Chapter 1
By
Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi
....It was a cool evening,my uncle's wife had sent me to go buy some oranges,when this young boy walked up to me,hello, please where can I get fruits to buy,he asked
He had a very fine face, infact the most handsome young boy I had come across,I was starring at him helplessly,hellooooo,he said again,,,
Eheennn fruits,am actually going to get some oranges myself, I'd take you there,I said...
Oh that would be so nice of you,he said....
We walked together to the fruit shop, which was about two streets away...
I couldn't explain the feeling I was having inside of me,more like there were butterflies in my belly,,,,I wanted to speak,I just wanted us to have a conversation,but then, nothing seems to be in head,I was just smiling....
We just moved here,so I am not familiar with the area yet,still trying to know my way around,he said...
Obviously, that must be the case,the only reason I hadn't seen such amazing face before...I said within..
Oh,I see,you are welcome to our area,I am sure you are going to like it here,I said..
I really hope so,by the way I am Nathaniel,but please call me Nathan ,he said,,,
Oh my goodness, everything about this boy is amazing,what a lovely name,not like I hadn't heard the name Nathaniel before,but you see that Nathan for short,it was just amazingly beautiful to my ears,,,,
And what's your name?,he asked..
I am Esohe,you can call me Ese,I said,,
Oh Ese, that's a beautiful name,he said...
My goodness,just coming from him,my name sounded more beautiful and different....
Thank you,I managed to say,we soon arrived at the fruit shop,I bought some oranges,and he bought varieties of fruits....
We were done and headed back home,if only I could extend our walk,it was so nice walking with the handsome guy,but unfortunately we arrived at his house, okay,take care,see you around,I have to get this to my mom,he said and walked in.....
Okay,bye,see you some other time,I said...
I definitely would like to see that face again,I whispered to myself....
Their house wasn't too impressive,but who cares where he lives as long as he's Nathan...
I walked home thinking about the handsome Nathan...
What kept you there,just to buy oranges from iye Osakpolor you went and Started playing, uncle's wife had started shouting and insulting me,that wasn't new, she was always doing that anyways,I didn't even mind her shouting and insults, Nathan was worth it...
I'd pass through Nathan's house everyday on my way to school,even though it was a longer distance,of course Nathan was Worth it...
Unfortunately,I didn't see Nathan again for a very long time,perhaps because I was always going late to school,he probably would have gone to school before I got to his,or perhaps he was done with school and was working.....
Haven tried for some weeks and no hope,I gave up hope and continued my life, trying so hard to forget Nathan....
Everything went back to normal....
I was 5 when I lost my dad,he was involved in an auto crash,,and 11 when I lost mom to domestic accident,she fell in the bathroom, hitting her head against the tiles,,,
It was difficult for me being an orphan at such young age,my maternal uncle took me in,as he is my mom's only relative....
Uncle Osamede is a nice man,very nice actually,but his wife,is his direct opposite,she hated the sight of me,if only she had her way, I'd be out of her house....
My uncle was hardly at home,he was a driver with a very popular transport company,he could be out for days,he was always on the road,driving to different places, leaving me at the Mercy of his wife....
My uncle and his wife has three children,I love my cousins,but their mother made them see me as their maid, instead of an older cousin...
My uncle's wife made sure I sell akamu (pap) every morning before I go to school on the days my uncle travelled,she was making me sell pap not because we needed the money, uncle provides for her and all of us,she also has a big provision shop at the front of our house,she was making pap for home use only,but just to maltreat me for no reason,she decided that make more and have me sell them before going to school,,I dare not complain, except I have decided to go for days hungry....
One interesting thing about it was,I was very good with business and sales,in less than an hour and half,I would have sold all the pap on my tray,she always wondered....
That's the only thing you are useful for in this house,the fact that you can sell and bring money home,at least the money I use In feeding you isn't a waste, she'd always say....
I usually go to school late, teachers hated my lateness to school,most times I am flogged so hard,if only they knew it was no fault of mine,I usually miss one or two periods every day,all these made school so tiring and difficult for me,and it was affecting my academic performance.....
At the end of every term,my younger cousins would all do way better than me, first of all,they attend a better school,have a home teacher to themselves,and have more time for their books than I did,they do practically nothing In the house,I wash the dishes, fetch water,join aunty In the kitchen,and wash even my cousins clothes, especially their school uniform daily.,and I still have to wake up very early to join aunty with the making of the pap before going to sell,so they actually had better chances at having good grades than I did....
On this particular term,the school had closed for the section,my result wasn't impressive at all, infact,I had been asked to repeat junior secondary school 2,I was 16 years already,the death of my parents had delayed my education,and repeating a class wasn't going to help either...
My uncle came home that evening and my cousins ran to show him their results...I on the other hand didn't...
Esohe,where is your result,he asked....
I sluggishly went inside my room and brought it to him,he was very disappointed....
Esohe,what is this,you were asked to repeat?,he shouted,what exactly do you do in this house, why can't you do well like your cousins,it was even because of you I had to take an extra teacher,you attend one of the best schools around,you have an home teacher,why aren't you doing well,are you not attending thesame school with your cousins, how come they are doing well and you are not,he shouted.....
At first I was confused,but later,it dawn on me that my uncle thinks I attends same school as my cousins,and also thinks I have a home tutor, apparently that was what he had asked his wife to do,register me in his children school,and get us all private teacher...
If only he knew I attend a less standard and competent school,no Private teacher,and I don't even attend classes like every other students,as I am busy hawking for his wife, thereby making me too tired to even concentrate in the remaining classes.....
My uncle went on and on, shouting at me,and expressing his disappointment...
I didn't. Know what to do, whether to tell him the truth or just allow him put the blame on me
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