_Fatima Omolade Babatunde_
Holidays were finally over and I was returning to school, sitted in front of my dressing table, i applied lipgloss to my lips and packed my braids into a bun, i was clad in my white long-sleeved shirt with a dark navy blue and a grey tie, my blazer was a deep navy blue color pairing with navy blue socks and a black leather gucci boots.
Well yeah, Castella high was one of the schools with the best uniforms, white long-sleeved shirt with a dark navy blue or grey skirt and smart pants for boys, a grey tie, and the uniform also includes a blazer with the school crest emblazoned on the chest pocket. The blazer is a deep navy blue color, with a fitted silhouette that adds a touch of sophistication, pairing with white or navy blue socks. On colder days, students can wear a matching navy blue and grey sweater or cardigan. I daintily picked up my backpack and left the room, my house was quite big as it was practically a mansion, i descended the spiral staircase. My father, the 'honorable' Razak Babatunde, sat in the living room reading a newspaper and dressed in his chiefly attire while the maids went about their chores, one of the perks of being the daughter of one of the richest men in Lagos State, I didn't have to do a thing.
I dropped my bag on one of the leather chairs and walked into the kitchen, where my mother, Haliya, and a few maids were making breakfast. I hugged my favorite and only sister from behind, "Good morning, baby sister," she cooed, smiling at me, "good morning, Haliya. Wow, you look smoking hot, " I exclaimed as I assessed her dress.
As a mass com student at Babcock University, she was dressed in a baby pink sleeveless jumpsuit and a kimono jacket draped over it, white sneakers, and her long hair packed in a slick low bun; she looked like a fucking model on a runway.
"You can greet your sister, but you do not have the courtesy to greet your mother," My mom, Aisha Babatunde, sneered. I rolled my eyes, earning a nudge from Haliya. Forcing a smile, I muttered, "Good morning, mother," my lips dragging my last sentence as I fisted my palms together, "That's more like it, good morning to you, dear. How was your night?" she asked, to which I ignored, turning to Haliya. "When are you leaving," Haliya shot me a stern warning before replying to me, "Immediately I am done with breakfast, why," "you will give me a ride to school, I am waiting for you in the car," I replied to to her and turned to walk out of the kitchen whmy en mother's voice made me halt.
"What about breakfast,"
"Nope," I answered, walking out of the kitchen and grabbing my bag from where I dropped it earlier, and heading for the door. "Young lady," My father's baritone voice made me stop in front of the door, rolling my eyes, I retracted my steps back to him. He placed the newspaper down and removed his glasses, "Yes, Father," I answered him, "Have you seen me today?" He asked with a raised brow.
"Yes sir," was my simple reply.
"And have you greeted me?" He asked.
Clenching my fist, I was about to rudely cut him off but being raised by a Hausa father and a Yoruba mother, I knew better , so I decided against it. I knelt as I have been taught since my diaper da, ys, as it was the right thing. "Ekaaro sir, " i grumpily greeted in my native language.
"Good morning, wait for me to drop you off at school," he said as he stood up I rolled my eyes, always showing off, the great Razak Babatunde. I was not going to let him.
"Don't bother, haliya will drop me off," i simply said, bypassing him. "Omolade," he called me by my native name and i grimaced, "Fatima, Daddy call me Fatima," i screamed. Prefect, my morning was ruined, turning to haliya, "are we going or not," i asked her, picking up her white hand bag and walked towards me, i stormed out of the house, she opened her black range rover with the remote and i got in. "That was uncalled for," she said as she entered the car, "haliya, please start the car and get me out of here," i answered, she sighed starting the car engine honking at the gateman to open the gate.
Haliya was a gentle soul who found the good in people, she always tried to make peace, giving me reasons why i shouldn't act the way i did, i also have one million reasons why i was acting the way i did.
∆ ∆ ∆
Haliya drove into the large school compound and parked in an empty parking space, i didn't get down immediately besides i had time before assembly started, haliya turned towards me.
"Do you want to talk about it," she told me.
"I don't want to talk about it," i told her, "talking about it makes you feel better, your relationship with mom and dad is falling apart with your attitude," Haliya argued, i wanted to retort but the shrill sound of the bell interpreted me. "I have to go, don't come pick me up. I will find my way home," i told her, "be good, i still have three weeks before i go back," she hugged me. I got down from the car and ran to the assembly hall, the chapel supervisor was already leading the morning prayer and singing worship songs, soon after that the principal, Mrs Williams came to admonish us and later dismissed everyone.
I looked around for my best friends and i spotted adaora in the distance, i screamed her name and she turned screaming as she ran towards me, i met her halfway and we enveloped each other in a bear hug not caring if other students were watching.
"I have missed you so much," she squealed in her usual baby voice, i feigned a frown and folded my hand across my chest. "You missed me? You got back from the states and didn't tell me, " i countered.
"Fatima, i am sorry. I got back yesterday and i was really tired, please forgive me, " her lips folded in a pout and she batted her lashes like a barbie doll, i laughed pulling her into another hug.
"I'm kidding. Should i say you got fatter or curvier," i winked at her, she giggled and slapped my hands.
"So i am invisible," a voice came from behind, ada and i turned and saw our third friend, sarah. We hugged again. We had been friends since forever we were inseparable, although sarah was an international teen model with multi connections and she was still our friend and we loved each other.
We made our way to our new class at the top floor since we were in sss2 now, Ada was in arts class while sarah and i were in science class. In addition to my academic excellence that couldn't be rivaled, i also engaged myself in sporting activities, swimming, the long row of trophies and medals in my room proved my expertise in the field.
Sarah's voice pierced through my thoughts,
"That's the new guy i was talking about," she jerked her head subtly towards the back seat as we entered the class. "Who?" I asked clearly lost,
"You didn't listen to what i have been saying, did you," Sarah raised her brows at me, "my mind wasn't here," I shrugged.
"Mama Mia, that's one fine boy," I heard ada whistle, i followed her gaze and my eyes landed on the most handsome guy i had ever seen, he was talking to simi probably asking him a billion questions. Though he was handsome and looked like a smaller version of zeus, i didn't like him.
"I heard his name is Joshua, Joshua Clinton. His dad is the ceo of skyline designs, that big company on the island. His mom is british and he lived all his life in uk till he wanted to start secondary school and his dad relocated them to Nigeria, he did his jss1 to sss1 in abuja and they just moved here for summer holdays," sarah rapped. I chuckled, the girl never misses anything.
"How do you know all this things," Ada asked her.
"I do my research, besides i want to be informed about the guy, " she said, her green orbs sparkled with excitement, "he is hot, have you seen his eyes. They are so beautiful, heard he got it from his mom," She added. Ada gave her a girl- you- are- crazy look, "you sound like you have fallen for him " Ada scoffed.
"The girls of castella's has fallen," She giggled taking off her blazer and dumped it in ada's hand who in turn dropped it in my hands. Pushing her hair backwards, she started to walk off, "abeg, i have class to attend," Ada said hugging my side and walked away.
As if sensing that someone was watching at him, he looked up and his brown eyes met mine, his eyes locked with mine and he wasn't willing to back down, he raised a brow with a smirk on his lips.
Who do hell is this idiot? Does he think i am intimidated by him? I think not!
I eyed him and hissed before walking to my seat, deciding i didn't like him one bit.