"Ireti, are you going to attend Modupe's birthday this Saturday?" Islamiat asks me as she arranges her books in her locker.

"Her birthday?" I say as I lift my head from my desk. "Didn't she celebrate it on Monday in class?"

"That was just class celebration. The real deal is on Saturday at Bliss Hotel."

"Bliss hotel?" I say, squinting my eyes.

Though Modupe's family is financially stable and she's not poor as people like me, I don't think her parents can give her the money to throw a party at an expensive hotel like Bliss Hotel.

"Yes. Her boyfriend is sponsoring it. She invited her friends and some of our classmates to the party. I got invited too." Islamiat says as she zips up her bag.

"I wasn't invited." I said losing interest in the discussion.

Modupe can never invite me to her party. She doesn't like me. More like she hates me. Well, apart from Islamiat who seats beside me in class, none of my classmates like me. Not like I care. Well, maybe I do. A little.

"Oh. I heard that her boyfriend will pay for all expenses on that day. I wonder where he'll get the money from. You've seen him before, shebi?" Islamiat asks with that look in her eyes that shows she's ready to gossip.

I nod at her in reply. Though I'm not in the mood for talking, I really need to get my mind off the negative things I'm thinking of right now. Moreover, I always enjoy when Islamiat tells me things like that. It's funny to watch her expressions and gesticulations as she gossips.

"He came for our inter-house sports last year. He's fine ehn. I heard he attends ASA. He spends money on Modupe like kilode. I'm even jealous. But he doesn't look like the son of a rich man. It's like he's earning his own money. Do you think he's doing Yahoo? I heard some boys in ASA do Yahoo." Islamiat says, gesticulating.

Accord Boys' Grammar School Akure, ASA, is a boy's only public school. The boys there are exposed so I'm not surprised that some of them are into Yahoo.

"He doesn't look like someone who's into Yahoo. But well it's not like we'll know" Isliamiat continues. "Modupe said the party will be fun and lit."

I roll my eyes at that. I don't like parties. They bore me. Actually, in my sixteen years in this world so far, I've only attended two parties and apart from the eating and drinking, I wasn't really interested in the activities.

"They're even planning to swim in the hotel's pool. I've never been to a swimming pool before not to talk of swimming. I really want to go to the party but my dad won't allow me" Islamiat says in a sad tone. "I'm no longer a baby. I'm sixteen. I don't know why my dad still controls everything about me. Very soon, I'll graduate from this school and enter university. I wonder if they'll follow me there. My mum even told me if I get admitted into FUTA, I'll be going to school from home. I won't stay on campus. God forbid. I won't even choose FUTA at all. I can't school in Akure. I'll choose a school far from home."

I look at my friend with a slight smile on my face.

Islamiat Alabi, my only friend in school is the type of person we call butty or Ajebutter. She's one of those over-protected children. She's the last child and only girl in her family with two elder brothers. She's very naive and too innocent for her age. Even after spending five years in public school, she's not sharp at all.

Her parents control and monitor everything relating to her. Her dad still brings her to school in the morning and pick her up after school. She's not allowed to go anywhere they don't approve of and her going for a birthday party at some hotel with a group of teenagers alone is definitely what they won't approve of.

"I don't know what to do. I really want to go but I can't. I rejected the invitation." Islamiat says and hisses.

"Good for you. Someone like you shouldn't attend parties like that." I say and Islamiat hisses.

"Se, you know what you're saying bayi?" Islamiat says.

"Isla, leave me alone. I want to sleep. Wake me when it's time to go home" I say as I place my head on my desk without waiting for her reply.

We are in the last period and we Arts students have Government now but our teacher is not around so it's a free period for us.

The SS2 block is noisy this afternoon as some other classes on the block also have free periods now.

We're 48 girls totally in my class and we're all Arts students. The class is really noisy now and with the annoying thoughts on my mind, I don't think I can sleep right now.

Somehow, I don't really like coming to school but I know that for me to become successful in life and leave the life of poverty, I must attend school and study and excel. That keeps me on but really, sometimes I wish I don't attend school at all. My classmates don't like me. They've never liked me since we were in junior class and although I'm intelligent, my teachers find me boring.

I lift my head from my desk and sit upright on my chair. Islamiat is not on her seat. Looking around the class, I can't find her so I guess she just left the class. I didn't even notice when she left her seat.

I look around me, looking at my classmates. Some are not in the classroom. There are even some students from the other SS2 classes in the class. Everyone in class is playing or discussing with their friends. I'm the only one sitting alone, not talking with anybody since Islamiat is not in class now. I hear a peal of laughter from Modupe's desk. She's sitting on her chair surrounded by girls and they're happily discussing. More girls join them and I look away from them.

The people who sit around me are those I don't talk with. Truth is I don't really relate with anyone in my class except Islamiat. Apart from morning greetings and perfunctory talks, I don't really talk with my classmates. They don't like me and they think I'm proud because I'm the most intelligent girl in the class.

Well, it's not true. I don't look down on them. Who am I to look down on anyone? I just don't know how to relate with people. I find it difficult to be friends with others apart from my family and I don't know why. I only have four people I see as friends in my life. I really want to be friends with other people and relate with them normally but it's like something keeps me away from others. Most times, I don't know what to say to people and sometimes when I try to relate with others, I say or do the wrong thing. It's like I don't just fit in among people. It's like a curse.

Many times I wish I also have many friends to talk with and laugh with. I wish people won't just ignore me. I wish they could understand me and ignore my awkwardness and relate with me. People see me as a loner but I wish I'm not. I don't like it. I want to be like Itunu who has many friends and who is loved by almost everyone. We're sisters and I just don't understand how she can easily befriend people while I always find it difficult. I'm beautiful and I've always heard that people appreciate beauty and they like beautiful people but I just don't know why they don't like me.

With my natural aloof face and attitude, people think I'm proud and unapproachable and they easily dislike me. I've tried to relate with my classmates and people around me, but they don't accept me because of their assumptions on me. I've learnt to keep to myself and not bother with others since this is just the way I am but I don't really like it.

I really like Islamiat. She's the only one that I can call my friend in school and she has been a good friend to me since junior class.

Other girls think I look down on them but I don't. They gossip about me and spread rumors especially Modupe and her clique. Modupe doesn't like me at all and I know it's because I'm more intelligent and more beautiful than she is. She gossips about me a lot and sometimes insult me to my face.

The truth is I kind of envy many girls in my school.

I hate the fact that my family is poor. They're so many things we can't afford. My dad also misbehaves sometimes. He is a very diligent man who tries to provide for his family but times when he gets depressed, he turns into a violent irresponsible man who beats up his wife and spend the little money he has on drinks. It's really bad.

I've always wanted to attend a private school but my parents can't afford it. Itunu and I attend a girls' only public school while Iyanu attends a public primary school close to our house.

I don't really like my school because it's a public school but since I have no other choice, I try to excel in all what I do in school. Itunu and I have always dreamt of being successful and rich individuals in the future and take our family out of poverty. Itunu wants to become a successful doctor while I want to become... I'm not sure of my future career. I was still trying to figure it out but now, I don't even want to think about it. Why bother when it won't amount to anything?

As Itunu is the most intelligent girl in not just her class but in the whole SS1 and as she's one of the best in our school, she represents the school in competitions and she hoped to get a scholarship for her university education. But that was just a wish. It's not easy to get scholarships.

With the way things are in my family, it would be very difficult for us to go to university after secondary school unless things get better in my family. But with hope in our hearts, Itunu and I put in all our efforts to make life better for our family and believed we have a bright future.

But now, it's all a joke. Can we ever be successful? Do we really have a bright future?

After what we heard, we don't really have hope anymore. All our efforts would just be for naught.

Before I envied other girls in my school because they are not as poor as I am. Some of them are in this school because it's their choice or parents' choice unlike people like me who don't even have a choice.

Now I envy them because they can live normal lives and can be successful in the future.

I don't even have a choice on the kind of life I want for myself.

I look at the entrance of the class and see Islamiat walking in and talking with a girl beside her.

If ever our family's secret comes out and the people around us know about it, will Islamiat still be my friend? Will she see it as not my fault, and not be disgusted by me? Will my classmates despise me more even though I had no hand in it?

How will they treat me? What will people say?

I really hope they never find out. The secret should just remain with us. Our family. And Mrs. Oyedele.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Yes. That's another chapter💞.

What do you think of it?

I didn't fully edit the chapter so there might be some mistakes and grammatical errors. Please tell me if you notice some so I can correct them when I do the general editing.

I hope you're enjoying the story. Expect the next update tomorrow.

Question of the chapter: What do you think Ireti and her sister overheard? Can you guess what their secret that makes Ireti think they're cursed is?

I would like to read your answers and smile at your guesses😊.

Don't let's forget to click on that little star below😉.

Love you💖