NEW FACES
648 Words
Chapter 2
The sting on my cheek hadn't disappeared.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Mom's hand hitting me.
Twice.
I gently touched my cheek and rested my forehead against the danfo window as the bus moved through the busy streets.
Why was she protecting Desmond?
What secret was so important that she was willing to suffer for him?
"Kemi!"
I looked up.
Vanessa, Lisa, and Linda were standing at the bus stop, waving at me.
My best friends.
"Hurry!" I called.
They climbed into the bus and sat beside me.
Lisa frowned the moment she looked at my face.
"Kemi... what happened to your cheek?"
I forced a small smile.
"It's nothing."
Vanessa shook her head.
"Don't lie to us."
Linda gently held my chin and looked at the mark on my cheek.
"Who did this?"
I sighed.
"My mom."
The three of them stared at me in shock.
"What?" Vanessa asked.
"Why would she do that?" Lisa said softly.
I looked out of the window.
"I defended her."
They waited quietly as I told them everything that had happened that morning.
When I finished, no one spoke for a few seconds.
Vanessa finally broke the silence.
"I don't understand your mom."
"Neither do I," I replied.
Lisa held my hand.
"We're here for you, okay?"
I smiled weakly.
"Thanks."
Vanessa brought out a small compact mirror.
"Cover the mark before everyone starts asking questions."
I carefully applied some powder to my cheek.
Linda smiled.
"Much better."
The school gate came into view.
I took a deep breath.
"Let's go."
---
In Class
Students were chatting loudly when the classroom door opened.
The room became quiet.
Mrs. Beatrice walked in.
Our Chemistry teacher.
And my aunt.
"Good morning, class."
"Good morning, ma."
"I hope everyone is ready to learn today."
A few students nodded.
She smiled.
"We have four new students joining us today."
The classroom door opened again.
Four boys walked inside.
Almost every girl's eyes followed them.
They looked confident, but none of them seemed interested in the attention.
"Introduce yourselves," Mrs. Beatrice said.
The first boy stepped forward.
"My name is Kayode."
He spoke calmly and confidently.
The second boy smiled.
"I'm Tony."
The third folded his arms with a lazy grin.
"Charlie."
The last one gave the class a small wave.
"And I'm Maxwell."
"You may sit anywhere," Mrs. Beatrice said.
Kayode walked toward the empty seat beside me.
For a second, our eyes met.
He gave me a polite nod before sitting down.
Charlie sat beside Linda.
Tony sat beside Vanessa.
Maxwell sat beside Lisa.
My friends exchanged excited looks.
I almost laughed.
Before Mrs. Beatrice could begin the lesson, a girl walked confidently toward us.
Luna.
One of the richest and most popular girls in school.
She stopped beside Kayode's desk.
"Hi."
Kayode looked up.
"I'm Luna."
He nodded once.
"So?"
She smiled confidently.
"I think we should get to know each other."
"Why?"
"Because we'd look good together."
A few students laughed quietly.
Kayode closed his notebook.
"I came here to study."
Luna's smile faded.
"You don't know who I am."
"I don't need to."
"My parents own one of the biggest gold mining companies in the city."
Kayode remained calm.
"My name is Kayode CNBL."
The classroom became silent.
"I'm the son of Senator Ralph."
Luna folded her arms.
"You'll regret embarrassing me."
Kayode didn't reply.
She turned around and walked back to her seat.
Vanessa leaned toward me and whispered,
"That girl never accepts rejection."
Kayode simply opened his book as if nothing had happened.
I couldn't help looking at him.
Suddenly, he looked at me.
"Were you looking at me?"
My face grew warm.
"N-no."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"My name is Kayode."
"I'm Kemi."
"Nice to meet you."
"You too."
Before either of us could say anything else
The bell rang.
- Writer
