CRUSH THAT HOPE
Now I can see it clearly.... I'm beginning to go crazy!
Apparently the nonsense of this country is beginning to get into my head he thought as he sat on his bed putting on his shoes, getting ready for school.
He'd fallen asleep with thoughts of her last night, and here he was this morning, still thinking of her.
It was 7:35 am in the morning.
On this particular morning, he had breakfast first before proceeding to get ready for school which was a change from his normal routine.
He couldn't believe he was falling for a hawker!
Not just any, someone from this damn country for that matter!
He was embarrassed at the way he held her yesterday when she fell on him and his stupid heart even fluttered when their skin came in contact with each other!
He was damn sure he had to discover what these nonsense meant, and really fast too, so he could get it out of his system.
He hopped into the already waiting car the moment he came downstairs.
In a short time, they were at the school.
He walked towards his classroom with light measured steps.
He was even whistling a tune.
He was in a good mood today and not even the devil himself could ruin it.
The moment he stepped into the class, he was greeted by the usual pairs of oogling eyes.
He ignored everyone and walked straight to his seat.
Again, he found that girl from yesterday by his seat.
He'd even forgotten her name.
Well not that it mattered anyway, if he asked, she'll think nothing of it and tell him right away.
The women in this country apparently had pea sized brains.
"hy... good morning" the girl greeted, Jeremy nodded in acknowledgement without sparing her a glance and brought out the textbook for the first subject they were to have.
The girl just kept on chattering away.
"will you be joining the drama group on Monday?" she asked, tapping him to get his attention.
Jeremy exhaled a breath and groaned inwardly.
Just when he'd decided he was in a good mood and thought nothing could ruin it and here this bitch was.
He turned to her, desperate to shut her up.
"I may or I may not" he replied dryly.
Apparently, she didn't get the hint and kept on yapping.
"okay... I'm not sure too.. err.." she started then Jeremy cut her statement off mid sentence.
"listen ...I don't feel like talking right now so can you please not talk to me" he said through gritted teeth then he bent his head on his desk, transferring the book he was reading to his laps.
"Jeremy I love you" the girl said softly, Jeremy scoffed without bothering to lift his head.
He acted as though he hadn't heard what she just spat.
"did you hear me" the girl asked, cocking her head and touching his shoulders.
Jeremy shrugged her off.
"yeah I heard you..." he replied and raised his head, really pissed.
Why couldn't he just have some degree of peace in this damn country!
"do you like me?" she prompted further, oblivious to Jeremy's countenance.
"what's your name?" he asked her suddenly.
"Lisa" she replied, her glassy orbs, staring into his.
Jeremy knew that look too well. He knew he had to ruin that stupid hopefulness, crush it once and for all.
"okay Lisa, listen up... if you came to sit with me to make me find a way to love you or even like you, it's never going to happen.
Now take this piece of advice alright? Stand up,turn around, and walk back to your former sitting position because we ...the two of us, are just not happening.
I've got absolutely no plans whatsoever of falling in love with any of you bitches around here or anyone in this country for that matter"
he said, his voice so eerily calm that it unnerved Lisa.
This was the first time since he set foot in this school that he was holding a proper conversation with her, even if he sounded rude as usual and impatient.
The lovestruck Lisa just couldn't take the hint.
Well it's not like beggars could be choosers anyway, she was going to take what she got.
"isn't there anything I can do to make you love me" she added, her glossy orbs staring right at him hopefully.
Jeremy recognized that look.
He knew he had to ruin it instantly, kill it completely, crush it.
"Nothing. There's absolutely no damn thing you can do to make me love you.
There's someone else alright? a girl. Her name's Sophie and she's back in the U.S I love her... have loved her since pre school and after this shit hole of a place, probably some college, we'd be married...so there...no hope for you" he finished.
"Liar!" his brain screamed.
"What about the hawker girl" his brain questioned.
Jeremy felt like slapping himself.
"shut up!" he screamed mentally.
"okay but can we be friends" Lisa asked, the bright glint returning once more to her orbs.
Apparently, the first attempt didn't work! the girl still had some hope left.
This one sure is tough. Jeremy thought.
"no we cannot be friends. I detest Nigerians so bad. I can never be friends with a Nigerian" he said, frowning, emphasizing each word.
"you ..." she. began, but Jeremy cut her off.
"okay, now that's enough questions for one hour. That's it...we're done here" he fired, releasing the annoyance he had been penting in.
Lisa jerked on the seat and let out a breath.
"Fine" she replied through gritted teeth and stood up.
She'd pushed her luck enough for one day.
Knowing how saucy and arrogant he was, it surprised her that he even gave her audience and even replied!
That was some improvement.
She'd try again sometime and not push him.
He'd warm up to her eventually she thought.
Jeremy could have leapt in joy.
Finally! some peace and quiet! though he wondered if he'd actually crushed that hope the Lisa of a girl had.
He'd just gone back to his textbook when the door of the classroom opened.
The form teacher walked in with a student.
He couldn't see who she was clearly as his view was partially obstructed by the teacher.
When the woman stepped to the right a bit, he got a better view.
His mouth dropped open out of their own accord.
It was the hawker!
What in the world was she doing here!
"Pupils, we have a new student and she'd be joining us this term onwards. Her name is Nancy.
Do well to make the class accommodating for her" the teacher announced.
The teacher turned to Nancy with a smile "pick a seat of your choice my dear"
Nancy raised her eyes in search of a place to sit, then their eyes met.
Jeremy felt a spark of electricity jolt through his body.
His spine tingled, his breath hitched and he shivered.
With just that look, he felt like he could just jump into her eyes and drown himself in them.
"hahaha...what about Sophie now huh?" his brain questioned.
"shut the fuck up!" he screamed mentally.
Nancy's lips curved into a slow smile that could have been a smirk.
Jeremy smiled back like an idiot, displaying the kind those movie stars usually reserved specifically for the paparazzi.
Nancy caught a glance of the first seat and walked slowly to it, but the boy occupying it threw her a glare and proceeded to dump his school bag in it.
She ignored him and moved to the nearest empty one.
The boy occupying the seat casually put his legs in it slowly and put on a stretching act, yawning for good measure, then glared at her too.
She tried the next, the next and the next. She got the same glare, and wierd actions to accompany it.
The only seat she hadn't yet approached was Jeremy's.
Jeremy watched her as she moved from one seat to another, his eyes following her every movement like a predator stalking it's prey.
He knew she was avoiding him.
He couldn't blame her though.
Nancy wanted to avoid sitting with that arrogant buffon at all costs but apparently, stupid ol' fate wanted them to be thrown together.
In the end, she had no choice.
She gave him a glance and headed towards him.
"can I sit with you please?" she asked helplessly, sure as hell he was going to humiliate her.
Well she had to sit somewhere and apparently, the other students had no love lost for her.
They seemed to dislike her for reasons she didn't know of.
It could be hate, she had no idea, but hate was such a strong word and she'd never even met any of them well except Jeremy, and this was her first time in this class.
To her utter surprise, he answered with no hesitation.
"sure you can seat with me"