Bami...
What was I expecting anyway? I wouldn't listen to her too, since we are not on good terms. Uggh, but, she didn't need to go overboard anyway. So annoying. Who send me message sef.
I have to say though, things have been a bit quiet since school resumed from the midterm break. Maybe everyone hasnt fully resumed. Me too, I wouldn't have resumed early, if not for my mother. It's like my own house has began to suffocate me. Maybe I should tell my parents I want to become a boarder again. I miss the whole hostel vibe and since we are now in Ss2, I don't think the Ss3 girls will be so mean as the previous set. Oh well.
"Bam Bam!"
My attention is pulled to Michael jogging towards me.
"You're going home alone?" he says, after taking a deep breath from panting, as he stood by me now.
"Yeah, I didn't see you guys, and Bidemi isn't coming to pick me up." I say, letting him walk beside me. I notice that Segun and Bolu aren't with him.
"Where's Bolu and Segun?"
"They have stuff to do... I guess." He replies with a shrug.
"Oh.. "
Despite the school being oddly quiet, I haven't seen Miss Nualla yet, and Segun seems to be scarce as well. I mean, I saw him some days ago and also during PE, but somehow he looked distant. Maybe I should talk to him later
"I'm almost at the Bus stop, won't you go back?" I ask him.
He pauses as we are near the busy express and looks at me for a second. I'm wondering why.
"Are you free this weekend?"
I noticed he took a deep breath before asking that. A brief smile grows on his face before slanting his head, waiting for my response.
"This weekend...What's going on?" I'm already thinking of the likely house chore piled up during the weekend anyway.
"Oh.. Err. I just feel we haven't done our early morning endurance trek in a while now..." that nervous smile is still on his face.
".... Bolu also said the same thing. Sooo..., you know, like old times."
I definitely have forgotten about the endurance trek we did when Bidemi was still a prefect two years ago and we were all in the hostel. And even during the holidays; Bolu, Michael and Ini would come to my house and we'd do it. It was so much fun...
I felt a sad smile rise at the thought of the memory but I'm quickly hiding it with a big smile.
"I'm definitely down for it. Let's do it then. We can invite Segun too. It will be fun."
"Oh....okay. Sure."
"You can bring snacks, tell Bolu to bring his comics, so we can read while we rest and I will bring drinks. And segun will bring...hmm."
I'm rambling on when I felt Michael's hand drop to my shoulder with a smile that I couldn't read. "Oya go home and don't be late. I will tell them."
"Oh okay."
Waving my goodbye, i rush to the loading taxi.
I feel somewhat excited and nervous, most especially about the event for Saturday. The guys will be coming. I just have to do my house chores the night before then.
This week should quickly end.
*********************
The next day...
Morning assembly time, all students are gathered with all staff, including the administrative staff, apparently.
Whispers and murmurs occupy the rowdiness of the lack of effort the prefects are putting to control the situation. Suddenly, my eyes meet Miss Nualla and I swear I felt my heart go numb. When did she resume?
"Did you hear?"
Debbie is coming behind me to whisper in my ear.
"What?" I'm looking confused and I can't think of anything off or.... Ini?
Did she come to school?
Automatically, I'm scanning the assembly of crowded, misdirected students for Ini. I know she got really mad and if she's a wolf, her temper could be.... Phew there she is.
Standing two rows away from mine, talking with some seniors. At least she's okay.
Before I could turn back and ask Debbie what the whole tension is about, the school Principal comes to address us.
"Settle down! Settle down!" he yells, his glasses almost bumbling off his nose as he adjusts it back in place.
Finally, we are all settled and coordinated, no thanks to the prefects.
The school is so quiet, that you could hear a fan from one of the admin offices running at full speed. Clearing his throat, he begins.
"Lately, we've been hearing about cases of attacks, theft, damage and death, by the so called demonic creatures of the night. And it has come down to even attacking and almost killing one of us, but, thank God for his divine intervention. Please, we all should be careful. Make sure you go home straight. Some of you boys, instead of going home, you will be branching to game houses, lounges. Haaa!!"
You could hear side comments and snickers, accompanied with jokes and names being catcalled in fun of it.
"Will you keep quiet, you bunch of nuisance. Ss2 and Ss3 boys.. Be carefull. I know some of your parents oo."
Someone shouts Faisal's name in the crowd and the school erupts in another laughter.
It is funny, since we all know Faisal's reputation with clubs and bars. You could say the boy is probably a gigolo. But that's none of my business.
I feel there is more to this gathering than the Pep talk.
The principal calms us down with his hands and continues, this time, his voice goes solemn.
"Now, one of our teachers, Mr Martins, the class teacher for Ss2 science class has... " he pauses, then takes a deep breath before continuing,
"...gone missing."
The school goes into another round of murmuring and whispers.
I knew the school was oddly quiet for some reason since we came back from Midterms.
Mr Martins is our mathematics teacher and Class teacher to Ss2B. Cool and calm guy but when he disciplines...ahhh, no wonder he is the Commandant to the boys cadet group.
Why would he go missing tho? Or maybe he is just lost somewhere or...
"If you know of his whereabout, please, endeavour to report to the school or the nearest police station. No need to fret." He continues as the noise quietens again. "I believe he is a strong man. His family are also in search, so please, let's do our part as well."
Finally done with the address, Mrs Agunbiade as usual, puts us into a session of prayers. My mind wanders about this case with great depth. I mean, did the night terror get him or something else...
My gaze falls back to Miss Nualla, Who is also eye shut and.... praying? I guess the devil also prays.
Soon after, the assembly commences properly.
****************
"Oh my gawd. Can you imagine?" Debbie shudders as soon as we enter our class as well as other students are getting back to their classes to begin the day. Debbie flops to her seat still thinking about the information shared earlier.
"I'm not sure what I should understand honestly." I reply her, trying to arrange my books in my desk and bring out the subject for today.
"Do you think he is dead?"
I'm turning sharply at her and surprised as to why she would even think that far. "Haha... no dey jump to conclusion like that na."
"What else na. Even his family is looking for him. Reason am." She brushes away the fact that I think she's just over analyzing.
He can't be dead, right? He is a strict man but...wait. Come to think if it...before we went for midterm break he fell sick and was absent during his paper. And also...
...My eyes looks around and finds Boma seated with a novel in hand, not even bothered.
"Hey." I'm cutting Debbie off in whatever ramblings she's doing. "Boma." I whisper, nodging my head towards her direction for Debbie, maybe she knows what's up.
Debbie gives an exasperated sigh at Boma's direction. "When I asked, she didn't say anything. Maybe she knows where he is or... she is just trying to be calm."
Hmm. Maybe she does know where he is. I mean why wouldn't you be worried when your boyfriend is missing.
Suddenly, the class is jumping out of their chairs towards the window.
What's going on?
"Okay everyone, back to your seats." A voice comes in and we all obey, returning back to our seats. Immediately, my bones are paralysed by who just entered and ordered us back to our seats.
Miss Nualla.
"Nothing concerns you there. Just pay attention as we begin the class for this morning." She says, moving to write on the board now.
Oh gawd. I'm always dreading whenever we have literature and I have to see her. But we don't have literature this morning.
"Ma, have they found Mr Martins?" Bolu suddenly asks. Our gaze is still fixed towards the window. Male teachers and even the school nurse are running towards the school farm close to the boys hostel.
Something is definitely on there.
"Doesn't concern you, children." She replies, not even looking at us and just writing.
Soon, she turns to face us, a smirk in her face. "Do you know what happened to the curious cat, when it found out something it shouldn't have?"
The class is silent at her sudden question now.
"It got killed." someone replies from the back.
"Good. Some questions shouldn't be asked and some things hidden shouldn't be uncovered."
"Eehh. Don't scare us like that ma." Bolu speaks again, glancing back at the window and back at her.
"We are all curious, obviously, and also with the issue of night terror or whatever is roaming around, you know?"
Suddenly, a siren is heard but we don't move to check because Miss Nualla's gaze is still fixed on us. This time, she looked...blank and adorned with that expressionless smile she always shows.
"Ah yes. So let me say, with your curiosity and now abject conclusion. Shouldn't you know the answer to your question by now?"
No reply, the siren blares louder in our heads, and at the back of our minds, we already knew the answer. She then taps the table, bringing us out of the maze of curiosity and begins the class.
I'm slowly turning towards the window to see the teachers and nurse with paramedics pushing a stretcher with a body covered in a black sack.
Mr Martins wasn't missing, he was.... dead.
***********
A/N : ❤
Until Next Week.