Hidden Dreams

Episode 13

To be honest I was begining to feel more comfortable around her than anyone else in that school. She was always paying attention to me and it was like she knew exactly what i needed to hear at each point I was broken or with an issue.

” I understand your anger Jay, but please stop looking at the negative that people are pointing out in your life. Instead use them to build your life so that you can prove to them and more especially to yourself that you can be more than what they call you. I believe in you Jared and I know you can make it. It doesn’t matter what others say Now, focus on what you believe in and if you have not yet decided what that is then, I suggest you start setting your standards and what you want to achieve in your life so that it guides your everyday activities.”

I smiled slightly at her. ” thank you” I said finally, ” you always see the best in me madam and I appreciate it so much. I will do as you say especially for you” I added looking straight at her.

I saw her blush slightly. Her face turning into a soft laugh.” For me? Why?” She asked politely
” oh No, maybe that didn’t come out right” I chuckled. ” what I meant was, you encourage me a lot and the past weeks have been great. I don’t want to let you down so i promise to do my best so that your good words are not in vain” I eluded to her.
” you are a good person Jay and…..”
She could not finish her sentence and Tracy came towards us.
” are you still sitting? I thought today we have to learn some new moves for the competition on the salsa dance” she said in a stern voice.

If I didn’t know better I could have thought she was jealousy. But how? I thought to myself. Ms Jere was my teacher how can she be jealousy of her?.

Later after practice I told Tracy what Oswald had told me and she laughed. .
” what’s funny?” I asked surprised
” well, if only Oswald knew who you are eyeing he wouldn’t have said that to you. But not to worry I can handle him myself”
What is that supposed to mean?” I questioned her.

Instead of answering she got the text book and started helping me with the homwork we had.

I wanted to ask her what she really meant but then decided not to argue. Tracy was a very talkative person. So I assumed it was just one of those things she ranted about until later after we did our homework she sighed standing up.
” So whats with you and Ms Jere? ” she asked unexpectedly
” Okey, I get it now” I chuckled. ” she’s the one you refered to earlier on right? Come on Tracy we are together in this group and Ms Jere is our teacher how can you even say That? ”

” I have seen how you two are always talking and sometimes she just calls you alone to the dance class.”
” so?” I asked challangingly.
Instead of answering my question she shrugged and turned to go..
” Tracy wait” , I stopped her holding her bag from behind. ” I don’t understand you. We are friends and you know how Ms Jere has been helping me with everything in this school. How can you imply that there’s something going on. What does that even mean? ”
” just let go of my bag Jay. Am going home now. Will see you tomorrow” she responded holding her bag closer.

I stood watching her walk away. I had not even thought of what she was telling me. For me it was outrageous. I would agree I felt comfortable with Ms Jere but for me it was just because she had shown she understood me and was helping me with my inner struggles.

Brushing off the thoughts, I walked to the hostels and found John laying on his bed.
” John!” I called out in greeting. ” I didn’t know you are here. Back from the club already?”

“I came back a few minutes ago. By the way do you know tomorrow will be visitation weekend.?”
” what? Does it mean parents are allowed to come here to visit us?” I asked him not wanting to hear the news cause I was scared of the possibility of my parents coming over. I had a dance practice that weekend since we only had a week to go. I didn’t want them coming over when I was there.

I felt some panick and stayed quite thinking about what I was to do. Hoping they never decided to come over.

That evening I was quite trying to think of how I would do if they came. I didn’t want to miss practice but again I wasn’t sure what time they would come if they decided to.
Shrugging, I whispered to myself. ” I know they cannot come here, they have not bothered to do so since they dropped me. The last time they sent the driver to bring me some pocket money and food he didn’t mention anything about there coming and I was sure they wouldn’t show up.
The rehearsals were going on well the following day. Tracy and I were paired together as usual and Ms Jere was directing us.

” you look a bit nervous today, is everything Okey? ” Tracy asked as we danced.
” Yeah am fine,” I told her.
She gave me a questioning look but I ignored her and kept on dancing.

We were just doing our last session when a familiar voice called out my name.
” Jared! What are you doing ?” Came the stern voice of my father. .
“No!” I whispered stopping instantly as I let go of Tracy’s hand.

“I asked you a question” I heard him ask again and everyone in the room including Ms Jere stopped what we were doing and turned to face the direction of my father’s voice.
My mouth went dry instantly as I saw him standing with my two sisters who smiled at me, Clearly enjoying the humiliation that was about to befall me in front of my friends and teacher.