Nexus high

It was another day of school but to me, it was just another day of freedom.

Another day to get away from the woman who called herself my mother.

Nexus High was one of the biggest schools in Abuja. I mean, it was an A class secondary school and as such enrolling one's child into the school would cost a lot of money.

And you know, some parents were willing to do whatever it would take to give their children the best education, no matter how rich or poor they were. So not everybody that attended Nexus High came from a rich home.

Although the rich kids were a majority.

One of the most reputable things about the school was that they were successful in producing a great number of intelligent students every session. That was my school.

I was a punctual student and that was one of the many things that made a lot of teachers like me.

Only if they knew why I was always early to school.

The morning assembly soon commenced. It was just a gathering of the students in the assembly hall to give praises to God, sing the national and school anthem before the principal would be given a chance to address us.

Once it was over, I was very happy. I hated assemblies for one thing and it was because we had to stand for a long time. There were lots of schools I knew that made their students sit during assemblies but Nexus High would never. I quickly made my way to SS2A which was my class.

There was this contrasting personality of mine that teachers tend to admire me for and made some of my classmates envious, and that was my ability to always come first in class even though my seat was behind the class.

I was deeply engrossed in reading a novel I had bought recently when someone slammed their hand against the book resting on my table. I knew very well who it was.

"Abike, If you love yourself, please take your nuisance somewhere else," I said calmly without even bothering to look at the owner of the hand that was unwilling to move off my book.

Fortunately for me, the maths teacher wasn't around that morning and it had automatically become a free period for us, otherwise, I would have pretended to be a good girl who wouldn't respond and simply report to the teacher.

"E e, see this girl o," I heard her release a chuckle and if there was anything I didn't want to hear now, it was that. It was very annoying.

"Don't make me repeat myself," I sounded more serious this time as i looked her in the eye. I was able to notice that her minions weren't with her. It seemed like they had decided to skip school today.

"Sorry o," Abike pouted her lips and rolled her eyes. She was all words and no action and that was where her minions came in.

She continued.

"You do birthday yesterday. You nor even say make you invite anybody because say you be rich pikin."

She ended with an annoying and prolonged hiss before returning to her seat.

What jobless human being!

Not until it was thirty minutes past eight than I heard a feminine voice I had been anticipating that caused me to quickly looked up from the book I was reading.

"Tilda my baby. The one and only beauty queen I know. See fine girl na," Kiki began with her usual way of showering praises on me as she made her way to sit beside me. She was far prettier than I was, yet she made it seem like I was.

"Leave me alone jor. You are always coming late," I playfully eyed her.

"So what if I had come early? Would I not have been idle like everyone else?" She hissed. "Abeg talk another thing."

"I've heard you," I laughed.

Kiki was the only friend I had that she had become like a sister to me. I was the only child of my parents so I was quite lonely but with Kiki around, I never for once missed a sibling in my life.

I and Kiki and been friends right from Kindergarten. Our parents knew one another so that was a plus to the growth of our friendship. We were both age mates yet we lived in worlds apart.

While I was the lonely and quiet type, Kiki was the cheerful and energetic one.

Till today I still wondered how a pencil had made us such close friends.

Just as I was about to raise a conversation with her, someone came up to us.

He was Tobi. The class prefect.

"Hi ladies," He greeted us with his usual bright smile.

I won't lie but this guy was just too fine. God had blessed him too much. Despite his looks, I didn't have a thing for him. I was just used to complimenting handsome guys and not falling for them.

"Hi Tobi," I greeted back, trying to put in the same energy.

"Hi," I could hear Kiki's seductive voice beside me.

Haba! For man?

I knew Kiki liked Tobi but the boy was more focused on his studies than any girl so I believed he wouldn't have time for her.

"Well, I just want to apologize to you both for the absence of the Math teacher. I heard he fell sick yesterday," Tobi said.

Perhaps being a perfect was meant for him.

"Don't worry yourself. We understand," Kiki laughed unnecessarily.

I spoke in agreement to her words and he simply nodded before moving to another seat to spread the same news.

He was a shy person who couldn't stand in front of a group of people to deliver a piece of anything. If he did, you would see the fear all over him and he knew better than to embarrass himself.

"That guy is fine o," Kiki rested her chin on her closed fist as she stared dreamily at Tobi.

"That boy will not kill you," I laughed at her behaviour and went back to reading the book in front of me.

*.*.*.

Soon, classes for the day were over. Kiki decided to go shopping for clothes and she pleaded with me to come with her.

She was a hard core lover of fashion. Was it the lastest shoes? Was it lastest jewelries? The lastest outfits or the latest bags? Kiki's wardrobe would always have them. Her parents were just as rich as mine, well...my mother, since my father was dead, if not richer.

We spent several hours in trying to get the best outfits for her. It was during our search that she brought up the issue of a party.

Kiki.

Only God could deliver that girl. So she wanted to talk to me about a party under the pretence of assisting her with shopping when she could do it alone.

"You can't tell me no. Do you want to die a boring person? Please, touch grass for once in your life," Kiki shook her head, obviously disgusted at how much of an introvert I was even though I hated it at home.

"What about that witch? What do you think she would say?" I proceeded to ask and Kiki knew who I was referring to, as a witch.

"Leave that one. I will handle her," Kiki shoved my question away with a wave of her hand.

"So what party is this?" I asked. I didn't trust Kiki when it came to parties. She was too much into enjoying life and all that kind of stuff or maybe I was the one who was just overthinking it?

"A birthday party, madam," Kiki tapped my shoulder. "Do you think I go to clubs?"

"I hope so. Just text me the details tonight," I sighed.

"Hmm. In fact, let me get you something nice to wear for the party," Kiki spoke with creased brows as she carefully looked for something that would suit me perfectly.

I couldn't help but laugh at how serious she looked.

It's not like I didn't have clothes o. This girl and wasting money were like 5 and 6.