P for Perfect

Chapter 51- Faith

I will wait for you- Tems

A feeling of immense calm washes over me as I step into my father's room. What I'm about to do might get my head cut off, might get me disowned. But I don't care. Maybe I'm acting on a whim, maybe I should trust my parents' judgement, either way it's too late-

"Yes Faith?" Daddy looks up from his work table to assess my still form. I walk towards him and silently pray.

"Daddy, I've thought hard about it and I've decided that...I don't want to study medicine. I don't want to be a doctor."

There. I said it.

"What?" Daddy raises his brow. He doesn't sound slighted, just very confused.

"I don't want to become a doctor," I repeat slowly.

"Faith, what has gotten into you? It has been decided that you would study medicine a long time ago."

"I know. But I didn't make that decision, you and mummy did. I thought, I genuinely thought I would be able to do it. Being a doctor doesn't sound bad but I can't. I don't have any passion for treating people." I hope I don't sound as desperate as I sound.

"So what do you have passion for?"

"I want to be a medical biologist," I dodge the question. I don't have passion for anything exactly because I've spent all my life burying my head in textbooks. I mean do I have a passion for medicine? No. Do I have a passion for running blood tests? No, because I've never done it before. But I do appreciate the job of a medical biologist and I can see myself in that lab.

"If you can do that why don't you just do the medicine?"

"It's not about whether or not I can study medicine. I know I can but I don't want to," I lay in slowly. Dad remains quiet for some time, reasoning. He's taking this better than I expected.

"I'll think about it."

"Thank you sir." I bend my knees slightly in appreciation. As I turn around to walk out he calls my name again.

"Are you sure it'll make you happy?" His eyes peer into mine, brown and wide.

"Yes. Yes I am."

"Then you have my permission."

My heart skips a beat.

"Really!?" When he nods again I run to squash him in a big big bear hug. Thank you God.

••••

"Osas will flip," Travis grins. He's just finished boxing his gift for Osas; 4 sketchbooks.

"She won't flip because of a sketchpad Travis," I roll my eyes. We're helping Ara clean up the backyard where we'll throw the party. I'm still a bit wary around her but that's just me being cautious, deep inside I know there's nothing wrong with her. She's been really nice to me.

"That's what you think because you don't know the value of these sketchbooks," he wiggles his brows at me. I throw an empty bowl at him and it lands directly on his forehead.

"Hey!"

"Sorry," I stick my tongue out at him. I continue cleaning but then he throws the bowl back at me, missing my head by just an inch.

"What kind of gentleman are you?" I demand, whipping my head to look at him.

"The kind who deliberately misses. Don't think you've escaped me yet," he waggles his index finger at me. I finish placing the last chair and grab a bottle of water.

"If you try anything I'll pour water on you," I threaten him. I would go and save myself the stress but we're supposed to wait for Ara and Jibril to come back with the balloons. Yes, there will be balloons.

"Water does me no harm," he huffs. I roll my eyes at him again and walk inside Ara's kitchen. Her mum and sister aren't home but they know about our little surprise. Tobi was very happy when Ara relayed the story to her.

"What now? You want to use to knife to cut me?" Travis jokes, walking in from behind me.

"And blemish the poor knife? I would never," I pout. Actually I just wanted to grab the remaining Cheetos Ara stocked in the freezer for us. And once I do I turn around to find Travis in front of me.

"Stop following me," I frown. The frown is a total cover up, it's me trying to ignore the way my heart flipped. Travis is hot from afar but even hotter up close and if you hadn't noticed I'm trying to overcome this one sided crush.

"I want Cheetos," he looks pointedly at the half pack of Cheetos in my hands, not stepp back.

"Is it because of you she kept it in the freezer?"

"No, that's why I'm asking you for the Cheetos," he gives me an exasperated look.

"Wait first." I grab a small plate and pour some for him and then hand it to him. He stares at the plate blankly.

"Take na," I urge him.

"I'd prefer if you feed me, my hands are dirty."

"The sink is right here," I almost laugh.

"I don't want to wash my hands."

"Just say you want me to feed you," I laugh.

"I want you to feed me," he says as a matter-of-factly. I was laughing just now so why is my throat suddenly dry? I do as he says and grab one Cheeto and place it between his lips. I'm not looking at him but I can feel his eyes on me.

Is it just me or did this room get a little hotter?

I drop his plate and walk back outside in one swift moment.

"Hey, you didn't finish feeding me!" He yells. I hear him wash his hands and roll my eyes, I just might still end up pouring this water on him.