A Loner's Journey Through Lemonade Making

Chapter 30|

The past weeks had been very hectic. Stress levels had reduced since we wrote our last paper. 

Now, I had time for other things.

*My squad was one thing I felt I didn't deserve. Granted, they could be annoying and not understanding sometimes, but they always knew how to cheer me up and remind me to have faith and fun. They had stopped talking about me leaving because they were certain I would win the scholarship.

*The competition was taking place during the summer holiday. Sixteen students from RPSS registered. However, only two candidates were accepted from each school, so we had to hold a mini competition to get the slots. Thankfully and miraculously, I got one of them. Efe, a boy in SS1, got the other slot. We had been taking writing classes to learn proper punctuation and writing styles. Getting the slot had come with a fresh batch of self-doubt.

*Tekena was my cheerleader and an important organ of my support system. Before, we would talk during breaks and after classes. We rarely spoke now, because we had different and equally busy schedules. Even at that, he still sent notes to me when we couldn't talk. I was glad we were friends and it saddened me that he would be leaving soon. Regardless, he had to move on to another phase of his life and I couldn't stop him.

*Joju and I were...friends. The days, we spoke and hung out more often. I wasn't that uptight anymore, neither was I too trusting. I knew the people I trusted with my life and secrets and he definitely wasn't among yet. Maybe, one day, he would win my trust, because he was seriously working towards it. When I got closer to his friends, I became certain Khalil liked Safia. Joju and I were secretly shipping them.

Everything was good at school. At home, not so much.
Toyin was indeed pregnant. Her bump was more visible now, so I assumed she was in her third or fourth month. Aunty Oma hated was rarely home. Uncle Blessing had left home, again. Toyin was getting a taste of what being married to him was like. She couldn't leave because she had signed up for it. Moreover, she had a baby on the way. Leaving certainly wasn't an option, at least not yet.

My thoughts were interrupted by the raspy voice of the photographer calling my name.
It was picture day and my classmates and I were in the hall to get our pictures taken for the yearbook.

I adjusted my uniform, applied some more lip gloss and went to him. I sat on the stool by the blue background. After a lot of retakes and corrections from the photographer on my posture, the camera flashed for the last time, when my smile and posture were perfect. I stood up and left the hall, as he called Yinka.

My friends had taken their pictures and were back in class, the same with majority of my classmates. We didn't refer to ourselves as JSS3 students anymore because we were done with junior school exams. What we had left was our placement exams which were commencing the coming Monday. Teachers didn't bother with us anymore. Everyone was left to read on their own, and a few people decided not to read because they believed they had read enough in the last few months.

At the end of every term, everyone would gather in my class for our Noise Making Festival. Today was no different.

I sat with my friends behind class. I'd initially wanted to talk to Joju but Jemima was with him.

"What's everybody doing during the holiday?" Munachi asked.

"Well," Ibidun adjusted her sitting position, "I'm attending my church's teen camp, I'm going to my mum's family house in Akure and hitting Dubai. Oh, I can't wait." she squealed excitedly, drumming on her laps.

Well, lucky her.

"I'm going to Manchester to see my cousins." Safia answered. "I've missed them." she wiped a nonexistent tear off her cheek.