Things We Left Unsaid

" Viola..." " Coming Mum! I'm almost done!" I grabbed my bag from the chair and quickly checked myself in the mirror one last First days were supposed to usually feel exciting but this one felt different. It was my last first day in Lorentz high school. My final year. The thought sat strangely on my chest. For years, I'd imagined what my final year would be like. I had expectations packed and ready, and this time lateness wasn't going to be one of those things I was known for. I arrived at exactly 6:45am. For once I was early. Maybe too early. After the morning assembly.I headed straight to class with Dami walking beside me. The hallway was already filled with students talking, laughing and complaining about how quickly the holiday had ended. " I'm tired already." Dami muttered. I looked at him." You've been back for less than 10 minutes." " Exactly. That's how you know it's serious." I laughed. That was Dami. He could complain about absolutely anything and still make it funny. Dami had been my best friend and childhood friend for as long as I could remember.He was one person I could call on anytime and I know would show up.He had done things for me that no one else would have done and there were times I wondered what I would have done without him. With Dami there was never a dull moment. As we entered the classroom I dropped my bag beside my seat and looked around. Everything seemed almost the same. The scratched desks. The same noisy classmates. The same windows that never seemed to close properly. But somehow, everything felt different. Maybe because I knew this was the last time. I was still taking everything in when someone caught my attention. A few metres away from my seat stood a boy I had never seen before. He was standing near my classroom door, looking completely unbothered by the noise around him. He was taller than most of the boys in our class, with neatly trimmed hair and a calm expression. I stared for a few seconds longer than I should have. New students didn't Join us in final year. So who was he? I leaned close to Dami. " Who's that? " Dami didn't even look up. " The new boy. " I frowned." I know he's new. I'm asking who he is." He finally glanced in the boy's direction. " How would I know? " I turned to him. " You're the one who called him the new guy. " Dami shrugged. " Well, do he look familiar to you? " I looked at the boy again. " No." " Then there you go." I rolled my eyes. " You're so annoying." " And yet u still talk to me." " Unfortunately." He laughed. Before we could continue.Mr Raymond walked into the classroom and the noise began to die down. " Good morning, everyone." " Good morning, sir." Mr Raymond placed his book on the table and looked around. " I hope everyone had a good holiday." A few students answered enthusiastically. Some didn't bother responding. Mr Raymond sighed. " Alright. since this is your final year, I expect everyone to take things more seriously." Dami leaned towards me. " Here we go." I tried not to laugh. Mr Raymond picked a sheet of paper from his desk. " Before we begin there's someone I'd like to introduce." The room became noticeably quieter. He looked towards the boy standing near the door. " You can come forward." The boy walked to the front of the classroom. I watched him carefully. He didn't look nervous. If anything, he looked like he had done this before. " This is folani Olani." Mr Raymond announced. He will be joining us this term. I expect everyone to make him feel welcome." Folani nodded politely. " Good morning." He walked towards an empty seat while Mr Raymond continued with the day's lesson. I turned my attention back to my desk. Folani. I repeated the name silently. I wasn't sure why it caught my attention. Maybe because he was new. Maybe new students weren't exactly normal in final year. Or maybe I was simply curious. Either way, I didn't think much about it. Not yet. " Take out a sheet of paper." Mr Raymond said. The entire class groaned. I froze. " Sir? " Mr Raymond looked up " Yes? " " But you didn't inform us." someone complained. Several people muttered in disagreement. I heard someone behind me whisper."This man want to kill us on first day." Dami covered his mouth to stop himself from laughing. Mr Raymond shook his head. I sighed and reached for my bag fir a sheet of paper. Apparently, our first day back wasn't going to be peaceful as I hoped. The short test began. I stared at the questions. Then at my paper. Then back at the questions. " This is a joke." Dami whispered. I glanced at him " Focus. " " You're saying that like you understand number three." " I understand it." " Then what is the answer? " I smiled. " Figure it out yourself." He gave me an offended look. " You're a terrible friend." " You'll survive. " I returned to my paper trying to concentrate. For the next five minutes,the classroom became unusually quiet except for the scratching of pen against paper and the occasional sigh from someone who'd clearly regretted coming to school. When the test was finally over. Mr Raymond took the papers. The rest of the lesson passed slowly. By lunch, everyone was already taking about the new student. I pretended not to care. " What's his name again? " one of my classmates asked. Folani. " Where did he come from? " " I don't know." " Is he in our class permanently? " " I think so." I listened without joining the conversation. There was something strange about how everyone quickly noticed him. Maybe because he was new. Maybe because he carried himself differently. I didn't know. And honestly, I wasn't interested enough to find out. At least, that was what I told myself. Later, as everyone picked their bag I finally noticed something that made me pause. Folani had been given a seat right beside mine. I stared at the empty chair. Then at him. Then back at the chair. Seriously? Of all the empty seats in the classroom? How unfortunate. I quickly packed my things, pretending it didn't bother me. I didn't know it then, but that morning would be the beginning of a year I would never forget. Not because of my final year. Not because of exams. And definitely not because of prom. It was because some people were about to walk into my life. People who would change things. People I would grow to love. Still, being a final year student came with it's own pressure. Exams. Graduation. Expectations. There were so many things I wanted to do before leaving Lorentz high school. I wanted to make memories. Real ones. The kind I'd remember years later and still smile about. Then. The bell rang. Finally. Students immediately began rushing out. I slung my bag over my shoulder and looked around for Dami. " Heyyy , Damiii! " I called. He turned around. " Shortie." I rolled my eyes. He had called me that for long that I had stopped trying to make him quit. " I'm heading home let's go." Dami grabbed his bag. " Finally, I thought you'd never ask." We walked out of the classroom together, laughing about the ridiculous test Mr Raymond had given us. I didn't think too much about the boy I had met that morning. I didn't know his arrival would change things I already thought were settled. I didn't know what Folani Olani would become in my story. At that moment, he was just a new boy. And I was just Viola. A final year student trying to make the most of her year. And honestly? I had no idea how quickly everything was about to change.