"Five B's and three C's, you got to be kidding me." Kamji muttered to herself in disbelief. The First term academic session was over and they had been given a short break for Christmas holiday. Earlier today she had logged into the school website to check her results using her laptop. She knew her results wouldn't be impressive but she hadn't expected it to be this bad. Her test scores might have been terrible, but she had read hard for the exams in hopes she would level up her scores. But looking at the screen and not seeing a single A in all the eight courses was simply horrifying.
It's hopeless, she thought. Principal Peters was permanently going to give her post to that annoying little Titi Layomi. Kamji could imagine the look of triumph the girl would have on her face as she gleefully accepted her place. She had promised herself not to hate anyone but Titi was going to be an exception from now on. There was a knock on her door and she quickly closed the laptop, hiding the bad results. "Come in." she called, repositioning herself on the bed. She was certain it was her father on the other side.
The door opened and her dad popped his head in. "Are you busy?"
"No why?" She sat up on seeing the serious look on his face.He hadn't been traveling a lot lately for his usual business trips. Her best guess was he was trying
clear his guilt and make up for his absence in their lives.
"We need to talk." he replied, dragging a chair close to where she sat on the bed.
"About what?" she curiously asked, wondering what made him look so serious. Could it be that he had seen her results already? No, there was no way he could have seen it. It was true that the school usually emailed the cumulative scores of each student to their parents, but it was only her mother's email that had been registered for that purpose. Now that she was dead, her phone and laptop had been switched off and locked up in a room along with her other stuff.
"You will be going to Lagos next week to stay with your Aunt Ebere," her father said.
"Sure thing Dad," She hissed a sigh of relief,visibly glad that it wasn't about her poor grades they were going to talk about. Her father had thought high of her, he would always call her his little Einstein. There was no way she would disappoint him with her bad results. " That means we will be spending the holidays with her."
"Not we, just you Kamji," he corrected. "And you won't just be staying for the holidays but you will also be completing your secondary school education there as well."
She stared at him for a while before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. "Nice joke dad. I can't believe I almost fell for it."
"This is no joke, Kamji." There was no hint of amusement on his face and that was when she realized that he was dead serious.
"But why? Why can't I complete my education here in Abuja? Besides first term is already over and no school would accept me." she blurted out, "It's simply not possible to transfer."
"And that's where your Aunt Ebere comes in." Her father explained." Remember that school where she teaches? She recently got promoted to the Principal. And while pulling some strings, she believes she would be able to help you get admitted."
"Ofcourse she will pull some strings."Kamji said, rolling her eyes. "You still haven't told me why you made this decision."
"Well, I got this business proposition and it requires me to reside permanently—"
Kamji muttered a curse, swearing under her breath."I can't believe you want to jeopardize my life for some stupid contract."
"Watch your tongue young lady," his voice was slightly raised."I am your father and I have every right to still discipline you."he warned.
"So why do I have to leave? You can travel for your business trip. I and Somto will stay here with Sarah like we always have." she proposed.
"Don't be silly Kamji. With your mother gone I can't possibly leave you and your brother behind with a complete stranger." He replied.
Kamji flared up at the thought of Sarah being called a stranger."She is no stranger. she is family and she's been there for us in so many ways that you haven't."
Mr Ubah flinched at the statement that was made by his daughter. Kamji could see that he was hurt by her words but she couldn't care less. The hurt he was feeling was nothing compared to what she was feeling right now. How could he possibly want to drag her from everything and everyone she knew. What would become of the house when they were gone? Would he sell it after all the memories they shared here? What about her friends and the neighborhood she felt all so familiar with? She couldn't just leave them behind. And what about Michael? Sure both of them were still friends but she had this feeling they were about to graduate to the next level. And now she would never know all because of her Dad.
"Everything I ever did was for you and your brother to have a brighter future." He drawled. Kamji rolled her eyes she had heard that line a lot of times. Her father would usually tell her how poor his parents had been when he was still a young lad and how he vowed to work hard so that his children wouldn't go through the same thing. it was true that she appreciated the fact that he had given them the best things life has to offer. And she also understood one of the perks of his job as the director of a foreign beverage company was that he had to travel a lot. But that didn't justify the fact that it was okay to ship her off to somewhere else like she was one of his foreign tea cargo.
"What about Sarah?" she asked, wondering what would become of their long time housekeeper.
"I will speak to the housekeeper about her retirement."
"And Somto? Where would he be staying if he isn't coming with me?" she questioned. The thought of her father dumping him In another relatives house made her heart bleed.
"He will be coming with me to the states,you don't have to worry. I will get him enrolled in a good school over there." he assured.
Kamji said nothing more, seeing how he had everything sorted out made her realize there was no convincing him.
"I know you hate me now but we have been waiting for this moment a long time ago, I and your mother." he explained." We were going to wait till you were done with your studies then we can move over there, to our new home to start life afresh. But now that she's gone—" The man's voice cracked and for the briefest of moment, Kamji felt pity. She was glad to see that she wasn't the only one affected by her mother's death.
"I will make arrangements for you to join us over there as soon as you graduate from school. We will look for a good University for you and be a family again."
She gave a slight nod.
Her dad smiled at her before standing up." I told principal Peters about your transfer. He has been generous enough to let you pack your things on any day of your choosing."
" How generous indeed", her voice was loaded with sarcasm.
"He was deeply worried about you. Said your grades were bad." her father added. "I know your mother's death affected you. but I never knew it was this bad. Maybe going to Lagos wouldn't be a bad idea. A change of environment might be just what you need."
Mic was on his way to football practice when his phone buzzed in his front pockets. He reached for it and saw it was a text from Kamji.
'Meet me at school. It's urgent.' the text read.
He checked the watch around his wrist. He still had thirty minutes left before practice started. Although the students were on holidays, the coach still fixed practice for the football team. He had said he didn't want them to go soft as they had a match with the Blue Jaguars next term.
Making a U-turn, Mic headed in the direction of school. He would just check if Kamji was fine and hurry back. As he made his way, he bummed into one of his teammates. A tall dark skinned boy with a ball held firmly in his underarms grinned at him.
"Hey Michael. Thought you were heading to the field. Where are you going?"
"I was going to the field but then I remembered I had some things to do." Mic replied recognizing the boy as one of his teammates. His name was Akim.
" Ok man. but you can't take too long and be late for practice" Akim said ."You know how the coach can be."
"I won't take too long," Mic assured," and if I do, just cover up for me. Would ya?"
"I'll try my best. So where are you going?"Akim asked, taking the ball in his hands and spinning it.
"Need to see someone?" Mic replied, not wishing to give more details.
"Oh, is it a girl?" He grinned, looking at Mic who neither accepted or denied the statement. "I guess it is a girl," his grin broadened.
Mic waved him off. "Whatever, I got to go."
"Say Hi to the lucky girl from me," Akim said." Oh and if you need any help with asking her out or confessing your feelings—"
"Sorry got to go, Akim." Mic said running off in the other direction. He didn't need any relationship counseling at the moment. Most especially from Akim who had zero experience when it comes to girls. When he arrived at the school entrance, he hadn't expected to see the doors open. Was the Academy being vandalized? he asked.
Cautiously stepping inside, he saw Kamji sitting on the front steps. An empty cardboard box was placed at her feet. "Kams?"
She looked up, catching sight of him and smiled. She was sad, he could tell. "Hey Mic."
"What are you doing here all by yourself? Are you planning to rob the school?" he teased. Kamji stood up for where she sat and dusted her jeans.
" No. I am just here to pack my stuff."
"Pack your stuffs?" his brows furrowed. "Why? Are you transferring to a new school?" He asked, praying that he was wrong.
Kamji nodded. "My dad made arrangements for me to complete my schooling in my Aunt's school at Lagos." she explained.
Mic paled at her words. "Why would he do that? Don't you like it here Kams? Are you being bullied by that Titi? Tell me and I will deal with her."
"No Mic, I am not being bullied." she laughed at the last part. "This was all my dad's idea. He's traveling again and doesn't trust the housekeeper to keep us safe. And I am not up to eighteen to counter his decision."
"Oh." Mic was devastated but he hid it from Kamji ofcourse. It was true that he had lots of friends to keep him company if she was gone but Kamji wasn't just a friend. she was the girl he had fallen in love with since their freshman year but he had never had the balls to tell her. Not that he was cool with them being just friends, but he had thought they still had a lot of time to spend together. He had planned to ask her out next term and then ask her to be his girlfriend on Valentine's day. But now she was leaving he was never going to get the chance.
She picked up the cardboard box. "Come help me pack my stuff."
Mic nodded and they headed towards the science building where her locker was. She began packing her books and stationaries into the box. "That's the last of it." She placed a black notebook in the box which was already filled up."God I am going to miss this place."
"As you should." Mic said behind her.
"And I am going to miss you too Mic." she turned around to face him. Mic felt his breath caught as her hazel brown eyes bore into his. She was just too beautiful and he wanted nothing but to take her lush pink lips in his but he pulled her in for a hug instead.
"I will miss you too Kams." he murmured in her hair. The scent of her strawberry shampoo drifted into his nose and he inhaled deeply. He was going to miss this scent.
They had stayed like that in each other's arms until the loud honk of car was heard outside causing them to separate, "That must be my dad. He promised to pick me up as soon as I am done." She said slightly embarrassed. The box was heavier than she expected when she attempted to lift it.
"Here let me get that for you." Mic offered, collecting the box from her hands. They headed outside and met her father who was already making his way to towards the entrance.
"There you are. I thought you might need help." He said to his daughter, taking no notice of Mic who was right beside her.
"Good evening Mr Ubah," Mic greeted, announcing his presence. He had met Kamji's father on very few occasions he went to her house. Mic could tell that the man was one Polished gentleman that cared about his looks eventhough they hadn't really spoken to each other apart from the usual greetings.
"Evening Mark." The man replied finally noticing him.
"It's Michael." Mic corrected.
"It's good to use you again Michael. It's been quite a while," he smiled, taking note of the correction. "I see you have grown into a fine young man."
Mic didn't know what to reply, "Ummmm, thanks." he could hear Kamji snickering behind him.
"Are you done with packing your things?" the man's attention went back to his daughter.
"Yes." she said, gesturing to the box Mic still carried in his arms.
"I'll take that." he collected the box from Mic and headed in the direction of the car.
"You will still come around the house before I leave for Lagos next week, won't you?" She asked as they watch her father placing the box inside the trunk of the car.
" Sure."
"Alright then. I guess I will see you later." she said and began making her way towards the car.
"Kams," he called after her.
She turned around,"Yes Mic."
"I just wanted you to know that your the best friend I could ever ask for and—" he stopped.
"And?" she lifted a brow.
Just say it, he probed himself. it's just three words, I love you. How hard can it be? "And Thank you for always being there." God, he was such an idiot and a coward. Why couldn't he just man up and tell her.
Kamji's lush lips turned to a smile. "We will meet again Mic, this isn't goodbye." with that being said, she ran towards the car where her father was still waiting. Waving goodbye as she entered the passenger seat, Mic waved back as the car slowly exited the building.
He had done the right thing by not telling her the truth, he said to himself. Telling her about his feelings would only make their goodbyes harder. He wouldn't want her to feel guilty or anything of that sort. Walking out of the school he headed towards the field. He was already late for practice so there was no need to rush. When he got to the field, the boys were already playing and the coach was sure to give him an earful. At his command, Mic had joined in the game. He was aggressive and reckless on the field, probably because of the bad news of Kamji's departure. The news made him furious and playing ball was just the perfect way to release all the bad energy.
"What's wrong with you Michael, your teammates are not your enemies." The team's coach, a short fat pot bellied man shouted from the sidelines.
Mic hadn't heard him and continued to play, he felt invincible to his teammates and it didn't take long for him to get an opening to score. Unleashing all his pent up frustration on the ball, he kicked it as hard as he could. The goalkeeper seeing there was no way he could stop the ball was about to duck, but the ball was faster and it hit him hard on his face. The boy released a yelp and fell on his knees. Blood oozed from his face, the ball had broken his nose.
"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to. " Mic apologized as he rushed over to where the injured boy sat on the grass. "Are you okay?"
"Do I look Okay to you?" The boy spat venomously. Mic was sure if the guy was given a loaded gun, he would have killed him right there and then.
"Michael get off my field!" The coach shouted as he approached them. He blew loud on the whistle around his neck until he was out of breath." Practice is over boys, clear the field."
Mic picked up his bag, ready to head out before the coach called him. "Michael. A word."
"I didn't mean for that to happen coach," Mic explained. "It was an accident."
"I don't care if it was accidental or not. Your carelessness cost me a goalkeeper." the fat man snapped.
"I am sorry." Mic apologized again bowing his head.
"If you hadn't been our star player, I would have kicked you out of the team Michael." The coach said before adding, "If something is wrong fix it before the match next term or else."
Mic nodded as he understood the incomplete threat and the man walked off. As he headed out of the field, he could hear his teammates conversing in low tones about what happened. Akim stood with them, a look of disappointment on his face. He was probably thinking Mic should have waited to listen to his counselling after all. Mic ignored them and walked on.
The coach had said he should fix whatever was bothering him. Only if the fat man knew what was bothering him couldn't be fixed. Kamji's departure had shattered his heart to a million pieces and it was totally beyond repair. There was no way that could be fixed.