GRUMPY AND THE PRIEST : EPISODE 11 – 20
Episode 11b
By Faith Lucky.
Fully prepared for school, Nina walked down the dining for breakfast which was Bagel and Cream cheese.
Denise was sitting next to Declan, putting on his shirt and this made Nina feel gutted.
She couldn’t believe she’s was going to be living with someone else in the house. Well, she didn’t really have much of a choice. Declan had suggested Denise stayed with them for the meantime and there was nothing she could do.
“Good morning, dad. Good morning, aunt’ she greeted cheerlessly as she took a seat.
“Morning, angel. How’re you doing?” Denise quickly replied and asked, wearing a broad smile.
“I’m fine”
“How was your night Nina?” Declan asked.
“It was okay”
One of the maids came forward to dish our Nina’s meal, but Denise stopped her and preferred doing it herself.
“I really hope you get to like this, Nina. It was specially prepared by me.” She said to Nina as she did the dishing and served them to her.
“Thanks” Nina replied perfunctorily and collected the meal from her.
She was really trying to be nice, but Nina still felt uncomfortable about it. she couldn’t believe her dad was in love with someone else.
Well, she really wouldn’t blame anyone. Her dad was still young , handsome and charming and any lady could fall for him.
If her calculations were accurate, her dad was just 39 years old.
“So what do you think about my meal , Nina?” Denise asked after a short while.
“I think the bagel is too salty” Nina replied as she gulped down some juice and stood up.
“See you later, dad” she said as she gave Declan a peck and left, knowing she might have offended Denise.
GRUMPY AND THE PRIEST : EPISODE 11 – 20
She didn’t have much to do in school. Emily was just the only one who kept her company.
Theo had been busy In the basketball court, practicing for a big game they had in a few weeks.
And as for Alvin, she hadn’t seen him around. He’s just been quiet and scarce and the only time Nina had seem him, he acted like she was invisible.
She’s been calling his line severely, but on most occasion, when not switched off, he never picked her calls.
When it was time for close, she sighted him around the lab and ran to meet him.
“Alvin!” She called as she tapped him from behind.
He turned around to look at her, having a pallid expression.
“Alvin what’s going on?” Whyve you been avoiding my calls? I thought something terrible might have happened.”
“And why are you so worried?” He asked blankly. “I’m not your fiance, you know?”
Nima flinched and scoffed. He was patently acting strange and she couldn’t figure out why.
“But…”
“Listen to me, Nina. I’m sorry about everything that’s happened. But, we both have different lives to live and we need to stop complicating things. so, I think it’s best if we kept a little distance for now.”
“But, I thought we were friends?”
“Friends?” He asked and chuckled as he walked away, leaving Nina heart broken.
She felt dumped and ignored especially because it was coming from someone she liked.
She couldn’t believe Alvin had asked her to stay away from him.
She’s always liked him and never thought of losing him as a friend, but things were just getting confusion.
She walked dazily to the Main gate and bumped into Maia who poured a glass of wine on her, making it stained.
She was with her friends who laughed when it happened.
“Oh sorry about that” she said and walked some steps away with her friends.
“But I think you deserve that and worst” she added with a giggle and left.
GRUMPY AND THE PRIEST : EPISODE 11 – 20
Nina stared at her red stained dress and stared at Maia who was now walking away happily wit her friends. She was suddenly feeling weak and couldn’t think of retaliating even if she wanted to.
Few of the students who were around who had noticed it were all gawping at her and released small laughters in the end.
Shortly, her car arrived and she hopped in, feeling relieved.
When she arrived home, she headed straight for her room and took a nap, hoping her head would cool off when she did.
By the time she woke up, it was already evening, but she still felt buggered and I’ll.
She went downstairs and there she met Denise, trying on a bracelet. Nina recognized the bracelet to belong to her mom and she wandered how Denise had gotten in touch with it.
Was it possible she’s been to her room?
“Give that back! It’s my mom’s” Nina said as she rushed over to where she was and snatched the bracelet from her, stating at it.
She didn’t like it when someone else meddled with her mom’s belongings.
“Hey chill, okay?” Denise said with a cranky smile.
“I had no plans of eating it up, especially not something that belonged to the dead.”
Nina’s eyes dimmed.
“What did you say?” She asked crumply.
“I’m sure you heard me. You haven’t gone deaf, have you?” Denise replied sarcastically and that was when Declan walked in.
“Baby” she called excitedly as she ran into his arms and kssed him. “Just in time to pick me up.”
“Hello Nina. How was school today?” He asked, a little bit surprised at the somber look On Nina.
“I’m…I’m fine. Welcome dad” she stuttered with her eyes staring at him.
“Uhm, okay. I have somewhere to go with Denise. So, I’ll see you later, okay? Bye” he said and left with Denise who winked at her before leaving.
A tear dropped down Nina’s cheek as they left.
Denise had only been a wolf in sheep clothing.
She felt bittered and berefted and needed someone to talk to; someone who would understand.
She couldn’t go to Emily because she had no idea where she lived. She couldn’t go to Theo because…they weren’t that close enough.
She couldn’t go to any of her relatives because it might bring about misunderstanding. She didn’t want anything that’d trouble her dad.
Her mom was late and Alvin was avoiding her. .she felt completely helpless and lonely, but still she needed someone to talk to.
She asked one of the drivers to take her for a ride and on the way, she asked him to head for the cathedral. Her sprit was so weak.
She dropped in front of the cathedral and walked in, heading for her usual place.
As she walked along the tied floors, she came across a little girl with a woman who was probably her mother. They held hands together looking so happy and after a short time, the woman carried the girl in her hands.
Nina stared at them pathetically and could feel some liquids forming up in her eyes.
She sniffle and paced along until she got to the entrance of the small church where she found Alvin, playing the keyboard, as usual.
She starred st him from outside for a long time but couldn’t go in. Although, she was wishing she could go in and talk to him as usual, things were changed.
After staring raddledly at him, she slowly turned around and started walking away. And as She did, she let the tears flow freely. She didn’t even know where else to go.
But, halfway to the gate, she heard someone running towards her direction from behind and she turned around to see Alvin, now standing in front of her.
“Nina, what’re you doing here?” He asked as he got to where she was but felt surprised when he saw her eyes glistening with tears.
“I’m…I’m sorry; I…I didn’t really mean to show up. I just need…needed to be somewhere” she stuttered tearfully and turned around to leave , but Alvin held her back.
“Nina, whats wrong?” Alvin asked in an unfeigned perturbed voice, turning her back to himself.
Nina couldn’t hold back the acrimony as she busted out in tears.
“I’m sorry. I…I just miss my mom a lot”.
Alvin’s face softened as he drew her closer, burying her face in his chest.
GRUMPY AND THE PRIEST : EPISODE 11 – 20
They were under a tree. Alvin was sitting on the floor with his back leaned against the tree , while Nina laid upwards with her head placed on his legs.
Alvin felt stupid for avoiding Nina in the first place, not knowing she had some complications and needed to share them with someone.
The reason he ignored her was : first, his mom.
His mom had been on his neck all through, warning him to stay away from Nina and seeing Nina having lunch with theo the previous day, melted his heart.
He couldn’t tell why it affected him that much. But he just felt bad about it.
And to crown it all, Theo had broken up with Maia. That only meant he wanted to take his relationship with Nina seriously and him, Alvin, didn’t want to be an intruder.
Besides, he had plans of becoming a priest and heeded to avoid all forms of temptations.
GRUMPY AND THE PRIEST : EPISODE 11 – 20
When Nina was standing at the entrance staring at him, he knew but didn’t turn around to look at her. He was thinking she would come in but she didn’t. And after a long time, he decided to look at her and surprisingly, he saw her walking away.
For a moment he felt it was best if she walked away, but for an unexplained reason, he couldn’t let her go and so, he got on his Feet and ran after her.
“But why don’t you convice your dad to let her go?” He asked after listening to everything Nina had said.
“I don’t think he’s gonna accept it.” Nina replied. “I think he’s obsessed with her.”
By that time, her sniffles had died away.
“Don’t yuy think you should talk to someone about it?” He asked again and Nina sighed haplessly.
“I wouldn’t want to cause a dispute between anyone. But I’m sure they’d definitely break up if really she isn’t the right one for him”
“I’m sorry Nina.”
She smiled and took her eyes to the galaxies above.
“You know,” she said after a pause. “When I was a kid, my mummy always told me the brightest stars were not actually mere stars. They were CCTV cameras. She also told me if you could get three twinkling stars that fell on a straight line, it was a rare opportunity and any wish you made at that time would come to pass.
“Funny, right?” She said and laughed.
“Well, unfortunately for us, we don’t have any wishing star” Alvin replied and they both laughed .
“Your mom was really fond of you right?” He asked.
My mom? She was the best thing in the world to me. She was more like my best friend. If only I’d be given an opportunity to chose between her and the world, I’d kill for her.”
“Wow! Seriously?” Alvin asked and laughed.
“Alvin, why were you mad at me before?”
“It’s…it’s nothing Nina. I’m sorry about that”
“Promise me something. Alvin. Promise me you’re never going to break our friendship again.”
He smiled charmingly at her.
“I promise” he said genially.
They went silent for a short while.
“Look Alvin! There’re two twinkling stars next to each other!” She said excitedly as she pointed to the sky.
“I wish they’d come together on a straight line so it would be just one more star left to complete it”
“Well, you can still manage a wish with just that star . Maybe, you could wish to have new ear-rings. I’m sure that’d come to pass.”
“Really? Well , why don’t I wish to pull off your nose?” She asked and tweaked his nose and they both laughed.
“Could you sing me my favorite? Please?” She asked with an appealing tone.
“And what will I get in return?”
“Uhm…I’d get you some bubble gums.”
And they ended up laughing – again.
“Okay” he paused and cleared his throat.
“If I could be like the trees
Free to wave it’s branches anytime;
If I could be like the stars
Free to show up anytime
And if I could be like the birds
Free to go wherever it pleased
Then the sky will be my limit
Cause I’ll be flying higher than higher
Free to go where I want
Higher than higher
And do what I want
Higher than higher
Be with whom I want
Just the sky,
Oh, the sky
Will be my limit”.
And Nina never noticed there was a change in the lyrics of the 13th line.
GRUMPY AND THE PRIEST : EPISODE 11 – 20
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