“Everything changed the day she figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in her life.” – Unknown
........
You know that morning when you wake up feeling completely out of place? And to top it all up, you get a throbbing headache from sleeping late. That was how Monday was. I didn't understand the meaning of waking up on the wrong side of the bed till that day. I felt like crap, and I knew it was all my fault, partly Lara's and Tomison's too though. After the three way call that ended untimely due to Lara's insufficient balance, we decided to take our conversation to Facebook. Lara created a group chat for strictly the three of us and called it. Yoruba Girls. Funny right? We literally chatted about everything and nothing. We got to know each other better. I found out that Lara loved her big size, she says it's makes her feel confident., Tomison hated Tiwa Savage and preferred Yemi Alade. Like, Wtf.
Even though the headache wasn't particularly great, I wouldn't say I regretted chatting with them. We chatted mostly about the reviews Aisha's secret was getting from my blog,like the whole school was buzzing as soon as the gist drooped. Everyone had one or two things to say about it.
"I knew something wasn't right with Ai."
"So she's not perfect after all."
"Why has she been lying about her moms location?"
"Can't wait to see her tomorrow, I'll laugh my butt off."
"Aisha's going to be the talk of the week."
And more.
By the time I got to school, Lara was already waiting eagerly for me at my class. She was in Ss3 Shine, so we could only talk for a limited time, at least until the assembly bell rang.
"You're early o, thought you'd be here later or something." She said, sitting comfortably on a desk beside mine. If she was caught sitting on the desk, she'd probably spend the whole day serving punishment.
'That's just one of SOUNDHOPE HIGH'S Numerous rules. Apparently the wood used in making the desk was expensive as hell.
"My mum had to go to the Ship port early, her goods just arrived so she decided to drop me early. You?"
"I come early. Everyday" she gave me an "are you serious" look. "There's free WiFi in the school until assembly. So..."
"What's it with you guys and free WiFi anyway?. And everyone knows your family ain't broke like mine so why do you still crave free WiFi?" I asked, settling into my seat.
"Here's the thing, I'm not really always early because of the free WiFi, although it's actually nice to download large files on the internet with the free WiFi, but I also come early because I wake early. You know what I mean." She gave me a knowing look, but I pretended not to notice.
"When exactly do you come to school?"
"4 thirty or five."
"What?! School resumes by 7! Don't you sleep at home? By that time I'm probably just getting up from bed."
"Anyway, that's another story for another day. I saw the reviews. It's MAD!"
"Shhhh keep your voices down. Someone can actually hear you both" Tomison said, smiling as she came in. She took Lara and myself by surprise when she pulled the both of us in for a tight hug.
Three days ago, she was a total stranger, now she felt like home. It's amazing how friendship works though.
"Awwwwkward" Lara sang playfully. "But me likeee"
"What's the Emotional display about?" I asked.
"What!" She shouted. "Can't a girl hug her fellow Yoruba sisters?" She asked.
We all laughed and teased each other. And I suddenly realised that the throbbing headache had vanished. Thanks to the two girls responsible for bringing it in the first place.
"Hey, I was walking in and I heard some boys talking about Aisha. Yes, Boys!"
You might wonder why she's laying emphasis on the 'Boys!' It's because it's rare to see Boys gossiping in SOUNDHOPE HIGH. Maybe boys do it in other schools, but SHH boys never gossip. Although they read my blogs more often than the girls, But they would never be caught dead gossiping about something they read on my blog. It's the just how it is.
"That's a lie, Boys never gossip here." Lara sneered.
"I swear, one called me and asked if the news was true."
"What did you tell him?" I asked.
"I Told him SOUNDGIST never posted Untrue stories."
"Na so! That's my girl!" I high-fived her.
"So if boys are talking about Aisha, imagine what the girls are doing?" Lara flipped.
"Your secret is saved, Lara." I announced officially.
"She's been inactive on Facebook ever since the news dropped on SOUNDGIST." Tomison said.
"So she's not tried to reach you? Or give you all an explanation or a mass message?" I asked, half seriously and half jokingly.
"It's strange, but she hasn't thrown a tantrum yet. I'm sure she's busy wondering how it came out."
"Then she's going to be very busy because it's going to take the CIA alone to track me down." Lara laughed.
"Look at the bus!" Tomison pointed to a new school bus that conveyed people in our school uniform. She was close to the window.
"That's probably the Transfer students." I answered.
"Let's go and check it out" Tomison said eagerly.
"No!" I stopped her. "The principal's going to start showing them their classes, so its best if the both of you go to your classes instead.
"you're right" Lara said.
"It's true. I'll just go and open the library, and make sure everything's in place. That reminds me, you guys can sneak snacks into the library for our meetings."
"Oh, you're the library prefect" Lara said. "Cool".
They both ran to their classes, leaving me staring at the both of them. I was going through my Monday timetable and wondering how funny it was that I never stopped checking the Timetable everyday for the whole term. Wasn't I supposed to have memorised them all?
"Master Tony, Master, Chidi, Miss Tejiri, Master March and Miss Jola. This will be your class. That over there is........hey let me see your face." The voice of the principal commanded and immediately I dropped the Top of my desk and stood up. The truth was that he'd scared me right from the time he started calling names, and he'd even shocked me the more by mentioning March's name.
"That's, Remi Martins." The principal grinned at me. My name always had a way of putting stupid grins on his face. But I was glad that he actually knew my name, I thought I was actually invincible in the whole of SOUNDHOPE. Who was I kidding, my Name was legendary.
"Good morning, sir." I said quickly.
"Good morning to you too, Miss Remi." He greeted, smiling widely. I wondered when he started being so formal with names. "How's your Father?"
"He's fine....."
"This are your new classmates. They're from Ghana. You've been briefed about the situation right?"
I nodded.
"Won't you come over and welcome them?" He asked, the smoke still plastered on his face. He looked so pathetic. The thought of his child leaving SOUNDHOPE HIGH because of Aisha and her squad made me pity him though.
I nodded and walked over to him and introduced myself as i shook hands with everyone of them, when I got to March, I took his hands and dropped it immediately, making sure our eyes didn't connect as I moved to the next person.
Another student came into the class and the routine started again, giving me time to walk back to my seat and resume to staring at a notebook I didn't even the subject it was. From the equation on it, it was either economics or Maths. whatever it was, I knew March was staring at me and it made me feel vulnerable, I didn't like it, but I didn't want him to stop either so I just kept gazing at nothing. More students began buzzing in and soon the routine got tiring for the Transfer students and hilarious for me. Luckily for them, the assembly bell came to their rescue and everyone filed out of the classroom.
Luckily for me, March was at the end of the boys line because he was unbelievably tall. I was in the middle of the girls line, I was believably average height.
The assembly was longer than usual because of the Transfer students and just as we were about to round up, Someone walked up to the podium and whispered something into the left ear of the principal, I don't know what exactly it was, but something just told me that it concerned me.
The principal nodded to the man and turned to us.
"Students of SOUNDHOPE HIGH. It has come to my knowledge that there's a rumour flying around about Aisha Balewa."
The murmur that erupted from the students was deafening.
"Isn't it true?"
"Look who made it to the Assembly ground. This Aisha girl is a celeb."
"Abeg this man should be fast and free us jor."
"So it's because of Aisha that we're standing here."
"Quiet!" The Principal shouted and you could hear his voice echo' quiet quie qui'" as the assembly ground immediately went dead. he had a look of pride on his face. Must have felt good commanding such respect.
"I want to know just one thing. Who's the editor of the blog that has been spreading this filthy rumour?"
Silence.
"Anyone that knows who the person is should climb up here with proof.
My heart was beating real quick and I feared that I had a look that read, I'M THE CULPRIT, on my head. But I knew if I wrote the word on my head, no one would pay attention. I was that plain.
No one said a word or came out. The thing is, even if they knew, they weren't going to play the snitch card in front of the whole school, and I was sure they weren't going to risk their only avenue for good gist.
"So no one knows this person?" He asked again, trying his best to sound intimidating.
I turned to look at Tomison, she was busy Looking at the principal. My eyes met with Lara's and she smiled. I felt safe and smiled back at her. Something about the both of them just kept me rest assured.
"Anyone that can provide information on the blogger will be given a huge sum of money and he/she will be awarded student of the year. You all know the goodies that come with being student of the year."
• Free School Bus Ride
• Free School Lunch.
• You get your Name on the school banner and every school exercise book.
• You have a day dedicated to you for the year.
And bla bla bla.
The principal kept Trying to bribe us and finally ended his speech by inviting Aisha to the podium.
"Anyone, I mean anyone that ever insults her with her Family issue...."
The word family issue caused everyone to laugh including some teachers although they pretended to keep us in order.
I knew Aisha being on the Podium had something to do with the principal's Secret. It's funny how blind I've been throughout this whole time. How blind everyone else is. How we think she's just that goal better, the principals favorite student. Only if they knew what went on in the head of the good looking girl standing in front of them.
The principal went on and on, from Threatening us to preaching to us then finally bribing us. All in all, when he dismissed us, we were all soaked in sweat from the early morning Lagos sun.