Backstabbed |A Ghanaian Novel|

Amma's parents parked at the parking lot of the senior high school she was admitted to. Tema International School, popularly know as TIS. It was one of the biggest private high schools in ghana and most of the rich and affluent parents sent their children there.

Amma and her parents headed to the administration block and made necessary payments. She was in Catherine hostel so she found her housemistress and her dues were paid. Her provisions and other stuff was sent to her room. They were eight girls in her room. 

She went to the car park with her mom and dad to bid them goodbye. Her dad sent her upkeep money to her account since they were allowed to use phones in school.

“Amma, all I have to say is be careful of the people whom you call friends and in everything you do put God first." Her mother advised.

“Baby girl as your mama said, be careful of the choices you make and take care of yourself.” Her dad added as they sat in the car and he drove off.

“Hey, form one student what's your name?" One of the form three girls asked.

“Noëlla Amma Asante." She boldly said.

“Noëlla, you're welcome to TIS, so spell your name with your waist, oya fast.” The girl said as Amma started spelling.

“Oh, Asantewaa, she bi dee bee (Daddy's girl)." Another form three girl added.

“Petra paah, s3 y3 nyinaaa y3 deebee anka y3b3 ba TIS (We are all daddy's girls, would we have been here if we weren't?)". The girl asked letting Amma go with the excuse of going to class.

“Hi, what's your name?” Xtha, a form one girl asked.

“I'm Noëlla and you?” She politely smiled after checking her social media accounts.

“I'm Xtha and this is Kate." She introduced.

“Nice to meet you Noëlla,” Kate added.

“Nice to meet you too Kate, you too Xtha," Noëlla said.

“You girls better hurry to the cafeteria, it's time for dining.” A form two girl said leaving the room as they followed suit because they had no idea where the cafeteria was.

The girls were awed by the enormity of the cafeteria and how beautiful it was.

They were served with garnished jollof rice and huge pieces of chicken. The girls were happy as they started to eat their delicious meal.

“Which programme do you offer?" Kate asked Noëlla as they headed back to their hostel.

“I'm reading general arts. What of you girls?” Emma inquired.

“We are also reading General arts, seems we're in the same class." Xtha happily added.

The next day, the freshers gathered in the Assembly hall for orientation and advice from the school counsellor and their Reverend minister. Noëlla was a devout Christian. 

She attended Christ embassy church at home. After orientation, they were told their studies would begin the next day as they were assigned to their classrooms.

Xtha, Noëlla and Kate headed to the classroom blocks to see where their class was. Xtha and Kate decided to sit together while Noëlla chose to sit in front of them with another person.

“Hi, I'm Brieanna, has anyone taken the seat beside you?" The fair slim beauty asked.

“No, Brieanna, I'm Noëlla by the way." She introduced as Brieanna put her stuff beside Noëlla's. 

“Nice to meet you too Noëlla, and hello to you guys.” She referred to Xtha and Kate as she walked off.

“She seems like a nice person." Noëlla happily said.

“Well, she has this negative aura around her, be careful," Kate advised.

She subbed her as they walked out of the class. They met a couple of their male classmates as they stopped to say hi and then left to get snacks to eat before lunchtime.

Brieanna and Noëlla's friendship had bloomed. There was nowhere you would see Brieanna and not find Noëlla. They were like two peas in a pod. She occasionally hung out with Xtha and Kate but not as much as she did with Brieanna. She had even introduced her to her parents and they liked her. Kate could sense there was something off about Brieanna by the looks she gave her when Noëlla wasn't looking.

She used to tell Xtha, but she didn't seem interested in what she told her so she stopped.

“Hi." Adade, one of her classmates and a handsome guy in her class greeted her as she stood at the tuck shop waiting to get some pastries.

“Hi," Noëlla responded.

“You look beautiful." He flattered.

“Thanks, my dad has told me that already." She added uninterested the moment she noticed the direction of the conversation.

“Noëlla, gu wo ho krakra po err ( Loosen up)" Brieanna nudged her.

“Madam, I'm clearly uninterested in what he has to say, You can stay and talk I'm taking the lead. We'd meet in class." She told her friend as she walked off rolling her eyeballs.

“Calm down Adade, I'd talk to her, she's just stubborn," Brieanna stated.

“Chale, do wild, a dey feel is (Try to do your best, I like her)," Adade said as he joined his group of friends.

Noëlla was almost at the entrance of the class when Brieanna caught up with her.

“Amma, I've been calling you since, you didn't even turn to answer," Brieanna added.

“I didn't hear you." She said almost entering the class when Brieanna held her back.

“You're lying and you know it, I know you just want to avoid talking about what happened at the tuck shop earlier." She said.

“Of course I do because I knew where his conversation was headed. He was going to say he liked me and blah blah blah, which of course I'm clearly not interested." She said as she broke from Brieanna's grip and walked into the class.

This girl paah, do you know how I've been yearning to be noticed by Adade and he did so through you and you want to spoil my plans. You lie bad, I'd do everything in my will for you to accept his proposal. Brieanna said to herself as she walked to her seat.

“Amma, are you alright?" Kate asked as she noticed her friend's foul mood.

“Kate, I'm alright, someone wanted to ruin my day but I'm good." She smiled at her as Brieanna sat down on her seat giving Kate a bitter look.

“Madam, look forward no one mentioned your name," Kate said to her.  Noëlla didn't say a word because she was in no mood to argue with Kate, besides she was right, no one had mentioned Brieanna's name in the conversation they were having.