It ain't what it cost you,
it might be a dollar (hey)
As long as it shocks you,
memory, electricity.
--
"We are waiting." Corp Ofose said, smiling so wide, he looked like an animated character.
Chimdi stifled a laugh alongside, other classmates as she watched TJ stand in front of the classroom, looking oh so uncomfortable.
He unfolded the piece of paper in his hand, stared at it before looking up. Making everyone to crack up again.
"What's wrong?" Corp Ofose asked, walking towards him. "Do you need help reading that?"
TJ shook his head. "But sir... it's not a love lett-"
"We know." The young corp replied, sarcasm evident in his tone. "We just want to know the content of the letter." His classmates roared in fit of laughter, finding their teacher's not-so-funny joke, funny.
Chimdi sat back, enjoying the show and what was to come next.
The students laughter resonated across the room and as Chimdi listened to their teacher try to make a joke at TJ's expense, she tried to figure out what was funny with the words he uttered.
TJ unfolded the piece of paper in his hands once more and Chimdi leaned on her chair, waiting for the real show to begin. She dramatically patted her luxuriant fro, causing her hair pin to fall off.
With an annoyed sigh, she bent down to pick it. A poorly folded paper plane caught her sight at TJ's part of the chair. She reached for it.
In a bid to catch up with what was happening in the rowdy class, she hurried up, causing her head to make a quick contact with the steel edges of her desk.
"Ouch!" She let out a groan, glaring daggers at the chair.
With a Humph, she sat down and turned her attention to the class, to find a confused teacher and classmates roaring in laughter, like they were being tickled from the rare.
Confused, she paid attention to the teacher, whose face was meme worthy.
"Is that all?" Corp Ofose asked, doubt covering his face and causing the students to crack up more, increasing Chimdi's confusion.
TJ shook his head, trying to suppress his smile.
What did I miss? Chimdi asked, looking around and slowly kneading her swollen forehead.
Corp Ofose took the piece of paper from TJ, causing the students to cackle. His frown morphed into pure shock.
The students cracked up more at the sight of their confused teacher, making the scene look like a circus show, before the Young Teacher called them to order. Yet, students still snickered.
"This is the reason why you were smiling?" Corp Ofose asked TJ, face a mirror of disbelief.
TJ shook his head. "Sir I wasn't smiling-"
"Yes you were!" The young teacher cut him short, causing the students to erupt in fit of laughter, again.
Chimdi giggled, finally understanding what was going on. She felt the paper in her hand about to slip out, but caught it immediately. She wasn't going to risk bumping her head into the cursed locker anymore.
She peered at the piece of paper, careful not to be caught by the teacher, who has succeeded in turning himself into a clown.
The content had her baffled. She looked around one more time, before taking another peek at the paper.
When you're done
staring at Chimdi, reply me.
Came staring back. She quickly folded the paper and dumped it into her locker. Her heart beating in erratic thuds.
It's just a silly joke. She tried to calm her silly heart.
But, was he really staring at me?
Why should that bother you? Her subconscious asked, setting her straight.
She cleared her throat. "Yes, it shouldn't bother me." She muttered, directing her attention to the Teacher in front, with her mind drawn to the content of the paper in the locker.
The Teacher tired, but not convinced, looked around, as if hoping to find the truth blurted. "Who wrote this?"
Jiki's hand went up, face beetroot red from laughing, causing his classmates to laugh more.
"I sir."
"Class captain?" The young Corp stared in disbelief.
Jiki nodded, stifling his laughter and their Teacher groaned in frustration. The laughter was embarrassing already.
With a disappointed voice, he sent TJ back to his seat and called his class to order for the nth time.
TJ made his way to his seat, ignoring the playful comments his classmates passed him. He knew that they were totally entertained but disappointed.
They all wanted to hear juicy detailed and cheesy contents of a love letter. He smiled, reminiscing the shocked face of the lecturer, when he read out Jiki's first letter.
The man didn't know what hit him. He shook his head, promising himself to keep the memory evergreen, as part of stories to tell once he returned back to the states.
He turned to look at Chimdi, who directed her attention to the Teacher who'd since resumed his lesson.
She was so good at ignoring him, he thought, a smile gracing his lips.
And is so good at invading your thoughts?
Oh shut up!
He watched her twirl a ringlet of her hair with a finger, focus totally on the board as she took down notes from time to time.
She was pretty, and he couldn't deny that.
She's more than a pretty face you know?
I know right. He concurred.
Chimdi felt someone's gaze, hot on her. She didn't need a soothsayer to let her know that the said someone was TJ.
She kept her cool, eyes focused on the board, while Corp Ofose talked about the functions of several parts of a drone. Quite an interesting class, but a certain person's gaze was making her lose focus.
She went on, ignoring his gaze hot on her. The letters on the board blurring, making her stare into an empty space.
"Kodiri! Stop staring at Gentry and listen." Corp Ofose shouted, a satisfied smirk on his young face, making his students crack up.
TJ groaned, whipping his gaze back to the board. He finally succeeded in embarrassing him.
Chimdi, embarrassed still kept her focus on the board, totally ignoring whatever was going on in class. The bell rang, signalling the end of the first period and Chimdi heaved a sigh of relief.
She needed the fresh air.
--
"Like I said students, the pusher propellers are responsible for the backward and forward thrust of a drone during a flight..." Corp Ofose's voice sang out.
They were outside the school's perfectly mowed field, gathering around their Teacher as he explained further on drones.
Each group had a drone, and the Teacher had made it clear that practical part of the class also earned marks, which will help build up their scores.
Everyone was eager and so was Chimdi and her partner.
She felt at ease after Jiki had chipped in that TJ knew a thing or more about cinematography. That was why he'd paired them at first. So she allowed the boy to represent their group.
Nevertheless, she was still nervous.
After Corp Ofose was done with his brief speech, they watched him fix a camera in the drone, before piloting his black shiny drone, eyes concentrated on the controller.
He took the device so high, causing students to gasp in shock.
Gently, he called them to make enough space, before landing the device on the ground.
The students, still in utter shock found themselves clapping, each with awed expressions.
Corp Ofose gave them a mock bow, before ordering them to repeat his action. And one by one, the students glided the device with great care across, some making circular motion while some just took it up, few feet above head level.
Chimdi watched as TJ took the controller of their device, she wasn't sure if should be at ease or nervous. She glanced at him, sending him a pleading gesture.
He sent her a wink before mouthing undecipherable words to her. She looked away, feeling herself blush.
Oh be still, you silly heart!
She couldn't bring herself to look, as TJ piloted the device. She shut her eyes, getting ready to hear it land safely only to hear gasps from the crowd.
oh what has he done now? She thought, totally alarmed.
She immediately opened her eyes, same time glancing up and a gasp escaped her mouth too.
The drone was far up in the sky, almost getting to the level Corp Ofose took his to. Birds hovered around it, probably thinking it was one of their kind.
By then, free period was due and other students also came out to watch.
Chimdi watched TJ land the device back carefully, while she stood beaming like a proud Mom.
Her classmates and other students erupted in cheers as the amused Corper gave TJ a thumb up.
Chimdi calculated her next move, torn between going to congratulate him with others and waiting for him to come to her.
But someone beat her to it.
Where did she come from?
She watched in annoyance as Abike flung herself at TJ, staking an obvious claim and this time, TJ who was totally happy reciprocated the hug.
Chimdi let out a huff.
--
Chimdi was sulking but had no Idea.
She was walking back to her hostel late in the evening, after taking a friendly lap at the pool with Jiki.
She didn't get a chance to meet TJ to at least say something nice, all thanks to Abike! She huffed, making her way to the shade created by the big mango tree to rest.
She needed to calm down and was pissed for reasons she couldn't comprehend.
Why are you bothered.
I'm not bothered!
Stopping at the mango tree shade had become a normalcy. Sometimes, she stayed there to chat up her friends and require if they were already in the room.
She let out a frustrated sigh as she stabbed her phone in the name of tapping.
Her sweaty palm and fowl mood making matters worse.
"Woah! Take it easy on the phone, it hasn't done anything to you." Chimdi, startled at the familiar voice, turned to see a grinning TJ.
"It's fucking up that's why." She replied, still stabbing the device. TJ chuckled, grabbed her hands, halting her.
She felt the familiar feeling of his hands on her.
The feeling wasn't foreign anymore, she was surprised at how comforting it felt. And how her demeanor towards him had changed for the past two days.
What changed?
I think you know the answer to that.
Immediately, she cleared her throat and withdrew her hand from his. The part he held, feeling surprisingly warm.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, trying to start up a conversation.
"I thought we have clarified that, hmmn." Replied TJ, referring to their first encounter under the same shade.
A lot had changed and it felt like eons.
They were silent again, and Chimdi wondered if she should bring up the letter, but he beat her to it.
"Ummm, did you pick any piece of paper back in cinematography class?"
"No." The words came out in a rush as she lied through her teeth, making him narrow his eyes at her.
"You sure?"
She nodded almost immediately. She wasn't ready to face another embarrassing moment for the day.
"Is it important?" She asked, trying to look concerned and wiping out any trace of suspicion.
"Not really." TJ replied, but his eyes lit up with mischief as he looked at her.
Oh no!
"Do you want to know it's content?" He asked, wiggling his brows, the same time she almost screamed out a loud "No!"
The boy bursted out laughing, "You should have seen your face." He teased still laughing. "Calm down, I was just teasing, and besides the content isn't that bad."
Chimdi flushed, using the excuse of being angry, she stood up. She needed to get away from there, from him.
"Hey, where are you going?" He hollered, once he saw her walking away.
"Back to my hostel. You're so annoying!" She groaned, causing him to laugh the more.
At least, she didn't trip on a stray branch this time, as she heard him call out her name, no doubt still laughing.
--
Chimdi got back to a totally knocked out Lara and an oblivious Nene, who was busy with a video call.
To say she was shocked was an understatement. Nene didn't do normal calls and neither did she do video calls.
She tried to listen to the voice, but later realised the darker girl was on ear pods .
She let go of the bothering feeling that was rising, as Nene let out an unladylike cackle. Hoping it was Elo on the other line, she went on with her business.
Late at night, while everyone was either sleeping or busy typing away on their cell phones, Chimdi who was busy on social media, replying comments and reposting posts got notified of a new message, from an unknown number.
Hey
The message read. She stared at it for a while, somehow having an idea of who the person might be. So she typed her reply.
Hi, who is this?
Without hesitation, she got a reply.
It's TJ, hope you don't mind,
I got your number from Jiki.
Her heart took to beating in erratic thuds, she stared at the message, not knowing how to reply.
She knew she had someone to slaughter the next day.
Jiki is so dead!
Chimdi cussed, staring at her device.
And ladies and gents, that was how the story really began.
--