What a beautiful morning. I said to myself.
I left my room and went into the living room, I was shocked to see Sister Tayo at the dining table with a cup of coffee.

"Good morning Rose." She said without looking back.

"Good morning ma."

"Start preparing for school." She ordered.

" OK, ma. Are you OK?" I asked.

"Yeah, Kola didn't come home yesterday, I guess he already made up his mind." She told me.

"Oh, I think he doesn't know how to face you and apologize."

"I don't need his apology." She said and faced me with a stern look.

"I'll have to start preparing for school," I said.

"OK, I'll be dropping you at school then," She said.
"It's fine. I can go myself, I wouldn't want to stress you."

"I insist." She said.

"Ok, ma."

I went into my room to start preparing.

7:05 am

I was in my room when Sister Tayo walked in. Do you have dirty clothes? The laundry woman is here." She said.
"Yeah, I do. I tried using the washing machine few days ago but it wasn't working, I had to wash them manually." I said.

"Yeah, I've had dozens of repairers to fix it, it'll work and only last for few weeks; I was even surprised it lasted this long." She smiled.

"Oh" I said.

"I can see you're ready. Get the clothes out, I'll be waiting for you in the car outside and be fast about that." She said.
"OK ma."

She left.
I went through my clothes, the new and old ones. I barely had time to separate them, I picked the dirty clothes. I was about rearranging the clothes when I saw my former school uniform, this made me remember my classmates and my teachers. I didn't give them a notice before leaving school; they came visiting when they heard about the incident.

I decided to fold it back into the wardrobes. There's no need to have it washed since I would not be wearing it again. I said to myself.

I picked it up and tried folding it, then I felt something inside the uniform's pocket, I remove it and I saw a key. My mother's last words echoed in my head, "protect this key and do not tell anyone"
I almost forgot about this. I said to myself.
I was curious about the key, I don't even know what it was all about, but I'm sure it must be very important.

"Rose!!! Sister Tayo shouted.
I returned the key to the uniform's pocket, ran out and gave the woman the clothes. I greeted the woman but she didn't respond.

" Rose, you're running late." Sister Tayo said.
I rushed into the car.

"How many books did you take Rose. That bag looks heavy." She said and smiled.

"Just some books." I smiled.

"Rose, I really don't want you to keep bad friends in school, if it's possible; do not make friends. That boy...errrrm what's his name again?" She asked.

"Alex.", I said, looking offended.

"Yeah, Alex. I don't like his company at all." She said.

" why? He has been helpful." I said.

I don't like it when she talks while driving.

"I just need you to be careful." She added.

"OK ma." I replied.

7:22 am

"Bye!" I said and left the car. I didn't wait for her reply.
I entered the classroom and everyone kept quiet, I don't know why but I felt it was about my absence yesterday.
"Hey." Martha waved.

"Good morning Martha."I said.

"Good morning Rose. I'm happy to see you." She said.

"Thanks. I said and we both walked to my seat."
"Where's Alex." I asked.

"I saw him a while ago, he should be around." She said.

"I'll see you later." She said and left.

I was about settling down when I saw Alex and a girl laughing really hard. Oh that's Maria, so they've reconciled? I asked myself.

"Hey, Rose." Alex waved and they both walked towards me. I don't want to have any conversation with this Maria, she's too rude for my liking.

"Good morning Alex.", I said and managed to smile.

"Good morning. Maria wants to apologize for the other day." He said.

"What day?" I asked pretending like I can't remember.

"I'm so sorry Rose, I'm sorry if I was mean to you.",Maria said.
"It's alright, I understand."

"OK, thanks." She said and left, leaving Alex.

"So how did it go?" He asked.

"What?" I replied.

"The confrontation. Did your aunt ask her husband about the whole issue." He said and smiled.
"He wasn't around but we met Yvonne at home." I told him.

"And?" He asked.

" We discovered that Yvonne is not Mr. Kola's cousin. They had it all planned out, for like five to six years of marriage she thought they were relatives." I explained.
"Wow, that's messed up." He said.

" it is. She's filing a divorce." I said.

"What? Divorce. That's way too extreme." He said.

"Yeah, she's not really happy about it either." I said.

"Oh." He said.

"So you guys reconciled?" I asked.
"Who? Maria?" He asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, she apologized and we settled."  He said.
"Oh."

"Yeah. He added.
______________________________________________

3:45 pm

today was stressful than usual. I arranged my books and I was about leaving when I saw Maria coming towards Alex and I. I don't know what she's up to, but I know she's up to no good at all.

" Hey!" She said and waved at Alex.
Alex waved back.

"Am I the only one that did not understand today's topic in the maths class?" She asked.

"I guess, it's quite simple." Alex said.

"Really, could you please spend an hour after school to explain it to me. Please." She said looking pitiful.

"I I don't know, maybe some other time." He said.
"Please, or is it because you and Rose walk home together? She'll wait, right Rose?" She asked facing me.

"I can't, but he can go ahead. I have some things to attend to at home." I said.

"Oh, that's great. Moreover, we both know you can't get lost." She said and laughed. I knew she was up to no good, Alex should just be careful around her.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow." I said and left.

"Hey! Martha said, trying to catch up with me.
"Let's walk home together." I offered.

"Sure."

"Ladies." David walked up to us.

"Hi, David." I said.

"How are you, Rose?" He replied.

"I'm good, you?"

"Fine, and about that night; how did it go?" He asked.

" I was about asking." Martha smiled.

"Well, it went well. I told my aunt and she found out herself." I said.
"That's great, so her husband is no longer threatening you right?" David asked.

"I was about asking that too. David do you read minds" She said loudly and we all laughed.

"I'm sorry, f I said your lines. Just try talking faster next time." David smiled.

"Where's Alex.", David asked.

"With that cocky Maria.",Martha remarked.

"Are they back together?" David asked.

"Were they ever together? Martha asked.

"So you are unaware." David laughed harder than expected.

"You don't expect me to know everything that's going on in Royal High Academy. I'm not the nosy type." Martha said.

" Well, they were but I don't know if they're back together." He said.

"How do you know this, you're not even our classmate She said looking amazed.
"Well, in ss2 C we have the best rumor carriers in our class."

I listened to their conversation and I was glad we were getting along, I felt kind of empty and I don't know why. I guess it's because I was now getting used to Alex and I walking home together.

David and Martha got to their gate, because they are flatmates we all exchanged goodbyes.

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