I had never given much thought to life; I mean I didnt have a reason to. I am just 14 years old but right now, looking around me I realized maybe I should have as I take in what was happening around me. Today is a random Monday morning, the only thing different was that it is the first day of resumption at Focus high school hence, it was bubbling with excited students catching up with friends.
Some girls were underneath the tree talking about the latest trends, the new teachers and youth corpers while some student were cleaning classrooms and sweeping the environment that had piled up dirt due to the long vacation and other activities were also taking place, even though it was just 9.00'o'clock in the morning.
Focus high school is one of the best schools in the whole of unity community, a particular area in Lagos. Though it is not for the elite neither is it for the poor, it is a middle-class school and somewhere in that school I sat alone in my neat, ironed blue and white uniform with blue socks paired with a white sneaker as I wondered if there is any chance that I will find my best friend amidst all the activities going on.
I sat quietly on the pavement of a classroom block, bored out of my mind. A girl greeted me in passing and I replied her absentmindedly, as I wondered where and how I had met her after she was long gone. I was still trying and failing to place her face when I heard someone call me.
Itan! Itan!!, I heard my best friend call my name even before I saw her, breaking through my train of thought. Looking around to detect where she was, I noticed Faith walking towards me with a big smile on her face, and on getting to me, she pulled me into a breathtaking hug.
Faith has a bubbly personality; she was one of those people that could control a crowd and still easily be the life of a party. "How are you? How was your holiday? Did your sister ended up attending the program?" she asked, not stopping to take a breath.
"Hey, calm down and yes, she attended the program." I replied smiling
"So how was your trip to the village?" I asked her.
"It was so nice; I didn't want to come back. Can you imagine they still take their evening bath in the river and some still fetch water from the river for their everyday domestic activities." I smiled as Faith gushed on about her holidays.
Faith is my best friend, we had met during our first year in junior secondary school and we had hit it off together, becoming very close. Although we are two people with different and opposite personality, we were still very close like five and six.
Most of the time, it is easier for people to judge Faith as a lucky go-getter on meeting her because she is always smiling and also a very free person. To top off her lucky go-getter attitude, she was also brilliant and beautiful with long hair just like mine and a nice womanly figure she was just developing.
"So, do you think we are going to be placed in the same class?" Faith asked me as we took our seat on the pavement I had been sitting on.
"Probably, if we get lucky." I replied her, shrugging playfully.
"Sure, but I think we should worry about that later because the principal is summoning an assembly." Faith replied, a bit distracted as some students rushed past us trying to get to the assembly grounds.
"Lets go." I said to her, both rising to our feet as we walked in the direction that was swarming with students.
We got to the assembly ground which consisted of the seniors from year one to final year three.
In Focus high school, the junior school area is separated from the senior school area therefore we operated differently and even take our assembly differently. Being new to the senior year, the SSS1 students unsure of what to do or where to stand formed random lines and I joined a line with Faith right behind me.
The principal came on stage a few minutes later, he stood on the podium and collected a microphone from a teacher who has been trying but failing to keep us quiet. Immediately the principal said "Hello.", all ongoing conversations stopped.
He tapped the microphone a few times to confirm it was working before he started what I would later term his "mini-speech".
"Hello student, how were your holidays? He asked, not stopping to receive a response but the student populace muttered their incoherent numerous responses anyways.
I know we are all excited for the new term and I can see we also have new students among us. He stopped to nod in satisfactory as he takes in the amount of new students there are. He continued soon after,
I hope and expect that by the end of the term we would have gotten to know each other well.
SSS3 students, I want you guys to be very serious this year because its your last year and before you know it, your 6 months will be completed then you will be starting your senior WAEC () which is your final exam in senior secondary school. I believe you are all aware that without passing this exam, you can't move to the next step which is writing your JAMB () and gaining admissions into your chosen universities or colleges.
So, I expect you all to behave and be serious. Also, the acting prefects among you should take their duties seriously because you will all be tagged in two weeks time.
Now for the SSS2 student, you should all improve in your academics and remember that without having the required minimum in your five important subjects, you can't move to the next class so, start working on your results as early as possible.
To the JSS3 and half students, I won't call you SSS1 students yet because you are not yet fully registered. He joked as we all murmured complaints while the seniors and teachers laughed.
Alright, alright. Your registration shall begin tomorrow and will end in two weeks. Your registration fee is 10,000 Naira, see the following teachers, Mr. Daramola, Mrs. Kehinde, and Miss Kayinsola to know the type of tools you are expected to bring for your various departments.
Finally, make sure you all get your ties and always dress like responsible students. He concluded, finally stopping to take a breath before he quickly added.
Lest I forget, I can see the SSS1 student chairs hanging around, so for the main time take your chairs and go fill the empty SSS1 classes until after your registrations. Make sure you do that today, Good day. He said but the students had long gone scattered and only a few like myself were still listening.
"Faith, Faith, Faith!!!" Someone bellowed, I and Faith stopped as we looked around to figure where her name was being called and I saw a girl whom we did Junior school-leaving exam together but unfortunately, I couldn't remember her name.
Faith seems to recognize her because she smiled at her immediately, greeting her as the girl reached us.
"Hello, Olamide. How are you?" she asked her.
The girl replied jovially before turning to greet me and I was not surprised to find out she knows my name; I was after all Faiths best friend.
I zoned off her conversation with Faith as we made our way to the unoccupied classes.
It took us exactly two hours to secure a space and drag our chairs over to the class we wanted after we departed with Olamide who unfortunately for me, is a chatterbox – Dont blame me, I hate talkative – and fortunately for me, is in the art department.
"Finally." I exhale as I collapsed on my chair. We had ended up putting our chairs beside each other in a class the other students were speculating should be a science class but unfortunately, we couldn't get a seat at the front which was needed because I have bad sight and I didnt have a correction glass because whenever I mentioned it to my mom, she would say God forbid! like I was cursing myself rather than stating a fact.
Thankfully, I was sitting beside the window which gave me access to a fresh breeze.
I looked around the class once again to take in the sight of the people around me so that I would be able to recognize them if we end up in the same permanent class. I have over my past three years in Focus high school realized theres nothing as annoying as your classmates telling you they know you, while you start to wonder where you had ever met them, it was tiring.
I was still looking around when I noticed a girl sitting not far away from me, her head was placed on her locker and she was very beautiful. She was almost as beautiful as Faith and she also looked like a rich kid which was not a rare thing in Focus high school.
Faith got back from the mini-mart a little while later with five mini packets of belouxxi biscuit and two Hollandia yogurt. Passing two biscuits and one yogurt to me, she began to munch on one.
"Thanks." I said to her before asking, "Do you know her?", pointing discreetly at the girl.
"No, why do you ask?" she asked me, a biscuit in hand.
"Well, since you are a rich kid and she looks like one too. I thought you might know each other." I said honestly.
"Hmm, I don't know her and you are a rich kid also. So, stop spewing nonsense." she replied, narrowing her eyes at me.
"I'm not a rich kid and you know it; I am just a lucky girl with a hardworking mother." I replied, a big smile on my face. I had never been sad or shy about not being rich, I was never a child that would lie about having what she doesnt. I wouldnt lie and say I dont sometimes wish for what some other kids have, I do but I just know my place and respect my mothers struggle. In a way, you could say that Im contented.
"Whatever." she replied rolling her eyes playfully as she munches on her biscuits.
"So, still no boys?" she asked, launching into one of the conversations I dread having with her the most.
"No, I will rather not." I replied, rolling my eyes at her.
"But seriously, it's senior year and we need to have fun." she said, now turning to face me as I thought of how to make her drop the topic.
"We still have 3 years ahead, remember and besides, we don't need boys to have fun." I replied reasonably, trying to convince her as she starts to shook her head.
"I know but we have to start enjoying the senior year as early as now before we get too engrossed in senior year work and all." she replied thoughtfully.
Sensing she wouldn't drop the topic; I decide to effectively change the conversation.
"Hmmm mm, so what club are you planning on joining this term?" I asked her.
"Well, since I was in the jet club in junior school. I was planning on joining something more fun and creative in the senior year. Maybe drama or dancing, what about you?" she asked
"Well, I am not yet sure but I am thinking about putting my writing skills to test this senior year, so I was thinking of joining press club." I replied smiling sheepishly.
"You made a perfect choice; you are a good writer and I am sure they would love you." she said enthusiastically.
"I truly hope they do." I mumbled to myself, unsure.
"I am coming, I want to go to the ladies room." she said standing up.
"Which one is ladies room again, be forming posh there." I replied teasingly.
"Whatever, Na you Sabi." she replied rolling her eyes. I sighed as I watch her go, I thought about her comment earlier about boys and realized I would rather not, they were just not worth the trouble for me.
My train of thought was soon broken by a guy who was sitting at the row before mine but not exactly in front of me.
"Excuse me?" I said not getting what he had said since I was lost in thought.
"What is your name?" he asked again, smiling at me.
"My name is Itan." I replied flashing him my bright smile so as not to look rude.
"Oh, my goodness, a beautiful name for a beautiful girl, mine is Christian." he said, dramatically using his palm to fan his eyes when he said "Oh, my goodness.
I smiled at him as he engaged me in a conversation. Although he sounded nice, I zoned him off because I was not interested in talking. I wasnt being rude, talking just wasnt my thing.
Faith arrived a while later and was quick to catch Christian attention. "Not that I blame him, she is a fine girl." I thought to myself as I chuckle silently at how taken in, he seems by Faiths beauty.
"Hi, I am Christian." he said smiling at her.
"I am Faith." she replied.
"Are these your friends?" she asked, motioning to the two guys that just arrived from somewhere. One took his seat directly in front of me and the other in front of Faith beside Christian.
"Yes, this is Bode." he pointed to the guy sitting in front of me and I mumbled a polite hello while he smiled shyly at us.
"This is Tayo." he said pointing to the guy in front of Faith and I couldn't help but inhale a deep breath as I stared at the handsome guy in front of me.
I continued to ogle the dark handsome boy whose attention was on Faith, although I couldn't tell his height because he was sitting down. I could tell he was more on the tall side. Turning to face me, I couldn't help but almost get lost in his captivating dark brown eyes.
He stares at me for a few minutes and turned away. On turning, I thought I caught a look of irritation on his face but then I couldnt be too sure and yet, I still wondered if that irritation was because of me.
Faith continued her conversation with Christian and Bode who was now included as I brought out a novel from my bag to read. As usual, I wasnt interested in talking.