5. Are Y*u blind?

"Samuel give me my book na...." Sarah, a shy, quiet girl in the class whined while the clown just kept running around in circles with his hand up while she chased him and tried to retrieve her belonging.

As usual, Anita rolled her eyes

The class was half empty as most people had gone out for break probably to the tuck shop, Ifechi and Amina were out too while Dami was on her desk heavily engrossed in a romance novel she had been reading since..

Novel freak

It had been over two weeks since school resumed which meant school work was back in full swing, teachers hardly missed their periods anymore and homeworks were just pilling up anyhow. Anita sighed as she remembered an essay she had to write for English but luckily it wasn't due till the coming week, she also had ten pages of workbook to do for agric and a painful handful of biology note to complete

Yup, school had really started

School being in full swing also meant that now everyone had resumed. Everyone including him

Him. 

He resumed the second week Tuesday along with the rest of his gang. Walking in looking as gorgeous as ever, Anita remembered how knotted her stomachs went, and how butterflies cuddled in her stomach when she felt his scent brush over my nostrils.. sounds.

Cliche!

Damien Chukwuma Ojukwu was Anita's crush since  JSS1. She stopped crushing on him for a while in SS1 when a half caste named John joined her class but after the term, John vanished and she was back to Damien. 

Damien was the typical every girls'crush. Tall, muscular and extremely handsome. His complexion was a mixture of brown and white, not too fair but not dark either. He was a perfect combination of good looks and a great body.

To finish his bad boy looks he now had a small beard which was still growing softly on his chiseled jaw and his eyes were grey in color giving him a mysterious and dangerous look

Just how she liked it

As much as she liked Damien, she was too much of a coward to admit it to him and the fact that many other girls in my class who she thought were more beautiful than she was were also into him didn't make it any better. Another heartbreaking fact that he was in the other arm SS3B and so she couldn't see him everytime like she wanted. He usually only came to her arm sometimes to hang with his buddies which included the likes of Josh and Mike.

"Come this girl are you blind?" A voice jolted her out of my imagination, she looked at the entrance of the class only to meet Aliya, one of the she devils shouting at someone.

"Mtchew" she sighed and turned to Dami who chuckled and also went back to her book. Everybody knew Aliya and her wahala, not only her though. The three she-devils loved to cause drama and seek for attention but out of the trio, Aliya was the worse. She was a rude and proud girl who always found fault in everyone and laughed at their flaws. Anita had to admit that she was a very attractive girl but just because she was beautiful didn't mean she could bully other people, sometimes she felt that Grace was even better than her.

The way none of her classmates seemed unfazed at the girls scream was clear evidence that were used to her drama. What they did not expect however was that the object of her tantrums turned out to be new girl in class. 

"I said are you blind?...just look at how you poured your useless Fanta on me" She complained again, their eyes darted to Ifechi who was now closing a bottle of Fanta, from the slight orange stain on her upper lip and some parts of her neck one could tell she must have been drinking the soda before bumping into Aliya accidentally spilling the liquid on her uniform

"Ah ah na I said I'm sorry" Ifechi apologized now wiping some of the juice off her own body

"Sorry kill you there.." Aliya interjected angrily "see my uniform now, is it what you expect me to wear for the rest of the day" she ranted. Anita looked at the orange patch on her light blue shirt.

"Mtchew, it's not even that big" she murmured to herself. The stain was evident but it was obvious that Aliya was exaggerating.

"Ah ah Aliya it's ok na, she has said sorry" Jide, one guy started to say but the eye Aliya gave him was enough to shut his mouth.

"See Aliya, I'm sorry this happened but it was a mistake from both of us, you also weren't watching where you were going"  Ifechi stated and started to walk towards her seat but this only enraged Aliya the more as she dragged her back and snatched the now closed Fanta from her hand before emptying the whole content on Ifechi's body

"Are you mad?" Ifechi shrieked while Aliya only smirked "now you know how it feels" she said happily fulfilled, now everybody eyes was on the drama that was unfolding at the entrance of the class, even some junior students that were passing the corridor  stopped to look 

"Now you know how what feels?.. are you even psych? I said sorry and you still had to revenge...it's not as if I opened the bottle intentionally and poured my Fanta on you" Ifechi said in a rush almost breathless at the time she was done, anyone could see the anger rising in her voice and an expression as if she wanted to cry

"You're just a fool, next time you'll watch where you're going" Aliya hissed at her before sauntering out of class. Ifechi stood there for a minute still examining the large orange blotch on her formerly clean uniform before sighing. Amina, who they didn't realise was standing beside her came and hugged her slightly murmuring some things probably consolation, some students joined her to console Ifechi while others just went back to their business.

Ifechi rubbed her hand over shirt in a futile attempt before walking down with a nylon with what she assumed contained her snacks. 

"Sorry iyee" Anita said

"It's ok, thanks" she replied before sitting down on her chair in front of Dami

"That Aliya girl is just possessed" Dami blurted out "imagine, upon you told her sorry o...if it's me na slap I for slap her let that her rubbish head reset" Dami said and Amina and Anita burst into a fit of giggles while Ifechi just smiled at her

"She was looking for fight, I didn't want to give her the satisfaction" Ifechi stated now fully recovered, she brought out her navy blue blazer which they all had but rarely used and put it on using it to cover the orange stain on her blue shirt. Dami just snorted "you're still forming peace peace. This girl you're good o" she said and the girls nodded in agreement, how can Ifechi just have stayed there without doing anything

It was a shame that the rest of their classmates stayed there and did nothing too 

Everyone liked to mind their business

Right from the day Ifechi entered, she had never gotten in trouble with anyone. She seemed to get along with everybody in the class and even those from the other arm. 

The only person that seemed not to like her and didn't bother hiding it was Aliya and knowing how badly she behaved, anyone could easily see that it was not Ifechi's fault. Maybe it was because of what Ifechi said to her on the first day but then again wasn't it Aliya that looked for trouble first?

"Funmi it's break over o" someone stated and everyone turned to glare at her. It was Temi, the smartest girl in our class A.K.A serious student. She always came first in class with Mike or Toluwani towing behind

She was also the type of student that'll go looking for a teacher if he or she didn't come to teach and it wasn't a surprise that she's most of the teacher's favourite student and pet.

"Bia Temi wetin dey do you sef?" Kayode, a brown skinned teenager muttered "Asin ehh" other people chipped in but Temi just ignored them and turned to the fair girl who was the punctuality prefect 

"Funmi go and ring the bell, it's break over or should I do it for you?" She queried, funmi was about getting up when Kayode shot up again 

"Come Temi crase dey worry you for head? Which kin over Sabi sabi be this na. In never even clock 12" he lashed out at her but the girl simply ignored him and continued to pack her books.

"It's 11:59 o, before she read the bell now it'll knack 12" was all she said before getting up with her books and leaving the class. As if on cue some people started entering the class probably aware that break was over. 

"Jesus we are having biology next o" someone shouted and the rest of the class sprung up in alarm. 

"Ah ah what's going on?" Ifechi asked

"We are having biology practical today " Anita replied

"Oooh" she drew out quietly still taking her time to arrange her locker whilst others were running helter skelter. Anita had already brought out her book and was struggling to do the zipper of her bag

"Better hurry to the lab o" Dami said chuckling

"Why is this one laughing?" Anita scowled at her which made her laugh more. Dami was one of the few people that did not offer Biology, it was compulsory for all science students but luckily for her, she was an art student. She and the other art students usually went to the other arm when they had clashing subjects like physics and government but we all had the general subjects like maths and English together. Sometimes Anita wondered why they didn't just assign one arm to science and the other to art.

'and what of commercial students nko?' Her subconscious always asked but she shrugged it off saying they also belonged in art. In a way, she was partially happy because if art was in a different class then her and Dami would be separated.

"See this one, shey it's me that told you to do science" she said eyeing her playfully, she just rolled my eyes

The three turned to start running to the lab with Amina already ahead.

"Why is everybody running like this?" Ifechi chuckled. She towed behind jogging slowly without a care in the world, Anita looked at her bewildered before the realization hit her that Ifechi was still new to the school

"Mr Bayo, our biology practical teacher is a mad man"  was all she said before continuing her race 

The students always thought it was funny how the school had two different teachers for each subject practicals. That is, the teacher who taught you the subject in class is different from the one who did the practicals so each class had a separate teacher for normal biology class and practicals as well as chemistry, physics and computer.

In Anita's  opinion, it was absurd. Its easier to keep up and continue from where you stopped if you have the same teacher but the school administration said this method was preferable as some teachers would use the practical period to cover up their notes.

Which was true 

They reached the entrance of the mini hall that had the "Biology Laboratory* inscribed on a blue plate boldy above the door. Luckily, they entered just in time before Mr Bayo A.K.A maddest alighted from his mini office by the side of the hall.  With his signature scowl and his practical manual on the other hand

Shit!

Amina muttered to herself as she realised that she had forgotten hers while rushing. She moved her stool closer to Ifechi so that they could share when someone's voice shot up

"Class greet"

"Good afternoon Mr Bayo" they said in unison. Just like the principal, Mr Bayo was strict about them calling him "sir", he said it made him feel old and being a man in his late 30s, Its understandable.

" Good afternoon, open your manual to chapter 7. As we all know your external exams will be coming up next year so we will start doing practicals that are more likely to come out in your exams" he stated and they nodded in understanding

"We will begin with Osmosis" he started. "Who will define osmosis for me?" He asked and Temi instantly shot up her hand

*Rolls eye*

But instead of picking her, My Bayo eye scanned the hall before reaching Anita's side

No please no, please no   she prayed silently. It's not as if she didn't know the answer, infact she did but answering questions have never been her thing especially with scary teachers like this man. 

"You there" he said pointing towards her direction, goosebumps suddenly creeped up her body

Oh no.

She stood up slowly but Ifechi stood up at the same time and that was when she realised he was referring to her instead

Thank God she breathed settling back on the lab stool

"Osmosis can be defined as..." She started but he cut her off

"Hold on...are you new?" He said scanning her from head to toe,  his eyes roaming on her face squinting a little since they sat at the 4th row

"Yes sir" she replied

"Hmmm ....since when did they start admitting students in SS3" he said and it didnt surprise anyone, every  teacher asked the same question and they were sure Ifechi was getting tired already 

"What's your name?"

"Ifechi" she replied, he scowled at her

"Full name please..."he stated "and answer it correctly like a student of this great institution" he added sternly

Ifechi let out a small breathe before replying

"My name is Ifechi Stephanie Okereke "

"Good" he said then squinting his eyes again he asked

"And what's that orange map on your shirt?" Everyone's eyes went to Ifechi. Even with the blazer, the orange blotch was still noticeable as the blazer had a low neck line

"Someone poured Fanta on my cloth" she replied. 

"Who is that careless person?" Mr Bayo asked harshly with a look of disdain on his face. If there was one thing everyone knew about him, he hated clumsy students 

Anita glanced over to Aliya who looked as if she had a ghost. She smiled at the thought of what Mr Bayo would do to her if Ifechi exposed her but to her dissapointment Ifechi responded

"It was a junior student but It was a mistake and she apologized" the lie rolled off her tongue smoothly as if she had rehearsed it. Anita, Amina and the rest of thier classmates that were in class when the incident happened turned to her in shock but didn't say anything

"Hmm ..ok, be careful next time" he advised while Ifechi just nodded

"So do define osmosis for us" he said moving back to the subject

"Osmosis can be defined as the movement of water molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration through a semi permeable membrane" she said and he marvelled at how smoothly the answers came out of her mouth

"Brilliant!" Mr Bayo said clearly impressed.

The rest of the class went off in a breeze, they did some experiments with salt water, pawpaw, sugar water and some chemicals.

After school Anita and Amina walked up to Ifechi, she was copying some notes.

"Ife" Anita called out in front of her desk where she was scribbling at a very fast rate. She peered up at the two girls before smiling softly and returning to her work.

"What's up?"

"Why did you lie during biology?" Amina asked straight forwardly not wanting to waste time. She was even surprised at how confident she sounded.

"My dear..." She stopped writing before looking at them tiredly "I really didn't have that strength" she said

"Strength to do what?" Anita asked one brows up. Which one is strength again

"You know na.." her voice was stressed and one could tell she was itching to go back to her work "ok wait, if I had said the truth now, what would have happened?" She asked 

The two thought for a second before Anita replied "I dunno, maybe he would have punished her" she replied refering to Aliya

"Ehen, then what?" Ifechi blurted "it'll na cause one kin useless hatred" She replied "besides I'm not a kid" she added

"Ok o" she said giving up although a part of her wanted to push it. What did Ifechi mean by useless hatred, it was already clear that Aliya didn't like her from day one or was she now scared of her

Was Ifechi scared of Aliya? Anita thought 

"Anyhow sha bye bye" Anita said after a while getting up to leave

"Bye dear" she replied her eyes now focused on her book while her hand was writing furiously, for a second The two girls marvelled at how fast she was writing and that too how neatly her handwriting turned out to be despite the speed.

Without another word they trotted out of the class to the school gate.

Another chapter done. Please comment and share. Thanks