𝐓𝐄𝐆𝐀

Rivals

I followed Mrs. Maria and walked besides Kosi in silence. We went up to our classroom.

"Ok, Kosi, who are your witnesses?" Mrs. Maria asked, looking skeptical.

"Adaeze, Meghan, Blessing and Vero" Kosi said.

What?! Those girls are some of my classmates who hardly knew me. We barely spoke to each other. How could they lie like this?!

"Adaeze, Meghan, Blessing and Vero is it true that Tega tore Kosi's cardboard paper?" Mrs. Maria asked.

"Yes". They all chorused.

"Mrs. Maria they're lying. It never happened. Kosi and I were never seen together for the whole of today". I exclaimed.

Suddenly, the whole class turned and stared at me, becoming aware of the situation at hand.

"What's happening?".

"Tega tore Kosi's history project?"

"That's cruel".

"What cardboard paper?"

"Tega seems nice".

I heard students mumble.

"Mrs. Maria" I saw a hand hanging in the air. It looked quite masculine. The person walked up and I saw that it was Kemi.

"I don't think Tega tore Kosi's cardboard paper or copied her drawing because Kosi changed seats with Meghan today and she now seats in the third row while Tega sits in the front row. I sit in the second row and Kosi haven't come in contact with Tega since then". He continued. "Kosi, Tega and I stayed in class for sometime after the bell rang for lunch break today and Kosi and Tega didn't come in contact with each other or say anything. Kosi was drawing her history project in the class. Later, Tega left the class. Then Kosi took Tega's history project and began to copy her drawing. I tried stopping her and in the process I tore her cardboard paper, that's when she left the class".

I was stunned. Could Kosi really be that . . . Vain?!

"Does anyone else have anything else to say?" Mrs. Maria asked. Williams raised a hand.

"Kosi told me to lie some minutes after they rang the bell for lunch break. She told me to pretend to be a witness and tell you that Tega tore her cardboard paper and copied her drawing but I didn't agree". She said.

Disappointment, fear, anger, sadness and other feelings I couldn't describe filled my heart as I stared at Kosi in shock.

"I think I've heard enough. Kosi, Adaeze Meghan, Blessing and Vero follow me". Kosi shot me death glares and my heart skipped a bit. I'm in trouble!

"Thank you so Much for helping me out there" I said to Kemi and gave him a hug.

"What are friends for". He smiled.

"And thank you for standing up for me. I guess I might have misjudged you". I smiled at Williams.

"Thank you for realizing". She said turning her face away from me, but I could see her smile.

After school, I told Bella and Amanda everything that had happened during lunch break since they were at the school's guidance counselor's office the whole time.

"You should stay far away from Kosi. That girl's bad news". Amanda said.

"Yes, she could do worse next time". Bella pointed out.

Oh My God! I do NOT want a next time.

"Kemi told me the same thing. I'm a bit frightened." I said. "She could do worse things like you said Bella and I could get in real trouble. What do I do?".

"I don't know for sure but for now just try to avoid Kosi as much as possible". Bella said.

I nodded. Amanda changed the topic and we talked about my younger sister in Nursery 3 -- who I told them -- got dirt everywhere in my room last weekend in the process of making "chocolate" cake.