"So, what suitable punishment is to be given when a first-degree murder is committed, Ziffany?"
There was absolute silence.
"Ziffany?"
Still pin-drop silence.
"ZIFFANY?"
I wake up, not because of someone calling my name, but because I could feel the intense stare of many people at me. With ultimate force and a deep breath, I pull my head back followed up with some neck stretches. I stand up, locking my hands behind, swaying my head sideways to waken my eyes and then look at the front. It's none other than Professor Amanda.
"What do you think?" she asks.
"I whole-heartedly agree with it, Professor," I tell as I sit back in my red cushion seat and stretch my hands.
"What was the question asked, Ziffany?" she asks, raising her voice.
"How would I know if you don't?" I ask her in a small voice which was loud enough for the whole room to hear.
I get many "oohs" and some laughs, but just like in the moving picture, there is always someone who's against small jokes like these and for me it was none other than Tanya, the "prettiest" girl in college (but I look much better than her in my defence, Your Honour!). Her mum, a divorcee, made her study Law because at the time of her divorce with Tanya's father, she was left penniless even though she was supposed to receive her part of the settlement, but she worked off her whole life to get back to her feet and is now one of Australia's leading fashion designers. Tanya was sitting right behind my seat but in the far corner.
"Professor, don't you think you are supposed to give her a suitable punishment since she was taking a nap assuming this was her home?" Tanya asks in a rage.
"Well, Tan, if you are so smart, why don't you tell us the answer Professor was looking for yourself?" I tell her while yawning.
Now all eyes are on her.
"Umm… I think… uh…" she stammers.
I take my bag and dig in it to fetch a chewing gum. "Do you want me to apply some Aloe Vera on you? Because I can see that you are burning hot right now, darling." I inquire her, tossing the gum into my mouth while keeping my right hand behind the seat and then tilting my head to look at her.
Immediately, she plops back into her seat before the others could chuckle at her. She glares at me. I give her a huge smirk and wink back at her.
"Ahem," coughs Professor Amanda before giving me a stern look in a playful manner. I give her a lopsided smile, raising my eyebrow.
And just like any other day, the day ends in a swirl; one professor comes in, starts a lecture, which sounds like Greek to me, ends it, another comes, and the process is repeated till four in the evening.
I pack my books in my bag and get up to leave.
Being a Law student isn't as easy as it seems…
But then you must pass many obstacles to catch the dream you desire… I was passing the reality check vibe.
I get outside college, with icy air welcoming me, I tie a double knot for my scarf and brush my hair out of my face.
Mental note: DO NOT FORGET TO WEAR WINTER BOOTS WHEN IT'S WINTER FOR WINTER'S SAKE
As I meander on the pavement, wearing my headphones and listening to rock music, I hear someone's high heels screech against the rough footpath speeding up to catch me despite the music banging in my ears. I look and it's Professor Amanda. I see her slick brown hair bouncing sideways as she speed walks to me. She must have gone for another vacation the last weekend, I think, as her skin has become more tanned.
"For once, Ziff, for once in your life, could you not sleep during my class and stay attentive during my lecture?" she questioned, while tangling hands with me.
"Is it my fault that I always fall asleep during your class, Aman?" I reply after she altered her walking speed to mine.
"How is it that that you always fall asleep during my class and not anyone else's?" she gasped as she says this.
"Hmm I don't know, maybe it's because you never refuse the honour of helping me out no matter how many times I pester you around." As I tell this, I wink at her and give her a cute smile.
She rolls her eyes. "Why can't you stop picking on Tanya? Her mother came to my office not so long ago to complain about you."
"Oh, did she now? Isn't she a grown ass woman to deal with her own issues rather than having the need of involving parental assistance like a new born baby. Ughh, so dramatically pathetic. Well, I sincerely hope that she said some very sweet things about me. It's not like I care" I tell her in a sarcastic tone, now rolling my eyes.
"Oh, stop it now Ziffany. Her only complaint was that I never reprimanded you, let it be you sleeping or chewing gum in class."
"Wait, you're not allowed to eat gum in class? Since when?" I ask her in a non-serious tone.
"When have you ever known that eating gum is prohibited if you only chew it in my class, huh?" she says.
"Look, if you want to yell at me in front of everyone in the class, pretentious or not, you can always do it, okay? I don't have any objection against you, Ma'am. You can always stop offering to help me out, if you think it's affecting your job as a professor somehow, it's after all your decision. And that's really okay with me."
She steered right to get into her cherry-red SUV but stopped straight away.
"Hey, if I yell at you in class or stopped helping you, it's evident that you'll go running to Gloria complaining about what I've done with some extra cooked up story!" she screams, wide-eyed as I walk away from her.
"Oh, so you do know the circumstances, eh?" I turn back to look at her while saying this, with a massive grin plastered on my face.
"Where are you off to?"
"To my little wage job, Your Highness" I do a princess bow as I say this.
"Hop in! I'll drop you!" she shouts as I do a spin and walk ahead in my direction.
"Not even you can change my mind, 'manda. I will never get in your so-called vehicle which was bought by your "Daddy's money", till my last breath," I halt as I mention this to her, trying to stop tears forming.
Dang, I can seem all tough and rough outside, but I easily break into tears when a past, emotional memory is brought up.
I think she caught me fighting back the tears because she paces up to me and gives me a warm and cozy hug.
"I know you have been through a lot since your childhood, Ziff, but because you have gone through that stage of your life, it has made you a better and strong human being today. You're the strongest, brave and confident person I've met till date," she gently pats my hair as she says this. Only she can soothe me like this.
I sniffle a bit. "It's time for work. I've got to go. See ya later," I tell her and then giving her a kiss on her cheek.
I scurry as fast as I can, with slight tears tricking down on either side of my cheeks. Within a few miles, Washington Park arrives. I enter and thankfully, there was no one inside the park; just the ducks and me.
I sit on a bench, remove my bag, and rest it on the grill, as I slide back and lay my head on it, using it as a pillow. Since my legs were too long to stretch, I fold them and place one leg on top of another as I kept my palm on top of my eyes, with the inner side facing upwards. I turn up the music to the maximum, since I was trying to distract myself by trying not to let the flashback appear in front of my mind and ruin my entire mood, but today was not my day I suppose.
Those were the days when it was just the three of us; my Mum, Gloria Kings, my Dad, Stephen Kings, and me, Ziffany Kings. We used to stay in a mansion, which was built by my maternal grandfather and was then handed over to my Mum after she got married to my Dad. We knew we had each other's backs and life seemed perfect. I mean there was sunshine and birds chirping. Every Sunday we had a tremendous dinner. It was just the way it was supposed to be. Mum and Dad loved each other dearly and they would never say no to each other.
And then one day, Dad comes up to Mum asking for money because he had lost his job, so he had decided to start a business by himself, and Mum being herself, withdrew all her cash from her bank account, which cost a fortune and gave it to Dad, who then ran away with all of it.
We couldn't afford to keep a helper at home, grandpa had to pass because we couldn't provide good hospitality accordingly, we had to vend our vehicles and then later the mansion. We found a small apartment, with one master bedroom where Mum and I sleep in and Mum had to find a job to provide for the both of us; she worked at a department store.
I remember going to her department store to have lunch with her after school where I would constantly see her being bullied by guys, mostly from my school. I also recall me going and defending my mother from them and then having a quarrel with them or sometimes even a fight with them; thankfully, I had learnt sufficient martial arts as a kid. After those fights, none of them has ever come up to my mother, me or into the department store.
I worked part-time for multiple jobs at the age of sixteen, so that I could use the earned money for my expenses and Mum's could be used for home and her own expenses. I had to help her out in every way I could.
After a bad trip to memory lane, I turn off the music and sit up, doing arm stretches. Stephen is now in one of London's leading business and one of UK's popular millionaires. Stephen got married again to a money-digger, Jenette and Amanda is Stephen's step daughter, and is also my step-sister.
I've met Jenette many a time and none of the meetings have gone very well and she is not fit to be a mother in my opinion; only fit enough to go shopping in luxurious shops, boasting away about the money she has.
Amanda willingly searched me up after she found out that Stephen had another family before he married her mother and I wasn't very fond of her when I first found out who she was, but as soon as I got to know her, we instantly created an unbreakable bond. I always took her home to my mother and Amanda was more comfortable with us than with Jenette that she always had to lie to them that she was going for a sleepover with her other friends.
If it weren't for Amanda, I wouldn't have joined Law school.