She turned to see Crucifix, so she rolled her eyes exhaustively. “What do you want?” she asked offensively too.
“You Margret. I want you. You’re my complete, my half and my ribs.”
She hissed and turned to her friends. “Please, can we go inside.” she requested. They headed out but Crucifix voice stopped Margret.
“I came to give you my number to add me on Whatsapp group.” he had said.
She exhaled. “Call it.” She requested as she was bringing out her phone. Crucifix approached closer. As he was calling the number, he stared at the girl’s snickers only to be caught by her.
“Why are staring at my shoes?!” Margret fired.
Why? Oh, she didn’t know why. Crucifix bought the shoes and dropped it at her doorsteps too with a romantic note. How could she know about that when she believed the boy was worthless and useless?
“I’m sorry.” Crucifix politely apologized and walked away sadly. Yet, Margret couldn’t take his eyes off him. Of course there was something about him she couldn’t write home about. At the same time, she sighted Lucy stopping Crucifix on his way. Their posture seemed suspicious, so she needed to hear their conversation. She took a few steps closer with her eyes on her phone but her ears got their frequency.
“Listen to one of my points about the mind being better than the brain.” Lucy began, grinning happily.
Crucifix smiled as he listened.
“Brain is only the central organ of the human nervous system. But mind? It is a faculty that manifests itself in mental phenomena such as perception, thinking, sensation, reasonings, memory, etc. If mind can manifest all this, then what is life without the mind?” she presented.
“Good job, Lucy.” Crucifix complimented her.
“Thank you.” Suddenly, the girl’s mood changed. She swallowed hard and looked straight into Crucifix’ eyes. “Cross, I wouldn’t want you to lie to me. You’re defending the mind against the brain for a reason. Thinking about how you quoted exactly what was in my mind the first day you came to school still baffles me. Yes, i admit it shamelessly; I’m crushing on Mr Henry and I was planning to m@$tvrb@te that day. So tell me, how did you know? Are you a mind reader?”
The question did not only surprise Crucifix,it also sent Margret to the mad-land; she totally went crazy hearing it. “Lucy might be correct.” she began to think. “Could it be Crucifix has been reading my mind? Could it be he’s the one that… oh, no, it can’t be him. He can’t afford those things. It’s not possible.” She concluded, waiting to hear Crucifix’ reply. That would give her the conclusive answer she anticipated.
Crucifix, on the other hand, remained mute. Judging from Lucy’s sincerely, he wanted to tell her the truth. So he said, “Lucy, I…”
“Hey, Cross” Emmanuel, who just arrived, interrupted him. “There’s a girl looking for you?” he said.
“A girl?” Crucifix wondered who that might be. Already, Lucy had excused herself while Crucifix and Emmanuel headed away. Relentlessly, Margret followed them from behind unnoticed. She hid behind a tree when Crucifix got to a Lexus. In her two eyes, the back door opened and he entered. She could see a blur image of a young girl smiling sheepishly at Crucifix until the car drove off. Jeez! Her heart accelerated! She didn’t know how she was feeling anymore. Her emotion changed to what she couldn’t understand. “God, what’s going on? Am I actually feeling Jealous?” she thought and thought.
Yes, girl! You’re falling in love with the least person you expected.
“Oh no!” She hurried out from the tree.
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:
Inside the Lexus, one could see Raina seated at the back seat with Crucifix.
“I can’t believe you came to pick me.” Crucifix told her.
“Are you complaining?” she asked him.
“No, not at all. I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.”
Both went silent, grinning from ear to ear. Suddenly, Raina looked at him and said, “Cross, can I stop by at your place this weekend to grab dinner with you and Papa Geb?”
Oh, no, Crucifix didn’t like the direction where both of them were heading. But he was forced to say, “Of course, Raina.”
The girl smiled and held his hand…
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Margret boarded a cab home. She didn’t know what to think. Her mind and her emotion played the same song but were wiggling it differently.
She barged into their house frustrated but couldn’t believe who she saw; her foster parents! Mr and Mrs. Adams.
“Mummy! Daddy!!” she ran to them at the cushion and hugged them happily. Mama Eda could be seen at a corner grinning amusingly too.
“Look at my girl! She’s all grown up!” Mrs. Adams weighed her daughter physically.
Margret seated in between them. “Why didn’t you guys tell me you were coming back?”
“Who are you calling guys, Maggie?” The father looked at her.
“You guys of course.” She stood up, standing before the father. “You’re my G, Dad” she grabbed his hand to shake it forcefully. The father couldn’t help but to laugh. He stood up.
“Where are you going Dad?” Margret asked.
“To see a business partner. Will be back.” he took his car keys.
“I’m following you.” Margret followed him immediately, ignoring her mother’s objections. She was really happy, forgetting her emotions and thoughts.
Both drove straight to DeMar. You wouldn’t believe the compound they pulled over; Mr Nelson’s!! When they came down from the infinity, Margret first saw the Lexus that carried Crucifix from school but didn’t read much meaning into it because any person can have such a car.
Notwithstanding, they entered into the living room where Mr Nelson and Adams hugged each other happily.
“Welcome, Mr Adams” Mrs. Nelson greeted from a corner.
“Thank you, chairlady.” he replied while they laughed.
“This must be your daughter.” she pointed at Margret who had also greeted.
“Yes”
“Raina!” Mrs Nelson called.
The girl ran down from a staircase and greeted the visitors immediately. Her eyes caught with Margaret’s.
“This is Mr. Adams daughter. They are family friends. You can take her upstairs.” Mrs Nelson instructed Raina.
“Okay, Mum?” she replied. “Come on, let’s go up.” she gestured at Margret. She took her to her room. Unfortunately, Margret saw the drawing of the red gown on her wall. She stared at it thinking critically. Oh, no, this isn’t gonna go well…..
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TO BE CONTINUED