•SALOME ALAN•

"You keep flipping through that book, is it from school or..." Jenny trails, take a glance at me
then to the road. She's driving me to school today and I'm not surprised she's asking about me reading a novel, I've been on it throughout the weekend. Weirdly.

I sigh softly, tugging a finger in the page I am currently in. "It's school aunt Jenny," I turn the front for her to see the cover and title. "I have to finish this and start another one asap!"

Jenny's mouth form an instant 'o'. She nods in understanding. "That's... " She trail, shaking her head, lost of words. I giggle at her act, mouthing a 'amazing' to help her complete her words.

"Yeah, you're right. That's amazing Salome. The title seems intriguing too," She glance at the book in my hand again. "Happy Days Last, that's the title right?"

I nod, pouting. "Yep." I can't help greasing my fingers over the cover of the novel. The background colour is yellow, with black shadows in form of humans displaying happy souls on it. "But it's weird though," I seat upright, fully closing the book.

"What's weird? That you're reading a novel?"

I shake my head. "Apart from that. The novel is like...how will I put it." I look upwards, thinking of how to put my words. "Ugh...like it doesn't match the title. I don't know if it's that I'm the one who's not reading it properly, but the title, 'Happy Days Last, is more like 'sad days last', it's almost filled with sad things."

Jenny makes her way out of the estate gate and into the main road. She heaves a sigh, probably trying to understand what I'm saying.

Me too don't know what I'm saying.

Guess literature is more than just reading.

"You should ask your teacher about that, Salome." She states after awhile, smiling at me. I push my mouth upwards, tapping my chin with my forefinger. I wasn't expecting her to get me too, Mr. Alex would be the one to shine more light on this. Just pray he'd be a bit happy that I have a very huge question to ask.

"How's tutoring though?" Jenny asks, tapping her well fixated polished nails on the steering. "Is your handsome teacher still extremely harsh on you?"

Harsh?

Is Mr. Alex still harsh on me?

Recalling our last section, I'd say he wasn't. But then, I can't tell, Mr. Alex is unpredictable. I scratch the bridge of my nose, reminiscing how he looked at me with frustration.

"Yes."

Was that me? Well...can't take it back.

My aunt's eyes widens. She tears her eyes from the road to me and I shrug. "He's still harsh on you? That dude is something else then...something else!"

My lips stretch in a lopsided grin. I pick up the book from where I drop it, my mind trailing back to the day my teacher handed it to me. If I want to be proud right now, I'd say Mr. Alex gave me a special copy. His copy. His personal copy of the novel.

"Well..." I zip my rucksack open, shove the book in my bag and close it up. "I guess I'm used to it."

Jenny breath down, speeding up a bit. "Don't worry baby, you'll soon be done with all these."

I'm confused.

"All what?"

Jenny raise her shoulders in a shrug, take one hand from the steering and point one finger to me, her eyes fixed on the road. "One, high school drama," She adds another finger, "Two, extremely annoying teacher like Mr. Alex, and three," She raise her third finger. "Not having to wear these compulsory school uniforms, trust me, it's different, it's a whole different feeling."

I watch her jam her hand back to the steering after pointing out what I'll soon be done with. Honestly, I can't wait either. I want to know how it'll feel to be outside secondary school, outside been captured in forceful classes and outside been with a teacher like Mr. Alex...

Wait.

I still want to be here for now. I still want to wear Victoria high school uniform and maybe...make my teacher —teachers— proud.

A small smile appears on my lips as I stare at my aunty. Right now, she's a mom to me. A mom who is driving her daughter to school on a Monday morning, chatting with her in the most comfortable way ever. Her eyes slides to me and my smile widens.

"Thank you aunt Jenny."

***

Is Victoria high this rowdy? Or...I'm just noticing it today. Tugging in my braided hair to the the corners of my ears, I walk into the main school building. Since I left my hair to crease down my face, it keeps getting in my view, flipping to the direction of the breeze.

Aunt Jenny alighted me earlier and it's so bad I'll have to see her in few days time. Work. Although she said it was urgent, I just tried understanding with her. Like I've already done. Even though I don't like it.

While other students are walking in, talking, yelling each other's name, I keep my stride neutral, glancing down at my white sneakers like I haven't seen it before. I'd purse my lips from now and then, gripping the straps of my bag to the one direction I'm familiar with. My classroom. Few students wave at me and I waste no time waving back.

Pretty popular hmm?

I chuckle softly, passing by science classes. I look up in a jiff, into one of the classes and my eyes meet Kenny. I halt in my strides, trying to get a proper view. He's talking to a girl, a very beautiful light skinned girl that I see around because we're in the same grade.

Like he knows I'm looking at him, he turns his face towards the window. His eyes widens, a smile forming on his face. He obviously didn't want to end the conversation but now, he's waving her goodbye and walking towards the door, towards me. I trace my gaze back to the light skinned girl to see her glaring at Kenny. Dragging my bottom lip with my teeth, I somewhat feel like I'm stealing her away from him.

I promise I'm not stealing your guy pretty girl...

"Hey..." Kenny's smooth voice draws my eyes from the girl to him. How come I didn't figure when he reached me, talk more of standing in front of me, smiling. I open my mouth to talk but his glamorizing cologne fills my mouth, prompting me short of words. Instead, a toothy smile escapes my lips.

"Good morning..." I manage to say, my voice coming out softer than I intend. Kenny shoves his hands in his pocket, heaving a deep breath. He looks over my shoulders and back to me.

"What a Monday, right?"

Since I know what he means, I nod rapidly.

"Yeah.. Victoria high school and bunch of serious pupils." I tell him, adding emphasis on the 'serious.'

Kenny grins, looking at me. "Are you going to class now or..."

"Yes I am." I jerk my thumb to where I saw him at first. "Surprised to see you in science class, talking with—"

"Taiye?" He gently cuts me off, earning wide eyes from me. My small mouth form an impressive 'o' as I recollect my thoughts on how he was talking with the pretty light skinned girl. His sister is the pretty light skinned girl.

Taiye.

"Oh..." I drawl, taking my wide eyes back into the class to take a glimpse of her again. She's now beaming cheerful with another girl, absentminded looking fine as hell without noticing. "She's pretty."

I didn't know when I said that but when I look back at Kenny, he smirks, trying to hold himself from laughing.

I frown at that. "What? Am I lying?"

He chuckles, give way for group of students to pass and gesture to walk on, I quickly follow by his side.

"Well...no, but that girl is a headache."

My eyes roll skyward at his words. I scoff loudly, look at him from the corner of my eyes and fold my arms beneath my bust. "You are a chicken."

Kenny burst into laughter, throwing his head back as we walk.

"Yes!" I stand my ground. How would he open his mouth and say that so pretty girl, his sister, is a headache? If I had the chance to even talk with her, only God knows how much I'd be smiling.

When Kenny's laughter subsides, he raise his hands in mock surrender. "Okay okay. I am chicken, I agree."

"Yes, you better do."

"But I know Taiye, Salome. I live with her, she's unbearable. At times, I doubt if we're twin or our parents just lied to us."

I shoot him a hard glare and he shrugs.

"Don't worry, I'll introduce you to Taiye Danlami, and when you get to know her, you'll pay me for telling you ahead."

I raise my hand and slap his shoulder playfully, laughing. He hold his arm, pretending to be hurt by that.

"You're not serious, Kenny. Can't believe that pretty girl in science class is your sister, your twin sister. Wait, that's Zara's class, I'll ask her if they're close."

Kenny halt in his steps and look at me, his brows raised. "Are you that desperate?" He chuckles, walking again. "Because I know what I'm saying..."

"Yes! I also know what I'm saying. I'm sure we'll get close when we meet in camp."

That seem to get his attention.

Kenny slides to my front, blocking me from walking. Looking at him directly, I'm only seeing his neatly knotted tie, so I have to crane my neck to see his face. He's smiling down at me, his eyes glistening with happiness all over like he haven't been this happy in a while.

"Really?" His voice sounding more like a whisper, like he's still tad afraid that I'll say no, that I was joking.

I exhale calmly, nodding. "Yes, I'll go to camp."

He runs his hand over his face, stepping aside to his former position. Other students are still roaming around, entering and coming out of their classes and waiting for the first bell for assembly to patch them in the hall.

Serious bunch of people.

I look at Kenny to see his lips stretched in a wide smile. I can tell he's trying to control it but just can't.

Is he this happy I'm going to camp?

"Are you this happy because I'm going to camp?" I have to ask. Kenny nods, beaming.

"Yes Salome, yes and I'll make absolute sure you enjoy every bit of it." He place one hand on his chest. "I promise you won't regret it."

"Wow, okay..."

We walk into our classroom, the regular scent of a four concerned cube welcoming me, grinning widely and caging me for the text seven, to eight hours.

Some of my classmates are engaged in whatever they're talking about, some showing each other what they recently got and the hot headed ones reading their notes. They are the ones that would always complain that the class is noisy and they can't concentrate, telling the class to lower their voices because they're reading.

Fabiola Fabian for example.

I greet a few of them, wear my bag pack around my seat and bounce on the desk which made screeching sounds, alerting everyone's attention to me.

"Be careful, Salome, I can carry your fat ass if you fall."

I knew someone would say that. It's Gowon, one of the brainless backbenchers. The class erupt in a wide laughter as always. I'm sure that would be their new topic till the end of the day.

"Seriously?" A girl snaps. I turn sideways to see the person who just raise her head from what she's reading.

Fabiola.

"Is it even that funny?" She stare around the guys at the back, then take a quick look at me. "And Salome, must the entire school know that you just arrived? That you're in grade 12 sapphire? Because I don't understand."

My brows knitting together, in confusion or annoyance. I can't tell. What's up with this girl?

She turns fully on her seat and the class is suddenly dead silent, everyone looking at her.

"We are all about to write our exams, to get serious with our studies but no," She throws her hands in the air. "Everyone's hyping each other, hyping—"

"If you want to talk to me, talk to me direct, Fabiola. Don't beat round the bush." I inject, not minding the amount of eyes that faced me at once. Kenny grabs my arm to stop me from talking but my gaze is fixed on the blabbering girl.

Fabiola let out a humorless laugh but quickly pull out her serious face almost immediately.

"Your big butt won't take you anywhere, Salome."

I'm not looking but I can clearly hear the class uttering 'oohh...' I glance around them and back to her. My Dad has always taught me to mind what I say, no matter how angry I become. Right now, it's not easy, I want to say hurtful things to prove her worthless of the words she just spited out. We've never be close, never be friends. I mean, I don't freaking family this girl, why is she this...this annoying?

Everyone's looking at me, waiting to hear my response and award a winner they can hype till infinity. Feeling Kenny's eyes on me and his grip still around my arm, I turn to him. He slowly shake his head, muttering a 'please stop.'

I had no intention of talking this way on a Monday morning, of hearing something like this either. But still, I'll say something.

"Yeah...you're right, it won't." I tell her and they all heard me.

I'm not stupid but I can't afford to look stupid in front of these people, in front of Fabiola. Plus, I'm not going to let her spoil my mood. My entire day.

The bell, sounding louder than ever, rings through the entire school, making everyone depart and sprint to the assembly hall.

I bounce off the desk I was seated on, flash a small smile at Kenny and walk out of class.

I'm not going to let others validation affect my way of thinking.

***

"I don't even want to think about her, Zara. Let's just forget I brought up the topic." I state and throw a potato chip in my mouth.

We're in the cafeteria, having fried Irish potato and sauce for lunch. The moment we settled to eat, I poured out all that happened this morning to her.

"But you know, " Zara starts, chewing and talking. "Me and her, Fabiola, were in the same class throughout junior high and should I say, she wasn't this annoying," Zara shakes her head." I'm not taking sides though, just saying."

I breath out and stretch to take a bottle of water. "I know...that's not even my business." I drink down the content in the bottle, wasting no time gulping it down when my head strike back to what I wanted to ask her. "Do you know Taiye in your class?"

Zara's brows furrow like she's trying to remember her own classmate.

Come on Zara.

Her eyes widens in realization and she nods. "Yep, I know her, any problem?"

I pout my mouth. "Nope, She's Kenny's sister, did you know?"

Zara squint her eyes, pick up a stick of food and squeeze in her mouth. As she munch it, she nods slowly.

Talk about dramatic.

"Yeah..." She mumble with full mouth.

"I think she's pretty too." I add, taking a glance at the novel I brought with me, to the other students around the cafeteria.

My best friend scoff out a loud laugh, her partly grounded food scattering out of her mouth and all over the table, over the novel I brought with me. I quickly raise it up to check if it's stained.

"Zara!" I snap.

She tries to stop herself from laughing, waving one hand to say sorry in my face and covering her mouth with her second hand.

"Sorry...I was just- I mean- it was what you said, the way you said it was so-" She stutter, bursting into another wave of laughter.

"Haha, you're so funny Zara, hundred percent funny." I tell her with a straight face, scanning the book for any stain. I can't return this to Mr. Alex and expect him to be proud of me when I show him stains on his book. He'll talk me out of how careless and dirty I am.

Speaking of dirty, I look up at Zara again. She's wiping her mouth with a tissue, her body still vibrating in mild laughter.

"Come again Salome, repeat what you said." Zara says and press her lips.

This girl is mocking me.

"You heard me loud and clear." I flip through the pages, checking for any stain.