All the senior secondary school girls, had their hair weaved in the famous all back (cornrows). Some in dee-dee, while some in weaving; some had base, while some didn't. The only people who didn't have their hair in the recommended hairstyle were some of the SSS3 girls, who left their hair unmade. The girls also styled their beret in different ways. I laughed quietly to myself when I saw the different funny way our juniors had styled their beret. Some had it hanging on their head and covering half of their face, some had it simply placed on their head making it look like a plate, some wore it to cover their both ears and some wore it in funny indescribable ways. Funny girls. All SSS3 girls had a way we did ours, we styled ours in the senior girl style; neatly worn, and slightly bent to the right.

"Mr. Demeji have land oh!" Dumebi being the tallest boy alerted all the SSS3 students, so they could quickly tuck in their shirt before Mr. Demeji arrived. All the boys started hurriedly tucking their shirts in and some girls.

I lifted my head to look at Joseph to see if he was well dressed. He was the school instrumentalist. He played all instruments the school had, so I heard. When I looked at him, he was already looking at me. He smiled immediately our eyes jammed, I quickly turned away and acted like I didn't look at him. Why are you still being shy? You guys are friend nah! Ah no nah, even if we're friends, looking at him for no reasonable reason would raise thoughts in his mind. I don't want to give him impression oh abeg.

"Sorry for the delay, something happened last session, that's why the prefects weren't appointed. So today we would appoint the prefects," our ever chafing senior school principal brought me out of my mental argument.

I lifted my head as he started calling out the prefects. "Head boy, Joseph Awolowo," he said with a wide smile. The students started clapping excitedly. "Stop!" There was silence everywhere. There was a pattern in which we clapped, but when the female students got too excited, they clapped anyhow. "Now clap," he commanded in a firm tone, meaning anybody that did the opposite at that point in time wasn't going like his or herself. The students clapped in the expected pattern. "Head girl, Ifeoma Okoye." The students didn't clap as excited as they did when Joseph name was mentioned, I shook my head at their reaction.

"Esse Bassey, Health prefect." I was brought out of my thought, at the mention of my name. I was shocked at the mention of my name, that I jumped a little, before realizing and walking to the front of the assembly. The students applauded in the expected pattern, but a little louder than they had been clapping, but not as loud as when they applauded for Joseph. I walked out spontaneously.

After all the prefects had been called out and given their badges, the principal asked Joseph to give a speech. "Good morning," Joseph said in a calm charismatic voice.

"Good morning," they all chorused excitedly.

"I don't have much to say, in fact, I have almost nothing to say. But what I want to ask for is your cooperation. If you cooperate with us, you'll make this tenure the best ever." The students applauded in approval. He smiled happily as he returned the mic to the principal, who was smiling widely also.

"SS1, give us a matching song," our senior school principal said, looking at the SS1 students.

"Oh my home, oh my home!" Came from a student and before I knew it, everyone had picked it and were all singing.

The principal held the new prefects down a little, letting us know we were to start our duties immediately, and specifically telling me to come out of my shell.

Amarachi jumped on me from behind. "Come out of your shell," she whispered in my ear, before using her right hand to hug me close as we walked to class. I chuckled and pushed her away from a little. She thought she was kidding, or simply repeating what the principal said, but deep down I knew I have to let myself out of my shell. The problem was how? She laughed and hugged me back. I didn't push her again since we were already in front of our class.

Mr. Simon was already in class. Amarachi and I walked in, and straight to our seats. Amarachi took all the materials she needed for her creative art class and left. The class was really scanty. We had only ten people doing music.

"Okay, let's move closer," Mr. Simon announced. Everyone picked up their things and moved forward, but I stood up and went to my cupboard. I searched for my music note and textbook. Immediately I found it, I quickly went to sit down. "Today, we're starting the 'History of Western Music'. But we'd be focusing on the classical period. So...it's from what year to-"

"1750 to 1820 A.D," I quickly cut him. It was a thing we did in music class, the first person who could decipher the question before he finishes asking, would get a 'MOM' meaning master or mistress of music. He gave 'POM' also, but it was only once a student had gotten it, and that was me.

"It's a lie," Ada shouted as she jumped from her seat. We were music rivals, but I had beaten her plenty times. But, Ada would never give up. I laughed at her.

Mr. Simon laughed. "She didn't even let me finish, so how is it a lie?" he asked Ada, smiling.

Ada stamped her legs on the floor continuously, as she grumbled. "That's not fair oh! She cheated. She did," she said, pointing at me as she pouted.

I laughed at her again, but that was when it dawned on me. What was the use of being the best in music, when I was dropping the subject? I became silent.

Mr. Simon kept on giving me strange looks as I let Ada answer all the questions.

The class was almost over, it remained less than a minute. I was happy, I wanted to escape the strange looks Mr. Simon was giving me, so bad.

"Hey what's wrong?" I reflectively turned to where the question came from, and I was jammed with Joseph. Wow! When did he move? Why is he sitting behind me? Wait! What's his concern?

I frowned before replying, "It's none of your business, mind yours."

His eyes became very wide, he looked at me like he had seen a ghost. "Wow! I'm sorry oh." With that, he stood up and went back to his former seat beside John.

Was I rude? Yes, you were fish! Argh! This my mouth ehn! Jeez, I've mess up things with Joseph. He'll hate me. Ah! I need to tame my tongue. But it isn't my fault nah, I don't want him to know, I don't want anyone to know. No one.

"Esse, see me during the break," Mr. Simon said as he left the class. He has notice too. Should I tell him? Or should I not? No, I will. He might provide a solution. But in father's cases are there solutions?

As Mr. Simon walked out of the class, Mr. Tony walked in with another set of six students, who had our laptops in their hands. "Drop it there," he instructed them, pointing to the front of the class. They dropped it and quickly left. They didn't dare to hang around senior classes for long. "Class Captain should share it," Mr. Tony said as he himself left the class.

Before Joseph could say anything, everyone rushed for their system.

I waited for everyone to take theirs, before I took mine. I didn't do well with rushing. Immediately I got my system and went back to my seat, I turned to look at Joseph. "How did it go yesterday?" I asked him first, so that I would know my fate

He looked at me with a straight face and said, "Fine."

I knew he was still angry with me, so I calmly faced my front and minded my business like I told him to.

I has messed up and I sucked at apologies.

-------------------------

Immediately it was break, I left my class for Mr. Simon's staff room. Not simply because he asked me to, but mainly because I was tired of the uncomfortable silence between Joseph and me. He was really good at it, that he didn't even feel tempted to smile at me. Whenever our eyes jammed, his smiles changed to frowns. I was pained.

Mr. Simon was busy with a notebook on his desk, so I had to knock calmly on his staff door. His staff room was also the senior school music studio, which was loaded with instruments here and there. Immediately I knocked, his head snapped to my direction and his lips spread into a smile, making his chubby cheeks more conspicuous. "Come in," he said in a calm tone. I walked in and stood in front of his table, making him smile. "Don't do like a stranger here. Come on now, take a sit."

I smile at how official I was acting and took a seat. Look at everywhere. The music studio was really beautiful. I liked the way the cream walls were shining, yet looking dull. Music notes were inscribed on it here and there, proving it was a music studio.

"So, care to share?" he suddenly asked without looking up from the book he was marking on his desk.

I instantly felt that urge to push him away. I became uneasy within. It was like, I wanted help and still, didn't want it. My silence made him look up, tilting his head to his right. I knew I had to speak, but didn't know what to say. Whenever the urge to tell him not to worry and walk out came in, Ebun's words of the night before, came along with it; sending me into a dilemma. I began to look at everything except him. That was the very moment I have up myself.

"Would you rather see the senior school counselor?" he asked concerned, with his hands interlocked on his table.

His words made me laugh. Our senior school counselor was an olofofo. She was a counselor and yet still didn't know how to keep a secret. She shared students personal informations and secrets with other female teacher. When students realized it, they stopped going to her for advice.

Mr. Simon, oblivious about her misconduct, looked at me confused. "What's funny?"

I decided to not stress about it, and simply change the topic. "It's kinda a family ish," I said as I then brought my face up in confidence, to look at him.

He nodded in approval.

So, I rode on, "I have a really authoritative father, who doesn't care about my opinions."

Mr. Simon huffed. "Yeah, he looks it."

We both busted into laughter at his expression. After our laughter, we went back to business immediately.

"He doesn't want me to do music, claiming he sees a lawyer in me," I said instantly, not waiting for him to ask questions. "He said it's better I do Economics, that music is the most useless subject in class."

Mr. Simon gasped in mocked shock as he placed his right hand in his chest and said, "What? Or does he mean most useful and unique subject in class?"

I smiled and replied, "Only God knows oh. But, just know that I stick with your own meaning."

He smiled warmly.

"Don't worry, I'll see what I can do about it."

Immediately those words left his mouth, it was like a load was lifted off my shoulder. I felt more free and calm. I smiled and said, "Thank you sir, I trust you."

"Don't mention dear."

With that, I got up and was about to leave, when he added, "And, by the way, I love your determination. I'm happy you know what you're doing and you're following your passion. It's what matters dear. Do whatever make you happy."

"Thank you sir," I said with a wide smile as I felt really proud of myself. With that, I left for my class happily.

_________________________________________
POM - Professor of music.
Olofofo - someone that can't keep a secret.