C2 Newbie

It is just Wednesday of the second week and Faith is already absent from school. again! Faith and her family had just returned from Cuba last year and she still pretty much thinks, acts, dresses, and even speaks like a foreigner.

Hence she doesn't see missing school as such a big deal, especially when she constantly complains that Nigerian schools are nothing like the ones abroad.

Faith has spent a good amount of her life overseas as her father works for Nigeria foreign affairs. So from time to time, they travel from one country to another, but now they are in Nigeria, and it doesn't seem like they are taking another trip any time soon.

Ah well, due to Faith's absence, her seat beside me is the only vacant seat in the whole class.

The school's admin Miss Ana, brings this really cute, good looking boy to our class, and she tells him to sit on Faith's seat, I try to protest but she shuts me up me and tells me since Faith is not in school and not here to defend her seat, the new boy could have it.

He walks into the class and sits on the chair facing front and doesn't acknowledge my presence. Perhaps he felt bad that I did not want him beside me... But that is not the case. I just felt... As Faith's best friend, I should be able to defend her things even in her absence.

Taking my friendly nature into consideration I want to introduce myself so badly and explain why I did what I did but I stop myself as it would be another juicy gossip for Silvia and her group.

Later on break time, I go out to get something to eat, But when I get back to class, what I see is something I did not see coming.

Our ex-senior student Jacob is in the classroom talking to the new boy... they are brothers!? I never expected it, cause well... there is very little resemblance between them.

Not trying to say Jacob is ugly or anything. Jacob is very good-looking. A popular Nigerian musician (Rema to be precise) looks a lot like him. And to be honest... Jacob looks better than Rema from an angle.

On seeing me, Jacob calls my name and opens his arms for a side hug. The new boy seems a little confused a shocked by his brother's actions but he quickly recovers from it and turns back to the books on his table.

I can feel eyes on me as I walk towards Jacob but I don't mind, I take the hug with pride and a huge smile on my face.

Many people often ask me how I became friends with Jacob and I tell them I don't know and that is the actual truth.

When I was in year three junior school he was in year three senior school and I honestly don't know how we became friends, I was a very rough and scattered girl in my junior school days so I felt shocked and glad that someone as cool as Jacob was my friend.

Initially, Jacob only gives a little bit of acknowledgment to his friends with benefit or classmates and I was none of the above. Neither was I his girlfriend. So this made me much envied, especially by Silvia.

I was just a junior who was honored to share a few good jokes and laughs with her seniors.

I go back to my seat after Jacob and I share a brief discussion while still wrapped in his side hug, and the brothers continued their discussion.

It turns out that Jacob actually came to make sure his little bro is settled into school properly and he also seems to have come to give the teachers an indirect threat by his glares at them.

Honestly, Jacob is a very quiet, gentle, and handsome hunk but there is no disputing the fact that our dear innocent-looking Mr. Jacob has the power to do and undo just as he pleases. As he is friends with some of the most unlikely characters imaginable.

Although he has one of the most innocent and cool faces, he is still a sly crook. He is the kind of person that can pull off that cool, kind, dangerous, and sexy look all at the same time.

I remember his page in the school album when he was graduating. In his space for role models, he filled in Pablo Escoba!!. It's either the school prints man and miss Ana know nothing about Pablo Escoba or they didn't notice.

Else she would have made a big fuss about It and his whole page could have been canceled or... he would have gotten into trouble... lol... What a character Jacob is. I've got to admit that I miss him a hell lot.

Well, Jacob is done with his brother before the end of the break. As he is leaving he gives me a sweet smile and waves me goodbye, an act I also reciprocate but um sure n smile is not as sweet as his.

We still have a few minutes till break over and this is the longest I have gone without being nice or exchanging words with a new person I am meeting, especially when he is my new, super handsome seatmate who also happens to be Jacobs's brother.

I chose to throw my pride and fear aside and try to start a conversation. He looks like a snobbish kind of person and I am not one to like humiliation. so I reconsider talking to him. My fear is getting the best of me.

I am fighting with my self but to my biggest surprise, words just roll off my tongue

"Are you just like your brother or...? "

We are both surprised by my question. He seems surprised and had to look up at me to be sure that I was talking to him. When he was sure, he replies to me.

"No, of course not. We are two different people".

He seems stunned by the question and I also do not know why I asked such a stupid question or where it came from.

"Oh...Okay"I reply. I don't feel embarrassed by his reply or how much stupidity radiated through that question, but I am rather glad that I succeeded in starting a conversation with him.

I choose not to dwell much on my stupid question and further, although I am scared that he would snub me.

"My name is Jade by the way"

"I'm Victor" he replies.

I perform a happy dance mentally as I am really glad that I am achieving my goal.

"So what school are you coming from? " I ask.

"Faith Academy" he replies.

"Wow, that is such a nice school! "I exclaim.

He lets out a quiet but little deep laughter that reveals his perfect set of teeth. He looks so good while laughing.

"Faith Academy is not at all nice" He finally states.

"And why would you say that? It's a very popular school". I protest

"Being popular differs from being nice or cool. "He states.

I want to know why he thinks his school is not nice and he answers my thoughts.

"Okay for starters; a boy can't touch a girl like this" He raises his hand and slightly places it on mine. He then uses his eyes to point at our hands and says;

"Even if a boy does, his hand must not spend up to three seconds there otherwise he is overstepping his boundaries and fellow students will automatically tag them a couple," He says.

I get his explanation but his palm is still sitting on my hand. I want to pull my hand away but I do not feel the need to make things more awkward for me than they currently are and so I mentally console myself that he is only taking advantage of his new and free environment.

Maybe he notices the uncomfortable look on my face, so he draws his hand off mine and the sudden detachment of the warmth of his palm from my skin pulls me back to reality.

"Oh, "I simply reply. Realizing that I had not given any reply to his previous remark about his school.

To keep the conversation going, I know I have to chip in too. So...

"Well you're lucky that's not how things work here" I inform

"Yh... My brother told me" he replies with a small smile.

"But honestly what type of school is that? I do not think I can last a whole term there. You must have some survival blood in you. " I state

"Ahbi " he replies.

At this point, we both start laughing and with this, the bell goes off.

The geography teacher walks into the class. He is a very tall fair and handsome man. However, his trousers tell a different story although they still suit him well.

I seem to notice a little smile on Victors' face. He also seems to Find the trousers a bit off... The teacher introduces himself to us as Mr. Harry.

He asks the whole class to introduce themselves. After that is done, he asks for those offering his subject to raise their hands. Initially, I would have left the class with Dina if she was not all around Silvia of course.

So with nowhere and one to go with, I choose to remain seated and rather bring out one of my projects. A story actually and I get to business.

Victor bends to his side to get a note out of his bag. He has the note halfway drawn out. Till he looks up at me and asks if I offer the subject.

I shake my head and he drops the book back into his bag and with nothing for the both of us to do, we start talking and discussing the book I am working on.

After the Geography class is over, it Is time for literature and Food, and nutrition. I get my literature note out of my bag.

He looks at the timetable and sees two subjects written there. If Faith was in school, I would have left her in class because she is a food and nutrition student, and I, a literature student.

So I'm used to getting up and going to class early cause I have no one to wait for and need to get a good seat so I always go immediately after the bell has been rung.

As I am about to walk past my locker, I feel warmth around my wrist with a little pressure, I turn to find Victor's hand around my wrist, he looks as calm as before and like it is nothing new.

l have to move back to his side cause I am sure that with the gap between us and his hand holding mine like that, We looked like a hero and heroine of some Indian love series, and that is the last thing I need Silvia to see cause honestly, I have had enough of my name rolling off her filthy tongue and into some nasty made-up story by her and her clique to mess up my name.

"What class do you attend?" he questions

"It's not really important what class I attend," I state.

"Yeah, yeah I know that. Just answer " he replies.

"Well, I'm a literature student" I answer.

"Then literature it is." He says as he takes a long note out of his bag and the novel we are to read for the first weeks of school in literature class.

I do feel flattered that he wants to attend the same class as I and it has nothing to do with the fact that he is incredibly cute. ... Ooh who am I kidding it totally has to do with that..... lol.

On getting out, I am forced to ask,

"if you were not sure what class to attend, how did you know what books to get? Cause it looks to me that you had your mindset on literature" I say while looking at the novel In his hand

"Oh. I knew for a fact that I was joining the art department but I did not know the subjects I would offer so my father decided to buy all the books in the art department for me and told me to pick the subjects I want and return the rest to him by the End of this week" He says looking a bit embarrassed, maybe by The fact that he does not know which subjects to offer.

"Oh. That's nice, you are one of those kids who are lucky enough to have parents that go an extra mile for their child's comfort. Especially when it is at a very expensive price to pay" I say to ease his embarrassment.

I wonder how much it would cost to get all the textbooks for every single subject in the art class and the numerous texts under some.

He smiles a bit and wants to say something but then stops himself.

The walk to the literature class is not at all long, so we are there within seconds of walking. we get into the class but he does not take a seat beside me as I had expected which for some unknown reason seems to worry me.

I am relieved when I see him take a seat directly opposite me. The setting of the class is that of a huge dining room with many huge tables and to each table is allocated six chairs, to enhance group work and for any other reason best known to the school for choosing such a peculiar way to arrange a class.

These tables are arranged into one big 'u' which leaves a big vacancy in the middle of the class. Which contains the board, teacher, and bookshelves containing a copy of all the books the previous sets before us had read and then the ones we are to read for the term.

This class could serve as a good alternative for the school library I'd rather come here than go to the library. The Liberian Mr. Benedict is a grumpy old man but a literature teacher is a lively man. Whi wouldn't mind our company. His is name is Mr. Davenport.

The class is already complete and there are just six literature students and Victor is also the only boy in the class.

Mr. Davenport, takes attendance and asks Victor to introduce himself to the whole class, he doesn't like the idea obviously but he still stands up boldly and does as told.

When he sits back down I give him an encouraging smile as I feel I had to do something, which I didn't have to do actually.

Perhaps Mr. Davenport saw this and that causes him to make the comment he does;

"Young man, be careful. That's my wife you are dealing with and I don't like competition. "

He is talking about me cause he only refers to Kora and me as his wives. It is very obvious that he is joking but for the first time I do not consider his joke funny but rather I feel embarrassed.

I look up at Victor and he is laughing with Mr. Davenport which relieves me a bit and I fake a smile to hide my discomfort at the moment.

The class goes on smoothly and when it is time for us to analyze the book we are reading which is "lonely Days",

Mr. Davenport asks Victor to give us an insight into the book and a few of his views about it.

When he stands up, he speaks with so much confidence and calmness that the whole class is quiet, his voice so calm, deep, and unique all together and by the end of his explanation, the whole class gives a round of applause to him without Mr. Davenport's instructions; and that is a first!

I guess I was not the only one thrown aback by his wisdom. After he sits, Mr. Davenport asks me to also give insight and explain my views on the book I am still totally caught off guard.

So when I stand up I have nothing to say. I make eye contact with Victor and he gives me a reassuring smile which somehow manages to give me the courage and bring me back to myself.

The fact is; I have read that book while I was still in junior class 3 and during the holiday, so I know the whole book like a song from my heart, but at this point, everything flew away.

After his smile, I start recollecting myself, and as I speak, Mr. Davenport keeps nodding without saying a thing and he only does that when one is saying the right thing and he has no objection to what the person speaking had to say.

This gave me more confidence. When I am done he orders the whole class to give me a round of applause and Victor gives me a little thumbs up causing me to give him a smile in return.

With that, the bell goes off and Mr. Davenport tells us that in our next class he would discuss the book with us and give us notes on the themes of the book and characters and other things we need to know.

The rest of the day is quite stress-free and entailed Victor and I discussing school and a few things that are not important.

By the closing time, I could not find him, I could not even get to ask where he lives or what bus he uses, or if he needs any help finding it.

He seems like a nice and dope person and you tend to like his type of person after meeting him.

Hey guys It's Aider, hope you're enjoying the story...

2nd chapter. Hope twas good enough and didn't disappoint you. 😘🌺