CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

ANIKE'S POV

"Mariam is not here."

"I told you we should wait for her. What if something happened to her?"

I anxiously wrote on the little sheet of paper and passed it back to mercy.

"What do you think we should do? We can't leave this class."

"Let's wait. We will go to the hostel after."

I passed it back to her as subtly as possible but that might not be the case as the teacher immediately walked up to us and snatched the paper.

He read the contents silently but the teasing that followed from the rest of the class even though they had no idea what we wrote made me angry and embarrassed.

My eyes caught Jada's own and as usual, she rolled her eyes so bad that I wondered how it did not fall off.

How is it possible for a person to change like this?

What did I do so wrong?

Was it me? Is it her?

I am even grateful that the scholarship student rumor has died down. Was it really Jada?

I do not have the answers to these questions but that's not even the problem. The problem is the fact that Mariam is not in class.

She has never missed a class. Never. But now she is in the room, maybe sick or tired and we are not there to help.

"Where is Mariam?"

Mr. Aniete asked and it was only then people realized that she was not in the class.

"She is not in the class. We think she might be alone in the hostel sick because she has been acting weird since yesterday."

Mercy explained and I thought everything would be fine until an unfortunate human being blurted out the most stupid thing I have ever heard.

"Maybe she is pregnant!"

I know I was not the only one angry when I saw a vein pop on Mercy's hand.

"Are you crazy? Who said that?"

I have never seen Mercy as angry as this and it was totally justified.

I sat down patiently waiting for the unfortunate person to reveal herself.

"Am I lying? The three of you are always following boys around. She is pregnant and you guys are covering up for her while she gets an abortion."

"You know Joy, I would love to give you a pen and book. Your imagination can write the next worst novel in the world. I can take it if you insult and assault me but never in your life open that your smelly, stinky mouth to talk about my friends like that. At least manage the little sense you have focusing on the chm class rather than putting your mouth where you are not invited."

The whole class went silent after this even Mr Aniete was left flabbergasted.

I looked round the room to check for who said all that and Mercy's proud grin confirmed my thoughts.

It was me.

I said all that to Joy.

And you know what, if she replies, I would be glad to give her more from where that came from.

"Are you mad?"

She asked standing up looking so angry that I could see the fumes coming out from her mouth and ear.

"Are you mad, too?"

Mercy shouted back.

The boys at the back were laughing at the scene, making noises encouraging the fight that should not happen. But guess what? If I can slap this girl right now, I would.

"Leave her. Because no one stood up to you when you pushed me like a bull in the basketball court, you think you are all that? Don't just talk about Mariam like that ever ever again."

"Let her even try it one more time if a slap won't land on her face."

Joy scoffed and looked at Mr. Aniete who we had already forgotten was in the class with us and suddenly she started crying.

Jada adding kerosene in the fire started patting her.

"Why will you guys talk to her like that just because she was joking."

Jada said sounding so sad that if anyone walks in right now, they would call Mercy and I the villains straight away.

"Jada, were you sleeping?"

Mercy asked not believing her ears and eyes.

"If you think you can't be with us anymore, that does not mean you should allow a good for nothing human being insult Mariam."

Mercy added her voice sounding pained. Jada rolled her eyes and just continued to pat crying Joy now.

The whole class too became silent. Too silent that I was scared.

Mercy as if thinking the same shared a look with me and together we turned back only to find the most unexpected person standing there.

It was the principal and God knows how long she has been there.

One thing I immediately noticed was the frown on her face. She was definitely not happy to find us like this and considering next week is Mid term, I do not want Mercy to get penalty points.

Yes, there are penalty points in this school.

Basically, the more penalty points you get, the more marks are deducted from your overall cgpa. Students hate it.

Basically, class 2 students hate it because a single score matters.

And it made sense to me why Jada and Joy started acting.

She must have been here watching us.

I held Mercy's hand which was already trembling.

If anything, I will take the fall myself.

She walked in slowly into the classroom and right now if a pin falls down, everyone would hear clearly. That was how quiet it was.

We made to sit down back but a single stare at us and we continued on our feet.

"Good morning ma."

The whole class greeted after Jeff, the class captain, instructed as usual.

"Good morning class 2. Next week is your midterm like you all know and I just wanted to wish you all good luck. Unfortunately, I have been met with this event and I don't understand why a fight would be happening during this time."

I remember my grandma's second advice,

"Never get on the bad side of the principal. It would be quick too since you are a scholarship student. Follow the rules, Anike."

I stared at my feet as grandma's voice kept ringing in my head.

"Goodluck to you all. Mercy, Anike, Jada, and Joy please to my office. Mr. Aniete resume your class please."

People argue in this class every now and then and we do not see Mrs. Adejare, the principal standing by the window. But the one day that I decide to stand up against this annoying human being, that is when the principal decides to go round this huge school.

It is well.

That is all I can say.

Mercy held my hand tighter that I was scared for my bone as we walked. I glanced at her and she mouthed,

"we are screwed."

*******************

"Ever since I stepped into this school, Anike has been on my case ma. From subtle insults, to pushing me in the basketball court, to now insulting me in front of the whole class. I am tired ma. I don't know what else to do. I have begged her to stop her subtle bullying but with the looks of things, I don't think she will."

Joy, being one of the best actresses I have ever seen, even sniffled as she crafted out her perfect lie.

Mercy's mouth was wide open that I feared a fly might enter.

I glanced at the principal and she was already bought. Her frown at us showed who she believed.

Mercy was about to say something when I pinched her in the hand. She should not put herself in any trouble.

"What do you have to say about these claims, Anike? After all we discussed, you still do this?"

See the perfect contraction. After asking me to defend myself, she now concluded the case without hearing anything. She was already biased because I am a scholarship student. I can feel that no matter what I say, she is just going with the easier culprit. ME.

"I am sorry ma. Mercy was not involved in any of these."

I said quietly.

She turned to Mercy and I could see the wheels turning in her head.

It would be better for her to just use me as a scapegoat. The scholarship student.

"The three of you go to class. Anike stay."

They all muttered thank you ma and I had to reassure Mercy with a smile before she left.

"Why did you do all that? You are here on scholarship and trust me, two more disciplinary actions you will be expelled from this school. I do not want a repeat of this."

I nodded.

"You can't speak?"

"Okay ma."

"You would be given ten penalty points and you would sweep your classroom for today's disruption."

Ten penalty points is a lot.

I remember Ayisha crying over 5. From the explanation I was given by Mariam, it is for higher offences than the little scene she met in the classroom so how and why do I deserve it?

"Okay ma."

I silently muttered.

"This is because of your grandma. Don't do something like that again. You can leave."

Ehehn, it would have been worse if not for grandma?

Both students and officials are filled with discrimination at scholarship students.

I walked out of her office and immediately met a worried Mercy.

"What did she say? I should have not left you alone with her. I am so sorry. That was wrong of me. I just can't afford a penalty point. I am so, so, sorry Anike. Please forgive me."

I understand her.

I was the one with leaking mouth who threw insults at that fool.

I normally don't talk like this. I am usually quiet but she insulting Mariam just woke up the other side of me.

Do I regret it?

A big NO.

"It's fine. I got 10 penalty points and I have to sweep the classroom."

Mercy shook her head, her body shaking with anger.

"She never gives that much point just because of an argument. This school is messed up."

I understood what Mercy was trying to say and I just nodded in agreement.

Messed up is an understatement.

"I will help with the classroom. That 10 point is too much. Won't it affect your results?"

I nodded.

"It would. I have to do better in the midterm."

"I'm sorry. I should have been there with you."

I smiled.

"it's fine. Really."

She kept lamenting throughout our walk to the class and all I could think of was how fast of a cunny thinker Jada is.

I remember defending her like that on the first day of resumption and how she hugged me and we bonded even more.

Maybe it was all fake. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut.

Not me acting like a defender when I can't even defend myself.

I sighed at my thoughts and at the sudden realization that my Jada was just an illusion she created. She's not real.

We walked into the class devoid of a teacher and Mariam.

Immediately Tobi walked up to Mercy and they left me to my thoughts.

I stared at the empty seat beside me wondering where Mariam was but my thoughts were cut off when Jayden tapped me.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded.

I felt suddenly irritated at him. What if he is an illusion too and suddenly, he changes like his sister?

What if this is not the real him?

What if this, what we have together, is just fake?

"I am sorry about Jada."

I nodded facing my books instead. I have ten penalty points to cover up anyways.

"Anike... Is something wrong?"

Everything is wrong.

The smirk on Jada's face ever since I walked in is wrong.

The annoying smile on Joy's face as she talks to everyone like she is the victim is wrong.

The way everyone frowns at me like the villain is wrong.

The fact that he is seating here beside me after what I just went through because of his sister is wrong.

The way I can't stay angry at him because he is him is more wrong.

"No, nothing is wrong. Just got ten penalty points and now I have to sweep the classroom."

He sighed.

"I am sorry Anike."

"Why?"

I looked away from my book and at him.

His worried eyes calmed my angering heart and that pushed the button because all I could think about was Jada's voice and maybe that was the only true thing she said during our friendship.

He can never like me.

"Because it's my sister. I am sorry on her behalf."

I nodded, raising my hands a little in mock surrender.

Those words made me feel angrier.

"It is fine."

I muttered turning back to my huge chemistry text book.

Books won't betray me anyways.

"Are you sure? Are you angry at me?"

"I just want to be alone for some while, Jayden. Thanks, I appreciate the apology but Jada is not apologetic."

I just want to be alone.

Just me, myself, and I with an interesting Kdrama.

And hopefully figure out where Mariam is.

Who else believes that Joy can truly write a novel with her wild imagination?

Jada is really cunny too and is that a little bit of favoritism that the principal is showing?

What about Mariam? 

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