The missing watch 

The student ground bell to assemble was just ringing when Favour and Precious got to school. They ran into the class and put down their bags. Favour ran quietly to the assembly ground, but Precious looked around, ensuring nobody was nearby. They were all at the assembly ground and everywhere was quiet and silent. "Opportunity comes but once," she said, and moved quietly and slowly to the art class, passing the second door on the left at the back of the class.

She looked for Floral's bag and surreptitiously kept the wristwatch in hopes of ensnaring her. She then rushed back to the assembly ground. After the assembly, Precious had been expecting Favour to look for his wristwatch because she knew it had become a part and parcel of him to look at his hand every second in order to call for the period teacher if Timi did not do so in time. She noticed he had not looked at his hand since they had arrived from the assembly.

She suggested that she should go and ask for the time, but he may suspect her, so she couldn't bother herself. When the chemistry teacher came in and asked, "Where is your captain?" Timi stood up, and the teacher said, "There is no fool like an old fool, even if everyone in the class fell asleep and no one could rise to call. An older person who behaves in a stupid way is worse than a younger person who does the same thing because experience should have taught him not to do it."

Who even chose you to be the captain? You don't know your job. It's almost 9:30 and my period has almost gone. "9:30?" Favour said quietly. "This is very doze. Time flies against the clock this morning." He quietly raised his left hand to confirm, but there was nothing on his hand. He was upset and wondering where he could have misplaced his watch. Digging his hand into his pocket, he found nothing. Precious had been suspecting him and felt delight and comfort knowing he did not know where he left it in particular.

Precious moved closer to him after the period teacher left. "What are you looking for, Favour?" she asked. "How did you know I am in search of something?" Favour replied. "I have been studying you since I saw you deepening your hand inside your pocket, removing and re-deepening your hand not only once or twice. I can also read it on your face."

Okay, I am not looking for anything, just that I forgot my wristwatch at home and thought I had brought it with me initially. But now, I could vaguely recall. Precious was not as happy, as he knew he forgot it at home. She made a gulping sound, thinking about what to do next. Maybe she could still convince him because she knew Favour was not that sure about where he had specifically left it.

Precious said, "Oh! I don't think so. I saw it on your wrist this morning when we were inside the car." Favour answered, "Are you sure? No, I am not sure of that. I put it on the table, remembering he did not see it when he went back to pick up the key. I can't remember any of the past, but I am sure I will find it when I get back home. I will search for it when I get home," he repeated. "Thank you, and go back to your seat." Precious stared at him and moved back to her seat.

After some minutes of arriving back home from school, Precious was having her lunch when she smelled something fishy. She paused and could hear a strange but familiar voice and something sounding strange, as if something was continuously falling and breaking, like glass shattering. Precious knew Favour must be upset and destroying some of his belongings, just because of the smart watch. 

She rushed near Favour's window, picking up her ears to confirm well, and could now be cleared as a bell that Favour was sincerely looking for his watch with a painful heart. He loved his watch very much, as the apple of his eye, and it was very difficult to find in this area. He did not use it to play with any other person. He was very disappointed and feeling uncomfortable for not seeing the clock. Precious rushed down to her mother and Mrs. Kazem, Favour's mother.

Both of them rushed to Favour's apartment. He was very upset not seeing it, shouting and destroying things. "What's wrong?" they all shouted at the door. Favour answered, "I misplaced my wristwatch, my only lovely watch." "But where did you put it? Think very well and remember," Precious said, but Favour was very annoyed. He stared at her strangely, saying nothing. Mrs. Kazem and Mrs. Adedapo were very scared seeing Favour's red eyes.

What is wrong with you, Favour? Is it just because of a wristwatch, or is there something else that is making you behave violently like this? Just like a loose cannon, why? And even if your watch was lost, had Precious done anything wrong to you, or was she the one who misplaced your watch? Mrs. Kazem said, as Precious answered by saying it is not because of the wristwatch, that is how he always gets mad at me and reacts strangely.

Is that true, Favour? I must not see you like that again. What are you both doing in the same garden? Although you are opposite to each other, try to make things fun with yourself, share stories and your problems with each other. There's no one else in this garden apart from you both, so tell me if you continue with this kind of behavior, when or why are you going to be happy? You will always be found frowning and stiffening your face. Are you a drinker?

And they will always complain that the compound is very boring. See how he destroyed all that was purchased with money, a child who doesn't know how far the market is. An arm and a leg purchased, look what you've done to it all. Idiot and careless, it is the boast of every juju priest that unless he dies, no thief can ever come to steal his juju away. Does it have legs? Or who would want to enter this building to steal your watch if not for carelessness?

He acted anyhow, like a loose cannon. "You are going to receive punishment for all you've destroyed," she said as she slammed the door and flounced out in high dudgeon. Mrs. Adedapo moved close to him, trying to pacify him by telling him not to be more upset and to control himself when angry. "Okay, ma," he replied. "Thank you, my son. Don't be upset again. I promise when I am coming back from Abuja next week, I will buy you a new brand golden watch, okay?"

"Ma, I can't be satisfied with that," he started crying. "No mum, no other clock can please me. No matter how it is, I only want my lost wristwatch. It's original and I have been using it for more than a year without anything going wrong with it. I have bought more than three after that which have been destroyed, and even abandoned some because I love this one the most. I even prefer seeing this and using another than not seeing it at all." Favour mumbled, his face becoming flushed.

"That is okay, my son. Don't worry, I promise the one I am going to find will be more expensive and original. I will also add some money for you. I know how you feel because I have also experienced it before," she empathized. "Sorry, okay? I know how someone feels when the most precious thing or what they cherish gets lost. Favour still repeated that he didn't need that and told Mrs. Adedapo not to bother herself because he can't be pleased by any other watch than his own."

Precious was also extremely sorry for him because he had been stressed a lot and regretting if she had known, she wouldn't have done that. After the pacification of Mrs. Adedapo, she stood up and asked Precious to assist Favour in arranging his room as she went back to her apartment. As Precious moved inexpressibly to the place where she was asked to keep tidying.

Mrs. Adedapo encountered their driver on her way, and he greeted her, saying, "You called for me to come and see you, ma." "Yes, I did. It's nothing much, but I am not satisfied with your unconcerned behavior. Though efforts have been made to settle things, I hope the Lord will take total control from now on. It is not polite for you to ignore the unfair life that Precious and Favour are living and not even bring it to our attention."

He is not cleared but doesn't want to interrupt as Mrs. Adedapo proceeds. Why are they specifying their space in a car that you are driving and you are not informing us? Oh, Ma, I have known where you are going. In fact, I have tried hard to do my best but it proves abortive, and I am always disturbed discussing it with you but we don't have the opportunity to see. I just don't know where the formation of enemies' image comes from and what could have caused it.

They are always quiet, and if they want to open their mouths like this to make a little statement. Ma, it must be an inflammatory statement that threatens the peace of the entire environment and harmony of the family as a whole. What makes me feel reluctant to come to you is that most of the time, I don't want to interfere in what they don't bring to my attention, to avoid any kind of backlash.

                                                                    *    *    *

Back at school. during the pre-short break, Timi and Matheirs were discussing.

"I love Precious, it is widely obvious and known to everyone, but the problem I am having with her is her scornful attitude. Despite the fact that I do want her to know I dislike such an attitude, I can't bear her little step away. If I had known it could escalate to a state where she wouldn't come back to me, I wouldn't have expressed even a mild reprimand."

Matheirs, please, you are now like a God. She seeks advice from you, accept and align with your words. Just remember those days when you used me to receive anything you wanted from her. Now that you have all the power I enjoyed back then, remember what you used to say - that i never know when I will also be in need of your help. In those days, I didn't consider it to be a fact.

But I did those things willingly, just as a gift out of our relationship without expecting anything in return. Please help me talk to her.

I have heard you, and I will try my best. But I also want to believe that you know the type of person you are dealing with. Just be prayerful and put it in God's hands. If possible, you should consider fasting and holding a vigil.

Timi smiled quietly, "You know I can do anything just to call back my restless heart to harmony and to continue receiving the morning dew that butters my flower. I sincerely see that you mean business.

"You don't have to be worried, since I am still by your side. Am I not beautiful to you? Are we not worth seeing beside each other?" 

"Yes, of course, you are beautiful to be seen beside me, but it is only your friend who fits my image and is worth filling the hollow of my heart." 

"No, that's not how you should put it. The best way to say it is that she's the only one that can fill the empty cup in your hand. Have you forgotten she's a water?" Matheirs said, smiling and rolling her eye-balls. "You, this girl, you see..."

You are too strategic and that is part of the reason why I love.. No, I won't use the word love. that is the reason why I like you. Matheirs replied, "any one you choose, and if you don't, I can't be bothered because there are many who are beaming for me. Although you seem friendlier than them. Sure? Of course, yes. Oh.. My, Awnn. I am blushing. That means I am handsome, right? I love it when people take a real fancy at me or admire me. Wow! Can you see now?

This is what your friend does not know - his worth. I am so sorry for her. Assuming I were her, I would feel like the luckiest person in the entire universe," said Timi. He continues, "But jokes aside, Matheirs, I mean it, please." Matheirs replied, "I know, don't worry, be patient and give me time. I promise everything will be fine. I know you have the power, but I still have to go back because our joke is getting out of hand. If we should still end with joke, It may seem like a joke to you, all what have been discussing with you. but I am strictly serious about everything we have been discussing.

I may have to ask you about the result later, and you should be telling me you are sorry, but you think it's a joke. Matheirs replied, "Humm.. You, this guy, and your pre, pre, may this girl not kill you. Besides, you are the first to deviate. What I am trying to tell you is that since am at your side, everything will definitely be fine.  You have no problem solving it since we are still friends. Of course, I understand, but it is very important to add a little touch of fun for whatever the purpose, though it is also confusing because you are asking if you are beautiful, which makes your statement equivocal. She replied with smile. "Sure, Don't panic, see you next time." Hmm.. alright dear, waving. 

                                                                         * * *

After the short break, Precious went to Matheirs and called her name. "Matheirs, I have made a big mistake," she said. "What kind of mistake is that?" Matheirs answered. "I have taken my chemistry notebook instead of my mathematics notebook. Since we have chemistry as our first period after the short break, I have to prepare myself for any questions the chemistry teacher may want to ask. On my search for the chemistry notebook, I couldn't find it but I did find my general mathematics notebook. This means I may have mistakenly taken my chemistry notes as mathematics because they have the same back cover". "Oh, sheet!" Matheirs uttered. "I don't think it will still work."

Precious then asked if Matheirs hadn't carried anything out as planned. "I have met a better opportunity and have utilized it," Precious explained. "No matter what opportunity you are talking about, I have already done what you sent me," Matheirs replied.