Toying With Everything | The Inkwell Nonfiction Prompt

Since I attained teenage age, the consciousness of looking cute and different is what I do not joke about. That feeling crept into my being following the attributes of most guys around me who appear dashing both in school and at home. Some of these folks do not wear expensive clothes but still, they look amazing while dressing simply. With this, my anxiety grew, not just because I wanted to feel included but the fact that life's phases change as we age.

At that tender age, I became conscious of the female gender. The more reason my male classmates wanted to be cute all the time. So, I started to take measures to be neat and simple, soft-spoken and mature to everyone, especially the girls.

Rogério Martins

Soon, the attraction I had always yearned for began. The first girl that noticed me was my neighbour's daughter. Enny was an ebony-skinned, tall, and slim girl with white eyeballs and pink lips that would make any random guy stare at her again. She beckoned on me one Sunday evening:

Emma, can you call on me when you are leaving for school tomorrow?

I was surprised that Enny, who had the eyes of all the guys in school, could ask me such. It would be a nice experience to walk with her, so my response was affirmative.

Sure. But you'd have to be ready by 6:50 am.

Our school was just a stone's throw from where we lived. Since my consciousness came alive, I always ensured to be early to school to avoid the punishment of teachers who were always at the school gate to arrest latecomers. I simply wanted to be a good boy and no dent must be attached with me.
Throughout the night, I thought of how to begin a conversation with Enny. This thought kept me awake till after midnight before I was whisked away by sleep. When I woke up in the morning, I could only rush to the bath and put on my uniform to meet up the time I told Enny.

Hi, Enny. Your uniform isn't well-ironed.

I mentioned it to her but it seemed like I touched a naked wire with the reaction I got from her. She changed her facial expression at once and the walk down to school was awry. I regretted ever accepting to be with Enny the fine girl. That very day, I was so lonely in the school that my best friend noticed.

Emma! Why are you so cold today? Is anything the matter?

Matt called my attention to lighten up but I just wanted to be alone, at least for that day. Unknowing to me, Enny was also monitoring my reaction. After school, while I was walking home, she approached me and asked :

How was your day?

At that moment, I disdained her. How on earth does she want me to feel after she abruptly attacked me with her demonic facial expression? I simply avoided talking to her.

You think I don't know that you had a bad day? I saw your countenance was quite bad throughout the day.

She knew that I wasn't happy throughout the class session.

You satisfy your urge to make me feel bad, don't you?

Maybe this statement caught her psyche, I wouldn't know. Enny came close, held my left hand as whispered to my ears:

I am sorry.

I couldn't believe my ears. Could a girl ever say sorry to a guy? Anyways, I got a deserving sorry from the most beautiful girl in our entire school. That made me feel like a king already. My day ended with gladness but I sensed that I hadn't played maturely. Anyways, all that doesn't matter now since Enny has apologised.

The next morning, I came out of our door at exactly 6:50 am and standing at our gate was Enny. I wanted to be in control unlike yesterday that I allowed just a facial expression to weigh me down.

Hi!

Enny greeted me. Stretching her hand for a handshake. I took it gently but retracted my fingers quickly. Perhaps she sensed it and decided to troll me again.

You look so unkempt this morning. Don't you have a mirror at home? Your hair is so bushy.

At once, I felt a shock as I started sweating on my palms. She has caught me again with her harsh words.

Unkempt? You know I keep an Afro hairstyle. That shouldn't bug you.

I replied to her, waiting for her to defend herself and she did it well.

In this age! Who still carried an Afro? Grow up, man.

I gave her statement another thought and decided to have a clean low-cut after school that day. After school, I visited my usual barber's shop and cleared my bushy hair. As the barber was cutting my Afro, what kept coming to mind was Enny's statement; Grow up, man!. In the end, it was a clean-cut. I probably would become cool before Enny.

In the morning of the third day since I started this adventure with my newfound friend, Enny, I emerged from our door and Enny was nowhere to be found. A few steps away from our usual meeting point, I heard footsteps coming from behind me, I looked back and saw Enny laughing.

You had a cut?

What does she mean? I asked myself.

I didn't mean any of those words I spoke yesterday.

This girl must be naughty for casting aspersions at me again.

You already looked good on your Afro.

This statement burst my bubble. This is so crazy right now. I was so mad at myself for allowing this stranger I called a friend to toy with my thoughts. I felt like I didn't know Enny enough to make her my friend. Enny had to stay as a mere friend and not as one I could take seriously. Not again would I allow Enny or any girl to tell me what's good or not for me.