A safe place

Chapter 1

Hey lovelies this is the first chapter, hope y'all like it

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"Runo if I come up there ehn, be ready to change your destination from school to hospital"  my mom's voice boomed from downstairs.

"Jeez mum I'm coming, calms with all the threats" i was quick to scream back.

"And she is still speaking English for me. Come down my friend" her voice at the peak of irritation shouted back.

"I'm coming" I replied in a shuddered tone.

My mom had a valid reason for shouting at me, though I couldn't help but linger in front of the mirror, lost in thought. I was dressed in my new school uniform: a crisp white short-sleeved shirt, a blue-green checkered pleated skirt, and a scarf-like bow tie adorned with a small emerald. The green waistcoat ad blazer, bearing the school logo, added a formal touch. My black knee-high socks disappeared into my polished black Doc Martens. My natural hair was neatly packed into a bun, held in place by small hair clips, while my glasses perched on the bridge of my nose, giving me a decidedly nerdy look.

I wasn't entirely wrong; in fact, I was probably the biggest nerd in the history of nerds. That only made things worse at my previous school, where the other students saw it as an advantage over me. They bullied me relentlessly, treating me like I wasn’t even human. When my parents finally found out, they were furious. Without hesitation, they withdrew me from the school.

I sighed, grabbed my school bag, and quickly exited my room.

"Sheybi you were giving birth in your room bah?" My mom asked sarcastically the moment I walked into the dining area.

"Darling, she's a princess. Let her take her time to dress up so she can look as beautiful as you always do," my dad chimed in, coming to my defense.

"Ehen? Sometimes I wonder who you actually married in this house," my mom added with a childish pout.

My dad rushed to my mom’s side, attempting to give her a kiss, but she was being stubborn, playfully trying to avoid him. I smiled at their childish love play, silently offering gratitude to God for the kind of family He blessed me with.

My family is what you'd call upper-class, but without the stereotypes and class segregation. I have five siblings, with Ruro and me being the only girls. Yes, I know my parents are incredibly busy, yet they've maintained this fairytale-like relationship since before I was born.

According to them, they met in high school and have been inseparable ever since. Most of the time, I admire their relationship, though sometimes I cringe at the way they show affection to each other.

My parents reassured me that I would be alright at this school, promising that I wouldn’t face any bullying from other students. They also took a moment to offer some advice to my younger siblings.

I quickly finished breakfast and bade my mom and dad goodbye before joining Ruro and Maro in the car, where our driver was ready to take us to school.

Upon arriving, I was greeted by the breathtaking view of the school. It felt like something straight out of a fairytale,too beautiful to be real. The campus consisted of several buildings, each perfectly matching the colors of our uniform: white, blue, green, with touches of red.

The main structure, the administrative block, was a pristine white, accented with dark red trimming around the windows. A large "OIS" sign, accompanied by the school's logo, was prominently displayed. The junior block was painted a calming blue, while the senior block was a refreshing green. Both of these two-story buildings housed seven classrooms on each floor.

Other blocks were scattered across the compound, adorned with a harmonious mix of blue, green, and red. The entire campus was a garden of vibrant flowers—roses, tulips, dahlias, and many others whose names I didn't know. The crowning glory was a vast garden where "Olives International School" was spelled out in meticulously trimmed hedge flowers. Not just "OIS," but the full name, "Olives International School," emphasizing the grandeur of the campus.

We stood there in awe, what felt like an eternity passing as we took in the scene before us. But soon, we snapped out of our reverie, realizing that some students were already giving us odd looks—a terrible first impression for our first day. Quickly regaining our composure, we made our way to the administrative block to collect our schedules and find our classes.

Upon entering, we were greeted by a very kind receptionist who helped us with everything and directed us to the principal’s office. The principal welcomed us warmly, giving us a quick overview of the school and what we needed to know. After what seemed like another eternity, he called someone specifically, the head girl to help us find our classes.

I was met by a "prim and proper" girl who was strikingly beautiful. She was tall and fair, with brown braids styled in a doughnut bun that I hadn’t realized was allowed, especially in contrast to the simple bun I’d made with my natural hair. Her figure was so flawless that even the uniform couldn’t conceal it. I was in awe of how stunning she was.

She first helped locate Maro and Ruro’s classes, SS1 and JSS1 respectively, before leading me to our classroom, SS3A. I was relieved to find out that we would be in the same class. "Hi, my name is Osahenoma, but you can call me Noma. What’s yours?" she asked in the sweetest tone.

"Runo," I replied.

"Wait, you’re Urhobo? Wow, I’m Benin! We’re close, both geographically and culturally," she blabbed on, in the most endearing way. I couldn’t think of a response, so I just smiled. "By the way, you’re really pretty—it won’t be long before all the Olives boys start swarming around you," she added, making me laugh.

"Don’t flatter me, please," I said, still smiling.
"Oh no, I’m not joking at all. You’ve barely arrived, and the boys are already checking you out," she said, gesturing to our surroundings. And she wasn’t exaggerating. I noticed that a lot of people were staring at us—or more specifically, at me. Their gazes were a mix of expressions I couldn’t quite decipher. Was Noma telling the truth? Were they really admiring me, or was it just because I was the new student they hadn’t seen before?

These thoughts swirled in my mind, stirring up old insecurities. I remembered how the girls at my previous school had called me ugly, and the familiar doubts crept in. I chose to believe that it was just because I was new—there was no way I was as beautiful as Noma claimed. I chuckled quietly to myself as we continued walking in silence.

As we got closer to our class block, the air seemed to grow heavier, almost suffocating. My anxieties started to resurface, and I felt my breath quicken. This felt all too familiar, like the dread I had experienced at Darrel High. I silently prayed, hoping this wouldn’t be a repeat of that experience. I prayed that I wouldn’t be bullied again.

Noma suddenly stopped in front of a classroom labeled "SS3 Amber."

"This is our class," she said softly.

Oh God, please help me.

   

Thank you guys for taking time to read my book. I promise to be consistent in writing the book.
So Runo is not the most confident person ever. Drop your thoughts. Till next time