Not This Time, Love Pt 10

When closing time came, I packed my books into my bag, slung it over my shoulder, and made my way to the assembly hall to meet Mike. My heart was pounding. What “good news” was he bringing? Had he already spoken to one of the girls without my consent? Was he about to parade all three of them before me? And if that happened, how on earth would I face them? I hadn’t even exchanged a single word with her since coming to school, and I wasn’t even sure she remembered me.

I waited. And waited. And waited. But Mike was nowhere to be found. My excitement slowly turned into irritation. Sick and tired of standing there like a lost puppy, I decided to head back to the boarding house and rest.

On my way, I caught sight of someone in a classroom who looked suspiciously like Mike. Curiosity pushed me to check. I stepped into the room—and froze.

There was Mike, at the back of the classroom, sitting on a girl’s lap.

The moment he saw me, he grinned. “Close the door and join us,” he said casually.

“Close the door… and join you?” I echoed, baffled.

First of all, I had no idea what nonsense he was pulling with that girl. Secondly, I wasn’t about to drag myself into trouble. My survival instincts screamed at me to run. “I’m going to the boarding house to rest,” I said quickly. Without another word, I stepped out, closed the door, and left them to their madness.

But my mind wouldn’t rest. What on earth was Mike doing with that girl? Were they…? No, that would be too extreme. Still, the risk of being caught was huge. Then another thought hit me like a slap: Who was that girl?

I hadn’t even seen her face. Could she be one of the three I’d spotted at assembly? Was that why Mike had warned me earlier? The nameless post office girl was among those three. Could she be the one Mike had been sitting on?

The thought made my chest tighten. I couldn’t bear the idea of losing her before I’d even had a chance. I needed to know.

So I went back and stood quietly outside the classroom, waiting for them to come out. That way, I could finally see the girl’s face.

While I was standing there, Jake appeared. Jake—the same guy who’d advised me on my first day to be careful with the people I associated with. He was a decent guy, but too holy for my liking. He was always inviting me to his prayer group, always talking about Jesus, judgment day, and things that honestly put more fear in me than comfort.

“Hey, KD. I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Jake said cheerfully. “I went to your class, then the dorm, but you weren’t there. We’re having special prayers for all the first years tonight. Would you be kind enough to join us?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could say a word, a piercing scream echoed from inside the classroom.

The scream was so loud that it drew a crowd of students in seconds. My heart leapt. Without thinking, I shoved the door open with all my strength. The force sent me sprawling onto the floor. I scrambled up quickly—

—and what I saw in the room left me completely stunned.

Not This Time, Love Pt 9

As soon as the boy whispered those words in my ear, I panicked. I never knew the assistant headmaster had a daughter at the school. That was when it hit me—the deep mess I had dragged myself into. Fear gripped me so tightly I couldn’t even look in the direction of the three girls.

Then I noticed something. The boy who had whispered was giggling. A bad sign. My mind raced. Was he just playing games to scare me off my dream girl? I decided to test him.

“Which of those three is the assistant headmaster’s daughter?” I asked, forcing courage into my voice.

“Oh, come on, I was just kidding,” he smirked.

Just kidding? I swear, if I had the chance, I would’ve planted a blow right in his face and told him I was just kidding too. He had no idea what he’d just put me through. I stayed calm and looked away until assembly ended.

On my way to class, the same boy walked up to me again.

“I can help you get one of the girls… if you’re ready to pay.”

“Ah, who told you I’m interested in any of them?” I shot back.

He chuckled. “Oh, please. I wasn’t born yesterday. From the way you were staring, it’s either you’re interested in one, or you’re just nosy. Anyway, that’s what I do for fun. If you want one, just say it. I’ll hook you up, effortlessly. My name’s Mike. Business class.”

He walked away, leaving me staring after him. From that moment, I began to wonder: was I that transparent? Could people really look at my face and know exactly what was on my mind?

Later, during the first break—after finishing breakfast at the dining hall—I headed to the assistant headmaster’s office in high spirits. I was sure the news he’d give me would be good. If my transfer from General Arts to Science succeeded, I wouldn’t need Mike’s shady help. I’d find my own way to win the nameless post office girl.

The assistant headmaster was calmly reading the Daily Graphic when I entered. He gestured for me to sit. From a file on his desk, he pulled out the paper containing my answer to his Science question and handed it to me. I realised he hadn’t even marked it.

Before I could say anything, he spoke.

“I admire your courage, your passion, and your determination. Looking at your answer, although you got it correct, I’m still not convinced you can handle Science. It’s up to you to prove me wrong. This is what I’ll do: I’ll move you to the Science class, but not this term. You’ll go next term. Your transfer will depend on how well you perform in the first-term exam, especially in core Science. Do you understand?”

“Yes, please,” I replied quickly.

“Good. Now go back to your class and study hard as if there’s no tomorrow.”

I stood, thanked him, and left.

I had thought moving to the Science class would be easy, but reality slapped me. Our wise folks say, he who wants to move mountains tomorrow must first learn to carry stones today. If I wanted this, I had to study hard and take Science seriously.

During the second break, Mike found me again. His eyes were shining. “I’ve got very good news for you,” he said. “Meet me in front of the assembly hall.”

I wasn’t sure how “good” this news would be. But curiosity got the better of me, and I agreed to meet him.

Not This Time, Love Pt 8

At the dining hall, I couldn’t enjoy my food. I still hadn’t gotten over the fact that it was just a dream. I wished it had been real. The kenkey, hot pepper, and fried fish in front of me tasted like plain cardboard in my mouth. I pushed the plate aside, even though my stomach was growling.

After dining, I went straight to my bed. Alone, I replayed the dream in my head. If I’d known it wasn’t real, I wouldn’t have wasted time trying to kiss her gently. I would have grabbed her. I wouldn’t just have kissed her—I would’ve chewed off those sexy lips, run my hands all over her body. I would have… erm… done terrible, delicious things to her.

As I lay there, still haunted by the nameless post office girl, a Form One student appeared at my bed with a plate.

“The DHP says I should come for shito from you.”

I sat up. “Are you sure he mentioned my name?”

“Yes. He said KD—the nephew of the assistant headmaster.”

That last part hit me. I got off the bed, fished out my chop box key, and opened it. Scooping three spoons of shito onto his plate, I handed it over without another word. He left, but a few minutes later, another boy showed up.

“KD, the Senior Boys Prefect says I should come for milk from you.”

“Me? I don’t even think the SP has set eyes on me before. Why would he send you to me?”

The boy shrugged. “How should I know? If you want answers, go and ask him yourself. I’m only a messenger.”

Since prep time was close, I didn’t argue. I pulled out a tin of milk and gave it to him.

But when I sat for prep, I couldn’t read a line. Three “monsters” refused to let me focus.

The first was the dream of the post office girl—and how I could ever make it real.

The second was the seniors using me as their personal supermarket. Why me, and not the other form ones? I needed a plan, a very wicked plan, to stop them.

The last monster was the lie I had created—the “identity theft.” I’d once told a senior the assistant headmaster was my uncle, and now the whole school believed it. I didn’t even know how the rumor had spread so fast. But what if it reached the assistant headmaster himself? That thought alone gave me shivers.

The next morning, I woke up an hour before the bell. I used the time to read my Bible, pray, and think through the day. When it was time for work, the SP himself came to me.

“From today, you’re exempted from all the dirty work first years do. You’ll serve me instead.”

I froze. Was this good news or bad news? I wanted to ask exactly what “serving him” meant, but I swallowed my words and nodded. I just prayed he wouldn’t come every time he needed food.

He handed me his shoes. “Polish these for me.” Then he added casually, “I hear the assistant headmaster is your uncle.”

My heart skipped. Should I tell him the truth? What if the exemption was only because of that rumor? I hesitated, then lied. “Yes, he’s my uncle. In fact, he made sure I came to ADASS even though I’d gotten admission at Prempeh College.”

Later at morning assembly, fortune placed me right behind her. The girl. I wanted to speak, but she was deep in conversation with her friends. From the bits I caught, they were mocking how one of the teachers taught. I barely listened. My eyes were glued to her the whole time, unblinking.

I was drowning in her presence when a tap on my shoulder startled me.

A boy leaned close and whispered, “Don’t you dare go near that girl. She’s the assistant headmaster’s daughter. If you want to finish school in peace, stay far away from her.”

Not This Time, Love Pt 7

I didn’t wait for the class prefect to finish what he was saying. I thanked him and dashed straight to the assistant headmaster’s office. I didn’t want to waste even a second—I wanted to hear the good news from the horse’s own mouth.

When I got there, I knocked. No response. I waited a moment and knocked again. This time, he called out, “Yeeees, come in.”

I stepped inside. The moment he saw me, he said, “Go back to your classroom. Come during closing time.”

I didn’t like how he was postponing the final announcement, but I had no choice. I went back to class, this time finding our CRS teacher already teaching. I can’t recall the topic—my mind was elsewhere. I was too busy imagining myself striding into the Science class like a hero. I didn’t bother taking notes, and I skipped the class exercise too.

After CRS, another teacher came in. He introduced himself as our Literature-in-English teacher. He spoke about the scope of the subject, the texts we’d study, and what the course was all about. I’d always loved reading, so within minutes, I found myself completely hooked. At that moment, I thought, Maybe moving to the Science class isn’t worth it after all.

But then, the girl’s face flashed in my mind. That settled it—I was still torn.

By closing time, I had decided I’d tell the assistant headmaster I no longer wanted the transfer. I marched to his office and found him standing outside. I greeted him. He told me to wait inside.

I sat on the sofa, trying to steady my nerves. A few minutes later, he came in and handed me a sheet of paper. For a second, I was back in my JSS days, when the head teacher would hand me math questions to solve. But this time, it wasn’t math—it was science.

I did my best. Thirty minutes later, I handed it back. He scanned through my answers, smiled, and simply said, “Come and see me tomorrow.”

No verdict again. Just suspense.

Back at the boarding house, I was exhausted. I flopped onto my bed, and instantly, thoughts of the nameless post office girl filled my head. I imagined how I’d win her over—first as a friend, then as the one and only love of her life.

And then, somehow… she was there. In my room. Walking toward my bed.

She asked me to adjust so she could lie beside me. My heart raced, but I moved without hesitation. Her voice was soft and musical. The way she looked at me sent shivers down my spine.

It was the first time I’d been this close to her since the day she helped me find my lost key at the post office.

I touched her skin—so soft. I pulled her into a tight hug. She wouldn’t let go until I kissed her. She begged for it, like her life depended on my lips. I was ready. I cupped the back of her neck, drew her closer, and just as I was about to plant that long, deep kiss—

“Hey, it’s time for dining. Wake up!” my roommate’s voice cut through.

He walked out, leaving me frozen.

It was then I realised: it had all been a dream.

I sat up, so disappointed I wanted to cry. With a heavy sigh, I slipped on my white shirt and trudged to the dining hall.

Not This Time, Love Pt 6

As soon as I heard the door open, I quickly told the senior that I wasn't going to report him anymore. I was sure he wasn’t convinced—judging from the look on his face—but he ran off before the assistant headmaster and his visitor could step out of the office.

“Are you here to see me?” the assistant headmaster asked as soon as he set eyes on me.

“Yes, please,” I replied.

He invited me in, offered me a seat, and asked why I had come. Before I answered, I whispered a short prayer in my head. Then I told him I wanted to change my class from General Arts to Science.

“Why?” he asked.

Now, the real reason was sitting in the Science class with a face that could melt my brain. But of course, I couldn’t tell him that. That would have been the dumbest answer a supposedly smart guy like me could ever give. So instead, I lied: I told him I wanted to be a doctor one day, and that meant I needed Science.

He stared at me for a while, his eyes scanning my face. At that moment, I wished I could read minds. Was he thinking I was ambitious—or just a liar with a straight face?

He asked me to write down my name, class, and the grades I got from the basic examination. After I gave him the information, he simply said, “Go back to class.”

Go back to class? Just like that? No verdict? No transfer? Well, I didn’t argue. I just obeyed, though in my head I was praying hard that he’d grant my request.

I returned to my classroom, still hopeful. The class was chaotic. Almost everyone was shouting about a fight. A fight? Between who? I soon found out it was over a desk—a boy and a girl battling for ownership. Classic boarding school drama.

Just as I sat down, a teacher stormed in with a cane. Without asking questions, he ordered us to put our heads on the desks. I wanted to explain that I had just arrived, but he wasn’t listening to anybody. Swish! Three lashes each. The pain was sharp, but I consoled myself with a thought: I wouldn’t be in this class for long. Any moment now, the assistant headmaster would announce my grand transfer to the Science class.

I started fantasizing about it—my triumphant entry, the stunned looks of the students, and of course, the smile of my mystery queen.

But my daydream was interrupted when Senior Pito, the senior I had confronted earlier, walked into the class. He looked furious. My heart raced, but I tried to act calm. I grabbed a book from my bag and started flipping pages like I was the most serious student in the world.

He stood in front of the class and barked, “May I have your attention, please. From now onwards, KD will no longer be the bell boy. The post has been given to Evans.”

After the announcement, he stormed out without another word.

Almost every eye in the class turned toward me. No one dared to ask how I managed to escape my not-so-honorable duty. I heaved a sigh of relief. One hurdle down. Now, the real one remained—my transfer to the Science class.

I waited anxiously for the assistant headmaster, but he never came. When the second break ended, I promised myself that after dining, I’d sneak a tour of the Science class. Who knows? I might even catch a glimpse of my soon-to-be queen.

At the dining hall, I received a surprise. They served me as if I were a senior. My jaw nearly dropped. Why the special treatment? I didn’t ask—I just ate.

And just when I thought it was over, the DHP called me over and gave me another full bowl of gari and beans. I accepted it without hesitation. I wanted to ask why he was treating me like royalty, but I decided to shut up and eat.

I couldn’t finish it all—I was stuffed. But before I left, the DHP told me to come to the prefects’ room after closing.

When I came out of the dining hall, break was almost over. I hurried back to class. The moment I entered, the class prefect looked at me and said, “The assistant headmaster came here while you were gone.”

My heart skipped. Had I just missed the answer to my prayer?

#Not_This_Time_Love Pt 5

When the girl reached me, she gazed at me but said nothing and walked away. In that moment, I remembered her pretty face. Yes, the girl I had seen the other day on my way to the post office. She looked even prettier now than before. I wanted to call out to her, but I hesitated. I hesitated because I couldn't bear the shyness, anxiety, and excitement of seeing my crush. The worst part was that I was still kneeling. How could I call her in such a circumstance? A boy on his knees, calling a girl? That would have been my obituary right there.

The senior who made me kneel approached and told me to get up, but only after I promised him I would accept being the bellboy. I disliked the idea, but since I was in pain, I accepted his offer and stood up.

I rushed to the dining hall to eat. By the time I arrived, they had finished eating and were exiting the hall. I had planned to return to my classroom, but I felt compelled to check my table in case my table members had left something for me. I pushed my way through the crowd of students leaving the dining hall and reached my table. There was no food left for me. My heart sank.

Out of desperation, I went to the DHP and begged him for some of his food. He readily shared, but it was not for free. He told me that whenever he was hungry, I would feed him. I thought to myself that it was a good deal. Why? Because there was no way he would be hungry. He was the DHP, always having enough to eat, even surplus. Little did I know I had just signed a lifetime contract with a landlord of food.

I sat down with him at his table and began to enjoy the food. We started chatting. I begged him to make me his school son, but he refused. He told me he already had three, so I should find another senior. I wanted protection. I wanted a senior who could save me from becoming a bellboy. The very thought of ringing the bell made me ill. How could a fresh boy like me be forced to ring the bell while other boys were eagerly wanting to do it?

I finished the food quickly and went to take the bell. Just as I was about to ring it, I saw the girl again. My blood froze. I wanted to hide the bell behind me, but it was too late because she had already noticed it. I was left with no choice but to ring it. Each clang of the bell felt like an announcement: “Behold, the bellboy! Fresh boy in uniform!” She continued looking at me, and my heart broke with every strike of the metal.

After my "duty" was done, I returned to the classroom. Despite the shame I had experienced, I still held on to the hope that all was not lost. I decided to get close to her, somehow. I was in General Arts class, while she was in the Science class. I resolved to speak with the assistant headmaster for academics to see if he could transfer me to the Science class. I knew it was a high-risk move, but I was determined to get closer to her. I was motivated by the saying, “Nothing ventured, nothing philosophically gained.”

I stood up and quietly left my classroom. There was no teacher in the room at that time. When I arrived at the assistant headmaster's office, there was a visitor, so I decided to wait. While I was waiting, I saw the senior I had confronted in the morning approaching.

When he reached me, he asked what I was doing in front of the office. Not wanting to reveal my purpose, I lied, saying the assistant headmaster was my uncle and I was there to report his behavior. When he heard this, he was shaken with fear. He begged me not to report him, or else he would be suspended. He promised me then and there that he would not mistreat me or allow me to ring the bell again. I pretended to still be unconvinced, so he continued begging. I wanted him to promise me protection, but before he could respond, the door of the assistant headmaster opened.

The knob turned slowly. My heart pounded like a drumline. This was the moment that would either save me—or finish me.