56

"WHO AMONG YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO ME HOW TO SOLVE THIS MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM?"

As soon as Mr Joe asked that question, the entire room fell silent. I wasn't expecting anything different because, as I previously stated, my school didn't have the brightest students.

Then he began yelling names.

"Emmanuel" he strained out.

Emmanuel stood up right away, looking determined to answer the question.

"Sir," he began, "I don't know the answer," he boldly stated, then a grin spread across his face. Yes, I was actually expecting this from him.

The class, which had previously been quiet, burst out laughing. You see, Emmanuel was the class clown, despite the fact that he was actually quite intelligent; he just enjoyed fooling around. I'm pretty sure he knew the answer to the question in the first place.

"Everyone, please keep quiet!" My math teacher yelled, bringing the class back to a complete silence.

He only glared at Emmanuel before telling him to take a seat and calling him a "stupid boy."

"If no one can answer this question, none of you will go out for lunch," he said and everyone groaned. 

"You can't do that, Sir, Haba na." A girl, Miracle, I believe, called out.

"Ehnn? Oya, keep watching me na, "He grinned. I honestly believed he would follow through on his words, as he has in the past.

Sighing quietly, I decided to raise my hand. I didn't mind being held back on my lunch break like everyone else, because I didn't have any friends I was dying to see or anything, and I was actually planning on going somewhere when the lunch break started. And I intend to stick to it.

"Do you have something to say, Amanda?" He was surprised when I raised my hand, because I never, and I mean never, raise my hand in class. I only respond when specifically asked.

"The Pythagorean theorem," I mumbled.

"Even after a month, she still can't speak out loud," a voice beside me snickered.

I didn't even bother looking because I knew it was Damilola.

"Correct," Mr Joe said, beaming.

"Are you all seeing your mate, an individual with a head on her shoulder? If you like ehn, you don't show off. When you finally see yourselves in the future pulling a wheelbarrow, then and only then will your eyes open. mtchew nonsense" he said.

As you can see, Mr Joe was that one teacher who insulted his students with no regard for the consequences. Despite the fact that our school had a policy prohibiting teachers from beating or insulting students. My math teacher was one of those who didn't bother to follow it. I'll give him that he was fearless.

As he was about to continue his speech about how unimportant most of the students in the class were, the bell rang, signaling that it was time for lunch. Thank you, Jesus!

Every corner of the class could be heard saying, 'Thank God.'

"See these kids, you're glad you're leaving my class, abi? Don't worry, I'm sure you're aware that you'll be seeing me again after your lunch break." Almost all of the students in the classroom uttered groans.

(*abi* is a Nigerian slang term.) In place of the English word 'Right'- I'll be using it a lot, so please keep it in mind, thank you)

Mr. Joe only laughed before dismissing us all.

I immediately began packing my books and hugging my bag pack on my back. I'm sure you're wondering why I was worrying to carry my school bag when I could just leave it in the classroom. I've tried that before, and let's just say I needed a new school bag the next day. My classmates weren't exactly the nicest people in the world.

When Mr. Joe was about to leave the classroom, I heard him call out my name, "Miss George." Actually, he called out my surname more than my given name.

I turned to him, curious as to why he was calling me, and others in the class did the same.

With a small smile, he said, "I'm glad you're back," and then he left.

I remained motionless in the same spot where I had been stunned by his words. After a short while, I let out a small smile, pleased that someone had missed my presence; after all, there was always a first for everything, right? Even my own parents didn't miss me, I knew that because they didn't even bother to visit me once in the month that I was gone... sometimes I get the feeling that they aren't even my real parents, to be perfectly honest, so Mr Joe's words surprised me.

(FLASHBACK)

"Amanda! What do you think you're doing, Jesus Christ? Drop down from there "Turning back slightly, I noticed my mother had just entered my room.

"I'm tired of this house, I'm tired of you people," I muttered, putting one leg out the window while the other remained on the edge.

"I told you to come down from there right now, young lady!"

I was standing on the edge of my window in my room, ready to jump; I was mildly confident I wouldn't survive the fall, after all, my room was on the very top floor. Already, a suicide note has been neatly placed on my bedside cabinet, but I'm sure my mother hasn't seen it yet.

"So you want to jump and kill yourself so people can point their fingers at me and say it's my fault, o stupid girl? Unthankful child!" My mother's words brought a tear to my eye. Of course, Mrs George would always be self-centered, only caring about what others thought of her as a mother and not what her own child thought of her.

After heaving a sigh of relief and letting out a sad smile, I removed the other foot that was resting on the edge of the window, and then I fell...

(END OF FLASHBACK)

"Amanda!"

A voice jolted me awake from my sleep.

I attempted to shake off my sleepiness by rubbing the back of my hand across my face and eyes.

"Yes?" I responded despite not getting a good look at the person's face.

"Are you all right?" It sounded like a man speaking.

When I heard the question, I took my hand away from my eyes to look at the person who was speaking to me.

Who on Earth would be concerned about my health?

"Amanda? Amanda, are you listening? "Frederick snapped his fingers in front of my face, with a concerned expression on his face. And yes, you heard correctly, it was Frederick, the school's golden boy. What was he doing here? In a library, of all places? This was my safe haven, so to speak, and no one came here during lunch.

"How do you know my name?" Yes, Amanda, the first thing that came to mind had to be that.

A beaming smile slowly spread across his face, his dimples shining brightly. Swoon. If I do say so myself, he was quite the looker.

"We're in the same class, Amanda, of course I know your name," he chuckled, as if the question amused him. I almost forgot we were actually in the same class.

"Oh," was my quick response.

Suddenly, a surprised expression appeared on his face. I scrunched up my face, perplexed.

"What are you crying about?" He inquired abruptly.

"I'm not crying..." I couldn't finish my statement because, as I touched my cheeks to confirm, I discovered that tears were indeed on my cheeks.

Oh, I nearly forgot about 'that' dream.

"It's nothing," I grumbled.

He gave me a disapproving look, as if he didn't believe anything I said. He had that look again, as if he knew something about me that others didn't, as if he knew more than he was letting on.

"What exactly are you doing here?" I immediately put my hand over my mouth, realizing how impolite my question sounded. He had as much right to the library as I did, after all, it was a general library. All I can say is that I'm surprised he came here.

He didn't appear offended as he spoke.

"Well, I've been looking everywhere for you."

My eyes widened on their own as a result of his words.

"Are you looking for me?" I just wanted to make sure I heard him correctly.

"Yes," he replied with a smile; he was a happy person. Not like me.

"Why?" I'm still confused about the boy I asked.

"I wanted to invite you to be my friend." he said.

Confusion, disbelief, and even more confusion engulfed me at the same time. So it was more like two emotions that I was experiencing.

I wouldn't be surprised if Frederick was on some kind of high-end medication based on his question.

(FLASHBACK)

"YOU'RE LUCKY to have survived that fall, young lady," the doctor said the first time I heard those words, and it was the first time I began to believe that life was not fair.

Nobody wanted me, not even my parents, and now not even death. I was truly unwelcome.

In fact, I was still perplexed as to how I had survived the fall from my room window. Despite having many broken bones and almost all of my ribs broken, I was still very much alive. Was this some sick joke or what?!

"Are you going to stay silent?!" My mother growled angrily.

My silence only irritated her further.

"See doctor, I have a very important meeting to get to, so I will be leaving now," my mother, tired of me, said to the doctor.

"Is anyone coming in your place to stay with her in the hospital?" the doctor inquired, slightly adjusting her glasses.

"No. My husband is out of the country on business, so he is not present. Even if he was, I'm sure he wouldn't waste his time staying in the hospital with this obnoxious child, and he would have flogged the devil out of her "My mother huffed out, her tone irritated.

The doctors' faces were covered in shock at her words. I couldn't blame her; my mother wasn't acting like a mother whose daughter had nearly committed suicide. Once more, that was Mrs. George for you—the uncaring mother who will never change. I know I should be used to it by now, but I can't stop myself from expecting something from her. I almost killed myself because I thought this time she might actually care. What a farce.

(END OF FLASHBACK)