Healings chapter vii

"Miss Monalisa Me! Me!" Several children in the classroom screamed almost at once.

She beamed at them. She was grateful to be teaching such a brilliant set of pupils.

"Okay,, okay....you know we have to be orderly here."

Their voices reduced obediently. It was no news that they adored Monalisa. She was the friendliest and most beautiful teacher in YOUNG ACHIEVERS ACADEMY.

"Okay so Femi. What's your answer?" She pointed at a boy who was seated in the middle row. He quickly shot up and sneered towards the disappointed faces of his classmates who wanted to be the one to answer Monalisa's question.

"A nuclear family consists of a father, mother and children." He answered baring his teeth with glee.

"Good!" Monalisa exclaimed. "Give him a clap!"

The class responded with one clap of their hands. Monalisa didnt allow her kids to clap a lot, as that could cause a nuisance and the school had always prided itself in its serene environment. Conducive for learning.

Just then, the bell rang. Signalling the end of the class. "So for tomorrow's English class. You are to write an essay titled "My passion"" she announced.

Agatha's hand came up.

"Yes my dear?" Monalisa answered.

"Please what Is the meaning of passion?" She asked in her confused tone. Her nose twitched like a bunny and Mona smiled. Agatha had a twitchy nose. And it seemed, it twitched more when she was curious about something.

"Good question." She moved from her position at the board to sit on the desk. She swung her legs to and fro as she explained, "Well my dears, a passion is something you love doing. Anything at all. It could be like you love to dance, sing, draw..."

"Or make fun of teachers." Raymond noted and the class laughed out loud. He was the naughtiest of the lot. The reputation of his naughtiness was known all around the school. He was always dirty. Never wore clean clothes and Mona had always wondered why. Both his parents were political chieftains, so when one really thought about it, those kind of people scarcely had time for their kids.

Mona shrugged, "Well if you think that's fun, try it. And you could also write all the nicknames you have for your teachers." She smiled, an obviously fake one. The class had quieted down and Raymond who was grinning just minutes a go, had turned to an uncomfortable boy. "I'll be glad to show them to the headmistress won't you?"

He shook his head vigorously, "No ma.  I'm sorry."

"Good." She developed a good rapport with her kids but knew how to be serious when she had to be. The kids also knew how to behave when she was in that mood. It was astonishing, the fact that she had only been working there only for about eight months but she and her kids understood each other perfectly.

After the close of work that day, she was in the process of making dinner when her doorbell rang. She was shocked. She was new to the neighborhood. She only knew her next door neighbour, a handsome doctor who walked around with so much sadness in his eyes.

She remembered when she moved in just two weeks a go. She was outside, on her way to work when she saw the doctor walk out of his apartment. She'd worn her best smile and greeted him. But he just looked at her and got into his car, as if he'd just been greeted by a fly. Mona had felt so insulted. Since that day, whenever their paths did cross, they ignored each other. So now, Mona wondered, who could be at the door? She had come because she wanted to run away. From her own life. From her nightmare.

Nevertheless she bellowed, "Who is there?!"

There was no reply. She glanced at the wall clock. It was 4pm. There surely wouldn't be a serial killer at her door by this time of day. She picked up courage and opened the door. Standing outside, was one person she thought she'd never see in her life again.

"Aniekan" she called his name quietly as she stared, shocked. The six foot dark skinned hunk stared back at her with a smile.

"Come on Mona, aren't you gonna give me a hug?" He asked, spreading his bulky arm.

It was as if his last question had woken her up from a stunned dream. She squealed and jumped at him. He hugged her tightly and laughed. That laugh that bubbled out of him in a deep rumble. That deep laughter she'd loved and missed so much.

"How are you?" She asked when she finally released him. "When did you get back into the country?"

"Last week babe. And I looked for you." His gaze turned serious, "Why did you leave Mona?"

She smiled, a half smile, "Nothing Ekan. Who told you where to find me?"

"It was Comfort. I stressed her out till she finally gave in." He said. It was only comfort who knew where she was. Comfort was her younger sister who still stayed with their mom in their old neighbourhood. She was the only one who knew Mona's whereabouts. Their mother was old and suffered dementia. The same neighbourhood she'd grown up with her best friend, Aniekan. There were reasons. A lot had happened since Aniekan left ten years a go. A lot that she didnt ever think she could tell him. He was her loving best friend, but letting him into that part of her life was something she never thought she could do anytime soon.

"You're still so beautiful Mona." He said with that look in his eyes, the same look he always had whenever he looked at her.

She blushed as she lowered her long lashes. She was very beautiful. Mona had a chocolate complexion, tall and curvy in the right places. Her most outstanding feature were her lips, pink and full. She had such smooth skin that she mostly went without makeup. She was the kind of stunning beauty that didn't need extra additions.

"Oh my God, is that your car?" Mona exclaimed and moved out of the doorstep in the direction of the white convertible benz. It was beautiful and sleek. She ran her fingers on the body.

"Yeah." He said, coming to join her. "Germany was good Mona. I made it."

"Wow. You made it Ekan, just like you said you would." She was so excited and proud of her best friend. "Oya, let's take it on a spin!"

"Not today oh. I've missed your great home cooked meals."

"Please now...let's eat out." She pouted her lower lip like she used to when they were growing up. It had always weakened his defenses. But he shrugged it off.

"No." He forcefully grabbed her hand and put it under his armpit. "Oya, let's go."

"Ooooh..." She grumbled.

"Yes. And while you cook, you'll have to tell me why you left Mushin. Because you promised to wait for me there."

Monalisa bit her lip as she searched her brain frantically for a lie. She was not prepared for this. She couldn't face her best friend with the truth. She'd thought this day would never come. Well here it was, staring her in the face.

Jermaine stared at the wall clock in his office. It was a few minutes past 12AM. He had fallen into a deep slumber after Ocean had massaged his palm earlier. Come to think of it, where was she? His office was empty. Devoid of her presence. He picked up his laptop bag and proceeded out of the office. He had to go home. He had a head pounding ache and he needed some paracetamol and the comfort of his bed.

He saw Promise outside, "Bro, I'm going home. Please take care of the kid till tomorrow."

"Which kid? The cancer kid? I haven't seen her". Promise asked puzzled. He had looked for the kid.

His head was aching so much it had started affecting his vision. "She should be around. I'll see you in a few hours."

"Okay bro. Take care."

He walked out of the hospital and found Ocean. Sitting on the steps that led people in.

"Ocean?"

She looked up at him and smiled, "You're awake."

"Yeah. You should go in now. So that Promise would look after you."

"Okay." She said, getting up from the steps.

"Wait, have you had anything to eat?" Jermaine asked out of the blue. She looked so thin and frail. He hadn't even seen her put anything in her mouth.

"I am. But Aunty Nonye is not here."

Just then, a pregnant woman led by her husband walked into the hospital gate. She was yelling and sweating. She was obviously in labour.

Immediately she got to where Jermaine stood, she grabbed his chest, "Doctor come oh...heii!!!" She exclaimed.

"I'm not on duty tonight. But you can go in. You'll find another doctor and some nurses inside." He explained.

"Okay. Thank you." The man said as he led his wife inside.

Jermaine looked at them. Promise and the other two nurses would be busy all night. No one would bother about Ocean. And what's worse, she was hungry and needed a change of clothes.

"Would you want to go home with me? So that you can eat something." He offered. He wasn't sure if it was the headache that engineered him to make that offer. What was he doing? Did he just invite an orphan kid into his home?

Before he could take back the offer, he saw her smile widely at him. He felt his heart soften. Why was his heart becoming tender all of a sudden? A few months back, he would have said he had no heart. But this Kid had a staggering effect on him.

"I'll come. Thank you." She said politely.

"Okay, let's go." He said and they walked towards his car together. ~Its just one night, tomorrow she's Nonye's property~ He told himself.

Written by Ineh Precious.

Ineh Precious is a student and writer who has love for everything artistic. She has no published work out there but controls a certain amount of follower-ship on her instagram page. You can connect with her on instagram : @the.witty.writer.