Keilani
Don't smile
Don't be friendly
When asked personal questions, tilt your neck to Daddy and let him answer.
Be a good girl…..for daddy.
"5,4,3…", the director's voice echoes in the studio.
Be perfect for Daddy.
"This is the Anita's show, and as we all know, we have our anticipated guests. The prominent pastor, yes, you got it right, Pastor Williams Uche and his daughter, the exemplary figure, kids role model, Miss-"
"Choirester please," my dad corrects the host, and I swallow my saliva and look up at him . He rolls his eyes and avert his gaze to the host, and my heart race fast.
"Sorry sir. Choirester Keilani Uche," the audience applauds, and the applaud gradually dies down.
"We will start with you, princess - daughter of God. How does it feel like being born in such a prominent family? Your mum's parent, Mr and Mrs Jacob's owns the biggest oil company in Africa and your mum, Mrs Zola Uche, happens to venture into the real estate and interior decoration and it has since been booming and your father, has the biggest school for less privileged individual and has a big plaza. Do you at any point feel like it is too much pressure to leave up to their reputation?" Miss Anita goes silent, and all eyes are on me
My heart beat really fast, and the wall seems to be closing up on me. Everyone is dying to know my answer and hoping I slip up so that it can be in the headlines for months. And the blazing gaze my dad gives me tells me everything, say something not on the book, and they will just fight again.
"No ma'am it is not. I am privileged to be born in such a prestigious family. If anything, it is enough motivation to do better and live above our reputation" I answer, and the audience applauds and whistles.
We are off to a good start, not bad.
"How do you balance school and church activities?" Anita questions me again.
"Well I balance it pretty well. There is nothing to it, I get back from school, take my bath, help out at home, and then I am off to church for choir practice, and then after that, evening service. I really enjoy doing it" I end and Anita seems impressed, I tilt my neck to steal a glance of my dad and it is as emotionless as I remember, his irk build sends shiver down my pulse.
The little grin that escapes my lips vanishes.
"So from our source, you don't attend outside competition despite the fact that you are the smartest – one of the smartest kids at your schoo-"
"One of ?" My dad interjects in a high pitch and a mixture of anger and disappointment lace in his voice, and I play with the inside of my lips as chill flows through my body.
"Yeah. Keilani always butt head with the daring Ethan Godspower" Anita relaxes on her chair and crosses her leg.
She is enjoying this a little too much.
"The kid with amnesia?" my dad asks curiously and Miss Anita nods and a grin appears on her lips, my dad tilt his head to me and I unconsciously swallow my spit and waits for him to look away first before I am accused of eyeing him or having no manners
"You know him, don't you?" Anita points at me, and I grit my teeth and dip my natural long nail into my skin, reopening the old wound, but I don't mind. The pain keeps me sane and helps me concentrate.
"He is always representing the school in international and national competitions while you attend church events forgetting that you are still on earth…" I dig my nails deeper and the pain causes my chest to clug....I like the pain it brings. I gawk down on my hand and release my hand, and I notice my palm is covered in blood, I fold my palm and cross my leg and hide the hand underneath my thighs.
"Back to your question, ma'am. It is my decision not to participate in external competition. Well, I realize that most people don't know this, but the end goal is to make a name for ourselves in heaven – it is called the heavenly race. I know my calling, and it is not to attend external or internal competition. It is to draw people closer to Him. It is okay to be ignorant, that is why Yahweh has sent his son's and daughters to educate his lost sheep" I end and Anita is speechless, her face is squeezed into a frown and the audience are quiet.
That should do the job.
After that, she never questioned me. She diverted her questions to my dad, and I was relieved. I know her kind, plus I was given a heads-up before I got here, and I thought of the worst things she could say and thought of a comeback.
You can never take the children of God unaware or rather catch my dad unaware.
After the interview, we had a little prayer, and we went to the car . Yeah, I got scolded for speaking up and for not being able to earn the first place in school unrivaled. It is not easy. Ethan is very smart, and yet I have never seen him read. All he does is cause shenanigans wherever he goes, himself, and his cartel. It is hard not to rival with him.
I heard once that he said if he wanted to be first place unrivaled, he would, but he loves the thrill of seeing me disoriented. So I don't need to explain his kind of person. This summary is enough to deduct whatever you want, but to me, he is arrogant and reckless. And I am not the kind of person to believe what people say, but I know Ethan, I know that is something he can say. We have never spoken to each other, we unconscious avoid ourselves and it has worked on some occasion and on other occasion he press my buttons hoping to get a reaction and it takes the Grace of God and a little skin digging to maintain my cool.
"Sorry dad" I bow my head, and he mutters something under his breath before he starts the car and drives off.
" So what do you think?" I ask Celestia as we hoof into the diner during lunch break.
The diner is really big and spacious. Just down the other entrance is the counter where food is dished out. The tables and chairs are round and wooden with different designs to it. There are sections for different classes, but seniors' sit outside. Students sit in groups like popularity, cheerleaders, debate, art, athletics, half cast, etc.
I look at her since there isn't any response from her. I glance beside me, but I don't see her. I gaze behind me, and I see her lust over someone. I sigh and roll my eyes. There is only one guy that makes her act like this. It is no one other than Isah Malik.
She has had a huge crush on him since we were in primary four (4). She has turned down every guy who has ever asked her out because of him. She hopes that one day, he will notice her. She started catching feelings when he stood up for her in primary 4, when they jibed her for her early puberty. But unfortunately for her, he is dating a girl named AISHAT.
Aishat and Celestia don't see eye to eye. They are two sides of a coin. They challenge each other at the slightest chance they get. They are both in drama class, and they fight for the lead role every year. Aishat knows Celestia likes her boyfriend, so she utilizes every opportunity to rub it on her face. Most times, I wish Celestia would realize she deserves better than him, better than this drama.
I trace her stare to Isah and notice him and his friends enter the hall. The majority of the student lurch their gaze to them as they admire them. Isah and Aishat intertwine their fingers, Eric and Amoris are beside Isah and his girlfriend, while at the end is Ethan and Kailea, his hand across her shoulder.
Isah Malik is light skin, slender, pink lips, black long hair, and brown eyes muscular. He is Asian. His dad is a Pakistani, and his mum is Fulani. He is properly dressed, unlike the rest. Eric Khan is Asian as well, with white hair, red lips, tall, muscular, blue eyes. He is Isah's cousin. His white shirt isn't buttoned to the end, his white singlet is visible, and his shirt hugs his body.
And there is Ethan Godspowe;, light skin, tall, perfect set of teeth, pink lips, pointed nose, black curly full hair, brown eyes, muscular. He has an earring on his right ear and jewelry on his neck, which is prohibited. But as a typical corrupted school, they allow Ethan and Eric to do as they please. Ethan is mixed, just like the others. His mum is Korean, and his dad is Nigerian.
Aisha Hussein is a Muslim who is quiet and always on hijab. She is from Iraq. She is quiet, talented, and is every guys dream in school. She is light skin, decent, pink lips, small nose, scanty eyebrow, pointed nose and has a one-sided dimples, brown eyes. Amoris Norman is an American. She has long blonde hair, brown eyes, and short, red lips. And there is the leader of the female group, Kailea Schmidt. She is average, has long black hair, slim but curvy, brown eyes, and pointed nose. She is a typical example of a spoilt brat like her boyfriend. She is German.
They are the richest and most corrupted students in this school. They are not only rich but good-looking and intelligent, they are all-rounder. They are all mixed and their parents are family friends. They are bonded by wealthy parents.
I roll my eyes in disgust and look away. I stroll to Celestia. I nudge her shoulder, and she startles and feign a smile, but I know her too well to be able to distinguish a genuine smile from a fake one. Each time she gloat at Isah and his girlfriend together, it broke her heart, and I know she is trying her best not to break down.
"Come on" I smile and entwine our hands..
After taking our food from the chef, we walk towards our regular sit outside of the diner. Someone pushes Celestia, and she loses balance and almost falls to the ground. Her food tray lands on my body, and her hot food burns through my skin, earning a yelp from me. I tilt my head up to ensure Celestia is unharmed, and I sight her in the arms of Isah as they gaze into each other's eyes, lost in thought. It is evident that they love each other.
I sigh in relief and gaze at my white shirt, which is now stained with stew and rice. My blood simmers in anger as my hands vibrate, aching to hit someone hopefully one of the half casts. I tilt my head and get ready to strangle the person who pushed Celestia, and I notice an unapologetic Ethan standing right in front of me.
I despise him, heaven knows.
My anger increases as I stare into his prideful eyes, and all I see is red. All I want to do is make him feel pain...just a little bit of it. I place my tray at the nearest table and saunter closer to Ethan and grip him by this shirt. The whole school gasps except Ethan. It is like he expected it.
Kailea stands up from wherever she was at and separates my hand from her boyfriend's shirt roughly and stands in front of him, serving as a shield. I scoff.
Like I can't shove her aside and do what I intend to.
I arch an eyebrow, the audacity to think her presence would make a difference. She is ready for a fight, and so am I. Her eyes hold revenge and anger, and I stare blankly at her, daring her to do her worst. Aishat coughs, earning a stare from both of us. I look back at Celestia and Isah, and they pull away from each other. They look at each other awkwardly and then start to avoid eye contact with each other.
Aishat stands up majestically and strolls to Isah. She kisses him on the lips and stares blankly at Celestia, trying to make her jealous, and it works. Celestia tightened her fist, pouts, and grit her teeth in jealousy. She runs off, and I frown. Isah opens his mouth to say something and closes his mouth, deciding against it.
"The next time you touch Ethan, I will make you regret it" Kailea's empty threat makes me avert my gaze to her.
"Will you tell your daddy? Will he make the principal expel or suspend me? I'd love to see you try" I mock as I fold my hands against my chest.
"Just tell your boyfriend to watch where he is going next time or else I will do more than grab him by his shirt" I warn, and I am not bluffing like she was.
Everyone whispers and stares at us. They are surprised I challenged her. I have been looking for the perfect excuse to burst out. But the person I wanted so desperately to lash out to is standing right behind her. Kailea widened her eyes, shocked at my threat.
I look behind her and see Ethan sit on the table, his legs on the chair as he stares at me angrily. His gaze drilled a hole on my forehead. If stares can kill, I would be 10 feet below by now. His friends gaze at me like they expect more, but they don't say a word, I can tell they are all pissed, except Isah. Isah is more hurt and sad than angry. I am guessing he cares for Celestia. Why not man up and break up with Aisha and be with her? Why hurt each other?
"Have a nice day" I fake a smile staring Ethan dead in the eyes and run after Celestia.
As I run I hear Ethan shout 'FUCK' as hit his hand on the table hard and I hear his friends whisper and groan.