< A true friend is someone who thinks you're a good egg, even though you're half-cracked >

- Carl Sandburg.

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                       Damilola
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The classroom was noisy, different chattering here and there, so I couldn't focus on my Harry Potter book. I guess I wasn't the only one who couldn't focus. Ivan was busy writing something, and he kept groaning in anger. Even his friends, Segun and Raymond, were also feeling his frustration.

Before I could get up and head for the library, Mr Akin entered the class with....I couldn't believe it! It was..

... Daniella!

She was absent for about four days or so, and she didn't even take permission from the school authorities. Perhaps, she fell really ill or something.

"Good morning class," Mr Akin greeted, narrowing his eyes at everyone present in class. While, Daniella just stood quietly, clenching onto her bag strap, without exchanging glances with anyone.

"Good morning sir," the class echoed.

"So, as you can see," he directed his gaze to Daniella. "Daniella is back with us after a long week of rest. She was very ill, so she needed some rest. I ask that you all please, take care of her and help her catch up with the class activities she's missed."

I was right then, she was sick.

"So, Daniella you can have your seat," he gestured his hand to my seat, since we're partners. She sluggishly walked over to our seat, still lowering her head. Before sitting, she directed her vision to the backseat, staring at someone. I looked behind, and noticed her staring at Ramson's guys, but I couldn't tell who.

She sat down and I greeted her, but there was no response.

How rude!

I brushed her action off, mainly because she's probably going through something I don't know. Just then, Joy walked into the classroom. Our eyes met, but she broke the gaze and skirted her way to her seat.

Since Daniella is back, Joy won't be sitting with me. I guess Joy is still upset with me and I feel guilty. My conscience has been eating me up since on Saturday, and I can't live like this. Joy is my best friend and I'm her bestie! We can't live without each other because it's not just possible.

Joy has always supported me, and what did I do in return? I insulted her good deed and our friendship. The way she left on Saturday, made it obvious she was pained, and I'm to blame.

I'm going to apologize to her! I can't live without her, and obviously she can't live without me.

"We teachers are having a meeting with the principal," Mr Akin announced, interrupting my thoughts. "I don't want to hear noise from this class. You all are seniors at this school, so act like one. I also want my class to be known as the most coordinated class in this school, so please no noise. Captain," he averted his gaze to Daniella.

"I want you to jot down the names of noisemakers for me while I'm at the meeting."

"I'm sorry sir, but I don't want this position anymore," Daniella said out loud without looking at Mr Akin. There was a open-mouthed gasp from everyone in the room. Mr Akin stared at Daniella in a perplexed manner, but he didn't bother digging into what her problem is. He just shrugged and diverted his attention to Joy.

"Joy, you're no longer the assistant class rep, you're now the class rep," he announced. I turned to see Joy's facial expression - she was happy. Although, when her gaze met mine, that happy smile vanished. I sheepishly smiled at her, but she just rolled her eyes at me and faced Mr Akin.

"Thank you sir, I won't disappoint you," she beamed.

"See her mouth like I won't disappoint you, mitcheww," Megan hissed. "Now we won't hear word because she's now class captain."

Joy smiled and turned to Megan, "Megan, if you're jealous, just say- I AM JEALOUS! There's no need for all these background antics."

Megan snorted at Joy's remark, then she pointed to herself saying, "Me? Jealous? Of what?" She then pointed at Joy, "You?" A loud guffaw escaped her lips accompanied with a sarcastic clap.

"I can never be envious of you! I mean, look at you," she eyed Joy in contempt. "You're not even pretty, neither are you as rich as I am. Let's not even start with the word 'SMART', you're not effing intelligent. You're just a plain ol' bitch who thinks highly of herself, yet she has nothing!"

"Hey!" Mr Akin roared. "Not in my class, Megan. Mind your language else I'll walk you to the principal's office."

Megan scoffed and rolled her eyes at Mr Akin. Joy on the other hand, was surprisingly calm. She said nothing to Megan, which frightened me a bit. Joy isn't calm!

"As I was saying," Mr Akin continued. "Joy, get me the names of noisemakers while I'm at the meeting. Keep in mind that if there are no names on that list, I will punish you instead."

"Ahah!" Joy exclaimed with her mouth wide open. "But sir, what if no one makes noise?"

"It's not possible," Mr Akin said in an assuring manner.

This man confuses me alot. He wants this class to be the most coordinated class in this school, but he also wants us to make noise? Because how will there be names on that list if there is no noisemaking?

Immediately Mr Akin stepped out of the class, Megan hissed loud enough for everyone to hear. Then she started talking to her friends.

"I've started o," Joy announced, glaring at Megan. Megan continued talking, like she didn't care if her name appeared on that list. I noticed Joy already jotting down something, so I assumed it was Megan's name.

I felt a tap on my lap, so I turned to face Daniella. "Please lend me your Math note, I'll return it to you after school."

Why do people like my maths note like this?

"Okay," I answered.

                ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Mr Akin returned from the meeting and asked Joy to hand him the list of noisemakers. Joy did as she was told and Mr Akin read the list out loud.

Normally, we don't get flogged at WHA, instead we're punished. And the punishments are brutal, at least to me! You're either assigned to wash the toilet, dust library books, wash babies potties, or do something more frustrating.

"Once you hear your name, just come outside," Mr Akin announced. "Megan." Megan sashayed to the front with her head up high.

Champion of noisemaking.

"Sharon." Sharon made her way to the front. "Betty."

"Fatima," Mr Akin called out, and a girl sauntered to the front from the back. "Segun." Segun also went to the front. "Ivan."

Wait, seriously?

Ivan seemed shocked, including me because I was watching him the whole time Joy was writing the names noisemakers, and he didn't make a sound. Just his friend, Segun, kept bickering, so it's no surprise his name is on the list.

"Daniella-" Mr Akin called, but changed his mind and asked Daniella to sit down. What kind of injustice is that? I get it, she was sick, but now she's fine.

Sick kid privilege!

Also, I realized Joy jotted down the names of some innocent people. For example, Ivan and Daniella. I'm their witness, they didn't make noise.

"Damilola." When I heard my name, I quickly turned to face Joy, who avoided looking at me. I can't believe she jotted my name down for no reason. Was she that mad?

Even though she's mad, what she did is wrong. She's misusing her power!

Nevertheless, I didn't argue, I just walked over to the front without looking at anyone.

"Zion, Ramson, Jae, Peter and Caesar, you five, fall out," Mr Akin ordered. The boys swaggered to the front.

"These are the noise makers of SS3," Mr Akin said. Someone clapped immediately Mr Akin said that. Everyone directed their attention to the person who clapped, it was Betty. Sensing the rude stares she was getting, she dissolved her clap and lowered her head.

"Why are you clapping?" Mr Akin thundered at her. "Oh, you think it's a good thing?" She apologized and received an eye roll from Mr Akin.

"You all will be punished for making noise, so listen to your punishments attentively. Megan, Fatima and Segun, you three are to clean babies potties in Nursery One."

"Ahah, sir, " Megan whined, but got ignored.

"Betty, Sharon, and Zion, you three are to wash toilet." They all groaned, shooting daggers at Joy, but she wasn't affected by their gestures.

"Ivan, Caesar, Damilola, and Peter, you four are to dust the library- on the third floor- books."

At least my punishment isn't that bad, but it will give me catarrh for days. On a brighter note, I'll be doing my punishment with Ivan. The universe finally did something good for me.

"Lastly, Jae and Ramson, you two are to scrape chewing gums from under desks."

The bell rang for lunch break, so we begged Mr Akin to postpone our punishments till after break, and he reluctantly agreed.

I went over to my seat and opened my bag to grab my money. Suddenly, I received a bump from behind. It was Megan, she bumped into me deliberately and stepped on my feet in the process. I swallowed the pain and forced a smile. I wouldn't want to upset Megan again, which is why I'm tolerating all this.

"Why did you step on her?" I turned to see Joy firing up at Megan. I had no idea Joy noticed what Megan did.

"I don't understand," Megan feigned ignorance. "Are you being stupid or you just want to annoy me?"

"You are the one that is very stupid," Joy retorted, causing Megan to gasp in surprise. "Just because I kept quiet after you insulted me earlier, dosen't mean I'll tolerate more insults. I'm not weak and I can speak up for myself, unlike some people," she directed her gaze to me for a while before facing Megan.

"You're just looking for my trouble, Joy. How can you prove that I stepped on your autistic friend?"

"You better watch your mouth before I correct it with a slap," Joy warned, getting angry.

I thought Joy was mad at me? What happened all of a sudden?

"Joy abeg shift, you're just mentally unstable."

"And you're mad! Stop picking on my bestie, I'm seriously warning you!"

Joy just called me her bestie! She's not upset with me anymore.

"You can pretend all you want, but I'm warning you to stay away from Damilola, else, I'll make your life a living hell in this school." Joy hissed at Megan, who was still in shock. Then she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the classroom.

"Thank you," I said to her as we walked side by side.

"Forget that. I want you to focus on something I've planned," she said, facing me.

"Firstly Joy, I want to apologize for-"

"Like I said, forget everything and just focus on what I'm going to tell you."

"But-"

"Listen, I wrote your name on the noise makers' list because I saw you talking to Daniella, although you didn't make noise but I wrote your name."

"Why?"

"I also wrote Ivan's name on purpose. Remember, I'm your love doctor. Since the other gift plan failed, I had to come up with another scheme."

All this time, I thought Joy was beefing with me, meanwhile she still had me in mind. She still thought about me. Again, the universe did a great job by making Joy my bestie.

"So, you weren't mad at me?"

"Oh, I was mad. Infact, I'm still mad because you didn't take my advice, you let Megan pick on you and you tolerated it. Asides that, my anger subsided when I plotted this plan. It's a plan to get you closer to Ivan."

"I'm thankful you're helping me with this, unfortunately, I'm trying to end my crush with Ivan. Remember what Megan-"

"Fuck Megan!" She yelled and I widened my eyes in shock. "She can't do anything. Just forget her and focus on getting closer to Ivan."

She was right! Megan dosen't own Ivan and I need to keep telling myself that. "So, what's the plan?"

"Thankfully, Mr Akin assigned you and Ivan to do the same punishment, which means luck is on your side. So, get close to Ivan during the punishment. If that fails, I have a back up plan."

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Ivan, me, Caesar and Peter walked into the library to do our punishments after break. The librarian directed us to a dusty shelf that needs thorough cleaning.

If you see this shelf eh, you go run!

There was massive dust on all the books that laid on the shelf. The looks on everyone's face read- anger!

Ivan hissed, I swear I heard him hiss. I didn't know he knew how to hiss. I stared at him and when he caught me staring, he asked, "What?"

I gulped and averted my vision to something else while whistling. We started dusting books, and Ivan was coughing and wheezing. It was time to execute the plan Joy told me.

I handed him a handkerchief, "Here, please t-take this -" He stared at the handkerchief, then at me.

"I don't need it," he said sharply, focusing on something else other than me, then he walked away. I kept my handkerchief back in my pocket and solemnly cursed myself.

I have to think of something else.

While dusting books, I slowly moved towards Ivan, while whistling. I was whistling so it wouldn't be obvious I was trying to get closer to where he stood. When I got closer to him, his gaze met mine but he quickly broke it and glanced through a literary book.

"It's a good book," I said to him. It's not like I've read the book before, I just wanted to start up a convo. He ignored me and attempted to walk away, but I didn't let that happen. I quickly bumped into him.

Unfortunately, my action made him hit his back on a shelf behind him and all the books fell out of that shelf. The librarian started yelling at him and asked him to arrange all the books back. He was asked not to leave until he finished arranging the books.

I felt guilty, so I offered him help and apologized, but he just brushed me off with a groan and an eye roll. I don't blame him one bit, because if I were in his shoes I'd also be mad.

Who would want to arrange over two hundred books on a shelf?

The entire plan just failed, woefully!

"How'd it go?" Joy asked me the moment I got out of the library with Caesar and Peter.

"Awful!" I said, after Caesar and Peter left.

"Why? What happened?"

"The whole plan failed. Ivan is still in there serving a punishment because of me."

"Did you do-"

"Yes, I did everything!" I snapped. Joy bit her lips and I sighed. "It's hopeless."

"No don't say that. There's another plan."

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A/N

Joy, Joy 😂

The love doctor 😏

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CiCi 🌹