2020-09-07 08:16:09The edges of the Assembly Hall of Lake View College is jam packed with dinner tables, filled with gorgeously dressed and handsomely costumed ladies and gentlemen and mouth watering, dainty dishes. There is merriment in the air as soft laughter, almost silent grinding of food, clinking of glasses and the likes resonated around the entire hall.
The hall has balloons hanging down illuminated from within by some lamp, from the ceiling of the hall. Following suit, are huge rectangular spaces of light that happen to be deliberately dim to give just the right mood, aided by the few colored light bulbs that are sprinkled across the ceilings.
The walls are not left out too as ribbons and strung balloons decorate each and every place. A few of the walls have standing Air Conditioners that are working at full capacity, blowing out chill airs to combat perspiration in the hall.
Although the hall is full, there is a big rectangular space starting from the center of the hall, up to the Assembly Stage which the Master of Ceremony and the disc jockey are located.
At the center of the same rectangular is a large, red circular rug bringing a feeling of royalty and taste into the hall.
The stage has a set of three long steps that span the width of the stage down to the ground and the center of the steps are also decorated with red rug that link down to the red circular rug.
Up on the stage is the MC with a big smile, exchanging muted words to the disc jockey because of the heavy din of sounds, often employing the use of sign language. The MC is dressed in a black trousers, black blazers, red checked shirt and a red rose in the pocket of his blazer as well as a flashy rainbow emitting sun shade, accentuated with his Afro hair style.
Beside him to the right is the disc jockey with his DJ set and a laptop atop his music stand. He wears simple black jeans with a white turtle neck and a headset slung over his prickly shaggy blue hair that cover most of his forehead and dropping down to a ribbon behind his head.
After nodding to the MC, he picks a microphone and waves into the hair, showing off his many ringed fingers and gold teeth in the process.
"Yo, People... What's up?" He rumbles in his deep masculine voice, cheerily.
"What's Up?" The Attendees scream out in festivity spirits.
"What's Up?" He repeats again.
And the audience repeat his question back to him, some of them throwing hands into the hair while the ladies scream with intoxicated voices.
The noise is defeaning and happy, making the MC and DJ squeak in the delight. In response, the DJ runs his hand on the large platinum music plate.
SHNNK...
SHNNNK..
SHNNNKKKKKKKK...!
"WHAT'S UP? ITS DJ APOLLO ON THE JAMMMZZZZZ..."
The DJ screams into the mic as the Prom attendes jump up, in pure ecstasy, music and noise becoming indistinguishable.
"Yo... People, settle down, settle down, okay. I know we are hyped up for tonight." The MC calms the people.
Behind him is a table filled with mouth watering dishes ranging from bowls of full chickens to seafood delights of lobsters, sea snails, shushi and the likes while beer litters the table, and from this table, the DJ grabs a big beer bottle.
"I know you all are pumped up for tonight. And Trust me, it's be your best Prom Everrrrrrrrrrrr...."
"Yeaahahhhhhhh!" They scream in response.
"Settle down people." The MC says, pulling out a piece of paper from his rear trouser pocket. "Now, I want you to flow with me, okay?"
He raises the piece of fancy paper to his front before speaking into the mic again.
"Now boys and girls... Oh, My bad! You ain't boys and girls no more. Ladies and Gentlemen, somebody shout uh-uh, uh-uh!"
"UH-UH... UH-UH...!" The audience explodes.
"Now, now now. We've had the segment of recognizing the MVPs of this set. DJ, bring it down, bring it down..." The MC flagged at DJ Apollo who nodded as he tuned down the music, shaking his body lightly to the jam.
"We've given out the awards to the most deserving, the finest, the beautiful ladies, the most creative and the likes. Now, now, we are getting to Prom Danceeeee Floor. Who's excited?" The MC makes to jump down but holds back as the Prom attendes yell in answer.
"Now, you know how we do it. According to the Constitution of Lake View College." He points at the ground repeatedly as he emphasizes on each word. "Of which, I am an Alumniiiii..." He says, exuding a proud look that earn him laughter from the hall.
"It says, that, the Prom Dance Hall can and only cannnn.... Yo, finish it up!" He points his mic to the people.
"The Prom Dance Floor can and only can be opened by the Prom King and Prom Queeeeennnnnnn nnn!!!" They yell back in response, swaying softly to the low sounding music.
"Yeah, That's Right! So, I'll call on the Prom King. Who is he?" He asks, pointing his mic to the audience.
"NATHANIEL!!"
"Come on. I know him. Let's do it the proper way. As the Master of Ceremony, I call upon 6 times award winner of the most dressed, 3 time award winner of the Most Dedicated Student, 4 times award winner of the most punctual student and captain of the school football squad, holding the position for three years and leading his team to win the State Inter School competition, the Wellington Bank Football League and alllllll.
You know him.. I call Upon theeeee..."
"Say it, already!"
"Come on, don't drag it anymore."
Some voices call out, increasing the widening smile on the MC's face.
"Easy, ladies and gentlemen. Prom King Nathaniel... Please, step to the dance floor." He signals to the rectangular space in the hall.
As he does, a pin drop silence descends hastily across the hall as a young, tanned gentleman with a dazzling smile rises from a table, a hand in pocket while the other holds dangles freely as he walks to the rectangular dance floor.
As he does, an eruption of claps and cheers resonate through the hall. He wears an under cut hairstyle with a sharp side part at his left side of the head. Furthermore, he wears a three-piece pink suit with pointy black shoes and a big silver chain watch on his left wrist. There's a subtle smell of inviting cologne, the distinct sweet smelling fragrance of freshly cut tulips hovering about him as he carefully takes bold steps into the center of the dance floor, beaming.
However, just as the MC readjusts the mic in his left hand, Nathaniel frowns slightly, shooting a sharp glance at the tables about.
"Now, for want of time, I'mma just straight into calling the ever distinguished and neck turning beautiful Prom Queen, Deola..." The MC screamed into the mic and the people responded, cheering brightly.
But just as they start to cheer, the people begin to identify the irregularity as Nathaniel is left standing alone in the middle of the dance floor.
"Uh... Where's the Prom Queen?" The MC frown, glancing about the hall.
In response, Nathaniel shrugs, looking around helplessly.
"Ahem!" The MC clears his throat, a sheepish look on his face. "Maybe she went to do something outside? Someone... Can someone shout out to the Prom Queen to come into the hall now?". He says.
Seconds begin to tick into minutes, tense silence drops once more upon the hall. The silence brings with it nervous heat as Nathaniel begins to look frustrated, standing alone at the dance hall.
"Her parents didn't let her come." A loud whisper rang out, soft laughter resounding after it.
"That's a lie. I saw her earlier." Another voice countered.
"She left before the dance? What a spoil sport?"
"Don't blame her."
"Her religious parents must be suffocating the fun in her life "
"Come on... Who becomes Prom Queen only to ditch the dance?"
"Deola is unbelievable!"
"Oh, look how she leaves Prom King to himself alone."
"Damn Man!"
A thousand and one voices boom about, mixing into indistict noisy chatter. Seeing the MC clears his throat, arresting the attention of the prom attendees once more as the DJ runs a hand on his music disc again.
"What's up, People?"
"What's up?" The DJ is replied and merriment enters the hall again.
"Now, now... Like it's written, if the Pom Queen is unable to attend the Prom Dance, them, the Prom King may by reason of his authority as Prom King, choose..."
"...Another Prom Queeeeennnnnnn..." The people complete it for the MC as cheers ring out.
"Yeah! So King, Over to you." He stabs his mic in the hair towards Nathaniel.
Nathaniel simply smirks and turns to his right. And just as he turns, a lady in blood red revealing evening gown and stiletto boots leaps unto him, hands locked around his neck in a bodylocking embrace.
Before he can react, his lips are sealed in a sensual kiss by Grace, enrapturing the entire populace of the hall who clap hard to cheer them up.
"Well, looks like Prom King has a new Queen! Come on, hold tight to your dates and DJ..." The MC nodded to DJ Apollo who gave a double thumbs up. "Turn up the heat."
Heavy bass music booms out before slowly descending into soft ballerina sensation, leading the people to hold to their dates and flow along.
"What are you doing?" Nathaniel asks Grace as he disengages from the kiss.
"What else does it look like? Becoming the Prom Queen, of course." She whispers to him, lips curved into a seductive pout, her hands finding his hands.
Taking cue, Nathaniel slow dances with her, but his eyes tell a different story, a story of anger and disenchantment.
"You are the last person I'd ever choose as Prom Queen." He whispers under his breath as the hall becomes to get filled with dancing couples.
"I know. That's why I had to make the choice for you."
"What?" His eyes widen in disgust.
"Look, Nat. Just what do you see in her? You do realise that if it was Deola that was here, you would never have had the satisfaction of sleeping with her, you know? Because of her strict religious background. And what a shame that would be, if the Prom King is refused sex by his Prom Queen." She draws closer as Nathaniel swirls in response.
"You know what that would be? You be a disagrace to all the former Prom Kings who always had sex with their Prom Queens, plus that's like our unwritten Constitution here, at LakeView." She taunts into his ears as the music gains crescendo, grooving onto his body.
"Shut up! I don't care about that rule." Nathaniel violently whispers back just as a strange looking figure enters the hall and heads straight to the MC.
"See, I know you care. Because you care about your reputation more than anything else. But I'm offering myself to you, Nat. Take me, and you escape the muted taunts people will throw at you after Prom." Grace bites his earlobes while her left hand rubs against his chest.
However, Nathaniel is tuned out already as he focuses on the young mister in blue blazers and jeans.
"DJ, tune it down. Announcement guys. If you are the owner of the IVM Fox parked at the electric fence, you are obstructing this Mister, the owner of the Nissan Micra. Kindly go over to pack your car properly."
"Wait... What? That's my car. But I parked... Gee..." Nathaniel stammers just as the light skinned owner of the Nissan Micra looks straight into his eyes.
"What?" Grace asked, concern lurking in her eyes.
Nathaniel did not respond, instead, he pushes slightly away from Grace, racing out of the hall much to the surprise of the people, his eyes frowning with confusion.
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Epilogue
It has been some hours, a day approximately, since the encounter on the muddy banks. Today, the air smells different, with the scent of water coupled with the sweet harmonies of chirping birds while the sun sets in the distance, sinking down into the depths of the lake.Two people stand a little after the whitewashed picket fence, staring down at the beautiful setting of the orange spotted sky, their hearts pounding in the excitement of being close to the one who meant so much to them.Tade, wearing a yellow vintage shirt with patterns of a palm tree, has his hands in his slim fit black trousers and a broad, satisfied smile on his face.By his side, his 'girl', the quiet, reserved but sweet lady, Deola stands, her palms hugging each other infront of her while her body is clothed with a floral orange gown, red slides on her feet. Her face has a pasted satisfied smile as well as she gazes on ahead.After some more minutes of silence, she turns to look at Ta
Sentenced For Love
Her worry is not far fetched however, for by the side of them, at the far side of Debi's left is the Water Spirit King, Arinle, eyebrows knitted fiercely while his eyes flash with light in sync with the blistering aura emanating from his body."What… is… this… madness?" He balls his fists, his eyes bulging while muscles contract visibly all over him.Arinle, like before, is adorned in a silver scaled sleeveless top that perfectly packs in all the muscularity that he has. On his waist is a golden shining belt with a single tower-like tip, large enough that it covers half of his stomach before getting ended at his waist, from which the blue scaled trousers runs down.On his face is a large wreath of luxurious black beard, from his jaws down to the uppermost of his chest. He has bushy eyebrows as well, glittering eyes that tell of madness unspeakable, his whole form shivering with condensed furious rage."Father&helli
Changing Tide
"Tsk… Damn you! How can you be this strong at your failing health level?" Enas groans, rolling over to evade another stomp of Tade."It's the power of love, my dear. The extent that emotion can motivate has no limit." A feminine voice that belongs not to Tade whispers in the background while Enas gets to his feet finally and begins to trade blows with a furious Tade.However the brothers do not hear the femine but alluring voice of their mother queen as they engage themselves in battle. A punch sails through to the air to Tade’s head but the latter tilts himself backward, evading the blow. But Enas is not over as he follows with a combo attack of a knee kick to the stomach.Groaning, Tade doubles over, spitting out ichor from his mouth. Enas seizes the opportunity in a flash and slams his left elbow heavily, right at the center of Tade, crumpling the latter to the ground.“You always thought to be the better of us… spoilt brat. T
All For Love
"Nooooooo…."Blood trickles down from her head as her body continues to propel out. Overcome by numbness, Tade stretched out, his hand clutching her leg and holding her back just as the convertible stance shifts again, the somersault in progress.And then, a sploshing sound as the car plunges down, deep down into water."Water?" Tade groans, umconfused as to when there was ever a water body here…Of course, he'd sensed one but the waters would not be so clear for those pure water spirits to use.Murky and stangant water bodies are the standard no-no for his people which is why he had not considered this to be of any importance.A mistake he is come to realize now.Tade huffs, ripping out the seatbelt that restrained him to the seat. He made to go for Tunrayo who is somewhat struggling, albeit, less than the others in the backseat, her head on the steering facing him.There is a cut on the forehead and her eyes loo
Would a good guy...?
Seeing that, even the hesitant family rush in, opening the door as Tunrayo begins to drive even as they rush in, Deola being hoisted in first.And then, with a loud screech, Tunrayo's convertible tyres paint black on the asphalt as the zooms off and away."So, somebody tell me, what is going on?" Tolani, the mother of Deola asks in a fast rising tempo.They are huddled into the backseat, Richard at the seat behind Tade while Tolani is behind Tunrayo, this, putting Deola right at the center of them all.For a brief moment, the entire car is silent, each person trying to process that which has happened.Tade's mind is agog with responsibility towards all the people in the car as he understands that because of him, they all would be targeted.He cannot bring himself to say that this might have turned out well, being that, Tunrayo had popped up right on time. No, he rather would not.Instead, he blames himself for being so clumsy. F
The Saviours
The humanoid croaks, walking on to where its target would be. And as it gets there, just outside the window, it raises the bow to eye level, putting his fingers to the non-existent bowstring.Then, a line of white shimmering energy appears which the humanoid plucks as far back. Another energy strand appears, forming an arrowhead of thin energy strand at the bow, ending into a feathered bottom that is now held by the humanoid on the plucked string.And then, Tade’s strained physique blurs into the view, at the open driveway. He stops, his mouth aghast at the sight that greets him, unable to bring himself to do anything.Indeed, he cannot do anything because at the very moment, the arrow made of the milky white energy is only seconds from being fired by the assassin.His breathing doubles as time slows, panic filling him because it shows that all his efforts are all but nought. After all, the scenario he had been striving to avoid is
Racing to Deola
And, Tade huffs, never again would anyone hurt his girl.Not ever!
Rebellion
It is just about 24 hours since Tade had asked Tunrayo to give the spirit pill that he had been able to get, through forceful means however, from the underwater city where he did reside. And thus, Tade muses within his heart that this is just the time he has to check on her again.Although, he feels it deep within him that she would survive it. He does not have any g
Rising Tide
The Lagos Port Complex also referred to as Premiere Port (Apapa Quays) is the earliest and largest Port in Nigeria. It is situated in Apapa, Lagos State, the commercial center of Nigeria. The Port, established in 1913, witnessed the construction of the first four deep water berths which did begin in the year of 1921, a few years before the country of Nigeria did gain independence while it still did exist under colonial rule of the British.The Apapa Port as of now, is well equipped with modern cargo handling equipment necessary for the day to day activities of the harbour and also, personnel support facilities making her cost effective and customer friendly. It does enjoy intermodal connection – Rail, Water and Road. It boasts of a four wheel gate of about 8 meters for oversize cargoes and this has given the Port an edge over others in the handling of oversized cargoes.However, while the port is usually very busy, today is not o
