Chapter 4. My Father Was An Architect

Jeffrey's POV

"Ding!Dong!Ding!" The sound of the alarm woke me up from a deep sleep. I reached over to snooze button to stop the irritating noise. The time was 6:30am, another school day. I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom.

"Jeff! Jeff!Jeff!" My stepmother called at me as I made my way to my power bike in the compound.

What does she want from me this early morning?

I stopped and turned to face her. I hated the sight of this home breaker!

"Breakfast" She said

"I'm not hungry" I replied with a deep frown on my face.

"I.. Prepared.. your favorite.." she said as I made my way towards the garage

"You can eat it all" I said

"Jeff!" She screamed but I ignored her.

"Oga, Good Morning" the gateman said

"Open the gate" I ordered

I drove out of the compound and headed to school.

My name is Jeffrey Adams. I am the only child of my parents. I turned 18 last month, few days before end of term examinations. I am tall, with a well built shoulder and sculpted chest. Black hair, black skin and full lips. I enrolled into Empire High school after my mom's death. She died when I was 15 years old, she was diagnosed of Ovarian Cancer. Her death and the incident surrounding it changed my personality. It was an unexpected event. I never dreamt of losing my mother at such tender age. And if i was given a chance to make a wish, then it would be bringing my mom from the land of the dead so she could live again. My mother was a businesswoman. She owned a Supermarket not far from our home.

After her death, Aunty Joke, her younger sister took over the affairs of the store. It was the best thing to do around that time. I loved my parents but I was close to my mom. We were like best friends when she was alive. She was my only true friend. I discussed so many things with my mom cause she made me feel like I could discuss anything with her. But after her death, I felt Like I had lost my other part. I had no one to talk to again because I wasn't close to my father.

My father was an architect. He owned an architectural firm home in abroad. And he traveled alot. I was always with my mom whenever he was away.

Three months after my mom died, my father brought in a new wife. He introduced us but I never accepted her. I hated the sight of her the very first time she stepped into our home. To be honest, i wasn't expecting him to remarry that soon because I was still mourning my mother's death. And ever since he remarried, dad has always been home than usual. It seems he can't stand the chance of being away from his wife. And seeing him happy without mom being the source of that happiness, stirs up an anger within me. I didn't give my Stepmom the chance she wanted in my life. No one can take the place of my mother in my heart.

About Empire High School, I was given the label 'GHOST' because I hardly spoke to anyone. I wasn't interested in being friends with anybody. I was an exuberant child, very funny and friendly until I lost a precious treasure. My Mother.

I don't trust anyone and I like minding my business. I am a straight A student even though I am not the most popular boy or brightest star in school. And I never scored higher than C in Economics and B in Mathematics but I am pretty good in other subjects. Government, Literature, Crk etc. And this all about me for now.

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Joseph's POV

"Good Morning Fam" I greeted my family

I came from a family of five. Mom, dad, me and two identical siblings.

"Hi Joseph" my 14years old sister greeted me cheerfully

"How was your night Nora?"I asked.

"Good Bro" she said

I settle in the dinning chair

"Nora I told you to stop calling your brother by his name" mom said

"Why mom" she asked

"She never listens" Cora countered

My mom dished me white Rice and Egg

"He is your elder brother"

"Yes and it should be Brother Joseph" Cora corrected

"But mom, I call him Senior Joseph at school" Nora said frantically. And I laughed at the look on her face. Nora doesn't fancy adding titled to named like brother Joseph or sister whatever. She likes the foreign way.

"White people don't go by that way" Nora countered

"I guess you've been watching too much of America movies"

I heard my dad's voice

"Good Morning Dad" we chorused as he sat in his chair.

"Nora at work again" Mom said

"One of these days I will ban you from watching TV" Dad threatened

"No dad .. Just Nora" Cora said

"Nora and Cora" he replied

"But why? I call him Brother Joseph" Cora said with a sad face. And Nora laughed loudly.

"So you want to cry because of TV. Dad can you see she's the only one addicted to TV" Nora said

"That's not true"

"Silence! " dad yelled

He adjusted his eyesglasses

"Now eat up and let's leave for school. The time is 6:45am" he said checking his wrist watch.

"I'm so full"

I said some minutes later. I pushed my almost empty plate forward. And I drank a glass of apple juice.

"Wait.." My dad stopped me when i was almost leaving the dinning room.

"About that new girl.. "

"Senior Katherine!" Nora finished his intended statement

"Yes everyone was talking about her at school yesterday" Cora added

"OMG! Mom, Senior Kate's so pretty! And I'm sure that witch would be so jealous of Senior Kate" Nora said

"Yes" Cora gave her a high five.

Then i turned to face them

"Who is the witch?" Dad asked

"Angella Benson" Nora answered

Dad placed his palms together.

"Are you in the same coven? " Dad asked

"God forbid!" Cora and Nora rejected it

"So why are you calling you fellow human being a witch? "Well.. you see dad.. senior Angella is not our fellow" Nora said

"She is our senior" Cora added

"So I don't understand English"

He pointed

"We never said that -" Nora replied with a shrug

"Everyone in the junior class call senior Angella and her girls -"

"Witches of the Evil council" they chorused

"Just like the Evil witches in one of the supernatural books we read" Cora said

"Fountain falls" Nora added with a nod

"This is Serious" Dad muttered

"Dad you can -"

"Can I have a moment please?" He silenced Nora

My siblings are talkatives. Nora is the most garrulous one. They argue at times but they are close too. They are identical and because of that students at school can't tell who is Cora or Nora. My siblings disliked Angella and her girls. They complained that she's mean and unpleasant. They fought with me the very day they found out Angella was my girlfriend. The fight went on for weeks and they avoided me at school and home.

Actually, they thought Elena was going to be my girlfriend. They don't understand Elena was my bestfriend. They expected that my best friend ought to be my girlfriend and I tried to explain to them that Elena was just a friend. I have been nuts about Angella Benson since Jss1 and only Elena knew about my feelings for Angella. I couldn't confess it because I felt I was too small to keep a romantic relationship. I asked her out two years ago on Valentine's day and Angella agreed. She confessed that she had been in love with me since Jss2.blah blah blah. I was happy and we started dating. As the brightest star of Empire High School, everything you do isn't a secret. So somehow everyone got to know about my relationship with Angella. My girlfriend is nasty and clingy. Those are the words to describe Angella Benson.

"Is Kate doing well in class?" Dad asked.

"Yes Dad"

Kate answered all the questions directed to her.. Correctly without making a single mistake. It was as if she had books stored up inside her brains. She was amusing! And virtually all the teachers that came into class yesterday liked her.

"I just wanted to be sure if what the teachers reported to me was true"

"What did they say?"

"They said she anwered all the questions correctly"

"Yes"

"I'm not surprised, her report card from her previous school was good" Dad said

"But why did you admit her into our class?"

"It a long story" Dad said

Normally, they don't admit student into Ss3 class but they did with Kate. And I got to thinking that her parents must be highly connected to my dad or the proprietor of the school. I wanted to know the story behind Kate enrolling into our school.

"You can go ahead Joseph" Dad said

"Okay dad" I moved out of the house to the garage. I don't have a car yet but I have a bicycle and a power bike. So i go to school with my power bike instead of riding in dad's car.

Katherine's POV

The taxi pulled up in front of the enormous steel gate. I paid the driver and motioned towards the gate. Armed security men at the entrance. Since dad already ordered my driver to stop driving me to school so i have to make the long trek to the estate gate and then hail down a taxi to school. I wondered when this torture would end. No cellphone, no allowance and no private car.

"Kate! " I heard an unfamiliar voice call my name

I twisted to see who it was.. I couldn't recognize the two students. A thin tall brown haired boy and short girl. They joined me.

"Hello Kate" the girl waved

"Good Morning" I greeted

"I am Temi and this is Jones" she introduced

"It nice to meet you" I shook hands with them

"It seems.. You don't remember us" Jones said

Yes!

"Hmm.. We are the same class" Temi said

"Oh! Please forgive me.. I'm not-"

"It okay " Jones sao

"We understand.. you're new here so we don't expect you to know everyone in the class" Temi Said

We started the walk to class. Suddenly a bike passed us and some girl around screamed and followed the bike.

I was confused. And I couldn't recognize who was riding the powerbike because he was on a helmet. His back view only tells that he's a boy.

"Empire's brightest star is here" Jones said

"Brightest star?" I repeated

"Yes Joseph James" Temi replied

"He is in our class" Jones added

"Really?" I asked

"Yes he was the same guy that solved the question question Danny asked us Yesterday Morning" Temi explained

Oh! Yes! I remember him! He had solved the question correctly and he gave Mr Danny a mock bow which made everyone laugh except me because it wasn't funny. Joseph parked his bike in the school garage, there are other powerbikes and scooters in it. The girls were still with him when we passed by.

Why are they with him?

Is he a god or a demi god?

"Joseph James is the most popular boy in our school" Jones said as we walked down the crowded hallway.

"He's got the brains, good looks and Joseph is the captain of Panthers Basketball Team. That's why they call him the brightest star"

It doesn't make any sense to me! Because Joseph got brains, looks and he is a captain doesn't make him the brightest star. I thought deeply.

Those girls don't have anything doing that was why they were running after a powerbike. What if one of those girls had fallen and injured herself?

Then the principal would make a report to her parents that she was running after a star boy's bike just to gain his attention.

And what was that look on his face with those girls around him?

Hmm he was feeling on top of the world.

"One more thing, his father id the principal" Temi added

Oh! Joseph was Mr Joel's son! No wonder the girls are fond of him. Good for him!

Jones opened the door and we stepped in. Some looked up at us, some were busy on their phones. Temi and Jones went to their chairs. I made my way to my chair too.

"Hi Kate" Jamal greeted me cheerfully

"Hello" I replied

The bell rang. It was Assembly time. Students trotted out of class. Temi stayed behind to take me to the assembly ground.

It was lunch time. Elena, Temi and I went to the cafeteria. I sat silently, listening to Elena and Temi conversation about the upcoming Basketball competition between Empire High School and Kingsley Academy. They were both talking about Joseph James. Elena boasted of Joseph's skill as a basketball player. She was sure our school would win with Joseph on the team. He seems to be everywhere.

"Hello ladies" A voice greeted

I glanced up and Joseph was there with another boy. I had seen him in class today. He was Joseph's Seat partner but I don't his name.

"Hello Joseph" Elena said

They both sat down on the empty chairs,facing me and Temi directly.

"Nkem my one and only" the other boy reached out to touch Temi's Hands on the table but she slapped his hand away.

"Emeka I already told you to stop calling me Nkem my one and only. My name is Temiloluwa not Nkem" Temi frowned at him

"Ehn Temi and Nkem has the same meaning" Emeka said

"Oh boy you like hailing another person's girlfriend. Better go and find your Nkem somewhere else" Elena said

I picked at my food, aware of Joseph's eyes on me.. Simply studying me. It makes me uncomfortable.

"Ah! Temi so you have a boyfriend!" Emeka gasped

"No one is single" Temi replied

"Ah! Miss Temi you are wrong. Not everyone is in a relationship" Elena countered

"Like me" Emeka said

"Yeh! Iffa hear! Emeka you of all people.. Single? Have you forgotten your nickname?" Temi said

"Minister of Girls Affairs" Elena added

They laughed. Lols! That quite funny!

"Me I just like playing with girls. I have nothing with them. But I'm single and searching" Emeka said

"So you need a date?" Joseph asked

"Oh boy!" Emeka clapped

"We never do introduction" he said again

"Who is getting married?" Joseph asked sarcastically

"No one.. I mean we haven't introduced ourselves to Kate" Emeka said

My head snapped up. Pairs of eyes on me

"Hi Kate" Emeka said

I didn't respond

He was such a talker and too noisy for my kind.

"My name is Emeka and this is my friend Joseph James, the famous and best basketball player in Empire High School"

Story! Story! Story! I already know that information about him. I lost my appetite ever since they joined our table.

Emeka expected me to say something but i didn't. I wasn't interested in talking to him or Joseph.

"Excuse me" I stood up and made my way out of the cafeteria.

Joseph's POV

I sat back and watched and studied her. It seems Kate lost her appetite the moment we joined the table. It was a plan to get to introduce ourselves properly. Actually, I thought she was going to atleast smile at me after Emeka told her about me but she didn't. Instead, she stood up and left her almost finished food behind. I was taken aback by her act. I have watched her talking to other students in class mostly girls though, but it seemed Kate doesn't want to talk to me.

"Wetin do madam Kate?"Emeka asked

"Nothing she was fine before you joined us" Temi said

"Well I think.. Kate doesn't like you" Elena blurted

"Why? I barely even know her" I said

"Temi did you notice she kept quiet while we were talking about Joseph" Elena said

"Yes.. Yes.. . That's true" Temi confirmed

"Or maybe she doesn't like boys" Emeka said

I looked at him. That's impossible!

"Omo! That girl bad! I just like her" Emeka rubbed his tiny beard

"Please who is close to her?" he asked

Temi pointed to Elena

"We are not close like that.. I'm just helping her to know the school" Elena said

"Ehn all the same can you help me talk to her?" he winked at Elena

"About what?

"I like her" He said

Suddenly a part of me felt like slapping Emeka for saying he likes Kate.

"Woman Wrapper" I muttered and stood up

"Where are you going?"

He asked

"To the court" I said

And i moved out of the Cafeteria.

Why am I so mad?

Was it because of what Emeka said?

No it can't be!

Its none of my business even if he loved Kate.