"I went to the toilet but when I was out, I didn't find any of our school buses. So I decided to wait till the next morning", I lied. Deep down, I knew that what I said didn't make sense but that was the best I could come up with. "I know you're lying. You want to put us into trouble, you wicked child. But thank God, your evil plans didn't work", the principal said, disdainfully. "And also, make sure you repeat the same to your school when they arrive", she said, sternly.

Just then, a message came to her. It was from our school's principal.
She gave me a devilish grin and told me to follow her. As I looked back at the students who helped me, they turned away their faces in disgust.
Not surprised; I'm their arch-enemy now. I whispered a "thank you" to them before I followed the principal.
When we got to her office, I saw my school's principal waiting anxiously. He relaxed when he saw me and gave me a questioning look.
Following after was Madonna's principal. She didn't spare any details from my principal. She even suggested that I should be flogged mercilessly when I reached school.

My principal gave me a disappointed look and thanked Madonna's principal for keeping me safe.
When we went outside the office, he poured out his heart to me. "I'm so disappointed in you. Do you know how worried I was last night? I thought you were better than this. You wanted to implicate that school.", he said as we approached the school bus. I didn't reply to him; I just endured it all.
Do you know the bitter part of it all? It's when you know the truth but you aren't willing to say it. It hurts.

************************************
Back in there at Madonna, the air was thick with tension as there was a quarrel among the Mafians. The room was dimly lit, casting eerie shadows on the faces of the members. The sound of raised voices reverberated off the walls, creating a palpable atmosphere of conflict.

"Titus, you call yourself a leader but you can't think straight. What are we supposed to do now?" Robin, one of the members, asked, his voice filled with frustration. The clinking of glasses and shuffling of chairs added to the charged atmosphere as the confrontation unfolded.

"You dare not speak to me in that way. I wanted him dead, but...." Titus was interrupted by Kane's mocking laughter. The sound of his laughter echoed in the room, intensifying the tension. "Look at this fool. Tiger, you are a very wicked person. So how you chained that boy like an animal wasn't enough for you. Now you're talking nonsense about him escaping. Let him go. I was even planning on helping him sef", Kane spat out. A fight ensued between the two, each throwing punches at each other. The sound of grunts and thuds filled the air as they exchanged blows. "I made a mistake by being a member of this fallen cult. Count me out," Kane said, his voice strained with emotion, as he pushed Titus to the floor and left.

There was murmuring amongst the Mafians, the echoes of their whispers mingling with the tension in the room. Kane's departure left six members standing alongside him.

Titus was embittered deeply. He remembered those good times when everyone was loyal to him, the scent of power and respect heavy in the air. Now, the great Mafians had fallen, and it was all because of one person - Sam. As he stood up from the floor and dusted himself off, the metallic taste of blood lingered in his mouth. Smiling devilishly at the ones remaining, he said, "This is only the beginning of that, Sam. Let's wait till vacation," the bitterness in his voice almost palpable.

**********************************
When we got to school, everyone was poking their faces out of the window to see me. The warm morning sun was casting a golden glow on the school environment, and a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves of the old oak tree. I looked over at my classroom block to see a happy Lida, Julius, Adaobi and everyone smiling back at me. The smell of freshly cut grass drifted in the air, and I could hear the distant chatter of students. I just waved at them before going straight to the hostel.

I was feeling too uncomfortable in the sportswear I'd been wearing since yesterday. After taking a hot shower, the steam filled the air, and the scent of my lavender-scented soap lingered. I decided to change into my daywear, feeling the soft fabric of my yellow-striped shirt and lightweight yellow shorts against my skin.

I pondered whether to move to the school block or not. The sound of birds chirping outside my window made me feel at ease. However, I convinced myself to stay back and catch some sleep. My body craved rest, and as I lay down, the soft sunlight filtered through the curtains, creating a calming atmosphere.

~Linda~
When I heard the repetitive beeping of the school bus, it seemed to echo through the empty corridors of the school. I was filled with a mix of anxiousness and hope, and I made my way swiftly to the entrance. As I looked outside, I could feel the cool breeze on my skin, and I peered down the road, patiently waiting for whoever was on the bus to step down.

My heart leapt with joy when I finally saw Sam, wearing a shy smile, as he stepped down from the bus. I couldn't help but glance around me and was surprised to see almost everyone craning their necks out of their respective windows to catch a glimpse of him. It was no secret that he had been missing, and I was glad to see that so many people cared about his return.

"Your boyfriend is back. Happy now?" Julius suddenly interjected, breaking the moment. "Stop kidding. We're just friends," I lied, although I knew deep down that there was truth in his words.

Despite knowing that he was going through a lot emotionally, I couldn't help but wonder whether he saw me as his girlfriend. I remembered what he had shared about his life, and I knew that I couldn't force myself on him. I reasoned that I would have to take it one step at a time.

Hours passed after the school bus arrived but he wasn't in class. I laughed when I envisioned him lying carelessly on his bed, the soft sunlight streaming through the window, casting a warm glow on his peaceful face. "The poor boy must be pretty tired by now", I thought. The thought that vacation was around the corner brought gloom to my face. The scent of chalk and books filled the classroom, adding to the feeling of impending monotony.

I looked at the bucket list, I've been writing since I fell in love with Sam. The paper was smooth under my fingertips, and the words were written with a bright blue pen that Sam had given me.

No one had been completed. I haven't even planned on doing anyone. The sound of students chatting and laughing echoed in the hallway, a faint background noise that always accompanied my thoughts about Sam.

Kiss in the rain- The thought of the rain's refreshing touch on my skin and the laughter bubbling up as Sam and I ran through the downpour filled my mind, go on a date together, buy each other something special and the craziest one- sleep together.

I smiled when I remembered the last one. "That's something that's never going to happen", I said to myself, the bittersweet taste of the words lingering on my lips.