ZAIZAI'S POV

Finally, the day had come. The day that they would finally go to this mysterious place, Ibabi. Zaizai was most excited cause she knew that the trip would be fun. She was on a black and white striped top on a pair of bagging black pants.

The SS3 students were seated on the school bus, all dressed in their casual attire. I can't wait to go to Ibabi. What kind of name is that? Well, since it has to do with Landmark, then it must be weird. Zaizai thought.

"We should start going," Jerry said, taking a selfie video on his Infinix Note 11 phone.  He was sitting in between Gbolex and Great. Jerry was wearing a pair of faded blue jeans, a black polo shirt, and black sneakers. Everyone shrugged at Jerry's last sentence.

"This dude doesn't know our school. They will delay us like crazy. It's just a normal thing here," Gbolex explained with a smile. Gbolex was on a pair of black shorts and a grey hoodie.

Zaizai took the liberty to explain further, "You see, we have African time but we also have Landmark time."

"Exactly," most of them chorused, causing Jerry to sigh.

Next to Zaizai was a big bucket of cookies, cupcakes, and chinchin. The class decided that they would take a lot of munching snacks along so they contributed money to Zaizai. Zaizai was pleased to bake the snacks but she was also happy that she would gain the extra income. Not that she needed the extra money though but she liked the feeling of being independent. However, the selling of snacks by students was illegal in their school so she had told a prior lie to their principal.

"My mom said I should share my snacks with my friends and that's why I brought all these."

Principal Ita believed her and because he was very busy, he didn't question her further.

Michael who was in skinny jeans and a fitted green T-shirt just stood up, waving his hands to get attention. What does he want now? Zaizai hissed mentally.

"I swear, I'll jump out of the bus while we're going."

Is he crazy? He's definitely bluffing. Ugh, he's all talk no action. Zaizai mocked mentally, resting her back on the chair.

"Oya na (okay) and if you don't do it what should we do?" Kicky asked. She knew he wouldn't push through with it. Well, they all knew.

Zaizai shook her head, she didn't get why he would dare himself to do something as stupid as that. Then she smiled as an idea popped into her mind.

"If he doesn't jump then he'll kiss Ese."

"Why me? Why not someone else?" Ese whined like a baby, earning giggles from a few.

"Why not you? Ese, he loves you," Zaizai responded and the giggles filled the air.

"Guys, it's not funny," Michael said with a blush.

Zaizai, Irayo, and Minah started singing loudly.

🎼So this is love
Tarranrannrann🎼

""Hehehe!!"

"Ahh!!!!" Tall Daniel screamed and everyone quickly turned their faces in his direction.

They shook their heads when they saw Short Daniel doing his usual thing. Seriously? Will this boy ever get over his chewing of erasers addiction? Zaizai wandered in her mind.

"Wow! Your village people must have cursed you or something 'cause I don't get why you're still chewing erases at age 16 or is it 17?" Gbemi shouted. Some of them just laughed loudly while ShortDaniel just continued chewing. Tall Daniel brought out his phone and snapped short Daniel.

"Silence!" Their principal screeched with authority, This man always comes at the wrong time. Zaizai thought. They all went mute as though their mouths had been cut off.

"We are going now so everyone behave yourself. Don't disgrace us because you know our school is the best...," the principal was interrupted by Suzy's mocking cough.

"On your knees!" He pointed at Suzy with a serious gaze.

"Sir, no....I have a cough, sir.  I'm not mocking Landmark," Suzy defended in between sobs. She looked rather innocent in her fitted long-sleeved navy blue gown.

"Did I say that you were mocking Landmark?" Principal Ita asked intimidatingly.

Suzy, already on her knees in between the small spaces of the seats just repeated her prior words. "Sir, I have a cough."

"Kangaroo, shut up!"

"Sorry, sir. I know Landmark is the best school," Suzy emphasized the word best.

He shrugged with a smile. He released her and she was thankful. Then Principal Ita cleared his throat and continued, "I'm not following you guys 'cause I'll be going in a special car. The driver will take you there and I'm sure you're all big enough to care for yourselves, right?"

They nodded in approval though they felt insulted that he was asking them that ridiculous question. We ain't kids no more! Zaizai wanted to voice out. The minute he was gone, they couldn't hold their tongues any longer.

"Foolish man!" Suzy screamed.

"Guilty conscience will kill you,"  Zaizai said to Suzy.

"No, Sir, I'm not mocking Landmark. Who asked you to say that??" Irayo mocked her.

"It's the coughing for me though," Minah added and Suzy just hissed.

Everyone laughed again. Yeah, these kids loved laughing. The driver started the engine and with that, their journey began. Ayo said that she was happy that the principal left them alone. Most of them nodded in agreement. Suzy suggested that they should sing to have fun.

"It's strange for a standard school to just leave us alone with the driver," Jerry said. They looked at him in a way that showed that this school ain't standard at all.

"Yes, let's sing Heat Waves!" Zaizai shouted. She loved that song so much.

"No, let's sing a Naija song," Ayo disagreed.

"Hmm, Let's go for Doja Cat's songs," Minah said.

"Old Town Road!" Great screamed.

"Let's just go for praise and worship," Ese shrugged, munching on chinchin. He had been eating chinchin throughout. He was glad that Zaizai's chinchin was available.

After twenty minutes of bickering, they agreed to sing Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran and then switched to different songs. They were so loud that they could blow up the bus with their noise. The poor old driver couldn't endure it anymore so he turned to the back and scolded, "What's wrong with you? What's wrong with you?"

The way he said it was so funny cause it sounded like a song and as usual, they giggled but their voices were lower this time.

They decided to play a game of kiss, marry, kill. This will be fun! Zaizai was excited cause she already knew who to attack.

"I'm asking Irayo," Zaizai started, earning a suspicious look from Irayo. She smirked, "Kiss, marry, Kill. Gbolex, Short Daniel and Michael."

"Zaizai, whyyyyyyy? I'll kill them all," Irayo pouted. She didn't like any of them and her best friend knew this.

"Girl, you must choose," Kicky giggled.

"Okay, I'll kill short Daniel, kiss Gbolex, and marry Michael 'cause he's gay so indirectly we won't have a relationship," Iray answered with a mental shrug.

Gbolex frowned at her response. Poor guy was hoping that she would choose to marry him.

"Minah,  choose among Ese, Great and Tall Daniel," Irayo asked Minah.

"I'll obviously kill Great, kiss tall Daniel, and marry Ese," Minah responded promptly.

Gbemi gave Minah a deadly look. Ese is taken. Had she forgotten that she dumped him a few weeks ago? Interesting, Zaizai mused.

They continued playing while the boys were eating the snacks. The driver entered a secluded street and announced that they were in the area. Ayo was about to ask Zaizai but Zaizai dismissed it by saying, "Michael, I guess it's time to kiss Ese."

"YES!"

Ese warned, "Don't you dare!"

But they ignored him and encouraged Michael to go ahead. Michael shook his head with a blush.

"Aw, he's blushing. I think he didn't jump purposely so that he could kiss Ese," Irayo pointed out.

"Michael, do it or else I'll throw you out the window myself," Kicky glared at him. Kicky wasn't one to bluff though so Michael was scared.

Funny enough, Michael was sitting next to Esse so he leaned closer trying to kiss him but poor Ese puked.

*********

LOL 😆

What awaits them in In Ibabi? Find out in the next chapter.