Naya and Vince

63

Second term exams were starting today and the last thing I expected when I set foot into the school building was photos of Peter plastered all over the notice board.

"What the heck!" I whispered to myself when I took a closer look at the pictures. The pictures captured him in a way so different from what he portrayed in school. One of the pictures was of him  walking beside a girl on a road littered with plastic and lined with shabby looking houses.

"So senior Peter is actually poor and all these while he has been deceiving us with looks and fake life," one girl from SS 1 class said to her friend face twisted in disgust.

"I can't believe I had a crush on him. Ew, he even works as a sales boy," her friend replied.

I held the straps of my school bag tighter resisting the urge to punch their mouths. I thought about pulling the pictures down but what good would that be? The pictures were everywhere!

Who on earth did this?

I decided to try maybe someone would help if I started. Even if people eventually hear from others about Peter, it was better than everyone in school seeing him like this. I started pulling down the pictures. I didn't fail to tear and dispose them in the trashcan as I did.

"And here comes the man of the day," A boy announced and two boys around him started cheering. They were the SKY squad. Solomon, Kizito and Yemi, three notorious SS 3 boys.

I looked at the entrance and saw Peter walking in slowly, confusion written all over his face. He was definitely wondering why everyone was looking at him like that and why this squad of all people was hailing him. His eyes caught the pictures that were still on the board and he visibly blanched.

I felt sorry for him.

I could not imagine pictures of me in madam hips glued on the school notice board. I'd drop out.

The three boys stepped towards him evil smiles on their faces and I knew immediately that they had done this. But why?

Yemi, the one that seemed to be the boys' ring leader whispered something to Peter. What ever he said made Peter glare murder at him. The boys turned and walked away with a swagger in their steps. How could they be proud of potentially ruining someone's life?

Peter stood there looking at them but he was not doing anything. Though he still had on the murderous gaze, I knew he was panicking. I saw it in the way he shoved his shaking hands into his pockets and the way he swallowed still looking at the boys. I was sure he was looking at them to avoid the pictures and the eyes of the students lingering on the hallway.

I disposed the pictures I was with and walked up to him.

"Peter."

He looked at me and looked away immediately. I didn't need anyone to tell me that he was feeling very embarrassed.

"I'm not here to judge you. Let's go to class together," I offered. There were still pictures around and students were staring and whispering. Going to class alone was going to be hell for him. I would have advised him to go home but then we had exams today. Those boys planned this so well.

Peter looked at me with silent appreciation in his eyes. I offered him a small smile. I was curious as to why they did what they did to him but I decided to feed my curiosity later.

When we got to my class, Peter said he would love to stay with me in my class. I wouldn't blame him. I was literally the only person being kind to him now, his silver lining amidst dark clouds. There were just three students  in my class and they were too busy with their books to pay any attention to Peter and I.