8. An unexpected Gentleman

"Ifechi"

"Ifechi"

"Ifeeccchhiii!!!" A loud shriek came from the parlour. Ada, Ifechi's older sister whom she shared a bed with groaned loudly before turning to shake Ifechi violently, annoyed that her sleep had been interrupted because of her and she still wasn't awake

"Ehn ehn" Ifechi said sluggishly, the sleep still in full control

"Wake up, mummy is calling you." She simply stated and went back to sleep. She was in federal university but was at home due to the 2 months strike ASUU (Academic staff of university union or so) had decided to embark on

"Ohm ohm..what is it now" Ifechi whined itching to return to her sweet dream about a certain someone at her school..

School.

She quickly jumped down from the bed realising it was a school day when her mother walked in on cue 

"Ifechinonyerem" her mother hollered her full name, something she rarely did except it was serious

"Mummy good morning" Ifechi mumbled to noone while stretching, her eyes still sleepy as she caught the time on her rubber watch and her eyes widened at what the digital machine read

7:30am!! 

The sleep came off at an instant as she sprang to her full height grabbing her toothbrush from the side table and rushing to the bathroom. 10 minutes later she was slipping on her uniform rushing to the parlour as she fought with her skirt button.

"Ifechi, look at the time you're waking up" her mother barked at her coming in from the kitchen dressed in her normal gown ready for work. She was a fair woman of average height in her mid 40s who worked as an administrator at a small school in a neighbouring town and still managed to balance her homely duties well, something Ifechi admired her for

"Mummy good morning, I've finished dressing already" she said settling down on their little dining table by the end of the sitting room

"Ehh good morning" her mother replied eyeing her daughter strictly "Oya go and take bread and be drinking tea fast, it's almost 8am...you'll surely be late for school" the woman said and grabbed the keys to her small car leaving for work.

The Okereke's were an average family of seven, living in a 3 bedroom apartment. Having 5 children including Ifechi, meant that 2 people got to share a room except the last born who stayed with the parents. The rooms weren't very big and Ifechi always found herself complaining about the minimum space. In her opinion, the room was meant for a small child so sharing it with a grown teenager herself didn't appeal to her.

However, she knew her parents were trying her best to cater for them and so she had to be grateful that she had a place to lay her head, no matter how uncomfortable it seemed. After all, she had gotten quite used to it.

Ifechi drank the remnants of her tea in hurry cursing herself silently for sleeping at midnight because she was chatting with her best friends

Grabbing her bag, she entered back into her room, packed her books she had read the previous evening that were scattered around tje floor beside the mattress and stuffed them into her bag wearing it to start her journey. She didn't worry about collecting snack money from her mother because she had change from the previous day. She opened the door and stepped out into the corridor when the realisation hit her

"Shit!" She muttered gazing at her uniform remembering what day it was, it was a Wednesday which means they had P.E. Ifechi wasn't one to swear but she couldn't help the anger and frustration that overclouded her 

She had to change uniforms

Rushing into the house she threw her bag on the sofa in the living room and ran to her room throwing open the wardrobe door and grabbing the tracksuit on the hanger and banging the door shut before hurriedly pulling off her uniform throwing her skirt on the bed and trying to pull her shirt without doing the buttons when she heard a snap

' Eek' she shrilled when one of the buttons went flying up

"Bia wetin dey do you sef" her sister scolded at her "why all this rubbish noise" she questioned further

"Sorry" was all Ifechi said not sparing her a glance unwilling to witness her sisters furious face in her bid to hurry. She quickly slipped on the blue tracksuit throwing on the white shirt before tucking it in and tying the blue rope on her trouser in a bid to tighten the waistband

"Omo this you people's uniform fine o" Ada drawled sleepily. It was the first time she saw her sister wearing the tracksuit her new "elite" school had given them.

"Thank you" Ifechi said looking around in search of her trainers 

"Ohmm...where did I keep that shoe now?" She said her eyes roaming the room impatiently

"Are you looking for your canvas?" Her sister asked her. Ifechi felt the urge to reply her sarcastically but she didn't have the time so she nodded instead

"It's in the backyard corridor, I washed it day before yesterday" her sister said now fully awake sitting by the edge of the bed 

"Oh my Gosh thank you" was all Ifechi said running out of the room

"I didn't scrub it for you o, it was for myself sha"  her sister said laughing "I wanted to wear it to go out today, I didn't even know it was your own" she added but Ifechi was already gone. Shaking her head at her little sisters behaviour, she got up from the bed to do her daily activities

........

"Oya kneel down" Jude said to two ss1 boys who were just making their way into the school compound. They obeyed and found a spot beside their fellow latecomers.

It was 7:50am and the school's assembly had already started. Jude, Naomi, Pedro and some of the other assigned prefects wandered the school compound, some waiting for the late comers, some at specific destinations especially class to make sure no one remained in class while the assembly was going on while the rest were at the assembly coordinating the students.

"Senior Naomi, it's my mother that...." A girl  started to explain to the but the assistant senior prefect cut him off

"Save it for Mr Winifred" he muttered and held back his laughter when he saw the expression on the girl's face go sour

"when he's done with you people, you'll start coming to school by 5am"

"Senior please..." Some of the students started to plead at the mention of the stern teachers name but Jude ignored them

"Senior Jude please I'm not feeling fine, my temperature was high this morning if they flog me I fit die" one of the boys tried begging earning a few chuckles from his friends kneeling with him but the prefects weren't having it already used to the lies that most junior students said in a futile attempt to escape punishment

Everyone feared Mr Winifred's cane and for good reason. One stroke from him and your buttocks would be on fire for at least 3 days. Pedro could not hold back his laughter when he saw the fearful expression the junior boys face

"Ah ah guy why you dey laugh" Jude said staring at Pedro who just laughed the more

"See in face na" the sports prefect replied still laughing at the poor boy who looked like he wanted to cry

"This one that is not wearing his jacket where is it?" Naomi asked a boy on low afro cut who looked around confused

"It's you I'm talking to" she said poking his head slightly irritated at his indifference

"I forgot.....um no, my maid was ironing it and she mistakenly burnt it" the boy stuttered while the prefects just shook their head

"You cannot iron your own uniform shey?" Jude asked unamused that most students depended on their maid to do things for them. Though from a well to do background himself, Jude was a boarder since his jss3 which made him independent

"...my mother said he will buy a new one before Friday" the boy continued nonchalantly

"Hmm...guy wetin you go do this one?" Tochi, one of the prefects from the second arm called out to the sports prefect, he stood lazily against a wall and hadn't said a thing till then

"Nothing o..." Pedro replied and the boy breathed a sigh of relief before he added "na master Segun go handle them today" and the boys expression turned sour again. Mr Segun was the sports master and he had zero tolerance for incomplete uniform. Even though the tracksuit jacket was unnecessary as they never used it during P.E, the school still insisted on everyone wearing the complete uniform to school

"Senior please..I'll wear it on Friday, I promise I'll even come to your class and show you" the boy pleaded looking at Pedro

"Oh so now you can beg? I though you were forming bros J" Naomi said and Pedro shook his head smiling to himself

"See this ones" Naomi giggled motioning to the gate were Jide, Tunde and some other ss3 boys were entering the school gates looking out for teachers before making a run for it

"Run o, make wini no catch you" Pedro yelled after their running figure laughing at his mates who turned slightly glaring at him before racing to the class building not wanting to be caught by any teacher. Just then a running Ifechi slipped into the school gate as well greeting the security who smiled at her before making her way to her classmates

"Don't tell me I have to kneel down" she joked 

"Nope, but you do have to wear your tracksuit jacket" Jude replied taking in  her appearance. Her white shirt clung nicely to her body and her trouser though free, was tight at her hips slightly making her curves obvious 

"Shit..." Ifechi said swearing unwillingly for the second time that day "I left it at home o" she muttered cussing herself for being so careless

"Hmm.. make Segun no see you o" Tochi said taking in the eye candy in front of him not bothering if he was noticeably checking her out

"Tochi..." Pedro mocked slapping the back of his head slightly

"Guy..." The boy turned to glare at the sports prefect

"Is it that important?..." Ifechi interrupted "I forgot it when I was busy hurrying to school" she said frustrated throwing her left hand over her head 

"Very important" Naomi said motioning to the junior students who were all clad in their complete tracksuit except the boy in the afro hair cut

"Oohmmm" Ifechi drawled out "What do I do now" she said exhaustingly "I'll never sleep late again" she muttered 

"It's ok..you can take mine" a deep voice said chuckling she looked up to see Pedro taking off his jacket, her eyes widened on disbelief

"Are you serious?" She asked still surprised

"Yes na" he said stretching his hand to her, his blue jacket which had his white initials printed on it in full display

"Omo guy...you wan give out your jacket...you know say you be sports prefect abi?" Tochi said in pidgin staring at his friend like he had just grown two heads

"Aswr...imagine the look on Segun's face when you sees you without your jacket on" Jude added while the everyone watched in disbelief including the junior students not expecting the sudden act of kindness from the ever scowling sports prefect

"Don't worry about that one, I know how to handle him..." he drew out lazily still holding his hand out to the pretty senior beside him 

"Ok na.." Tochi and Jude chorused 

"They're right you don't have to give me, I don't want to get you in trouble" Ifechi said not used to this kind of gesture

"Don't worry about it, just take" Pedro said gesturing to his hand

"But..." Ifechi started to say 

"My hand don dey pain me o...You go take am or not?" He interrupted trying his best to look at her face  and not her body which he had to admit sent small shivers down his body

"Um sorry.." Ifechi stuttered taking the jacket from him "thank you" she replied still staring at him in shock

"Wear am na" Naomi mocked enjoying the subtle display of affection between her mates. Ifechi sent her a brief look before dropping her bag on Naomi's hand, slipping on the jacket, it was huge on her but not in an unflattering way and a sweet masculine scent immediate enveloped her. She felt the urge to sniff it but decided to hold herself.

"E fit you o" Pedro said smiling taking in the look of the pretty girl in his clothes who blushed slightly

"See how she's blushing" Jude said laughing and Tochi joined him making Ifechi's cheek heat up even more, she tore her eyes from Pedro looking anywhere but his handsome face, Naomi shook her head smiling. The junior students just stared on starting to enjoy the small love show

"Nawa o, I don dey smell love in the air" Tochi mocked

"Shut up joorh " Pedro said but it didn't stop the smile from making its way to his face

"Thank you very much" Ifechi said glancing at him shyly before collecting her bag and swinging it on her shoulder

"I'll see you....um all of you in class then" she stuttered shyly throwing a last look at the handsome boy who had just saved her before walking off smiling for the first time that morning.......