The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Chapter 1: TOXIC
This story contains a blend of Pidgin and English language.
ZARA'S POINT OF VIEW
“I am done with this relationship. It’s over!” Hameedat shouted and stomped out of the class.
Oh God. What happened again?
Why can’t Hameedat’s relationship drama just end? Maybe I should remind her that this is a new session and we are seniors now. Even though today is just our first day in SS1, we are still seniors. We can’t keep acting the way we did in junior school.
My thoughts were interrupted when one of my classmates shouted from behind, almost making me deaf.
“Which one be say you guys go break up? After two weeks una go reconcile again. Shay na part of timetable ni?”
I turned sharply and knocked Francis on the head.
“Ouch! Was I talking to you?” he protested.
Before I could knock him again, Nafisa tapped my shoulder.
“What happened to Hameedat? I saw her crying outside. Is it because of Saheed again?” Nafisa asked.
I was about to answer when the head teacher, Mrs Adeoye, walked into the class with four unfamiliar faces.
“Good morning, students,” she greeted. “You have four new students joining your class, Amira, Ahmeed, George, and Jerry. Welcome them nicely.”
She emphasized the last sentence, and we all laughed. Our class had a reputation for bullying new students back in junior school.
As soon as I got the chance, I walked up to the new students.
“Welcome to Krystal College,” I began. “My name is Zara.”
I pointed around the class. “That girl talking to the boy by the window is Nafisa, and the boy is Felix. Just so you know, Felix has anger issues, so avoid him.”
Felix hissed, but Ahmeed laughed.
I continued, pointing to two boys standing near the door. “That’s Bashir, our timekeeper, and that’s Francis, Felix’s twin brother. Francis doesn’t have Felix’s anger problem, so you’re safe with him.”
Then I tapped the boy sitting beside me. “This is Khalid. He’s crushing on Nafisa, and she likes him too, even though she’ll deny it.”
Khalid laughed and nudged me, not denying it at all.
Just then, Hameedat walked into the class. Her eyes were red and swollen. “That’s Hameedat,” I said quietly.
George frowned. “Why is she crying?”
I sighed. “She’s in a toxic relationship. She started dating a senior student, Saheed, back in JSS3. They fight almost every week.”
I paused. “But we do have peacemakers, Desire and Anthonia.”
I explained how Desire was a book lover who could read anything; novels, textbooks, even dictionaries, despite not being an art student.
“Is Hameedat the only one in a relationship?” Amira asked.
I shook my head. “Felix dated Hameedat briefly in JSS3, but his anger was a red flag. That’s how Saheed entered the picture. Francis is dating Rachel from JSS3. And Bashir…” I lowered my voice. “He won’t stop asking Desire out, even though she has rejected him countless times.”
“Zara!” Nafisa called angrily.
“Yes?” I replied, “I’m sorry.” I apologize before quickly joining Nafisa and Hameedat, who were already sitted in front of the class. I sat between them. That was when I noticed tears rolling down Hameedat’s cheeks. She always had tears to shed for Saheed.
“Abeg, no vex,” I said softly. “What happened with Saheed this time?”
“He said I’m too dramatic,” Hameedat replied, her voice shaking. “Imagine! After everything I’ve done for him.”
Desire closed the novel she was pretending to read and sighed. “But Hameedat, didn’t you already end the relationship?”
“Face your book,” Nafisa snapped. “If you no know love, keep quiet.”
I moved closer to Hameedat. “Okay, calm down. Why did he say you’re dramatic?”
“He was talking to his classmate, Simi,” she explained. “I asked to speak with him privately, but he ignored me. Later, he said I was overreacting because I broke up with him.”
What?
“So you broke up with him because he was talking to his classmate?” I asked.
She shook her head, “I didn’t even mean the breakup like that,” she replied. “I was just tired, but he didn’t apologize.”
“Apologize for what?” I said before I could stop myself. “You sef know say wetin you do dey pain.”
Thankfully, Nafisa and Desire backed me up but Hameedat still reacted.
“If you people are my friends, you should support me no matter what!” she snapped and stood up.
We weren’t surprised. She never listened to advice, especially when it didn’t favour her.
She walked away and sat at the far corner of the class.
The day passed quickly. We barely did any serious classwork, and when Bashir rang the bell, everyone began packing their bags.
“I swear, I won’t go back to him again,” Hameedat said suddenly. “This time, I’m serious.”
The classroom was almost empty now, only the sound of the cleaner sweeping outside.
I looked at Nafisa. Nafisa looked at Desire. Desire looked back at me.
We had heard this before.
“Hameedat,” I said gently, “if you’re done, then be done. This on-and-off thing is exhausting for everyone, including you.”
She nodded. “I know. But I love him.”
Just then, someone entered the classroom. We all went quiet but it wasn’t a teacher. It was Ahmeed, the cutest new student.
“Sorry,” he said shyly. “Has anyone seen my notebook?”
I stood up immediately to help him search. We eventually found it inside Amira’s locker, probably a mistake since we all bought new books from school.
“Thank you,” he said politely.
I smiled and watched him arrange his books. When he was done, he waved and left.
“Hmm. You like him,” Desire said knowingly.
I nodded. “At least I don’t deny my feelings like Nafisa.”
Nafisa shot me a look, but Desire laughed.
Her laughter died when Senior Saheed and his friend, Senior Olamide, walked into the class.
“Hameedat, can we talk?” Saheed asked, his tone demanding.
Before Hameedat could even respond, I spoke firmly “No, It’s over.”
Nafisa and Desire stood beside me in support, but Senior Olamide began apologizing on Saheed’s behalf. Within minutes, Hameedat agreed to follow Saheed to the conference room.
I face-palmed. We already knew how this would end.
Desire left, while Nafisa and I followed behind them. Only a few teachers were still around.
“Why can’t you talk to your friend to stop overreacting?” Olamide asked Nafisa.
“Is Saheed’s behaviour better?” Nafisa fired back. “Does he enjoy making her cry?”
Olamide argued that Hameedat demanded Saheed’s attention even when he was busy. She wouldn’t let him breathe. Nafisa defended Hameedat, but I stayed quiet. Olamide wasn’t completely wrong.
As soon as we entered the conference room, we caught them kissing.
We weren’t surprised.
They confirmed they were back together, as expected. We quietly left before any teacher noticed.
As I stepped out of the building, one thing was clear, this session was going to be messier than junior school ever was.
Unik readers 🤍
Let’s talk about this first chapter 👀
- Do you think Hameedat was right to get upset over Saheed talking to another girl
- Was Zara too harsh when she told Hameedat the truth, or was she being a good friend?
- Between Hameedat and Saheed, who do you think is more at fault in their relationship?
- Do you think their relationship is truly toxic or just normal teenage drama?
- And be honest… do you think Hameedat will really stay away from Saheed this time? 😭
Drop your thoughts in the comments 💬
I really want to know what you think!
Thank you for reading 📖✨