10. Rumours...

"Nawa o, so I missed like this" Anita said looking bewildered at her friends who updated her on the happenings at school during the weekend that she was absent

"Girl you really missed" Ifechi said chuckling "that fight was mad" she said remembering the fight two boy had over a girl in SS3B "even me sef that don't like all this things I had to go and see for myself" Dami said with her head in the mirror, she had been looking at reflection since she came to school claiming to be dealing with some uninvited "pimple" that has decided to ruin her perfect skin

Anita rolled her eyes at her friend before smiling "Omo sickness na bad thing o". "It's always when you don't come to school that gist go plenty" she said shaking her head

She had missed school for almost the entire previous week, coming only on the first two days before she caught a bad fever and stayed at home

"But guy...Aliya and Tochi" She asked wide eyed

"E still dey shock you abi" Ifechi said giggling, not only them but most people as well hadn't gotten over the fact that Aliya and Tochi, two polar opposites were now a "thing"

"But when did they even start dating?" Anita said asking Ifechi who shrugged 

"I dunno sha, I heard he asked her out since two weeks but she finally accepted on Thursday" she said Anita nodded her head

"Wow." She exclaimed "who would have thought those two would like each other?" She said. Tochi and Aliya were exact opposite, Tochi was a chill person, he was sociable, fun and friendly while Aliya on the other hand was Aliya, the stuck up beauty who didn't bother to be nice to anyone she didn't relate with

"Aswr....now they're doing couple things" Ifechi said sniffling jokingly "Lord when will my own come?" She said holding a handkerchief to her face and looking at the ceiling in a playful manner

"See this one talking" Dami joked "God has given you two sef and you're complaining" she added, Anita opened her mouth in fake surprise facing a red Ifechi

"Ahh two kwa Ify!! Who and who abeg" she said amusingly

"I dont know what she is talking about, Dami who and who please?" Ifechi said turning to the mirror goddess behind her

"Ah..you're asking me, Damien and Pedro na"  she replied smugly, Anita turned to Ifechi in surprise

"Ok Damien fine, I get that we are friends" Ifechi started emphasizing the 'friends' when she caught her friend staring at her 

"...but Pedro? Come on na" she whined "have you even seen me talking to him since that day?" She added

"Ehen na, didn't you talk to him the day he lent you his jacket and the day after?" Dami said 

"Yes but that was to further thank him for his unexpected act of kindness" she whispered the last part throwing a look at Pedro's seat, thankfully he wasn't in his seat, she scanned her eyes across the room, he was sitting on a desk at the far end of the class cornered up with his 'guys' and it seemed like they were all looking at something Jimmy was holding. As if noticing her stare he turned back and their eyes met. He smirked a little and  she looked away immediately blushing slightly and focused her attention to the two girls sitting behind her.

"Ok o, but you sha know that he likes you?" Dami asked looking at her, she shook her head

"I doubt he does"

"Doubt what, only a guy who likes you will offer to lend you his clothe when he knows he could get in trouble for it." Dami spoke finally closing her compact mirror and putting it in her purse leaning in slightly to give her full attention on Ifechi

"True. And if it were someone othe guy like Jude or Mike , I would have said there were just being kind but Pedro? Nah, he definitely has something for you" Amina cut it speaking for the first time. They barely noticed her presence. All of them turned to her

."Exactly!" Dami chipped in

"Why is Pedro any different?" Ifechi questioned glancing shortly to the tall handsome boy at the opposite end

"Because he isn't nice" Anita answered  plainly

Ifechi thought for a moment 

"True sha.." she said. Before he had lent her his jacket, they'd never really talked and ever since she sat close to him, that was a clear sign that he wasn't really sociable

"Well...at least you know you have two guys after you" Dami said winking, Ifechi rolled her eyes before facing Anita

"But you know Damien and I aren't anything o" she said facing her friend

"Why do I care?" Anita said sharply regretting her actions when she saw the expression on their faces

"I mean...it's not like it's my business, if you guys want to date, I don't have a say in that" she added staring at her desk unwilling to meet their eyes

Dami and Amina turned to Ifechi and gave her a look that said 'youre not telling us something'

"We and Damien can't be anything because Anita likes him" she explained softly. Anita's eyes shot up and glared at Ifechi who just shrugged "they had to know so that they'll stop teasing me na"

Dami rolled her eyes, a smug grin on her face

"Anita didn't even tell us she now has a crush o" Amina said breaking the short silence 

"Abiiiii" Dami squealed "but Damien though, I thought you went with the likes of Toluwani, gentle and smart" she said nudging her friend who rolled her eyes smiling

"Shun me joorh" 

.......

"I have an announcement oo" Naomi hollered across the room

"What happened ?" 

"This is for those offering further maths" she said and immediately caught the attention of the few students offering the subject which included Temi, Mike, Ifechi, Grace and surprisingly Aliya. Other students went back to their business with few curious ones still focused on the class prefect.

"Your teacher Mrs Annabel is on leave" She said 

"Praiiissseee the lord!" Aliya sang out dramatically "

Ifechi rolled her eyes.

"Don't get so excited Aliya" Naomi said imitating Ifechi's eye roll "you have a substitute" she said

"Ooooooimmmm" Aliya drawled out "which kind rubbish one be this now?" She asked no one in particular

"I think it's pathetic that the absence of our further maths teacher pleases you so much" Grace spat at her friend

"What is the meaning of that one now?" Aliya said eyeing Grace who picked on her long nails nonchalantly

"Nothing, just saying" she shrugged not caring whatsoever

"Mtcheww" Aliya hissed eyeing her friend. Everyone watched waiting for an argument to start between the two girls but unfortunately nothing happened. Turning to the class prefect, the fair girl spoke up

"So any idea on who our new teacher is?" She asked 

"Nope, all our form teacher said is when it's time for your class, you should all go to the old staff room" she said and went to her seat. 

The old staff room was a small room that was formerly occupied by junior teachers but now used for some classes which few students offered like Further maths and technical drawing. It was Aliya's least favourite place to be 

Aliya sighed in dissapointment and focused her attention on the romance novel on her desk

Ifechi turned back to her physics text book to continue reading when she felt the urge to urinate so she stood up and rushed out of class .

"Good afternoon senior Ifechi" one junior greeted. Ifechi responded with a smile then the junior ran off giggling, Ifechi was pretty popular not only with her mates but also the juniors. Everyone knew the light skinned beauty with brains and a good character to match. To most people, Ifechi was the definition of "perfect"

Not all though.

"You cannot watch where you're going!" A female voice shrieked, she had bumped into someone at the corner that let to the bathroom.

"I'm sorry" Ifechi said not wanting any trouble plus she was still pressed, she moved to go when the girl drew her back harshly. Ifechi stared at the girl furiously, she recognised her from the other SS3 arm but didn't know her name.

What was it with her bumping into people?

"I said sorry na" Ifechi half yelled attracting a few stares from the people walking down the corridor, it was almost period over and she just wanted to urinate and return to class. She had Futher maths next

"I can see that ya mad" the girl said eyeing her. Ifechi rolled her eyes, she wasn't one to insult or fight she preferred avoiding quarrels so she did was she thought was best, ignore her.

Wrong move

"So just because you're f*cking Pedro you think can now raise shoulder and push people anyhow abi?" The girl blurted making Ifechi who was about to open the door to the toilet pause and turn back with a look of anger and perplexion. The girl satisfied with the reaction turned and walked away. Ifechi stood there for a still minute before opening the door.

.........

"She said what!" Anita shouted causing a few eyes to turn their way

"Anita calm down na...see how you're shouting" Amina said. The four girls were seated on a pavement outside their class building since they had a free period. The school had given them a second short break called "extension" which they were supposed to read but trust SS3 students to use it as they want. Ifechi was gisting them about what had happened the previous day on her way to the toilet.

"Nawa o" Amina said. She was now comfortable with Ifechi and joined in their conversations more often. Dami and Anita noticed this and were happy because Amina was a really shy person and it took her time to make friends. The only people she really ever talked to was the three of them.

"I just don't understand, is that how everyone sees me now? The girl who is "you-know-what" Pedro" she said air quoting the swear word which she refused to pronounced. She wasn't a big fan of using swear words

"No, of course not" Anita replied

"Yes we def don't see you like that, infact anyone that says that is an idiot. How can they be judging you like that, you and Pedro don't even rappo much sef. It was just that little act" Amina answered while Anita nodded. Dami just kept quiet twirling one of her black woolen braids in her hand, something she did when she was thinking. The school was strict about using attachments on hair. The only two they allowed was wool and rubber thread. No other hair extensions were allowed, most girls either wore their hair low or made it with wool. Very few people wore their natural hair and it was very rare to see people who used thread, at least in the senior classes.

"I hope so o, like it's just sudden and very confusing Asin how sef? Who started the rumour" Ifechi asked nervously, she had never been one to get involved in rumours not to talk of being the center piece of the rumour itself especially this kind. 

Given that she had gone to an all girl's boarding school previously, Ifechi was what you could describe as naive. She wasn't entirely clueless or timid but she didn't have any experience when it came to relationships with the opposite sex

"You better tell Pedro" Amina said and all their heads snapped to her in confusion

"Tell him what abeg" Anita shot at her making the girl to regret her statement

"Sorry o, I just thought he had to know...you know? What people are saying about both of you. Who knows if he's even the one that started it" she said 

"Amina may be right" Dami said speaking for the first time for a while "by the way, what did you say the girl's name is sef?" She asked

"I don't even know, all I know she's kind of fair, not too tall around my height, has long lashes and one birth mark here" Ifechi said gesturing to the top side of her upper lip under  her nose where the girl had a black beauty mark.

"Hmmm" Dami said thinking.."is she making hair?" 

"Yes" Ifechi replied

" woolOr natural?" 

"Natural"

"Wait ..is her hair long like very long?" Anita cut in

"Yes yes very long and her hair colour is a mixture of brown and black" Ifechi said quickly

"Henrietta" Dami and Amina said at the same time and chuckled slightly at their simultaneous answer.

Henrietta was one of the very pretty girls in SS3B, she was very beautiful and it was often rumoured that she was a half caste. Unfortunately, she was rude like most pretty girls and loved to brag about how she would become a supermodel. A lot of people didn't take her seriously though, they knew her parents would not even allow it. They also heard that her father, who was a pastor didn't even allow her to wear makeup or make her hair with any extensions which was why she wore her hair naturally.

Dami knew her because she had encountered her several times. Being a sassy girl herself, she (Dami) didn't spare people like her a chance and served them trouble anytime they looked for it. Amina knew her because she was one of the numerous people that ran for the social prefect post but unfortunately hung.

"Why won't she say such?" Dami said still laughing slightly. "Na jealousy dey kill am...everyone knows her and Pedro used to date in SS2 before they broke up, she sha still likes him" she added

"Wow..." Ifechi exclaimed "no wonder aunty hates me, I was wondering what I did to her" she said laughing, the three girls joined

"Why did they break up though and like when" she inquired

"She dumped Pedro after he caught her cheating" Anita said and Ifechi gasped dramatically earning an eyeroll from her friend

"Maddo, with who?" Ifechi asked 

"I dunno I heard she slept with his elder brother" Anita said and Ifechi's mouth hung in shock

"Maaaadddddoooooooo" she drawled out laughing , a few annoyed students around sent her glares

"I'm telling you" Dami said shaking her head.

"Let's be going to class sha" Dami said and they all got up.