"There's this girl in my school, her name is Linda. All the Pablo's ( bad boys) in my set have tried everything possible but she's a no go area. I would want to see you try", Julius said. "How're you so sure that I will end up in your school?", I asked. "Hmm, uncle would surely send you to British Spring College. That's like the best", Julius replied. "I hope so", I said. "You know we are on mid term break. Next week will be our resumption date. Tell uncle to register you before next week ", Julius said as he pulled over to Roban Stores. "I will, thanks", I appreciated. He bought some certain things before going to Adaobi's house.
                      Her parents weren't around. It was just her and her four year old brother. "Nice to see you, Julius and Sammy", she said giving us a warm smile. "Your parents aren't back from Onitsha, yet?", Julius asked. "Yeah, they'll probably come back by evening time", she smiled. "That means we have a lot of time", Julius said.
                         Wait, I didn't get the whole thing. Time for what? I pray it's not what is on my mind. "The assignments, I will get it right away", she said and left. "So you guys are study mates in school?", I asked. "Yeah, always helping each other with our studies", he replied. "Oh! I see, that's why you told me that rubbish. See what you have been imagining in your head", I said feeling disappointed. "Hey, don't preach to me. I didn't imagine anything and most importantly, don't let her hear you", he warned.
She came out with the project. "I am stuck here, I can't construct the tail of the lizard", she said.
                           I remembered doing something similar to that in Beckford. "Get me your working materials", I told her. "Let me get it", she blushed and ran to get it. When she got what I requested, I started working immediately. I cut the cardboard into the length of the tail and used the carton to cut out a sizable length I will paste the cardboard on. After that, I attached it to the bottom of the lizard.
"See, easy pizzy", I said when I was done. They both looked at me in amazement. "Seems we've gotten a project assistant here!", Adaobi exclaimed. "You haven't told us about your life there in US- your girlfriends and all of that ", she said anxiously. I had to tell them everything, starting from Julie and ending with Bliss. I didn't know when tears fell from my eyes. Adaobi reached out to me and gave me a handkerchief. That's when it dawned on me that I was crying. "I'm so sorry about your Bliss. Don't worry, you will find someone better here in Nigeria. And besides, why was she forming hard girl. Not replying your messages. I doubt if she even loved you!", she fumed.
It felt as if she felt my pain but who wouldn't feel it. Everything we did together, the promises we made to ourselves. Everything all went up in a smoke. The only thing that would solve this is my happiness.
                             The lesson Janet's story taught me was that everything happens for a reason. Let me just hope that she is happy wherever she is. "Hey Sammy", Adaobi called my attention. I looked at her direction and she continued. "Are you coming to our school?", she asked. "Maybe", I replied. "I pray you come. I want to be the one to introduce you to everyone", she said as she imagined moving the hallways with me. "Whenever it's maths time! It's fun time!", she shouted,  bringing out her mathematics assignments.
No doubt, Nigerian students were very hardworking. I thought they were just some bunch of block heads who derived joy in nuisance.
                          Julius later brought me back to my house. I told my mum about the school recommended to me. "Yeah son, your dad went today for the inquiries. You would be writing your entrance tomorrow and that's Julius's school. Was he the one that told you about it?", she enquired. "Yeah, he told me", I replied. "Oh! I see. Ask him for some notes. You must pass the entrance. No sorting!", she said sternly. "And lest I forget, your dad managed to secure his business. You should be proud of him", she said.
  "He did well", I said, going back to my room.
                            I called Julius and told him about the turn of events. He was very happy to hear that I was coming to their school. "That wouldn't be a problem. I would be coming to your house now with the notes", he said.
In a few minutes, I heard the "beep beep", of his scooter and he was right at the door knocking. I opened the door for him and welcomed him into the house. We revised the subjects he felt might be compulsory. A question suddenly popped into my mind. "Are you the best in your set?", I asked.
He narrowed his brow towards me and let out a huge sigh. "No, Dominion is. I'm second best. I have always tried to beat him but it seems he's unbeatable. The more I try, the more I keep landing on the same spot.", he said sadly.  I felt concerned for him. "Julius, do you want to know why you haven't been able to beat him?", I said looking at him. "It's because you're so bent on beating him. If you want to be the best, you have to work and improve yourself. Yourself alone! No looking back and calculating people's steps but your own alone. That's when you can become the overall best", I finally concluded. He seemed to have been refilled with courage and went back to his jovial nature. "Thanks Sam", he said.
                        I was surprised I said those things. When did I become good at giving speeches? I chuckled and smiled to myself. Just immediately, my  grandma called. "Dear, one of your friends dropped a letter for you", she said. "Who's that?", I asked. "She said her name was Bliss", grandma replied.
"Okay, just keep it safe for me and don't open. Love you grandma", I said and hung up. "Is everything okay?", Julius asked feeling concerned. "No, it's just that Bliss sent a letter to my grandma intended for me. I think maybe she wants to tell me that she had moved on with her life. Her number hasn't been reachable since and I guess she blocked me. Well, it's okay.", I said, holding my emotions.
"Don't worry. It would be fine someday", Julius assured. "Anyways, I think that's all for now. Thanks so much for helping", I said, closing the textbook and handing it over to him. "Go break a leg at the entrance", Julius said. "Yeah bro. I'll make you proud", I said as I watched him leave.
                        I wanted to find more about Bliss. I called Julie but she said that Bliss had relocated and hadn't been replying her calls. Charles wouldn't know anything, so I didn't bother calling him. Tomorrow was my entrance. I think that would be worth spending my time on for now. I browsed the web to see the school I was going to be boarding in. It looked cool. The thing that caught my attention was the school uniform. A blue and white shirt with grey trousers and a red tie. "That looks professional. I think I like that", I said.
                        My dad came back from work that evening with a travelling box. "I got this form for you son. Your entrance is tomorrow and I believe you will make us proud", he said waving the form in the air. "Mom briefed me on that already ", I said, collecting the portfolio sticking out of his pocket. "Wow! I like the school already. It doesn't look quack", I said. "Knew you would like it", Dad said as I hurried upstairs to show my mum.
Mum loved the school as well. I knew my journey has already started. Soon I will be flying to where destiny would take me.
                       The next day came sooner than I expected. I yawned as I pulled up the duvet covering my body. The gritting of my teeth and the coldness of my feet was an evidence that it was another cold night. "Good morning dad, Good morning mum", I shouted, which was a normal morning ritual for me. "Good morning son," my dad lazily said. I could tell from his voice that he was very sleepy. I moved to the bathroom to get ready. Today will be fun.