Her Last Wish – Episode 8

HER LAST WISH 
(Moremi)

Chapter 8

Zeemah Writes

🌀___

“Ouch!” Daniel groaned as Anne applied soothing balm on his back.
“I thought you told Layla it didn’t hurt at all” Anne said.

They were in Dan’s room, minutes after they were back from school.
Dan laid flat on his chest,shirtless as Anne applied the balm on his back,he was doing his homework in the process.

“I can’t possibly tell her it hurts, didn’t you see how bad she already felt,she would feel more bad if i tell her otherwise” Dan said and Anne nodded in agreement.
“And we’d both be lieing if we really believed that her leg is healed and that the pain was just for a short while”
“Yeah! Burns do not really heal quickly and they hurt so much” Anne said.
“She only said that to make us feel better, i had to make her feel better too” Dan said.
“You did the right thing. I’m so glad we finally got to meet the coffee girl and to think it turned out to be Layla..wow” Anne laughed sitting on the edge of Dan’s bed.
She was done applying the balm.

Dan smiled. “She seems like a nice girl but when triggered,she’s one crazy girl”
Anne laughed.
Dan dropped his pen and faced Anne.
“You won’t believe i just heard ‘Hot Coffee’ while i was checking out the timetable on the wall and the next thing i knew was someone biting me so hard” He narrated.
“Oh my God” Anne laughed hard .
Dan was tempted to join in the laughter and he did.

“I bet people had to pull her away from you” Anne said,still laughing.
“Exactly! and a girl with a pink hair said she’s African and Africans teeth are like axe. Layla told her to be careful or she’s gonna get hacked by her axe” Dan said and they both continued laughing.
“You must not have believed she was the African i do tell you about” Anne chuckled.
“I doubted it and i told myself there must be another African in the school, that this surely couldn’t be the gentle one my sister tells me about” Dan said and Anne laughed harder.

“I’m glad she’s free of the bullies and all” She said.
Dan nodded..”No one seems to taunt her anymore,looks like they are scared of her instead”
“Serves them right,you needed to see how badly she was being treated before, standing up for oneself really goes a long way” Anne said.
“Of course, the bullies were so lucky to have stopped taunting her before i resumed,you know how much i hate bullies” Dan frowned.
“Yeah i do,there are a lot of them in Ocean high school and the only person they mostly bother is Layla, thank God she’s free now” Anne said.

“Left to me,i don’t think they were hating on her because she is African,if most of her bullies were females,then they were probably jealous of her. Layla is still without doubt one of the most good looking females in that school and she has this great body none of them has” Dan said.
“You’re right, being African is just an excuse to hate on her”
“Yeah,they should just be called jealous assholes” Dan said and Anne chuckled.
“Yeah, because why would you hate on someone and even hurt them just because they are more good looking and better than you are,that’s wack as hell” Dan said.
“I think people like that should be called petty assholes instead” Anne said and they laughed.

“What’s the deal about the Dylan guy, seems Layla has the hots for him” Dan said.
“Yeah she does,i feel so bad for her,you won’t believe he embarrassed her after they shared a kiss during a truth or dare game”
“Really?” Dan asked, sitting up.
“Yeah,he said her lips tasted like a dead log of wood that wouldn’t even lit up if ignited by a wide burning fire” Anne said.
“Oh my God!” Dan exclaimed.
“He also added that he has never felt so sick after kissing someone”
“Wow” Dan furrowed his brows.
“And that coming from Dylan would have hurt her so much, Dylan is known to be a big flirt,he kisses almost every girl who wants to be kissed and i don’t think he has ever embarrassed any of them that way”

“That’s so bad of Dylan, even if he had felt that way,he shouldn’t have embarrassed her by telling everyone about it. That’s immature” Dan said, irritated with Dylan’s behavior.
“Perhaps he had treated her that way because of how Layla is viewed, he might have felt an African is not up to his taste” Anne said.
“Then Dylan is another petty as***ole” Dan said.
“Sure he is” Anne toyed with his bedside lamp.
“When did it happen?” Dan asked.
“Just yesterday” Anne said.
“Woah..I just hope she’s over the embarrassment” Dan said.
“Looks like she was,she doesn’t look bothered with anything while she was with us”

“Yeah and i hope you weren’t caught eating in class” Dan grinned.
“No, bad influence” Anne said and they laughed.

🦋☕

“Oh my, I’m so sorry about that Layla” Aria said after Layla narrated the ordeal to her,the reason she was so down yesterday.
“It’s fine,I’m over it now” Layla smiled.
“Im glad you are but you’re so strong,those terrible words are so hard to get over so soon” Aria said.
“I didn’t do that on my own,my new friends lit my mood” Layla grinned.
“Your new friends?” Aria asked in surprise,she smiled as she faced Layla.
Layla has never mentioned the word ‘friend’ to her and she knew it was because she had none, she knew Layla wasn’t treated well in school and she has always feel so sad about that and now..did Layla just mentioned ‘friends’
They had even helped her get out of the depressing mood that silly thing almost threw her into.

Who are those angels?

“Yeah,they are my friends even though they didn’t say that to me but they are. I already take them as mine. What we shared today might not be enough for them to take me as a friend but it is enough for me. They are the only ones in school who accepted me for who i am,even when others tried to make them abjure me. They are just so kind” Layla said, almost laughing as she remembered the burger escapade.
It was fun.
She didn’t knew breaking a school rule would be that great..
She doubt if she has ever broken any school rule and well she didn’t regret breaking one today.

The teacher had almost caught them when they laughed but they had been lucky.

“I’m so glad you finally have people to call friends after a long time” Aria said, hugging Layla.
Layla is the first kid she’s ever met that has such a difficult life at her age, no friends,no parents,no siblings, only an aunt who made her life more unbearable.
Most time,she wishes Layla would come stay with her but of course that’s not possible.
Seeing the joy on her face now when she mentioned her new friends almost made Aria tear up.
Layla is so excited over what most teens have dozens of and even discard as they wish.
She’s so excited because she never had one.
She knows how much Layla would appreciate her new friends,they would be the first friends she had had in years and she’s really gonna go all the way for them, they are really lucky to have her as a friend.

“Uhm..Aria,i need to go attend to customers” Layla said.
“Oh,my bad” Aria said, disengaging from the hug.
Aria smiled as she watched Layla take orders diligently.

She wondered with a frown why Dylan would treat her that way.
He had even made her cry, that was so wicked of him.
He dashed the hopes he had given her.
So bad most times good things aren’t appreciated, having someone like Layla in one’s life is a blessing.
She’s one of the few people with a heart of gold, Layla is so selfless,she’s always ready to help.
She doesn’t deserve the sort of life she has but then again,life and it’s ways.
Aria is glad things are starting to turn out better for her though.

But how could that as***ole call her lips a dead log of wood!

Layla returned from serving the customers.

“How could that guy call your lips a dead log of wood!” Aria said and Layla smiled.
“I’m sure it had been a mistake,he told me he didn’t mean for it to spread all over the school” Layla said.
“Wh..what are you saying?” Aria asked,arching a brow in disbelief.
“Don’t tell me you’ve not gotten over him” She added.
“Get over him?” Layla laughed.
“I love Dylan so much than you can imagine,i love him enough to forgive him for every mistake he makes. Mistakes happen almost all the time,we all make them” Layla shrugged.
“Oh my God, what has come over you? Isn’t it so obvious this guy doesn’t respect you,he doesn’t even love you or he would never have embarrassed you that way”
“It was a mistake Aria” Layla said.
“Did he told you it was?” Aria asked and Layla drummed her fingers on the table, giving no answer.
Dylan hadn’t said it was a mistake,he admitted saying it,he admitted feeling that way,he only apologized for the words spreading all over the school.

“He compared your lips to a dead log of wood and you call that a mistake? C’mon Layla”
“Just let it go, besides we were starting to get close before that happened,i really hope he starts talking to me again” Layla said hopefully.

“What! you mean he didn’t even talked to you after that? He didn’t apologise? Wow, fantastic” Aria clapped dramatically.
“He’s gonna come around soon” Layla said as she walked away to attend to another set of customers.
“If i hadn’t experienced love, Layla would have almost made me believe love is a bas***d” Ariana said as she prepared to go pick her kid.

💜💜

“You’re getting real better in preparing meals nowadays” Philia smiled as they ate dinner.
“Thanks Phil” Layla said.

They continued their meal in silence and when they were done, Layla sorted the dishes.
She joined Phil in the living room when she was done and they watched a movie together..
~
Layla remembered she has homework to do as they were set to watch another movie.

“I’m going to bed” She said to Philia as she got to her feet.
“Goodnight” Philia smiled and Layla knew one of the men who do shag Phil is coming around tonight.
Whenever Phil stays up this late,it means she’s expecting someone. Phil is an early sleeper.

Layla walked to her room,she fetched her school bag,sat on the bed and started her homework.
*
She went to freshen up for the night after she was done with her homework.
She wore her soft nightwear after drying her body.

She made her bed,about to get some real sleep when she realised she had to drink some water,she’s thirsty and if she refuses to quench it now,it would wake her up in the midnight and she won’t be able to continue her sleep.

She slid her feet into her footwear and walked out of her room.
Walking past Philia’s room,she shook her head as she heard moans.

She got to the kitchen,downed a glass of water,rinsed the cup and returned it to it’s place.
As she walked out of the kitchen to return to her room, she realised Philia hadn’t even turned off the TV and lights in the living room.
The shagging must really mean a lot to her.

Layla turned off the TV, switched off the lights and then run back to her room, covering her ears as she passed Philia’s room.
Philia was moaning like cow that’s being slaughtered and it’s so disturbing to her ears.

She locked her door as she got to her room,switched off the light and got under her blanket.
She switched on her bedside lamp and stared dreamily at the dim light, reminiscing how her day had went.

She smiled.

⛅🦋

“Did you switched off the lights and TV?” Philia asked Layla the next morning.
“Of course i did” Layla said.
“I went to get water and saw you forgot to put off the lights and TV” She added.
“Well thanks” Phil said, preparing Layla’s allowance.
Layla was fully dressed for school, standing in front of Phil as she waited for money.

“Here” Phil handed some dollar notes to her.
She said thanks as she collected it.
She quickly counted it and discovered it was more than what Phil do give her,far more than.
“Phil…” She was saying.
“Yunno the pizza fee i deducted from your allowance the last time,well..it has been returned to you” Phil said.
“Thanks but even at that,the money is still more” Layla said.
“For preparing a good meal yesternight and also turning off the TV and lights” Philia winked.
“Wow” Layla smiled, Philia can be unbelievable at times.
She does unexpected things that makes one either love or dislike her.
Things that makes one happy or sad.
She’s glad Philia unexpected act this morning had made her happy.

“You should run along” Philia said, getting busy with her phone.
“Thanks Phil, Bye” Layla said.
“Bye”

She took the bus today, having more than enough money,her legs should at least rest from trekking even if it’s just for today.

🦋🦋

Layla drew in a breath before walking into the class.
She was glad no one mocked her anymore,they seem to have forgotten about it.
Gracias!

They only stare at her for some seconds when she walked in and then faced their businesses.
She walked past Chloe’s seat who deliberately muttered ‘dead log of wood’ to her hearing.
Layla ignored her as much as she could,she glanced at Dylan’s seat and saw him seated, chatting with his group of friends.
His eyes met hers and it lingered for few seconds before he looked away.

Perhaps he felt sorry and maybe would talk to her soon.
She smiled at the thought as she finally got to her seat.
Her smile grew wider when she saw Daniel whose eyes has been on her since she walked in,he saw how she had smiled when she looked at Dylan and then knew she’s yet to get over him. She looked so in love with him with the way her face had brightened up,just so bad her love was one sided.
Dylan doesn’t look like someone who would want to have anything to do with her.

“Hey” He smiled back at her.
She was already seated.
“How you?” she asked.
“I’m good,your smile tells me you’re good too” He said.
“Yeah,my aunt gave me extra allowance this morning” She said.
“Wow, really?” Daniel smiled.
“Yap” Layla said, realising she didn’t needed to tell him, the way it had skidded out of her mouth is yet to be understood.
Perhaps she’s overexcited to finally have someone to tell things.
Daniel and Anne would be her first friends since she resumed Ocean high school.

“Did i…sounded childish?” She asked, pressing her lips together.
“Childish? No, you didn’t,you were only excited and you decided to share it with your friend,there’s nothing childish about that” Dan said.
“My…friend?” Layla asked.
“Ye..ah, aren’t we friends?” Daniel asked with a raised brow.
“Do you consider me as your friend?” Layla asked, blinking hopefully.
She took Dan and Anne as her friends already but she wasn’t sure they took her as theirs,she wasn’t sure what they shared yesterday was enough to make her their friend but she was really hoping it would.
“Of course we’re friends Layla” Daniel said.
“Really?” Layla’s face lit up.
Daniel nodded.
“Thank you” Layla said happily, surprising Daniel by hugging him.

He was so surprised she could hug him just because he took her as a friend but then he shouldn’t be,he knows her story,he knows he was probably the first person to call her a friend since she resumed Ocean high school.
She must be so excited to finally have a friend after a long time.
He had dozens of friends that he couldn’t even count, friends he doesn’t even care enough about and here’s someone who’s so happy to have just one.
He felt emotional as he hugged her back.
He can’t imagine how she must have felt for years without having anyone her age to talk to,to confide in,to cry to, laugh with and share silly things with.

He would make sure to fill that vacuum,he would make her happy and make her feel the joy of having a good friend.
He would make up for all the years she’s missed without a friend.
Yeah,he would do that.
She deserves it.

He smiled “C’mon Layla”
“I won’t let you go” She said and he laughed.
“You’re the first person,since i got to Ocean high school to ever make me your friend,thank you” She added.

He was still smiling when he caught Dylan’s gaze,it looked like he had been staring at them for long,he didn’t really looked pleased at the sight with the glare he was sending towards Dan.

Perhaps,it wasn’t one sided like he had thought.

Zeemah

 

TBC