As my mind remained in chaos, I made my way towards the courtyard. Before reaching Michael and Amanda at our usual spot, the bell rang, signaling the end of the break. I felt a twinge of annoyance, realizing I had spent most of my break in Tutor Adisa's office, with only a fraction spent walking.

Though insignificant, if I were to tally the time, it might amount to a few minutes, perhaps 5-8. Contemplating whether to share my ordeal in Tutor Adisa's office and the bizarre encounter with the kitten with Michael and Amanda, I dismissed the idea. They likely wouldn't believe me, especially regarding the grinning kitten, possibly deeming me insane. However, considering their past experiences with peculiar teacher behavior, they might entertain the thought regarding Tutor Adisa.

Nonetheless, my gut feeling urged me to keep silent about the events.
In the courtyard, I spotted Michael and Amanda preparing to leave for class. They soon noticed my presence.

"Paul, what a coincidence! The bell rang just as you arrived, or maybe a few minutes before. Seems Amanda has a knack for predicting time," Michael remarked, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Yeah, there's power in my tongue. Didn't I tell you? I said the break would end when Paul got here," Amanda declared proudly.

"Enough, Amanda. It's merely a coincidence," I interjected, a mix of jest and irritation in my tone.

With that settled, we made our way to class, engaging in conversation along the route.

"Paul, what held you up in Tutor Adisa's office? I hope everything's alright," Michael inquired, genuine concern lacing his words.
I nearly reveal the incident but quickly restrained myself.

"It's nothing serious, just a brief delay with a teacher. He was checking on my notes and class experience," I reassured them.

"Ah, good to hear. A friendly rapport with teachers is always beneficial. You might be Tutor John's favorite student and now gaining favor with others," Amanda remarked.

"Don't forget Tutor Beatrice's fondness for him too. The envy from our classmates could be perceived. You're quite the teacher's pet," Michael teased.

"Indeed. I'm honored, I suppose," I replied, faking a smile.

As we made our way to class, engaging in light conversation along the route, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. With each passing moment, the facade of normalcy seemed to crumble, revealing the underlying mysteries and dangers lurking within the confines of the school.

As the day unfolded, I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets lay hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered. With each passing moment, the lines between reality and illusion blurred, leaving me questioning everything I thought I knew about the world around me. And as the bell signaled the end of another day, I couldn't shake off the feeling that the worst was yet to come.
The rest of the day passed in a blur, with classes coming and going in a haze of uncertainty. Despite my attempts to focus on the lessons, my mind kept drifting back to the unsettling encounters with Tutor Adisa and Tutor Beatrice.

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, I felt a mix of relief and dread wash over me. With each passing moment, the weight of the day's events seemed to press down on me, leaving me feeling drained and exhausted. Michael and Amanda noticed the negative vibe emitting from me, but I kept assuring them that I'm doing alright.

As I gathered my belongings and prepared to leave for home, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. The school, which had suddenly maintained a state of normalcy not long ago, now seemed like a labyrinth of secrets and hidden dangers. It had always seemed that way, but it was now becoming more apparent, enhancing the appetite of my curiosity.

With a heavy heart, I walked out of the school building with Michael, pretending everything was fine as we chatted along the way. Though it wasn't easy, I managed to hide my true feelings from him.

When I got home, my mom greeted me cheerfully as she opened the door. She didn't notice my inner turmoil because I appeared lively. After our usual greetings, I headed for a bath, changed into casual clothes, and grabbed a snack before retreating to my room to relax instead of joining her in the living room to watch TV.
While in my room, thoughts of the day's events lingered in my mind.

After remembering a promise I made to myself, I finally left my room after pondering deeply for quite some time.
My mom, watching TV, quickly sensed my presence and saw the anxiety written all over me as I stood staring at her. Worriedly, she asked, "Paul, what's wrong? You look kind of gloomy."

"Mom, there's something I've been hiding from you for a while now about my school, John Felix Academy," I confessed.

"Okay, what's been going on there? Feel free to tell me, Paul," she encouraged.

Even without me saying anything, I could tell she felt bad that I had been keeping something from her for so long.

"Um, Mom, John Felix Academy is not what you might think. The school is extremely weird. Since I started there, I've witnessed socially strange behavior from my classmates and teachers. Although things seemed normal during my JSS 1 third term, odd occurrences gradually resurfaced. A teacher's kitten even grinned mischievously at me. It was so human-like and it has happened twice now. A classmate also warned me in a strange way. Mom, there's just something fishy about the school, and I want you to withdraw me from it. I've heard rumors of students going missing every year, and it happened last term. I still don't know if they found the missing student. Nobody even talks about it anymore. Please, Mom, I beg you, take me out of that school. I get more scared every time I set foot there," I concluded, releasing a flood of emotions. It felt good to finally let it all out. I was breathing quickly because of my emotional outburst.

My mom's expression was unreadable. Soon later, her expression turned to a skeptical one. I could see the doubt in her eyes, her brows furrowing in disbelief.

"Paul, I understand you might be feeling anxious about school, but come on, a kitten grinning mischievously? That sounds a bit far-fetched, don't you think?"

Feeling frustrated by her reaction, I tried to defend myself.

"Mom, I know it sounds strange, but it happened! And it's not just that. There are other weird things going on at John Felix Academy."

My mom sighed, shaking her head.

"Paul, you're letting your imagination run wild. Maybe you're just stressed from schoolwork or feeling overwhelmed. John Felix Academy is a reputable school, and I'm sure everything is fine."

"But Mom, I'm serious! Something doesn't feel right there," I insisted, my voice tinged with desperation.
Her expression softened as she placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"Look, I understand you're feeling uneasy, but sometimes our minds can play tricks on us. Maybe you should try to focus on your studies and give it some time. I'm sure things will start to feel normal again."

I was then prompted to ask.

"Mom, what about students going missing in the school?"

She responded calmly, "I'm sure it's just a mere coincidence. Things like that happen, dear. You just don't need to have negative thoughts about becoming a missing student. That's not your portion, dear."

I felt defeated, but I knew I had to try another approach to convince her.

"Okay, Mom, I'll try to focus on my studies, but please, just keep an open mind about this. I don't want to go back to that school feeling scared every day."

She then nodded, offering me a reassuring smile.

"Of course, Paul. I'll keep an eye on things, but let's try not to worry too much for now, alright?"
With a heavy heart, I reluctantly agreed, hoping that somehow she would come to see the truth about John Felix Academy before it was too late.

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What are your thoughts on this chapter?? Were you expecting Paul's mom to believe him or not?? Pls, vote if you do enjoy it. Big thanks to everyone who have been sacrificing part of their time to read this book. I truly appreciate that 😊😊😊