Chapter 10: Chapter 10

January 2001

Girls highschool Lagos

Halal sighed, a dreamy expression plastered on her face as she sketched a name all over her note book over and over again. Could being Darrell Miller's girlfriend get any better? They had been dating since August  two years ago and she was glad she had waited all her life for him. Daria was still overwhelmed and didn't support their relationship because she was afraid for her own relationship with Halal if the couple broke up. She was still trying hard to accept it.  Truth be told Halal couldn't picture herself with any other person but Darrell.  'How did I get so lucky?' she often asked herself when she was alone.

"Presido!" Omachi cheered loudly breaking Halal out of her reverie as she walked over to her desk with a couple of girls in her class. Halal rolled her eyes, ever since she won class president three times in a row that had been her nickname. Omachi especially liked the nickname because she liked to rub it in Kimora's face that she had not only lost once but thrice.

"What are you doing, let me guess, thinking about your Mr right again?" Omachi teased Halal playfully who picked up her notebook to hide her face.

"Oh my God she's actually blushing" Funke said laughing heartily. "She's so in love, stop teasing her before she turns red" Carlista another one of her class mate said.

Halal put down the note book now unable to be silent anymore.  "Enough, is there a reason for this visit?" She asked feigning seriousness as she looked at the girls.

Omachi nodded and sat on her desk. "It's about the Valentine's party in a few days. With the approval of the Vice principal of School affairs,  we're inviting the senior boys in Solomon All boys college. Everyone is expected to pick a name of the boy they'd like to go with, the boys submitted their names and photos already. As the presido, I think it's fit that you pick first" Omachi announced gaining the attention of everyone in the class.

Kimora stopped talking to her 'entourage' as Omachi liked to call them and walked right to Halal's seat. "I bet she'll pick the finest boy and leave the scraps for us, am I right her majesty?" Kimora hissed.

Halal glared at her in disgust "Actually I have plans already, I won't be coming to the Valentine party. Go ahead and pick your prince charming" Halal shot at Kimora. She was tired of the girl's jibes already. She did nothing to Kimora to deserve such hatred.

"You aren't coming, why?" Omachi asked disappointed. Halal sighed not wanting to tell everyone that Darrell had been saving up money to take her out on a fourth date for Valentine.

Halal remained silent not wanting to share this information or lie either, it was none of their business anyway.

"Her broke boyfriend is probably taking her somewhere, you know that one that comes to walk her home sometimes. Anyway it's probably 'mama put' they'll end up in because he doesn't look like he can feed himself not to talk of her" Kimora mocked causing a few girls to laugh.

Halal stood from her chair clearly upset now, she looked Kimora squarely in the eyes . "Don't talk about him that way" she warned but Kimora didn't budge.

"I shouldn't tell everyone that your boyfriend is a church rat that wears worn out shoes and can't afford to buy himself good clothes. You're shameless" Kimora teased.

Tears pooled at her eyes for Darrell, she knew he could afford to dress like other guys if he wanted to, buy good shoes and clothes but he didn't because he had Daria to cater for. He had bills to pay, he was working his aśs off paying for his and Daria's education.

"You don't know anything about him so just shut up!" Halal spat. Kimora scoffed "Poor baby is going to cry, cry Halal. That's all you can do anyway, you're pathetic. You and your miserable boyfriend...." Kimora barely finished that statement when Halal pushed her roughly causing her to fall.

"Shut up, don't get me mad before I do something I regret" Halal said. She wasn't going to tarnish her reputation by fighting in school because Kimora decided to bitter.

Omachi and the rest of the girls in the class watched animatedly, anticipating the next move.  They knew Kimora was infuriating Halal on purpose,  Kimora had terrible records in school while Halal had none.  One fight and Halal would also end up on the black list, that was what Kimora wanted.

Kimora got back on her feet " Is that the best you've got?" she said haughtily. "I won't fight you Kimora, stop this nonsense" Halal said. "Oh really? What if I say I've kissed your precious boyfriend, at the back of the Library last week while he was waiting for you to finish grading papers with the literature teacher?" Kimora said goading her.  Halal tried to walk away but Kimora pushed her back.

"I even let him put his hand under my skirt and into my pants, I let him touch my brèasts too.  He told me  he couldn't wait for you to leave to your precious London so we could be together. That's right, the minute you leave Nigeria, Nkemjika will be mine" Kimora said venomously.

Halal pushed her again, ready for a fight this time, when the mathematics teacher walked into the classroom.  "Please go to your seat, let the lesson begin" he announced sternly.

Kimora glared at the teacher before turning to Halal.  "This is not over" Kimora said. "It is for me" Halal hissed and went back to her seat.

Her brain was all over the place during the lesson. Had Darrell done all those things with Kimora, how did Kimora know his middle name? Only Daria called him that, he even told Halal she wasn't allowed to yet. Yet, Kimora said it so freely,  her heart ached as Kimora's voice kept ringing in her head. 'The minute you leave Nigeria, Nkemjika will be mine'

Daria lived with the Abrahams now,  Halal's mother had talked to Darrell about it insisting that Daria would be more comfortable in their house than at the boarding school.

Darrell had agreed but insisted on paying Daria's school fees by himself despite the offer of assistance from Halal's father. At least he didn't have to pay for certain things anymore, Halal's mother catered for her welfare and every other thing apart from Daria's education.

Today when a girl from Daria's class came to inform Halal that Daria and Darrell were waiting for her at the gate, she didn't feel ecstatic as usual. She felt depressed, still thinking about what Kimora had said. She didn't know if Darrell really did those things with Kimora, Omachi had said it was normal for a boyfriend to have sex with his girlfriend and that she had done it too with her own boyfriend . Halal had only kissed Darrell a few times, she had also told him she wasn't ready for him to touch her that way yet and as for her virginity she was keeping it till marriage.

The thought of him doing those things with Kimora made her skin crawl.  Why would he cheat on her when they had already agreed on a no sex relationship?

It didn't help matters that Darrell was talking with Kimora when Halal eventually got to the gate. She was on the brink of tears when Daria ran to hug her, she hugged Daria back half heartedly. Kimora drove her to the edge by winking before walking away.

Halal stared at her in disgust before turning to Darrell who was grinning. At who? she wondered, Kimora's retreating butt or her?  "Daria are you coming?" Halal said as she walked past him. "Yes sis" Daria said following.

Darrell followed wondering why Halal looked upset. She hadn't spoken to him since she saw him, and when Daria spoke, she gave Daria monosyllabic responses.

When they got to the house, she went straight to her mother's room and didn't come out till he left.

Darrell dropped the text book he'd brought for her on the chair before saying goodbye to Daria. "Is everything okay with you and Halal, did you two fight?" Daria asked a hint of sadness in her voice.

"You shouldn't worry about that, you should worry about your upcoming exams Daria. Remember what I said, I want distinction parallel on your results, anything less is not acceptable" Darrell said softly.  Daria sighed and nodded, maybe she'd get something out of Halal later.

"Good bye, I'll see you on Saturday" Darrell said before walking out of the house. Till he got to his hostel, all he could think of was Halal.  Why had she acted so cold towards him? Perhaps she was tired of him already.

January 2001

The next time Halal saw Darrell after that day was on Saturday when he came over to see Daria. He'd brought quail eggs for Daria, now while Halal hated eggs of any sort, Daria treated those eggs like French chocolates. It sickened Halal to watch the duo laugh and talk about interesting things that had happened before she came into their lives, and she was still nursing her anger from the other day.

"How's school Halal?" Darrell finally asked trying to include Halal in their conversation.

"Terrific, you won't believe the new things I'm learning everyday" Halal said sarcastically.

Daria looked up from her plate at the tone, the tension in the living room enough to choke her so she got up and walked over to the girls room.

Seeing that Daria had left the room allowing them privacy, Darrell moved closer to Halal. "Are you okay? you seem a little off these days. Is it about school, something concerning your upcoming exams?" Darrell asked curiously.

She instantly remembered Kimora's statement and made up her mind to confront him. "Are you friends with Kimora?" Halal asked curiously. Darrell eyed her confused before sitting beside her. "Who is Kimora?" He asked taking Halal's hand. Halal pulled away from him a little irritated, was he going to deny that he didn't know Kimora now? She'd seen them talking once, everything confirmed her fears.

"You were talking to her the other day after school" Halal cleared her throat meeting his eyes. She saw recognition light up his eyes.

"I didn't know you girls call her Kimora. I know her as Chiamaka, she's my roommate's junior sister. I'm tutoring her for her final exams" Darrell explained. Was that the problem, she was jealous because he was talking to another girl?

"Kimora mentioned you were friends and class mates" Darrell said clearing his throat.

Halal scoffed "We're not friends, you're tutoring my enemy" Halal said venomously. She hated that Darrell and Kimora got alone together sometimes.

Darrell chuckled "I wasn't aware you had enemies, Chiamaka's brother asked me to tutor her. I'm doing him a favor and I'm getting paid for it. That's how I'm going to pay Daria's school fees next semester" Darrell informed her. The information did nothing to soothe Halal's anger.

"She says you're sleeping with her, she says a lot of terrible things too" Halal reported waiting to hear his response. Darrell met her eyes a little surprised "What did you say to her when she said that?" Darrell asked a little frown on his face.

Halal remained silent, she knew now that Darrell had done no such thing and felt stupid for confronting him. He wasn't like that, he wasn't a cheat. Kimora just liked to spike her anger. "I'm listening" Darrell said.

"I said nothing, it doesn't matter. She was right about one thing though, I'm going to London by September or October. Where does that leave us?" Halal asked. Darrell didn't like to think of her leaving yet so he shrugged. "Where do you want us to be?" he asked her.

"Will you wait for me?" Halal asked and held her breath. "Will you wait for me for five years Darrell?" she asked him waiting for a reply. "I don't know, I love you Halal. I love you very much but I do not know what the future holds" Darrell said.

"If you love me, you'll wait for me" Halal said tears brimming in her eyes. "There are so many men who will throw themselves at you over there, men that will have a lot to offer you. What if you love another, what happens to me then?" Darrell asked. Halal stared at the ceiling, her head was telling her one thing and her heart another. She didn't know what to do, Darrell had no idea what to tell her also.

April 2001

It wasn't until one Sunday evening in the last week of April that Halal made up her mind. She and Darrell had not talked about London after that day, 'We'll cross that bridge when we get there' Darrell had insisted. So instead of discussing their parting, they'd celebrated the time they still had together.

They'd gone on their fourth date, Halal saved up money for their fifth date. Everything was going smoothly till her father told her that she'd be traveling to Abuja the following week for her examination. Halal's heart sank at the news, before she'd met Darrell, London was where her heart was. Now her heart was with Darrell, she went into the bathroom where she could have privacy and wept her heart out. Her father wanted her to go to London, her mother also, they wanted the best for her and Darrell also, he was sweet but also practical. He'd tell her schooling in London was better, even if he didn't want her to go.

Her mother passed by the bathroom and heard the nerve racking sobs of her daughter and paused right outside the bathroom. "Hallie, are you okay?" She asked softly. "I'm fine, please just go away" Halal replied. Her mother stood there till she got out of the bathroom.

Mrs Abraham took in her tears stained face and red eyes before pulling her into a hug. "What's the matter girl, is it Darrell?" Mrs Abraham asked. Halal shook her head, she didn't even have the heart to tell Darrell that she'd gotten the date for her examination.

"Then what is it?" her mother rubbed her back soothingly. Halal sobbed clutching her mother's hand. "I don't want to go to London" she gathered courage to say it. Her mother pulled away concerned "Honey it's all you've been talking about since junior school, and your father has saved every penny for you to go to London. Why the change of mind?" Mrs Abraham asked curiously.

"I....I...I...Love Darrell. I don't want to leave him. I don't want to go to London mum, I feel like I'll be making the biggest mistake of my life" Halal explained. "Did Darrell ask you to do this?" Her mother asked leading her into the living room.

Halal shook her head "He wouldn't, he wants me to go to London. I don't want to go to London, that's not where my heart is anymore. If I leave Darrell, I'll never be happy, satisfied or fulfilled" Halal said softly.

"I'd rather school in Nigeria, and It's not just Darrell. I want to be here with you two always, maybe Daddy could use his money for something else. I don't want to go to London" Halal said determined. Mrs Abraham smiled thoughtfully.

"So my little girl is not only in love but already making decisions for herself. I remember someone who was like that in her prime" Mrs Abraham winked. Halal looked up "You and Dad?" she asked. She enjoyed her parents love story, it was that kind of love she wanted, and she had that with Darrell.

"Well if I hadn't gone to London I wouldn't have met your father, the thing is none of our parents wanted us to get married. My mother didn't want me to marry someone from Delta. Your father's parents also didn't like me, but in the end it didn't matter, we made our decision. We went ahead and married without their consent in London. Your father's parents weren't pleased and they remained unforgiving till their death but my mother eventually grew to love your father. The point is, if you think your happiness doesn't lie in London but with Darrell, I'm not going to stop you. I want you to be happy, your father also. I hope Darrell feels that way also" Mrs Abraham said.

Halal broke into a smile certain that her Darrell felt that way also.

August 2001

"Happy anniversary" Halal said brightly. She hadn't seen Darrell since May. He had been busy with work and school and he didn't have a phone to call her also.

"Happy anniversary" Darrell replied handing her a bag. "What's this?" Halal asked, a teasing smile on her face. She and Darrell gave each other the weirdest gifts. She knew he couldn't afford extravagant things and she didn't want him to feel bad by buying him expensive things too so they gave each other little things that seemed like it didn't matter but made them smile afterwards.

Like last Christmas when he'd given her pink shoe laces insisting that she could tie her hair with it. And she'd given him buttons in case he ran out of buttons for his shirts.

"Just open it" Darrell said nervously, he shoved his hand into his pocket. This package was quite bigger this time, so she wondered what he'd gotten her. She didn't wonder for long because when she ripped off the polythene bag, it was a winter coat. "I heard It's pretty cold in London, I got it at a garage sale at Ikoyi. Didn't have enough money to buy you winter boots, maybe before you leave I'll get you the boots. When are you leaving?" Darrell rambled rubbing his head nervously.

"This is so sweet Darrell but I'm not leaving. I talked to my father and mother, I didn't take the exams so I'm not going to London. I'm not leaving you, I'm applying for university of Lagos instead" Halal said.

"What?" Darrell asked perplexed. Relief was on his face also and it warmed Halal's heart. "I'm not leaving, I'm staying" Halal repeated. "I know, I heard that, but why?" Darrell asked.

Halal shrugged playfully "Who's going to keep on giving you vegetable soup when I'm gone? I don't want to meet a bag of bones when I get back" Halal teased.

Darrell wrapped his arms around her. "Have I ever told you how much I love you?" Darrell asked. Halal sighed and pretended to think for a moment. "No, never" she said. "I love you Miss Abraham" he said brushing his lips against hers.

"I love you more Darrell" she said. "Nkemjika" he whispered against her lips. Her eyes lit up remembering what Daria once told her 'if he lets you call him Nkemjika, he considers you family'. She felt fireworks go off in her belly. "I love you Nkemjika" she said.