CHAPTER 7&8
πTIMIπ
“Can you even imagine that? Like I’ve told you about Dera and how she used to like all the guys in school. Now Atlas is telling me he likes her. Does that even make sense?” I vented to Tiwa, who looked at me with a tired expression.
“You sound like you have a big crush on Atlas. Do you?” she teased.
“Abeg, stop jor. Are you even hearing yourself? Me, like Atlas? Someone I just met a day before yesterday?” I scoffed, rolling my eyes.
“Then why are you telling me?” she questioned.
“Because I wanted you to understand that Atlas is a stupid boy,” I replied, feeling frustrated, and she yawned in response.
“You’re just pained,” she remarked, laying back on her bed. I sat there, speechless, staring at her.
“I thought you would even understand,” I muttered, standing up.
“Well, I don’t. I’m just seven,” she retorted.
“You know more than me sometimes,” I admitted, then left her room, closing the door loudly behind me as I made my way to my room. Along the way, I encountered Rosy, our house help.
“Mrs. Austin is downstairs and she wants to see you,” Rosy informed me.
“Okay, no problem,” I replied before heading downstairs. I found Mrs. Austin sitting on the couch.
“Good evening, aunty,” I greeted her with a smile, walking towards her. She returned the smile before enveloping me in a warm hug.
“How are you?” she inquired.
“I’m fine,” I replied, returning her smile.
“So, I came because of Atlas and also to ask you for a favor,” she began, and I nodded, indicating my readiness to listen.
“You know he missed the first two weeks of school and he missed some parts. I don’t know if you would have the chance to help teach him what you’ve been taught,” she explained, smiling kindly.
Wait, me? This woman literally owes the school, so she could assign any teacher to teach Atlas, but why me?
“And he’s also struggling in math,” she added, awaiting my response.
“Yes, sure. I can teach him,” I agreed, trying to be helpful.
“Thank you so much, Timi,” she expressed her gratitude, hugging me again.
“He will meet you whenever you have the chance, but that will be next week since we are still settling down,” she informed me.
“Okay, he can come anytime next week by 5 p.m.,” I suggested, making her smile even wider.
“Aren’t you an angel?” she remarked, her smile radiating warmth.
“I’ll see you later,” she said, bidding me goodbye before returning to her home.
I watched her leave, feeling a sense of responsibility settling over me.
Walking into my room, I couldn’t help but notice Atlas standing by his window. Great, just what I needed( note the sarcasm).
“Why did you close your window when I told you that I liked Dera?” he questioned, his tone a mix of curiosity and frustration.
“I can decide to tell you if I want to, and I don’t want to,” I retorted, trying to keep my annoyance in check.
“You know we can be friends, right? But you just like acting like I did something bad to you,” he pointed out, his voice tinged with exasperation.
“I don’t want to be anyone’s friend,” I stated firmly, crossing my arms.
“And you’re okay with that?” he probed, his brow furrowing in confusion.
“Why not? I’ve lived with that for seventeen years, so… why should it be hard?” I replied, trying to mask my discomfort.
“You’re seventeen?” he exclaimed, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“So?” I snapped, feeling defensive.
“I’m 18,” he announced, as if it were some sort of revelation.
“Well, I didn’t ask,” I shot back, feeling irritated by his sudden interest in my age.
“Okay, I get it. You’re rude to everyone. But I’m technically your roommate now, so let’s start all over. You will be my friend,” he declared, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“So, I must be your friend?” I raised an eyebrow, skeptical of his proposal.
“Yes, because I have to see you every day, even when you’re sleeping,” he explained, sounding oddly sincere.
“You’re really weird. You watch me when I sleep?” I questioned, feeling a shiver of discomfort.
“No, no, I wouldn’t do that. I just happened to see you sleeping when I got up to use the bathroom,” he clarified hastily.
“You’re a freak,” I muttered under my breath, feeling a mixture of frustration and unease.
“Timi,” he called out, and I couldn’t help but grimace at the sound of my name on his lips.
“Atlas,” I retorted sharply, my patience wearing thin.
“Stop being rude,” he admonished, his tone firm.
“And stop being annoying,” I shot back, unable to contain my irritation.
“Now, tell me, how am I annoying?” he pressed, his expression genuinely curious.
“By talking to me. I h@Ε₯Δ disturbances, and you keep doing that,” I confessed, feeling a surge of frustration.
“You know, you could just shut the window on me, right? But you didn’t,” he pointed out, his tone oddly observant.
“Well, thank you for telling me,” I replied curtly, before shutting the window firmly.
Annoying boy.
—
After dinner, I gathered my school books and settled into a cozy spot to continue my studies. As I flipped through the pages, I immersed myself in the world of science.
Each book offered a new perspective, a fresh insight, and a wealth of knowledge waiting to be discovered.
Despite the fatigue from the day’s activities, I found solace in the pages of my textbooks. They weren’t just a collection of words, they were portals to new ideas, concepts, and discoveries. With each chapter I conquered, I felt a sense of accomplishment and growth, knowing that I was one step closer to my academic goals.
—
It’s been a week since Atlas came to my school, and to be honest, he’s become quite the popular figure. Some attribute it to his mother’s ownership of the school, while others simply find him charming. Personally, I fail to see the appeal, but to each their own.
Meanwhile, Kelvin’s persistent interruptions during my study sessions are becoming increasingly bothersome. It’s a struggle to maintain focus with him around. And yet, oddly enough, I’ve heard whispers that he’s been deterring other guys from talking to me. Not that it bothers me much.
“Mrs. Austin’s son is here, ma,” Rosy’s voice broke through my thoughts, prompting me to rise from the couch. Why was Atlas here?
Descending the stairs, I found him holding a note, presumably related to our tutoring session.
“Hi, friend,” he greeted with a smirk, knowing full well how much I detest the term.
I led him to the balcony, my preferred study spot.
“Take a seat,” I instructed, gesturing to a chair.
“Thanks, friend,” he repeated, settling into the chair.
“Just wait here,” I said before hurrying off to retrieve my books from my room.
Returning to the balcony, I noticed Atlas engrossed in his phone.
“Let’s start,” I said, placing my book on the table.
“No phones,” I reminded him firmly, as he continued tapping away.
“Sorry, just texting my girlfriend,” he offered, finally setting his phone aside.
“You don’t need to tell me who you’re texting,” I replied, opening my books.
I presented him with the topics covered in our previous class.
“Okay, let’s focus,” I urged, launching into the lesson.
After an hour of teaching and enduring Atlas’s distractions for another half-hour, I finally wrapped up.
“Worst person to teach,” I grumbled quietly to myself.
“Just admit you secretly enjoy my teasing,” he teased.
“Me? No way. You know where the door is,” I retorted, grabbing my books.
“What if I don’t feel like leaving?” he challenged.
“I’ll call security,” I thr_@tened, feeling exasperated.
“You really don’t find me attractive?” he suddenly asked, catching me off guard.
“Attractive? You?” I burst into laughter, his expression turning puzzled.
“What?” he asked, laughing along.
“Well, You’re not,” I replied, unimpressed.
“Such rudeness,” he remarked, heading towards the door.
“Don’t forget to study before bed,” I called after him.
“Not happening,” he declared, exiting the balcony.
Okay I think I really need to start getting used to Atlas talking to be everyday
To be continued…