The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Chapter 11: VALENTINE (I)
The weekend came and went too quickly. Valentine’s Day was getting closer, and everywhere I turned, someone was talking about gifts, surprises, or dates. Even on Monday morning, before the first bell rang, the classroom buzzed with excitement.
“Two more days!” Amira announced dramatically as she dropped her bag on the desk.
I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway. Truth was, my mind wasn’t settled. George hadn’t mentioned Valentine at all, and even though we talked on the phone every night, he carefully avoided the topic. He would tease me, make me laugh, ask about my day but once I tried to bring up Valentine, he switched to another gist like a professional escape artist.
During break, Hameedat dragged me to the corridor.
“Zara, don’t dull yourself oo,” she said seriously. “If a guy likes you, you’ll know. George likes you.”
“That one I know,” I replied. “But does he know what he’s doing?”
She laughed. “Relax. If he messes up, we’ll drag him.”
Classes went on, but my attention drifted. I kept glancing at George from across the room. He caught me staring once and winked, making my heart skip in a very annoying way.
After school, Bashir rang the bell and announced rehearsal again for Krystal’s Day. In our school, Valentine’s Day and Krystal’s Day were always celebrated together, as another anniversary year for Krystal College.
Music filled the air as some students rehearsed their choreography. Nafisa and Amira were coordinating the dance, and I was supposed to be among them, but Hameedat dragged me to the conference room instead.
George was sitting there alone.
We walked up to him and sat close. He looked a bit nervous, rubbing the back of his neck before speaking.
“Zara,” he began, “I don’t want you to overthink anything. So tell Big Daddy what you want for Valentine.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know.”
He smiled. “Oya, no vex.”
Hameedat nudged me and started suggesting different types of gifts. I laughed and began listing a few things I liked, half-joking, half-serious. George nodded, listening carefully.
When I asked what he wanted in return, he simply shrugged. “Anything.”
Before any teacher could catch us hiding instead of rehearsing, we quickly left the conference room and joined the others.
As I took my place among the dancers, I smiled because I won't be left out during Valentine's day.
***
The morning of Valentine and Krystal Day felt different. The school compound was already bubbling with red and white decorations everywhere, balloons tied to railings, music blasting from the speakers near the hall. Even teachers looked lighter, like they had decided to tolerate nonsense for just one day.
I walked into class and immediately spotted gift bags, chocolates, and envelopes peeping out of bags. Everybody was glowing.
“Today go loud,” Jerry said, grinning as he adjusted his shirt.
I tried to act normal, but my heart was beating far too fast. George still hadn’t given me anything, and I couldn’t stop wondering whether he was planning a surprise or if I had simply overhyped everything in my head.
Students gathered in clusters, snapping pictures, laughing, and exchanging gifts.
Nafisa ran up to me, squealing. “Zara! See what Khalid got me!” she said excitedly as she unwrapped her gift. But my attention drifted when I noticed Hameedat storming toward us.
No way. There’s no way she’s about to throw a tantrum today, of all days.
“You can’t imagine what Saheed said,” she gritted out, and I face-palmed immediately. Not again.
“Whatever he said, can you please not react angrily?” I begged. “Today is supposed to be about love.”
She shot me a dangerous look and opened her mouth to explain, but before she could say another word, we were all chased out to assemble for the program.
The celebration officially began with praise and worship by the school choir. The order of service was shared online so everyone could follow along and prepare when it was their turn.
Everyone was busy throughout the event. Most of the prefects anchored the program, others controlled the students, teachers coordinated the gifts and refreshments, while the proprietor and proprietress sat proudly at the high table.
Our class won the quiz and debate like it was nothing. SS2 dominated the games, while some of the junior students proudly collected prizes for spelling bee and best presentation. Cheers filled everywhere.
Soon, it was time for the benediction. Teachers began sharing out our gifts, food, and drinks, and just when everyone thought it was over, Mr. O.G cleared his throat.
“If you have any special gifts for yourselves or your teachers,” he announced, “you can present them now.”
That was when the DJ turned the volume all the way up. Latest hip-hop blasted through the speakers, and the hall went mad.
Shouts, laughter, singing. It was pure chaos in the best way. A lot of us rushed forward with gifts for Mr. O.G. He was our favourite teacher, everybody loved him.
After presenting gifts to him and to the proprietor and proprietress, we scattered back to our various classes for the real gift exchange.
The moment I stepped into our class, my heart dropped.
Hameedat was crying.
“I mean it! I don’t want this gift. Take it away!” she yelled, her voice shaking.
I stood there, stunned. This was the same gift she had talked about for weeks… and now she was rejecting it like it meant nothing.
I froze for a moment, torn between hugging her and shouting at her.
“Hameedat, calm down,” Nafisa said softly, dropping her gift beside Desire. “What happened?”
Hameedat didn’t answer. Instead, she shoved the small gift box toward Saheed like it burned her skin.
“I’m not begging for any gift. Take it away.”
Saheed’s face darkened instantly. Without a word, he handed the gift to Olamide. “Get rid of it,” he snapped, then stormed out of the class.
“What did he say?” Nafisa asked again, her voice low.
Hameedat collapsed into her seat and burst into tears.
“Who wants this gift?” Olamide asked, holding up the box. Simi quickly collected it, tucked it into her bag, and walked out with him.
Wow.
I stepped closer, about to sit beside Nafisa and Hameedat, when Amira rushed in and grabbed my arm.
“Zara, come,” she whispered urgently. “George is in the conference room… he has your gift.”
My heart skipped.
Oh wow! My Unique Readers, how would you feel if a gift was returned to you?
Thank you for reading this chapter 📖