Ultio's List

Chapter 4

    2 weeks later.

    "My country people listen o." Gabby began. The noisy class slowly quietened as they looked at the two social prefects in confusion. Gabby nudged the boy beside her and he cleared his throat.

   "From the honourable office of the planning committee -" Kelvin paused dramatically, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

   "Go straight to the point." Damien sighed.

   "Fine fine." Kelvin said, "We are glad to announce that the Valentine's  party will be held on Tuesday night!" 

   "Yes o!!" 

   The whole class erupted in cheers and laughter. February 14th was the most anticipated holiday in Willow Heights and for a bunch of hormonal teenagers, it was the day heaven came down on Earth.

    "And.. listen na, and I convinced the principal to get a camera man so we'll have a red carpet entrance that day!" Gabby announced and a new round of cheers erupted in the classroom.

    "E go hot oo!" Pasim yelled and his classmates agreed.

    "Shey we'll still have the extra 30 minutes for seniors after the party?" Nini asked, crossing her fingers.

   "Definitely." Gabby affirmed.

    "We have a special content this year guys!" Kelvin yelled taking a seat on Damien's desk. Damien tried to push him off but his friend had a strong grip on the desk. "We'll be having a secret Valentine this year. So if you have a crush or crushes, just drop a gift with the person's name on it. Let's see who'll get the most gifts." Kelvin announced. "So to all my secret admirers, this moment is for you." He added and Damien scoffed.

    "This is going to be sad for you." Damien said and Kelvin rolled his eyes.

    "Don't rub it in my face. We know you're popular and all, let me hear word." Kelvin pouted. Damien took the chance and pushed him off his desk.

    "Fuck.." Kelvin groaned from the floor, "Your jealousy is so obvious. My mind dey for only you." He added. He knew it irked his best friend to death when he made suggestive jokes but he only saw it as a green light to continue.

   "Shut up!" Damien thundered and Kelvin burst out in laughter.

   Natasha smiled happily as she thought of what to get for Tobe. The coming Valentine's day was a very special day for her. Not because of the normal idea, but because it marked a year together with Tobe.

    "You know what next week Tuesday is, right?" She asked her boyfriend happily and he shrugged.

   "Valentine?" He replied and she shook her head.

   "Apart from that.." she pressed on and he bit his lip in thought. After a while, she realized that he wasn't guessing anymore. "Forget it." She sighed, closing her note. She looked inside her bag for something before realizing where she kept it. She opened Tobe's bag which was hanging on his chair and took out her pencil case. She was about to zip the bag when a paper caught her eyes.

   "Past questions for an international exam?" She read out and Tobe snatched the paper from her hand. "You want to study abroad?" She asked and he nodded slowly.

   "It's just a try your luck something. Everyone knows that only influential people has a chance with exams like these." He explained, putting the paper back in his bag.

   "Okay." Natasha said, looking at him with a little suspicion in her eyes. 

   "C'mon, I'm serious. It's nothing. Do you think that, with my luck, I'll get in?" Tobe asked jokingly.

   "I'm not saying you shouldn't go abroad. I'm not toxic like that na." She said. She began to sketch on her notepad. Tobe tried to look in but she shut the book close and pushed him backwards. "Don't look at it yet." She giggled and he pouted.

   "Are you drawing a picture of me?" He asked but didn't get a reply. "Are you going to major in art?" He asked instead and she laughed.

   "Are you crazy? In this country and with a father like mine? You just want to see this my fine face on an obituary poster." She sighed, returning to her drawing.

    "It's honestly not fair. We should be free to choose our path in life. I don't get why parents have such a huge influence on our lives at this point." Tobe complained, placing his head on the desk.

   "Their influence is sha good, no cap. Just imagine I major in art, then what? I start drawing aimlessly and if I'm not lucky to meet the right people, I'll end up messing my life up." She explained. "I rather study law and draw as a hobby than be a hungry artist in this country." She added.

   Tobe stared at her in admiration. If he was an emoji, then he would have a heart in his eyes. He knew she was speaking the open secret about their life. It was sad that their path was like that but that's what it was. In a sense teenagers seek liberation but in the end, they realize the point their parents were trying to make.

*****

    Amber wiped her swimsuit clad body with a towel as she entered the girls' locker room. It was time for recreation and she decided to hit the pool to cool off.

   She saw two junior students muttering amongst themselves as they changed and she smiled. She recalled frequenting the school pool with Alisha every single time in the past. Not to swim but to sit and talk aimlessly till recreation was over. 

    Amber placed the towel in the bench and sighed. She hoped Alisha and her unborn baby were in a happy place now, finally at peace. She was about to change when she remembered the one reason she hated their changing room.

   As though he read her mind, the PHE teacher stumbled into the changing room. The junior girls screamed as they scampered around, trying to cover themselves up.

    "Sorry o." He apologized half-heartedly with a full blow smirk on his face, "What are you people even covering sef? Am I not your teacher? Yeye children, what is there to see?" He mocked keeping his gaze locked on their young body.

   "Sir leave na." one of the girls whined.

   "Please get out of here." The other said. The teacher smiled and raised his hands in surrender before turning to leave. The girls slid down to the floor as their body shook with fear and embarrassment.

    Amber gripped the bench she was sitting on. She had watched the entire encounter silently and pitied the small girls that had to experience such an awful thing.

   She glared at the spot the teacher once stood in and gripped the bench harder. "You're next." she muttered under her breath.

******
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~ Korisa 🧡