The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Chapter 13: PRESSURE
The Colour Week came and went in a blur, even the last event for the term which was Fruit Day. Each class was asked to bring different fruits, make speeches, and present something for the day.
Our class tried, no lie. Everybody cooperated, we prepared well, chose our representatives, and delivered our speeches confidently. But me, I wasn’t as excited as I thought I would be. My mind was too full of stress from home, school… and especially what I discovered about Hameedat.
“Zara!” Nafisa shouted, pulling me back to reality.
“Yes, I’m here,” I replied, even though I knew I wasn’t really present.
“No, you’re not,” she said, folding her arms.
Hameedat used that opportunity immediately.
“You can’t understand what happened between me and Olamide,” she began. “Even me, I don’t understand how we ended up kissing. I’m not even attracted to him. But he has been asking me out for a while now. He said he can take care of me better…”
She paused, then added softly, “But I love Saheed. It’s just that the way he treats me makes me sad… and that’s why I went to Olamide for comfort.”
I just sat there quietly.
To be honest, I wanted to understand her, but something about it didn’t sit right with me. How can you hate what someone is doing to you, then turn around and do the same thing?
“Please don’t tell Saheed about me and Olamide,” she continued. “I’ve already told Olamide that we should keep our distance.”
I nodded slowly. Okay.
Second term exams were already around the corner, and teachers were rushing to complete their syllabus. Nobody had time for nonsense again.
For once, everything was calm.
Hameedat and Saheed stayed broken up. They barely spoke and she kept their distance with Olamide too, even though they were still somehow… close.
On the other hand, Bashir had started disturbing Desire again and was applying pressure.
I even smiled but the smile didn’t last because we suddenly heard loud shouting from SS2 class. Our curiosity almost got us in trouble, we were about to rush out of class when our English teacher entered and blocked us.
She made sure that class lasted almost an hour, and I swear, nobody was listening. All of us just dey wait make she go.
Immediately she stepped out, we ran.
“What happened?” someone asked Wonuola but before she could reply Olamide angrily shouted.
“Shay na your fault ni? Because of girl, you go dey block me for road. You go see wetin go happen, just try am again”
At first, I thought he was talking to Saheed.
My heart started beating fast.
But then—
“Talk am again!” Gideon shouted back.
Wow.
In a glimpse of an eye, the two of them started exchanging insults, almost ready to fight.
“You people should stop before teacher comes!” Wonuola tried to calm them, but they ignored her. I, on the other hand, found an empty seat in a corner so that I could watch everything without getting hit.
Thankfully, the closing bell rang.
“No make I catch you outside oo,” Gideon warned, swinging his bag as he walked out of the class.
I got up and quickly went to Jerry.
“What happened?” I asked.
He shrugged. “From what SS2 students are saying, Gideon blocked Olamide on his way home yesterday and warned him to stay away from Veronica. They both have a crush on her.”
I blinked. “Oh!”
Jerry continued, “Veronica no send Gideon. She already said no, but Gideon thinks it’s because of how close she is to Olamide. He is just jealous.”
Well, everybody already knew Gideon liked Veronica, and she had rejected him plenty times. But blaming Olamide for it? That one no make sense at all.
As we walked back to our class, the whole corridor was buzzing. Everybody had one version of the story or the other. Some people said Gideon already warned Olamide before, others said this was the first time.
But me, I wasn’t even focused on them again. My mind was full because exams were close and everything just felt like it was waiting to scatter.
“Zara, you haven’t read your book since,” Desire said later that afternoon during lesson, as she sat beside me with her notes. I knew she’s very observant and worried about my studies. I’ve been failing, my test, project, I don’t even understand myself anymore.
“I will read,” I replied.
That night, I opened my books, but the words were just dancing up and down. Nothing was entering. I just wished exams can be permanently cancelled from secondary school’s curriculum.
I dropped my book, picked up my phone and texted George.
To George:
Have you started reading?
He replied:
I started two days ago, what about you?
To George:
I will start soon.
He replied:
Are you fine?
I started typing but I erased everything. I didn’t know what to say because I didn’t feel fine but I don’t also know how to explain that my parents were having serious issues, staying in this house was chaotic. No one would understand.
On cue, I overheard my parents exchanging words angrily at each other, it broke my heart because if this continues they would eventually separate or worse divorce. Tears fell from my eyes but I quickly wiped it away and replied.
To George:
I’m fine
Before he could ask any further questions, I shut down my phone.
Unik readers 👀 let’s talk!
What do you think about this chapter?
Was Hameedat right for going to Olamide because of how Saheed treats her?🤔
Drop your opinions in the comments, I really want to know what you think 💬
Thank you for reading ❤️📖