DEEP

That night, Derek found it quite difficult to relax or even sleep a wink. He tossed endlessly on his bed, in his very large room. His whole being was obsessed with the every thought of the light skinned plump teacher he had just met. Her diction was impressive as well as her curves. Every utterance was intentional and captivating. He remembered the fullness of her lips as she spoke.

Special was not just light skinned and big breasted, but her average height made her figure stand out. His eyes rolled back as he recollected at how enchanting her bruised skin looked and the softness of her palm. Derek guessed she could be about 5ft 8 inches and very curvy.

Oh he has to stop thinking about her curves, he admonished himself but he just couldn't. He was plagued with the images of her eyes. They were so bright yet they seem to hold deep dark secrets that portrayed a lost soul thereby diminishing the value of the smile she brought to her face. She looked like one who would refuse help at every turn that it is given and that was a mystery to him.

In all normalcy, Derek was used to women who were comfortable taking every single thing from a man. From financial help, to physical assistance and sexual favors but this woman refused him entrance even into her house and she didn't even recognize him as her king.

Aha! as the thought struck out to him, he laughed aloud. May be this was the time to truly seek a wife who would accept him without any form of materialism involved.

He reached out for his phone and dialed Uyi's number. He gazed at the time on the screen of the phone and saw it was 3am but he was unperturbed as he proceeded to make his call.If he couldn't sleep, he might as well be obsessive. After the second ring, it was answered on the other end of the call.

"Your highness, good morning. Am sorry for the delay". Uyi sounded grumpy.

"Uyi I know its rather too early but seeing as I have council of elders meeting later this morning, I would want you to go to Playheight and find out everything you can about Special without actually talking to her."

"Yes your highness. I will".

"Thank you Uyi. Just find out mostly about family, previous relationships and the likes". Derek listed.

"Yes your highness. Your highness have you been awake all night?"

"Yes Uyi. I couldn't sleep. But its no bother. Sorry for disturbing your sleep. I would see you when you return from Playheight". Derek ended the call and wished to disturb the one person who made it difficult for him go sleep.

He tried dialing her number and withdrew his fingers as fast as he could before pressing the call button. Gazing at the number, he repeated the action a second time and eventually he worked up a nerve and he dialed her number by 3:20am.

"Hello Derek"

"Hmmmmm" he suddenly became tongue tied as he was too shocked to the bones. She sounded wide awake and he wondered why. She should be asleep due to her injuries he thought.

"Hello Special. I am so sorry for disturbing you so early. I wanted to dial Uyi's number but I mistakenly dialed yours"

" Oh its OKay. You should call him. Take care." She sounded so cold and uninterested. He has never had a woman ignore him this much.

"Don't hang up yet. Please how are you? I mean how is your shoulder, and the other injuries.?"

"They are getting better, besides I have a few days off to rest, so I will be alright. Thanks for the care Derek."

"You are welcome Special.I....want to get to know you." He stuttered.

"For what purpose Derek?" she asked so plain and simple that it fascinated him the more.

"I want to be your friend Special. I mean it without a sense of humour"

"Wow" was the only reply she could mutter.

" I will talk to you later today"

"Later Derek" With that she ended the call.

Special was perplexed. The young man appears to have interest in her. She was outrightly not interested at all in whatever he had in mind. He looked important, having security and even a PA by his side but she was not impressed. She has seen a lot of rich persons in the course of her educational pursuit. Besides, being alone and single is helping her deal with the numerous hurt she had experienced while growing up. To want someone is also to experience rejection and she had experienced that all thanks to Hope.

In the dating scene, she had liked only one young man who ended up sleeping with Treasure after Susan's wedding. The embarrassment left a soured taste in her mouth as the young man Obi compared her to her younger sister adding that she was too fat to be his woman.

Special could remember the laughter on Hope's Lips and the deadly statement that fell from them."Do you think you can compete with my children? For your information, Even Ashley would get married before you do".

She had met Mr Obi shortly during her Masters degree program and she was very interested in the dating scene then.

It also became more convenient knowing Mr Obi lives close to her parent and he was a junior lecturer in the same university where Her father taught. Shortly before her sister's wedding, they went out on a date that was pretty much beautiful and Obi seemed in love with her. She invited him for the wedding and that was her biggest undoing.

Not only did Hope made her work like a maid wearing a different family material which raised a lot of eyebrows. Treasure flirted with obi from the moment they arrived till she no longer saw them at the wedding venue. That day served as a reminder to why she doesn't visit the house anymore. When she was about leaving, Treasure appeared. She came to inform her That Obi had gone home whilst laughing sarcastically. She also rubbed it on Special's face that they had a good time together. Of course, Hope was there to support her daughter.

Special called Obi afterwards but he wouldn't pick her call for days. He finally returned the call a week later to rub it in. She was not his spec in body matters and he was in love with Treasure who was just 21 years old then. She didn't cry as she thought she would. She didn't even argue. She just accepted it as a verdict.

Her life has taken enough hit simply because she wants someone to accept her. Special resolved to stay alone and wallow alone. Her father couldn't fight for her, her mother didn't even try, she just died.So, who is a stranger to do that. She just wanted her privacy till the end of her days.

By morning, Mrs Grace the retired principal of Playheight boarding school who now acts as a mother to Special visited. Though well old now, in her 60's she was still very much agile as she came bearing the meals she had made for Special.

"Who told you I had an accident Mrs Grace?" Special asked her the moment she entered into the apartment.

Special lived in a beautiful apartment with a brown and white themed organization. The walls was painted white and the couch and stools were all brown. She had a center piece brown wooden stool mixed with a patch of white paint.

"The security on duty. They told me everything. Were you even going to call your ma and tell her?" Sitting down on the single four seater couch in the living room, Mrs Grace beckoned on Special to seat by side. She Squeezed her hands as soon as she was seated.

"But you know that i am very fine. I have been to the hospital and everything is okay. Besides I don't want you to worry"

"Child when will you let me care for you without seeing it as a burden. You know how much I worry about you.?"

"I know ma. Am sorry ma"

"why didn't you call me yesterday? I would have come to spend the night with you. You know I am also doing nothing by myself in that cottage. How did you manage by yourself when it happened?"

"A stranger helped me to the hospital and paid for the bills while the culprit drove away.However nothing happened to little Michael" She shrugged.

"Oh thank goodness for the help you received and Michael's escape. Have you eaten? I got you some soups and salads."

"You are the best ma"

"A surprise is coming for you soon Special. Best be ready"

"Surprise? Ma? please you have to spill now. The last time you did a surprise is my 25th birthday and the people were too much, even though I loved it but I know they were not there for me ma"

"Oh come off it my child. When will you realize that you are so loved? You hide in the shadows whereas we see you and we are waiting for you to step into the limelight with your beautiful self."

Special bursted into laughter as she occasionally would when Mrs Grace gets into her madea encouraging character. This was the one part of her life she loved and cherished. Play height is a safe haven for her and has been so since she was ten years of age.

The new principal in the boarding school who happens to be Mrs Grace's Second son has brought even more joy to the students and improvement into the facility in all ramifications. Special was glad to be the head mistress of the nursery arm as she cherishes every precious moments with the little ones.

"You should rest Special. You look like you are zooming off child"

"Its the painkillers ma. They are quite heavy.

"You go and lie down child. I will be here when you wake up"

Giving Special a kiss on the forehead, Mrs Grace allowed her strolled into her room lazily and dozed off. Few minutes later, Mrs Grace entered the room and covered her with the blanket that was tossed in the corner. She has known this child for 19 good years and not a single time had she been offended with this child. A 29 years old gorgeous woman with no relationship? That worries her but she knew the child's psychological makeup. The step mother had made her feel unworthy of love and care. Oh what Torture Special has been through but with Mrs Lola and Toju returning back to Nigeria, she is sure, a new light would shine on Special again.

Uyi returned back with some displeasing information for Derek and he was scowling as he received them. Dismissing Uyi, he called Special that evening. She sounded more excited yo speak to him and he went with the flow. It was exciting to see that someone would check up on her repeatedly.