It was now Saturday. I woke up joyfully, feeling sensational. The day I had been looking forward to finally arrived. I relaxed on my bed for a bit, resting my head on both hands, comfortably placed on my pillow, as I stared at the ceiling.

In that position, I began visualizing how the day would unfold. While doing so, a smile formed on my face. Soon after, my mom came in to check if I was still asleep, and in the process, she disrupted my little relaxation and thoughts.

The sound of the door opening snapped me away from my thoughts as I diverted my gaze away from the ceiling to my mom.

"Oh, Paul, you're awake," she said, while holding the door handle as the door was slightly ajar.
"Yes, mom," I responded, smiling with my teeth on display.

"I know you're looking forward to where we will be going later. Isaac's mom just messaged me not quite long ago. She said she will come and pick us up from 12:00 pm. So, we will be expecting her by then. Don't take too long on your bed. You know you have house chores to do this morning, and if you don't, you know the saying, "no food for a lazy man," my mom said firmly.

"But Mom, I'm not a man yet; I'm just a boy," I said jokingly, displaying my teeth again as I smiled and laughed almost at the same time.

"Keep quiet, Paul. In your mind, you said something funny, but it's not funny to me though," she said, with a bit of playfulness in her tone.

My mom then left. As I saw the door of my room shut closed, I energetically rose up from the bed to do some chores.

Time flew a bit fast, and I was done with the house chores. I had my bath, brushed my teeth, and ate breakfast, which my mom prepared. It was one of my favorite foods; Oil beans and fried plantain. It was yummy. My mom is a very good cook, and as a foodie, I'm glad she can cook delicious dishes.

Well, after breakfast, I started watching TV as the light flickered on since the Power Holding Company of Nigeria just brought the light. Most Nigerians love calling them NEPA, which means National Electric Power Authority, and I'm part of those who call them that.

Well, I watched TV for hours, from Nickelodeon to Nollywood, which my mom enjoys watching, to music videos and some programs. My mom was the one with the remote control, and she allowed me to only watch Nickelodeon. I actually wished I had a TV in my room then because the only TV in the house was the one in the living room, and the main reason is that I wanted to be watching anything I wanted.

Well, time flew fast as we were engrossed in the TV. It was later 12:00 pm, and we started getting ready to go out as we waited for Isaac's mom to come and pick us up. Forty-five minutes later, she came, and we could both hear the sound of her car outside the house gate. Excitedly, I ran out to the gate and approached Isaac and her mom, who were just coming out of the car. I greeted Isaac's mom, and she greeted back, giving me a very warm smile before going into the house.

I shifted my gaze to Isaac, and we walked towards each other and gave our friendly handshakes. I was happy to see Isaac.

"How have you been, bro?" Isaac asked.

"I've been fine, laughing gas," I said jokingly. I was fond of calling him Laughing Gas because he laughs a lot. No wonder his name is Isaac. To me, he was different from other Nigerian kids because unlike them, he acted just like the meaning of his name.

"Paw paw, you don start again, how e dey be na?" he spoke in pidgin. He gave me the nickname Paw Paw, and I could guess it's because my name is Paul. People are just fond of nicknaming or teasingly calling people named Paul "Paw Paw," and I still don't know why it's like that.

Well, Isaac and I chatted a little before both our moms came out from the house. We all went inside the car, and Isaac's mom drove us away. We were going to the same Plaza we once went before. I was so much looking forward to playing video games with Isaac and sharing my school experience with him.

I hyped John Felix Academy the last time we went there, and I never told him my experience in the school.

It was an hour drive, and we arrived at the plaza. I know I've never described the appearance of this place, but this time around I will now.

The grand five-storey structure boasted a vibrant interior adorned with a captivating blend of red and blue hues, shimmering brightly under the radiant glow. Boldly emblazoned on its facade were the elegant words "JEKINS PLAZA," adding a touch of splendor to the architectural marvel.

Walking into the building felt amazing. The warm yellow light inside made us feel cozy. I was so happy to be there; it felt like I had missed it. Joy radiated from Isaac and me, evident in the sparkle of our eyes and the shared smiles that graced our faces. Our expressions mirrored that of two gleeful monkeys, delighted at the sight of a bountiful feast. The expansive reception hall stretched before us, a symphony of elegance and grandeur.

Above, the ceiling adorned with intricate lighting fixtures added to the abundance of the space.

A multitude of individuals moved about, some bidding farewell to the building, others engaged in conversation with the receptionists, and a few gracefully descending the grand staircase.

Isaac's mom and mine approached a receptionist, and we were provided with cards granting us permission to explore the building.

It struck me that a white man owned the building, explaining its stylish allure. We ascended a moving staircase, not the ordinary kind, but one where we simply stood and it transported us. It stopped near a large door, indicating the cinema.

"Would you like to watch a movie?" Isaac's mom asked, to which we both declined in unison. "Ah, I see, you prefer video games," she concluded, giving us money for gaming and snacks. "Stay in the game room so we can find you later," my mom advised as they entered the cinema.

As we walked past the cinema door, we spotted another staircase leading to the game room on the next floor.

An hour later, deeply engrossed in Street Fighter, we battled it out numerous times, eventually switching to a car game we both enjoyed. As time passed, hunger struck, prompting us to grab snacks and ice cream before returning to the game room.

Taking a break, we sat in chairs within the game room, quietly consuming our treats until I broached the topic of school, eager to start a conversation.

"You remember my school that I told you about," I said, letting my words sink into Isaac as I grabbed his attention. With a mouthful of donut, Isaac moved his gaze from his snacks to me immediately upon hearing me.

"Yes, I remember. So, what happened?" he said while chewing.

"Well, the school is not really what I told you about it the other time. I actually hyped it. The truth is that the school has been so weird, like strange or weird stuff happens, anyway you want to put it. It's more like there are socially weird people, both the students and teachers. I don't really know much about other classes, but mine is definitely filled with weirdos. I guess they're more than the normal students. Luckily for me, I was able to make friends with some totally normal people. Their names are Michael and Amanda. They're like my best friends in the school and the only people I can trust in that school apart from Tutor John and maybe Tutor Beatrice, although I've not developed a form of teacher to student closeness. Isaac, I've seen several of my classmates acting weird every day, and some days ago, I saw some teachers acting weird in class. One of them sang a very creepy song in class. One even came to the class with reddish eyes and utter seriousness, and his voice sounded weird. The guy was like the villain in a horror movie. But recently, no one has been acting weird in the school. The school suddenly feels normal, which is unusual considering that the displayance of weird behavior is an everyday thing in that school. In fact, it's a normal thing in the school, and it was a matter of time before I got used to it. I'm happy that it's normal though, but I just feel that something fishy is going on, like someone in the school is pulling the plug. You know, like controlling them, and they can act weird again if that person desires," I said, then paused, looking at Isaac who gave an unreadable expression.

It was totally neutral, but I could tell that all what I said surprised him. After a minute of quietness, which felt like a very long one, Isaac finally responded.

"Well, that was a lot to take in. So, what you're trying to tell me is that your school is filled with weirdos and it's suddenly no longer that way, which is sudden and a bit fishy. Hmm, this is interesting, more like a paranormal adventure of school life. Tell me, have you ever wondered about the mystery behind the weirdness of the school, like don't you want to know why? I think it's high time you acted like Sherlock Holmes and uncovered the mystery behind the displayance of frequent weird behaviors in the school. For now, I will advise you to take notice of little things. Be on alert. Anything can be a piece to the puzzle," Isaac said seriously.

"Hmm, it seems you're taking this well and you don't seem all surprised," I said, with a bit of a smile. The truth is that Isaac's reaction really surprised me, but I was glad he showed concern and advised me.

"Now tell me, apart from students and teachers acting weird, have you observed any other weird thing?" Isaac asked, moving his brows in a serious manner. He looked like a professional detective at that moment.

"Yes," I replied. "A student went missing this term, and my friend told me that students go missing every third term," I continued.

"Hmm, that's very deep and concerning. Why will students be going missing every third term? That's definitely a defined pattern. Something fishy is really going on in that school of yours, and I think you will have to be careful. I don't think you should indulge yourself in trying to uncover the mystery of the school. I think you should tell your mom about it so that she withdraws you from the school. Teachers and students acting weird is one thing, but students going missing every year is very extreme and concerning. You're not supposed to be in such a school," Isaac said, more concerned.

"Okay, I will tell my mom about the school, but the thing is that she might just brush it off, and another thing is that I've got good friends over there," I said.

"Bro, no parents will brush such things off when a missing student is involved. I get it that you're not alone in that school and you've got friends there, but I will advise you to consider it well. The choice is up to you, though. But make sure you tell your mom if anyone tries to act extremely funny to you. You know what I mean, though. I'm talking about anything or anyone that wants to bring harm to you," Isaac said, with a calm expression.

"Sure, bro, I will be careful too," I said.
With that, we decided to play some more games before our moms came to get us and drove away from the Plaza.

I enjoyed that day, and I was glad that I was able to share my experience at John Felix Academy with Isaac. Isaac was such a good friend, and he still is. His advice sank into me, and I kept thinking about it throughout the rest of the day.

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