Part Sixteen
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Deborah's POV

  I was furiously stuffing my books and food flask into my locker when Hassan and Nnenna walked into the classroom. From the look of things, it seems they came in together.
 I suddenly felt a surge feeling of jealousy coarse through me.

'No, Deborah control yourself. Nnenna is your friend and as for Hassan, you shouldn't even care about him'. I chided my inner self and then looked back  at them.

'Oh who are you kidding, you're jealous'. The thought of it being true infuriated me more.

 "Hey Debby," she called out to me.

 "Hi," I returned the greeting with a forced smile.

"Have you seen Dinma this morning?"

"No, is there a problem?"

"It's because I gave her my Civics notebook and we have Civic for the first period. I don't want to be punished oo." she answered.
   "She'll come don't worry." I said to her before Dinma walked into the class with David.

I had already taken my Bible and purse before catching her gaze towards Hassan and David. I don't understand the reason behind it, maybe it's because they were grouped together but I know I didn't like the feeling I had at that moment.
I've been together with Hassan and David in this school for a long time and just recently a new student is closer to them.
To even add to my suspicion, I noticed Nnenna slagging behind us with David while we went down for the devotional assembly.

 "How would you like to lead us in praises?" I overheard Hassan whispering to Nnenna.

"Don't you dare?...okay sorry, please don't," she replied him and when I turned my back, I saw smiles on both their faces and a scowl on David's. I really do not know what's happening today.

We finished the assembly and went back to our different classes to begin the day's activities.

"Hey Debby, how're you?" I turned to see Bella walking behind me. She's carrying a new bag today, pink and blue onehand bag and she used a pink ribbon to tie the bun of her shoku hairstyle.

"How far?" I asked.

" I'm good dear. How did your break go?"

  '' It was okay, yours?"

"Hmm, Thank Yahweh shaa." she shrugged.

With the way she replied, I remembered she was actually paired with Daphne in same group. I really wonder how the two of them kicked it off.

"Okay then. See you during English class." She said before entering into her classroom, SS3B.

Moving further, not more than twelve feet is the entrance to SS3A, my classroom. I entered the class and as expected every morning, the classes were always noisy. There were students like Timothy, who is writing an assignment this early morning and I won't be surprised if it's mathematics assignment.

After minutes of chattering and bantering, Mrs Omotayo, our form mistress and also Civic Education teacher came into the classroom.
  "Class compliment!" Ernest the class prefect thundered.

  As we rose and opened our mouth to greet,
"No there's no need. Good morning all, how was your break?" She asked.

  "Fine Aunty."

" Aunty mine was excellent."

" Aunty too much assignment oo, I couldn't even enjoy it."

 A lot of responses from every student who cared to tell.

  ''Okay, okay, the important thing is that we're all back safely so that's enough reason to say Oluwa nagode, imeela," She said, she's actually good in speaking Yoruba and Igbo language very well, Hausa is just the basics.
"So welcome back everyone, please listen attentively and answer to your respective names." Whenever we hear that, we know she's down to business.

........

     "Okay now, it's time for your presentation. You know we have only forty minutes for this subject, so I'm going to give each group three minutes to present what they have prepared for the class. Remember the total score is ten, so group one are you ready?" Mrs Ekehinde asked.
English is always the fourth subject we have every Monday before break time and it's always a combined class. 

The group one started by presenting themselves and their project topic. After their presentation, Mrs Ekehinde asked if anyone has a question and Timothy said yes.
 
"Ask your question."

"Aunty I just want to know if this can be used as an example of Question tag? So here it goes, 'You ate yam, yamn't you?"

The entire class including the teacher and group one members started laughing. "Will you sit down, Ode" Mrs Ekehinde told him.

 After all the group members must have presented, Mrs Ekehinde came forward to call out the scores. She carried some sheets of papers in her hand, so I'm guessing they're the group list.  She called each group from one to sixteen and announced the scores she has accrued each group.

  Group thirteen and nine got same score '8/10', group seven which is Daphne's group scored 5/10. Because of bad presentation and poor organization. The highest score 10/10, went to group sixteen headed by Nkeiruka, the most intelligent in our set. Luckily for Dinma, she was a member of that group.

 After the results were called and the bell rang indicating break time, students started leaving the class in their numbers. Members of group sixteen were all praising Nkeiruka for saving their asses while members of Daphne's group had frowns on their faces, not that they were the group with the lowest score.

  Nnenna and Dinma came to my desk and asked if I wanted to go out for a stroll. "No, but thanks for asking. I have a headache," I lied. But the truth is, I'm still feeling angry and jealous at Nne for no reason so I just wanted to avoid her at all costs.

"Ooh, how about you come with me to the school clinic?" Dinma asked.

  "No thank you. You can just get me paracetamol from Bisi."

Bisi is the health prefect therefore she would have access to the school clinic without delay or suspicions.

I stayed in class throughout break time and by the time it was over, I felt better, especially after spending time with Hadith.

.......

   " ...Amen." We all chorused when the prayer came to an end. It was the closing assembly and the time was already four pm.

"So today is finally over and we just have six days before revision week and thirteen days before exams. I'm pleading with each of you right now, read your books, read..ha...because when you fail, you know the drill, you repeat or change school. But this time we have decided that the SS3 students will not be writing this terms' exams," our Principal, Mr Adetayo Femi announced at the afternoon assembly.

 Shouting and chanting and hooting filled the air from our side of the line.

  "Keep quiet!" Hassan commanded. He's really good at the job of head boy. The noise subsided gradually.

" Thank you SP. Like I was saying before these vagabonds interrupted, there will be no exams conducted for the SS3 students. Now the bad news there is that these particular students have to return on the first Monday of the New year to prepare for their mock exams as WASSCE commences early February." He continued.

  " Nna eeh,"
"Nawaoo." Came the remarks.

After the information, our vibes went low especially the SS3 students. We were told to go home. 
While waiting for Dinma, Nkeiruka and Adams because we always go home together, I sighted Hassan and Nnenna again going together and talking about something. For a second I was tempted to ask Hadith what it was about, or even walk towards them and spoil their little fun moment but I thought better of it.

  ' You're more than what you feel Debbie, you're more than this jealousy and anger you feel. They could just be friends after all and even if they aren't, it shouldn't be any of your business. You're in school to face your books, not poke into others' business'. I spoke to myself and went in search of Dinma and Adams.

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Whew!, 1200+ words...I just had to stop somewhere.

In your school, was the rule 'Fail and repeat or fail and fail out?'

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