Chapter 17 UNSETTELED HEARTS
Godiva’s POV
I was getting uncomfortable with Jerald’s presence and was about to leave when we were served food at our table. I tilted my head, looking at the food, as if I was scrutinizing it.
“That’s Peking duck, and that’s Yuebing,” Jerald said, pointing to the weird-looking dish in front of me.
“Thank you,” I said inaudibly without looking at him.
He began his sober tale. “I know you wouldn’t believe me, but it was Hakeem who called your Mum a hoe.”
I wanted to cut in, but he stopped me and continued, “I was trying to tell him to tone it down when you turned and saw us. I really didn’t say anything about your mum.”
At that point, people on our table were looking at us suspiciously because he kept talking in whispers.
To end the weird vibe, I needed to say something to get him off my face.
“It’s no problem, after all you owe me no solidarity or loyalty,” I said, slightly smiling.
“Thank you!” he exclaimed excitedly while forcing me to a fist bump.
His reaction was very funny and it made me laugh. I wondered why he sounded that excited. More than that, I was confused about why I got all excited about my reconciliation with Jerald.
I had barely eaten up to three spoons from my food when I decided to step outside for some air. For some reason, the reconciliation kept playing in my head.
The evening felt refreshing, making a lot more sense to me for a few minutes. I stared at the firmament and the cool breeze grazed my skin. Half an hour later, I strolled along admiring the scenery outside.
Standing outside, I noticed an artwork at the rear end of the hall. Drawing close for a better view, I heard a moaning sound coming from the dark alley. I got scared at first before I noticed it was two students engrossed in an intense kiss.
I had to find out who they were, so when I’d gist Dina, it would be fun.
“Who’s there?” I asked in a creepy manner, which made both of them freak out in panic.
To my surprise, it was Jerald and a 12th grader whose name I didn’t know.
For a second, I lost my voice in shock. Finding my voice, I calmly said, “Sorry,” as I hurriedly left there feeling shattered.
“Why was I feeling that way?” I thought to myself as I headed to the hostel accommodation.
“Why was Jerald’s kiss with the girl weighing heavily on my mind?” I thought as I strolled to the hostel.
If Jerald had taken me hostage, I would have thought I was having Stockholm Syndrome. I tried hard fighting the thought that made me believe my relationship with Jerald was turning into a love-hate relationship.
Back in the hostel, I didn’t miss the chance to tell Dina about Jerald’s intense kiss.
“Sorry girl, I was sick for ever thinking Jerald had something for you, he’s just a sick person,” Dina piped up.
I hit her hard on her face with my stuffed doll as I rested my head on my pillow.
The next morning, we were forced up as early as 5:00 am to go for a compulsory jog. At first, I thought it was a joke, not until the culture teacher came in fully dressed in an ash-colored jogger and running shoes.
We were grouped into three, for the jogging exercise.
Sadly, I was in a group full of strange people. The only person I knew in my group was Jerald, and I wasn’t ready to say anything to him.
“I’m not a flirt,” Jerald said as we jogged.
I completely ignored him, pretending he wasn’t there.
“I just find myself attracted to women. I mean that girl was desperate,” he continued, looking at me for a reply.
“What you do with yourself is no problem of mine, and I don’t appreciate you talking down on women that way,” I replied as I increased my speed, leaving him behind.
Something inside me wished I could go back and complete the conversation, but it was too late as I had already overreacted.
We finally ended the jog, which seemed like forever, at exactly 8:00 am.
We were given an hour to freshen up before stepping out for the next activity, which was breakfast.
Dina and I wore the same hoodies we got during a promotional event, and the new pair of sneakers we got when we went shopping.
We arrived at the restaurant a little later than others.
On entering the hall, I noticed Jerald looking at us head to toe as he chuckled.
“What is amusing you?” I asked, sitting beside Jerald with Dina sitting on the opposite side.
Coming close to my ear as if he wanted to bite it off, he said, “I can see you are wearing the cheap sneakers you bought the other day.”
I turned to him aggressively and said, “You can tell it to the world.”
Whispering in my ear again, he asked, “Are you also wearing the panties you bought that day?”
I pressed my hands against his lips in shock, looking around to make sure no one heard him.
“I regret ever going shopping with you,” I growled as I moved to sit beside Dina, who was looking at us, confused.
“Chill, I was just messing with you,” he said as he picked up his chopsticks to eat.
“You’re not just a pervert but a psycho,” I said on top of my voice, drawing attention to us.
The more we conversed, the more I discovered a cold stare from afar.
I turned abruptly and noticed Rachael glaring at me. This was the same girl that accompanied him when he first came to apologize.
What weird connection did they have to make her glare at me in such manner?
As I stood there wondering, Rachael walked towards us.
“How bold was she?” I murmured.
But then she didn’t stop.
She catwalked to Jerald’s table, picked up a piece of meat from his plate, and winked at him as she whispered something into his ear.
He smiled awkwardly, and his smile stopped midway when he met my cold stare.
“You fucking idiot,” I cursed out.
I didn’t know whether Rachael misunderstood my insults directed at Jerald because she stopped abruptly.
A confrontation was definitely brewing.