@MaimunaMuhammed7:
Thank you.

"If you see the cafeteria eh, you will wonder if they are eating pizza and shawarma everyday. The toilet self,you will want to sleep there. I'm telling you,there are air conditioners in every classroom. As you're in the toilet,cool breeze will just be blowing you up and down from the air conditioner." Chizoba told Jane,one of the cleaners there. Jane was twenty four and she was like an elder sister to Chizoba who was almost sixteen.

"Then,the best part. There are white children there. See oyibo skin. As I went there today,eh,I didn't even want to come out."

"Do fast and write the scholarship exam. I'm praying for you." Jane said.

"Shh." Chizoba looked around."Remember I haven't told mommy yet."

"Even when you get in, how will you pay the twenty percent of the school fees since the scholarship covers eighty percent?" Jane asked.

"I can have various other jobs."

"Calm down. You're turning sixteen this year. How many jobs do you want to have? Don't stress yourself oh."

"The remaining twenty percent is just seventy thousand naira."

"Just? Remember you're still owing your present school and it's for two terms. Almost ninety something thousand."

"Don't shout it."

"Why?"

"I told Aunt October it was forty six."
Jane's eyes widened.

"She asked you?"Jane asked. Chizoba nodded. Jane slapped her on her head.
"That's for one term only. Why didn't you tell her the truth? That you're owing for two terms?"

"She has herself to take care of. She has needs, she's a lady. I don't want to be a burden. I'll work for this term's fees."

"Chizzy, your brother's sick,your mother is tired of working almost every hour of the day. Don't get sick too.At your age,you have two jobs and you're going for summer lesson since school has not resumed. What more can you fit in twenty four hours of the day?"

" I will find a way. God will help those that help themselves. I'm helping myself by reading, working and schooling so I must be successful. I don't even sleep at night anymore. This scholarship exam,I must pass it."

"You want to go and pay seventy thousand for a school per term. The seventy self is by God's grace. The normal school fees is three hundred and fifty thousand. Thinking about it now, it's not such a good idea to write the exam and go to that school anymore,with what is going on in your family."

"Aunty Jane, British Royal Academy is 'the' school. A lot of successful people today passed out from that school."

"How would you feel in the midst of all those rich, spoilt children?"

    * * * * * * * * * *
October halted and held back from walking towards them yet. Jane and Chizoba seemed so deep in their discussion. What were they saying about British Royal?

"I don't mind them oh. I'm going there to school. They mind their business,I mind mine. If they try anything like bullying in Korean movies,I will show them. They can't even fight. See me,"Chizoba beat her chest ."Agu."

"When are you planning on telling your mother?"

"When I get the approval letter. If I tell her now,she will try to discourage me,just like you just did.Watch out B.R.A,I'm coming for you."Chizoba announced into the air which made October laugh, remembering her secondary school days when she and the other British Royal Academy students would quarrel with Atlantic city school for calling them bras.

She walked towards them. She called Chizoba and she turned,so did Jane. She dropped an envelope in her hand.

"Aunty,thank you. God will multiply you."Chizoba hugged her.

"Amen. Go home and read for your exam."

   * * * * * * * * * *
The door to October's office opened without a knock. October sighed and looked up from the papers contains the new plans for the hotel.

"What?" She asked,knowing who it was already as he walked in with two other people. "Aren't you two supposed to be in bed? You're going to school tomorrow. It's nine p.m already."

"Puh-lease. It's summer lesson." Lawrence threw himself on the office couch."I can skip anytime."

"Good evening,O.C." Leslie greeted.

"Lawrence, can't you ever be like your brother?"October asked."You can't even greet."

"Who? You?"Lawrence clicked his tongue."Who you epp?"

October hissed.
"Kcee please don't bring this boy here again." She told Kcee.

"God, October I missed you oh."Leslie said."And to compensate,"He brought out a box from his pocket.

"If you dare say 'Will you marry me?',I will vomit." Lawrence said."On you."

Leslie opened the box.
"Aww. For me?"October asked as she brought out the necklace.

"No. For your grandmother."Lawrence rolled his eyes.

"Don't let jealousy kill you."Kcee said and laughed,his bass voice echoing in the room.

"Abi oh. Just because you cannot afford your sister jewelry."October eyed Lawrence."Poor man."

"He even got himself in trouble today."Leslie said.

"Oh, again? Who did you beat this time around?"October asked,not surprised.

"Kayode Adeleke. Justice and I beat him up. Kayode swore to beat me up after and now,I have to carry Kcee around for sometime,even though I can clearly fight for myself. Left to me,no one can touch me in school."Lawrence said.

"Oh, because your father owns your school?"October asked.

"It's mum's school. Besides,why did you call him 'your father'?"Lawrence asked. October gave him a dangerous look that said 'don't go there'.

"The day somebody will beat you..."October started.

"Not possible."Lawrence cut her off.

"At this rate,it might. You will have a black eye and broken ribs in the hospital and I will make sure to pay the doctor to give you the wrong medication so your body will remain crooked,since you won't stop fighting." October said and Leslie and Kcee began to laugh.

Lawrence touched his chest.
"And here I thought you loved me."

"Anyways,how is that your friend, Justice,that likes making people laugh like as if he does it for a living?"October asked.

"He started summer lesson but he traveled to UK last week. He'll be back when school resumes fully. And here's news. His brother is coming to your hotel to stay for a week. I heard he knows Damien and Aaron.Do you know him?"

"What's his name?"

"James.James Okonkwo."

October thought hard. That name sounded familiar...And then she remembered. She exchanged glances with Kcee. He was the idiot from the club the other day

"Boys, it's time we head home."Kcee said.

"Already?"Leslie whined.

"You can come tomorrow. Or next."

"Do and go home."Leslie told October and pecked her.

"Eww."Lawrence said.

"I'm afraid. Remember my roommate whom I told you about?The baggy clothes girl that comes home in the middle of the night most times, doesn't talk, always with a headset and a bottle of pepsi? I found out she was always listening to our cons. What if she tries to kill me? What if she is occultic?"

"Relax. If she wanted to kill you,she would have done it since. After all,you didn't start gossipping about her now."Lawrence said and shrugged. He stood up."A d please,learn to use words. It's conversations,not cons. Don't call it cons,it doesn't sound nice coming from you." October threw him a pen as Leslie walked out.

"See you when I see you."Lawrence walked out too.

'What is with the Obiakor boys and that line anyways?'
October wondered.

Kcee sighed.
"Are you sure you're okay with James coming here?"

"Maybe."October answered.

"Any issues and you know where to find me.Stay safe."He said before he turned and walked out.

October watched him leave and she suddenly remembered Damien. She shrugged the thought off immediately.
Never, Damien Ekwegh,never.

A/N

First of all, thank you for the 1k reads.

Things are about to get messed up with James here. Told you he'd be back....but not for long😉

Love you guys.

Dedicated to @Naomex for almost scaring me to update 😂😂😂