Double update ay?🙃

⊱𝙸𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚊⊰

I shouldn't have taken this phone with me. I shouldn't.

My mind was all over the place throughout Mrs. Nwimo's double period of CRS. And it's all because of a text message I received from an unknown number just after the morning assembly.

A threat message.

I tried to think of ways or events where I could have offended anyone, but I had nothing. What could I have even done that would warrant something as far as a dangerous threat message with my name included?

"As far as I'm concerned, you are not here at all," Oma whispered beside me. "What's wrong?"

The thought of showing Oma the message crossed my mind, but the last thing I want is to get anyone worried when it's only a few weeks to our exams. After all, it's just one threat message.

"Nothing," I turned to her with a small smile. "I'm just tired." I closed my CRS note and leaned back into my chair.

"Idera and Omasirichi." Mrs. Nwimo called out, drawing the class's attention to us.

"Is there a problem? The both of you are not even listening to me at all."

"Sorry ma." I apologized while Oma said nothing as I expected. Mrs Nwimo turned back to face the board and continued her writing.

Oma leaned back into her chair, folded her arms and muttered to my hearing.

"Sorry, not sorry ma'am."

I stifled the laughter that was about to burst out at that moment and nudged her arm. I felt my phone vibrate in the pocket of my blazer, but didn't bring it out as Mrs Nwimo chose that minute to face the class.

"Last week I began the teaching of the mission of the disciples. Who can give me a recap?"

No one said a word and no one was going to, because Monica Ebele wasn't in school. She would have been the first person to have her hand up.

"Recap kill you there." IK Duru grumbled to the hearing of everyone except Mrs. Nwimo and we laughed.

"What is the laughter for?"  The laughter died down immediately. 

Her scrutinizing eyes roamed the class and for that period, I had my heart in my mouth, praying that she wouldn't choose and embarrass me in front of the entire class.

"Oya you." She pointed to someone at the back of the class and I breathed out in relief.

Thank God.

I turned back to see who it was, when she called out the person's name.

"Jidechukwu, stand up and tell the class what I taught last week."

Mrs Nwimo has a thing for calling students' name wrongly which we all think she does on purpose. Everyone knows she's referring to Jidenna because that's what she always calls him, and Jidenna being Jidenna acted as if a human being wasn’t in the same room with him.

I wouldn’t really blame him though, I myself get the urge to slap her whenever she calls me Idara instead of Idera.

"Am I not talking to you?" She snapped, which had him look up lazily at her. I would never get what makes that boy feel like he’s better than everyone and acts so entitled. That pride and arrogance will never fail to stop baffling me.

"My name isn't Jidechukwu, it's Jidenna."

Mrs Nwimo looks as though she was about to combust from anger.

"Give a recap of what I taught last week before I smack you."

Jidenna legit rolled his eyes before standing up to answer the woman. I'm sure she didn't notice it, if not, she would have smacked the hell out of him. I looked away from him and leaned forward on my desk, waiting for him to begin the recap and get over with it.

"You explained to us what missions means which is a task or job someone is given to do. It is also a body of persons sent to conduct negotiations or establish relations with a foreign country. Then you explained Christian missions which is an organized effort for the propagation of the Christian faith which involves sending groups and individuals called missionaries to foreign countries and to places in their homeland for the purpose of proselytism which is conversion to Christianity from one religon or another."

"There are few different types of mission trips which are long-term, short-term, relational and ones simply meant for helping people in need. There are some who might chose to dedicate their entire lives to mission work too. They have the authority to preach the Christian faith and provide humanitarian work. People are sent out on missions by their teacher after a period of training, the same way Jesus taught and sent out his disciples on a mission to teach them the practical aspect of their training. The mission of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ was written in the three synoptic gospels and the book of luke recorded the mission of the seventy disciples."

What a damn show-off.

The entire class erupted into cheers and applause for him. Yes, he answered a question, so what? What's the big deal in that?

A question that you wouldn't be able to answer if you were asked.

"Stop the noise!" The woman ordered, sending the class into silence and moved to the front of the class.

"Today's topic will be about the trial of Jesus Christ..."

I just stared at the board until Mrs Nwimo's words became a jumble of words and her voice became a background voice.

I zoned out.

Not that I wanted to, but it just happened. I wasn't always like this, zoning out during teachings against my own will. I used to be attentive in class, even though I didn't really still understand what was being taught.

A part of me keeps on bringing up Mum's demise as the sole reason because it all began after she passed away, but other parts keep objecting, bringing up things like my relationship with Jude and probably the way Dad treats me. Even though I do not see how that is connected to my current predicament.

Just thinking of our upcoming external exams gives me anxiety attacks. Where would I even begin from? I wouldn't expect girls to neglect themselves just to tutor me and I wouldn't want be the reason why they didn't prepare adequately for the exams when the time comes.

So I was going to be on my own.

Or not, if you start prepping yourself now.

Zina. She and Hugo spoke to me last week Thursday and offered to help me out. They offered to be my tutors for the entire Ss3 year.

It was like God answered my prayers before I even prayed them. I just knew I couldn't ask Oma because she lacks patience. Dami sucks at teaching or explaining things to people, and Lora, I don't know. For some reason, I didn't just want to burden her with my ish.

Suddenly, I began to feel uneasy. Like I was being watched, I couldn't shake off that feeling of someone's eyes on me. This has been happening  for the past one week and it has always been one person. No one else, but that person.

Pretending to take something from my bag, I turned back and my suspicions were confirmed.

It was him and he was staring again. It was more of a glare than a stare. A subtle one.

This recent development from Jidenna was beginning to disturb and irritate me. I've been restraining myself from confronting him since last week, but since this doesn't seem like it would stop anytime soon, I might just do that today.

And probably slap some sense or two into him.

The loud ring of the siren brought me back to class to see that Mrs Nwimo was already rounding off her lesson.

"...and this is where I will stop for today."

"Thank God." Oma sighed as she slid down her chair a bit. I began to pack up my notebook and textbook, relieved that she wasn't going to give us any assignment.

"Your assignment,"

Oh God, no.

My classmates did not fail to show their displeasure, but that did nothing to deter Mrs Nwimo from giving her assignment.

"Read up on the remaining parts of this topic and answer the questions given in your textbook. Submit first thing Monday morning. I'm giving you an entire week for this assignment now, I don't want to hear any rubbish excuses on Monday." With that, she left the class.

Normally, I would have begun to feel stressed just by thinking about having to do the assignment today and submitting tomorrow. Mrs Nwimo's assignments are the ones which seem easy but are far from easy.

But since I have an entire week, I can stress later. Lawal even owes me, so I might consider giving him to help me with it.

It's all going to be good, Idera.

Being aware about my arrangement with Zina, Oma had already left for break as well as most of my classmates, with only a few seated in class. I sat waiting for my tutor, Zina as we agreed to begin today.

She finally came in carrying her books with her and approached me.

"So," She placed the books with her on Oma's desk. "Are you ready?"

"I think so." She sat down on Oma's chair beside me. Zina doesn't come off as the type of girl who would hang out with us and so many of our classmates have never failed to point that out.

She's too innocent to be with them.

Those girls will spoil her abeg.

Look at her, she doesn't even fit.

There's nothing the girls and I haven't heard. Lora and I are the only ones who seem concerned about how this affects her, while the remaining two don't seem to care at all. They keep telling her to ignore them and brush it off, as if it's that easy.

I found out lately that 30 percent of the time she passes on a hangout or a sleep over because of her Mum is a lie. Yes, Mrs John is one hell of a strict mother who would rather have her daughter locked up in her room reading than out with friends.

When I and Lora queried her, she gave us the answer we suspected all along.

"Those days, I just don't feel among."

And telling Dami, especially Oma about this wasn't an option. Those two will just spew words out of their mouths without thinking it through. Especially that girl named Oma.

"What do you want us to start with?"

Honestly, I didn't have any idea of which topic I wanted her to begin with so I checked my timetable. We were going to be having maths a period after break, so I guess I'll just go with that.

"Maths."

"Okay." She opened her book and began flipping through it. I couldn't name anyone as bright as Zina John and I envy that about her. Among the five of us, I'm the academically unserious one who is dumb as fuck and hates school.

Most times I wish I more like Zina. Smart, brilliant, calculated and very organized, a very big contrast to my very messy life.

"Zina,"

She hummed, her eyes not leaving her books as she kept on flipping through them.

"Do you think I'm not smart enough to be in this class?"

The flipping stopped and the petite girl turned to me.

"You're smart Idera. You just have a lot going on with you that is weighing you down. And you also have to put in your best."

Well, give that award to me. Best in putting in one's best. Putting in my best has gotten me so frustrated that I don't even bother anymore.

"I did that a lot Zina, but it wasn't just enough. I couldn't get anything right."

"That's why I'm here, you see. I'll help you." She gave me an assuring smile and I nodded.

"Okay, so let's begin."

Zina started with quadratic equations and I must say I'm pretty impressed with the way I was beginning to understand it now. Maybe all I needed all along was someone like Zina and a few after school lessons.

She gave me a few questions to solve on my own and I got most of them correctly. I was quite happy that I was finally beginning to understand something related to school. A big achievement for me.

Zina was in the middle of explaining and correcting my mistakes, when someone walked up to us.

"How far?" We looked up to see a smiling Hugo.

"We're making little progress." Zina replied as she continued copying down a question from her maths textbook and Hugo nodded.

"That's great. By the way, I'm Hugo Dike, your second teacher. In case Zina is busy, I'm available."

Chuckling, I gave him a mock salute. "Yes sir."

Before we had the chance to continue, Oma walked into the class and stood beside Hugo.

"Scholars." She said and placed her fingers in Zina's note before flipping the cover with her thumb.

"I didn't realize that you two were going to spend the entire break period doing this. It's really good to see you opening a book." She let go of the book and smirked.

"Ah ahn." Hugo nudged Oma who gave him a playful smack on his arm in return.

"What? Idera hates books more than anything."

"True." I concurred.

Books and school are not my forte. I've not been a fan of those two for as long as I can remember. Mum was the one who encouraged me relentlessly and she never failed to tell me how very important education is. Well, she died and the little love I was beginning to develop for school went down the drain.

I began to skip school. It took Jude, Abi and her unrelentless threats to beat the shit out of me, and my cousins, Mimisola and Michael to make me stop at that time.

I'm still very much in the business of skipping school, but not as frequently as I used to. When everything gets too overwhelming for me, I find my way out of this dump called school.

"I think we could use a group study session." Oma suggested suddenly.

"Am I included?" Hugo asked.

"No. It's a girls thing." Oma answered and he gave a pout which made him look like a cute little boy.

"Besides, your lunatic friends might have your head on a plate if they find out you're hanging out with us."

As Oma spoke, Hugo went to carry the chair which has always been at the front of the class and brought it to my desk to sit on it.

"Ethan and Jidenna don't control me. I'm even the one keeping those two in check. Sometimes I feel like a baby sitter of two grown babies." He leaned back into the chair and folded his arms.

"Well, you better go and keep that one in check before he kills us with his death stare." Oma subtly gestured to the back of the class.

Zina and I turned back to see Jidenna staring, not as us, but me. Glaring to be precise and he wasn't being subtle with it now. I wasn't in the mood for his madness today, so I looked away and muttered under my breath.

"Stupid boy."

~•~•~

The first period after break was a free one for the entire Ss3 class, so we had time to relax before the next period which is maths. A joint class.

Not all our Maths periods are joint classes. Just like every other subject, the three classes have different periods for maths. We only had one or two joint classes for subjects we offered together.

And Mondays are the days for most of our joint classes.

Lawal and I were seated in his class, gisting ourselves about how our weekend went and we have been at it for a while now. He just finished ranting about how he didn't have time for himself because was his older sister's assistant to decorate and cater for a wedding.

It must have been so frustrating. I know I would be pissed if Ini or Iyanu made me abruptly cancel my plans just to assist them with work or whatever.

"I spoke with Abi over the weekend."

Abiola Akinyemi!

Oh how I've missed that girl. One of the best on the school's track team and the best team mate at that. She was the closest to me after the girls and Lawal.

"Really? How's she?"

"She's fine. And beautiful."

Of course.

My guy has been whipped from the second she stepped foot into LIC as a new student, but unfortunately, she saw him as nothing but a friend. I even thought something might happen after he told me they hooked up during Andikan Essien's birthday party.

"She asked of you and sends her greetings."

"When next you guys talk, I want to be there. Or you can just give me her number sef."

"You don't have her contact?"

"My phone decided to go ment and wipe out most of my contact list."

He chuckled. "Pele. I'll send it to you on WhatsApp."

"Are you okay?" It was my turn to ask because Abi's departure affected him. I don't know if others noticed it, but I did.

"Yeah, just trying get over this whole thing. It's hard you know?"

At a point, Lawal was fully convinced that Abi liked him too. I can't imagine the heartbreak when she told him that his feelings weren't mutual.

"Don't worry. You'll be fine." I assured him.

The siren blared, signifying end of the free period and everyone including Lawal and I, began to gather their things and troop out of the class to the bigger class where we would have this period.

The spacious class already had enough chairs for close to 50 Ss3 students, so we didn't need to take any chair over there.

Stepping in, my eyes caught sight of Oma waving me over to where she and the girls sat, so I went to her with Lawal following behind me.

I settled down beside Oma and Lawal beside me. I was taking my maths note from Oma, when I felt a painful pinch on my arm, making me jerk and my note fall to the ground.

"Oww!"

Only one person I know could pinch as painful as that. I looked beside Oma and glared at a smirking Dami who was withdrawing her hand.

"So na man you dey with since abi?" She queried and I retaliated by pulling her hair hard making her cry out, then I let go.

Just as she was about to retaliate, Mr Peter walked in and the class stood up to greet.

"Good morning class. Sit." He said as he flipped through his note, then turned to write today's topic on the board.

We all sat, and I could feel Dami's glare on me. She definitely was going to deal with me after class.

"This lesson is a continuation of last week's lesson, and I will assume that all of you have studied and done the needful. I will not be doing any recap, only where it is necessary. So if you didn't study, that's your problem."

Everyone knows Mr Peter's methods. He picks students to solve given questions in front of the entire class after the end of every topic. Today is the end of one, so I had my heart in my mouth. Calling me out will be a total disgrace.

Mr Peter started his teaching, and God knows I tried so hard not to completely zone out. There were a few things Zina taught me earlier today that Mr. Peter was mentioning in his teaching and I can say I understood them quite well.

He gave a few examples on the types of quadratic equations and solved them step by step using different methods. From that, I found a convenient method in solving quadratic equations.

Soon, 30 minutes of his period had elapsed and he was done teaching. The remaining 10 minutes was for our drill.

I can't count the number of times I've been embarrassed in front of the entire class during math drills and I prayed today wouldn't be one of those days.

Mr Peter began the drill, calling out my classmates to solve the question given to them on the board. We went on, until I checked the time and it was just 5 minutes to the end of the class. Mr Peter had not called me out and I prayed he would not till his period was over.

I leaned back and slid down into the chair a little to hide myself from that man. Mr Peter turned to the board to write another question, then faced the class, eyes roaming until he looked in my direction.

"You, come out and solve this problem."

My heart slammed in my chest. Hard.

Ehn?

I looked behind me to see if I was the one he was talking to until Lawal nudged and whispered to me.

"Idera, it's you."

It felt like I had been dunked in a pool of ice water.

Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ.

"Fast, don't waste my time." I legit flinched at the sound of his voice and slowly got up.

Come on Idera. This is something Zina just taught you an hour ago.

So I will be disgracing Zina, my tutor if I didn't solve this question properly and get it right. Great.

Walking to the front of the class felt like walking to be executed. Every step leading me closer to my doom. I was going to be embarrassed in front of everyone again.

I took the marker from Mr Peter, removed the cover and raised it to the board. My hands were shaking badly that I thought I would drop the marker. If I didn't calm down, I was likely to have a heart attack.

Taking a deep breath, I began to solve the question. I envisioned Zina's method and started using it and it was actually working.

I was really solving a math problem!

I went on, feeling a bit confident about this. My mates weren't going to laugh at me or call me names anymore because I was going to finish this question and get it right.

Thank you God.

But then halfway into the solution, I got stuck. I blanked out, I couldn't remember the rest anymore.

No, no, no! Think Idera!

I stared at the board, racking my brain for something, but there was nothing.

"Is this where you can solve up to?" Mr. Peter asked.

I gulped.

"Yes sir." I don't even know if he heard me because I could barely hear myself.

The class was silent. Way too silent. The only thing I could hear was my heart pounding in my chest.

"Who will volunteer to help her out?"

Silence again. There were no sounds of feet shuffling or chairs moving. No one was getting up to help me. Not even the girls.

"No one?"

I didn't turn back, I didn't want to see the looks on their faces. Not today. So I kept my eyes fixed on the board, hoping someone would come out and take this damn marker from me.

Then I felt a presence beside me. I turned to see who it was and I'm pretty sure my eyes were playing tricks on me. Doctor Risha never mentioned that the side effects of my newly prescribed drugs will include hallucinations.

So why the hell was I seeing who I was seeing?

Jidenna was standing beside me with his hand outstretched.

I must be running mad.

"Are you going to keep staring or give me the damn marker?"

Placing the marker on his palm, I took a step back and watched as he turned to the board and continued from where I stopped till he was done.

I just stood there dumbfounded and shocked out of my mind.

Jidenna freaking Kalu just helped me solve a math problem.

───────•••───────

Shocker! Who saw that coming?🌚

I missed this babe like mad😩 It seems like forever since I've written her POV.

So why do you think Jidenna helped her out?

My birthday is next month oh. So all of you better prepare my gifts. I hope I'll be able to give you guys an update that day.

And yessss, Intricacy will be one next month too!! On my birthday to be exact🌚 So there might be a birthday update to celebrate Intricacy's one year on wattpad🥳🥳

Happy New Month in advance guys❤✨