Dream On

DREAM ON

Chapter 1

Stephanie James stood in front of her full length mirror checking if her face was ok because as a P.E teacher, she really didn't need to dress hot or too professional. In fact all she needed was her bag which contained the register, her extra clothes in case the current one got dirty and lip-gloss just to prevent dry lips. She slapped her face twice with a little talcum powder and gave herself a thumbs up while using her eyes to scan her ensemble for approval, after confirming that she looked presentable, she walked out of her room and parlor apartment, heading to work. She greeted Mrs. Johnson who had a shop down the estate she lived in, it wasn't a big estate but it was very secure and usually quiet. Taking a taxi to the high school she taught in, Stephanie thought about how the country wasn't fair to people who had degrees in other courses using herself as an example, she graduated as a business administrator and didn't get a job after completing her service to the country instead she got a job as a teacher in a private school where the students paid too much as fees compared to the little the teachers got as wages. She sighed at the back of the taxi where she sat before realizing that they had stopped at the school gates, she was happy there was not the usual traffic jam everyone experienced every morning for the rush hour which made them late to work but yet again she was still gloomy to be in the premises, she was a Physical Education teacher who mainly taught the kids practical stuff than the theories associated with the subject.

"Hey, Good morning. You came early today", Samuel the biology teacher said behind her which honestly startled Stephanie but she didn't and wouldn't let it show. He creeped her out.

"Yes, I'm early. No go slow on the road, as you like to make an emphasis on every time I'm late", she rolled her eyes at him as she gave the sarcastic reply.

"Don't say it like you're annoyed knowing you came earlier than I did, besides you know that I love you and would do anything to make you happy. I haven't seen you smile since you started working here and I promised myself to put that smile on your face". And once again, Stephanie was reminded of one of the reasons she hated coming to this school, Samuel Obi who claimed to be in love with her but she actually felt he was a stalker because he seemed to show up everywhere she was. Worst still, he always chose the worst times to confess his love.

"Yea sure, I have first period so I will leave you first" she made her words short and clear so she wouldn't have to talk to him later in the day before walking away from him.

"Alright love, I'll see you during break time" he smiled while waving but the smile never reached his eyes not that Stephanie was even going to spare him another glance, she actually never wanted to see him again. And he just invited himself to another part of her day.

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"You two at the back, come down and give me 50 push-ups. The girls you four, run round the field two times" She hissed at the teenagers who were adding to her misery, they all mumbled and grumpily came down from their seats to do their punishment.

"They seem to be stressing you very much these days, here's a bottle of coke for you to cool off" Samuel said while walking into the gym area with a smile etched in his face as usual. Stephanie always wanted to tell him that he looked creepy and really stupid but she also used every fiber in her body to avoid small talk with him because she didn't really care especially not for a conversation with him. Since she didn't want to appear impolite in front of the kids, she groggily took the plastic bottled coke from his outstretched hand not after giving him a glare.

"We'll take three minutes break for now, form two lines and get equal numbers for the lines, we'll play dodge ball after the break." She looked at Samuel who was still smiling and walked over to one of the seats where she drank half of the coke.

"Thank you very much for the drink but can you please stop popping out of nowhere and everywhere?" she said to him in a deathly calm voice, the kids had nicknamed her cold face because she had never smiled in front of them and Samuel was nicknamed Smiley mask because of the smile that he never took off.

"No can do, Princess." He winked at her but she ignored him and returned to the field to instruct the kids, she still had 10 minutes more before she could go to her office and wallow in self-pity.

"Alright, who are the team leaders?" She asked and when two students raised their hands in reply, she continued. "Good! Hassan and Mike stay at the back so the smaller ones on the team can be at the front!. Get into positions everyone and start!" she yelled out the instructions and from her peripheral vision, she saw him at the gym door looking at her with hooded eyes right before he left.

Only five minutes had passed which meant she had five more before her one hour class ended but she was starting to get dizzy when her friend, Bola came in wearing a tight black skirt and a lemon chiffon work top. "Babe, I knew you'd be in gym. Why don't you ever use the class? Hey...Bae, Steph are you ok?" "Quick, let's take her to the hospital", Samuel was already rushing back into the gym. When did he even enter? Or did he never leave? He sure did appear fast. That really was creepy.

She couldn't reply as she dropped to the floor and closed her eyes greeting the darkness that had become a huge part of her life.

Chapter 2

"Babe, you are finally awake. I'll go get the doctor", Bola said before standing up and running off to call the doctor as Stephanie was slowly opening her eyes to take in her surroundings. A ceiling fan that was turning rather slowly, blue walls, other beds with sick people, smell of sickness mixed with drugs of all kinds and a freaking nurse giving shots to a drip bag connected to an old man across the room, why was she in the hospital? Wearing the flowery uniform patients wore wasn't her style

"Doctor, she's awake" Bola came in with a middle aged man wearing a lab coat and stethoscope hanging on his neck to give him the doctor look.

"Miss James, how do you feel?" He questioned her while jotting stuff down on a pad he was holding

"Just a little tired, and I'm thirsty too" she croaked out, her throat felt scratchy.

"Give her some water" the doctor instructed Bola who rushed out again in search of the water, while the doctor continued his examination on Stephanie.

When Bola returned, she handed the water to Stephanie and turned to speak with the doctor, "doc, is she alright now?" She looked frantic.

"She's alright now, just need more rest but she can be discharged now and I'll write her some prescriptions she has to follow", with that said, the doctor went on to another ward for his routine check-ups.

"How long was I out?" Stephanie asked Bola who was now sitting down on her bed

"Girl, you almost gave me a heart attack. You cannot be having me sleep over then pass out cuz you ate the wrong kind of food and then you wake up after four days because they had to flush your stomach. If my mother was here, she would knock you on the head and please tell me what did you have for lunch that Monday?" Bola said all in one breath.

"What do you mean by sleep over? I haven't had one of those in years besides, you really need to explain what you mean by lunch and my stomach was flushed? I fainted in the morning during P.E"

"What are you saying? Girl, do you think I'm playing with you? Did they also flush your brain?" Bola looked at her like she had developed two heads

"Stop looking at me like there's a third eye in the middle of my head, now tell me why I fainted in school and woke up to a failed sleepover" Stephanie was very confused

"I don't understand what you are saying right now, it's either you are missing your room at home or you need new medical checkup but this time it would be in a psychiatric hospital", Bola replied her before standing up and walking the small distance to the drawer where a big black leather bag was sitting.

"I brought some of your clothes, go change into them while I process your discharge then I'll meet you out front" Bola handed her the clothes which was just tights and a half cut hoodies that had the words ~ESCAPED DEATH ONCE~ written in a stylish font, then she left to get the discharge papers signed.

Stephanie stared at the clothes, at least Bola brought her favorite color than the usual unicorn poop she preferred. A nurse came in and took the drip off before directing her to a restroom where she changed into the outfit, she looked at the baby blue flip flops on her feet then at the mirror on the wall. Her lips were pale, her caramel colored skin looked dryer than usual. She came out of the restroom before she further damaged her self-esteem with the mirror, then she went straight for the stairs before going outside of the building. Looking at the big structure of the hospital painted in a pale yellow color, the name of the hospital was inscribed with giant capital letters in the front, 'LIFE IS GOOD GENERAL HOSPITAL'.

She was staring at the words when Bola came out, with only her purse in hand.

"That black bag you brought out my clothes from, did it belong to the hospital?"

"Steph, you haven't changed at all. Wait some more, let me get my bag since you didn't feel like carrying it out", she ran back inside and Stephanie was in awe at how the girl ran in those hot as hell heels she was wearing.

She shrugged and was about to turn around when she was hit by a tall man or did she bump into him?, compared to her 5'5, this man was a whopping 6'2. He stretched out his hands and raised her up, "I'm so sorry, I was in a hurry", he apologized looking all sincere while in actuality he was just checking her out. To her, there really wasn't much to see in her body or face but this guy won't stop eye raping her, "yea sure, just look where you are going and also keep your eyes to yourself next time if you don't want them leaving their place on your head" she replied him with a duh tone.

She walked away from him towards the gate, that's where she decided to wait for her best friend.

He stood there trying to comprehend what had just happened, he was just rejected without him making any advances, 'who does she think she is' he asked himself. 'She just didn't know who she insulted', he planned many ways in his head to make her suffer but only ended up getting bumped by a petite lady on sexy heels and ample breast too. He was yet to see her face, "I'm sorry" she said and walked off to the lunatic by the gate. He remembered his main reason for being in the hospital, going inside to meet his foolish big ass girlfriend who rushed to the hospital for any slight thing even if a fly perched on her fake boobs or plastic face, she comes in for a checkup because her cousin was the co-owner of the hospital but he wasn't complaining as long as she didn't whine about her problems to him, he was with her because she was an easy fuck, even though she was twisted in the head.

He knocked on the door, going in after hearing a reply from inside. "Good day, Dr. Martin, hope she wasn't much of a crybaby today?" He addressed the older man without sparing a glance at the woman sitting beside him.

"Today's checkup went smoothly" the doctor chuckled.

"Hey Babe, you ready to leave?" He finally turned to the woman and asked her without any hugs or kisses, diligently ignoring her outstretched arms for a hug. He already got up to leave, nodding to the doctor

"Yes, let's go", she smiled and hooked her arms around him as they left but not before winking at the doctor who just gave her a good time.

DREAM ON

Chapter 3

Stephanie had her weekend rough with Bola visiting her almost every three hours to check up on her. If she wasn't calling, she was texting just to check if she was still alive. The girl had even made sure she finished her medication during the three day weekend she observed and slept over.

Now it was a Monday morning and her phone won't stop ringing. She never used alarms as her body could adjust to situations so it meant someone was disturbing her willingly, she reached under her pillow and retrieved her phone.

Bola: Arise and Shine!

Stephanie: why'd you call me so early?

Bola: I got news girl

Stephanie: you could just text than repeatedly call while I'm trying to sleep

Bola: you know that company where you applied to for a job at their Biz admin team? They replied people today.

Stephanie: I didn't apply for anything, I still work at the damned high school. Don't play pranks on me, I'm not in the mood.

Bola: wow! That's the most words you have spoken to me in the last four years. Trust me, this isn't a prank.

Stephanie: I'll check it later then.

Bola: no, you have to check your email now. I'll call you in five.

And with that, Bola hanged up. Stephanie wasn't feeling the excitement her friend felt, she didn't remember applying but she knew the outcome. Rejection. Like every good thing did to her

She opened her laptop and checked her mail, clicking on the unread message from B&M Tech, she saw the message that shook her shattered world by a fraction.

~*'Dear Stephanie, *

We at B&M wish to inform you that your application for a position in the Business administration team of our company has been accepted.

Your presence is required for an interview to test your compatibility with available positions on the team, along with a copy of your originals attached to your CV.

*We hope to see you soon*~

Not believing her eyes, she read it again. Immediately she finished reading, her phone rang jolting her back to reality. The girl really called her in five minutes.

Stephanie: Before you ask, I got the job

Bola: omg, I'm so happy for you.

Stephanie: yea, I'll talk to you later.

Bola: wait, when's your interview?

Stephanie: this Friday.

Bola: then we have time for shopping.

The call ended before she could protest, Bola was a shopping freak who could smell a clothing stall from a mile away but Steph wasn't worried about shopping, she was wondering when she submitted the application. In the end after she got no satisfying answer, she climbed her bed and went back to sleep. Shopping with her best friend was sure to be tiring and she needed energy for it.

When Thursday afternoon came, Stephanie was already wearing a baggy Jean and an over-sized shirt waiting for Bola at the boutique two streets from her apartment. She went into the shop and started to rummage through the clothes in search of a perfect top for her one black skirt she bought for emergencies, she saw two tops that looked alright and Bola would approve of, she gritted her teeth annoyed at the conversation she would have with the sales girl.

Placing the clothes on the counter, Stephanie started her bargaining spree before the doorbell signaled that a customer had walked in.

"Welcome, how may I help you?" Another sales girl attended to the customer

"That red top with the person there, do you have it for me?" A girly voice came from the said customer. How rude! Stephanie thought.

"No madam, that is the only edition of that particular one but we have other red rare edition tops. Follow me to check them" the sales girl said and started walking towards another section of the boutique that was a bit hidden.

"Well, I was driving by and this particular one caught my eye. I already stopped my car so I expect to at least get it for myself besides how can I just pass up a limited edition classic top?" she asked, loud enough for Stephanie to hear.

All the time while the lady walked in right till she spoke about having the top, Stephanie hadn't made any attempt to turn around maybe to see who was talking but instead she still haggled prices with the sales girl and eventually asked her to pack up the clothes so she can return to her dark room in her apartment.

"Hey you, how about you buy another red top and I'll pay for it. I really want this one and I'm afraid I must have it besides there are other options for you to pick from", the lady tapped her on the shoulder with one finger as if Stephanie was something dirty she didn't have to touch until absolutely necessary.

"I also want this shirt. I came in first, saw it first and guess what? I bought it first" Stephanie finally looked at the woman and she was the bimbo at the hospital, "how about you buy another red top and I'll pay for it because I really want this one and I'm afraid I must have it", the lady was seething now as Stephanie's sarcasm seeped into her.

"Do you poor person think that you can afford a top that's to my taste?" The lady who looked like what Barbie vomited scoffed. Did people not look at the mirror after cosmetic surgery or did the doctors not know what they were doing any longer?

"Of course not, I can't afford to pay for a big eyed person like you. Your thoughts about life is twisted judging from your obnoxious claim about stopping your car to get a top you clearly saw with a person by the counter. My dear, your behavior is too absurd for your age and you shouldn't keep your acquaintance waiting just to satisfy your selfish want", Stephanie eyed her and left the shocked woman in the shop. Outside, a car with tinted glass was parked and Stephanie could make out the silhouette of a man inside. That bimbo was really ill-mannered, intending to quarrel with her over a small red top. She shook her head as she walked to a snack shop to wait for Bola who was surprisingly running late to shopping.