Our Insecurities

Chapter Two

TWO WEEKS LATER

While other students dreaded Mondays, it wasn’t so for Chisimdi. She couldn’t bring herself to hate it like other students. She didn’t just have to look forward to the literature class with Mr. Sarkodie, she also looked forward to the discussion with a certain pen pal.

They weren’t necessarily pen pals, but that was the closest words she could use to describe the girl with whom she had been chatting with throughout the long vacation. She has never met her, they only met on Instagram and went on to chat after she commented on her post about loving crime and horror movies. Now, even though she was back to school, she could still easily communicate with her, the perks of a communication prefect.

But today was different. The day she had so looked forward to yesterday while retiring for the night was going bad already. Earlier, she was startled from her sleep after a bad dream. It was more a memory than a dream and had been accompanied by a migraine. And as she stood with her back to Ada in front of the full length mirror she shared with her corner mate, her fingers slightly trembled as she tried to put on her Rolex wristwatch. 

She gave up after some time and asked her corner mate for help. “Can you help me put this on?”

Marcena silently helped with the wristwatch and went back to dressing up. She didn’t bother to ask what the problem was. She had learnt the hard way to let Chisimdi stew in her anxiety alone whenever she was having an episode.

Chisimdi murmured her thanks and leaned on her bed to pick up her necklace. A glimpse of the junior student waiting dutifully for her only added fuel to her present situation. Her stomach churned at the reminder that her day could still go horribly wrong from here. 

“Why didn’t you remind me yesterday? Why today of all days?” She couldn’t help but snap at the thirteen year old who had come to remind her of her unbraided hair.

Ada grimaced at the sharp voice and took a step back. This was a bad decision. She shouldn’t have come here, but at the same time, she couldn’t risk getting into trouble with the school prefects on a Monday morning.

Chisimdi ignored her discomfort as she fingered the inscription on the pendant trying to find some sort of calm. She tried to count to ten slowly in her head, something her mother advised her to do whenever she felt anxious but that wasn’t of any help today. 

She shrugged on her backpack and gestured for Ada to follow her as she made her way to the hostel entrance. Just as she got to the last corner before the door, Favour brushed past them, bumping into her shoulder. She grumbled an apology and was about to continue on her way when Chisimdi decided to take her chance.

“Excuse me, Favour. Can you help me take her to the assembly?” She gestured to Ada who had halted behind her.

“And what happened to your legs?” Favour’s voice was monotone as usual. Chisimdi occasionally wondered how she could possibly keep emotions out of her voice all the time.

“I have a headache. Just help me take her to the assembly hall so that she won’t be punished.” She pointed at Ada’s unbraided hair for emphasis.

“Fine. But don’t think for once that this is free. I will surely ask for a refund later.” Chisimdi nodded her agreement. She didn’t comment as Favour’s eyes darted around maybe to make sure no one saw their exchange, she wasn’t sure. The sound of a stainless plate falling had Favour flinching. She glared at the direction of the plate, not that the student noticed.

“Are you okay? You seem…” Chisimdi wasn’t able to finish her sentence when Favour shot her a glare.

“None of your business,” Favour snapped.