One day after the class had gone on break, the biology teacher for Chantel's class called her into the staff room. Chantel is not ready close to that teacher because she is known to talk a lot about things that do not concern her. She is one of the top gossips in the school. But, since she is a teacher, the students gave her the needed respect she deserved.
She walked upstairs and knocked on the staff colon room which was on the first floor of the administration block. Chantel walked in when she heard a response and stood in front of the teacher, who had called her. She was seated at the back of the room, with some books before her. She seemed to be marking some school assignments.
When she saw Chantel, she smiled softly at her and asked her to sit.
"Sorry I bothered you during your lunch hours. Hope you have already eaten?" she asked Chantel, with a bit of worry written on her face.
"No, Miss. I am fine. I don't feel like eating anything," Chantel replied politely.
"I don't think you should be skipping your meals. Especially for someone in your condition. You should eat well and be healthy and also for your baby. I don't think you would want to give birth to a sickly child now, would you?"
Chantel was shocked to hear the teacher say that. She thought the rumors had died down after two weeks of it spreading around like wildfire. None of the teachers had ever said anything about it to her and she was grateful they did not. The ones she was close to, whom she felt should have said something did not say anything about it.
But this particular teacher had to be the one to speak. What the teacher even said after made her want to bury herself.
"I would have expected this of those students who do not take their studies seriously. Not you. It's true what they say, that not all that glitters is gold."
Chantel was totally shocked and speechless. Why did the teacher have to say something like this to her? She could have handled anything the students said to her but not this. She almost cried in front of the teacher but she comported herself.
"So is it true that you do not know the father of your child? How is that even possible?" she continued to say.
"Ma'am, with all due respect, why did you call me here?"
"Oh, I just wanted to find out if the rumors were true. Why, does it bother you?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am. I am sorry but I have to go. I have a class. Please," Chantel turned and walked out the room leaving the teacher quite stunned by her behavior.
She ran downstairs and blinked the tears that threatened to fall away. She stood at the entrance to slow down her beating heart. She wanted to shout out her frustrations right there and then. She down on the stairs and breathed slowly. When she was sure her breathing was back to normal, she walked to the classroom blocks and entered her class. Fortunately, there was no teacher in her class by the time she got back.
Classes was finally done for the day and Chantel could not wait to get out of the classroom and go back to her dorm. She picked her bag and books as soon as the last teacher left their class and headed straight for the dorm. On her way, she saw something she never thought she would ever see happening before her eyes. She saw Kevin and Nadia standing by the mango tree, talking. Whatever it was that they were talking about must have been interesting from the look on Nadia's face.
Suddenly, Nadia had her hand on Kevin's shoulder. Kevin did not seem bothered by this gesture from Nadia. This gave Nadia the chance to get closer to him and Kevin did not even think of pushing her away. Chantel knew in her heart that this meant she had finally lost Kevin for good. She felt humiliated and walked over to them. She wanted to get everything she felt out of her chest. When Nadia saw her approaching them she began to smirk.
"If you wanted to end things between us you should have been man enough to say it straight to my face. But instead, you chose to disrespect me like this. I'm very disappointed in you," Chantel said, ignoring Nadia and startling Kevin.
"Ch-Chantel? Hey, how are you?" Kevin stuttered.
"How am I? Well, I am exactly the way you left me. So it's true? You and Nadia are now an item. Congratulations," Chantel said bitterly.
"Erm..."
"Thank you, dear. I hope this will teach you to stay away from my man for good."
"Your man, huh? Good for you. It's so sad to know that you never learn. But let me tell you something. You might think you have a upper hand on me today. In the near future, I will be better than you in everything and I will make sure to make you sit and watch as I grow higher and higher with just my brains. That day, you will blame your stupid self for being so dependent on a man. So disappointing," she said and turned away.
Kevin could not even speak as the two girls exchanged words. What Chantel told him earlier made him feel so ashamed of himself but he did not even know how to make things right between himself and Chantel. Instead, he chose to keep quiet. He did not even know what to say. He actually did love Chantel, he would always love her. But, he had denied her in front of her parents and teachers and he did not know how to change that. So out of embarassment, he chose to hang out with Nadia instead.
"So, I can see you are bitter because Kevin did not accept that bastard child you are carrying as his. But don't worry dear, I am sure your rich daddy will come to your rescue as usual," Nadia blurts out.
Nadia calling her unborn child a bastard turned something over in Chantel's head. She walked back to duo in anger and pushed Nadia to the bare friend and stood over her. Kevin just stood there watching helplessly in shock.
"Don't you ever call my child a bastard again. You are right though about one thing. My child does not have a father. He is dead. My child has just me and me alone. If you ever in your life attack me or call my child names again, I will make sure you do not have a single teeth in your mouth," CHantel said seriously.
Kevin was speechless and so was Nadia, who was still on the floor. They both need thought they would see this side of Chantel ever. It felt like she died and cams back as another person. She suddenly looked dangerous and that began to worry Kevin.
Is he the reason for this sudden change of attitude in Chantel?