Why? Why me? What kind of bad luck is this?

"Naomi, I am going oo!" Anita yelled from the living room. "As the headgirl, I can't be late for school".

"No problem! You can go! Leave me to bear my cross alone!" I walked into the living room and waved my school skirt in the air.

"What happened?" she asked and flung her schoolbag on her shoulder.

"My stupid zip spoilt!"

"Hian! How are we going to repair it now?"

"I need a seamster!"

That is why I like Nigeria! You can find a seamster/ tailor moving about with his sewing machine with him. I have forgotten the native name we call them. But seriously, they can be lifesavers. I just need to find one and he will repair my stupid zip.

"Sha...I can't be late for school so I am going. Your debate is today. Better repair that zip!" Anita made her way to the entrance door. "Buh-bye! You know I love you!" She waved and left.

I opened my mouth and did a silent scream. This is so annoying!

I can't count the number of times I have repaired that zip. It is like the zips are fake. Wait...maybe they are actually fake. Are they made in Nigeria or China?

I clutched my skirt and stomped out of the house. I stood outside the big gate, watching with wide eyes.

Oh Lord, I need one of the seamsters to pass now. I can't go late to school. What if a teacher flogs me and I forget all my debate speech?

I don't know the minutes that passed but minutes later, a lanky man moved down my street. He had a manual sewing machine on his head. He held two pieces of metal that he slammed together to get attention.

"Pssh!" I whistled. He still moved, unaware of my presence at the corner of the road. "Tailor!" I screamed. This time he turned to face me. He was distance away. I gestured for him to come. He nodded and made his way towards me.

"Good morning sir!" I greeted. I can't forget my home trainings, always greet your elders. I am sure we all have heard that, right? He looks like he is in his early thirties so I just decided to greet for greeting sake.

"Good morning!" he said with a strong Hausa accent.

"I need you to sew a new zip for my skirt!" I pointed at the zip.

He nodded, "Okay!"

"It must be black oo! I need a black zip! Do you have that?"

"Ah! It don finish oo"

"Ah ahan! How can it finish like that?"

It be like say the people from my village they follow me. How can I be having such bad lucks?

"It is okay! You can go! Thank you!" I said and fanned my hand at him dismissively.

"Sorry oo! Don't worry! I go get am tomorrow!" he said as he left.

Tomorrow? I need it now! I know that no tailors' shop has opened!

Some minutes later, I gave up. I looked at my black skirt and sighed.

The skirt wasn't plain black. It had thin straight lines. An idea popped in my head. I could see a bright bulb above me....in my imagination!!!

My school badge is on my long sleeve while my skirt is just plain. If I wear a different skirt, it won't change anything. If they question me, I will tell them my skirt spoilt.

I stared at my kind of oversized skirt. It usually swallows all my curves, making me look as straight as number one.

I walked back into my room and began to scatter the clothes in my wardrobe. At last, I found a plain black skirt. This skirt was one of my old clothes that I had stopped wearing. I don't really know why I stopped wearing it sha!

"There is no harm in trying!" I said and wore the skirt. To my surprise, it fitted well. In fact, it fitted too well.

My mouth dropped. It looked like I was wearing a pencil skirt. My hip was prominent in the bright black fitted skirt. I turned around and gasped.

Geez! How is my butt looking big? This skirt is full of surprises! Should I wear it?....No! It is too fitted! I don't want to draw attention to myself.

I glanced at the clock hung at my wall. Tears stung my eyes.

I don die! 9:39 am! Who will save me now? I will have to sneak into the school building.

I looked at the skirt and hissed, "Mtchew! Who cares what others think of this skirt! I like it jare!"

I picked my schoolbag and ran out of the house. I ran like I was a thief chased by soldiers with AK-47.

I got close to the school building. I had stopped at a house close to it. I took in some fresh air to halt my panting. At the other end of the street, I noticed a tall figure in our school uniform bouncing towards the school building.

Thank God oo! I am not the only one that is late. I don't know why Nigerians are like this. If we are the only one suffering, it annoys us but if someone is suffering with us, we would be like 'At least, I am not the only one suffering!'. Does anyone agree with my theory?

I smiled at my fellow latecomer. The figure drew nearer and I noticed it was Freddy.

"Freddy!" I whispered. He was at the other side so we were facing each other. He paused and arched a brow.

I pointed at the school gate and pouted.

I hope he gets my message. I am trying to tell him that I don't know how to get to the school gate without getting in trouble.

He shook his head and strode to the gate. He beckoned that I should come. I walked and got close to him.

"Good morning!" I greeted.

"Morning, Cupcake! Are you ready?"

"Ready for what?"

"We need to sneak into our class without any teacher catching us!"

"Okay! What's the plan?"

"Follow my lead!" he smirked and pushed the gate open. We walked in.

Luckily, most teacher were in their classes, teaching their students. The assembly ground was empty. We spotted the gatekeeper and he frowned at us.

"See the time you are coming to school!" he sneered.

"Good morning sir!" I greeted with a brusque tone.

Freddy didn't greet. He just pulled me away. We walked into the school building and that's when things got difficult. The principal and vice principal were in the hallway. Freddy and I needed to go to the stairs. That was the only way we could get to our class. But if we are to get to that stairs, the principal or V.C might notice us.

Freddy pulled me outside and whispered "We need a new plan!"

"Can we use the back door?" I asked.

His face lit up and he replied "If we get caught, we will be dead meats! But let's do it!"

We went to the back of the building and sneaked in. Some school cleaners were there but we sneaked past them. We got to the other stairs that would lead to our class and we flew up it. I didn't even know that Freddy and I were holding hands. I just noticed that when we got to our class door.

The next problem was how we would get to our class. What if a teacher was in there?

"The class is silent!" Freddy pointed out. "There must be a teacher in there!"

"Oh!"

"Let's go to our study room! When this class is over, we can go into the classroom!"

"Fine with me! I even need to revise my debate speech!"

We went to the class. I had dropped my schoolbag and was standing at the front of the class.

"Freddy," I called to get his attention. "Please, listen to me. I want to recite my debate speech!"

"No p! I am liste...." he trailed off and his eyes travelled slowly up and down my figure. Then he did a double take.

My brows snapped together.

He just made me to feel weird. Is the skirt that bad?

"What's wrong?" I fumed and placed my hands on my hip while tapping my feet.

"Hmm..." he dragged his eyes to my face. "You look different and..."

"Yes! The zip of my skirt spoilt and I had to wear one of my old black skirts!" I replied and rolled my eyes. "Is the skirt that bad?"

"Ah! No ooo! Please wear it everyday!" he exclaimed in a heartbeat.

I lifted a brow and his cheek rose up as he blushed.

"I...I..I mean..." he stuttered. "You look...um..BEAUTIFUL in it!" he had stressed the word beautiful!

My eye widened and then, I began to blush. My cheek was so warm that it felt like it would melt.

"T..Th..Thank you!" I also stuttered while looking at my shoe.

I am so weird. What's so interesting about an old school shoe?

I glanced at his face and he had an unreadable expression.

"Hmm...back to my debate!" I said. "Can I say it?"

"Of course na!" he simpered.

I practiced for a while before the bell rung. We got to the class and Anita was there.

"Who will represent the school in a maths competition?" she asked.

"I will!" some mathematics geniuses in our class chorused. Ken was among them.

"What about English?"

"I will!" some English geniuses chorused. Kate was among them.

"Please, come and write your name if you want to represent us. Our school was invited to Charisma High College. There is an occasion going on there. It's called Students' Week! We need you to represent us" Anita announced. "Does anyone know where my sister is?"

"I am here!" I voiced.

"Oh! Ehen! Did you repair your zip?" she asked.

"No! I wore a different skirt!"

Her eyes darted to my skirt and it widened. She looked back at me and smirked.

"I love that skirt! It looks awesome on you!" she commented. She turned back to the class. "Have you written your names? How many are you guys?"

"There are two students who volunteered for the English competition!" Kate replied.

"That should be enough! I will get some representatives from SS3" Anita said. "How about maths?"

"We have four representatives!" someone replied.

"Errrr...okay! No wahala! Get you paper and pen! The bus will leave soon"

As soon as Anita made her way to the door, I followed her.

"Anita," I placed my hand on her arm. "Can Freddy come with me?"

"Freddy?"

"Yeah! Just add him among the students that would follow!"

"Naomi, I know you like your boyfriend but he can't..."

I cut in, "No oo! Freddy was the one who helped me learn my debate. In case I forget some of my speech, maybe if I look at his face I will remember. You get what I am saying?"

"Oya na! I will add his name to the list of students that will come with us! Is that okay?"

"Yes! Thanks!" I sighed in relief.

"Mmhmm!" Anita cocked a brow at me as she walked away. "Are you sure you don't have another reason?"

"No!" I snapped and watched as she strutted into a different classroom.

I walked back into our classroom.

"Freddy, you are following me to the competition!" I told him. He rose both brows.

"Why?"

"Don't you want to be there to support me?" I pouted. "Beside I learned my debate with you. In case I forget my speech, I can look into your face. Maybe I will remember it!"

"Okay! Sure! I even want to see you perform! Don't fall my hand oo!" a muffled laughter escaped his lips.

"I won't!" I smacked his arm. I dropped my school bag and sat down.

"Naomi oo!" Peggy shrieked. "Today is the day! Today is the day you are gonna say your debate!"

"Yeah!" I nodded.

"I am proud of you!"

I smiled at her.

"Come and hug me jor!" she hissed and stretched her arms for a hug.

I got to my feet.

"Wait!" Peggy placed her palm in front of my face. "Is that your school skirt?"

"Oh!" I exclaimed. "No!"

"Jesus is Lord! Haba! You carry eh! See shape!"

"Girl, don't let the skirt deceive you. My hip is not that wide or curvy!"

"At least, you have hip na! It is not like my own! Do I even have anything?"

I shook my head and walked to her.

"Abeg, you have! You are a fine girl na!"

"Freddy," Peggy gushed. "Have you seen your girlfriend?"

Freddy looked at me and smirked. "Yes na!"

"Guy, you are enjoying!" she winked at him and he chuckled.

My forehead creased and I slapped her arm. "What do you mean by that?"

"Mtchew!" she hissed and giggled.

"Peggy!" I snarled.

"What? I just said he is enjoying! Is that a bad thing?"

"I think that what you said has a hidden meaning!"

"Come!" she whispered. "Don't you want your boyfriend to see you and be like 'Damn, my girlfriend is sexy. Look at that nice ass' ?"

I looked at her in disbelief.

"Ah ahan! Calm down! I am just joking!" she chuckled. "But on a serious note, that skirt makes you look sexy!"

"Ooh! Next time I won't wear it!"

"Naomi, you be mumu! That skirt is fine jor"

"Sha! I won't wear it again!"

She pouted and poked her finger at my belly.

"Anyhoo! How is my Fraomi ship sailing?

"It sank!" I teased.

"What?" she slapped my head.

"Ouch!"

"Don't even dare say that! You and Freddy are meant to be together. Don't sink that ship" she threatened and walked to Freddy. "You too!"

"What did I do?" he asked, unaware of the situation.

"You must not allow the Fraomi ship to sink. It must sail!"

"Fraomi ship?"

"Na wa for you! Freddy plus Naomi is equals to what?"

"Erm...I think you have lost your senses!" he teased and laughed.

She grunted and replied "It is equals to Fraomi! You people should stop laughing at me. I am even supporting your relationship!"

"Well! Thank you very much!" Freddy smiled at her and winked at me.

I shook my head though I was also smiling.

"Oya!" Anita stormed into the class. "If I call your name, go to the bus downstairs! We need to go to the occasion!"

She mentioned names and the students walked out.

"Naomi, Freddy, Peggy, Nonso, Kenneth, Katherine,...." Anita called out.

I smiled at Freddy and gestured for him to go with me. We walked out of the class together.

It is time to go and conquer my stage fright and to do a good presentation!

~~~Author's note ~~~

What do you think of this chapter? Did you enjoy it?

If you were among the latecomers in school raise your hand!!

Me: 🤭🤭🙋🏾🙋🏾(I am among ooo!)

If your school uniform has ever torn or If the zip of your school uniform has spoilt before, raise your hand.

Me: 🤭🤭😂😂🙋🏾🙋🏾 (I was a victim oo!)

How are you all? I hope all is well?

Thanks for reading this chapter! Love you all! Don't forget to VOTE!!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stay safe,
Your Naija Babe!!!