The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Chapter 8: BREAKFAST (II)
School was finally closing for the term, and for the first time since the meeting, everything felt light again. We completed our punishment, were allowed to participate in rehearsal, and by the time the Christmas party arrived, laughter had replaced tension. Music filled the air, students danced freely, and for a moment, all the fear and tears felt far away.
“So what did you decide?” Hameedat and Nafisa asked at the same time, their eyes sparkling with curiosity.
I blushed, lowering my head.
“Yes,” I said softly but excitedly.
They screamed in laughter and excitement, pulling me up from where I stood. Before I could protest, they dragged me and stopped in front of George, in the conference room.
“Enjoy,” Nafisa teased, while Hameedat winked at me. Then they walked away, leaving us alone.
“Hey,” I said, suddenly shy.
“Hey,” George replied with that familiar smile that always made my heart beat faster.
Somehow, agreeing to be in a relationship with him felt easy. He had been patient, kind, and reassuring, especially during my hardest moments. Since school was closing that day, we talked endlessly about everything and nothing at all; holiday plans, memories from the term, silly jokes.
At some point, the noise around us faded. He leaned closer, hesitated for a second, then kissed me softly on my lips.
My heart raced. It was my first kiss, but I kept that to myself. I only smiled, hoping he wouldn’t notice how nervous I was.
As the party continued, Saheed, Gideon and other boys brought alcoholic drinks and smokes. They hid it and took it to SS2 class and were enjoying. I had no idea this was going on until George dragged me to the class. The smoke and liquor smell everywhere showed that they have been smoking and drinking.
“We can get caught” I said but George put a drink in my mouth instead as we cuddled. I decided to enjoy the moment and he began teasing me in a playful way that made me laugh so hard that my stomach hurt. In the middle of my laughter, I noticed Saheed and Hameedat were also cuddling, smoking and drinking.
Within a short time, the classroom was filled with many students, lovers lost in their own little worlds, enjoying each other’s company. The atmosphere felt warm and peaceful, and for once, everything seemed right even though we were indulging in something bad.
I watched Hameedat lean comfortably against Saheed and understood why she couldn’t stay away from him. By the look on her face, she felt safe with him. And thankfully, there was no relationship drama between them, just calm, soft smiles and shared silence.
***
During the break, I must admit that I really missed George. He travelled to the East, but we talked regularly on the phone, which made the distance a little easier to bear.
I heard that Ahmeed’s family would no longer be coming to the school again. Well… too bad for him.
Hameedat and Saheed broke up again. According to rumours, Hameedat cheated this time. Khalid and Nafisa’s relationship wasn’t stable either, mostly because his parents moved far away, even though he would still be returning to school next term.
Francis and Rachel also broke up. Rumour had it that Rachel cheated. So many broken relationships, so many whispered stories.
Now, second term in SS1 starts tomorrow, and for the first time in a long while, I’m actually excited to resume because I’ll finally get to see George again.
School resumed quietly, almost too quietly for my liking. The excitement I had felt the night before faded a little as I walked into the school compound and scanned everywhere for George. Students were reuniting, hugging, laughing, sharing stories from the break, but all I could do was look around, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
“Zara!” Nafisa called out, waving at me from the corridor. Hameedat was beside her, chewing gum and rolling her eyes like she had already had enough of school drama for one day.
“Where is your boyfriend?” Hameedat asked immediately, raising her brows.
“I don’t know,” I replied, trying to sound calm. “He said he’d be around.”
We walked into the class together. Bashir was already ringing the bell for class, shouting at everyone to hurry up and take their seats. The class slowly filled up, but George’s seat remained empty. I tried not to overthink it, reminding myself that resumption days were always chaotic.
During the first lesson, my phone vibrated.
It was a message from George.
"I’m sorry, Zara. I just arrived this morning. I’ll see you tomorrow."
I sighed, disappointed but relieved at the same time. At least he was back.
Break time came, and as usual, the rumours started flying around again. Someone said Hameedat was already talking to a boy from another school.
Someone else claimed Khalid was thinking of changing schools. I listened without commenting. Somehow, everything felt different now. I wasn’t as invested in everyone’s drama like before, but I still needed to be sure. Rumours had a way of twisting the truth, especially when it came to Hameedat.
“So… are you and Saheed really over?” I asked quietly when we were alone. “Have you moved on completely?”
She shrugged, her eyes fixed on the floor. “I still love Saheed, but I want peace of mind.”
I burst into laughter before I could stop myself. They were so not done. She looked at me in confusion, and I quickly apologized, but deep down, I was certain that in less than two weeks, they would be spotted together again, walking hand in hand like nothing ever happened.
“You don’t believe me, right?” she asked.
I nodded. I mean, who would?
“I’m serious, Zara,” she said firmly. “Saheed doesn’t make me happy at all. If I ask to see him, he always has an excuse. If I suggest going over to his place, it’s another excuse. I’m tired. I’m done with his excuses.”
This time, I didn’t laugh.
I was suddenly at a loss for words. I hadn’t seen George throughout the entire holiday, yet I never once thought of breaking up with him. We talked, we reassured each other, and that was enough for now. Listening to Hameedat, I realized that maybe love wasn’t just about feelings; maybe it was also about effort.
I placed my hand over hers. “If you’re really done,” I said softly, “then choose yourself this time.”
She didn’t respond immediately. She just sighed, and that silence told me everything.
Some people say they want peace, but chaos is all they know. And with Hameedat and Saheed, peace had always felt like a temporary break, never the end.
Answer honestly in the comment section, do you believe that Hameedat and Saheed’s relationship is toxic?
Thank you for reading this chapter 📖