Love passed by

I looked in the mirror observing my black tie to ensure it was knotted well. Seeing that it looked perfectly okay, I packed my afro hair in a bun and did my edges. After that, I put on my white socks, black shoes, wore my perfumes, carried my jacket and bag. New week, new sufferings. I raced down the stairs for breakfast. My parents were there already, together with Chinedu, my younger brother and Aunty Maria, my mother's sister who had visited for the weekend and was going back later that day. Aunty Favour, our housekeeper had already set the table for breakfast and was going back to the kitchen with the empty tray as I reached the table. I greeted her grinning making her smile back at me. "Good morning mum, good morning dad, good morning Aunty Maria." I greeted also as I sat down beside Chinedu dropping my bag on the floor. My dad nodded at me as he kept on reading his newspaper which he always did every morning before breakfast while my mother and Aunty Maria smiled at me. "How was your night Ada?" My mother asked as she stood to pour some hot water into everyone's cup for tea while I took some bread and eggs from the center of the table. "It was fine ma," I answered collecting my cup of hot water from her. "Thank you". "Chinedu you must eat plenty of food this morning or I won't put that juice in your lunch box. Do you hear me?" My mother threatened as she added another slice of bread to my brother's plate. He frowned and nodded slowly. "Okay". My father closed the newspaper and dropped it on a vacant seat beside him. "Politicians think we're stupid don't they?" He asked no one in particular as he sipped from his tea. "They collect millions of naira and lie they distribute it to the youths meanwhile it all goes into their pockets while the youths suffer. Such terrible world we live in." He hissed then bit into his bread. "Can we eat quietly for once without your grumbling?" My mother asked which made him to shoot a glare at her. "You don't understand Nne," He hissed again then sipped from his cup. My mother didn't reply to him again in order to avoid unreasonable lengthy arguments that morning which frequently happened. After breakfast, I bid Aunty Maria farewell and entered my father's car together with Chinedu so he would drop us off at school. The name of my school was Universal Secondary School. It was a private school that everyone knew rich kids went to. Or at most kids whose families were said to be higher than middle class and then the first class families' kids so.. Well, rich kids. Our school uniform was generally white shirt with an ash pleated tartan skirts and an ash bowtie for the girls, white shirt, ash plain trousers and a tie for the boys, everyone wore a pair of white socks and then whatever kind of shoes they wanted to wear. Well as as far as it wasn't heels. I went to the secondary school and was in senior secondary school one (SS1) while Chinedu went to the primary school and was in primary five. The nursery, primary and secondary schools were a bit separated so my father had to drop off Chinedu at the primary section before dropping me off at the secondary section. As I came down from the car, I saw my friends Tolu and Vicky arriving almost at the same time. I shut the door, waved my father goodbye, then hurried to where they stood waiting for me. "Hey you guys." I smiled at them cheerfully while I hugged them. "How was your weekend Adah?" Vicky asked making me sigh. Tolu rolled her eyes at her. "You didn't even ask about mine. Better ask me about my own." She warned playfully making us laugh. "Nothing much happened o. Just normal Saturday work, Sunday church, assignment.. nothing else." I replied shrugging. "Hmm.. You won't believe what I heard. Let's be going inside first, I'll gist you guys later." Tolu said waving her hand at us to follow her. I shook my head knowingly at her while laughing again. Trust Tolu to have enough gist every Monday morning. We dropped our bags in class and headed for the morning assembly to avoid being punished for being late. Everyone stood in straight rolls according to their classes while we said prayers, sang the national assembly and did some morning presentations. Soon it was time for the teachers to check for the wrong dresscode or inspection as we called it. Since it was Monday, it was mandatory for everyone to be on their uniform jackets, the length of skirt for girls and fitness of the boys' trousers were checked, the length of braids for the girls were checked, nail inspection, beards for the boys, piercings for the boys and double piercings for the girls, artificial nails and nail polish for the girls also and lastly for gadgets like earphones and phones which weren't allowed during the assembly. Everyone crosschecked their uniforms to ensure they were properly dressed while those with gadgets attempted to hide theirs. Some Ss3 girls were attempting to pull off their artificial nails, some other girls were adjusting their skirts while some boys were removing their earrings and making an effortless attempt to cover their beards. In other words, the inspection was not a joke. The principal ordered for silence and announced that the teachers should go through the lines making the whole assembly fall silent. Miss Angel, a young teacher who taught Economics but everyone knew for wearing extremely heavy makeup and chewing bubblegums frequently was in charge of ss1s. She was usually strict and made sure she fished out people especially girls whose skirts were shorter than supposed. I heard Vicky whisper Tolu making them laugh. One after the other, we watched as the defaulters were asked to move to the back. "You're very stubborn Issac. Move to the back." A teacher ordered from one of the SS2 lines drawing attention to them immediately. Most people around turned to see Mr Eze standing infront of Isaac who glared at him. Everyone knew who Issac was starting from the principal himself down to students in Junior secondary school one(JS1). He was popular cause of his stubbornness and of course his parent's influence in the school. Every teacher complained about him but nothing could be done since his parents were part of the funding committee and the principal was afraid to expel a student and lose generous donors. Issac silently shoved his hands in his pockets and walked to the back of the line. "You Nathan, join him." Mr Eze said calling out Isaac's best friend from the line too who followed behind Issac. I could see that Issac had his headphones on his neck which was prohibited and was the possible reason he was getting called out for. But for Nathan, there was nothing wrong with his dressing so everyone was only wondering why he got called out too. Probably because they were friends or so. Vicky leaned into my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "Between Issac and Nathan who's more handsome?" I raised an eyebrow at her, then turned to examine the two friends who were now on their way to the back before shrugging at her. "I don't know. I can't compare." She sighed at me. "Tolu says Issac is more handsome and I told her it's Nathan who's more handsome. Now, she wants to argue." I shook my head at the two of them. "Their complexions are different. Issac is mixed, fair and handsome in his own way, Nathan is... I don't even know, a shade between Chocolate and fair and he's handsome in his own way." I shrugged again. "Adah you're of no help seriously." Vicky concluded. Just then Mr Eze who had called out Issac and Nathan ordered again. "The three of you there, to the back. Now!" He said making me flinch. I prayed silently hoping he wasn't referring to us. But seeing the other students' eyes on us, it was quite obvious. "I hate you guys." I cursed at Vicky and Tolu under my breath as I turned to walk behind them to get to the back of the line where Issac and Nathan stood. I was already happy I escaped inspection and now this? What a nice way to begin a new week. As we reached the back of the line, I followed Tolu and Vicky as we went to where Isaac and Nathan were and stood close to them. The morning assembly continued as the principal read out some few instructions and warnings. After that, everyone was dismissed. Except us that is. I watched everyone going back to their classes instantly regretting why I responded to Vicky. I made sure to glare at Vicky and Tolu whenever we made eye contact while they mouthed a 'sorry' back at me. Now I was sure we were getting punished one way or the other. I noticed also how girls smiled as they walked past Isaac, waving at him also. While for Nathan, he smiled and winked at some of the girls that walked past, shaking some boys while some other ones teased him. He was indeed a social butterfly. Tolu murmured that the teacher was coming to us. Out of reflex, I glanced up to my right in search of him but instead I met Isaac's eyes which were intently on me. He looked like he was studying me, a thin line between his eye brows while he frowned. Not able to stand his intimidating eyes, I looked away awkwardly. Mr Eze came just at the moment and stood in front of us hand signalling for us to move closer to him and away from other general defaulters. Now we were lined in a straight line facing him, Nathan, Isaac, myself, Vicky and lastly Tolu. Isaac. I was standing next to Isaac. His cologne filled my nostrils and I couldn't help but admit how good he smelt. "So tell me Tolu, Victoria and Adanna, what were you people discussing that was so important you couldn't leave till the assembly was over?" He asked folding his arms, his cane in one of them. "I was.. sorry we were -" I started before Tolu cut me short. "I'm sorry Mr Eze but I was admitted into the hospital during the weekend and they were asking how I was able to make it to school this morning since I was still sick. I'm sor-" She paused, faked a long cough and then continued. "I'm sorry we talked during assembly. It was all my fault." She replied, her face filled with this fake believable remorse. My mouth fell open at her response. Okay now Tolu, you're one smart liar. I was still going to glare at her quite alright, but I was impressed. Bravo Tolu, I'll forgive you if your lie saves us. I nodded in agreement. "Yes that's exactly what happened". Vicky responded too while Mr Eze looked at us like he was really trying hard enough to believe Tolu's lie. "Why were you admitted into the hospital then?" He asked, his voice becoming Stern now. I swallowed hard hoping Tolu had more lies to blurt out but if she didn't, maybe I would have to save her this time. "Malaria". "Fever". "Asthma". The three of us blurted out at the same time and that was the time I knew we were really done for. Realizing what we did, we looked at ourselves and back at Mr Eze. Well now, things were getting... awkward. I heard Nathan chuckle under his breath and felt Issac fold his arms as his arm brushed mine making me feel some kind of way I didn't know how to explain. Mr Eze gave us a wicked smile and nodded his head as if he'd figured out what was going on. "Interesting, I see you're a good actor Tolu", He commented squinting his eyes at her, and then at me and Vicky. He turned to Nathan and Issac and asked Issac while he was wearing headphones during the assembly. "I forgot about it." Issac replied. His voice as deep and calm as the first two times I'd heard him speak. He straightened his long frame and shoved his hands back in his pockets. "Also disrespectful these days I see," Mr Eze said while adjusting his glasses. "Hand them over to me and come during the break period to get it back." He added putting out his hand to collect the headphones. Issac rolled his eyes and handed the headphones to Mr Eze. "And you Nathan, you should always try to influence your friend. I don't know how you two are complete opposites in your behaviors and academics. He helps you academically. You should help him morally." Mr Eze cautioned making Nathan to glance at Issac who looked like he was bored of everything and wanted to get out any moment. Morally? I scoffed within my self. Morally? What was Mr Eze on about? Nathan was like the school's casanova who broke almost every school rule. He just somehow managed to always play the 'innocent respectful handsome boy' card on teachers and ended up getting away with it most times. "Yes sir." Nathan replied grinning innocently back at Mr Eze which made me roll my eyes at him. Immediately, Issac walked out ignoring and leaving everyone where we were stood including Mr Eze who called for him to come back. Tolu, Vicky and myself were dismissed and asked to come to the staff room during the break period for punishments while Nathan was asked to bring Issac to his staff room too.