A Fight For You – Episode 18

A Fight For You
(The Black Girl)

By Hossana Isaac O.
(Hossy High School Series)

Chapter 18

Daniel

Me: why??
Dad: it was the deal. Wasn’t it? That if you succeed, I’ll send you to the USA to pursue your career. I only added that gym to show my appreciation

I looked down at the keys
Me: thanks dad

Dad: you don’t look excited. Why?
Me: it’s nothing. Just tired…
I faked a smile

He nodded and left the room. I heaved a long deep sigh as I stared at the keys.

?Andy?

At school the next day, we were given teammates for an assignment.
My heart sank when Daniel was Ugwa’s teammate. I didn’t know why I felt that way, it really hurt me

Lorette : hey
I looked at her

Me: where is your friend? I wanna see her
Loretta: Claire
Me: Ugwa

Loretta: with Daniel…
I looked at the notice board in front of our class

Me : Ugwa and I were together yesterday
Her eyes sparkled
Loretta: really? Where?

I walked into the classroom and she followed me

Me: At Goodwill’s
I sat down and brought my camera, I showed her the pictures

Loretta: gosh! I love this. You guys look so cute together. Your kids are gonna be the cutest halfcastes ever

Me: ssssh
I covered her mouth. Thank God we’re few in class right now and the other students are far

Me: who’s talking about children?
Loretta: I’m talking about children
Me: you my dear, are one crazy punk

She chuckled and looked at the pictures again

I leaned on the chair and covered my face
Me : she’s so fun to be with…. And pretty smile
I remembered her beautiful smile each time we talked

Loretta cleared her throat. I looked at her
Me : why that?
Loretta : please tell me you like her

I frowned
Me: forget that. Who’s going to be your teammate?

Loretta: some stupid guy. I don’t wanna talk about it

I smiled and looked at the door. Ugwa came in with Daniel, laughing and pushing each other. My smile faded. Why is Ugwa so happy with Daniel? Which potion did he give her to drink?

She saw me and smiled. I gave a short smile and went back to frowning, Daniel looked at me with a glare and I didn’t stop frowning. Who cares about him? Always looking down on others.
Now I wonder why Ugwa’s case is different. Why does he like her?

They went to the back and sat down. I wanted to look back at her but I knew better than doing that.

Unugwa

I woke up at midnight and stared at my ceiling. Moments from the ice-cream shop flooded my being. Echoes of his laughter deafened me and I became drown in sudden ecstasy. I began to smile and hug my pillow

Me: he’s so sweet
I kept muttering that.

I suddenly couldn’t wait for the morning so I could see him in school. Maybe I should buy him something
Something like a bracelet. I noticed he wears bracelets.

I can make them so I’ll just shop for the items and make it myself.

Finally, after drowning myself with thoughts of Andy, I fell asleep.

At school, I saw Daniel waiting for me in the parking lot. I went to him and he took my bag

Daniel: why is your bag so heavy?
Me: my textbooks
Daniel: don’t you have a locker at schooln
Me: I do. But I won’t always pack everything in there. Besides, I have to read

Daniel: hardworking student, huh?

I chuckled. He mimicked an American accent

Daniel: are you busy this weekend?
Me: I don’t know. The weekend is still far

Daniel: I want us to go have lunch, outside

Me: really
Daniel: yeah
Me: that’s fine by me

He cracked a smile and we entered the class. I dropped my bag and followed him outside since Loretta wasn’t in school yet. We saw a notice and we read it

Me: wow, we’re partners
He nodded
Me: it’s okay. I’m going to be doing most of the research
Daniel : and I’m going to be doing most of the looking and sitting with my legs crossed.

I hit his back and he chuckled
Me: let’s go to the library. I wanna borrow a book from there

Daniel: I’ve never really been to that library for book sakes
Me: why?

Daniel: I’m not a bookworm
I laughed. We went to the library, got the book and came back. The book was Treasure Island. I’ve read it before but I wanna read it again.

We came to the front of the class
Daniel: I wonder what you’ll look like if you get old. You’d have double chins and baggy eyes

I laughed and pushed him into the classroom. He was also laughing. My eyes moved to Andy, the person I wanted to see. If I was alone, I would have gone to him but Daniel is here, I don’t want him to box Andy’s cute face. They really hate each other and I don’t want Daniel to scold me for talking to him

I smiled at him and he gave something I think is a smile. It was so short, dry, emotionless. It was not what I was expecting. Is he angry because he saw Daniel.

Loretta was sitting on his desk, backing us. Daniel and I went to the back and sat down. I kept looking at Andy. I didn’t want Daniel to know but he figured it out

Daniel : are you looking at him?
He looked disgusted

Me: no.. I’m looking at Loretta. I haven’t spoken with him… I mean her… I haven’t spoken with her today

Daniel : I’ll just leave you to talk with her
He stood up
Daniel: see you later

I smiled as he walked out of the class. Where are our annoying teachers today? I haven’t seen one since today

Andy immediately looked back at me after Daniel left. Our eyes met and my tummy tingled.

I swallowed a lump and stood up then walked to them. I hugged Loretta from the back

Me: hey girl
Loretta : Unugwa… When did you come back?
Me: minutes ago
Loretta: you smell nice girlie
I smiled and kissed her cheek
Me : what are you looking at?
She showed me the camera and just as I was about looking into it, Andy stood up and collected it

Andy: I’m going to the computer lab. I’ll see you later
He took it and left. Loretta and I looked at each other

Loretta: and what was that?
Me: did someone annoy him from home?
Loretta: I don’t think so. We were just talking normally few minutes ago

I looked at the door, as if he’s going to come back. Then I shrugged

Me: where’s Claire?
Loretta : I don’t know. Maybe not yet in school

I nodded and we went to my seat together

?Andy?

I kept my camera in my locker and headed to the computer lab. Not like I had anything to do there, but I just needed to leave the class.

I felt weird. Anger mixed with confusion. I was angry at the sight of Daniel and Unugwa together. And I was confused at why I should be angry.

As I walked through the hallway leading to the lab, I saw Daniel approaching. I didn’t want to talk, so I wanted to turn back. As I turned, he called on me

Daniel: Andrew Del Solo
I halted and looked at him

Me: Daniel Alberto
Daniel: looks like you’re now behind me. You’re finally second

I chuckled. He is talking about financial ranking.
Me: wow, so you know I was ahead of you before. The thought of being first is really breathtaking. I never knew you acknowledged that. Plus, you added finally to your speech… Which means you’ve always been jealous of me and couldn’t wait to get ahead

He cracked
Daniel: I’m sorry for your company. It’s a pity no matter how hard your stupid father tries to progress, it still crumbles down

I didn’t care that he called my dad stupid
Me: it’s better to do things the right way and fail than to succeed through mischief. You and I both know the end of it would be tragedy

He became enraged
Daniel: what do you mean by that?
Me: you know what I mean

I turned to go but the stupid boy pulled my arm, the very spot I was bruised. He pulled it with so much force that I felt it being opened again. I could feel new blood seeping out

I endured the pain and glared at him. I forgot that I wasn’t wearing my suit. I was wearing just the white long sleeves and the blood stained it.
Daniel saw it and began to laugh, mockingly

Daniel: how did you get that injury? Your drunkard of a father beat you up again, didn’t he?

I bit my lower lip and dipped my hands into my pockets. I don’t wanna talk back

Daniel: it’s so unfortunate your dad hates you so much. I heard he even threatens to ki*ll you. Haha, I can’t wait for that

That really got to me

Me: it’s not my fault my dad pours his anger on me. But at least, we still have a COMPLETE and happy family when he’s in a good mood. Unlike you, your family is incomplete, your house is dull and dry. And worst, you don’t have a mother to lay your head on her thigh and tell her how your day went. Ohh wait… You do have a mother….. In jail

And that was it, I got a terrible punch and I staggered backwards and fell. Daniel waged towards me and jerked me up. He punched me again and was about to give me another painful blow when a voice shouted STOP

We both looked up to see Ugwa, the black girl looking so angry and glaring at us.
Daniel looked at me

Daniel: we’re not done yet!
He pushed my chest down and my head hit the ground badly. He got off me

Ugwa glared at him and her next move surprised me. She came to me and knelt down, pulled me up and brought out a napkin to wipe my bloody mouth

Ugwa: Andy are you okay?
Me: yeah… I’m… okay
Ugwa : next time don’t get into fights. Especially with Daniel, okay?

I nodded and smiled a little. She pulled me up on my feet

Daniel : Unugwa, let’s go
She hesitated

Daniel : don’t let me repeat it!
She looked at him then at me

Ugwa : sorry
She walked away and Daniel glared at me and followed her.

I watched them… Or should I say her. I watched her as she walked away. I smiled but the pain I felt on my lips made me frown immediately. Ah, I miss Roberto. He is the only one that usually defends me against Daniel. But the idiot doesn’t want to resume school
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To Be Continued
Written by Hossy