I was definitely blushing hard. I smiled as I walked behind Daniel. He walked with an air of elegance. This was what I admired about him. He always looked so modest and calm in his school uniform.
He paused and turned to me, a warm smile playing on his plump dark lips.
"How are you?" he asked.
"Fine. Thank you!" I gave a charming smile. His lashes flapped and he rubbed his palm together.
"Did you do it?"
My brows snapped together in confusion.
"Did what?"
"Don't tell me you forgot?" his voice increased as he said the words.
"Forgot what?"
What is he talking about? I feel like a lost puppy now!
"The debate! It's tomorrow" he yelled and a worried look settled on his face.
My jaw dropped and I slowly placed my hands on my head. I gave the typical Nigerian woman surprised look.
"Ewo!" I exclaimed and blinked my eyes. "Oo ooh!" I slammed my foot on the ground.
"You forgot?"
"I....I....Chai! I am so stupid!"
"But it's tomorrow!"
"Is it like tomorrow tomorrow? Like....Like the next day after this day? Like....Like the next day? How can it be the next day?" I stammered, my hands pulling my short cornrows.
He quirked a brow and rubbed his temples. "What are we going to do? We can't fail!"
"We won't fail!" I snapped with determination. "I have written down my essay. I just need to learn it by heart".
"I know you can do it. Please learn it. If you need any help, you can come to my class" he placed his hand on my shoulder and rubbed it. "Don't let me down!"
I won't! How can I let my head boy down? My crush for that matter! No oo!
I nodded and whispered, "I won't!"
He smiled and turned, heading to his class. I spun on my heels and found Freddy at our class door. He sent a questioning look at me and I bit my inner cheek. I strode and stopped at his front.
"What's going on between you and Daniel?" he asked in a heart beat. I placed my hands on his shoulder and sent a wry smile before I began to shake him with all my strength.
"Cupcake, why are...." Freddy was cut off by me shaking his shoulder.
"I am doomed!" I said and shook him harder.
"Calm down!" he choked and pushed my hands from his shoulder. He staggered and slammed his back to the wall. "Geez! What happened? You almost...."
I interrupted him harshly and yelled, "I forgot!"
"Forgot what?"
"About the debate!"
His eyes went round and he leaned towards me.
"How can you forget such a thing?" he scolded.
"I...I...I...I don't know! Is it my fault?" I pouted and crossed my arms.
"No oo! It is my fault. I am the one doing the debate!" he hissed like the jerk he was.
I pointed an accusing finger at him. "Yes! It is your fault. You, your stupid face and the date!"
He looped his arm on my shoulder and whispered "You are so dumb!"
"Why are you telling me that na! You are supoosed to help me!" I whined and slapped his chest.
"Okay! Fine! We'll use this week to prepare!"
A dry laugh escaped my lips and then it turned into a sniff.
"The debate is tomorrow!" I announced.
Freddy gasped and rubbed his hand on the small of my back. "Pele! You are doomed for sure!"
"Help me na!"
"Fine! We have free period after our next class. We can meet up and practice!" an assuring smile etched on his face
"Can I be able to learn it today?"
"With an awesome, handsome, qualified judge and great teacher beside you, yes!" he said smugly.
"And who is that person?" I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Me!"
I pursed my lips and eyed him. However, my stomach churned and the worried look reappeared on my face.
"Calm down! I know you can do it! Let's go! We are having CRK class!"
I nodded and allowed him guide me back to class with his hand on my back.
During the class, our female CRK teacher had instructed we read a bible verse. Kate had proudly stood up to read to the class. Her British accent echoed in every words she pronounced.
"This girl is fine oo!" Freddy whispered into my ears from behind. I rolled my eyes and flipped a page of the Bible.
"Are you jealous?" his husky voice echoed into my ears.
I glared at him. He had an amused smile on his face and he even dared to wiggle his perfectly arched brows.
Yeye boy! See how he resemble Monkey!
"Excuse me!" a deep voice called. I glanced at our Biology teacher that walked into the class. He whispered something to Mrs Ezenna, our Crk teacher. She nodded and wrote down an information on her book.
"Good morning sir!" My classmates greeted. I mumbled my own greeting since it came out late.
He nodded and walked to the front of the class.
"Who killed Jesus?" he asked, trying to mimick Mrs Ezenna.
I furrowed my brows.
Wow! I really don't know the specific name of the people that killed Jesus. But how could I? I don't think I was there when it happened. Actually I wasn't there!
"Have you ever noticed?" he began.
Noticed what?
"Do you know the song of the poor people in church?" Mr Akin insisted.
"No!" we all murmured.
"Do something new in my life! Do something new in my life! Today! Do something new in my life!" he sang with his baritone. "That is the song most poor people love to sing in church. You can just be passing the street and see a woman singing that sound in her shop!" A loud laughter erupted from his throat.
My brows went up. I couldn't see what was funny in what he said.
"Then the song for the rich is...." he cleared his throat and began to sing. "It shall be permanent! It shall be permanent! What the Lord has done for me. It shall be permanent!" He clapped his hands and danced like a person would in church.
My eyes bulged and I began to laugh. It all made sense. I wasn't the only one laughing. A boisterous laughter echoed from all my classmates.
It all makes sense now! Like the poor is asking God for new things to happen in their lives while the rich is praying for their wealth to be permanent! Does it make sense? I think it does! Na wa for this man!
"Ehen! You have coke to disturb my quiet class. Leave oo!" Mrs Ezenna sneered and pointed to Mr Akin. He chuckled and waved us goodbye.
Mr Ezenna was a no-nonsense kind of lady. If you misbehave, you will be punished.
The bell rang, indicating the class was over. As soon as Mrs Ezenna left the class, I pulled the paper that had my debate essay and snapped my head to Freddy's direction.
He chuckled and mouthed 'Calm down!' He took some of his books and rose to his feet.
"Let's go, Cupcake!"
I sprung to my feet and scurried out of the class. We got to our study room and I sighed.
"Let's start!" I urged and went to the front of Freddy's desk. "I will recite it to you!"
He nodded and sat on his chair. "You know I haven't completed my notes, right?"
"You can be writing your note while listening to me!"
"Okay! Start! I am all ears!" he pulled out his pen from his pocket and began to write his note.
I glanced at the paper and read the words out.
"All protocols duly observed. My name is Naomi...."
"Cupcake!" Freddy butted in.
I glared at him and repeated "My name is Naomi..."
"Cupcake!"
"Have you ever heard any girl with her rightful sense say her name is Cupcake?" I snarled. "Which parent would call their daughter 'Cupcake'? Use your sense, please!"
I am too nervous to joke around. Tomorrow is the day for the debate. I can't waste my time.
"Fine! I just think Cupcake is a nice name for you!" he winked and a boyish grin tugged on his pink lip.
I rolled my eyes and continued my debate. When I was about to read out the next paragraph of the essay, Freddy yelled "Repeat!"
"Repeat?"
"Yeah! Practice makes perfect! Read it twice and then the third time, read it without the help of the paper" he commanded with a serious look.
I studied his face and was shocked that it was void of any laughter or smile.
"Okay!" I replied cautiously, still staring at his face.
"Start!" he gestured and continued writing his note.
I did it the way he said I should. I was glad to know that I could say the first paragraph without a paper.
Though I stammered a lot! I am not a robot oo!
I began reading the next paragraph but Freddy rose his palm. I halted and cocked a brow at him.
"Recite the first paragraph again! You must not stammer and please stop talking like you are some robot!" his tone echoed with sobriety.
Ah! This guy can be bossy when he chooses to be!
I repeated it.
"Do it again!" he deadpanned.
I recited it again.
"Are you a robot?" he queried.
"No!"
"Then speak like a human being! You need to add emotions. As a judge, I would give you a poor mark. Your presentation is so boring!" he snapped and his serious look was still in place.
"That's so harsh!" I yelled.
His face softened but it returned back to his stern look.
"If I am not harsh we won't achieve anything! Recite it again and try moving this time. You are not a stick!"
I narrowed my eyes at him.
When I am teaching him, I am never this harsh. Even when he solved rubbish in the classworks I gave him, I still always give an encouraging smile. Don't worry! Next time I am teaching, expect a harsh Naomi.
I did as he had commanded. I went to the next paragraph! He made me repeat myself up to ten times. It continued like this till I reached the last paragraph.
"Now!" he said. "Say your debate without the paper. Wait...Give me the paper!"
I handed it to him. He placed it on his desk and gestured for me to begin. I started and he rose his index finger and shook it.
"You made a mistake. Start again!"
I nodded and repeated it.
"You aren't moving! Start from the beginning"
I suppressed my heated anger and did as I was told.
"Boring! Try adding emotions. Talk like you really mean your words. If you really think a woman should be the president, then try to make the audience see why. Your confidence and emotions should be added"
"Do you even know anything about debates?" I scowled.
He is getting on my nerves!
"I have listened to a lot of debate presentation. I am sure what you are doing won't take you to first place!" he shrugged with an emotionless look.
I gnashed my teeth and started saying my debate from the beginning.
"Stop!" he said.
I quickly pulled my shoe and threw it at his direction. He dodged it and and an amused expression grew on his face.
"Calm down na!"
"How can I calm down when you keep interrupting me?"
"I'm trying to bring the best in you!" a smug smile was on his features.
"Just stop interrupting me. I don't like it!"
"Sorry I won't! I'm a strict judge not your boyfriend! You've got to deal with it!"
"Okay! You will see! When my shoe slams your face, your eyes will clear by force!"
"Oh!" he smirked and picked up the shoe I threw earlier. "I am seizing this. Feel free to give me the other one!"
"Mtchew!" I began to say my debate.
"Stop!" he yelled. Soon my shoe was flying towards him. He caught it and chuckled "I just wanted to tell you that you are doing a great job!"
My eyes widened and I smiled.
"Say goodbye to your shoe!" he placed the pair of shoes under his desk. "Now, start from the beginning!"
I groaned and began. The bell rung and I sighed. It was lunch break. I glanced at Freddy and pouted.
"I'm not prepared!"
"Don't worry! You will be! Let's go eat!" he beamed and waved my shoes.
"Give it to me!"
"Nope! You will have to walk to class with no shoe. Your socks will get dirty!" he stuck his tongue at me and ran out of the class.
I gasped and yelled "Freddy!"
Sadly, I had to walk to class with my socks. Juniors sent me a confused look and I had to dodge from teachers. If I am caught with no shoe, I could get into trouble.
When I entered the class, I ran to Freddy and my slaps rained on him.
"Cupcake, sorry na!" he laughed while I still slapped.
"Mtchew!"
He ran out of my grasp and I chased him.
~~~Author's note~~~
Can Naomi be able to get prepared for the debate?
Who enjoyed Freddy's serious attitude?
Is Freddy doing a good job preparing her?
Will Naomi help her school win?
Did you enjoy this chapter?
How are my people? How is life for you?
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