Chasing Greatness :A Journey Of Hope

chapter 22: miracle

Resuming senior class was both exciting and a little unsettling. The thrill of starting something new was dampened when I learned that my favorite principal was no longer working at the school. Rumors were flying around that he had been sacked for allegedly sleeping with a student.

I couldn't believe it. "It can't be true," I said to my friend Laura during recess.

"I heard it was Blessing," she whispered.

"But I also heard that's far from the truth," added Gift, who had a way of cutting through gossip. "Some teachers were jealous because he always favored students over them."

The news hung heavy on my heart. This was the same principal who had paid for my junior WAEC fees when I was struggling. It was hard to believe such a generous man could do something so wrong. "I don't believe it," I said firmly.

Laura nodded in agreement. "Me neither. But I'll miss him."

We all shared a moment of silence, reflecting on the man who had once been such a strong presence in our school lives. The bell rang, snapping us out of our thoughts.

"Abeg, let's go to class," Gift said with her usual bluntness, leading the way.

Entering senior class brought new dynamics, new faces, and new friendships. I quickly formed a small circle of friends that helped me navigate this new phase. There was Laura, the brilliant one, who was the second most intelligent student in our class. She was sweet and sociable, and we had so much in common that sometimes it felt like she was my twin.

Then there was Gift, who was ranked fourth in the class academically. She was a tomboy and the only daughter in a family of seven boys. Her bluntness often made her the voice of reason in our group.

Lastly, there was Ruth. She wasn't as academically outstanding as Laura or Gift, but she was dependable and friendly. She was a twin, and her easygoing nature made her a comforting presence in our group.

Though I loved my new friends, there was always a small pang of jealousy when I thought about my cousin Kyla. She had started attending my school but was in Senior 2, while I was in Senior 1. Kyla had her own clique, and even though I tried not to let it bother me, I sometimes felt left out when I saw her laughing and having fun with her friends.

I shook off the feeling and focused on my own group. Laura and I grew closer every day, bonding over our shared interests and goals. Despite the scandal surrounding our former principal, life in senior class was beginning to feel like a new adventure.
“Did you know I saw Blessing outside the gate, pulling her uniform into her bag and entering keke to God knows where?” Laura said as we sat under the mango tree during our break.

“You mean she wore normal clothes under her uniform?” I asked, laughing.

“Yes!” Laura nodded, clearly amused.

“I wonder where she was going,” Ruth added, tilting her head.

“Her boyfriend’s house, I guess,” Gift said with a shrug.

“Mehn, these girls have mind oo. Boyfriend!” Laura exclaimed dramatically. “It can never be me.”

I stayed silent, carefully keeping my secrets buried deep in my heart. The memory of Femi still lingered, but I pushed it aside and forced a smile. “Me too oo,” I added, trying to sound casual.

“Abeg, let’s change the topic,” I said quickly, not wanting the conversation to dwell on relationships. “You remember we have that excursion this term? Have you guys paid?”

“I’ve not oo,” Ruth replied, looking a bit worried.

“I have,” Laura said confidently.

“I might not go,” Gift added, her tone nonchalant.

“Why now?” I asked, surprised.

“I don’t think my parents will allow it. Ondo is so far, and they’ll be worried. You know I’m their only girl.”

We all sighed, then burst into laughter at the same time. “Please convince them oo,” Laura said. “We all need to go! I want us to enjoy this trip together.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll try,” Gift said reluctantly, smiling a little at our persistence.

The bell rang, signaling the end of our break. As we headed back to class, we chatted about what we’d pack and all the fun we planned to have on the excursion. For a moment, everything felt light and simple, and I looked forward to the adventure ahead.