BEAUTIFUL ME

 PART SIX

"THE STORY"

BY UMORU PRAISE

The quad sat under the hut in the school premises during recess

“Quinn how far with the excursion report” Alex asked

“Mmm…I’m not quite done yet, I was only able to get through to quarter of the students that went for it. I haven’t had time lately, sorry. But I will get on with it today.

“Tony how about you. Did you meet the captain of the football team?”

“Yea I did, I was going to give you the report when we get back to the center”

“I heard there was a fight amongst the team mate” Eli said after a gulp of coca cola drink

“Yea... Funny story, the fight was actually between same team mates” Tony said

“Funniest story” Quinn chipped in “the fight was because they liked the same girl and they both tried impressing her through the game but unfortunately they were both colliding each other and ended in a fight”

“Really, that was the cause?” Eli asked stunned

“They both ended up in the hospital” Tony added

“One with a dislocated knee and the other with a bruised head and nose and the weirdest part is the girl in question has feelings for someone else” Quinn clarified

Eli laughed at the irony “that’s dumb”. The quad laughed it off “Any way guys Alex and I have to go. We need to finish up a practical”

“Yup” Alex and Eli took their bags to step out of the hut

“Maybe you guys could check on Jeremy when you are done. I called him and it seems he wanna talk. He said he would be free to talk by 6pm. Probably you guys would be through by then. Tony and I would check on Malia right now

“Okay no problem, I’m glad Jeremy wants to talk after the last time. Our page is being consistently lit up with lots of comments and interest about the story” Alex said

Quinn scrolled through her phone screen “seems people are really interested to know what’s next on our Maremy case”

Quinn felt the silence and stares around her even if her sight was still on her phone

She raised her head and saw the trio gazing at her bluntly

“What?!”

“What’s Maremy” Eli snapped

“Ohh” Quinn chuckled “it’s a name I came up with to call this story”

They still looked at her with a more confused gaze

“Like Malia, Jeremy bring them together, Maremy…”

The trio busted into laughter

“Girl you are jobless. Alex lets go” Eli beckoned on him

“Mmm… Lil can we talk” Tony moved over to Eli

“Sorry babe, but I got to go. Maybe we would talk later

“Why! Why can’t we just talk now?!” Tony snapped

Alex and Quinn gave the two a little distance to work out what ever seemed to be stirring up at that moment

“I got stuffs to do, I can’t do this with you right now” Eli responded indifferently

“Really! What’s your problem? You have been waving me off for days now!”

“I haven’t been wavering you off…”

“Well you are doing it right NOW!! “ Tony’s tempo had increased that Alex and Quinn could eavesdrop explicitly even without trying “Anytime I want to talk to you, you either give me some silly excuse, or just run off. You don’t answer my calls these days neither do you reply my text. It’s like you are avoiding me or something.” 

Alex and Quinn could feel the hurt in his voice already

“Did I do something wrong? You don’t talk to me like you use to…?”

“MUST YOU KNOW EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN MY LIFE?” Eli snapped back. I am not a kid Tony, that comes running to you every single time. Sometimes, I need my space, my privacy. I have a lot of things to deal with that doesn’t concern you. So would you give me a rest?”

Eli stormed off from the trio

“I always hate when this happen” Alex whispered sadly to Quinn before taking off

“Tony…” Quinn called softly

“Let’s just go” Tony picked up his bag and headed out

*****

(Malia)

“After our date, Jeremy and I grew stronger. We had known each other close to five months at then. Every moment I spent with him was always lovely. He took me to places and always carried me along. He made me laugh, he made me realize I was a precious gem to him” Malia spoke calm and soberly

“Did you guys ever fight during that period” Quinn asked curiously “I mean, I admire your story, and it’s even more like fairytale story to me”

“Nooo I’m not telling you a fairytale. Roses also have their thorns.” We had a huge argument which wasn’t good”

(Jeremy)

“all I always thought of and wanted was to make her happy and find me as a good guy who deserved her Ma…” he stopped immediately

 Eli and Alex knew he prevented himself from speaking out Malia’s name.

He continued

“She has a lovable, sweet, funny personality. She’s jovial. She’s this ever cheerful and smiling kind of person everyone would love to be around. She practically lightens mood, she’s bold…”

Alex caught in “if she’s all this things you are mentioning, then why aren’t you still with her?”

Because she tends to play naive most times! She does things recklessly. And in the process she tends to shut everyone out. She never listens!” he snapped “she is a kind of person who takes decisions on her own, she just doesn’t sit to think of how it affects others…she just goes for it. She….”  Jeremy couldn’t find the right words to use as he stuttered

“I think the words you are looking for is called bravery” ‘Eli who has been quiet since the interview finally spoke”

(Malia)

“But sometimes he is just so pressurizing. He behaves like he is the boss of me a times. I’m not his PA that needs to report to him about every single thing that goes on in my life. Sometimes guys should know ladies need their privacy. We have our personal issues we have to solve and there are some things we can handle ourselves. We don’t need some instructor in our life to order us around! Our world doesn’t always revolve around them

“Seriously, did you just tag us as instructors?” Tony bumped in

“Sometimes you ladies are so annoying! You think he was trying to pry into your personal life?! For crying out loud what do you ladies think a relationship is all about…”

Both Quinn and Malia were astounded at Tony’s reaction as he lashed on them

“You think we just stay beside you because of the movie nights, the kisses and fun?! Sometimes dont you guys think we just wanna help? That we want you to know that we are there for you? Relationships like this are made to last long and become something much bigger in the future not just for youthful exuberance. When we care too much, you complain and when we don’t, you still complain. What do you want exactly?”

Tony sobered up

“All we want to do is be there for you, to remind you that we care. That you have someone to talk to and even cry with. We wanna share everything you go through, so you won’t feel it’s all up to you with the World on your shoulders. Is that so hard to understand”

The two ladies couldn’t find the voice to lay out. Malia just gazed at him dumbfounded with shame

“Quinn lets go”

(Jeremy)

“No, the word I was looking for is selfish.”

“Sometimes all you girls think of is yourself. How everything affects you alone but you don’t seem to know how it affects others around you more. You go about saying your guy doesn’t give you the attention, but on the other hand you aren’t talking, you say he doesn’t care, but instead you don’t notice, you say he isn’t there, but you are the one running of.”

Jeremy took his leave

Silence went back and forth between Alex and Eli as they left the Eatery

Alex decided to break the silence

“Elizabeth I think…”

“No offence Alex, but please just keep it”