Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

chapter 13: "bam!"

It's been almost a month since I got into the science department. It had been quite tough from the start but soon enough, I got the hang of it and I was actually doing pretty well now. I did everything and anything to secure the chances of getting good grades. I answered questions in class, attracting annoyed stares from many, including Moyo. The teachers were starting to know me too and I had built a good image for myself by greeting the teachers whether I saw them, carrying their bags if necessary, going to call them to remind them of the classes they had with us and submitting assignments earlier than the rest, even though i was hated for that. They were saying 'where did this new girl come from?', 'Who does she think she is?' and whenever a teacher came into the class asking for a forgotten assignment unexpectedly, they always turned to face me, but I didn't care.

Mid term holiday was in less than two weeks time,and continous assessment tests was next week. My sister was far more than happy that she would be going home finally to see mom and dad and everyone. I couldn't blame her though, I definitely couldn't feel her pain and loneliness since she got separated from me.

Ah, I didn't mention that she couldn't stay with me again because half of the female students were moved to the new hostel which just finished construction like three weeks ago. That was a plus because the old hostel was already very congested. I stayed at the old hostel and my sister was separated from me and moved to the new hostel.

It made me sad because I really thought I would be by her side for long. Well, I just had to accept that fact that I couldn't watch over her forever. She had her own life to live.

I had also been given all my school wears finally two weeks ago and they didn't fit at all. The house wears and church wears were kind of manageable, but the uniforms which I would have to wear for four straight days every week were the worst. They literally "absorbed" the whole of me, and because of that, people called me "sack bag doyin". It was that bad.

"Hey, sack bag doyin, what are you doing?" Michael said as he walked up to my desk.
I eyed him from head to toe.

"I don't appreciate you joining them to call me that, Mr man, and besides, who came up with that stupid name?". I knew that it would likely be moyo. She hadn't stopped disturbing my life till now.

Michael laughed.
"Easy there lady, it's just a nickname. As you can see, everyone in this class has their own nickname and I'm sure people needed one to call you."
I glared at him.
"What's yours?"I asked.
"Mikey sticks" he said. "That's because I play the drum".
I laughed.
"Yeah, I know that, but that doesn't make it any less dumb" I laughed the more.
"Laugh all you want miss, I myself know that it's a dumb name, but I do think that your name is kinda cool, baggy clothes are kinda lit, you know" .

"Blah blah blah, it's a stupid nickname, plus I'm still going to slimfit all my wears when I get back home for the mid term break."

"Whatever you say, sack bag" Michael said, raising his hand in mock defeat and quickly scurrying out of the class before I threw my book at him.

Michael and I had become quite close. He was so nice to me, but I couldn't figure out why. But at the same time, he was super annoying and teased and insulted me indirectly. You can't get everything, I guess.

"Settle down everyone!!"
I looked up and saw our most boring teacher so far, our English teacher, Mrs Phillips. Her class was a potential sleeping pill. It wouldnt take more than five minutes before everyone was bent over on their seats, dozing. But I, still trying to paint a good Image for myself would try as much as possible not to close an eyelid, even though it took standing up sometimes to listen.

"I hope everyone is here now. I'm organising a test which will take forty percent of your continous assessment. Anyone one that misses this will miss forty percent of his or her mark. Now, everyone tear a sheet of paper. "

"Urghhh" everyone growled helplessly. Who could save us? No one. This woman's got no joy.

I looked around for Michael. He had left some minutes ago and I wanted to see if he was back. Not that i really cared though. I just wouldnt wish for even my enemies to miss this kind of test.
And yeah, he was back. Thank God for that.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ten minutes into the test, I heard Michael whisper to me.
"Hey, you done?"
I looked to the side to face him.
"Ummm, yeah?" I replied.
"Well, what did you write for number three?" He asked.
I giggled quietly.
"I'm not telling you mister." I said and looked away.
"Pleaseee". He begged.
"No, figure it out yourself" I said, a little too loudly.

"Doyin, don't let me seize your papers." Mrs Phillips warned when she spotted me and Michael.
"Sorry ma " I said and gave michael a death glare.
He whispered "sorry" but I was already pissed.

Did he want me to get a bad record with the boring teacher?

"Time up!" Mrs Phillips said and collected our papers one by one.
"I hope you all did well. It would made me glad if you all get good marks in this test. It would show that you all haven't been putting my teachings under your feet." She said.

"Doyin". Mrs Phillips suddenly turned to me.
I used my hand to make the gesture "are you talking to me?"

"Yes you, get all these test papers to my office" she commanded.

"yes ma" I replied gladly. I already thought she was pissed from the way she scolded me. I guess it was time to be patriotic again.

"Goodbye for now class" she said and left.
Immediately she left, there was a huge sigh of relief from everyone in the class.

"Phew, she's gone" Michael said.

I went over to the test papers and picked them up to take them to Mrs Phillips office when I felt someone hold my hand. It was Michael.

"Do you need help with that?" He asked.

"No, Michael, I'm good" I replied and shoved his hands away.

He followed me out of the class to the open assembly area.

I stopped and looked back.
"And why are you following me? To put me in trouble again and ruin my perfect record with other teachers?" I said.

"I told you I was sorry, why are you still angry?"

"Well, I've heard you" I replied.

"You don't sound like you're over it miss, I mean, it's not that serious, you just got scolded. She didn't seize your papers."
He said and tried to reach out to me.
I shifted from his lane before he could reach me.

"You wouldnt understand, Michael, you wouldnt" I said without looking at where I was going. He sounded like he was trying to tell me that I was overthinking and overdoing it. Of course he wouldn't understand. He couldn't possibly, because he got to enter the science class without any stress. I got more pissed off just thinking of that. I mean, who did he think he was?

"Hey, doyin watch out-"
Bam! I was so lost in my thoughts that i didnt notice the nearby pole i was approaching. My head hit it with full force and the right anount of momentum. Things were blurry at first. Then I felt someone's hands around me and from there, it was all blank.