Part Thirty-Three

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Coming back to Nigeria didn't really make me happy but I knew that I had to eventually. Spending the holidays in Cameroon with my mom was one of the best times of my current life. Those days served as a break from all the headaches that have been troubling me.

True to dad's words, he had bought a plane ticket to Cameroon for me as soon as Daphne and Miss Angela left our house. I couldn't be more grateful at that. I left the house on the twenty-seventh day of December last year, after Mirian left for her hometown on the Twenty-sixth, I travelled alone as usual because my dad would surely not come with me. He has no business in Cameroon any longer, it was just me and my mom.

When I arrived at the airport, the joy I felt seeing my mother again after four months knew no bounds. We spent a lot of quality bonding time doing so many things, from baking and cooking, to sewing, cleaning and shopping. Well just like me, my mother was very a lively and jolly person. Whenever we had a dance contest against each other, she always let me win even though we both knew she was a better dancer. I lived in the bubble I created for myself, temporarily forgetting about the life I had in Nigeria.

As the saying goes; that all things must come to an end, so did the holidays. I knew that I had to say goodbye to mom and return to Nigeria to complete the external exams. As much I would love to stay back with mom, especially now that she needs me more than ever, I couldn't. She had insisted that I come to Nigeria and make my future a better one. She also made me promise not to tell my dad about her predicament, as she wouldn't want anything to come in the way of our happiness. What about her happiness; I always thought, but knowing my mother, she would never want people's pity or attention, she's independent to a fault.
For her peace of mind, I made the promise to not tell my dad what I found out during my stay here, in return that she made sure to get medical help.

If I only knew that this was what would be of my mom once I left Cameroon, I would never have made the decision to go with my dad. And so, the enthusiasm I felt when leaving for Cameroon wasn't the same as I felt when I returned to Nigeria. I've already been absent in school for one week since resumption because of the holidays with my mother, but thankfully my classmates haven't done much academically. I've been catching up on all I missed from Somto's and Wunmi's notes. 

I usually write the notes in class and not the library so I wouldn't be bored to sleep, and today was no different. But if I had the idea that something drastic would happen while I was busy with my notes, I would have just gone to the library instead.

I was busy completing my notes and at same time, trying to listen to the conversation between Peter Dare and Tibiebi Wunmi. It was no secret that they two of them definitely had something going on, despite them trying so hard to pretend that there's nothing. He was whispering something only she could fully understand and she's been goofing off at whatever he was telling her. I on the other hand, strained my hearing abilities so I could grab whatever they were saying, but to no avail.

"Wumni!.." I called out to her before I remembered she was talking to Dare.

She looked away from him, then at me "what's it?" She perked her brows in confusion.

"There's a math example I can't see in your book, did you not write it?" I raised the book to show her what I meant.

"Oh that! I've even forgotten about it. I missed writing the example when sir maths was solving it, so I just left the space where I would fill it in later." She uncrossed her long legs and stood up from her chair. "Let me bring Ummah's maths book for you, I think she wrote that example."

I watched as she moved to the backseats where Ummah sat with her clique. Her mouth moved, meaning that she was saying something to the average-height dark complexioned girl who had her dark hair plaited in cornrows.
After a short while, Ummah fished out an exercise book from her desk-locker and handed it to Wunmi, who made her way back to her seat. She gave me the note and I thanked her and bent to continue writing.

I was halfway through with writing the solution when a shadow fell across my book. I looked up to see who the person was, that stood in my light. Lo and behold, no other than person than her royalty, Miss Daphne Okoro.

"I was using that note, I want it back." She seemed to have given a command that she's expecting me to obey.

"Is the book yours?" I was replying very calmly; the complete opposite of how I felt on the inside.

"Is it yours too?" She threw the question back at me.

"Well, I took it directly from the owner so I won't give it out until I'm done writing." A rage attack was quickly coming on, I could feel it.

"My friend biko give me that book, it's not yours." She turned to look at Ummah "Wasn't I the first person to use your maths note before I left the class?"

Ummah nodded in affirmation.

"So what is she naa saying, abeg carry that your poshposh attitude and stay one side." Daphne continued talking thrash to me.

"Whatever you have in mind to say to me, then say it. Stop beating about the bush and get straight to the point." I got fed up with her nonsense. However she wants it now, it's how it's going to be.

"Madam just give me that book let me go my way, I don't have your time this new year. Besides you and dad always think you can have your way in everything." She mumbled the last part, but it was clear enough for me to catch her words.

How dare she involve my dad in this. I saw red, and decided that whatever would happen should happen. I won't let her have this book until I was done with it.

"When I finish what I'm writing then you can have it, for now just mind your language." I faced the desk and positioned properly to continue writing.
Suddenly she pulled the book forcefully from beneath my hand.

I stood up immediately and snatched the book from her. I don't know who she thinks she is, but I'm no one's puppet neither will I ever fear someone like her.

She snatched the book back forcefully, and I wasn't one to accept defeat. Although while trying to pull it out from her firm fingers, the book cover and first few pages tore.

"Oshey!!"

"Church agbasala!!"
Many of our classmates who were present shouted.

I was extremely mad at that moment, I don't know if the anger was directed at Daphne or the fact that someone's property damaged on my watch. I lost my temper and slapped her across the face. Some people gasped and others laughed and ran out, probably to inform others of what is happening.

Before you could say Jack Robinson, we started fighting. Pulling at each other's ears, hair and even shirt. I noticed a couple of my buttons loosen, but I'm glad I wore a black camisole. Not too long after the fight, we were separated and of course by a teacher.

Mr Nathan was definitely not a teacher to mess it as far as GCH was concerned. After giving two lashes of his long cane, he ordered us to go straight to the principal's office. Meanwhile before we left, Daphne and I already exchanged hateful looks at each other; our eyes showing what our mouths couldn't say at that moment.

"To the principal's office now!" Mr Nathan barked again, reminding us of his instruction.

We left the class together but I walked ahead of her when we left the exam block. Stepping onto the school ground and seeing the faces of other students made me realize my mistake.

I shouldn't have fought with Daphne, at least not in the way that I did. I had forgotten the position I held in the school now, and that other students have begun to look up to me. What would they all think about the incident that happened today.
Most importantly, what would my father think. How would my mother feel if she hears about it and also Miss Angela. It dawned on me that I had made a very bad call by giving it to Daphne the way she wants it. I should have ignored her for the sake of all the people that mattered to me, but I was weak and gave in out of the frustration I've been feeling lately.

If dad should ask me why I treated Daphne the way I did, what would I even tell him was the reason for my actions.

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A Book 2 or Nay?

Please let me know how this chapter was? VOTE and also COMMENT...

QOTD: What do you think would happen to Daphne and Bella?

AOTD: They're about to do community service 😅😅😁