FINDING ME

CHAPTER 1: KOSISOCHUKWU NELSON

Uhm uhm "clears throat my name is Ko... Ko, Kosi. She said looking down at her roughly tied shoe laces. Lack of confidence written all over her face as she stood before the judges, "beep" the blazer sounded, all three judges didn't give Kosi a chance to showcase the dance she had been rehearsing for 4 weeks before she was disqualified. The next thing, tears! ''She's crying!" someone shouted from the audience, they all laughed. Kosi ran off the podium, the embarrassment was bigger than the pain of not even having to perform.

"Nooo! I hate myself! I hate me'' said Kosi screaming inside her blanket. Kosisochukwu is the second child out of four of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. Mr. Nelson, a business man who is into importing and exporting of goods married a Yoruba woman Adejoke Nelson after several disagreements with his family. The wedding day was quite... "Beautiful' if we must say only that the cultural differences between both parties led to constant fights and hypocrisy, too many eyes with fake smiles. Well Nelson's persistence paid off, 12 years later they are living happily with their kids.

Its lunch break in Queens George College, Kosi is still drowning in the embarrassment from Friday's talent show. The best debate ever held in Queens school years back was "Education vs. creativity, which is the true path of success?" and that led to the conclusion that education is not only what it takes to become successful encouraging students to also embrace their talent while striving for academic stability. Since then, every year the school invites external judges to select the best performance to be eligible for a scholarship abroad to broaden their creativity. This happens once a year and every student looks forward to it because only one winner is needed to go on a full funded scholarship. Kosi's timidness cost her to miss a great opportunity.

Kosi sitting on her seat, head down the desk with her hoodie over her head, "I can't go out for lunch, the whole school is probably talking about me" the reality was; everyone had forgotten what happened. Tutu walked up to her seat, "Kosi, are you okay? She asked. Kosi nodded. 'No, you can't be okay, the weather is so hot and you are hiding under this hoodie' Tutu said, unaware that her friend is still wallowing from what happened. Guys! Help me, Joy screamed in excitement while running towards her friends. You have started right?" said Tutu who has gotten enough of her friend's drama. Guess what, guess what, Joy said giggling moving her feet happily. What? Uninterested Tutu asked. 'I saw, I saw'... Joy muttered with so much excitement "Talk now", the first thing Kosi said in the meeting as she finally raised her head, Adetutu laughed, pointing at Kosi 'Amebo', she said. "I just saw Kelvin, he looked at mel' Joy said smiling sheepishly. Both girls hissed simultaneously. 'So it's because of boy you came to disturb my peaceful rest' Kosi said rolling her eyes. 'Can you imagine' Tutu added supporting Kosi."

*The bell rings* 'Lunch break over' The time keeper cried out.