Girl Next Door

CHAPTER 12

“Brrring!” Tifa's alarm clock went off the first time.

“Brrring!” It rang a second time, successfully waking Tifa.

Trying her best not to groan, Tifa reached out and switched off her alarm clock which lay on the nightstand. After lying in bed for a while, she dragged herself out of bed and scooted over to her study table.

She had a maths test by 7: 30am and decided to do her last revision. Her eyes darted to the wall clock. The time read 4:40 am. She decided to use only an hour for her revision.

Grabbing a pencil from her stationery holder, she flipped through the pages of her math textbook and notebook and began working on some sums. After staying in that position for exactly one hour, she headed to the bathroom and took a quick shower.

The next minute saw her downstairs in the dining room fully dressed for school. Taking her backpack off her shoulder, she walked into the kitchen to find out what the noise was all about.

"Mom?" She called out the moment she stepped foot into the kitchen.

"Oh! You're awake already" Her Mom said, not sparing her a glance.

"You checked up on me again?" Tifa asked, leaning on the kitchen counter.

"Well, no. I just knew you weren't awake yet".

"You know it's actually surprising seeing you in the kitchen at this time of the day".

"What's your point, Keyshia?" She called Tifa's Yoruba name.

"Here's what I'm saying. The time is twelve minutes past six yet you are still home and to think that you're still in your nighties. Isn't that surprising?" Tifa asked, slipping her phone back into the pocket of her jeans.

"Well, at least to me, if not to you" She quickly added, shrugging afterwards.

"I still don't get your point, Tifa," Doyinsola said, moving from one end of the kitchen to the other, trying to fix breakfast.

"Okay, here's the picture I'm painting," Tifa said, gesturing with her hands.

"On a normal day, you would be putting finishing touches to your make up by now getting ready for work. Or better still, you would have already left for work and all I would have met when I come downstairs would be a note from you placed on the dining table or sometimes, nothing at all".

"In essence, I'm saying, you won't be home by this time. So it's strange to find you home, in the kitchen and in your nighties".

"Well…" Doyinsola began, not sure of what to reply.

"Today's a totally different day from other days, Tifa. I'm home today and won't be going to work".

"Oh, really? Why's that?"

"I called in sick"

"Sick? You don't look sick to me" Tifa said, moving closer to her Mom and placing her hand on the latter's forehead.

"Well…, I'm burning up a little bit and I'm having a headache as well".

"Oh! I've noticed" Tifa said, withdrawing her hand from her mother's forehead.

"Sorry about that, Mom. Do check into a clinic, okay?"

"Sure thing I will. Thank you honey" Doyinsola nodded, knowing very well that she wasn't going to visit a doctor. She had plans to work from home and had just answered in the affirmative so as not to get Tifa worried.

"Hmmmm" Tifa breathed in deeply, as she inhaled the aroma of the breakfast her Mom was preparing.

"You like it?" Doyinsola asked, smiling as she watched Tifa breathe out.

"Yeah, I do. Can't wait to get it down my throat. I do know you're making pancakes, but what's accompanying it?".

"Maple syrup".

"Oh! Makes it better. Let me set the table".

After quickly taking her breakfast, Tifa bade her Mom goodbye and headed for the bus stop where she was chauffeur driven in the school bus.

Adjusting her glasses on her nose bridge, Tifa exhaled as she walked into the class, trying to remember everything she had revised.

Her eyes met with that of Tad but she quickly looked away. He was the least thing she wanted to be bothered about.

"Finally! Someone's wearing something different from a hoodie" He said, taking in the linen blend shirt she was wearing but she ignored him.

"Well, bad luck in your test for ignoring me" He shrugged, a chuckle following right after.

"Good morning Class" The Maths Professor said as he walked into the class.

"Without further ado, we'll be starting the test. But first, let me share the test papers"

"Please do away with anything that will implicate you" The Professor warned as he began sharing the test papers. After a while, he was done.

"You can now start," He said.

"Ten questions to answer all. You have an hour for that" He continued, moving over to one of the windows to answer a phone call as his phone was buzzing in his pocket.

Some students chewed on the bottom part of their pencils, some stared endlessly at the ceiling while some scribbled on their papers.

Tifa was amongst those who scribbled endlessly. Tad and his gang of course chewed on their pencils and stared into nothingness. DARBI too.

"s**t!" Tad cussed.

"What's that?" Eden asked.

"These questions seem so damn tough. I can't even wrap my finger around 'em" Tad said, dropping his pencil and running his hand through his hair.

"Thought it applied to only me," Eden said.

"How many have you answered so far?" He asked.

"Just six, and I'm not sure about the last one. Four more to go. I definitely cannot fail this test".

"You're far better than me, buddy. I've only answered four questions"

"Well…" Tad began, scratching his nape, thinking of a way to salvage his situation.

"What about the others?"

"Chance has answered four, just like me. Nolan has gotten two right while Nebula hasn't answered any"

"What the f**k!" Tad whisper-exclaimed, trying so hard not to laugh.

"What the hell has he been doing weeks before today?"

"Partying and probably f*****g Brandy" Eden replied, laughing.

Brandy was Nebula's girlfriend.

"We need to find a way to help ourselves. This test can't screw us. We'd screw it instead" Tad said, as he watched Nolan swap papers with Nebula. He knew what was going to happen next.

Nebula was going to act as though he owned Nolan's script while the latter was going to help him answer his questions.

"Buddy, what do we…" Tad was saying but noticed that Eden whom he was talking to was now copying answers from Chance's script.

"How nice" Tad muttered, sarcasm lacing his voice.

"I thought you both answered four questions. So, why copying from his script?" Tad jabbed Eden's elbow making the latter's pencil fly out of his hand.

The pencil dropped on the floor calling not only the attention of other students but that of the Maths Professor as well.