"Paaaa" The resounding slap echoed throughout the classroom and everyone turned to see what had happened. Tears were already brimming at my eyes and I ran out of the classroom. What had happened? You may ask, I'll let you in.
Two months ago, I lost my grandpa. I was so sad as we were very close.
"Nkem, come sit on my lap" Grandpa would tell me anytime we came visiting.He loved calling me Nkem which meant my own even though that was not my actual name. He was a jovial man full of life and I wondered why death took him so fast.
I was always alone in the class staring into space. The burial was to happen in two months time and the family had started preparing for it. I would be missing a lot of classes to attend the burial but I had no choice as it was compulsory for everyone to be present.
On this particular day, I was alone as usual in the class when a classmate of mine approached me. He wasn't just any classmate, it was Aurther, the most popular boy in the class. Every girl wanted him and I was so surprised when I saw he approached me. He introduced himself to me, although I already knew his name.
"You must be Katie?"
"Naaa, it actually Kate"
It all started from there. We would talk for hours in school and girls were so jealous of me. I was happy that I had finally found someone who gets me. Sometimes, Arthur was so flirty and me trying not to be a loser, I would flirt back as hard as I could.
I started to catch feelings for him. I mean who wouldn't?. It was an amazing two months for me. I had so much fun with Aurther than I had ever had in my five years being in this school. I then had to travel for my grandpa's burial.
Aurther would always call at least twice a day and we would talk for hours, talking about basically everything. He would tell me what happened in class and would also send notes and explanations to me. I was so happy that finally, maybe I wouldn't die lonely. The signs were there, he sent so many signals and I knew he definitely wanted me.
I came back and then first person I was so eager to see was Aurther. I had to go to school the next day after coming back from the burial. Despite my mum trying to advice me to rest, all was in my head was just to see Aurther.
I came to school and he was already present and rushed over to him and hugged him so tight. After our hug Aurther didn't even ask how my trip was when he said
"Did you bring any meat from the burial?"
At first I thought he was only making a joke but then he was serious and I had to ask him what he meant by that.
"I heard you lost your grandpa and the only reason I walked up to you was so you could get me some goodies when you came back from the burial"
So I only imagined us having feelings for each other? And that was what led to the slap he received in the classroom. Nothing could have prepared me for that really. I felt so crushed I ran out of the classroom.