"Why run, when you can walk"-by unknown
...ᘛ....
Still looking at the shivering body lying on the ground, a crowd had gathered around Julia.
Ayo dragged Delilah to a corner and asked "Abeg, what just happened? why did she faint?"
Delilah hesitated. Contemplating if she should tell him. She had sworn never to tell anyone since it happened.Maybe he would understand and not judge Julia so much. But won't that be betraying Julia?
Julia had strictly told her never to tell anyone, not even her parents knew. No other soul only Delilah. Julia had once seen it as an embarrassing reason. So she kept it under the wraps.
He saw her hesitance, which made him more curious. He switched moods, no one could ignore his pleads so he was certain she couldn't.
"Just tell me," he pleaded.
"Okay, but don't tell anyone not even Daniel,"
''What about Julia?"
"Don't tell her I told you this," she said,"or she will hate me."
"okay,"
Delilah sighed, lifting her gaze to Ayo. She stretched her legs signaling for him to lower his height, so she could whisper into his ear. His eyes lit up like he had just heard something amusing then his mood transformed into a pitiful one. Delilah unbuckled out of his ear, hoping he would understand.
"so when did this Phobia start?"
"ten years ago," she answered and he nodded looking back at Julia.
"should I call a teacher?" He asked, "Or get some water so we could wake her up?"
"No, lets take her to the school nurse,"
They both walked back to were Julia laid seeing as the Minnie crowd had dismissed. She reached down, dipping her hands under Julias' waist and head. But failed miserably on carrying her up.
"Are you done playing with her body?" He asked. Folding his arms around his chest with a dull facial, receiving a penetrating glare from her."upon all those sports exercise you've been doing, you cannot carry her."
"she's too heavy!!" she complained.
He squats down repeating what Delilah had done earlier and without a twitch of muscle he managed to carry her up. "see, easy." He teased. Making her role her eyes at his I too know attitude.
...ᘛ....
Ayo walked into the schools' clinic with perspiration bubbles forming on his forehead; he sighed wearily.
"abeg, call the nurse"
He gazed at her face, seeing how angelic she looks in an unconscious state. Her chaotic hair covered those beautiful brown eyes which he was dying to look at, but were unfortunately closed. He recalled what Delilah had told him earlier as he watched her chest rise and fall, spotting those minions of sweat guarding her forehead.
Delilah ran into the nurses inner room for a minute or two then comes out, seeming worried.
"is the nurse in?"
"No," she answered making him groan in frustration.
"Drop her on the bed na,"
"oh, okay," ha said, realizing he was still holding her in his arms. He drops her on the soft sheets.
"are you sure she's not in?"
"yes, I'm 100% sure,"
"who's there?!" someone asked, taking both there attentions.
A woman in white gown with a raspy curled wig and a matched up make up that failed miserably to cover her wrinkled face, came out of the inner room.
" ...aahh!!!" Delilah screamed, holding onto Ayo who just rolled his eyes pushing her away. "where did you come from?"
"make that 50%," he laughed.
" that's not possible, I checked and you weren't there," she said in disbelief.
" I told you, you needed glasses," Ayo teased making her nudge him in his side rib."Ma'am she fainted, so we brought her here."
The young lady looked at Julia then walked back into the inner room to bring out some bandages and a first aid box which she would use in dressing her wounds. Deep silence cleared the room as she dressed Julia's wounds.
Ayo tapped the tips of his fingers on the edge of the chair next him making noisy yet melodic beats. He hated moments like this. Him being a fan of small talks. This was a common attribute he shared with Jessy.
"so ma'am," Ayo asked " how's life?"
The woman turned, wrinkling her baked face by giving Ayo a cold stare.
He mumbled a sorry under his breathe as Delilah laughed triumphantly. Slowly, Julia starts coming alive, wiggling as the woman tapped more on her wounds with the methylated spirit.
Later on, the woman gives Julia some tablets to ease her headache before leaving. Delilah sits in a chair near her as Ayo stares at both of them awkwardly. He cleared his throat taking their attention.
"Delilah told me what happened ten years ago," he reported.
"what!?" she said, looking at Delilah with disappointment in her eyes.
Delilah wanted to murder him there and then. She sighed in frustration.
"she told me everything," he added, Julia scowl deepened. Delilah was so not going to survive when they get home.
"I told you not to say anything." Delilah reminded him.
"sorry, I was tempted," he said, feeling sorry for his cheep excuse.
"Don't do it again,"
"okay, I promise I won't," he ensured her. Holding her hands with all matter of seriousness, then continued," ...tell anyone, but Daniel."
Delilah mood changed, flashing between anger and regret.
He wheezed,"I'm joking, can't someone play with Again,"He cleaned the icicles of tears glugging his eyes and laughed more. "Omo, you should have seen your face."
Delilah rolled her eyes pretending she didn't hear him.
He stopped laughing and advised,"I don't think you should participate in the skipping race."
"same," Delilah agreed.
"why? I think I can actually do it," She informed, "And I've already told my mom."
"You have?" both Delilah, and Ayo said at the same time doubtfully.
" Yes," she confirmed, seating upright."what about the principal, I don't want to repeat classes, and my parents aren't planning on changing schools for me anytime soon."
"Yrue," he said, rubbing his chin, he toppled Delilah off the only chair in the room to sit in, ignoring her complaint."what if on that day you pretend that your not feeling okay, that your sick. Anytime there's practice just endure until then."
Delilah chimed," That will not work, Julia's a terrible liar."
It was true, one time she had been playing candy crush on her phone, the whole day in her room. Her father called her, asking what she was doing, and she gave an excuse that she was reading mathematics. Seriously, who reads math?
"What if he choose me for a reason?"
He asked,"And what could that be?"
Julia admitted,"U-umm. I don't know,"
"He removed those people who were willing good at sports," He said, with all matter of seriousness as his voice increased in volume,"adding people who had no interest!!"
"why are you shouting?" Delilah asked.
Realizing what he had said, his eyes soften. "sorry,"
Julia simply shrugged and asked,
"Where's Daniel?"
He replied, "I don't know,"
"They rang the bell when you fainted" Delilah assumed,"I'm sure, he had gone to class since sport was over."
"We should go," he said, standing up. In annoyance, he sighed being hesitance while he walked towards the door, he recalled,"I'm sure they've started learning."
"Stay here and rest," Delilah said, with a half smile "I'll bring your bag after school."
Julia gave a light nod, and they both left.
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