Going to a new school was one of my major fears, which sadly happened. My parents were struggling to make ends meet and had to embark on that drastic action without my consent, just immediately after we downgraded from our 3 bedroom flat to a one-room apartment.
My dad worked top in one of the most prestigious banks in the country, but due to his rather obsequious and humble nature, he was witch-hunted apparently by his colleagues at work- first dropped by ranks and then sacked.
After he was sacked, we struggled to pay recurring bills, and with everything compounding, and my dad’s hypertensive nature kicking in, we had to adjust. That forced the down-grading of our home, and my school.
I was now set to attend a public school.
I perpetually had that phobia of changing my school; leaving my friends- It happened so fast that before I could say Jack- I already resumed schooling activities in this weird place.
My first week in the school was beyond the ordinary. As a fresher, I stayed quiet and kept to myself. Though, occasionally, some set of boys who facially were far older than me came around to taunt me saying words like
” you this femi boy wey be like omo butter (rich kid), you better learn the hard life dude.
I was very scared and worried. I couldn’t tell my parents about this development as they had other predicaments to tackle. So I was determined to bear and face anything that comes, afterall, am a boy.
Due to the adjustments, I was now having to do my personal stuffs by myself without any help. Unlike before when our maids took care of my laundry and woke me up to school.
That faithful monday, the fourth week of my resumption to be precise, I struggled to get out of bed after spending the whole of sunday cleaning and working in the house. After receiving my meager lunch money from my frail dad, I dashed out to school with a stern look on my face.
Unknown to me, a building, adjacent to my school’s dilapidated structure was actually a well recognized private school, I had mistaken for a motel.
They resumed some weeks after my school’s resumption day. And from observations, the students were all from wealthy homes. I continued walking into my school’s premises with my eyes firmly fixed, when a dark; slim and beautiful eyes highlighted from her dad’s company car. She wasn’t looking too happy as I could heard her mum patting her back saying ” Mhosoun, you need to relax, your external exams are coming soon. After that, you will leave this place and travel abroad ”
Those words struck me like a lightning rod, as I remembered my dad saying something positive as that. But that didn’t faze me, I was determined to study hard and get a good job to take care of my family.
Surprisingly, I couldn’t concentrate in class that day. My thoughts were on Mosun- My inner mind reminded me of her beautiful face, dark skin, carefully slimmed hair and revealing eyes. Was I inlove? I hoped not, as I managed to grasp anything the teacher was imparting.
My perpetual journey from school to my home was horrendous. I had to trek for over 30 minutes before joining a bus, then finally a bike, and another 15 minutes walk home.
Being elected class captain obviously because of my calm nature earlier today wasn’t my greatest surprise of the day, but seeing Mosun a stone-throw from my home almost sent shivers down spine. Then, with a shocked look on her face too, she waved at me and entered into her home- a few blocks from my our rented apartment. I almost fainted.
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