Chapter Fifty-Six – It’s Normal to be Jealous Right?

My mentee’s name was Phyllis. It made sense why she reminded of a grandmother. Besides her questionable fashion choices, Phyllis and I were kindred spirits. We both liked similar music and had a similar sense of humor. Although, no one, and I mean absolutely no one, can compare to me when it comes to humor. I am the queen but she was my princess.

Here's what I reasoned to do. I was going to turn this Phyllis into a 2.0 version of myself. All the quirks, beauty and brains but not the foolishness and certainly not the questionable friends. Phyllis would be my child.

Just as I had feared, Boateng and his new mentee hit it off immediately. Her name was Aseda. What kind of stupid name is Aseda? Yes, I know it means “Thanks” but it’s still a stupid name. It did make sense why her parents would name her that though. If I too gave birth to a child that looked like she’d emerged from the sea, I would also name her Aseda. That notwithstanding, I still think it’s a stupid name.

Aseda and Phyllis were now friends much to my chagrin. It seems to me this pest of a girl is worming her way into my life. Why? Why is she here? The last time I despised another human being like so was that Trudy girl with her bright ideas and passive aggressive commentary. Where was she now, anyway? Hopefully rotting away somewhere very far away from Sly. A girl can only hope.

I prayed vehemently for Aseda to have some nasty habit that turned everybody off. With how vigorously I prayed, I am sure that Ghana would be a developed nation if I had channeled my energy that way. Whoever made the saying ‘if wishes were horses, poor men would ride’ was really on to something great. It’s probably the best saying yet because currently I was riding and riding hard.

Aseda smelled like lavender. Always. Was she drenching herself in it at every moment or what? Never musty, night or day. Her breath didn’t stink either. What of her fashion sense? The girl dressed like a diasporian coming for detty December celebrations. Oh, the pain!

Every time Boateng would see her he’d go “wow, you look good today, as always”. Ugh! Blah blah blah. She looked fine. I could dress like that too if I had the money of course. My Pinterest was the proof that I was in fact fashionable.

Then she’d respond my smiling sheepishly and acting like she was embarrassed by the compliment. You’re not fooling me, miss girl. I see right through your show.

She was no good for Boateng. She couldn’t be. A girl like that certainly had a tall list of men eating out of the palm of her hand. She would break Boateng’s heart and I’m only trying to look out for my friend. There were no other motive. There couldn’t be.

We were all chilling at the kebab joint in front of the hostel when this girl appeared like an unwanted fly.

“Aseda, what are you doing here?” Lara asked a bit too enthusiastically for my liking.  “Boateng told me you guys were here and I thought I’d join you” she replied with her sweet milky voice.

I shot Boateng a look so lethal, he’d have died on the spot had he seen. He didn’t catch it of course, but Mara did and she shot me a quizzical look. I pretended not to see and went back to stalking one of Sly’s friend’s snaps.

Carl pulled a chair from another table and brought it to ours so Aseda could sit. She sat down so daintily that I nearly threw up.

“How’s school treating you so far?” Mara asked.

“It’s going really well. I mean, I have the best mentor in the world so I can’t complain” she chirped.

Someone shoot me now!

 “And are any boys worrying you?” Carl asked with a laugh.

Good question Carl. Aseda looked over at Boateng briefly before responding. It was just a second’s look but I thought about it for the rest of the night. What was the meaning of that look? Was Boateng one of the boys worrying her? Did he just happen to know the boys worrying her? Was he like a big brother advising her about the boys? Did she wish he was one of the boys?

“Not really. I’m trying to focus on my books” she said. That answer was too vague. Thankfully, Lara pressed on the issue.

“Any guy you have your eye on?” she asked.

Aseda laughed so innocently for a moment I thought I’d fly across the room and grab her by the neck screaming “do you like Boateng or not?”.

“I can’t tell yet” was all she said. She knew how to keep her cards close to her chest. A formidable enemy I see.

She left us after a while to go and see Phyllis. After she had left, Lara thought she’d continue the earlier conversation.

“So, Boateng, your mentee seems cool. Are you looking there?” she asked mischievously.

“I can’t lie, I think so. We’ll see” he responded. Kwame and Carl shook him about teasingly as boys often do.

I was seething.