Searching for Love, Found Wealth

Sunday zoomed fast and I found myself in Monday. I began checking out for anyone who’d ask how my day went first.

Or anyone who’d be monitoring me. That person would most likely be Charles’ friend.

I walked gracefully to my seat watching out for whoever it would be.

Sheena came to seat besides me later on and asked about my weekend. I reported positively and asked about hers. I knew she couldn’t be the one.

Every other person just sent a hi and left.

Honestly I was looking forward to Charles’ friend being one of Jasper and his friends. They soon walked in.

Reuben seemed to be in a bad mood as he ignored the greeting of a girl. Jasper responded on his behalf.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Jacob’s hair was dyed blonde. It was brunet the week before. He looked like some snow prince. And just then did I notice his greenish eyes.

It seemed like Sheena noticed them too as she was staring at him wherever he went. Reuben also didn’t seem like in a good mood.

Well, to me, he was the quiet of all of them so his mood wasn’t very pronounced.

Our form teacher came to have a roll call for the new week. The last week was still resumption week so she didn’t bother have a roll call.

I noticed some of my classmates had been shifted to another class, leaving us with only twenty-five students.

The roll call started and both Sheena and I, who we’re the only recent students that weren’t shifted to another class, were shocked by the revelation.

So I couldn’t remember all my classmates names. But I could guess if tried.

Jasper and Jacob were twin brothers. And Reuben was actually a cousin. I did not see that coming at all. Their surname was Coleman. It was the family name.

Sheena also added that Jacob was actually the troublesome one among the twin, even among the three.

But he had been threatened to go to an all-boy school and cut off from his family and friends so he was very quiet the next year. She also added that she doubt he’d be calm forever.

Joey was one of the students who had been transferred so Jennifer was our new Class rep.

She was surprised when she was appointed. Clara had even slammed her table in anger. The form teacher seemed unbothered and continued with the roll call.

When I heard my name, if not I knew I was called Kiera, I wouldn’t have answered it.

“Kiera Martinez Bob”.

I turned around hoping someone would raise their hand. The teacher repeated and this time, she was looking at me. I was the last student that had entered so my name was the last.

When I was sure it was obviously me, I raised my hands shyly.

Was that my new official name? Where did Martinez come from? Am I Spanish or Italian somehow?

I knew Bob was mom’s father’s name, he lived around and mom promised I’d see him. But anything about Martinez, lost me.

Two students had indicated that their names were pronounced wrongly. One had been called “Roderino” instead of “Rodrigo”.

The other was called “Chikre” instead of “Chikwere”. Both names were Portuguese and Igbo respectively.

The form teacher moodily said she’d correct it WHEN SHE HAD TIME. Like what kind of sassy response was that?

We waited patiently for our next teacher and a short plump lady came in to teach us agricultural science.

She had a sweet British accent and even though I couldn’t hear everything I enjoyed listening. Music to my ears.

I was yet to find out about Charles friend. Everybody was focusing on different things. I didn’t blame them, it was longer resumption week, everyone was working harder.

Jennifer left to submit the classwork we did during our agricultural science class. She’d call the next teacher on her way.

With her new position as class rep, it won’t be hard for her to win “Nicest Student”. I couldn’t compete for Top student.

Sheena told me that Jasper and her sister were the class toppers and had been since grade ten.

Jennifer was too much to be my competition. I wished I could talk her out of competing for Nicest Student.

That’s be both selfish and cheesy. There wasn’t even a possibility of winning with Cara still competing.

My unsettled feud with Cara flashed in my head. I didn’t want to settle with her but I wanted to be seen as “nice” so I would.

I looked for her and saw her staring at Jacob. Was she whipped for his blonde look? I smiled at her. Sheena caught me smiling.

“Are you gay?” her voice asked. I tilted my head immediately to face her.

“And if she is?” Chloe, Sheena’s seat mate to the left, asked back.

Sheena shrugged, “Just asking”.

“I am not gay” I said loud enough for both of them to hear.

When has smiling at a girl be symptoms of being gay? I thought you had to have actual feelings to be a gay. Why was that word being overused.

“I don’t judge. Be what you wanna be” Chloe added and faced her work.

“Thanks but I am what I am. I’m not gay” I repeated. She shrugged as well and silenced followed till the next teacher came in, along with Jennifer.

Jennifer had our note books which we had submitted for a classwork while the teacher had a sheet of paper along a long book.

Sheena sighed disappointedly, “That wicked teacher is going to call our scores again. I hope I didn’t fail so bad”.

My eyes dimmed. Why did teachers have to be this bad. This one was an English teacher so I didn’t feel so sad. If it was math then I’d cry.

“So we had our usual five toppers” the teacher began. She was adjusting her glasses to peer into her sheet.

“We had new friends at the bottom list” she smirked. I felt like I could hear Sheena’s heart beating.

She would surely be scared of failing. It was embarrassing especially when her twin was a topper.