Bad boy's spec

College.

"Pearl! Pearl!! Pearl!"

I heard my name from the slumber I was faking, then  someone marching on the stairs.

"1 2 and …" I counted. 

Boom my door got banged..

"Pearl will you get up"  I mimicked my mum.. 

"I know you are awake and can hear me" I smile as I continue mimicking her.

"Pearl! It almost 8"

I laughed even more, maybe she has forgotten I have gotten used to her tales. 

"Open the damn door Pearl "

Okay maybe she changed that.. on a norm she will say "i am going to get the spare key."

"Okay mum, I'm almost done.." I replied. 

"Almost or done?"  she yelled back.

"Mum, do you have to continue this routine? It needs to be changed," I stated. 

"And you need to change this snubish act of yours".... mum said glaring at me as I opened the door… I know what's next… I quickly held my ear She's gonna pull my ears, and drag me with it down the stairs, Typical african mother,

"Ouch" I cry in pain.

" Mum my ears are getting longer, you have been pulling them for as long as i can remember now"… 

"Now get your butt on this chair" I mimicked her again as she smiled and left my ears…

"Pearl you wake up so early yet you go to school so late. who does that?"  I laughed again as I mimicked her in my head. The only thing that's not a routine is the food I eat every morning…

I ate and walked out of the house after receiving a kiss on my temple, both eyes and nose, she would  say my love would kiss the lips.

 I just scoff whenever I hear that. How can someone who everyone calls weird and my mum calls a snub get a boyfriend? I don't need to deceive myself.

I walk along the walkway, well it's not that I don't want to go through the school bus, but how do you sit with people that call you weird, and are always ready to bully you… 

The last time I entered the school bus, I got suspended, and that was because I got into a fight with the proprietor's son and beat him up. Well it was clear enough that he was at fault, I guess that's why I got suspended.. I would have been expelled, and who wants to get expelled at the highschool final?? I guess you don't…

I walk down my regular shortcut, I wanna feed my friend… a cat though.. a stray cat i think.

" hey kitty" i called…

On a normal day it would have crawled out and happily rub it's furs on my hand and legs, but now it's not coming out, was I too late? Maybe it went in search of food.. it does that whenever i get late and when mum forces me to go with her to the first mass… 

I am just gonna wait for it… I got a small belt for it. I saw it at the mall and I loved it, I had made the decision that I was going to take it home…

I heard a tiny noise behind me and turned to see my lovely cat looking so dull… 

"What's wrong kitty?" I asked…

" Oh my gosh you got yourself injured let's get you down to the vet"… 

I carried her from our narrow corner and walked down to The main road where I hailed a cab down to the veterinary……

It took me close to 2 hours to get kitty back to its home and I jogged down to school… As usual, I am late… I walked into my class… adjusted my glasses… I do that when I am nervous… i entered the class and waited at the door, i looked down at my legs, 

"Pearl" I heard….I raised my head and saw it was the oldest teacher in school, well my lucky day… ma'am pavitra is a nice lady, she is so nice and lovely, she's an indian and she also teaches us history… 

"Go to your seat"

" but make sure you get the blood stain on your clothes wiped out and meet me after class" she instructed further…….. i slowly walked down to my sit and met Stephan the stupid proprietor's son sitting on my seat which clearly has my name…. Well I don't want to disturb ma'am pavitra, i walked down to his seat which was the last on the roll and directly behind mine…

Jeez so kitty's blood stained my top oh gosh i'm so clumsy, i should have just ..…..

"Pearl" Ma'am pavitra called my name…

The whole class has their attention on me… 

"You would clean the blood stain later just listen okay, you missed a lot already " 

"yes ma'am" …i muttered..

Class ended and the Jerk sitting on my seat saw it as an opportunity to taunt me, well he shouldn't push me this time around, I don't mind getting expelled because of him.

"Hey." he called

ignoring him is the best thing.. 

"Hey" he banged the table. And all thanks to the f**ker we become the main attention of everybody in class ….

"What do you want?" I said to Stephan…

"Well I am wondering why this chair I am sitting on is not balanced, I am sure you are as comfortable…" 

"Will you shut up Stephan!" I said through gritted teeth, interrupting the bullshit he was about to say.  I heard gasp spreading around…

"I don't mind getting expelled because of you stephan"

"And am sure you would get that expulsion '' he said with an annoying grin..

"Well I am sure that the vacation you've always been dreaming of would be given to you" I said with a smirk….

He gave me a confused look. "Well it's vacation to Grady The best trauma center in town"

"Oh, you still don't understand?" I said with a grin Stephan be rest assured your vacation to Grady is sure" His face turns pale 

" Oh poor boy, are you scared? .."

"I will make sure u go to jail pearl"… he said through gritted teeth trying to sound scary, unfortunately he sounds like a frustrated rabbit. I lean closer to his face and whisper to his hearing alone…

"Stephan just be rest assured that the number of days i am going to use in jail is what you are spending on your next vacation, although that's if you will survive it, because i will make sure to beat you to stupor and Steph, it's not an empty threat". his face paled out, immediately i said that. 

We were interrupted by our geometry tutor…..

That day ended with Stephan giving me a "sorry look"…. I got the kitty from our usual hiding point and took her home…. 

"Mum, I am home!" I yelled as our usual routine and I waited for her to come out of the house and give me a peck… Is she not coming out?

I walked inside and met the shock of my life….. My Dad sitted on our couch grinning like a bloated goat, I can count the number of times I saw this man. Since I clocked 10, that's if I saw him at all. He's always away claiming he's a miner. I am suspecting he has a family elsewhere…

"Pearl. oh you are here," i heard my mum from the dining table, I guess she was cooking when I was screaming my lungs out…

"Pearl won't you hug me". Dad said

My mind and head was thinking of a perfect heart breaking reply 

"And who are you?" I furrow my eyebrows

" Mum, who's he? " And his face pale out…. 

"Why is anyone not answering me? Who are you Mr?"

"Mum! Mum!! …. So you are seriously not going to say anything? Okay, I am calling the cops. Wait mum, did he threaten you? "

"Pearl, you. y...You seriously don't know me?" Dad stuttered. 

"Well how come you know my name when I don't know yours? Mum, you told him my name?" 

"Pearl, he's your Dad." mum said with tears in her eyes. oh shits. She can't act… 

"My dad? Do I have a Dad? I thought he's dead a long time ago"

"Oh no sweety am here… am not dead"

he said and moved to touch me, i moved back immediately, not giving him the privilege to. 

"Don't touch me. so where the f**k have you been all these years?" I asked, trying to sound bitchy.

"Or mum, is he my step Dad? You got yourself a new boyfriend? When?" 

"No pearl he's your Dad"

"So why are there no pictures of him around?. Why am I just meeting him now? Where the hell have you been? " I asked without even giving a break.

"I am so sorry pearl, i" he stammered.

Trust he can't tell he's into mining cause that's a lie. The fact that my mum is illiterate doesn't mean i am too… he doesn't call, no letters, leaves us just blank" 

"Oh you have another family elsewhere? I guess you left us here as your annex house… Mum, is he the one sponsoring my education?….. I guess that's why I have not been making it academically"  I am just gonna leave" … I said as I attempted to go upstairs.

"Am sorry, pearl. Please just hear me out"  he said as I matched the stairs…

" I have another family,…. I know that's why he has not been coming"… Wait, does mum know about this too? …..

"Wow" I continued my pretence. 

"So what are you doing here?. Since that family is so important for you to keep, you don't remember having family here for 9 good years, and you want me to remember you?"

"Wait, pearl you do know me? Do you know me? "

"Well who wouldn't know the Summers? You are Mr Summer the second… First son of the Great Summers right, the son of the queen .. i read about your shitty business"  i smiled

" Let me make something clear to you guys, you ceased to be my Dad the very day you left that door." I pointed to the door.

" Nine years ago I remember everything, but it's so unfortunate you have a faithful wife, a wife that would go through pain just to see you smile. "

I walked up to my room, with kitty still with me……. Kitty, sorry you had to see that, now let's get you something to eat…

I heard a knock after a while…

"Come in"

"Pearl," He called after a long pause, with me just staring blankly at him…

"Pearl, am sorry you guys are always on my mind"  "it took a lot of courage to come, have always been coming, just to see you from afar, pearl i really love you, i miss you so much, i filed a divorce already" he paused when he saw i was unmoved. 

And I am ready to lose everything just for you and your mum, even my sons really wanna leave the family, their mum is one hell of a person... please pearl give us a chance in your life. Please..." I had to cut him short.. 

"Did you just say us?"…. I blinked my eyes at him and my toes and palm began to sweat

"Uhh yeah, my sons and i"

"Wait did you say you and someone? You want to turn my mum to your slave right? You are .... oh my gosh, what is your problem Mr summer? … you are just . oh my god… i can't comprehend anything, you now want her i mean us, to start serving yojt and your sons, i will not. I repeat, I will not allow anyone to insult or disrespect me, or my mum. Especially my mum, take that from me Mr Summer." 

"No No pearl, you are mixing things up.. my sons, are of good behaviour. They were raised well by their nanny, just give us a chance to prove ourselves". 

"Okay have heard you… give me time… i want to eat"

"Okay, let's go have dinner" I looked at him and scoffed. I so much dislike him… with passion tho… 

We walked out of my room with a smile on his face, mum was eagerly waiting downstairs…. I love this woman, she's the definition of a good mother, no doubt about that…

I walked to the kitchen to get a plate for kitty, i got back to the dining table and divide my food into two, put a portion inside kitty's plate before passing it to her…… they were just staring and it's f**king awkward… 

"Are we going to eat or continue this staring competition?" I asked

"Oh let's eat," mum said. 

 She said a prayer and we started eating…… well that's what happens if you have an overzealous woman as a mother, not just anyone but an African woman, Oh. i didn't tell you, mum is an Egyptian i think one of the descendants of Alexander the great. I still don't know why she didn't go to college.

 my thoughts were interrupted by Dad's ringing phone… as it rang,i saw the uneasiness he felt before picking it up… 

【Hey…. 】it was on speaker so we were listening to his conversation…

【Dad…. When are we going to join the new folks?? ..… am tired of this hotel food it's been a week Dad, are you even coming back tonight? 】

【Uhhmm i will give you a call Jason… 】

【where are you Dad! 】

【jason am at their house already and we are eating dinner, and the mobile is on speaker, 】

【Oh f**k, they heard me Dad? 】

【Yeah… and they are still listening remember i warned you about your habit of cursing】

【Sorry dad, I am just happy and …. Uhhm is Pearl there?】

【Yea and she's listening to you Jason…】

【Hey pearl, what's up…】

【Jason , stop this… okay, bye 】he hung up…

"Am really sorry, that's my last son he's just 9yrs old "

"Oh, that's nice." Mum said.

I scoffed. " Who cares, in fact I'm done here." 

"Mum i am done, going to bed now"… she stared blankly at me, She knew I was not happy.. 

"Okay Darling let's pray"... she led the prayer while I focused and said amen… all thanks to my mum, we prayed a lot.. 

"Pearl," I heard Dad called.  

"Yup! Mr Summer!" ……. He swallowed whatever was in his throat .

"Can you spare a few minutes!? please"..

"Okay". I sat opposite his chair on the dining table..

"Your mum told me about your painting plans," Mrs Summer Urgh, she won't just keep her mouth shut..

"Okay, so uhm i just want to know your plans for the future."  i love this topic and if you are looking at me, you would see my face lit… whenever it comes to my dream, my goal in life…

"Yup, i wanna paint, although i've got interest in the Medics too. "

"Can you paint.. Dad asked," like who does this… what the f**k is wrong with Mr summer,

"It's surprising you have forgotten where my passion lies. I guess you were too busy, with your mystery woman, to remember your only Daughter's passion… well based on what you said earlier, that my mum told you this, then you must have seen my diagrams, Wait did i say must have seen?"

"Mum!!! Did you show him my Diagrams? "

"You mean this? Mr summer" …. No sorry Dad said as he brought out the sketches… my sketch's of him…

And my eyes began to water, 

"Pearl, i know about everything, i missed you too. In fact I love you so much, please just forgive me. i want my daughter back, please "

 s**t, he knows i love him.. well did i say hate before? Please change that, i love my Dad, I got up from my chair and ran to his side…

"Appa i missed you... you left me.. i did not see you." i said with tears in my eyes, 

"Oh my darling you don't know how hard it was for me. Pearl, i love you i miss you also… so much"

He rubbed my hairs down to my back, something have always dreamt of him doing that to me… i mean rub and kiss my hair, looking at mum giving her the "i won " look

"Pearl," I was interrupted from my thoughts. "What's today's date?" Dad asked.

"Uhm 26 October. What's so special today?"

"So you don't remember your birthday again? "

"Oh jeez my birthday is Tomorrow… How is this possible and I don't know…… Oh my gosh..… Mum will only sing me a song in the morning, bake a nice cake and free me from that day stress. .… having Dad around… that means something new is about to pop up…"

"Well it's nothing really special Dad, mum is gonna bake the best cake for me… so you don't have to worry"

"Okay pearl i and my sons, you uhm. he swallowed. Your brothers"…. I raised my eyebrows, giving him the "are you serious?" Look… 

He swallowed and stared blankly at me. 

"Dad, they are your sons, not my brothers please" I said , folding my hands under my breast and pouting my mouth. 

"Pearl, I understand. They've always wished to have a sister, they even have your pictures, especially my last son… you will understand everything as time goes on.. don't push me out of your life please. I know you love your mum.. I really love Becca too. I love Rebecca with all my heart. But please understand us.." he pleaded. 

"Okay… i don't understand but i need to get kitty to sleep now, please… good night dad"

"Okay honey, just one more thing"

"Dad," I whine…." You are so unbelievable.. just go on, I am listening."

"Please I want you to act nice to your brothers, especially Jason, he cries at any slight opportunity he gets.. He has always wished to see how beautiful his sister is, and how long her hair is. Fortunately for him your hair is still long. " We both chuckled at that…

"Okay, I will be at my best behaviour tomorrow. Can I go to bed now? "

"Yes, yes honey. You are free… "

---------------------------------------------------------

I was expecting mum to knock this morning, instead i got a really big surprise….

"Happy birthday" they all screamed at me… and barged into my room. Not just mum and dad, but two guys are with them…

The noise made me scared and I jumped in fright only to meet my butt on the floor…

"Ouch. y'all scared me. What the f**k" …. I said in groans, only to see my mum and the rest trying so hard not to laugh… their faces made me burst out laughing.. it was really a funny sight to behold… 

"Happy birthday honey, long life and prosperity.. Mummy said, passing me my lovely cake for me to blow out the candle.. which i happily did, cut the cake and had a taste of the mouth watering chocolate cake… damn, it's in layers.. there's vanilla and strawberry" … well that my mum for you. She performs wonder with her cakes..

"Oh my gosh dad she's so beautiful, and also a neat freak, i like her already."  I heard the small boy whispering to dad, I guess he's Jason…

"Jason" I called and he froze.

 I chuckled , including dad, " come here, oh my gosh you are so cute, your hair is so dark and lovely." His hair is like dad's own…. It was long and he packs into a very nice ponytail leaving the end to a free fall. He has my eyes… Did I say my eyes?… We all had dad's eyes. Grey eyeball, black long hair, i got that from mum also… mum hair is so long. All she does is to get the tip trimmed into a straightened line…

I hug Jason and Ace, it was nice having them around though… unfortunately, my room that has always been in order, has been scattered and disorganized by Jason and Kitty, 

"Gosh.  No no no.. Jason i screamed at him in shock… . What did you and kitty turn my room into? I just step out not quite long. Oh my god… Ace!! Ace!!!."

"Pearl, my room is next to yours, you don't have to shout."  Ace said behind me…

"Now take a look at my room"  and he bursted into laughter… 

"It's not funny Ace, s**t. Is this the way I'm gonna spend my weekend?"

 I turn to look at both Jason and Kitty… their eyes melt my anger and soul… they both had those puppy eyes.. 

"Okay just get out of my room.. take kitty along with you and be careful, her legs are injured."

I had to push Ace away from my room door… his laughter was so annoying.. gosh… I hate myself.

Well I hate working, so instead of working my ass off, I do what I will do quickly in a very easy way, who loves stress? Clearly no one does, so don't give me that look… 

I walked down to my small drawer and saw some pieces of paper there… I took it and got the shock of my life… 

One was a week trip to whales, damn… While the other was the Admission form from Oxford university… stating their exam dates… I guess this was mum's idea.. and I saw a nice bracelet there also…

"Wow, this is so beautiful " i muttered 

 I saw a big white teddy bear .. I ran downstairs carrying everything in my hands. They were seated in the living room watching some Korean movie… that's mum for you. 

"Thank you so much guys, you are the best i said hugging each and everyone of them.. "

"I got you the admission form, fill in your details quickly, the date for submission is closing today… we need to submit it before the deadline."  Ace said

"Awwwnn thank you so much Ace.."

"I want to flaunt to everyone in college that I have a beautiful sister from another mother. " 

I smiled. 

"Thank you so much Ace, I love you guys already."