CRUSHED
By Ruth Godwin-Jonah
Date: May 16, 2022
Ch. 2CRUSHED


During prep, Isma'il couldn't take his eyes off Belinda. She had been ignoring him for quite some time and he doesn't know why. He needed to know the reason, he just couldn't fathom why. He had tried talking to her on several occasions but she had been pushing him off which he find appalling. He went further to explain his plight to his friends who had told him to give her sometime. Instead of that, it was slowing driving him crazy.
He was presently in class, lost in space even when a book was placed before him. He threw a glance here and there at his fellow classmates who were studying. He stared ahead though where Mary and her seat partner sat. After contemplating in his head, he finally mustered some courage to go to her. He looked around cautiously though, a teacher was standing close to the door reprimanding a bowed head student who stood before him. Isma'il went down on his knees, then changed his thoughts instantly squatting on his heels. His seat mate had looked at him like he was out of his mind.
"I will be back." He assured his seat mate. Taking leaping steps he found himself close to the edge of the class where Mary and Belinda sat. "Pardon me Mary." He whispered as Mary peered inquisitively at him. "I need to talk to her. Can you move over to my seat?"
Mary's lips spread in a thin, long smile. This was Isma'il for crying out loud! He was staring deep into her eyes asking away in a sweet way. Her buttocks rose slowly from the iron-made seat trying to make way for him. Belinda's hand aggressively slammed down on Mary's thigh.
"Don't be stupid." Her teeth clenched in irritation. "He can't just order you out of your seat. Tell him to find somewhere else."
Mary batted her eyes lids, feeling slightly stupid. They have been talking about Isma'il but it clearly showed that Belinda was truly tired of Isma'il and his mess. "You heard that Isma'il" Mary scoffed.
Isma'il looked again at Belinda, she was not looking at him. "Belinda, stop talking to me like I'm not here. Say whatever you want to my face." He said glancing quickly at the door. The teacher by the door had dismissed the girl student with a wave of his hand. He adjusted his position as he glanced over at the class which made Isma'il hid his face.
"What did he say?" Belinda asked.
"Nothing, I didn't hear him." laughed Mary in mockery.
"Good, tell him to speak louder."
Isma'il knew that he was definitely going to waste his time trying to get her to talk to him. With one last look, he slowly began his leaping steps back to his seat.
Later that day, when school activities were over. Belinda walked over to Isma'il who was putting some books into his bag. She placed an invitation card on his desk, giving him a placid look.
"What's this?" He asked as he picked it up. He stripped down the the ribbon covering the envelope, then he peeled back its leaf and pulled out the card.
"You're quite lucky." She shrugged. "Sam wants to see you."
"Who's Sam?" He asked then he saw the name written boldly on the card. He grabbed her arm as she began to turn away. "Who's Sam?" He had to ask again.
"Will you let go of my arm? You're hurting me. I would hate to attract a scene." Sh said irritatedly.
"What are you trying to say? Are you breaking up with me?" He asked as he looked around them. They were the only ones left in the classroom. His friends were certainly waiting for him by the school's gate after they had seen Belinda coming to meet Isma'il.
Belinda smiled as she extricated her arm from Isma'il's vicious grip. "Can't you see it Isma'il? I'm tired of you. We are done Isma'il, done." She rolled back her eyes as she noticed his shocked expression.
"Done?" his mind seem so slow to process the information. "I don't understand."
"You don't deserve me Isma'il. I did warn you, didn't I?"
Isma'il soffed, scratching his roughened, dry hair trying to comprehend what was happening to him. He glanced towards the school's gate looking through the window. What was he to say to his friends? What will he say was the cause of their break-up? She wasn't giving him a tangible reason.
" I don't understand Belinda, we can't just break-up for no reason at all."
"No reason at all? Can you hear yourself? You're too clingy and unrealistic, that's why. I am really tired of you, for real." She patted his arm calmly.
He looked down at her arm which he once snuggled on. And just like that, she was walking away. His chest tightened, dragging in deep, painful breaths, he was losing it. He grabbed the edge of his desk as he steadied himself. What had he not done for her? He did everything to please her. Belinda was truly the extravagant type, always requesting for things above his reach. He had a rich parent that was alright. But his dad was having crisis at work, how was he to explain to Belinda that he needed some time to get her the things which she craved.
She wasn't from a poor family either but he just didn't understand the fact that she was always asking for things that she could well afford herself? Was she trying to prove herself to her friends or to show off what her boyfriend gets for her? He just didn't understand. All of a sudden, she has gotten herself a new boyfriend, not just any boyfriend, one that could certainly afford her.
He sat back on his seat, looking around him. Was he in space? He seem to be in another planet that was certainly suffocating him.

Slowly, he found himself on his feet and met up with his friends who were still waiting for him. Isma'il couldn't depict what he saw on Henry's face, his face was taut yet was so funny as he tutted funnily. Lanky Peter was tapping a foot away engrossed in whatever Joseph was telling him. Joseph was the most wayward one among them, the one who could take risks, spoke his mind without flinching, he was even dreaded by most teachers. He could do most stunts and get away with it due to the fact that he had a very influential father. He was the closest to Isma'il for this fact.
"What's wrong?" Henry was the first to notice his demeanor. Isma'il raised the invitation card in the air, let them deal with him either way, after the mockery comes the advice. Joseph and Peter rallied round Henry trying to grasp the words that was written on the card.
"Who's Sammie?" Peter threw the question of which Isma'il had anticipated.
"Belinda's new boyfriend." Isma'il responded reluctantly.
His friends stopped to gape at him, each looking like a baboon of a different species. Henry tutted again then followed by a rough, bubble of laughter.
"She dumped you?" Joseph asked in shock.
"For real. She's clearly inviting me to her boyfriend's birthday party." Isma'il laughed painfully.
"And you're laughing? Doing nothing about it?" Joseph was clearly irritated.
"What am I to do?"
"Why act like it's nothing?" Peter put in.
"I plan to attend the party though." He spilled. His friends continued to gawk at him.
" It says here that you have to bring a date of yours." Henry read out the words.
"Yeah, don't worry about that. It's already fixed."
"And who's she?" Joseph wanted to know.
"Some girl." And to Isma'il's surprise they didn't try to probe further.



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