The Virgin

Episode 2

Micheal transferred to another school the next term. After my ordeal with him, I still wanted to give guys a chance. Fast forward to ss3, before waec (West African Examination Council). Koko was the labour prefect I secretly had a crush on but was nothing serious. Then it got serious. We were not in the same class but we shared the same Economics teacher. She gave a general assignment which had a lots of calculation. On my way to the assembly ground, a voice called my attention.

“Hi”

“Hi” I said.

“You are in ss3 emerald right?” he asked.

“Yeah” I replied.

“Okay. Have you done that Economics assignment? I solved it but i……..am so sorry. Am koko” he said, smiling apologetically.

“No worries, am Inona” I said, smiling.

Koko: “Thanks. As I was saying I wasn’t sure of my answer, wanted to know if you have done yours and see if it corresponds with mine”.

Hmmm. Is that how high he thinks of me? Or he just looking for an excuse to talk to me? Whichever I love the feeling am having now, I thought.

Me: “Yeah, I have done it but my bag is the class. Maybe after the assembly, I could show you”.

Koko: “Okay, cool. Later then”.

I said bye and walked to the assembly ground. Assembly was fast today which I loved. He came to my class almost immediately I entered the class. I opened the page where I solved the assignment.

Koko: “Uhm I think your answer is wrong dear”.

“Huh?” I asked, with one eyebrow raised.

Koko: “Yeah”

Me: “What makes you say that?”

“It is because when x is 12 then………………”

I didn’t get what he said because I was filled with anger. He finished ‘blabbing’ then I said thank you. When he left, I looked closely at the problem and actually I was wrong. My anger disappeared and my love increased.

As a labour prefect, he covers me up whenever I don’t carry out my responsibilities when it comes to labour work. Most times he asks junior students to carry out the operation. We became close friends, talked on phone every day after school. Rumours had it then that we were dating but we actually weren’t and I don’t know why! I keep asking myself why he hasn’t ask me to be his girlfriend formally, I thought. Oh! I forgot to mention, my friend Peri had a crush on him. I didn’t see her as a threat because I knew Koko had eyes only for me. Yes, am confident like that.

Waec was over. We still come to school to gist and play board games. My classroom was the venue for all fun activities, so other students do come to chill with us. Koko and his crew came in, our eyes met he winked at me, i smiled. Peri from nowhere went to where Koko was sitting and started flirting with him. What the hell? In my presence. Doesn’t she have respect for me? I thought. I was furious and walked out of the class. Koko ran after me and stopped me.

“Nana don’t take that personal please” he said, cupping my face with his hands.

“Why shouldn’t i? I know she has a crush on you but she went too far Koko” I said, angrily.

“Let it slide babe” he said.

He kissed my forehead and we left school together.

The next week we hung out at a lounge and this question popped in my head.

“Koko what are we doing?” I asked, sipping my drink.

“I don’t get” he said, looking up from his phone.

“As in are we in a relationship?” I asked, dropping my glass on the table.

“Ofcourse b” he answered, focused on his phone.

Me: “What kind of relationship do you think am asking?”

Koko: “Ahah Inona, everybody is in a relationship in one way or the other. Either as friends, lovers or even enemies, all na relationship”.

Me: “So which are we in as?”

Koko: “Your questions are strange seriously”.

Me: “Koko answer abeq”.

Koko: “Are we not friends?”

Me: “Just friends?”

Koko: “What are saying?”

Me: “I mean something apart from friends?”

“Wait! Do you think we are dating?” he asked, covering his mouth with his hand.

I have never felt so embarrassed in my life before. I controlled my emotions and pretended.

Me: “No o, not really. Just that it seems so to people”.

He returned to the phone. After some minutes.

Me: “But is it a bad idea if we do?”

“I can’t date” he said, without looking up.

“Huh? I don’t get” I asked, perplexed.

He sat up and faced me.

“I made my mum a promise not to have any intimate relationship with anyone till I enter the university” he said.

“Then why have you been treating and talking to me like we have a thing together?” I said, still perplexed.

“Errr that wasn’t the intention of the care. I do those things to all my friends” he said, with a raised eye brow.

“What about when I was pissed about Peri flirting with you? You sounded like she did something crazy to come in between us”.

“Yeah, I knew her act would have hurt and embarrassed you as my bestie. But babe you did think we are dating?” he asked.

Me: “Nevermind”.

Koko: “Talk to me na, am sorry if you took everything the wrong way”.

Me: “So wait, you are not going to have any intimacy till university? Come on, you are an adult. You can make decisions by yourself”.

Koko: “Am not going to break my promise to my mum nana”.

I walked out of the lounge angry. I can’t give my ‘Pride’ to a ‘Mummy’s boy’ I need a man, I need a man who can have my interests in heart, I need a man who can carry the responsibilities that comes with my ‘Honeypot’.