)D) (EP 4)

Teejay was on cloud nine.

Esinam had cornered him after prep last night. And as always, she had been brutally direct - something he admired her greatly for.

Talking to her had been a problem because you see, Esinam was "hard".

Really hard.

And it didn't help that she was one of the best students in class.

*After prep*

His Gateway to English 1 was missing.

Flustered, he waved his friends away, they could take the lead, he'll come by later.

When he finally found the cursed book, it was wedged between his seat and Harry's.

Good grief. He didn't notice her until she was right in front of him.

"So you told Melanie to do *'betweener' for you eh?" She laughed that cute laugh.

She realized how her laugh had echoed and looked around for any passers-by who might've overheard her.

"Is it true what she said though?" – There was a long hiatus during which she lowered her head.

Now, she was pulling on the green fasteners of her prep trousers, head hanging low.

When she uttered the words, they were spoken in so soft a voice that he barely heard.

"Do you love me?"

Theodore Jason Ofosu-Mackenzie III, "Teejay" to his friends, was shell-shocked.

This wasn't the reaction he'd expected.

"Eh?"

She asked again. Her head was lowered this whole time, and now she raised her head and looked him straight in the eye. Her eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

Teejay moved closer. By now the whole block was empty. No one would see him - or her.

He was close enough to wrap his arms around Esinam, and he did so, nestling his nose in her soft hair. She started, but eased into the embrace - she knew he wouldn't hurt her.

"I always have.”

***

The morning bell had rung some minutes ago.

Harry had to get away before these seniors got to him with their "Herh, fetch water for me" demands.

Quickly, he rushed to the bathroom, noticing without surprise that his sponge had been stolen. Again.

By the time the bell rang again, he'd finished his bath and smelled his armpits, smiling when he registered the faint fragrance of Rexona.

Today would be a good day.

Going back to the dorm, he dressed up, ran a comb through his hair and splashed the remaining half of his 'Erato' cologne on his pulse points while grabbing his bag.

The seniors were still asleep - exceptions to the morning bell - and Sammy, the fool, was also snoring with them, hands clutching his torchlight tightly.

Deciding to be kind, Harry gave him 3 sharp raps on his naked legs then leaned over to whisper in his ear.

"Wake up o. Vuvuzela is coming."

Harry could've sworn that not even a flying bullet could surpass the speed with which Sammy descended from the bunk bed.

He waved, and left for class.

***

Carol was feeling jumpy.

Her over-excitement was evident, even to Mari, the quiet 'Obroni' girl who sat beside her in class.

And for the first time, Mari actually deemed it fit to speak to her.

Her voice, when it came out, was crisp - her British accent sharp with the words she spoke.

"Did you swallow a fire-cracker at breakfast?"

The question was asked with a mild smile, and seconds later, Carol got the joke.

"Hahahaha" she tinkled.

"I just have a really good feeling about today." 

Mari arched her brow, smiled wryly and turned to bury her head back in her Mary Higgins-Clarke novel.

Not long after, Harry strutted in, closely followed by Etse and Teejay.

She heard a familiar sigh from her right - Mari was gawping at Teejay again. The girl seemed to live for those moments when Teejay walked into the room.

She had just turned the page of her GAST textbook from a gruesome illustration of genital warts when a piece of paper fell onto her desk.

She picked it up.

"Do you like me? Nod if yes. Shake your head if no." The note was signed with a simple - H.

She glanced around quite frantically. Who was this?

Then her eyes fell on Harry. That boy.

He was smiling, an uncertain look in his eyes from where he was sitting at the back. He cocked an eyebrow, then looked directly at the paper in her hand.

Her heart fluttered. And she knew why.

The question was still present in the boy's eyes.

His eyes had always fascinated Carol.

Dark pupils fringed with an extremely white cornea, resplendent in prominently long lashes. He had an aristocratic nose, the bridge curved upwards as though in a perpetual sneer. His...

She returned to the present. Harry was still staring, his eyes beginning to darken with worry.

Well? He seemed to be asking.

Coyly, she also cocked an eyebrow. Then slowly, she nodded.

Everyone heard Harry's whoop of victory. Then they heard him holler.

"Y3 w) krom!"

*Cethaurus: Obroni - Twi, for White person. Or for someone who acts white.