AWAKE

Chapter 17

It was already a week into school, and everyone had their minds in school fully. There was so much going on From the election of the prefects by the teachers, the upcoming cultural day and Nina becoming close friends with Eunice. The latter was the best gist that circulated. Michael's friends were surprised by how Michael took it. He seemed so unbothered.
Michael had a thingy feeling when he heard it but the feeling went away when he remembered the teachers had elected the prefects already but were yet to announce it.
Nina didn't like any type of publicity or being famous for any reason but there she was among the topics the school gossiped about.
As much as it surprised everybody, it equally surprised her at how close she and Eunice had become.
"We are not judging, we are just saying you should be careful", Anny and Des advised.
"Thank you," she said. She still felt they had doubts, but they supported her.
"Hi Daniel," she said when she got into the class.
"I finally have your attention," Daniel said.
"What do you mean?" Nina dropped her books on the table and sat.
"I don't know, but you know this is the first time we are meeting since we came back."
"Yeah, but I feel this is not just about it," Nina said and Daniel became quiet, shifting his eyes away from her.
"Eunice right?" Nina asked.
"How did it happen?" Daniel asked, not looking at her.
"You too?"
"For goodness sake Nina, what are you doing with that girl?" Daniel asked, raising his voice slightly.
"She is my friend, geez"
"Friend" he chuckled dryly. "I didn't say you guys shouldn't be cool, but not as close as this. She is fricking manipulative."
"I was having a rough break, she was... She was kinda the one there you know-making me smile a little with all her little gist and jokes."
"What?"
"You asked how it happened."
"Damn"
"She isn't so bad you..."
"Nina" Daniel called softly. He tried so hard to be gentle, despite battling with his temper.
"Yes"
"Please end it, she is a snake, maybe she wants something from you..." He stopped talking and looked at her for a bit, then said softly"can't you see? You are already defending her"
"Yeah..." Nina pushed the table and stood up aggressively, pacing around the class, "maybe she wants something from me...that's all y'all say. Even if she does, what do you care? when have you cared? When has the world suddenly cared about me?"
"I can't force you to listen to me or take my advice. I just hope the smart girl I knew is still in there." Daniel stood up and packed his books, Nina stopped pacing and leaned on the table.
"I wanted to read, but it seems here isn't the right place for the first time." he gazed at Nina intensively, who shook slightly from the intensity, "you of all people should know that I care... and for you" Daniel took his things and walked to the door, he turned around and asked her"When did you start making friends that you had to choose that devil?"
"You can't tell me what to do and what not to do. I don't want to forever be a loner - like someone" she said spitefully, staring at his face.
"I wonder why I thought you were different, you are just like everyone else, hiding under a black, thick cloud. Good luck with your newfound community." he kicked the door so hard and yelled, "Aaah!!".
Nina sat down gently after Daniel had left the class thinking about what had happened; she knew she had messed up and she did badly.

The school bell rang as everyone hurriedly gathered in the hall.
"What's this about?" Nina asked as they sat.
"I think the principal wants to announce something to us," Anny said.
"I think it's regarding the cultural day," Eunice said and Anny rolled her eyes.
"Quiet everyone," The principal said as he stood in front of the students and teachers well seated.
"I called you all here to announce that one of our biggest events is here." He proceeded when he noticed the hall was quiet. "It's been three weeks since your return from the mid-term break..."
"3 weeks of being in hell and being on everyone's lips. My friends avoided me for a bit and people stared at me from a distance. Only the boys came around and eventually, Anny and Des joined. Luckily something else has come to stay in Starlight's mind..." Nina thought to herself.
"...you all have 2 weeks to rehearse all you would like to present on that day. Make sure you join your respective tribes and participate. The SS3 students won't be joining, they would be preparing for their mock Exams." The principal stopped as the vice principal administration came to whisper something in his ears.
The students seized the opportunity and started gossiping and the hall became noisy.
"Would you guys be quiet for once!" The principal yelled, "prefects do your duties."
It took some time before the noise died completely.
"It has come to my Knowledge, that you all engage in spreading false reports..." The principal said and the noise began to grow again.
"We the teachers are still yet to elect and appoint new prefects. So you all should just shut up already. SS2 students..."
"Yes sir" SS2 students responded.
"We are watching all of you." The principal said, staring at all of them, where they were sitting. Even if they were not all seated together, a better part of them were sitting in a corner.
"The rehearsal starts today after your classes. Continue to be the good students you are, you all can now go back to your classrooms."
The students waited for the principal to leave before they all stood up and dispersed to their various classes.
"What tribe are you from?" Eunice asked Nina when they got in front of Nina's class.
"The Igbo tribe. What about you?" Nina asked.
"The Efik tribe, too bad we won't be in the same group," Eunice said.
"Bye," Nina said and got into her class.
"I can't stand that girl" Anny complained when she came inside the class.
"You girls should just try and get along," Destiny said, laughing.
"Thank you, Des. But you guys talked and now I wonder." Nina said.
"She wasn't so in my face at the time," Anny said. "Oh my God! Mrs Akpan" Anny quickly got back to her seat, when she saw the teacher in front of the class.
The bell rang as students made their way to their cultural rehearsal classes.
"You are all welcome to the Igbo tribe. I know you all barely know how to speak your dialects, but permit me, I'd be using the dialect at some point to address you all." Mrs Ijeoma, better known as Mrs IJ, is the dark-skinned, thick, beautiful Goddess. This was one thing Starlight's high had against other schools, the good-looking teachers. Despite her beauty, she was so calm, polite and smart. It was so disappointing to the male teachers that found her attractive to discover she was already married. She taught the Junior classes Home economics and they loved her... Well everybody did.
"Nde'wo o, meaning welcome. So I'm welcoming you all to this tribe class."
"Thank you ma" Everyone chorused.
"Imela... You should say 'imela'"
"Imelaaa" The students chorused stressing the "a" and the other teachers there laughed.
"Michael you are running late," Mrs IJ said and everyone turned to see Michael coming into the class.
"Aaah! Don't tell me he is from my tribe." Nina thought to herself.
"I'm so sorry ma, I was using the restroom." Michael apologized.
"Okay come in and join us, make sure you don't come late next time," Mrs IJ said.
"Senior seat here, Senior seat here" some female juniors excitedly asked Michael to sit beside them and then he agreed to seat beside one who couldn't stop blushing and it just pissed Nina off the more.
Mrs IJ had appointed people into different groups like dancing, and cooking, and most people voted for Michael to be King and an SS1 student to be his queen. Nina volunteered to cook, it was one good thing she had learnt from her grandma. Mrs IJ also appointed her alongside others to dance, after seeing her dance steps.
Nina didn't like the idea of dancing in public but continued with it after Mrs IJ had begged her; she found her fascinating, so why would she refuse?