CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE: AN UNEXPECTED REQUEST
"But as you can see you were given a blessing and someone who isn't quite a blessing" Morayo said to me, trying to change topic.
"You girls should stop saying that, you are making me feel awkward" I said trying to make myself more comfortable
"Why are you defending the boy? Or were you already having crush on him?" Victoria asked trying to tease me.
"Stop it, I don't like where this is going" I said feeling frustrated
"Chill out girl! No hard feelings!" Victoria interjected trying to cool my temper.
"Okay then let's change topic, I heard you kissed John yesterday after night prep" I said eager to know whether it was true or not.
"Ye…a...h... how the heck did you hear that? OMG! Did John tell you that" Victoria asked looking puzzled.
"No girl you were the talk of the night" I said making her feel reassured "every gist joint in hostel were all talking about you…"
"So you've already had your first kiss, you have to tell me how it happened, when did…." Morayo said feeling curiously
"…Uhm… Floral, can I talk to?" Daniel rushed in and interrupted our conversation
"Okay start talking" I said feeling disgusted and wondering why he came directly to me.
"Like I mean privately" he said looking kind of awkward
"What?! Private? What must you have to tell me that you can't say in front of my friends?" I asked feeling kind of curious
"Yeah big guy, what is it that you can't say in front of us?" Victoria asked also feeling curious
"Well that's why I said I want it private because, I don't want you girls to hear it" Daniel replied rudely.
Then Morayo replied looking disgusted "You do know we would still..."
"Okay Daniel let's talk privately" I barged in and I gave them the non verbal sign that, we will meet later. Little after they left our company, I broke the silence looking curiously at Daniel trying to figure out what he wants to say "Okay Daniel, what is it you want to tell me?" I asked curiously trying to figure out what he wants to say.
"Uhm I heard you and my cousin are seat partners now" Daniel said trying to avoid eye contact with me.
"Yeah, I was grouped with new seat partners but seriously, is your cousin the girl or the boy?" I asked surprised. I never knew he had a cousin in this school and to top it all, the cousin is my seat partner.
"The boy, Ayo Makinde" Daniel said trying to check if am surprised at all "You know I don't go around telling people he is my cousin or even act like it because, the only time I talk to him is in the hostel, mainly because of his status and my reputation…."
"….Stop beating around the bush and tell me the real reason why you called me here" I said already annoyed at myself for agreeing to talk to him.
I even started wondering how he became cousin with him since, he got a Nigerian surname. Maybe, Ayo Makinde is from his mom's side
"The thing is that his mom was annoyed at me because, I didn't help him at all in his studies and I treated him like an outcast" Daniel then looked at me and saw I was getting annoyed by his slow way of getting straight to the point "Anyways, I kind of promised her this year will be different…"
"….Just please let me know what you want already" I said already feeling frustrated
"I want you to mentor him since, you are already his seat partner it should not be that hard" Daniel said waiting for a respond
"Why don't you take responsibility for your promise, why are you getting me involved?" I asked not wanting to get what he means but at the same time, he sounds suspicious
"You are way smarter in books than me and like I said, you are already his seat partner it should not be hard for you" Daniel said trying to convince me "And plus I will pay you weekly… how does 2000 naira sound?" he added
"Okay then, I will see to it and get back to you as soon as I have an answer" I told him and started walking away from his side not looking back to look at him until, I knew I could no longer see him. Later that day I told Morayo and Victoria everything that had happened.
"Go for it girl" Morayo said trying to convince me
"Well I don't know what to say or how to answer something like that but, I just feel that it doesn't feel right" I said feeling less convinced.
"What do you need to think about? Don't you see the money he his offering?" Morayo asked still on the motion on convincing me.
"I think Flora is right, we don't know what he is up to and yet all you think about Morayo is, the money he is offering" Victoria said trying to make it all make sense "But at the same time, I think that you should go for it… at least, we should see what he is up to" Victoria added
"Well if you two agree on it then, I would do it. Anytime I see him, I will tell him" I concluded but still feeling worried "Victoria, can you at least help me to get little information from John so that I can confirm whether what he said was true?" I said still on some possibilities on what Daniel is up to.
The next day which was Saturday, as I was about to head out to meet Daniel to tell him my answer Victoria came back from her appointment with John saying she came with the information on what Daniel was up to.
"So what was it you heard? What is Daniel up to?" I asked eager to hear the information
"It turns out you were right Daniel was up to something, he made a bet with some boys that he could make you get close to Ayo and even make him your boyfriend"