TWIST IN THE WIND(RITA SONWU AND ELECTA ALEN
Episode 7:'You all should put more efforts into your study because you'll be writing SSCE pretty soon. Next month, actually,' Mr Egbo, the Maths teacher said before using exit door. He was a dark and lanky man who spoke meticulously, picking and giving his words in drops.
'Hi, Eric,' she said with nothing more than a glance and wave at him. She swiftly turned to Chris. 'Hey, Chris. C'mon, let's take a walk...'
'Annie...' Eric cut in. 'We need to talk.' He had been wondering why Annabel was suddenly treating him this way, like an alien she would love to get rid of.
'What's up?' she asked, feigning ignorance.
'Please, let's go to the field. I won't keep you for long.'
'Oh, okay.' Looking at Chris who was engrossed in the note he was updating, she said, 'See you soon, dude,' and walked behind Eric as they left the classroom.
'Annie, what's up? Things have changed between us and I don't understand why.'
'Really?'
'Yes, and you know it. Did I do anything wrong? I'm not dumb. I know you'r
'You did nothing wrong,' she said finally. 'I just don't want to come in between the both of you.'
'What are you talking about? You mean Chris and I? Come on.'
'I don't want any trouble. I want to give you some distance since you have a lover now.'
'What?!' he exclaimed, in deep shock.
'I heard it all. You poured out your hearts to each other. Stella and you.'
'Oh, Annie. You must have misunderstood everything. I'm not in love with Stella or something.'
'Hmm. My ears cannot deceive me. I heard you both clearly.'
'Did you listen to the full conversation?'
'There was nothing left to hear, Eric.'
'You see? You didn't hear it all. You didn't hear me tell her off.' He gave Annabel a deep stare and added, 'I'll admit I'm in love with someone but it's certainly not Stella.'
'Oh. Now, that's the more reason I should give you some space. I don't want to get your lover frenzied with jealousy, and... There is nothing left to say. I should leave now,' she said and made to walk away. But Eric held her back and she waited to hear what he had to say.
'I love you. It's you that I love, Annabel.'
'Me? You love me?' she asked in a half whisper. Her hazel eyes suddenly seemed wider, her fair face even fairer. She felt butterfly riot in her stomach.
He continued, 'You've brought sunshine into my life, and all of me loves all of you.'
'Eric, I... I...' She was cut short by Chris' screams as he hurried towards them.
'Come on, guys. Mr Wole is in the class already.' The trio walked together in a rush, hoping that the Chemistry teacher would not scold them for coming in late.
As soon as school was over that Wednesday afternoon, Annabel went over to Eric's desk to have a short chat with him.
'Eric, I'm sorry for misunderstanding you. I'm embarrassed by my own actions.'
'It's okay, dear. Let's leave for home together,' he said as he tried to take her khaki school bag off her shoulders.
'Oh please, don't,' she said with a baby chuckle. 'You really want to embarrass me. Don't you?' she said as she held on to her bag.
'You know I'm always at your service, My Lady,' he said with a mock bow while Annabel laughed hard. He liked the timbre of her laughter; it was music to his ears.
It was Friday, the last day of school for the week and Eric was alone, away from the other guys. He no longer had interest in their petty gist, their perverse gossip about the girls in their class. He could imagine what they would be discussing now: how big Nene's backside is or how Sonia winked at Daniel during assembly or maybe about Nicki Minaj's newest video. He didn't want to spend his time talking about such things. He preferred to be alone with his thoughts. 'Annabel must be with her clique now,' he thought to himself. She easily had girls hovering around her but there were few times when she preferred to be on her own too. As thoughts of her slid into his mind, his eyes danced to a corner in the distance and then he saw her. Looking at her from where he was, he had strong suspicions that she was sulking. He got on his feet with the speed of light and walked towards her.
'Annie...' He was right. Her fair face was saturated in her tears. 'What's wrong?'
'Eric, I hate my life,' she said matter-of-fact-ly.
'No. Don't say that. Your life is beautiful, Annie.'
'I hate my parents. I hate them.'
'Annabel, stop this already. Tell me what's wrong.'
'I have brain tumour,' she said as she broke into a fresh round of cries.
'How did you know about this?' he asked quietly.
'I saw it on my student record file. I was asked to update my information and as I looked through the file, I saw my health status. I was shocked to my bones.'
'Dearie, it's okay,' he said in a convincing tone.
'My parents... they hid it from me. I hate them.'
'Annie, maybe you were not supposed to know.' By now, Annabel was stunned by how calm Eric was. There was not even the expression of surprise or shock. He was taking it like it was old news. Something was not right, she knew.
'What do you mean?' Eric was speechless, trying to think up a good answer. 'Did you know about this?' she asked looking at him, studying him intently. Her face was wet and stern.
'Uhmm...'
'Oh, so you knew.'
'Annie, it's not...'
'Stop right there. Oh... I hate you. What were you all thinking? That I'd never know till I die... soon.'
'Oh, no. Please understand.'
'Understand what? That my surgery is due to hold in two months time and I've been totally kept in the dark about it?' Eric was wondering how she knew about the surgery. 'Or that I have been taking drugs that my life depends on thinking they were irrelevant.'
'Annie please...'
'Eric, you know what? About what you said to me the other day, I don't feel a thing for you. Now, I don't even know if I can call you a friend,' she said and walked away. Eric thought about running after her but his legs wouldn't move. They seemed to be stuck to the ground as he looked across the field, dazed.
