MY FRIEND

CHAPTER ONE: THE GIRL WHO WAS COMING Sandra couldn't hide her excitement. Sitting in the comfort of her room, she was busy on her laptop when her phone suddenly rang. She glanced at the screen and answered immediately. “Hello! Oh, Joy, I'm fine. I'm at home. How are you? Good to hear from you!” She leaned back in her chair, smiling as she listened to the voice on the other end. “So, what about the thing we discussed? Is she coming tomorrow? Or the day after tomorrow?” Sandra paused, listening carefully. “Alright! No problem. I'll be waiting. I can't wait to see her. She will enjoy Lagos, trust me!” Her smile widened. “Great! Give everybody my regards, alright? Take care. I'm expecting her. Bye!” She ended the call and immediately called out. “Favour! Favour!” A moment later, the housemaid appeared at the door. “Yes, Madam?” “Is the food ready?” “Not yet, ma.” Sandra gave her a look of mild disappointment. “Alright. Make me some coffee.” “Okay, ma.” Favour turned to leave, but Sandra suddenly remembered something. “Wait, Favour!” The girl stopped. “Yes, ma?” “Don't forget that my niece is coming tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. I don't want you running around when they arrive. You can go now.” “Okay, ma.” Favour left the room, and Sandra returned to her laptop, already imagining the days ahead. Having her niece around would bring a new kind of excitement into the house. She wanted the girl to feel comfortable, make friends and settle into her new environment. What Sandra didn't know was that her niece's arrival would bring more than just excitement. It would introduce new friendships, old memories and conflicts that none of them could have imagined. --- At Boys and Girls High School, Divine and Lucky sat at the back of their classroom, chatting as usual. The school was known for its impressive academic results, and the boys were among the students who always seemed to find something to laugh about, even when classes were not going their way. Their conversation was interrupted when Gift walked towards them with a smile. “Hi, guys! Glad to see you!” she greeted them. “Hey, Divine! I thought you travelled. When did you get back?” “I came back yesterday,” Divine replied. “Really? I'm coming to collect the gifts you promised me!” Divine smiled. “No problem.” Gift turned towards Lucky. “Hi, Lucky! I could hear your voice from a distance. Noisy and full of fun as usual!” Lucky laughed. “Yeah, today is all about fun.” Gift suddenly remembered something. “By the way, do you remember Melody? She's a relative of Aunt Sandra, my mother's friend. She lives in the same area with us.” Lucky nodded slowly. “Yeah, I know her aunt, but as for the girl, Melody, I don't really know her.” “Neither do I,” Divine added. Gift looked at Divine with surprise. “She was at our primary school! Divine, you once put a dead lizard on her table just to scare her.” Divine frowned thoughtfully. “I don't remember her.” “I think she left her former school,” Gift continued. “She's coming here to join us in SS3. That's what her aunt told my mum. She called me and asked us to help her settle down and get used to things here.” Lucky shook his head. “So, how were your holidays?” “Oh, boring,” he answered himself before anyone could ask. “But I had the opportunity to attend an art workshop for one week. What about you?” Gift was about to reply when Dean, the head boy, rushed into the classroom. “Divine! We have a prefect meeting at the principal's office now!” The boys immediately got up. “Alright,” Divine replied, and the conversation came to an end. None of them knew that the girl they had just discussed would soon become part of their everyday lives. And none of them could have guessed how deeply her arrival would affect their friendship. --- A few days later, a car pulled up in front of Sandra's house. Sandra hurried outside, barely able to contain her excitement. The moment she saw Joy and the young girl beside her, her face lit up. “Joy! Melody! Look at you! Melody, you've grown so big!” She embraced them warmly. “How are you? How was the journey?” “Fine, ma,” Joy replied with a smile. Sandra ushered them inside, eager to make them comfortable. But Joy had somewhere else to be. “Alright, I'll be off,” Joy said. “So soon? You're just getting down! Come in. I've prepared something. At least, let me entertain you before you go.” “I have a plane to catch. I'll write to you later.” She turned to Melody and gave her a final hug. “Melody, bye-bye. Be a good girl, alright? Don't give your aunt a headache.” “I will, Mum,” Melody promised. Joy said her goodbyes and hurried away. Sandra watched her leave before turning to the girl standing beside her. “Come on, my girl. Let's go inside.” Melody followed her aunt into the house. She was about to begin a new chapter of her life, one that would take her away from everything familiar and place her among people she barely remembered. For now, all she wanted was to settle in. She had no idea that someone from her childhood was waiting for her at her new school. And that someone was Divine. Melody was still settling into her new surroundings when Sandra called her out of her room. “Melody! Come out and meet someone. You have visitors!” Melody hesitated before stepping outside. She had barely finished unpacking, and the thought of meeting new people made her a little nervous. When she appeared, Sandra was standing with Gift and her mother, Mrs Dupe. “Gift, this is my niece, Melody Johnson,” Sandra announced happily. “Melody, this is Mrs Dupe and her daughter, Gift.” Gift smiled warmly at her. “Good afternoon.” “Good afternoon,” Melody replied. Mrs Dupe looked at the young girl affectionately. “Come here, you pretty child. I hear you'll be going to the same school as my daughter.” She embraced Melody, who returned the gesture politely. Gift studied Melody's face for a moment, then smiled. “Hello. I don't think you'll remember me, but I remember you.” Melody looked at her curiously. “Really?” “Yes! We attended the same primary school. Come, let's step outside and talk.” The girls walked towards the balcony, leaving the adults behind. Gift began telling Melody about their school. “Morning assembly starts by 7:30, so I'll come over early if you like. You must plait your hair in the week's style. I'll show you where I do mine.” Melody smiled, relieved that someone was willing to help her. “I'd like that very much. Thank you.” Gift continued explaining the school's rules, the teachers and the students. Then she remembered something else. “So, tell me about your former school. What was it like?” Melody shrugged. “Girls only. Wouldn't it be nice? Our school was mixed, boys and girls.” “It's a mixed school here too,” Gift explained. “Boys and Girls High School. It may come as a shock at first.” “I hope not,” Melody said. They both laughed. “Do you remember two boys called Divine and Lucky?” Melody frowned, trying to recall their faces. “I think I do. Very troublesome boys. Are they still like that?” Gift laughed. “Only one of them was really troublesome!” “I hope I'll like it here,” Melody said, her smile returning. “You will,” Gift assured her. The girls continued chatting, unaware that their friendly conversation would soon lead to an uncomfortable reunion. --- The following morning, the school grounds were filled with students preparing for assembly. Groups of friends stood together, laughing and talking while the prefects tried to organize everyone into lines. Divine and the other prefects moved around, ensuring that the students stood properly. “Be on your lines! No more chains on trousers or dangling earrings for the girls!” Divine called out. “There will be an inspection of fingernails and socks during assembly tomorrow. Those are the principal's orders.” The students gradually settled into their lines. While organizing the students, Divine noticed Gift standing beside a girl he didn't recognize. He leaned towards Lucky and whispered. “Who's that girl? The one with Gift?” Lucky glanced in their direction. “Oh, that must be the new girl she's been telling us about.” “A new student is joining us?” Divine asked. “Strange, isn't it? Gift said she once attended our primary school, so she might recognize us.” Divine watched the girl for another moment. “Melody, was it? I remember something about her. She wasn't very bright at her former school.” Lucky shrugged. “Well, let's see how she does here.” The assembly soon ended, and the students hurried towards their classrooms. Gift spotted the boys and waved them over. “Melody, these are the boys I was telling you about. Divine and Lucky, this is Melody Johnson.” Divine stared at Melody, his mouth opening slightly as recognition dawned on him. Then he recovered and extended his hand. “Oh, I'm sorry,” he said with a smile. “I'm Divine Oshun. Nice to meet you, although we're supposed to have met before.” Melody looked at him without taking his hand. “I remember you,” she replied coolly. “You're the boy who once put a dead lizard on my table.” Lucky struggled to contain his laughter. Divine withdrew his hand, embarrassed. “Oh, I don't recall that.” “Yes, you do,” Melody insisted. “But we were just kids.” She turned to Gift. “Can you show me around a bit?” Gift nodded, and the two girls walked away. Lucky watched them disappear into the classroom corridor before turning to Divine. “I didn't like her at all. Snooty! Just who did she think she was?” Divine said nothing. He was still thinking about the girl who had refused to shake his hand. He had expected the reunion to be funny. Instead, Melody had made it clear that she had not forgotten what he did to her. And perhaps that was only the beginning.