We were having our first joint class on Thursday afternoon and it was so annoying. First, because the Yoruba teacher was a petite annoying man, Mr. Alade who I guessed found it satisfying and comical to piss me off. I found myself wishing I chose technical drawing. Science students were supposed to choose between that and languages and I unluckily registered language. They didn't have an Igbo teacher, only Yoruba and Hausa teachers which  surprised me. Jessica told me I was going to hate Hausa class because according to her, the Hausa teacher got a tiny dislike for Igbo students. So I joined her for Yoruba class and was blessed with tons of regret.

I was dozing off during the class –which was totally the teacher's fault –and he made me read something from the textbook. I understood less than nothing of what I was reading. I made a fool of myself –which was also his fault.

"This language should be banned biko," I groaned in frustration. Some of my mates snickered but the man said nothing. I guess he didn't know I made a comment. Then when I was trying my best to listen to his gibberish, Olamide wouldn't stop acting like she was the only Yoruba in the world. It simply infuriated me.

Second reason why the class was annoying was that the whole of senior school three was also there.

Gold. Silver. And Diamond.

The crowd was suffocating me.

At the beginning of the class, I was stuck at the back of the class with Peter who wouldn't stop telling me about his pitiful escapades with Olamide. It made me wonder why on earth that out of all girls in the whole of Regal High, he had to pick Olamide.

"Why is she so complex. . .like a Rubik's cube?" He had asked.

Complex. Pfft! She's just a devilish unfortunately beautiful brat whose very sight annoys sanity out of me.

Olamide always ruffled my feathers like she wanted something to go down between us but I've always been able to control myself and I wanted to give Peter that rude reply but Mr. Alade caught me and accused me of disturbing his class. He made me move to the front of the class and to share a desk with Vincent.

It was awkward alright.

Vincent said nothing neither did I. We had never spoken a word to each other since that Saturday.

When the Yoruba teacher left, we were asked to go back to our class for Economics. We were using another class, hall, for the joint class. I planned on going back to the class after my classmates had cleared from the hall mainly because the Economics teacher was always late. It seemed like that was also the idea on Vincent's mind because he didn't move too. He just kept tapping his pen on the desk.

"Sup Niggas!" Chijioke greeted appearing in front of us. He did Yoruba too so also Stephen obviously. Aliyah did Hausa while Amanda did technical drawing. She said she wanted to be an architect.

"Hey bro."

"Fuck off," I replied.

"Motherfudger," he retorted. Chijioke didn't curse. When he wanted to, he always changed the F-word. "What's up? Are you guys not going for Economics?"

Someone covered my eyes from behind with their hand. Before five seconds, the culprit started giggling.

"Jessica shey you want to blind me?"

She let out the giggles she was trying to hold in. "How do you always know when it's me?" She complained.

"Maybe you should try not giggling all the time?"

"But that's impossible with me imagining you ripping my hands and exploding on me," she pouted. It was what happened on Monday and I was truly sorry. The thought of Richard leaving was the cause of that.

"I would never do that again. I'm sorry," I pouted back.

Chijioke gagged. "Enough of the cute moments. Yuck!". Jessica pinched his cheek like a grandma correcting her grandchild. "Ouchie! Baby stop!"
The duo kept acting cute until Vincent cleared his throat.

"We'll meet you guys in class. You can go ahead without us."

I was forced to look at Vincent. We? What gave him the idea that we were going to class together?

"Okie dokie," Jessica chirped before dragging Chijioke who looked like he wanted to protest, away.

"Why did you leave on Saturday?" Vincent asked. He turned to look at me squarely. He really asked. I didn't expect him to. I was shocked. I had been waiting for more students to leave the hall before I did. Why didn't I just move to another seat?

Not your business, I wanted to reply.

But I couldn't. To be honest, I wanted to say something other than that.

Well, I left because I didn't want to tell you NO. That I was an orphan whose mother hated hated her to the extent of making her go nameless.

That was what I wanted to ramble but why? Why did I want to tell him? Was it because he. . .asked? Plausible.

"Erm--I--um. . ."

Vincent chuckled drily. "That's weird. This is the second time I've heard you stutter."

"I--No--um. . .". When the hell did you become a stuttering mess? I scolded myself.

"Third time."

I rolled my eyes. "I give up."

Vincent looked at me funny. I quirked my brow. "What?"

"Why did you leave?" He asked with all seriousness.

I folded my hands above my chest. "Why are you asking now? There was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and this morning. Why now?"

"I didn't know when to ask you. I kind of find you unapproachable."

Says the master of unapproachable.

"Oh."

"And seriously, I wouldn't have asked if not for circumstances."

My earlier vibes to tell him just died that moment. He didn't even care. He just wanted to ask. For asking sake.

"Personal reason though," I answered avoiding eye contact. I turned away from him and decided to pick my dirty fingers.

From the corner of my eyes, I watched him stare at me with a calculative gaze. As if he was putting two and two together. I notice his eyes widen as if he had realised something. "Are you an. . ." He shook his head. "Connie misses you."

I couldn't help but wonder what he wanted to say at first. What did he want to say? What was he thinking? What was in his head  about me? I wanted to know. But for my sake, the sake of peace and my emotions, I ignored my curiosity.

"I miss her too."

He gave an almost invisible smile and stood up. "Let's go to class before Mrs. Preye preaches to us today."

We didn't say anymore as we headed to class. Vincent just tucked his hands in his pocket and once in a while I caught him stealing glances at me. When we got to class the teacher was just arriving so we were lucky.

Unluckily for us though, she didn't teach anything. She just took attendance and gave us an assignment to make a note on market. When she left the class, Benita came to the front with Israel and Olamide.

"Good afternoon class," She greeted with her cartoon-like voice. She was close to Nmesoma and my classmates seemed to respect her. She was nice at least. The class mumbled back a greeting. Olamide glared at them. "Open your mouths. . .haba!"

The class greeted again but clearly. I wondered again why Olamide was not the aspiring senior girl. Amanda said it's because her character was not worthy of emulation and she wasn't straight A.

"So we're supposed to have an election for the Class Rep. So, um. . ."

"I thought Amanda is the Class prefect?" A guy from the back asked.

"We have to vote because I also want to be the class prefect," Olamide replied. "And Ms. Daniels allowed it." She did say we would be having an election but the date had already passed. I turned my gaze to Amanda and I saw her scoff. She met my gaze and smiled. I smiled back before turning my attention to Benita and co.

"Me too," Israel said. Some of my mates expressed shock and he chuckled. "And the person with the highest vote will then choose his/her assistant rep from anyone in the class"

"Okay. Let's get this over with."

Amanda went to the front of the class to stand with Israel, Benita and Olamide.

"All who want Amanda as class rep raise your hands." Me, Aliyah, Jessica and another girl raised our hands. "You all should participate o," Benita added. Two more people raised their hands.

She clapped her hand with a smile. "That's more like it." Seven people voted for Israel while six people voted for Olamide.

"We have a tie!"

"No." Benita countered. "Israel won na."

"But Amanda and Olamide have six votes."

Benita shrugged. "They don't matter."

The class exclaimed and Olamide punched Benita. I've noticed they were a bit close. "Bit" being the keyword. Benita laughed. "Sick beings. I know you guys understood what I meant." The class mumbled something back and the noise died down.

"Israel choose your assistant," Benita sang. The noise in the class gradually increased. Israel scratched his head and looked at Olamide who looked away immediately. Amanda rolled her eyes and went back to her seat. 

"Olamide," He responded. He gave Benita a look that seemed to say please don't make this a big deal.

"So. . .cheers to the new class leaders. I still remain 001 of this class though," Benita joked. The class clapped as she exited the class. Israel went after her probably to explain things. Jessica said Nmesoma was kind of a clingy and jealous type –explains why she was always in our class. And well Benita was her close friend.