TWO

Maths class was a breeze over, since it's the first day back; Mr. Alestide our calculus teacher just did a revision of last term. "This term is going to be good", he said. "I will be making sure of that". I know he means this term's work but excuse me for thinking he was talking about Lola's death. When the lunch bell rings, everyone starts scampering out of the classroom very noisily, the thing is when one sense dies, the other ones sharpen a lot.

"We should go", I signed in her direction. I imagined her nod before standing to her feet noisily. 

"Hey, Mofy", Manny's voice was firm and deeper that what I remember from last year. "Happy new year". 

"Hey, Emmanuel", she replies. She holds my hand and gives it a squeeze. 

"Ben-Harry, I heard crazy Angeline called you to her office today, why was that?". His voice filled my ears and I start to go back to that night. "Hope you aren't running your mouth, Ibim, that doesn't do anyone any good".  I frown and feel my forehead squeezed. 

"I wasn't snitching, Manny, you and your little friends don't have to worry", I pick my school bag and started walking away. "My lips are sealed". 

"Hey, Happy New Year", I hear him say from behind us. 

"Asshole", Mofe cussed under her breath. C'mon Mofy if there was anyone to be scared of it wasn't Emmanuel Esenwa; he was just another bad boy wannabe.  But I don't tell her that, I didn't tell her anything about whose voice I heard that night so she isn't burdened with carrying this secret with me. 

Ogan Memorial Secondary Academy cafeteria, I think whoever built this school was jealous of East High from High School Musical and was struggling to make it an exaggerated version. In Nigeria, we didn't have schools like this; structural and event-wise as you already can tell. We had two Cafeterias; Junior school and Senior school cafs. Junior school Caf was downstairs while the seniors had the upstairs to themselves, the cafeteria was like a cathedral. 

"Honestly, I feel you need to move school or countries". She says. I laugh. 

"With the kinda parents, I have not happening". I sat down at our usual table in the middle of the Cafeteria. We shared it with five other of our classmates; Nina, Belema, Tochukwu, Mina(Nina's twin) and Efe. 

"Yo! Mofy! Ibim!", That was Tochi. He's one of the few people who still talk to me in public. 

"Hi, Tochi", We say in unison. 

He starts talking about his harmattan break and how he was extremely bored but right I want to introduce you to the hierarchy of Ogan.  We had a handful of disabled kids at our school but most of them were Juniors, there was one other deaf boy in year11 but he didn't associate with anyone even Mofy.  Anyways, back to the hierarchy. 

We had this groups of boys; the sports players? I won't call them that because some members of this group were in debate clubs and others were rappers in High Rhythm( the school music group), Mofy and some others call them Assholes and yes, Manny had managed to make his way into their group last term, God-knows-what he had he had to do; whatever it was, it wasn't legal at all.

Saudis; a girls-only-group, obviously. If this was a Netflix movie they would be cheerleaders but the Saudis were a diverse group just like the Assholes. They could be the mean girls but if the mean girls were seven in number. 

There were other groups of people who hung out together but those people were friends.

"Earth to Ibim!", Nina says knocking me back to the table. 

"Oh sorry, I was just thinking about.....". she cuts me short.

"It's fine, you haven't touched your food though and I'm worried, you love Jollof nau". I smile in her direction and start eating my food. Mina was the third person that still spoke to me in public and yes, she was the last. 

"So how was Harmattan break?". Mina's voice was fruity and nice, she was fond of holding my hand, her hands were soft and sweaty but they were nice to hold regardless, her nails were bluish today, she always has them in one colour or another. 

"My break, I spent at home", I reply. "I recorded a few songs", I whisper to her. 

She gasped dramatically. "I'm the lucky first, aren't I?". 

"As always". Mina and I were in Music club together and we'd been music partners since year 2.  "I was thinking we could go to the studio during free period and I would play it for you".

"Awww... Ibim I would like that very much but I'm busy during free period, I .... umm.. gonna be busy with s-some work". God, she's such a terrible liar. 

"It's okay, Mina, maybe tomorrow?". 

She cleared her throat and slowly let go of my hand. "Yes, tomorrow, I need to get more food". That said she walked away. I went back to my food. 

"Dude, what do you need?", Tochi's voice was firm. 

"Chill, bodyguard". the other person's voice was rapsy.  Daniel Jegede. 

"She doesn't wanna talk with anyone", Mofe intervened. I sighed to her telling her it was fine and her blurred figured relaxed. 

"Hello, Senior Daniel". I tense as he slips in the space beside me where Mina was sitting. 

"What's up? I heard Angeline called you today, what she want?". He really needed a mint. I moved back so he's face wasn't so close to mine.

"She was talking about grades". I lied easily these days , it was becoming a a habit. 

"Good, I hope you told her about your grades and.... your grades alone". I nod in response. 

"Great!", he tapped my shoulder and walked away. 

This term was gonna be the worse. 

A/N

So far so bad huh? things are about to get messier. 

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