Knowing about Zane

It's around 4:00 PM and I'm assisting my mum to prepare dinner.

"Otega, measure four cups of rice and boil it" She said, as she put the tomatoes, onions and pepper in the blender to blend.

"Otega, come and blend the tomatoes, onions and pepper" She said, as she left the blender and walked towards the sink.

"Mummy, but you just told me to boil rice". I said, calmly.

"Eeh, leave that one first. Finish blending it then go and boil the rice".

"Okay ma". I replied. I quickly measured the rice and put it inside a bowl. I walked towards the blender, put it on and began to blend it.

"Otega, be fast na".

"Mummy I just started" I said, feeling frustrated. I missed my mother's gentle nature, I blame my father for this.

I finished blending and poured the mixture inside a bowl then began to wash the rice.

"Otega! The mixture is not smooth. Come and blend it again". I looked at my mother angrily.

Oh how I so wanted to jump on my father and tackle him the moment he steps foot into the house.

I walked reluctantly towards the blender and did as I was told. I poured the mixture back into the bowl I put it in before when I was done blending, and went back to washing the rice then, put it on the fire to boil.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Otega!" My father called. He returned from work thirty minutes ago. I answered and walked into his room.

"I have arranged Igbo and maths home lessons for you and your first lesson starts next week Monday". My father said.

"Daddy, we just resumed yesterday". I said.

"You're in JSS 3 now and I want my daughter to come out with the best results in her class so the sooner you start, the better. I want As in all your subjects, including Igbo language. I know you still find that subject a bit difficult even with the extra lessons but you have to try. Don't tell any of your friends about this, including Kemi" He said. I nodded and tried to reason with my father.

I really hated Igbo language, for one thing, it was hard to learn and I just didn't want to learn a language from a place I wasn't from.

I wasn't going to live in the South East forever, so it's impact in my life wouldn't last long.

Secondly, how could I not tell Kemi about my home lessons. I mean, it's JUST a lesson and Kemi is not the jealous or angry type. He's smart on his own and obviously doesn't need extra lessons.

I went to the kitchen and served dinner, with my mother's assistance though, because she feared that I would that I would give myself a bigger portion of rice and stew we prepared than my own parents.

At school:

I walked into the class, smiling wildly.

"I'm going to sit beside Zane". I chanted continuously in my head.

I sat down on my seat and began to bring out some books I had taken home with me yesterday from my school bag.

"Good morning". Kemi greeted as he walked cheerfully towards me.

"Why are you so happy?" I asked curiously, smiling.

"My mum just bought me art supplies. Mainly, different types of pencils for drawing". He said.

Some months ago Kemi revealed to me, his interest in drawing. He lent me his sketchpad and showed me some of his drawings. He drew anime, manga and figure drawings. He was exceptionally talented in art.

"So what are you going to draw with the new pencils?" I asked. It had to be me. I knew it would me. I had been begging him to sketch a picture of me for months now. Sadly, he refuses each time I ask him to for reasons I don't know.

"Rosemary". On hearing that, my face dropped.

Rosemary? The new girl he just met yesterday? What did he know about her that he decided to sketch her?!

I felt anger fill my body.

"How could you?! I have practically been begging you to sketch ME for months and now you've decided to sketch someone else who hardly even knows you or your drawing skills. I'm sure the drawing won't be fine sef". I growled and ran out of the class angrily, agreeing to move wherever my heart takes me. And suddenly, I ran into the new boy, Zane.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there. Forgive me". I apologized, as Zane robbed his forehead.

"Yeah, it's okay. I'm sure it wasn't intentional" He smiled. He began to walk away and I followed him, thinking of what to say.

"You're from the South South aren't you?" He asked. Lucky me, I didn't have to do anything to start a conversation.

"Yes, I guess we're kinda related". I smiled. He nodded.

"What school did you attend before this?" I asked.

"It was a boarding school actually. Intelligent Minds Blossom High School." He said.

"Nice". I said. There was a short period of silence, before Zane frowned his face and turned to me.

"How do you tolerate these people? They're so noisy". He said.

I was astonished. I've never met a guy who complained about the noise in our classroom. Not even Kemi or Dani did because they were noisemakers as well.

"I use this earpiece and then write songs". I said, as I brought my earpiece out of my school bag and my song book as well.

"Wow! You write songs?!" He asked, wide eyed.

"Yes". I replied.

"I love writing songs and poems as much as I love listening to them". He said. I smiled at him.

I showed him the lyrics of the songs in the book, both my originals and non-originals.

Turns out, he also has a song book, but he likes to call it his Expression book because in it, his original songs there tells a little bit about himself, his moods, his feelings, his way of thinking and his own view of things.

The whole time we talked I noticed he was avoiding eye contact with me the same way I was with him.

He acted shy sometimes, which made me feel comfortable around him considering the fact that he was a bit like me. It felt strange though, finding comfort in the company of a stranger.