The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Chapter 6: MESSIER
Hameedat and I submitted our letters to Desire, but Amira was yet to submit hers, even though she was the reason we were in this mess.
“Did you people state in your letters that your parents or guardians will come to school next Tuesday for the SDC?” Desire asked.
We nodded.
She collected the letters and took them to Mr. O.G. From where we stood, we overheard him complaining that our letters did not include our parents’ or guardians’ phone numbers and that he would not accept them.
“Which kind of problem is this?” I muttered in frustration.
“Mr. O.G said you must include your parents’ or guardians’ phone numbers,” Desire said as she returned the letters to us before heading back to class. We were not allowed to attend any lectures until the letters were properly submitted.
I carried my bag and went to the conference room, only to meet Amira making a phone call. Anger rushed through me. I wanted to collect the phone and smash it, but Hameedat acted faster. She shoved Amira hard, and her phone fell to the floor. Before I could react, they were already fighting.
I didn’t bother separating them. Instead, I sat down, worrying about how I would convince my Aunt to allow me include her phone number in the letter.
My thoughts were interrupted when Amira stumbled and fell against me. I pushed her away immediately and tucked my letter safely inside my bag. If the letter became rough, Mr. O.G would reject it again.
After almost an hour of shouting and struggling, they became tired. Silence filled the room, and eventually, we started talking about the real problem.
Amira spoke first. “There’s one solution. During the SDC, we can say DJ Tye-cruise is just our friend and that we met him on our way home—”
“Are you okay?” I snapped, cutting her off. “So you want us to lie to the SDC? Something is seriously wrong with you.”
In anger, Hameedat shouted, “You’re the reason Saheed broke up with me, and you’re still saying we should lie? E be like say you no well for that your head.”
Amira rolled her eyes and tried to explain how lying would favour us more than telling the truth, but Hameedat raised her hand, almost slapping her. If I had been closer, I would have slapped her myself.
Just then, the conference room door burst open. Saheed, Jerry, and Nafisa walked in.
“We are also facing SDC, someone reported that we went to play snookers in our uniforms” Saheed said.
Ahhh. “You too?” I pointed at Nafisa and she shook her head as she sat beside me, “No. Do I look like someone who can play snooker?”
My head was spinning but just as I was about to ask how many boys were facing SDC, Saheed snapped at Hameedat.
“You never listen. Didn’t I warn you not to go?”
Hameedat tried to explain why we followed Amira to DJ Tye-cruise’s house, but I tuned them out. I rested my head on the table, my head was still pounding. I couldn’t even imagine what would happen if my parents found out.
I felt a gentle tap on my back. I lifted my head to see George sitting beside me.
“It’s break time,” he said softly, placing snacks on the table. “You haven’t eaten.”
Only then did I realize how hungry I was. I thanked him and collected the snacks. As I ate, I noticed Hameedat and Saheed hugging each other.
So they are back together again. Na wa oo.
I shared the snacks with Nafisa while George reassured us that we wouldn’t be suspended or expelled.
“Is it true that you guys are also facing SDC?” I asked and he nodded.
Although, their issue wasn’t as serious as ours but it was still an issue. So, I wanted to believe him that we wouldn’t be suspended or expelled. but deep down, I knew this trouble was far from over.
***
On Friday, after break, all of us were finally allowed back into the class because our letters had been acknowledged by the school authorities. Although the school proprietress was extremely angry about our misbehaviours, she didn’t punish us. Our judgment day was scheduled for the following week, but she still spoke to us for almost an hour.
“I’m scared,” I confessed to George and Jerry.
They encouraged me in their own ways. Jerry made sure I was always laughing, while George made sure I wasn’t overthinking, even though they were also going through their own. However, Ahmeed was hardly in class. We barely spoke, and he seemed completely unbothered about the issue that was consuming me.
That was when I realised something, people who truly care about you don’t disappear when things get tough. And even though I don’t always agree with Saheed because of how he often makes Hameedat cry, I respected him for standing by her during this period. It showed that, in his own way, he cared.
“Can we talk?” Amira asked, standing in front of me.
I didn’t want to talk to her at all, but we were both trapped in the same mess, and hers was worse. So, I followed her to the toilet.
“Mr. O.G said that on Monday, by 10 a.m, we must come to school with our parents or a mature guardian that will sit in during the meeting,” she said. “He also said that anyone who comes alone will be automatically expelled.”
I sighed deeply. “What if our parents are not ready on time?”
“He said we should stay at home with them until they are ready,” she answered. “That we won’t be punished for coming late.”
I nodded and left the toilet to look for Hameedat.
As soon as I found her in the science laboratory, I leaned close and whispered, “We’re facing SDC on Monday by 10 a.m. We must come with our parents or a guardian or it’s automatic expulsion.”
She frowned slightly but nodded, then continued copying her unfinished notes as if nothing had happened. Saheed must have told her already.
Not long after, Bashir rang the bell for rehearsal.
The sharp sound echoed through the corridors, and students began trooping out of their classes to different rehearsal points for the Christmas party.
“Drama group, outside,” Felix shouted, and the junior students obeyed immediately because they knew his anger had no boundaries.
Before I could even stand up properly, Mrs. Adeoye stopped us. “All of you,” she said, pointing at me, Hameedat, Saheed, George, Jerry and Amira. “None of you are allowed to participate in rehearsal. Go to the conference room and stay there. You have pending punishment”
We exchanged looks but said nothing. At this point, we knew our punishment has started. The boys went to SS3 class but we carried our bags and walked quietly to the conference room. As I pushed the door open, I saw them.
Ahmeed and Wonuola.
His hands were on her waist, her arms around his neck. They were kissing, slow and comfortable, like people who didn’t need to hide.
My heart dropped.
For a second, nobody moved. Then Ahmeed saw us and quickly stepped back, creating a moderate distance between them.
“I thought it’s rehearsal time,” he muttered.
I nodded, and told them that we weren’t allowed to participate.
“Oh! sorry” he whispered as he walked out of the conference room with his girlfriend.
I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes, then we sat on the empty chairs.
“Are you okay?” Amira asked softly.
“I’m fine,” I replied too quickly.
I laughed small, even cracked a joke about how awkward the situation was. I talked like nothing touched me. Like I didn’t care.
But Hameedat knew. She had been in the school of heartbreak long enough to recognize the signs.
“Zara,” she said quietly, shifting closer to me. “You don’t have to pretend.”
I shrugged. “Pretend about what? Ahmeed chose her, and I said we should be friends. So what’s the problem?”
She sighed. “The problem is that your heart didn’t move as fast as your mouth.”
I stayed quiet.
“You were hurt,” she continued. “And that’s okay. But don’t stay there too long.”
She paused, then added, “Look at George. The boy likes you. He dey try. Sometimes, moving on no be because you don love the other person oo na because you choose peace.”
I didn’t answer.
From where we sat, we could hear students laughing at rehearsal outside.
“I pray we are not expelled from school,” Amira said in a quiet voice, the sadness was evident in her voice.
Since this issue started, this is the first time I’ve seen her feel sad and worried. I’m guessing she’s beginning to understand how serious this was.
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