Chapter 6
David's POV
I woke up feeling ridiculously happy about school for the first time. Like what? Me? Excited for school? Huh, funny.
I couldn't believe it — I had dreamt about Bernice. Yes, Bernice! That shy, brainy girl with the bright smile and serious eyes. I thought transferring to Beverly Hills was going to be the worst decision of my life, but it was starting to look like the best one. Maybe.
When Mr. Douglas was teaching yesterday, everyone else was literally zoning out like zombies. Except for one girl — Bernice.
She was laser-focused like she was preparing for NASA exams or something. I heard the teacher call her name so that's how I found out — Bernice. It suited her.
I found myself staring at her without realizing it.
Completely lost.
Oblivious to everything.
Until she turned her head and looked straight at me.
I panicked and quickly turned away like a thief caught stealing meat from soup.
Thank God I was wearing a face mask.
Otherwise, my embarrassed face would have been a full cinema.
After class ended, I hung around, waiting for my dad to pick me up. That's when Bernice approached me.
"Hello, fellow government student," she said sweetly.
Wait... was she talking to me?
Me?
I replied "hey" like the good little gentleman I was pretending to be.
She asked if I could help her arrange the chairs. I said yes, not because I wanted to be helpful but because... well... look at who was asking!
While we were moving the chairs, I decided to talk to her. She looked shy — the cute kind of shy. Not the awkward type.
We chatted for a bit until I heard my dad's Corolla honking outside. Time to leave.
"Bye," I said to Bernice and rushed off like Cinderella at midnight.
When I got into the car, my dad asked how my first day was. I told him it was very interesting. Understatement of the year.
Deep down, I knew the days ahead were going to be even more... eventful.
When we got home, Dad left again for work. I went straight to my room, took a quick shower and dropped like a log into bed.
After napping, I whipped up some fried rice, eggs, and chicken — yes ooo I'm a chef on the low.
I knew Dad would come back tired and famished, and you know what they say — the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.
After dinner, Dad retired early. I decided to watch a movie in the living room.
Later, as I was about to sleep, one of my bros texted me.
I ignored him — not in the mood for the boys tonight. Bernice had officially occupied my thoughts.
The next morning, I woke up with butterflies doing gymnastics in my stomach.
I picked my best perfume and sprayed it like I was baptizing myself — so that Bernice wouldn't resist me today.
Dad dropped me at school, and as I hopped out of the car, I started walking to class when I felt a tap on my shoulder.
It was her.
Bernice.
Lord have mercy.
"Good morning," she said, smiling.
"Good morning," I replied, trying my best not to sound like a complete idiot.
"I didn't get your name yesterday," she added.
"I'm David," I said.
"Like the son of Jesse in the Bible," I chuckled.
"Yh," I added like a shy choir boy.
Wanting to impress her, I opened the classroom door and said, "Ladies first."
"You are such a gentleman," she said.
Her voice was like music, I swear.
I couldn't stop thinking about it the whole day.
At lunchtime, I just grabbed a sandwich and some juice and went scouting for her.
I found her standing near the principal's office, head buried in a book.
I decided to say hi, because... well... when you like someone you act like a certified pest.
"Hey," I said.
She glared at me like Who dares disturb the queen while reading?!
I could almost hear her inner growl.
"What are you doing?" I asked, pretending to be blind.
She gave me a death stare and replied, "I'm reading."
Yikes.
I could tell she was annoyed but I played it cool.
I asked her if she liked reading.
She said, "Books are my safe place."
I asked her what else she liked doing.
She asked me back, and proudly, I said, "Sleeping and playing games."
Like I had invented laziness itself.
We laughed a little and talked about random things before the principal finally showed up.
I left her there, still thinking how she made even ignoring me look cute.
After classes were over, I was waiting for my dad when I saw her again.
Bernice was walking towards my side — looking like a princess stepping out of a book.
My heart skipped. Was she coming to me? Was this my moment?
Nope.
She veered off and went to another girl.
I called her sadly, "I thought you were coming to me."
She apologized sweetly, saying she was going to her friend.
My dad's Corolla came just then.
Sadly, I said, "I'll talk to you tomorrow," before hopping in.
That night, I couldn't stop thinking about her.
Did I like Bernice?
I mean... who wouldn't?
She was smart, carefree, shy, and honestly beautiful.
A rare gem.
The next day, I noticed her sitting alone at lunch. I decided this was my chance.
I sat next to her.
"What book are you reading?" I asked.
"Anowa by Ama Ata Aidoo," she said.
"Uhm... I don't read at all," I admitted.
The look she gave me — pure SHOCKPRISE.
(Half shock, half surprise — yep, new word.)
"At all?" she gasped.
"Yh," I replied shamelessly.
She shook her head like a disappointed teacher but promised she could teach me.
Unfortunately, lunch was over before I could even redeem myself.
We both left for our different classes.
That day, I didn't get to see her much.
But my heart was already full.
And I knew...
This was just the beginning.