The Turbulence✔️ (#1 in the Our Side of The Dice series)

28: The Party.

Gifty
Lagos, Nigeria

"Your mind isn't here, Gifty and it's affecting this session negatively, " the violin tutor stopped to complain in the middle of the rehearsal where we were playing the violin version of Taylor Swift's Wildest Dreams.

I knew very well that the violin was a pristine instrument that required perfection from whoever handled it. If one violinist wasn't playing the right note, it didn't matter if ninety-nine others were on track. It ruined the unity of the performance.

I packed my violin into my bag and rose from my seat.

"I'll...just take my leave, sir."

I knew I wasn't going to concentrate if he gave me another chance so I didn't want to waste every other person's precious time.  Everyone looked at me as I stepped down from the stairs with different thoughts in their head. Most of them were probably pitying me because they felt I was going through a lot.

As I made my move to walk out of the classroom completely, I felt a hand on my wrist. When I turned, I saw that it was the music tutor holding me back. I gave a bow for the sake of courtesy. I feared that he was going to criticize me for regressing in my musical abilities when I was amongst the best instrumentalists but his countenance did not look like that of a reprimanding teacher.

That made me soften a little.

"Are you and Kosi okay?" he asked.

"Me and Kosi?" I repeated, confused.

"Yes. She was absent for today's rehearsals."

I wanted to repeat the word "absent" because it came to my hearing as a surprise. I was so absent-minded that I didn't notice anything about my best friend being absent for lessons. I was oblivious to anything that reminded me of her presence.

"I don't know about Kosi sir but I'm not okay."

"Will you be okay soon? How much time do you need?" he freed his hand from my wrist.

"No, I won't be okay soon but I won't be taking any break."

"Will you be able to manage? This practice requires you to put in your all."

"I will put in my all. Don't worry about me, sir."

"How can I not worry when you said you won't be okay anytime soon?"

"The competition is drawing closer by each day. I can't back out now. Today won't repeat itself neither would any of the days when my attention span was low. Don't worry sir."

He patted my shoulder in a friendly manner. Afterward, I exited the school premises.

***
I was hoping to get some tranquility on my way home because I was weak, frustrated, and heavy on the head with draining thoughts. If I get some good amount of peace, then I can equally get some sleep and check on Kosi afterward.

But it was the blasting sound of music from the speakers, clanging of cutleries, and the shrill laughter of a few merry people that I could hear on getting home. Why the hell was a party being held at my house and who the hell was hosting the party?

Then I blinked for a second and took a break from my fury to go down memory lane. I tried to remember what date it was.

After counting with my fingers a few seconds, I realized that today was the 30th of June.

Today was Mrs. Karen's birthday.

And the most annoying part of that realization was the fact that Mrs. Karen had a right to host a party at our house because she asked for our permission to host a party at our house and we said yes.