Chapter 5: Chapter 5

They tell us about the party and how beautiful the celebration was. Bummi Comes to me and hands me a Polly bag. On opening it, I see a lot of sweets, chocolates, candies, biscuits, and drinks.

Bummi whispers into my ears that it was Arnold who asked her to give the bag to me.

Arnold is brother Simons girlfriends little brother, he is a year older than me. He is14 years old while I am 13. He had begged me to come but I said no. For some reason, he always attends all our family parties without missing a single one, like he does not have any other thing to do. And he always wants me to attend all his family parties.

I known he is my childhood friend and all that but that does not mean he is obliged to always be around me. It's not like I hate him or am not grateful to him for all he's done for me in the course of our growing up but my main issue is his girlfriend.

She would see me as the other girl... Nd I don't want that, my life is too fucked up right now and I don't need any extra drama.

I happily collect the Polly bag from Bummi and help my parents collect their bags and head up the stairs to keep their bags in their rooms and to retire back to mine.

I would stay there till dinner is ready... Which would be the food Mrs. Evans packed for my mom as their usual tradition to show special appreciation and attention.

**********

It's Thursday and I am so pumped up about school, can't wait to see the expression on Faith's face when she sees Victor and I am looking towards sitting beside Victor.

I was initially meant to be on my sports ware but I have a debate to take part in outside school so I have to put my sportswear in my bag and wear my corporate suit, tie, and skirt.

Bummi is also getting ready for school and she finds it difficult to comb her full afro. How we both got Afros remains a mystery to my parents. My mom does not have an afro... But I think my dad did.

Well, Bummi's afro is so full that if care is not taken when combing her hair, you just might end up breaking the comb in her hair. Talking from experience.

I sit her down before the mirror and help her braid the front into four huge corn rolls but not to the end, I then pack the loose ends with the rest of the unbraided hair. So from the front, it looks like she braided her hair and added a weave on to it.

I would not have had to do anything if her school did not have a rule against unbraided hair. I warn her not to roughen the hair before her school closes.

"Yes, mommy" she replies whilst hugging me. I have always been told that I act too mature for my age, but I don't think that is true.

I would have picked it up with her but chose to leave it cause it feels sweet to hear my little 8 years old sister call me mommy... lol...

I give her a kiss on her forehead which she wipes off with the back of her hand. An old habit of hers. Even when she was younger, she hated kisses.

I watch her grab her bag and run out of the room calling out to brother Samson to take her out to get a bike.

I stretch my hair and curl it from tip to end then comb it a few times leaving it to bounce. Star high has no problem with whatever we chose to do to our appearance, as long as it does not involve make-up or go against the school's uniform rules.

I am still ruminating over my debate lines when my mom calls from downstairs to inform me that my bus has arrived.

"I'm coming!"I call back at her as I pack the last things I need and close the room windows. I run down the stairs and go to meet my mom in the kitchen.

She hands me a takeaway in which rests, four slices of bread and butter. She helps me put my bottle in the side pocket of my bag and then gives me a 200 naira note for school. I remind her about the debate and tell her I would be leaving school and the time of my return is unknown. So she changes her mind and gives me a 500 naira note..

I then hug her and run outside as fast as I could cause I can hear the bus engine roaring back to life and I know my bus driver would leave me if I spend another minute inside.

I get on the bus and Chisom, Faith's big sister is listening to my favorite song playing from her phone. I join her to sing a few lines before going to the last roll in the bus to meet Faith.

"I hate you, I love you,

I hate that I want you.

Don't want to, but I can't put, nobody else above you"

On getting to Faith at the back, I greet her in Spanish the way she taught me, and she laughs as usual. She says I say it with a funny Yoruba accent which I'm sure I certainly do not have.

All through the drive to school, I give her the update about Victor. How he touched my hand, to the class picking... I tell her everything and shared a few good laughs with my juniors.

They call me "mommy of the bus". Cause if anyone of them has a problem In school they would come to me and we are kind of like a family on the bus.

On getting to the school field where all the buses are packed, we are the third bus to arrive and just what I do not need happens.

I see Silvia and this time she is waiting for Faith and Me to come down. She wants to say something to us.

"What a horrible way to start a day," I say out loud and then being to cuss under my breath which only makes Faith laugh.

Well the price you have to pay for sitting at the last role in the bus is, you would have to be the last to get down. Initially, I am not quite okay with it, but today I am happy because I kept Silvia waiting.

I honestly do not want to hear anything from her filthy mouth so early in the morning.

When we get down, she gives a sly smile and says to me.

"You seem to forget that a Juliet only has her Romeo once. How sad? And you are a so-called literature student. "

"What do you mean by that?" I question and she smiles.

"I heard you have been trying your best to seduce the new boy and make him fall for you. Like yesterday in literature class when he sat opposite you and you started trying to show off as a brain box in front of him.

You had Jacob... You can't have this one too... I don't know what your problem is! "She replies coldly.

" What the hell do you mean by that? Jacob is just my..." I make explain myself but decide against it.

"You know what? You can say and think whatever you want. I don't owe a low life like you an explanation."I state.

"Of course you don't and you are the low life here. Don't you see? Mohammed never liked you and now he dances to my tunes. The same would have been Jacob's case but goodness knows what charm you used on him!

However, I'm here to tell you to keep away from Victor or I will just have to take him away from you In a way that would so hurt you." She says.

"That's enough Silvia. I have had enough. What is your P? I can't believe you'd stoop this low for a boy you barely know.

Actually, I am not surprised. You met my expectations. Victor is just a friend and nothing more! You can do as you please. I don't care, but I am not just going to stop talking to Victor all because one riff-raff, asked me to! " I yell

"That's your business, Jade. I don't care. All I know is... Keep your slutty self away from him. Just, please... Try to keep your prostitution business at bay! " Silvia snorts in response.

Now Faith who had been staring all along decides that she has had enough.

"Now off you go bitch!" she yells at Silvia.

"Your breath is making the atmosphere less sacred by the minute" Faith adds.

At the sound of the word 'atmosphere, I begin to feel my heart racing and I can hear my Self struggling to keep my breath under control.

At this point, I lose all form of attention to my environment but the next thing I see is Silvia slapping Faith.

My vision is already blurred, I don't know when or how, but Silvia is on the floor in front of me holding on to her head and there are a few strands of hair in my hands.

I dragged her hair and used it to hit her head against the bus beside us. She runs off and I pray in my heart she doesn't go to the principal or Miss Ana.

My breathing still hasn't normalized and I can feel my heart struggling to fall out of my chest. I take a seat at the entrance of the bus and Faith for some reason, is consoling me.

"Don't cry" she says and only then do I realize that I am crying. I was not hurt at all by Silvia's words but my way of reacting to anger is very annoying. I just crying.

I'd rather break things and scream when am angry but no. It just had to be these stupid tears that make me look weak in front of people. Besides, that burning pain in my chest is enough to make one run mad.

I feel drawn to the very edge, as I am practically gasping for air. faith wants to run out of the field to call for help, but I grab her hand and point to my bottle.

Teachers knowing about my health is the last thing I want. She gives me the bottle and I roughly take it into my trembling hands. I take huge swigs, hoping to have a positive effect and aid my current situation.

I know I have to give Faith an explanation for what is happening but what is more important to me right now is not passing out and stopping Faith from Calling a crowd.

I aggressively beat my chest with my hand to try stable my breath and within what seems like minutes, my breathing begins to normalize.

When I am back to myself, the first period is almost up and we would be in so much trouble if we should walk into school now so we just sit here.

"What was that?! "Faith finally questions as expected.

"What? "I question feigning innocence.

"You... Now... Almost dying. You gave me probably the biggest scare of my life."Faith states.

"I... I don't know, " I lie. I feel guilty for lying to my best friend but... Well, there are some things that only one person needs to know in an environment.

And in the whole of Star High Academy, I am the only one who knows about my predicament, and I'd like to keep it that way.

This is the third attack I am having in school since my history in SHA and this by far is the worst. I could handle others and No one ever noticed but today... I don't know what went wrong.

We stay and talk for some time and even sing a few love songs till we hear the bell for break go off. When the school compound is full, we give our bags to some juniors and ask them to take them to our class. Then we walk in amongst the other students who are out for break.

I almost burst into laughter when I sight Silvia. She has a huge bump at the side of her head. Clearly, the result of the bus's kiss to her head.

She has not told anyone what happened, because everyone acted normal when Faith and I entered the class. If looks could kill, I would have dropped dead on the floor by now, Due to the way Silvia is glaring at me.

Faith and I meet our bags on my table and she takes the vacant sit in front of Victor's seat. where is he anyway? Maybe out for brake? But then where is his bag?

I secretly push the locker so no one would see. It's so light, it's obvious there are no books in It. Did he miss the second day of resumption as a newcomer? wow... That's enough proof that the same blood runs through him and Jacob.

It's still break, so I am not late for my debate. A junior student comes to tell me that Miss Ana is calling me. Has Silver told on me?

On getting there, I am told that the debate has been canceled and that I should go change. The program has been postponed till the next week.

As I am walking out of the reception, I hear the headmaster telling Miss Ana something... But all I pick is;

"SS1... New boy.."

I know they are talking about Victor, and I want to stay and listen so I may know why he is not in school, but if I stall any longer, Miss Ana would start yelling at me, and I am not ready for that, so I just leave.

On getting to the class, I tell Faith that I need to change back into my sportswear and that I need an escort to the school's restroom. I hardly go anywhere alone, so, she agrees to come with me. I grab my bag and head for the restroom.

It takes me six minutes to change into my sportswear. Don't blame me. I have to look neat! I then change my shoes, still leaving on my long black socks.

When we return to the class, what I find makes the back of my head begin to pound, and anger rushes through my system. There is a new boy on Victor's seat and not only that, Silvia is seated on my seat!

I want to run to him and drag him off Victor's seat with full force and if possible, decorated the whole table and chair with Victor's name. So even a blind man would know it's taken.

As for Silvia, I want to give her a tight slap that would possibly send her into a trance and leave a lifelong mark on her face for having the audacity to sit on my seat. I mean who the hell does she think she is, sitting on my seat and flirting with this new boy?

Silvia is blabbing away God knows what to this new boy, and then abruptly stops when she spots me glaring at them which makes the new boy turn his head to Faith and my direction. I watch his eyes grow wide as he looks at me but quickly puts on a neutral expression.

I want to look down at myself to know what made him react that way, but my subconscious notifies me on how odd that would be and that if anything is wrong with my appearance, Faith would have told me.

I walk to the new boy and it takes every ounce of discipline in me to suppress the anger in my voice when I speak;

" I'm sorry but this seat is taken, " I say and add a fake smile.

"Oh... Miss. Ana told him to seat here and Nath is not around so... "Silvia interrupts.

Nath? Who the hell is Nath? What is this bitch saying?

"Nath?" I ask as puzzled as can be.

"Oh, what a shame. You don't even know your crush's name. His name is Nathan.

Nathan Victor kings "she replies before giving a sly smile.

I don't know what she would gain from what she is doing but I do know that I want to wipe that smile off her face with the back of my hand. Even if it will be for no reason. I just want to cause her pain. That is how much I hate her.

"Well someone did her history assignment! "I spit at her.

"Hey... It's not my fault that Miss Ana put him here. Honestly, I am sorry. you can still tell him to get up when Victor comes.

Although I honestly don't know why you are so concerned about this Victor boy Anyways" She says. Now I know what she is doing.

She wants to make the whole class believe that I like Victor and she wants to use my reaction at the moment as proof against me soon when she is concocting another lie to feed the public about me.

Now I know I kinda like Victor but who is she to think she can just throw It in the wind like that?! Someone's gonna have to put her in her place one of these days and I'm quite sure it's gonna be me and soon too.

At this point, I don't know what to say cause no one has ever dared to change anything from the way Miss Ana sets it and what Silvia said was right, the only way to get him off this seat is if he and Victor can have a clean bargain when Victor comes back.

Well now I just want Silvia off my seat and I wish I have a sanitizer to clean the whole thing before sitting on it.

"Just get up, please. "I conclude, sounding calmer than I expected.

She does and goes out of the class with her clique and Dina behind her.

It still hurts me to see the one whom I've been friends with for three years, all over one of the people I hate the most in the world.

When I sit back down, I take time to study my appearance to find out why the new boy reacted to my appearance the way he did.

There's nothing wrong with my dressing and no reason for him to have reacted to the way he did. While I am still lost in thoughts, I hear his voice.

"Hi... My name is Nathaniel... Nathaniel Briggs. "

I am surprised by his gesture but still choose to play along. By this time, Faith is already seated and minding her business... As it seems but if I know Faith as well as I do, she is so far from minding her business. Rather, she is paying the closest attention to me and the new boy.

"Oh... I'm Jade... Jade Oluwatibiloba" I tell him.

"Ah. A nice name. " He replies.

"Thank you... You also have a nice name. "I say. Although, I wonder what sort of a name Briggs is.

I mean, what Nigerian bears the name Briggs? What does it even mean?

Not long after, Faith sends me a note which reads;

*What an irony, another Nath replaced your Nath*

I reach out and swat her hand.

Something she was not expecting. We both start to laugh and Nath just smiles. We must seem odd, to be acting this way in front of someone we just met. But truth be told, when Faith and I are around each other, we couldn't care less.

Hey

It's Aider again..

Thanks for reading.. Pls don't forget to vote nd comment. O:-) .

XOXO Aider Kwin :-)