DANIELLA✔

Chapter nineteen

Dedicated Sky_teddy and Pwaizieey for spamming each chapter with comments.

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I guess it is only in Nigeria that teachers would tell students to bring one cane each to school that they would still use to beat the students and upon that, threaten to punish the students if they failed to do so. For the first time, I was able to come early to school to meet the ongoing assembly and I was already beginning to regret it. I and the rest of the student body had been standing for so long listening to the slim male teacher, who was standing on a platform, as he threatened to flog any student who failed to bring a cane to school tomorrow.

It's just Monday. Give us a break!

"...And information got to me from the principal that your examination is going to kick off in two weeks time. So if you're wise, better start studying for the exam. That said, I would like the ss1 student to give us a marching song."

"I am a success all the time..." A high pitched and babyish voice started and some of the male senior students jeered at the singer before the whole students joined to sing as we marched into our various classes.

Noise filled the classroom as students trooped in.

"Hey Daniella, how are you? You met the school assembly today— first time in history." Adam said as we both took off our school bags and sat down.

I smiled, "There's a first time to everything, you know? And besides, I woke up very early today. Earlier than I usually wake up."

Adam looked at me weirdly as though he was studying me. "You look so... so different, so pale. Are you sick?"

"No... Well yes I was. But I'm recovering." I replied, surprised that he could tell that I wasn't myself. Such a friend!

"That explains why you're looking so..." He grabbed my forearm suddenly which caught me off guard. "What happened to your hands?" He explained, his brows marred in a frown.

"Nothing jare!" I said dryly as though it wasn't a big deal.

"What do you mean nothing? Your hands are disfigured with marks and you're telling me nothing." He said still studying my forearms.

"Nothing really." I said indifferently, taking my arms away from his hold. "I just crashed and sustained some injuries, that's all."

He scoffed, "And you expect me to believe that, you don't even know how to lie."

"Hey lovelies!" Gbemi said the instant she got to our seat. She gasped. "My gosh! What happened to you? Who flogged you like this?" She looked so horrified as she asked. I never knew the marks were so obvious that anyone could just notice it at a glance or maybe Adam and Gbemi were just observant.

"Nobody flogged me!" I was quick to reply. "I fell down and this happened."

"Lame Daniella, lame!" Gbemi said, "You're such a terrible liar!"

"Exactly what I told her." Adam added, "Why are you even lying Daniella. I mean, we're your friends. What is there to just say you were flogged?"

"I wasn't." I lied again. I knew if I told them the truth, they'd probe further and not only was I scared of telling them about my background, I was also scared of losing two amazing friends. Who knows? Adam and Gbemi could defriend me if I told them that I was from the village. I couldn't afford for that to happen.

"Then why are your arms like this?" Adam probed.

Just then, the class teacher, Mr Nnamdi worked in with a smile etched on his face. The noise subsided and everyone stood up to greet him.