He sat down, looked at me, and gave me his signature smile. It seemed to drive me into a world of fantasy, but the thought of who he was slapped me back to reality.
"Hi..."
"Hi."
Made sure I didn't smile back, I was literally sitting beside billions of nairas. If anything went wrong, this guy could actually destroy me. I think I should just roll with those around my financial class.
"Hey, anything wrong?"
"Oh nothing, really." Facing him, his eyes seemed to have a worried look. "I'm fine." Do I look sick?
"Okay, you don't look yourself that's why." What? Myself?
"Oh..."
The biology teacher walked to the front of the class and began talking. I wasn't really paying attention, the new knowledge was still messing with me.
"Lisa.." Chase's whispering voice caught my attention. Avoiding the teacher's look, I carefully turned to Chase and replied..
"Yeah?"
He softly smiled "Where did you transfer from? As per, what school?"
"Magretha's" telling him about my school wouldn't hurt.
"Huh? Where's that?"
I chuckled. "It's not from here... It's located in the southeastern part of Nigeria, Anambra state. I once lived there."
"Wow..." His mouth was wide open, he looked a bit funny. I laughed. Obviously not to the hearing of any other asides us. "Pardon me, I'm just so surprised. You're from my state." He gave a bright smile, one that made his dimples evident. Gosh, so much beauty in one man. Makes me wonder the authenticity of Carly's information, the Chase in front of me was well acquainted with smiles.
I turned to my left for half a second and noticed she didn't catch his smile. Oh well, she'd never know. She knew too well how to mind her business. I'm impressed.
I turned back immediately, so I wouldn't give off as rude and discourage him from conversing. "Oh really? That's awesome, we have one thing in common then." I smiled.
He smiled too. "So... when did you move here?"
"Two years and um, 2 months ago"
"Okay, then you should be well settled down right?" I smiled and nodded in confirmation. Yes, yes we are.
Seemed like he had nothing to say, so I picked up my pen and continued scribbling. Again, I wasn't listening to what was being said in class. Chase's resent words made me remember the struggles mom and I went through, both emotionally and financially. Right now, I'm very proud to say we've now adjusted. We've settled down.
"I traveled to the country side when I was 10 years old, it was my last..." It appeared Chase still had more to say, so I naturally gave him my attention.
"I remember I was driven around a lot, many greens, the beautiful streams and the clear breeze, most beautiful sight I ever saw, it gave me a sense of peace. T'was where I first heard birds sing" I saw as his eyes move to the window and he was smiling, he was obviously reminiscing, and I could relate. I looked at him in awe as I also reminisced about Anambra.
"One thing, I can never forget..." I retreated to reality as Chase continued. "...is one stream that I later heard is called 'o my charm' stream, such a beauty." What? O my charm? I can swear there's no stream like that in Anambra. All streams are given names in the native language of the state, IGBO.
I tried racking my brain, trying to figure out what stream he couldn't pronounce correctly. Anambra is one of the homes of the Igbo tribe, and for a fairly big state like that, it possesses quite a number of streams that have names I possibly can't have knowledge of.
But I'm very aware of the popular ones that tourist usually come to see, still I honestly couldn't place a finger on anyone that was likened to 'o my charm'.
After a few seconds, it dawned on me "OMALICHA" Now, that's what he couldn't pronounce? I burst into laughter, couldn't refrain myself.
"Hahaha! Heheheee!!" I laughed so hard that I forgot I was still in a classroom, a quiet environment. That was until Carly budged my arm.
Then I stopped laughing.
I realised the usual background voice stopped speaking, that's when I got my cool and saw that all eyes were on me. So much attention.
The biology teacher, a slender woman who tied her hair into a bun. She dressed like a typical librarian, a thick long black skirt and a pink cooperate shirt tucked neatly inside her skirt, wearing on her feet a pair of black flats. She was holding a marker in her right hand; but her facial expression right now wasn't at all pleasant.
"Hmm...would you tell me what's so funny about my name miss?" She was looking at me. SHE WAS TALKING TO ME. Not again.
"Could you stand and tell the class, what's so funny about my name." I looked at the board as I stood and saw Rose Leaf.
It seems she was introducing herself to the class before I disrupted with my laughter. Seeing her name now, it really does seem peculiar, but my laughter was definitely not directed at her name, but how do I explain this?!
"Tell me, what's so funny about my name?!" This time, the tone of her voice increased. My heart started beating profusely, my palms were already soaked with sweat and I was getting signs of my breathing slowing down. The panic attack! "Umm..." Was the only thing I could manage to say as I took a very deep breath. I was so scared, all eyes were on me.
"I-I w-wasn't..." I tried speaking but paused to take a deep breath. I was really losing it. "I-I d-didn't, I-I..." The words were really stuck in my throat, I couldn't spit them out no matter how much I tried.
"What do you call yourself, miss...?" With a calm and at the same time intimidating voice she asked. The events of today really convinced me that I've been seriously jinxed, this has to be a curse. This is the second time today, on the first day of school!
"L-li...L-liss" Even my name was really strange to my tongue. "L-li..."
"LISA" By my right, Chase stood with ease as he audibly said my name with pride and authority in the laboratory.
"She has nothing to say, Mrs Leaf..." His deep voice echoed in the now silent class. "...It's obvious I was the one who caused her laughter, I forced her to laugh, she didn't do it on her own accord." What? No it wasn't obvious. In fact, it was quite obvious I laughed singularly. Who in their right senses would ever believe that? He continued with the straightest face ever. I certainly have never seen this face.
Mrs Leaf shut her mouth and looked at Chase with a shocked face. "Errr... is that s-so? Since that's the case, you can sit." What?!
Before she turned, she quickly glanced at me, then after, faced the board and wrote something that looked like course outline.
I sat down slowly, while Chase held my hand, supporting in an angle that was well hidden from the entire class. It seemed he caught on that something was up with me.
After I sat safely, I decided to pause a while to catch my breath and compose myself. I felt so embarrassed and didn't want to be looked down on by anyone, but it seemed like I'd already fooled myself enough and had already welcomed everyone to look down on me.
I wanted to hide. For no good reason at all, I turned my head to Chase and all I could see was a face of pure concern. I was touched. We've only known each other for more than an hour, but he shows me this extent of concern? Who are you Chase?
Mrs Leaf continued her teaching. I looked to my left and saw Carly shoot me a wink. What's that even supposed to mean?! To her left was Joshua and he was just staring, staring at me!
Joshua was staring at me? His lips suddenly began to twitch, he's smirking. Then I looked around and saw that it wasn't just Joshua, but the whole class. Their faces are all turned back looking at me, at us. I suddenly felt the urge to pray for the floor beneath us to open up and swallow me.
I bowed my head in embarrassment. "Now, let's ur...erm continue with the class." Mrs Leaf managed to gather everyone's attention, what a relief. Great, my high school life is ruined.
Mrs Leaf began writing words on the board, Introduction to Cell. I dragged my note and bowed my head, but not completely on the desk. Scribbling complete nonsense and definitely not listening to the class.
In minutes that felt like hours, the class finally ended. Even after the class ended, I didn't want to raise my head nor stand. I could still feel eyes on me, I could still hear the murmurings, I could still hear unnecessary chattering, I could still hear... "What are you doing? Aren't you leaving? Class is over, yunno." Chase distracted me from my thoughts. Class was over, already?
"Ohh...yeahhh, I'm waiting for erm...the right time errr to call my mom, she's very ill." Even while I was talking to him, I still caught some eyes looking at us. I never expected this to happen to me, I never expected to be the talk of the class, never expected to be so highlighted amongst my fellow classmates in less than a week of resumption.
"Lisa?" He disrupted me again. All this is because I happened to be acquainted with HIM. Urghhhh, what a load of crap. "Lisa...what's wrong?" It was then I realized I was glaring at Chase. I came back to my senses.
"Oh, no. Nothing I mean." I shook my head and cursed myself silently. I packed my books in my bag and stood up. "Chase, I have to call my uh mom now." He gave me an approving smile, but his eyes gave me a very different look, like, like, like a look of betrayal. I forcefully turned my eyes from his and walked out of the class.
It was break time now, so I moved to a corner just beside the janitors office and decided to call mom. Today hasn't even ended but is so mentally exhausting. I really needed to hear her soothing voice.
"Lisa?" Her beautiful voice finally, after the long wait of listening to the annoying dooting sounds.
"Mom!" I sobbed.
"Is there anything wrong dear? You know I'm always ready to come get you, anytime any day."
"I know mom. I just miss you a lot." I blurted. "Maybe when I get used to school and it's abnormalities, I wouldn't need to call anymore."
"Oh honey, I'd really appreciate if you'd still call even when you don't need to. Talking to someone really helps always, in every way."
"Mom..."
"Yes honey"
"Please sing that song for me. That song." There was long silence, until I heard her familiar angelic voice.
"Beautiful child.....
Beautiful child....
I know your struggles
I know your fears
Beautiful child
Do you know, you're strong enough
To brave the storms
To sail the sea, against the tempest?
Beautiful child
Do you know that you are loved?
Loved, beyond compare
Do you see?
Do you see all you can achieve?
All you can do?
Beautiful child
Beautiful child"
"Mom, what if all I should achieve is too burdensome for me?" I asked, while sniffing and sobbing.
"Oh baby, look at everything you think you can't do. You can do them all, and more even. You just need your strong will, all you need to do is to believe and work your success to materialisation."
"You think I can actually be strong?"
"No baby, I think you are strong, extremely. You are my Lisa, my warrior. Don't you remember when you were in kindergarten and you fought and defeated the group of 5 girls who tried to bully you?" I burst into laughter.
"Moooom..." I whined. "You keep saying this but I don't remember at all."
She laughed warmly. "You don't have to Lisa, you don't have to, I do and that's enough."
Just immediately, the bell rang.
"Oh mom, I have a class now. Soon I'll be home." I said in a hurry.
"Okay Lisa dear, go attend class now"
"Mom?"
"Yes dear?"
"I'm so grateful you're in my life, I love you.."
"I love you too, baby. You're a blessing to my life." I smiled.
"Bye"
"Bye baby"