Chasing Greatness :A Journey Of Hope

chapter 23: miracle

The long-awaited excursion day was finally here, and I was buzzing with excitement. Sleep had evaded me the night before as I imagined every detail of the trip. This would be my second excursion—the first was a short trip in Benin City. But today was different; we were going to Idanre Hills in Ondo State, a place I’d only seen in pictures. The thought of exploring its breathtaking rocks and lush mountains filled me with an uncontainable thrill.

Our school, Russel International Group of Schools, was one of the best in Benin. My dad had always ensured we attended the best schools, no matter the cost. Even when our school fees were paid late, he remained committed, sacrificing so much for us. I felt proud to be part of something so prestigious. This excursion was organized for all SS1 and SS2 students from the three branches of Russel, which meant it was going to be packed and full of energy.

The school’s largest buses were ready to take us, and when I finally arrived, the school compound was buzzing with life. I had come late, thanks to the school bus arriving behind schedule. As soon as I stepped into the compound, I spotted Kyla first, my cousin and my baby girl.

“Hi baby!” I greeted her cheerfully.

She smiled warmly. “Mimi, you came late o!”

“School bus wahala,” I replied with a sigh.

“Well, go and secure a good seat. I’m over there with my friends,” she said, pointing toward a group of students.

“Alright, thanks! Need anything?”

She shook her head, waving me off as she headed back to her boyfriend, Godsent. Yes, Kyla was dating one of her classmates, and I couldn’t lie—he was cute and tall, just her type.

I left her to join my group, spotting Laura from a distance.

“Laura!” I called out excitedly.

She turned and ran toward me. “Mimi, finally! You’re here.”

“Where’s Gift?” I asked.

“She’s still paying,” Laura replied with a shrug.

“Paying for what? I thought she did that yesterday?”

Ruth joined in. “Biology teacher said the payment deadline had expired. She’s begging him now. Let’s just hope it works out.”

“Oh no, poor Gift,” I sighed. “Laura, let’s go save seats before the buses fill up.”

“Okay, but let’s sit at the back!” Laura suggested.

“Are you sure? The SS2 students will likely take the back,” I reasoned.

Laura shrugged. “Why are you scared of the back? I think it’ll be fun.”

I laughed. “Not scared o, just trying to avoid unnecessary drama.”

In the end, we compromised and secured seats in the middle of the bus. Laura and I sat together while Ruth and Gift would sit in front of us. By the time Ruth and Gift finally joined us, Gift was beaming.

“He accepted it!” Gift shouted excitedly.

We all cheered, clapping for her. “This excursion is going to be fun!”

As we settled into our seats, I pulled out my phone and showed it to them.

“Guys, I brought my phone,” I said with a grin.

“Me too!” Gift chimed in, holding hers up proudly.

Our parents had allowed us to bring our phones for the trip, and I couldn’t wait to take pictures of Idanre Hills. It was rare to have phones in school, but today was a special occasion.

Laura clapped her hands excitedly. “This is going to be the best excursion ever!”

We laughed and chatted as we waited for the journey to begin, our excitement growing by the second.The journey to Idanre Hills had finally begun, and excitement buzzed through the bus. I noticed Kyla sitting at the front, which surprised me. She was usually inseparable from her boyfriend, Godsent, but today she was with her clique of friends. I couldn’t help but wonder if they had fought. The thought of asking her crossed my mind, but I decided against it and turned my attention to my friends instead.

At the back of the bus, the usual suspects from Kyla’s class were up to no good. Among them was Blessing, the most notorious of the lot. She was perched on Emma’s lap, laughing loudly while the rest of the group passed around bottles of alcohol they had smuggled onto the bus. The scene was wild, but unsurprising. Blessing had always been the center of every scandal.

Our bus had two teachers seated at the front, completely oblivious to what was happening behind them. They were either unaware or simply uninterested in controlling the chaos at the back. I, on the other hand, couldn’t help but keep one ear tuned to the gossip coming from that direction while still paying attention to my friends.

“Afar, those guys are drinking alcohol!” I whispered to Laura, tilting my head toward the back.

Her eyes widened as she glanced back. “Wow, na true oo!”

“Gift, make you observe back,” I added.

Gift didn’t hesitate. She stood up to get a better view. “Jesu!” I shouted, pulling her back into her seat. “You want them to know we’re watching them? Behave na!”

“No vex,” Gift replied, sitting down sheepishly. “I just wanted to see everything.”

Ruth laughed, shaking her head. “Oversabi girl!”

Suddenly, one of the teachers at the front clapped their hands and shouted, “Oh yeah, let’s pray, guys!”

Everyone settled down as we started with praise and worship, followed by a long prayer. The singing was lively, with everyone clapping and tapping their feet. Even the troublesome ones at the back joined in, albeit reluctantly.

The journey itself was peaceful and filled with chatter and laughter. As we traveled, the breathtaking scenery began to unfold. Massive rocks dotted the landscape, each more stunning than the last. I stared out the window, mesmerized by their beauty.

Despite my admiration for the views, my mind kept drifting to the back of the bus. I had a mission: to watch over Godsent for Kyla. I noticed one of Blessing’s friends trying to flirt with him. She leaned toward him, whispering something I couldn’t hear. But Godsent,  seemed uninterested, his attention fixed elsewhere. I smiled to myself, pleased that he wasn’t falling for her antics.

“Good boy,” I thought, silently rooting for him to stay loyal.

The bus was alive with energy as we neared our destination. I couldn’t wait to reach Idanre Hills and experience the adventure awaiting us.