Bimide's POV:
Bimide was a normal girl going through school. Her first three years in highschool, she lived an introverted life thanks to her personality. Bimide was one who had to get comfortable with her environment before she could socialize, unfortunately, her acclimatization usually took years.
After three years, she found it okay to socialize and hence she did. It wasn't an easy task but she had already made up her mind. Bimide was one who followed her heart and her mind of course.
She made new female friends and a handful of male friends who she just exchanged greetings with. Every girl her age was living life to the fullest. They all had dates except the girls she hung out with. They were tagged "unpopular kids'' because they really were in the shadows. The shadows—a place Bimide loved staying.
Things escalated really fast when the new transfer student started acting abnormally. She wasn't used to seeing such actions and so she assumed he had a bad eye because why else was he always winking in her direction?. To be clear, she never thought the handsome transfer student would have an eye for her. She hung out with 'drop dead gorgeous' girls and frankly she classified herself as the least among them so she was careful not to get her hopes high.
The whole action and stuff got really obvious the day the transfer student, Emmanuel, asked one of her friends to call her.
"Emmanuel, call me? How?" Bimide thought.
She was very tense and so she bailed. Why would she go? What would she even say? She wanted to be many things but she definitely didn't want to be the new laughing stock in school.
She didn't really care how Emmanuel would feel after she bailed, all she knew was that she was consciously avoiding him everyday after that day. That task was hard as they were in the same class. She constantly felt a piercing glare on her skin and whenever she turned to check, it was him. He was always looking at her but with so much love in his eyes.
Why? Why her?. Not like she was the smartest or cutest girl in that class. Bimide began to feel very uncomfortable as things were heating up. She always read about such things in novels and there she was, playing the lead in this novel.
One day, she got unlucky as she came in direct contact with Emmanuel on the staircase leading to their class. She expected him to say all sorts of nasty things to her as boys always do but he didn't. What was happening. She looked at his hand, they were trembling! Was he…..shy? Tensed maybe?
"Hello Bimide " Emmanuel greeted
"Hello Emmanuel" she responded.
A moment of silence. They both stood there looking like they lost their ability to speak.
"Uhm I like the pattern on your handkerchief" he complimented.
Bimide always went everywhere with a handkerchief. One could say she was quite sanitary.
"Oh thank you" she replied.
They were about to fall into silence again when Bimide's friend interrupted.
"Bimide, you're going to be late for English class" her friend yelled.
English class was a class no student dared to go late to. The English teacher was a very strict man. Bimide and Emmanuel both ran to class. In class, Bimide and her friends couldn't stop chattering about what happened on the staircase. Emmanuel on the other hand was totally flustered.
Weeks went by and the two love birds kept having such coincidental meetings or so. Something was clearly springing up. The end of the term came and it was time to go home. Bimide couldn't wait for the next school session to resume. By then, she and Emmanuel would be seniors and would have a little bit more freedom.
At home, she could not stop thinking about how that school year was one of her best. She prayed to God that Emmanuel would be in her class once again. The chemistry between them was very charming. She couldn't count the number of times she fantasized about being his girlfriend.
School resumed after a month that felt like a year. She didn't communicate with Emmanuel because her parents were strict and didn't let her own a mobile device. She was excited to tell Emmanuel everything about her holiday. They were not in a relationship but she got really comfortable around him. He earned that spot.
A week passed, no Emmanuel. Two weeks passed, still no Emmanuel. Why would he not resume with the rest of them?
Bimide was broken. Mixed feelings ran through her mind. She felt played. Did he decide to bail on her how she bailed on him? Did she do something wrong? Was he no longer interested in her? The first time Bimide got comfortable with a guy, the guy vanished into thin air. She couldn't help but blame herself for being so stupid. She had let her guard down and look where it got her.
She silently vowed that she would not let her guard down so easily ever again. Emmanuel had created a monster. He left without saying goodbye. So many unanswered questions in her mind. Just pathetic.
With love, wongi ✨