending them back.
"Sorry," He said again. She nodded. Twenty-five seconds later, she slyly dropped her pen and she bent down, cleaning her tears quickly as she picked it up.
He was saying something but she could barely hear him. She sniffed once, a tear falling until her notebook.
"You know, we have to be fast. I think it's a minute per question or something like that. Do you know an easier way to..."
He had his eyes on her now while she dipped her face lower in an attempt to hide her tears. She sniffed continuously now and the tears were falling in torrents.
"Why are you..." He paused, "You're crying."
She looked to the other side, furiously wiping the tears that refused to stop. She hiccuped once.
He pulled her up, "Come." He said, pulling her outside to the side of the building that provided cover. He made to pull her close but she dodged, leaning against the opposite wall, backing him. They stayed quiet for a few minutes, her sniffing and hiccuping the only sound made. It wasn't until he spoke that she realized how close he was.
"I told you not to listen to what he says," He spoke softly. She said nothing, instead patting her face dry. The tears had reduced greatly and she was slowly starting to get herself.
He handed her a tissue and she turned away, blowing her nose and dumping the tissue in the trash can.
She didn't want him close to her. She still felt bad about what he said earlier and she was feeling too raw, too soft. She went rigid as she felt his hand on her shoulder, rubbing comfortingly. Soon he was turning her to face him so that he half hugged her. She stood, stiff and uncomfortable. She wasn't used to having so much physical contact with a boy. She escaped from his hold.
"Let's go back," She spoke, already walking away.