20 chapter 20

A week later, the day which Rebecca will be witnessing the inter house sports arrived. She woke up since 5 am feeling so excited and nervous at the same time. She went to her bathroom and brushed her teeth before coming back to her room. She sat by her bed imagining what she will expect.

She thought about Richard and how he will be impressed if she wins the 100 meter race. She had been the best racer so far, but she still doubted herself until then. About an hour later, she stood up and went to the kitchen to start preparing breakfast. She suddenly remembered that her mother had bought some bread the previous night. She put some water for tea on the stove and walked to living room.

She turn on the TV started watching it to kill some time. 10 minutes later, she went back to the kitchen and found the water already boiling. She prepared some tea and put it in a red flask. She then fried some eggs and had it covered with a plate.

After she was done, she went to her bathroom and took a bath. She dressed in her sport wear which was a yellow shirt, a white skirt that was slightly above her knees and a white canvas. She went to the dining room and had breakfast. By the time she was done, it was already 7 am. She went to her mother's room and waked her.

"Good morning mum," Rebecca greeted her mother.

"Good morning, how are you?" her mother asked.

"I'm fine," Rebecca replied.

"I can see that you are ready for your inter house sport," her mother observed.

"Yes I am," Rebecca smiled.

"What's the time now?" Her mother asked.

"It is 7 o'clock," Rebecca responded.

"By what time are you starting the inter house sports? Isn't it too early for you to go by this time?" her mother asked.

"Actually, we are going to practice more for our match pass parade before the inter house starts by 9 O'clock," Rebecca explained.

"I wish you God luck then," Her mother replied.

"Will you be attending the program?" Rebecca asked.

"Actually, I have organised a lecture with some of my students," Her mother replied. "Please mum, you have never seen me participating in an inter house sport," Rebecca begged.

"I also wish I could attend it, but I have already made a promise to the students. They will think of me as an irresponsible person if I don't go," Prof. Grace explained.

"Please do understand my situation," Prof. Grace continued.

Rebecca angrily walked out of her mother's room and went to the living room. She felt like crying at that time, but she tried and controlled herself.

She had a feeling that Richard will also not attend the inter house sport. She quickly ran back to her mother room and asked her for his number.

"What are you going to do with his number?" her mother asked.

"I want to remind him about attending my inter house sport," Rebecca responded.

"You better not waste your time; I will also be having a lecture with his department. And we will be having a test at the end of the lecture," her mother explained. "What? Rebecca exclaimed.

"Yes, you heard me," her mother replied. Rebecca angrily left to her room. At that moment, she regreted not having Richard's phone number. She would have called him to find out if what her mother was telling is true. But somehow, he had confidence that he will come.

About 20 minutes later, Rebecca heard Amira calling her name from their living room. She stood up from her bed and went to the living room and found Amira also dressed in her sport wear.

She wore a red polo shirt, a white skirt and a white canvas.

"Hey," Amira said as Rebecca approached her. "Have you gotten ready?" Rebecca asked. "Oh yes I have, what about you? It seems like you are upset," Amira said.

"Like always, my mum said she will not be attending the inter house sport," Rebecca replied.

"Maybe she will be much occupied that's why she couldn't go," Amira said trying to calm her.

"She doesn't have an excuse, why can't she spare just a day out of her busy days to be there for me?" Rebecca asked angrily.

"Please lower your voice, don't let her hear you," Amira said.

"What if she hears me? I am just saying the truth, I'm not scared of anything," Rebecca responded.

"Please don't say such things about your mum, I beg you," Amira said.

"She is my mum, not yours," Rebecca responded.

"Alright, I understand," Amira responded. "Come on, let's get going," Rebecca said and they walked out of the house.

***

Richard woke up having a battle on his mind. He has planned on attending Rebecca's inter house sport, but he was also called and told that they will be having a test that morning. He finally stood up after 10 minutes of thinking.

As he was heading out of his room, his phone started ringing. He walked back to his phone which he plugged charging close to Gabriel's bed. When he unplugged the phone, he noticed that it was Janet calling him.

Richard: Hello

Janet : Good morning sweetheart

Richard: How are you darling?

Janet : I'm well

Richard: So, what's up?

Janet : Everything is up

Richard: What do you mean by that?

Janet : You have recently changed Richard, don't you love me anymore?

Richard: Why would you ever say that? Of course I do love you

Janet : I don't think so. You don't call me like you used, we don't hang out like before.

Richard: You know I am always busy, how could you think like that?

Janet : You used to have time for me no matter how busy you were.

Richard: Please do not misunderstand it, I just have some stuff going on.

Janet : Is okay, let's meet today in the evening and discuss it

After the call, Richard brushed his teeth and started preparing his breakfast. As he was about to finish the breakfast, Paul walked into the room.

"Where have been for the past 2 days?" Paul asked as he walked into the room.

"I am the one to ask you this question," Richard replied.

"So what are you cooking?" Paul asked.

"I'm cooking the usual of course," Richard responded.

"And what's that?" Paul asked.

"Rice you stupid, what do I usually cook other than that?" Richard asked and Paul started laughing at him.

"You know, Janet called me yesterday," Paul announced.

"What did she tell you?" Richard asked.

"She said she thinks you don't love her anymore," Paul explained.

Richard kept quiet wondering to tell Paul. "Why are you doing this to her? You know a girl like her is the type that every boy is after," Paul urged.

"The thing is, I don't feel happy when I'm around her like I used to," Richard responded. "Are you in love with another girl?" Paul asked.

"I think so," Richard replied.

"Don't make this mistake Richard, you are about to leave one of the prettiest girls in this school," Paul cautioned.

"If you are speaking of beauty, Janet is no match to this girl," Richard replied.

"Really? I wonder who could this person be," Paul smiled.

"She heated me before, but it turns out that she is one of the most amazing people I've ever met," Richard explained.

"By any chance, are you talking about Prof. Grace's daughter?" Paul asked.

"How did you know?" Richard asked.

"Come on, she is just a high school kid. Pray her mum never finds out, because she will be very disappointed," Paul explained.

"Yes I know, that's why I have been controlling myself," Richard replied.

"This seriously is not something you should be saying, you should get her off your mind right away," Paul replied.

"I will," Richard replied.

"Are you aware that we will be having a test later?" Paul asked.

"Yes I am aware," Richard replied.

"I haven't read much, I need your assistance please," Paul begged.

"Alright, don't you worry," Paul assured.

After they were done eating the food Richard cooked, they walked out and went to their department waiting for Prof. Grace to come and conduct her lecture and her test.

It was some few minutes to 9 O'clock, and Richard knew their inter house sport could start any moment from that time. At that moment, he wished to see Rebecca more than ever.

He began to remember how desperate she wanted him to be there and the reason why she agreed to participate. Suddenly, he had a feeling that she is the most important thing in the world to him. He quickly stood up and started heading out of the hall.

"Where are you going?" Paul asked Richard. "Somewhere," Richard replied. "Prof. Grace will be here any moment, why don't you wait until after her lecture?" Paul asked.

"I will be back soon," Richard replied and walked out the hall.

As soon as he got out, he met Janet trying to get in. "Hey Richard, where are you going to?" she asked. "Somewhere," Richard responded and kept walking. Janet remained silent and watched him as he walked away.

***

Rebecca had been impatiently waiting to see if Richard could show up despite she knew he will be having a test. She started blaming her mother for everything that got her really sad and provoked.

She wished Richard could be there to see her participating. By 9 O'clock, the school was filled with many guest most of which are the families of the students and invited students from other schools. The inter house was about to start, and the first event was the match pass parade competition.

The students that will participate in the match pass parade arranged themselves according to the houses wearing the same outfit. The school band was played and the students were ready to start the match pass. Rebecca kept looking at the crowd to see if she could spot Richard.

She at last gave up after the match pass started. "Besides, he has a stupid test organised by my mother, why would he come anyway?" Rebecca thought. As they were parading, Rebecca suddenly turned and noticed Richard in the crowd. She instantly felt like an ice was placed on her heart. The smile on her face was so radiant and enchanting. They paraded around the path made for the parading and they were been judged as they went along.

After the parade, Rebecca ran to Richard excitedly.

"I thought you were not coming, I was told that you have a test," Rebecca said.

"I do have a test, they are currently writing it right now," Richard responded.

"Then why do you abandon your test to come here? You shouldn't have come," Rebecca said.

"Nothing is important to me in this world right now than seeing you especially on a wonderful day like this," Richard replied. Rebecca felt her like heart would melt at that moment.

His words are getting sweeter in her ears every single day.

"I owe you my life Richard," Rebecca smiled. "You look beautiful," Richard compliment. "And you look handsome," Rebecca smiled back.

Suddenly Alice appeared before them. "Hey Richard," Alice said.

"How are you Alice?" Richard asked.

"I'm okay, have you seen our parade?" Alice asked.

"Oh yes I have, you did wonderful," Richard replied.

"Thanks to you, I have no doubt that our house will be in the first place," Alice replied. "Take a photo of us," Rebecca interrupted and handed Alice her phone.

"Okay," Alice replied.

They took many pictures until it was time for Rebecca to race. She was suddenly overcome by fear as their names were been called.

"I know you can do it," Richard encouraged her.

"I wish I can," Rebecca responded. She walked into the school field with her body trembling like never before. She had run many races before, but she had never felt scared like this one. The racers arranged themselves at the starting point of the race. They took off as soon as the gun was fired. Richard suddenly started trembling as they started racing.

He wished she could come in first place. But after the race ended, she took the second place. She became very disappointed in herself and felt like exploding from the inside. She had been racing for more than 4 four years and she had never come anything but first. She ran out of the field and headed out of the school. Richard ran after her and held her hand.

When she turned, he noticed that her face was already in tears.

"This is why I said I am not participating in the first place, but you made me ran," Rebecca cried.

"I am really surprise that you are crying because of this, if there is a champion here today, that should be you," Richard said. "Why should that be me when I have lost?" she asked.

"Because you have won my heart," Richard replied.

The moment Rebecca heard him, the tears in eyes stopped. She felt as if her breath was been taken away by the word he said. That moment, she felt like telling everything she felt for him. But somehow, her lips became glued and couldn't utter a word.

"You are the champion here today, so you should be happy," Richard continued. "Richard," she called out finally.

"Why are you so nice to me?" She asked. "Because..." Richard started.

"Don't you dare say is because I am your student," Rebecca interrupted.

"How do you know what I wanted to say?" Richard asked.

"Because it has been your only answer," Rebecca replied.

"But please do me tell something more that," Rebecca requested.

Richard suddenly realised where she was going, but he then remember about her mother.

"I can't," Richard replied.

"Why can't you?" she asked. Richard became quiet and couldn't talk.

"Goodbye," she said and ran out of the school compound.