Kora
"Good morning, mum." I walked into the kitchen as fast as I could, still struggling to put on my jean jacket. It was seven-thirty in the morning, and I could not believe how early it was, and how late I was going to be for my first class for the day. I could see my mum stare at me from the top of her glasses, as I hurried to pick a toast from one of the plates. I took a big bite, and turned to my baby brother.
"Morning Michael." I leaned closer to Michael and gave him a kiss on his forehead, while he cooed . My mum still had her eyes glued on me, and I still pretended like I didn't know why. I was ready. Dressed for school. The whole family had come home together after the gala last night, and Peter had suggested Racheal and I spent the night, since we couldn't really go back to NAUN that late. Racheal was long gone by the time I woke up. Guess she hated being in that house just as much as I did.
I clapped my hands to dust off the bread crumbs on it.
"W-where are you going?" There was a slight confusion in the tone of my mother's voice. Where else would I be going to, around seven AM in the morning?
"Where else?" I asked her. "School of course."
"School?" She was surprised. "Kora, are you sure you should go to school after-"
I turned to look at her. She paused, holding back her words. She winced.
"I don't think it's a good time for you to go anywhere."
"Why not?" I let out a tiny scoff. "Why can't I go to school?"
"Haven't you seen the news this morning? Kora, news about what happened last night is everywhere. Everyone is asking who the mysterious girl from the gala is."
"So?" I asked her. "What does that have to do with me?"
Now I was just going to feign ignorance. I was just going to act like nothing happened the night before, because that was the only way I could convince myself that nothing really happened. It was the only way I could prevent myself from going completely insane. I had barely slept the whole night, thinking about the rest of my life, and trying to make myself believe that last night didn't have to change anything, unless I wanted it to. None of it mattered.
"I had to spend the whole of last night, trying to stop your step father from losing his mind. Benjamin is never going to work with him after this. He's getting a lot of phone calls and mails as it is. Everyone is trying to find out what's going on, if the rumors are true. They are saying Jeremiah called off his engagement because of you. A lot of people aren't taking it likely, especially people that are directly affected by this. People belonging to Jeremiah and Oma's fan clubs, they are calling you out everywhere, on twitter, Instagram, I even heard they are setting up group chats on WhatsApp too. Your safety isn't even assured at this point. I can't even face my friends at this rate."
I exhaled, and then leaned on the table.
"So what?" I pretended to be cool about it. "So I shouldn't go to school because of some silly rumor carried around by a bunch of jobless people? Is my life supposed to stop, because of what happened last night? How is any of that my fault? Everyone could see that I was just as surprised as all of you. He came on to me first. I'm just as confused myself."
"That's even more reason you shouldn't be outside, let alone school for a couple of days. Wait until the rumors die down a bit at least. I'm sure the Ozors are already finding a way to make it go away. All you have to do is wait it out."
"I can't." I stood up quickly, and then turned to my mum who still had a worried look on her face. "I have a test today. You're the one that wanted me to focus on my studies, aren't you?"
"But not today. Not now."
"Mum, what's the worst that could possibly happen? It's school for God's sake. Who is going to attack me in school? Its not even like I'm walking to school or anything. I'm sure this is only a misunderstanding. All I have to do is talk to Jeremiah, and ask him to fix it. I can't do that if I just stay here."
"Do you know what everyone is calling you?" My Mum asked me. "Do you know what they are saying about you? Psycho, freeloader, Slut, husband snatcher, home wrecker, shameless, worthless piece of trash." She shut her eyes for a second. "When I remember what happened, I just wish I had done something to stop it. I swear to God, if I ever see that cunning young man called Jeremiah again, I'm going to flog him so hard."
She opened her eyes again.
"He's trying to ruin your reputation, when his is completely fine. No one is even saying anything bad about him. You're the only one they are badmouthing. How is that fair? How can he kiss you like that in front of all that crowd in a country like this? In Africa? Where we have norms and values? How dare he? What's going to happen to you now? What's going to happen to us?"
I exhaled.
Why was my mum being overly dramatic now?
"What's going to happen when you finally decide to settle down? Who would want to get married to someone who-"
"Mum!" I yelled her name. She hurriedly turned to face me. "Is marriage what's important right now?"
She blinked twice.
"Of course it's important." She hit the table hard. "Why wouldn't it be important?" She pouted. "It's bad enough that I can't even go drinking with my friends anymore, because they think I raised a mannerless hoe."
"Mum!"
"What do you want me to say?" She stomped her feet like a child throwing a tantrum. "I'm about to lose my mind as it is. I couldn't even sleep the whole night."
I scoffed. I couldn't believe it, and I sure as hell didn't have the time for any of it. I already promised myself not to let anything ruin my day, and I meant it.
I turned around and walked away.
"Where are you going?!" My mum yelled at me. I didn't stop for a second. I didn't look back. I just kept walking.
You didn't do anything wrong, Kora.
I kept on telling myself.
Today is just like every other day. You can live through it. No one is going to say a word to you, because no one is going to notice you.
I had to believe those words. I just had to.
It was okay, I was fine, I had to be. I opened the door and walked out.
It was a new day and I wasn't going to let it change for anything.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
Lady K
You know what they say about the school bully and her minions? Laugh out loud. They don't say anything about the school bully and her minions, I'm just kidding. A school bully is just a school bully, and her minions are going to follow, wherever it is she is going, and do whatever it is she is doing, just to remain relevant, even if it meant going to the restroom with her.
Seven, and her minions had taken over the restroom, and fun fact was, old money had an entire luxurious restroom all to themselves, but she never used it. Terrorizing everyone else that wasn't old money seemed to be her hobby after all, so old money's restroom wasn't the place you were ever going to find her, except she just wanted to pee by herself.
You should have seen the way she took her place, sitting comfortably on the sink with her legs far from being closed. Good thing she had a soft spot for panty hoses, because she just knew how to do everything, but sit like a lady. They were nuisances. Every single one of them, and they had their bluetooth speaker on it's highest volume. NAUN had a lot of places they could be doing what it was they were doing, but somehow, they just felt comfortable being in the ladies restroom. All eleven of them.
The door to the bathroom opened quickly, and they had barely noticed utill they heard their music get turned off. Now, that caught their attention, and whoever it was that had just ruined their vibe, had to have a lot of courage walking into the lion's den and being so disrespectful. Seven took out the stick of cigarettes she was about to light from her mouth, as she slowly turned to where Oma stood, with her friends behind her. Talk about minions.
"We need to talk." Oma told her, being as brief and straight to the point as she could.
Seven scoffed.
"Well well well." She jumped from the sink, landing herself on her feet. "Look what the cat dragged in. It's little miss perfect, pretty and popular." A wide smile covered Seven's face. Even though it was really fake. "Queen of the three p's."
"I need your help." Oma knew she had to cut to the chase. She found their gathering really disturbing, and she really hated the smell of cigarettes. The faster she had get on with it, the better for them. Seven started to walk towards her. "I need your help with fixing a problem."
"And why would I want to do anything to help you?"
Seven came to a stop in front of her. Placing her hands quickly into both pockets of her jacket. "I don't help people fix their problems, as a matter of fact, I don't help people do anything at all. Your problem is non of my problem." She chuckled faintly. "Why would I want to help you at all? I mean what's in it for me?"
"I'm just going to keep this as simple as I can." Oma continued. "I'm sure by now, you must have heard about what happened at my engagement party. No, you must have witnessed it, since you were there."
Seven shrugged her shoulders. She frowned hard.
"So?" She asked her. "What does that have to do with me?"
"Kora. That girl, I want you to give her a black card."
Silence.
The room was silent for about three seconds, as Seven and Oma exchanged really uncomfortable glances. A smile was slowly forming on Seven's lips, and in the next second she burst into laughter, and so did everyone else in the room. What Oma said must have been so hilarious to them. Oma exhaled. She had time. She was just going to wait until they were done.
"Wait a minute." Seven tried to get herself together. "This must be a joke. You're joking right?"
"Does it look like she is?" Queen asked Seven. "Do we look like people that have the time to joke around?"
Seven scoffed.
"You walk in here, into my territory to give me orders?" Seven turned back to Oma. "Since when did I start taking orders from you? Just because you're old money, and we don't mess with old money, doesn't mean I can't mess with you if you try to annoy me. I'm not scared of you at all."
"Isn't that what you do? I thought you took revenge for other people, if you were paid enough?"
"Paid enough?" Seven scoffed. "What do I look like? A beggar? A hitman? You must have forgotten who I am. I have money. Lots and lots of it. My father literally owns the ground you're walking on. I simply just do what I do, because I enjoy it. It's fun. You must be out of your mind if you think I'm going to hand a black card to your Jeremiah's girlfriend, and Kingsley's friend. Did you not see what happened the last time I tried to mess with her and her friend?"
"She's not!" Oma yelled, and then paused for a second to catch her breath when she realized she was getting too emotional. "She's not his girlfriend, and you don't have to worry about Kingsley. I'll keep him in check."
Seven scoffed again
"Are you going to help me, or not?"
"No." Seven told her. "I don't want to." She widened her eyes. "I really don't want to get involved in old money's business. I'll have to decline. No vex."
She turned to walk away.
"Would your mind change if I tell you I know something that could literally destroy you? More like I have something."
Seven refrained from taking another step. She exhaled, and then slowly turned to Oma.
What on earth was she talking about? Oma pouted.
"What on earth are you talking about?"