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  Life wouldn't be fun if it did not have its ups and downs.

                            – Mickey Rooney.

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I'm just four steps away from the main gate of Study Great Tutorial. Walking seems like an easy task, at least, for the two students that just passed me, but for me, it's an obstacle I doubt I can tackle. It's 9:30 on this bright Monday morning. Every serious student, from crèche to high school, will be in class right now, while I am thinking of how to avoid school in general. My secondary school experience was, to put it mildly, not fantastic. I got bullied a lot. Not physically though, it was just that they all had reasons to mock me. And since I wasn't the kind to speak out, I always tried to let their words roll off my back. It never did. It still hurts. I guess that's the real reason I'm hesitant to enter a learning environment. You can't predict what your classmates may do to you.

My quote for today says something about Life won't be fun..blah...blah... I don't want a fun life. I just want a successful one. I haven't tasted fun ever since my parents died. I don't think I will ever.

There are things I won't accept in this tutorial. The first one will be bullying, then any derogatory remark, I won't take that. I am sure I will be older than some of them so I will not accept any form of disrespect. Lastly, I hate gossip. I won't indulge in one and I don't want my name to be in one.

I nod in resignation and trot into the building. I get to the secretary where I submit my admission form. She tells me my fees have been paid. I know that but for some reason, she was questioning it. She had this 'who are you?' look on her face. It prompted me to introduce myself again.

"I know! I know! You said your name is Ifunanya  James," she cut me off. "Who are you to Mr Ibeh?"

I ponder on the question and with a nonchalant shrug, I reply, "A family friend".

She nods. "You can head to class. By the way, you are late. Class starts at 9 am".

"I understand. Thanks, ma"

"You're welcome"

I follow her direction and head into the room where the classes are held. The door is already open so I easily spot the crowd of students. I walk in, my eyes everywhere but nowhere. I greet the teacher, a man with a wiry frame and trot to the nearest empty chair which was close in the middle row. I take my seat and take in deep breaths to calm my throbbing heart. I glance at the girl beside me.

"Hi," I force out. She turns to me.

"Hello,"

"What subject are we having right now?"

"Maths," she says with a smile.

"Oh," I nod. "Thanks".

My eyes travel around the room and a satisfied smile crawl to my lips. The students looked normal, some fashionable and the others simple. Both males and females looked calm and focused. I shut my eyes and say a word of thank you to God. I'm just glad there won't be much drama. The smile hovers on my face as I anticipate a peaceful time in Study Great Tutorial. I pull out one of my exercise books from my bag and just when my pen is about to touch my book, boisterous laughter startled me– not just me but everyone in the class. Girls strut into the class as they giggle. They wave their hands apologetically at us, still mirthful. I spot the long colourful acrylic nails on their fingers, with different golden rings to back it up. Their crazy jeans reveal their thighs as they swing their hip left to right and their crop top just a few inches below their chest region. It didn't stop there.  A few boys and girls walked in and they all occupy the back seats. The one that caught my eyes is the tall, dark-skinned figure with a high afro haircut. His bright black eyes scan the class and he had a flirtatious smirk on. He even dares to wink at a fine girl on a seat in the front row. She giggled and this eventually incenses the teacher.

"What's wrong with this one? Go to your seat. Are you here for girls or your study? All these mumu boys ehh," he growls and continues the class. As he is teaching, the murmurs from the backseaters echoed.

The girl beside me growls and she mumbles, "Every time they are always doing this".

"Them?"

She turns to me in shock. Realizing she spoke aloud, she nods. "Yeah!"

"Oh! Why isn't the teacher chasing them out?"

"Oh," she chuckles. "He will soon. He is just slow to anger".

I glance at the teacher who is talking as if he is only teaching the students at the front row.

I glance at the girl once again. She looks like someone I can befriend. The golden opportunity was shining too bright. My opportunity to make a friend. I need to overcome my past self. If I am to survive here, I need to mingle....a little. Also, I need to complete my note. And if I don't have a friend to lend me a note, then I'm in trouble. I know the step I'm about to take will force me out of my comfort zone but I'll try. However, what I mean by friend isn't what others might see it as. I have learnt to never trust. My family betrayed me after my parents' death. If my family can betray me, why not a friend? The word 'friend' means nothing to me. I just use the term to get people to help me out. Like right now, I need to complete my note and I need a friend to help me out with this.

"I'm Ifunanya," I say in a whisper. She didn't hear me so I repeat. "My name is Ifunanya".

She glances at me and she asks, "What did you say?"

I suck in a long breath.  "I'm....My...I...My name is Ifunanya."

She smiles. "Hi, I'm Glory".

"Nice to meet you," I stretch my hand to her. "Can...."

I pause and scrutinize her. She looks like a nice girl.

"Can we be friends?" I say and hold my breath, awaiting her reply.

She nods. "Sure"

"I'm new here. Can you please lend me your note?"

"Of course" she giggles and nudges me. "But you must return it?"

"I will"

The laughter of the noisy black seaters slices through the teacher's words and he yells. "You! You ! And that big head there" he points at girls and boys. "Leave my class now".

The group laughs and he glares at them all. "Every one of you must leave my class now"

They all rise. I expected them to apologise but I was wrong. They all leave the class. Their gait, as one who is on a runway and has to look his or her best for the camera. The boys ensure to keep a good view of their face as they swagger out and the girls just ensure their back view was worth watching. My eyes narrowed at them. What's wrong with these ones?

With their absence, we enjoy a much peaceful class and then, the bell rings for the next class. The noisy group return to the class and the class goes back to being unbearable.

During the lunch break, I and Glory go outside to find a shop with something we desire to purchase.

"I have friends I will like to introduce to you. We are like a reading club. We read after classes. Do you want to join?" Glory says to me as we walk towards a snack shop.

"Of course," I say and put on a bright smile to convince her. Actually, I don't have anything against a reading club. I'm determined to pass my utme exam and I need serious-minded friends.

"Look," Glory jerks her head towards the shop. "My friends are there".

I gaze at the three girls at the shop and shrug. "Okay".

"They are nice. You'll like them"

I purse my lips together. We'll see about that.

We go to the shop and meet up with them. They are so engrossed in their conversation they didn't even care to acknowledge our presence.

"Two Coke, ma," One of the girls tell the shopkeeper.

"Ode! You are buying three. Aren't we three?" Another says. She is lighter in complexion than the rest.

"No! I am not gonna do that. I'm not buying for you. I'm just buying for myself and Busayo," she replies and points to the curvaceous girl beside her.

"Faith, what about me?" Glory butts in.

"Ehen! Why not eat me raw na? I no get money oo" Faith exclaims and burst into laughter.

"Hey, babe" a boy just pop to our side. I frown in disapproval. He doesn't see it since his eyes are on Busayo who rolls her eyes. "What is it?" She sneers.

"I'm here for you babe," he says and winks.

"He is just playing with fire," the light-skinned girl says with a careless shrug.

"I am the fire. It is you, girls that are in danger," he retorts and chuckles at his boring remark.

"Abeg! Commot for our sight jor," Busayo snaps. "All these yeye boys ehh".

"No oo! There is one that is not yeye," Faith says and giggles. She is slim but not like me, she has flesh to show off. "You know na".

"Abeg! You girls sef eh," the boy scowls and walks away.

The girls burst into peals of laughter. "Ode!" Busayo yells at him.

"Who knows the guy I'm talking about? The one that's not yeye?" Faith asks with a mischievous smirk on her face.

"You mean Simon?" The light-skinned girl says.

"Yep! The rich, hot guy! He should come my way oo. I am single"

Are these Glory's friends? I couldn't help but look at them with disgust. Is this the serious-minded people I was hoping to find? I felt so disappointed.  I don't think I'm joining this their so-called reading club.

"Guys, meet Ifunanya" Glory announced and dropped her arm on my shoulder. My stomach churned as I was self-conscious of my body and my scars.

"Hello, Welcome. I'm Busayo"

"And I'm Rose," the light-skinned girl chirps and waves at me.

"And I'm Faith"

"She said she will join our reading club," Glory added.

"Calm down. Did I?" I exclaim with my eyes wide open.

"Yes"

"Well... I'm not sure again," I shrug her arm off me.

"Why?" she raises a brow at me.

"I'm... don't worry"

"Tell me na"

"Don't worry. I'm just not sure if I will have time to join," I lie.

"Oh"

Yeah! I don't have time for nonsense.

"Welcome to this tutorial where gossip dey," Rose titters.

"Glory, did you know that girl went to confess her feelings to Simon? He just snub her. The thing pain her die," Faith says in a whisper and burst into laughter.

"He has a girlfriend na," Glory replies.

"When? He is single oo"

I shut my eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. I shouldn't be involved in this. I hate gossip. I'm too old for this immature girl's talk. I shake my head at them and proceed to buy my snacks from the shop.

"How? You make am single ni?"

"He is single na. Go and ask him," Glory say with a firm voice.

The girls fall silent. I even had to glance at them to check if all is well. They all have an amused look on their faces and Busayo announces, "I will go and ask him. I'm not even scared".

"Boss!" They hail her, their arms in the air.

She marches towards them, pauses and turns around, jogging  back to us.

"Thunder fire una. You wan Precious to target me as her next victim. That girl likes to act as if all her friends belong to her only. She doesn't allow any girl beside them. The worst is for Simon. She likes the guy more than a friend but e be like say he friend-zoned her sorry ass," Busayo discloses and full-fledged laughter erupts from them.

It is officially. I need to make new friends. I start my journey back to the tutorial. I didn't even bother to inform them that I was heading back. Climbing up the stairs, I see a figure hurriedly descending. Simon's face is revealed when the bright sun reflects on his chocolate skin. Our eyes meet at that moment.

I will pause you all here. I have read romance stories too. I know what you all might be imagining so I will clarify— No! Our eye contact wasn't romantic. Just normal.

I go to the left-hand side of the stairs so he can easily pass. His movement reduces to a slow pace as he takes each step closer to me. I didn't move though. I wanted him to pass. Two steps away, I could smell his cologne. Quite refreshing. He smirks and winks at me. And that's when my angry side comes to life, I hiss and sneer, "Who are you winking at? Rubbish!"

I didn't make eye contact with him as I stomp up the stairs.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I do appreciate it. Vote and Comment ❤️❤️

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