At the End of August

Three

WELLINGTON SECONDARY SCHOOL WAS simple on the outside. The Administrative building was the first thing one saw from the entrance, with its blue and white coat writing the name bold enough to be seen from a distance. The building was a single-storey that managed to overshadow the others Because it stood on a hilly side of the compound. The school was built around a slopy ground, which the founder joked often used to make jokes whenever he visted the morning assembly while I was still in the school. He would say, "This is all of the exercise you need in your lifetime. Going up and down this natural hill is the best thing this school can offer you."

But that really was not the best thing. Asides the well-structured classrooms, fancy sports arena that only the school athletes were allowed to make use of, and the international standard teaching and teachers, there was a direct access to the Ogun river. The school had its very own riverfront.

"Ah, the sweet smell of summer holiday," I closed my eyes and breathed in the bouts of breeze that blew my way. It was a few minutes past nine and the Lagos sun had decided to not be merciful any longer. "I just know this will be the best holiday ever."

"I don't know about you, but going to school during holidays has to be the worst thing any sane person on the planet could ever think of." I opened my eyes and looked to my side to see Ike wearing a very marring frown. He had his eyes on the administrative building of the school, looking at it like it was the last place he wanted to be.

"Did anyone actually force you to be here?" I countered, remembering that one minute over the phone he said he was not going to be attending the summer lessons, and the next he was sending a message simply stating he would be joining me. It was custom for Sopuluchi to attend the lessons, which I knew was a reason for Ike not to attend. But I could think of nothing that would convince him to change his mind.

Instead of giving a response to my question, he shrugged and got out of the vehicle, leaving me behind. Such a gentleman, I was about to exit the car when Odion called my name, sitting uncomfortably just to look me in the eye . I had the idea he was about to inform me of a document or the procedure in registering, I was wrong.

"Ehn, you cannot go in without us. I don't want those boys having some idea." He gestured to my outfit with his mobile phone, wearing his signature frown again.

"Lord," I was glad no other person was at the car park. He was a menace, and I hoped his future daughters did not get to suffer how much I had suffered just this morning. "Can you just drop it with boys this, boys that?" I kissed my teeth and got out, slamming the door hard. I blamed my mother for not being the one to drop me off, everything would have been easy. Get into school by myself, register attend classes, find my love, live my life. It did not take long for my brothers to match my strides though, one at my left and one at my right like some sort of bodyguard protecting a celebrity even though there was literally no one around. Before I could get to the entrance door, Akhere had pushed it open, bowing his head with one hand stretched forth.

"After you my lady," he failed at his fake British accent.

Instead of a thank you, I said "You sound like a lazy butler."

Odion snickered behind me but made no attempt to say anything. We all walked towards the registration room in silence, or I was quiet while Odion and Akhere saw something to reminded me that they had schooled here for the six years of their life, and it had been a big mistake on my part to choose to go to a boarding school instead of finishing my education at Wellington with them.

Finally, we got to the room, Ike stood beside it, playing with a folded white paper. As soon as he saw me, he dropped it into his school bag sitting by his leg on the ground.