Lela's POV

  'His girlfriend?'

  “Edith is his girlfriend?” I wanted to be sure. I didn't really know anything about them. Like I've been here for only two days but, their relationship didn't seem like a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship.

  “Yes. Didn't you see the way she reacted? That girl is a jealous bitch and that makes her dangerous. So, please be careful, Lela.” She said as she touched my shoulders.

  “Well, you know I didn't do anything. Temi was the one who came here.” I retorted.

  “I know. I'm just saying that you should be careful of both Edith and Temi.”

  “Thanks a lot. But then, you did mention that Edith was dangerous and just a while ago she threatened to deal with you later. What is she going to do?” I was curious. I mean,  I needed to understand what was going on around me.

  “Oh, sometimes they are just empty threats.” She simply said.

   “Sometimes? Then what about other times?” I adjusted my wristwatch and placed my hands on the desk.

  “Other times, she means it.” She closed the book she was reading and placed it inside her locker.

  “So, does she mean her threats this time?” I asked.

  “I can't tell.” She sighed.

  “But, are you scared?” I asked.

  “Hmm. I feel a lot of things when it comes to Temi and Edith.” She made a fist.

  “Things like what?” I asked. We were sitting in a position that let us look at each others faces. From behind Judith I could see Huoma copying some notes. She seemed lost in that, otherwise she would have been a part of this conversation.

  “Hate, anger, bitterness and a little fear. But, I'm unable to express these feelings. I think it's due to the fear. Guess the fear consumes me more after all.”

  I couldn't believe what I just heard. This girl that seems so happy, so innocent had these feelings raging in her. I wondered what Temi and Edith had done to her that had made her so bitter towards them.

  So, I decided to ask her, “What exactly did they do to you that has made you hate them so much?”

  She looked into my eyes immediately the question left my mouth. She was uneasy at first, my question had caught her off guard.

  “Not to me alone. I'm sure everyone in this class, maybe apart from a few, has something against Temi and Edith.” She smirked.

   'Were they that bad?'

  “But, what did they do to you? I'm curious.”

  She laughed and after a long pause she said, “it was back in SS1. I was new here. I thought they were the coolest kids in our class and they also hanged around with the popular kids. I liked Edith, I mean, she was so beautiful and poised as someone with so much class. So, I decided to be friends with them.”

  'I also wanted to be friends with Edith.'

  She continued after a short pause, “Then, there was the handsome Temi. I started crushing on him.”

  'Tell me about it. The boy is the epitome of handsomeness.'

  “I mean who wouldn't crush on him?  He was so handsome. Even the senior girls liked him. But then, there was Edith who was head over heels for him. Temi also liked her, I think. They've been close since, JSS1.”

  “Wow, that long?” I asked

  She nodded, “Yes. Edith asked me to stay away from Temi. Just like she's asking you to. Temi didn't make things any easier. Not that I was asking for him to be my boyfriend or anything like that but, he always bullied me. He was the one that branded me four eyes.”

  “I thought so.” I said. I mean I wasn't surprised. Akamu? Four eyes? It must have been him.

   “Then,  I had a note pad where I doodled. One time, Edith snatched the note pad away from me and she found some stuff I was fantasizing about myself and Temi.”

  “Jeez. What did she do?”

  “Hmm. She showed it to him and they both showed it to the whole class almost the whole school. Everyone made fun of me and I cried so much. Temi said a lot of hurtful words to me. He called me pathetic. I almost committed suicide, Lela.” She had an unusual smile on her face.

  “Jesus Christ! They did all that? You tried committing suicide?” I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

  She nodded with the same unusual smile, “Yes. They kicked me out of their group. Not just kicking me out like, 'hey you are out.' No, they had to embarrass me at each opportunity they got. Then, Edith promised to deal with me and she did.”

  “What did she do?” I asked.

  “It was during a test. I swear, I didn't know how that paper got there. I later found out that it was all Edith.”

  “What paper?”

  “The paper had answers to the test questions. It was expo. Expo, under my seat. Am I that kind of girl?” She asked.

  I shook my head, “No. You are intelligent and I know that. I have seen your performance in class. She smiled at me.

  “Back then, Edith used to sit on the seat opposite from mine. She started screaming that I was cheating, that she had saw a paper fall from my skirt. What did I know?  The paper was right there when the teacher got there.”

  “They believed that you cheated?” I asked her, I mean how could they? Judith smiled again.

  “They did. Their plan was well thought out. The answers were all typed, they weren't handwritten so, I couldn't prove my innocence. They sent for my parents the next day. My parents pleaded for me not to be expelled or suspended.” She paused for a long while that I thought she wouldn't continue.

  I was getting impatient so, I asked, “What happened next?”

  She turned to look at me, she had that unusual smile again. I saw her raise her skirt, she showed me a scar under her laps. I gasped at the sight of it.

  “How did you get that?” I asked in a loud whisper.

  “I have a very strict and disciplined father. The school agreed not to punish me, due to my parents' pleas. But, my father dealt with me severely, for something I knew nothing about.” She opened her locker to bring out the book she was reading. I could see she was trying to fight back her tears.

  I couldn't believe this. Those kids were monsters. I turned behind to look at them. Edith, Obusor and Kevwe were at Temi and Joel's seat. They were all talking about something and were laughing. I frowned at them.

  I stumbled on those dark eyes. He was staring at me with a blank expression. I glared at him and turned to face Judith. Her eyes were buried in the book she had before, I looked closer and saw the title, 'The concubine.' I remember that novel, it was written by Elechi Amadi.

  “I'm sorry.” Those were the only words I could say. Judith turned abruptly to look at me, like the words I spoke had given her a cold bath. But, a smile crawled to her lips.

  “It's okay. I just don't want what happened to me, to happen to you. That's why I keep warning you to be careful.” She said.

  “I understand. Thanks for watching out for me.” I smiled at her.

  “It's okay.” She said and I pulled her into a bear hug.

  “I can't....breath.” she joked.

  “Oh. I'm sorry.” I said, releasing her and we burst into laughter. Just then, the bell went off. The short break was over.

A/N

Hello beautiful readers. I hope you had as much fun reading this chapter as I did writing it.
So, what do you think about Temi and Edith from the story Judith told?
Do you agree that Lela should be careful of Temi and Edith?
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