003 - The Jungle.

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(003 - The Jungle)

You people are just giving me mad morale to update! The feedback from the last chapters, as well as the number of views and votes in just 24hours, is mind-blowing😱. I love you all so much! I swear I love you too much!

Welcome to Crestview International Academy. A big-shot fantasy high school in Victoria Island, Lagos State. As I said, it's a fantasy high school. Most of the venues in this book are made up🌚.


⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆



π‡πˆπ‹π€π‘π˜
(Hilary Idara Eghosa)

I don't think I can do this. I can't do this.

I thought to myself, feeling the bile coming up in my throat with a sick feeling accompanying it.

It was Monday morning, the day I was supposed to resume back to school.

After speaking to Dawn and Kizito yesterday, with them giving me the gist of the current happenings in school, I had looked forward to resuming school today. My mum was even shocked when she walked in on me in the laundry room, ironing my school uniform last night. I had seen it in her features, her expression. She was excited about my enthusiasm to resume school.

Only for me to wake up this morning and that enthusiasm of last night was nowhere to be found.

I had remembered what Dawn told me about how the school was still buzzing with the news of my brother's demise and I suddenly dreaded the thought of resuming school and facing my set mates. I wasn't ready for this at all. Most of my classmates already had thoughts about me and all these would just bring more unsolicited attention

That was probably why I was seated in front of my sky blue vanity table which was just beside my king-sized bed, only clad in my undies. I stared at my reflection in the mirror before me, trying to will myself not to throw up.

"I cannot do this," I whispered to my reflection, shaking my head and swallowing the rising bile in my throat. I began to think of what kind of lie to tell my mum and decided to go with the classic fever lie because I knew she'd walk in any moment from now to see if I was done dressing.

On cue, a knock came to my door and I quickly dashed for my bed, pulling my deep red duvet up to my chin.

"Come in," I called, letting my voice sound as croaked as I could muster, just to give off that sick feeling. When the doorknob turned, I began to feign shivers.

My mum came into view, her eyes locking with mine. She gave me a questionable gaze, folding her hand across her chest and pushing her body weight to her right leg. From her expression, I knew she wasn't buying it so I decided that I was either going to go big or go home. So, I started coughing, trying not to make it sound so fake. When I stole a look at her, her expression had not dissolved one bit.

She wasn't buying it at all.

"What are you still doing in bed, Hilary?" She finally asked, eyeing my duvet-clad body. I let out another round of fake coughs and sniffles. Mum scoffed. "You are not fooling anyone with that act of yours." She stated matter-of-factly and I sighed, giving up.

What was I thinking acting up like this? Mum knew me better than anyone, so she'd see right through me.

"I don't want to go to school, mum," I told her, sitting up from my bed. She stared at me for a bit, looked at me intently like she was trying to read me. I felt so uncomfortable under her stare that I had to look away. My bed dipped, indicating she had sat on it.

"Why?" That was all she asked, causing me to look up at her. She had that worried look on her face again and I thawed. I don't want her worrying about me every single time.

"I don't know if I can handle it," I answered, shaking my head. Mum hummed as if urging me to go on.

"The attention, the pressure. I'm not ready for all of that. Not only from my classmates, the teachers as well. Henry was well known at Crestview. I can't enter a room without someone mentioning him. I don't know if I can deal..." Mum pressed her hand against my arm, stopping me from talking any further.

It's going to be hard...

"It's going to be hard." She affirmed like she heard my thoughts, her gaze unwavering from mine. "It's going to be hard, like really really hard." She kept repeating, more like teasing me and I scrunched up my face, frowning.

"Gee, thanks, mum. I feel a lot better now." I said, making sure she heard the sarcasm in my voice. She chuckled, pulling me closer and I nuzzled against her.

"My baby." She cooed, pulling me in tighter. "Always so easy to tease." She whispered and I found myself smiling, feeling the tension around me dispel.

"In all seriousness Hilary," she started, her voice becoming serious so I paid attention. "It's going to be hard - really hard, but it will eventually pass." She said, her voice sounding so assuring that I almost believed her.

Almost...

"How soon will it pass?" I asked, pulling away from her embrace so that I would be able to look at her. The look on her face told me that she wasn't sure how to answer my question. She looked like she was thinking of how best to answer me, so when she looked back at me, I knew I wasn't going to get an answer that would soothe me.

"Not as soon as you may want, but it will pass." She said and I frowned, not liking that answer but I nodded anyway. "But for now, I need you to remain strong. Hold your head up like the queen that you are. Please, don't allow what has happened to us in the last one month to affect you." She was pleading with me now, her voice desperate.

It was then I realized that she was still hurting from the events of these past weeks. She and Dad. Losing their first child and only son shattered them. I saw the way they broke down in the hospital after the news, saw the way Dad cried as a baby and mum wailed. The first two weeks after his burial, I would hear mum sneak into Henry's room and weep softly, thinking that no one would hear her

But I did.

And it was heart-wrenching.

It made me feel even more guilty for hiding the entire truth from them.

"How are you and Dad handling it?" I asked, my voice calm and careful so that I won't hit any nerves. When she sighed softly and mustered up a small smile, I became quite calm.

"We are coping." She said softly, brushing her fingers through my braids before she turned so that she was directly facing me.

"We are getting through all of these together. That's why I don't want you to isolate yourself, Hilary. Whatever you need, if you want to talk at all, we are here for you. We'll get through this together, as a family. Okay?" I nodded, silently assuring her and she gathered me into her arms again, hugging me.

We'll get through this.

I'll get through this.

"Now, dress up and get ready for school. You are a prefect and I don't want you to be late on your first day of senior year." She said expressly, pulling away from me and getting up from the bed.

"I'll drop you off myself, hmmm?" I nodded again and she smiled, seeing herself out of the room. I stood up from my bed and went back to sitting down by my vanity table, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

"I can do this," I whispered to myself, trying to reassure myself. If I had to repeat those four words every day for the rest of my life, I would. After repeating those words severally to myself, I exhaled then smiled at my reflection.

Standing up from the chair, I walked over to the large wardrobe that was situated at a far corner of my room, just right beside my bathroom, opened it, and picked my well-ironed uniform from the hanger. Because today was my first day in school, I decided to go with my blue blazers, not the wine one. I have always preferred the blue to the wine anyway.

When I was done dressing up, finishing off by wearing my socks and sneakers, I sat back in front of my vanity table and began to style my hair. I opted for a simple up-do, tying my braids into a donut style and laying my edges. Not wanting my face to look bland, I decided to put on a little brown powder and lip gloss. Satisfied with my look, I picked my bag from my bed and slung my back over my shoulder, taking one last look at the mirror.

"I can do this," I muttered to myself one last time, smiling at my reflection before I completely walked out of the room, shutting the door behind me.

"Look at my baby!" Dad exclaimed, the excitement in his voice going the extra mile to making me feel even better. I grinned, descending the stairs carefully. Mum poked her head out of the kitchen and smiled when she saw me.

"And you didn't want to go to school before o." She teased and I chuckled, shaking my head. "Now, look at you all glammed up. Oya, gee dem!" She winked at me and I rolled my eyes, fits of laughter escaping my lips as I knew full well that mum was whining me.

"Stop whining me, mummy," I screamed, laughter in my voice. Mum walked out of the kitchen and that was when I noticed she was all dressed up. A mock look of shock was playing on her face and her hands were held up in mock surrender.

"Me? Whine you? I am your mother, I am only allowed to tell you the truth and nothing but the truth." She stated astutely. Mum came to stand in front of me, stretching her hands to straighten invisible wrinkles on my blazer before looking at me right in the eyes, a proud smile stretching across her lips.

"You look like the beautiful and strong girl that you are. Always remember that." She said without mincing words. I felt my lips stretch in a small smile as I nodded to her words.

I've been nodding so much this morning.

"Thank you, mum," I told her. Dad came up beside her, indicating that he also had something to say. I didn't mind the pep talk this morning. I needed it.

"Hilary, do not allow anything to affect you." He started and I nodded again. "It's hard, especially with everything that has gone down these past weeks but eventually, it will all be fine again. Your mum and I are here for you, hmmm?"

"Yes, Dad," I answered and he flashed me a small smile, moving closer to me and pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"You are my strong girl. I'm proud of you, Hilary." He whispered, telling me. The emotion in his voice was so undiluted, I felt myself tearing up again.

It was getting even harder for me to tell them everything.

"Okay," Mum announced, coming out of the Master's bedroom with her bag and car keys. I didn't even know when she had gone in there. "We have had too many emotions to last for one day. Hilary needs to get to school." She said to Dad when she got to us. Dad nodded and turned to face me again.

"Have a nice day at school?" It sounded more like a question than a statement to me so I nodded, wrapping my arms around him to hug him which lasted for a bit.

As I made my way out of the house to go and wait in the car for mum, I caught a glimpse of my parents hugging, Dad whispering something to mum which she nodded to. When they pulled in for a kiss, I looked away and smiled. They were helping each other heal, and that was all that mattered to me. Compared to how they were during the first weeks of Henry's demise, they seemed better. Especially mum.

I wasn't going to take that away from them.

Even if it meant keeping the little truth from them.

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"Here we are," Mum announced as she parked the car and turned off the ignition. I sighed, eyes fixated on the several buildings laid out in front of me.

Crestview International Academy. The school for the one percent of the one percent, like me. The school had a wide landscape, huge storey buildings with so many rooms, not to mention, our Olympic standard Sports stadium. If you didn't know any better, you'd think it was a university, not a High school.

It was impossible to walk from the gate of the school to where the buildings were located, you have to drive - yes, that far. The Senior Block and Junior block were in no way close to each other, demarcated by the Assembly and Multipurpose Hall. I don't know who built the school or who designed the buildings but the person or people did a FINE job.

I can remember my first day here when I resumed JSS1. After Mum had dropped us off, a teacher had called Henry, and boom, he was gone from my side. I had gotten lost trying to find my classroom, going to the senior block instead of Junior's block, and looking very awkward. I even started crying.

Thank God for Kizito who found me lurking around aimlessly.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Mum's chirpy voice tore through my reverie and I turned to look at her, just in time to see her reach into the glove compartment to bring out something very familiar. My prefects' badge.


π™·πš’πš•πšŠπš›πš’ π™ΈπšπšŠπš›πšŠ π™΄πšπš‘πš˜πšœπšŠ
π™°πšπš–πš’πš—πš’πšœπšπš›πšŠπšπš’πšŸπšŽ π™Ώπš›πšŽπšπšŽπšŒπš


Was what was scribbled on the golden broche.

"I thought I lost that in the crash," I muttered softly, my eyes meeting my mum's. She shook her head and smiled, leaning across to pin the broche on the pocket of my blazer.

"When the car was retrieved from the..." She trailed off, unable to complete her statement and I nodded in understanding. "Most of the things in the glove compartment were still intact, including your broche." She explained and I smiled.

"Thank you, mum," I said to her, not knowing what else to say at this point. She reached over and gathered me in another hug for the fourth time this morning. I didn't mind at all. I needed the hugs.

"Seems like your friends are coming to welcome you back to school." Mum suddenly stated, pulling away from me with a smile playing on her lips. She was looking towards a direction and I followed her gaze to see Dawn, even Semeeha, walking towards the car. My lips stretched into an automatic smile spread across my lips.

I thought Semeeha said she wasn't going to come to school today? I thought, watching them as they got closer to the car.

"Go ahead," mum said and I turned to look at her. She was still smiling. "They have got you covered, so I'm sure you'll be fine. Korede will come and pick you in the afternoon, okay." I nodded. She touched her hand to my cheeks briefly and I smiled, before getting down from the car. I waved at her as she reversed then walked to meet my friends halfway.

"Hilary!" Dawn shrieked, running the remaining way and lunging herself at me, gathering me in a bear hug. I laughed heartily, hugging her right back with the soft material of her wine school sweater caressing my cheeks. I felt another body beside me and I knew that Semeeha had joined in the group hug.

My girls.

"I half thought you'd chicken out and not come to school today but Semeeha was almost so certain that you'd come to school. I'm so glad you are here!" Dawn chirped again, not letting go of me. I turned to Semeeha, standing just beside us in her usual pose; hands akimbo with one of her legs stretched out, ginger red braids flipped over one shoulder.

"I thought you said you won't be able to come today, stress from your trip and all." I queried teasingly and she shrugged, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Leave my trip alone, there's absolutely no way I was going to let you resume all on your own in this jungle. The last thing I'd want is for you to have a nervous breakdown on your first day in SS3." She stated shrewdly and I let out a nervous chuckle, not knowing how to reply to that. Dawn rolled her eyes at Semeeha, snatched my bag from me, and threw it over her shoulder.

"Let's get you to class before it's time for assembly. We have about," Dawn paused, checking her silver rhinestones wristwatch. "twenty-three more minutes before it starts." She finished, looping her hands with mine and dragging me along, Semeeha falling into step with us. I was so happy to see them. Unlike me, seemed like the long vacation was favorable to them.

Dawn seemed to have added more flesh in all the right places. In other words, she had gotten curvier than the last session and even the baggy wine school sweater and grey flared skirt did absolutely nothing to hide her shape. She had made her hair in dreads, packing it up in a big bun and leaving some locks to fall. Semeeha looked very much the same in stature, but her dark skin was glowing. She was pretty like always, dripping hardcore melanin.

They both look fine as hell.

Compared to them, I probably looked like a bag of potatoes.

We made our way into the school building, going through the large and long hallway that connected the senior's block to Junior's block. Everywhere was rowdy, making it seem like it was the first day of the session. Students walked to and fro the hallway, all in their respective uniforms.

Crestview was one school I knew that, even though we had the most complex combinations for our uniforms, we still managed to slay beyond comparison. The school was a top-class school. There was absolutely no way a top-class school will allow their students to wear anyhow uniforms.

The color was a combination of deep blue, wine, grey, and white. Deep blue or wine blazer for the seniors and waistcoats for the juniors - school gave us two of each color.

In addition to this, four pairs of grey skirts and trousers, four pairs of a white long-sleeved inner shirt, grey long ties for the senior school while the juniors wore bowties. We also had two pairs of sweater vests, one blue and the other, wine.

We probably had one of the best dress codes in the entire state because we were very spontaneous, switching things up by not looking the same every day. Some days, some of us would wear the blue blazers while the others would wear the wine blazers and vice versa for other days.

We made a turn into the senior's block, ascending the first stairs that led away from the SS1 class which was on the ground floor of the storey building, leading to the SS2 classes located in the middle. I could see the SS2 students, guys in their hurdles and girls in cliques, talking animatedly. I didn't miss the dirty look Dawn shot to their way.

"If Lase should ring the bell for assembly, these crackheads won't still move from their spot." She stated matter-of-factly and she was right. These students were as heady as they come, and it wasn't only the SS2 students. The juniors were pretty easy to handle but in the senior class, they were animals.

"You just can't let go of your hate for these guys, can you?" Semeeha teased, giving Dawn a look. The latter scrunched her face up in disdain.

"I don't hate anyone. I'm just stating facts." She quickly clarified as we climbed the stairs that led to the SS3 classes. "It will take Kizito and Jidenna to drive out the lot of them." I froze when I heard Jidenna's name but quickly collected myself before they could notice.

"I can't go the job you prefects are doing." Semeeha chipped. "Nothing is going to make me raise my voice on people that are honestly not worth it."

There you go again, Semeeha. I thought, sharing a knowing look with Dawn.

Those same words were all Semeeha said after she lost the post of head girl to someone else. She has been trying to act nonchalant

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