After It Happened

Chapter 10: 9

Denise's pov.

I walk past the school doors excitement and anxiety bubbling in the pit of my stomach. When I sight

Camille talking animatedly with one of her friends and our eyes meet, I see the same look of anxiety as

she runs to meet me.

"Oh mi God, the results will come out today," she whispers as she shivers with the excitement that also

rakes my body.

"I'm so scared. I know I did well, but what if I don't do well enough? My dad will kill me."

Her nails digging into my skin proves her point.

"Oh look, it's my annoying stepbrother."

I follow the direction of her eyes and sure enough, Kelechi is striding towards us with the usual scowl

on his face.

"You forgot your Math book on the table and Mom told me to give you these snacks," Kelechi says as

he hands the items to his stepsister.

It was no secret that they disliked each other.

Kelechi's eyes meet with mine and holds it for sometime before he turns and walks away. I let out a

breath I don't know I'm holding. His eyes were filled with so much emotions, and then it was like they

weren't there in the first place.

No one knows about our relationship before now, not even Camille. She'll be really mad at me when

she finds out, but it's better she doesn't know. I will face the consequences of her not knowing later.

"It's my stepmom's birthday today and she's having a little get-together. She said I could invite you and

I really need you there since there's no one to talk with."

It is lunch break already and I am already tired. The excitement I felt in the morning has been dulled by

the stress of the classes. We haven't been in school for a week as a result of the exam, so we have a

lot to catch up on. Hence, we are given a lot of assignments. A really cruel teacher, our Math teacher,

even gave us a test in the name of revision. Who did that?3

So, my mind isn't really focused on Camille's words when she asks the question. I'm still thinking about

how many questions I failed in that test. This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

"Huh? Eh?", I reply out of reflex.

"I said you should come to my house to celebrate my stepmom's birthday. She invited you."

I pause for a second my mind still somewhere else.

"Please, I really need you there. Plus you owe me after the C-Jay thing."

I look at her to see her pleading expression.

"Did I tell you that I won't come? Must you talk about what happened with C-Jay?"

I don't notice that I snapped at her until she flinches slightly wearing a small frown. You'd think that as

my best friend she must be used to my caustic mouth, but no.

"Oya, I'm sorry. I was just bothered about the test. I'll come. Sorry."

Like magic, a huge smile spreads across Camille's face.

Our next lesson is Chemistry, my most dreaded subject. I hate the teacher more than the subject and

that is something. Mr. Fahdia is a man who looks like he is angry with the world with his permanent

scowl and harsh voice. He always vents his anger on we poor students. I'm usually the target of his

taunts and punishments because unlike others I'm not scared of him.

After greeting him, Mr. Fahdia announces that we will be doing a sort of revision. I groan internally at

this, but perk up when I hear the word 'oral'. He will ask each of us a random question which will earn

ten marks for the student and the marks will be lost if we are unable to answer. Sometimes too serious

students would beg for second chances if they lose their marks, but I couldn't care less. This is my

chance to relax.