"...Hours of awkwardness went by in school, and it was time for lunch break, which was usually observed by 12:50 pm. I was about to leave my class for the cafeteria with Emily when the principal, Mrs. Bashorun, entered and sought attention from the few of us present. Mrs. Bashorun, an exemplary African mother - though her phonetics might be deceiving sometimes - many of us who have known her for years are aware of her no-nonsense policy.
She smiles almost every time, but whenever she gets offended, her frown becomes pronounced. She was a brown-skinned lady who looked like she was in her late 40s or early 50s; her hair was always braided with black hair extensions. She was a very tall woman, probably about 6 ft, and her heels made her look 7 ft. Mrs. Bashorun's fashion routine of wearing floral patterned gowns and light makeup adds to her beauty. She's just a wonderful woman and teacher in general.
"Okay, SS3A, tell the prefects in your class to come to the school hall immediately after the bell rings for close of school." Most of us who weren't prefects rolled our eyes and murmured, "Ma, what about us?" Uzoma, the class clown, asked. "The administrator wants only prefects, Uzoma," the principal sighed and walked out.
"Wahala, like prefects, o," Emily exclaimed and pulled me outside the class. On getting close to the cafeteria, we sighted Mr. Ovie and Paul having a conversation from afar. "Please walk fast; I don't want him to see my face," I pleaded as I tried to drag Emily into walking fast.
"AIRAH!"... damn, Mr. Ovie called; it was so expected because that man always sent me on errands. "Keep walking," Emily advised, and before we took another step, I heard my name again. Giving in, I told Emily to go on to the cafeteria while I walked back to meet Mr. Ovie and Paul, of course.
The atmosphere here was very discomforting. "Didn't you hear me calling your name?" Mr. Ovie scolded. "Sorry, I didn't," was all I could utter. "So take him to the administrator's office to collect his leaving certificate." He instructed, "Mr. Ovie, he just graduated last year; not like he doesn't know the office?" I asked in hesitation.
I could sense Paul's giggle of mockery beside me. "Are you foolish? Take him there, my friend!" he shouted, and I just walked away with Paul following me. "So how are you?" he asked while we were walking. "I don't know, maybe a little fine; how is your girlfriend?" I rolled my eyes.
"Mad," he laughed. "That's why you blocked me, you crazy little girl!" "Don't call me that, Paul; I'll kill you!" I threatened as I walked in a faster pace. "You weren't fair at all; do you know how many things I wanted to tell you? Bro, things happened!" he shouted like he was going to slap me.
Eesh! "Okay, if you need someone to confide in, find a therapist... or better still, your girlfriend!" I stopped walking, trying to catch my breath. "Is that really your problem, Airah?" "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"
"No, that's not it; my problem is that I was the last person to know; you're not in this school anymore, yet we're this close, so normally I would expect you to tell me things like this. I heard from juniors that senior Paul had a new girlfriend; can you imagine?" "Airah..." "Don't Airah me!" I shed a little tear.
"The way I acted surprised when I heard from people made them laugh at me like what the hell? I thought I was your person." "I considered you as a best friend, and since you couldn't tell me something that little but other people knew, then you're just like everyone else in my life." I was trying so hard to control my tears.
"Anyway, the admin's office is the old principal's office; find your way." Before Paul could say any word, I rolled my eyes and walked away, blowing my nose into my blue handkerchief. I lost my appetite, so I just decided to go to class. On my way to class, I bumped into David; he just smirked and walked past me. I honestly do not have any energy for anything, so I planned within myself to end the Valentine's Day drama going on.
