Blurred Vision

Punishment

I avoided Kosi for the rest of the week until we started exams, I equally refused to have anything to do with Amara apart from collecting my money, our relationship was strained.

We were in the dormitory that afternoon, everybody bent over their books trying to do a last minute reading, acknowledging nobody when the matron entered.

She always entered in the morning so we were shocked to see her.

"Kosi, where is Tochi?" She asked.

"Ma, I don't know, she has not come back since school dismissed" Kosi replied.

Tochi is Kosi's bunk mate, she's very quiet and hardly talks to people unless it's absolutely necessary.

"So, none of you has seen Tochi?" The matron asked looking confused.

We all said we did not see her and matron left.

***

In the morning of our exams, we had assembly, I spotted Amara as she walked in holding the boy I had seen in her class, I looked away in disgust.

Our principal mounted a raised platform, she was a middle aged smart looking woman.

She picked the mic. "Good morning, students"

"Good morning ma" we replied.

"How was your night?"

"Fine ma"

"Good.... Students?"

"Yes Ma" we replied.

"I'm not happy with you people"

Murmuring rose among the students.

Asah nudged me. "Bet me... It's about Tochi"

"How do you know?" I whispered.

"Watch and see" she replied placing her hands on her waist.

"Hey" a voice came from behind and Anderson appeared smiling at me. "Are you ready for exams?"

I hushed him. "Let's hear what they are saying"

"I brought snacks for you today" he smiled at me.

I smiled back saying nothing.

Our principal continued. "JSS3"

The murmuring increased amongst us.

"I told you" Asah whispered looking very interested in what they were about to say.

"Ezeani Tochi and Iwu Anderson, step out immediately"

Anderson jerked behind me. "Me?"

My forehead creased in worry as Anderson looked very confused.

"Where are those two brats?" The principal shouted and silence fell immediately.

Anderson stepped out followed by a remorseful  Tochi.

As the climbed the platform for all the students to see them, the principal pointed at them. "You know what these children did?"

"No" we replied.

"After school yesterday, Tochi was with this boy outside the gate flirting with him.... She equally told the gate men that she was assigned to go home and her mother was waiting...see how innocent she looks.... The idiot went to talk with a boy, only God knows what they did"

Anderson still had a confused and surprised expression on his face. Tochi said something and she was asked to kneel down.

"They were the only ones remaining outside talking, laughing and touching each other immorally, it was an outsider that reported to me. What a shame!" The principal spat.