Chapter 5 Preparing For School

***

Later That Evening,

Valeria went to the hospital to meet Doctor Azeezah. She was in her office studying a patient's file when Valeria knocked.

"Yes, Come in!" Doctor Azeezah replied.

"Hello ma."

"Hi. Ah! It's you, Valeria." She closed the file before her. "How have you been?"

"Fine ma." she replied with a smile, as Doctor Azeezah offered her a seat.

"Don't be offended with me dear! I'm just being occupied these days. In fact, I was planning to come and visit you and your sister tomorrow morning after this shift… You know, before going home." She explained.

"Ma, I understand." Humaira cuts in, unknowingly.

Doctor Azeezah raked her observing eyes through Humaira's pale face.

"Why are you looking so down? Hope all is well?"

"Yes ma." She started thinking about how to start telling her about what happened between her and Mr Felix. Was it right to tell her yet? Where to start from, how to say it . She searched and scratched through all her mind but felt empty. Her mouth was so dried and out of words. She never felt so ashamed of herself.

Doctor Ashley could read her face that something was wrong. She stood up from her executive chair and came to seat with Valeria, facing her directly.

"You don't look alright my dear, tell me what's bothering you."

Valeria find courage to look up again, at the doctor's face.

"After my mum died, things haven't been going well for me. I'm so heart broken and lonely, and I have no one to run to."

Doctor Azeezah smiled and took off her glasses, placing it on the table before them. "But you have me right?" She smiled. "So tell me whatever you're feeling because a problem shared is half solved."

Humaira was folding and playing with her sweaty hands but Doctor Ashley gently held her hands to stop her.

"You're in front of me now. Tell me what's disturbing you."

"Every step I've taking to become independent has failed. Out of the five minial jobs I took this holiday, only one is paying me fully. The others are paying me half salaries while others aren't paying at all. Even when I make them see reasons why I really need the payments. They shout at me instead, they either turn me down or ask me to leave the work if I'm more interested in money than working. It's from frying pan to fire ma, I don't know what to do anymore." Tears gathered in her eyes as she explained.

"But what do you need money for? Is it really urgent? Don't you have savings." The doctor asked interestedly.

"Yes ma, it's so urgent. In fact, I need to pay my tuition fee within three days, this Saturday is the closing date. And, I've tried endlessly to save as much as I can but all I have in my safe if just ten thousand naira." A tear rolled down her eyes. She wiped it off immediately and sniffed silently to her running nose.

"What? Why are you telling me this now, Valeria? How long were you planning to suffer this alone?" Doctor Ashley asked, already looking furious.

"This is suffering, not endurance! This is too much, Valetia. I never expected this from you." She quried.

"I'm so sorry ma, I didn't want you bother you with and more problems. First my mother and now, me…"

"Did I ever complain? Or did I once tell you I was ever tired?" It seems you don't know the kind of relationship your mum and I held. She was more than a sister to me. Your mum was my best friend and she always be. She was my senior in high school! She took care of me as if we were blood related. I begged her to be my school mother then in boarding school because Michelle was the only best in both morals and academics, that the school board her head-girl in 1984. I'll tell you the story today if you really don't know. It was in Government Science Secondary School, San Francisco. Then, when school were schools. Not now that the tables are turned the other way round. After marriage, your mother stood by my side. It is because if her that I'm here today and you're feeling shy about sharing your problems with me?" Doctor Ashley's furrowed eyes focused on Valeria's, looking for a reason.

"I thought…" Valeria wanted to say something but Doctor Ashley stopped her.

"No! Things aren't done that way." She paused to study Valeria's facial expressions for a while. She was regreted and felt sadden for keeping quite. Keeping quiet all these times.

"How much is your tuition fee?"

"It's twenty thousand dollars, ma."

"Twenty thousand dollars?" She emphasized. "Just twenty thousand dollars and you're busy starving yourself with all of these burden, alone? See, God made man and man faces problems. God wouldn't come down from heaven to save you. Instead, he sends people around you as a help and solution. I'm a mother and I feel your pains. I was planning to come to your place but since you're here now… I'll have to tell you what I wanted to.

You said you'll be going to school next tomorrow right?"

"Yes ma." Valeria quickly replied. Her ears were waiting to her the next words.

"Okay. The thing is, I would love Scarlett to stay with me because I can't imagine an eight year old living alone. Scarlett is really a brave child else?…"

"Okay ma, I'll bring her to you before Saturday." Humaira voice shivered.

"That's good to hear. Now, you'll lock the door while taking the keys with you while Scarlett stays with me."

She handed her a paper and a pen.

"Here, write down your school account number so that I can transfer the twenty thousand dollars for your tuition fees and let me see…" She stood up with a frown and goes back to her executive chair. Unlocks her drawer and brings out some cash.

"This is all I have on me for now, five thousand dollars. Add it to the ten thousand in your savings for provisions and other expenses. I would add to it soon enough."

"God bless you ma, thank you so much!" she kneels down to thank her.

"Don't worry, stand up." Doctor Azeezah helped her back to the seat.

"Give me your account number so that I can send you money from time to time.."

"I don't have any account number ma." Valeria replied.

It felt as if the doctor didn't hear her well with the silence that took over the room.

"What? You mean you don't have a bank account at this age?"

"Yes ma'am." Valeria blushed a little.

"Okay no problem. Come to my house with Scar tomorrow by 12: 00 p.m. We would both got to the bank and I'll open a bank account for you. While Scar would stay with me."

"Thank you ma, I'm very grateful for you help." Valeria muttered joyously.

"It's okay, my dear. This is nothing compared to what your mum had done in my life. She's my life saver and I owe my all to her. Now that we have each other, I'll do all in my power to see that both of you become more successful than I am." She promised.

Just then, a short nurse with a rectangular oblong face came in.

"Doctor Ashley! That patient in male's ward didn't want me to inject him ma. He says only a male nurse can." She reported.

"Okay, I'll be going now," Doctor Ashley announced as Valeria finally thanked her well before leaving.

"At last! There is an helper." She chuckled softly to herself as she stopped a taxi in front of the hospital.

Valeria finally thought about the saying… 'Every disappointment is a blessing, but what happened between her and Mr. Felix, only God would judge."

***

Weeks Later.

It was after a very long and boring lectures when Valeria met Kora Hudson, her very close friend.

"Oh my world!!" Valeria shouted. "Is this you?!"

"Yeah! It's me!! " she shouted back as both girls gave themselves a very tight hug. It's been two months since they last met.

"How are you doing bestie? How was the holiday?"

"Fine, what would I say? Everything is going well... How about you?" Valeria asked in concern.

"Well, I'm taking everyday as it comes. Last two months wasn't as easy as I expected, you know. As if it was two long years. I really missed school." Kora joked. But I missed you more, Valerie. She blushed as both girls held themselves in a warm cuddle again.

(Flash Back)

About seven months ago, Valeria and Kora first met themselves during the school registration. After a very long queue of newly applied law students waiting for registeration. Those who were lucky enough, where chosen for admission into the prestigious school.

Kora whom was also on the queue that faithful day had waited so long and felt pressed, so she told the people behind her that she was coming back soon. When she got back, others had taken her space and no one gave her chance. Everyone shouted that she should join the line again. Some even insulted her.

"Poor girl, people are so unfair." Valeria thought and decided to help her.

She told her to stand at her front till they were attended to. And since then, after severe time of bumping into each other, they became close friends and seat mates.

Kora Hudson's parents are both civil servants. Her dad works with the state government while her mum is a secondary school principal.

Firdausi is the fourth child of her parents and the live somewhere in South Carolina so distance didn't make her stay with her family. Apart from that, Kora was the first and only daughter of her parents. She felt lucky enough to school at Mississippi University. Apart from this, Kora stays off campus, unlike Humaira that resides within the school hostel.

On and on, The two friends continued until they got to the school gate.

"Okay, so I'll be seeing you tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, sure. Till tomorrow then, bye."

"Sorry I can't follow you to the hostel now, I have a lot of arrangements to do at home."

"Yes, bestie, don't worry about me. I understand... Go already! Okay bye. " Valeria gave her a side hug.

"Bye." Kora wore a warm smile before leaving.

The two girls separated ways. Valeria turned to the direction of the school hostel.

It was Heritage Female Hostel.

A place where the good, the bad and the ugly resides. A place when you don't know your enemies or lovers in as much as everyone wars a big, bright smile. There are about fifteen thousand girls staying in Heritage Hostel.

Valeria walked quitely into her room, Not bothering or turning to greet anyone because they were all busy. One way or another. Some where gisting, others were doing the dishes. Some were arguing while others where washing their clothes.

It was just afternoon. Normally, Valeria would go to the library to study with Kora but she was feeling tired and busy today. Thank God the next lecturer couldn't make it and his class was shifted to the following day.

"How stressful! It would be an eight hours lecture tomorrow." she thought and lazily climbed her bed. One of her room mate was cooking yam porridge but they didn't even greet.

For a second, Valeria felt like puking. She thought it was something she'd ate earlier but she rushed to the toilet. Her whole body was weak and her head was as if the world was spinning.

She puked in the toilet and stayed there for a while, somehow releaved, somehow not.

Her roommate rushed to her.

"Hope all is well Vally," the girl glanced at her with a suspicious look. Then she moved closer. "Hope we're safe?" She wondered around Valeria in concern.

"I'm fine, Zayda." Valeria held her head, in pain. "I'm just so dizzy."

"Are you sure you're alrght, or have you being fucked?"

Valeria silently flushed the closet and left the toilet. She didn't pay attention to Zayda because she knows she's expert in mockery and spreading gossips.

Valeria sat on her bed and lied down. She felt an heavy weight placed on her. Her vision turned blurry. She stood up to go into the toilet again but she felt terrified.

It looked as if she was shivering was Struggling not to fall.

"Valeria!" Zayda called and rushed to her, confused.

She was holding her head in pain, unable to utter a word when she suddenly passed out.

"Vally! Vally!! " Zayda held her, placing her head on her body. Other girls heard her voice and rushed into the room.

"What happened to her?!" One girl asked.

"Hope she's going to be fine?" Another questioned. Her name was Jocelyn Patel but people call her "Joce" for short.

"I don't know! She was just started puking, then fainted." Zayda retorted.

One of the girls quickly sprinkled water on her face. They all watch her carefully and after a while, she opened her eyes. Cold and confused, too weak to even stand.

The girls helped Valeria back to her bed and called the matron Mrs. Paige James. She was an elderly woman in her early sixties and she know the girls, well enough. Paige decided to take Valeria to the school clinic later that evening. Zayda and Joce also came along.

There was a Doctor in the school clinic. His name is Doctor Murphy Samson but people call him Doctor Murph. He is a professional Doctor that owns an hospital of his, but comes to Mississippi University clinic every once in a while to assist the nurses and students. It's said that he was once a student of the school. Most student likes him because he's very friendly and hardworking.

It was almost 6:00 p.m. If it was an hour time, he would have gone back to his hospital. They were lucky to still meet him there.

"What happened? He asked Paige, the matron.

"Her roommates said she started puking earlier on before she passed out. Poor girl, I heard she just lost her mother." Paige cried, taking another glance at Valeria.

"Who told her that one again?" Valeria wondered. She never told anyone about her mum's death. It's no news that secrets spread like Corona virus. Especially in Heritage's hostel.

"Doctor Murph took a close look. "What's the matter with you, Valeria?" He asked, politely.

"My head aches really bad and I feel pain all over... I'm feeling a bit feverish and I puked earlier."

"And how long have you been feeling these?" Curioucity laced in baritone voice.

"It's about three days now, I never thought it would be up to this. I only took parastermoI yesternight. I don't know why sir but I think it's just fever." she answered still in pain.

"Okay," he replied. Then took a note, writing down her diagnosis in her medical file report.

"Don't worry, I'll have to examine you." He checked her body temprature and took a sample of her blood with an injection.

"I'll have to carried out some tests... but I'm in a hurry. It's a thirty minutes drive to my hospital and I've already received emergency calls from the nurses. By the way, you should check on me tomorrow for the results." He prescribed her some drugs and advised her to take a lot of water and rest.

"Thank you sir. " Zayda and Joce chorused, taking their friend back to the hostel. It wasn't far, just somewhere within the hostel's compound.

As it is, Doctor Murph worked in the school for almost ten years but established his own hospital five years ago, to keep himself busy and after retirement. He takes good care of his patients equally and hopes Valeria would get better soon. He took the blood sample along to work on it personally in his laboratory.

When they got back to the hostel, Valeria was asked to lie down...

"Nobody should disturb her, because I know you girls!" Paige warned. Chasing the girls away with a crooked smirk.

Other girls gathered her like a piece of cake quietly disappeared. And this time, it was already 7:30 p.m. Humaira placed her hand on the lower part of her tommy. Everything seen awkward for a moment and she was thinking...

'What if I actually ate frog? What if I'm pregnant with what that old man did? Oh God, forgive me.... I can't be pregnant right now!" she cried in her thoughts. Begging God for forgiveness and that what she's thinking shouldn't happen else? She'll just kill herself.

The shame of living with a bastard child and studying at the age of 17 would be an unbearable disgrace...