Eliza's brows furrowed in bewilderment as she stared at Mrs Justice who had a wide open, glaring eyes. She never expected such an outburst. She knew that the principal had always been so serious and fiesty. No one had ever seen her smile or loosen her face.

What made her so strict and stiff?
Eliza wondered as she waited for her next statement.

"Who would have known that you would turn your back on a girl that you've known personally all these years. She is your classmate! your seat mate! your friend! But when opportunity presented itself to close ranks and defend your own, you!" She continued pointing furiously at the students with her fingers " left her alone in the battlefield to defend herself! You left her alone to be crushed by the enemies on social media! You! became her enemy, siding with the girl you hardly knew. Just because she's a popular social media sensation and the daughter of a high profile man, Senator Akachi, you became the saboteur!"

Her loud voice echoed and boomed furiously throughout the auditorium. Everyone stayed still and calm, afraid that the principal's strong words might struck them dead if they moved.

" You all know Elizabeth Chigozie! An honor student who has always been a pride to this school. Who would have thought that you would do such a vile thing to this innocent girl?!" The principal gestured towards Eliza.

Eliza couldn't hold back her tears as it freely cascaded down her cheeks, wetting her white collar.

She could notice the guilt displayed on each of the students faces. Some of them bowed their heads.

As Eliza glanced at Chioma, she noticed she wasn't a least bit affected by what was going on. She was busily looking at her fingers as if she noticed something interesting there.

"This is a lesson to each of you" The principal continued as she placed both hands on each side of the podium. "I don't care if you would take my advice or not. But this is a school. We train you to be good, responsible citizens with empathy. But we can't force you to be that person. It all depends on you. Do unto others what you would want them to do unto you"
Mrs Justice stomped off the stage, leaving the auditorium.

Eliza noticed how everywhere was solemnly still. She could see the words floating in the air and piercing into their hearts. Eliza silently thanked the principal for being there for her. This was another side of the principal she never thought existed.

Mr Thomas, the vice principal who was about 60 or thereabouts commenced the announcement for the day.

The hall was so still that you could hear a pin drop.

"Our first term exam is around the corner. So study hard because the invigilation will be tight, unlike before. Don't rely on your friends for help because you might not sit with them that day. It will be computer based this time to curb exam malpractice. So study hard kids"

When exam news was announced and the way exam will be conducted, students started murmuring and complaining.

Eliza wasn't really bothered because she knew she did well in her previous exam.

She could recall how easy and accessible students were sneaking in expos into the hall.

She wasn't bothered that the mode of exam would be strict. She was already prepared for it so she had nothing to worry about.

"I know that the ones murmuring are the dull brains that are probably planning on how to take this exam without stressing their brains. Sorry to burst your bubble but it won't work this time around."

"I noticed that those shelves in the library filled with books haven't been touched for years. The books have accumulated dust because of its lack of use. So I think it's high time you start visiting the library"

"Now for the Ss3 students, the upcoming senior West African examination will take effect from March next year so I hope you are ready because this exam will determine your next step after graduation"

Eliza wished she was already in Ss3. So she can graduate immediately and get this school over with. But it was impossible. She was still in Ss2, so she had to endure.

"Last but not the least, The end of the year Christmas party will be coming up immediately after the exams."

Upon hearing this, the whole students shouted for joy and jubilation. The excited chattering started. Eliza could hear Chioma and the girls chattering excitedly about the party.

" I need to start thinking of what to wear that day" Chioma said.

"Yes, of course. We're going to wear matching outfits" Amaka beamed.

"Huh?!" Chioma turned to them with a raised eyebrow. "Who's wearing matching outfits with you? Are we twins? Don't you know it's overrated? You and Ebube can do that but I'm going solo"

Eliza noticed the scowls on each of their faces when Chioma made that remark.

She thought it was amusing.

She was also excited about the party but she was more anxious about the exams that she hardly had time to think about the party.

"Mrs Ogechi, the social mistress will take care of the preparations so if you are talented, you can go meet her and........."

Eliza couldn't understand what he said afterwards because the hall was more noisy than ever.

Eliza wondered why the vice principal never had the authority to instill fear into the students unlike the principal whom everyone feared.

No matter how excited you are, if the principal was around,you will never hear a sound from the students.

The principal has always had this reputation. She did not care the kind of family you came from. Even if your father was Dangote or Otedola, she feared no one. Justice must always be served.

The students were never flogged or inflicted pain upon.
But she made sure that their punishment was according to the severity of the crime (detention, suspension or worse expulsion).

Parents always complained about her strict method of punishment.

Eliza could remember the notorious Ebuka. The son of a well known business man in the state. Rumor had it that Ebuka was in a serious and most feared cult in the state. They plundered, murdered and raped.

Eliza was the first that found out that Ebuka was involved. Little did she know that some of the teachers and students knew including Chioma.

Chioma warned her against reporting him to the Principal, because they were all scared of Ebuka. But Eliza wanted the crimes to stop, she had to do the needful.

When he was reported to the principal. The principal quickly alerted the Police and Ebuka was apprehended along with his fellow gang members. His father dragged the school to court but after series of whatever that was done inside the law court, Ebuka and his cohorts were found guilty and put to jail.

After that incident, Everyone vowed never to be in the principal's bad book.

When everyone exited the auditorium, what was in everyone's lips was the Christmas party. They were so excited about it that they forgot they had an exam to think about.

Eliza walked out of the auditorium alone leaving Chioma and her friends behind.

As she headed towards her class, three students, two lanky boys and a girl called her attention. She recognized them as her juniors.

"We're sorry for the way we treated you." One of the lanky boys said  "We should've done something at least in our own little way to defend you"

Eliza heart melted when she stared at their sad faces. She realized that they were really remorseful.

"It's okay. Everyone is forgiven."

"Thank you" The girl responded with a smile on her face.
They all sauntered off.

Eliza realized that they were the only ones that ever walked up to her to apologize personally. She stared at the other students as they all walked past her, immersed in their own little world, not sparing her a glance.

As she turned to continue to class, She heard someone call her name.
She knew that voice. She groaned as she turned to face her.

"Hey, why did you leave the hall so quickly? We were supposed to walk to class together. We do everything together, remember? Or have you forgotten?" Chioma asked her, frowning.

"Maybe I have" Eliza replied with a hint of sarcasm. "We haven't been friends for quite a while now, remember?"

"Yeah, I know. But just like you said, it's all in the past now, right? We're friends now" Chioma said as if trying to convince her of that fact.

Eliza wanted to know why Chioma was cozying up to her. She had always known Chioma, they'd been friends since Jss1.

Chioma can be self centered sometimes but what she failed to notice was her capability to turn on her friends when she had the chance.

She had accepted her apology, had forgiven her but she didn't think she would be able to forget what she and her friends did to her.

It's so hard to forget such things.

"So remember, exam is just around the corner and you know what it means. Study, study and more study. You'll come to my house, right? For group study? Just like we've always done?"

Eliza's first instinct was to decline her offer. But she knew how the group study had always helped Chioma and would continue to help her.

Chioma has always been slow to grasp and understand things. She is not what you would call quick witted. She needed someone to push her buttons, force her to read, study, memorize and retain informations. Her parents were obviously too busy for that.
So she had to take up that role as a close friend she was.

But right now, things have changed.

Eliza planned earlier on to keep her distance from her so she won't get hurt again but her mother taught her never to pay evil with evil.

"Alright" Eliza agreed.

"Yay!" Chioma exclaimed smiling. "I knew you would help me Eliza. You're such a loyal friend"

Well, I can't say the same for you. Eliza thought.

"But"

"But?"

"No sleepovers. We will study here in school. We'll just have to spend some extra hours after school. Maybe one hour or two?"

"But what's wrong with my house? We've always done it at home. It's so much fun at home"

"Well,my mom forbade it. I don't know her reasons but......" Eliza averted her eyes so she could lie well.

"But it's me Chioma." She cut in "" It's not like I'm a stranger or anything. She knows me nah"

"Yeah, she does but I can't disobey her, you know."

"Okay, do you need me to drop by your place and beg her to agree?"

"No! No! No! It's not necessary" Eliza waved her off. "When my mom sets her mind on something, that's it. No going back"

"Oh well, if you say so. We'll do it your way then" Chioma muttered.

"Cool" Eliza smiled.

Chioma seemed to spot something or someone behind Eliza and her eyes brightened.

"Eliza, I'll see you later, yeah?"

Before Eliza could nod,she rushed past her.

"Hey, Isaac, wait up!"
Chioma ran towards Isaac who stopped some few meters away from her.

They seemed to engage in a kind of conversation. Then Chioma hugged him and he hugged her back with a smile on his face.

Eliza's mind spun, jealousy tore at her whole being. Yes it was definitely jealousy.

She finally got what she wanted. Eliza thought.

When their eyes met, Isaac's expression turned into a scowl and Eliza quickly looked away, turning the other long direction which also led to her class.

*.      *.      *.         *.         *.        *.         *.      *    

It was a hive of activity in the hospital. Guardians and visitors streamed in and out of the hospital. It was a private hospital but it was always swamped with people. So they were always busy.

Dr Nnamdi, the owner of the hospital really made sure that no one went out of the hospital unsatisfied.

Theresa loved working for him, she'd learnt a lot from him but the monthly salary would never be enough for her. That was why she decided to take up the counselling exam and try again so she can start working in a federal hospital and grow from there just like Chukwuma suggested.

Chukwuma Theresa's hand paused and she put down her pen and closed the patient's chart.

She couldn't stop thinking of him.
Will he show up today? A part of her craved to see his face at least once. After that incident, Theresa rarely saw him.

Maybe he had finally stopped coming.
Theresa thought.

Theresa was oftentimes tempted to ask Dr Nnamdi about him but it would be outrightly foolish.

SHE drove him away. It was HER fault.

As she turned the door knob to walk into a pharmacist office to get a prescribed drug for a patient, she paused as she heard her name being mentioned by a nurse in there.

"Do you know what irks me, it's the fact that Theresa behaves as if she doesn't know what people think of her" One of the nurses said and the others agreed.

Theresa could see a group of nurses crowded in there.

"Who would have thought that mother Theresa would turn out to be a divorcee. Who knows what she did to drive her husband away?" The pharmacist, Nonye, added.

"Tụfịakwa! (abomination)" One of the nurses snapped her two fingers in contempt. "Does that mean that she can't keep a man? Doesn't she know that men like to be petted and treated like kings?"

"No wonder" Nonye started. "She was cozying up to Dr Chukwuma and forcing herself on him. Mmm, Thank God, he escaped from her oooo"

"Okay, enough!"

Theresa jolted as she heard Ijeoma's voice in there. She was surprised that she was in there all along.

"Look at you lots. Busily gossiping and feasting on someone like vultures!"

"We.... we weren't gossiping. We were just discussing" Nonye retorted.

"What would Dr Nnamdi say when he hears that you've turned this office into a gossip lounge, eh!" Ijeoma yelled, directing it to Nonye, the pharmacist.

"Eh, we're leaving. But we weren't gossiping ooo" One of the nurses said as they opened the door.

Theresa could tell that they were shocked when they saw her standing there. But they quickly masked it and replaced it with a sneer.

As they all dispersed, Ijeoma finally came out and was shocked when she saw Theresa.

"You know, you can't keep avoiding me like this" Theresa smiled at her.

"I wasn't avoiding you" Ijeoma muttered with a frown.

"Thanks for defending me"

"You're welcome" She replied, still frowning.

"Look at you, being all childish" Theresa chuckled. "Can we talk?"

Ijeoma nodded.

If you ask me, Ijeoma is really a good friend compared to Chioma.

What do you think guys, Are Chioma and Isaac dating?
Because it looks like it.

Drop some feedbacks in the comment box below and Pls use that little star  guys.