For the very first time since I had been going to school, I had never been so conscious of my looks like I was today.
As I walked down the corridor that housed several classes, I tried to keep my gaze ahead and not stare back at the eyes that were searching my body like they had never seen me before.
Now of all things, I just wished it was normal to casually dress up like Gojo Satoru. Even though dressing up like that could invoke even greater stares, at least it was better than carrying bags as eyes and marks on my legs.
My eyes were still swollen from the beating I received from my mum and I had lost all hopes that they would ever heal. My arms and legs were scathed with cane marks.
Thankfully, my school uniform was able to cover up my arms but, my legs were not safe. Just when I was eager to wear my long socks today, I couldn't find them so I resorted to putting on short ones that exposed the bold marks on my legs. I was running late as well so there were no possibilities of being able to buy a new pair of long socks.
Words of;
"Senior Tilda, what happened?" Flooded my ears. I didn't even respond to anyone because I knew opening my mouth in response to such questions would trigger great drops of tears as I try to explain.
When I finally arrived at my class, all eyes travelled to the door. It was a usual habit of my classmates to glance at the door whenever they heard footsteps but this time, their eyes lingered on me for quite some time.
I wanted to run away and just hide myself from everyone but then, of what use would it be?
Without staring back at the eyes that followed my every movement, I settled in my seat.
"Oh my goodness!" Kiki exclaimed as soon her eyes got a clearer view of my face.
Her face twisted into one of ruthlessness.
"What happened? Who did this to you?"
"It was..." I paused as a tear fell from my left eye.
"Just because..." More drops followed.
"Kiki, I can't," I sighed in defeat. She knew it very well that I would cry if I said anything and yet, she was making me suffer.
"Your mother?" Her eyes widened in pity and quickly, I was pulled into her embrace.
Her embrace made it even worse and the tears flowed freely this time.
Mind you, my classmates were staring hard at the scene.
That was when they started trouping to my seat in groups of twos and threes.
"Boss lady, how afar nau? Wetin sup?" Emeka's deep voice pierced through my ears the loudest. At least, there was a show of empathy in his tone.
"Tilda, what happened?" Temi asked. Of course, her mouth was never dry and crumbs of whatever she was eating fell on my shoulder.
"Why are you crying nau?" Esther moved to wipe my tears.
"Stop this mood o. Who will we fight with if you're like this?" Abike pouted her lips. Though she was trying not to sound nice to me, I could sense it from her voice.
"Abi? You're disturbing our ears sef. Please stop crying," Miracle clasped her hands to demonstrate.
"See your eyes. Jesus! Who beat you like this?" Mirabel shook her head as if she was mourning at my funeral.
Once again, I wish I could dress like Gojo Satoru. His blindfold would have done a good job of protecting my horrendously swollen eyes.
Besides, I was yet to finish watching Jujutsu Kaisen!
All of a sudden, I felt someone hold me by the wrist.
"Can I talk to you in private? Please..." Tobi asked with pleading eyes. He was too shy that he was finding it difficult to talk to me in the presence of everyone.
After a few seconds of hesitation, I followed him.
"What do you want?" I asked after he pulled me to the school's terrace.
"I...I just wanted to inquire what happened to you..." He sounded a little bit ashamed of his actions.
"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to bring you all the way here just to waste your time," He quickly added.
"It's fine," I proceeded to hug myself and let out a sigh.
"It's just your eyes and your..." His eyes fell to my legs. "Legs..."
"It's nothing serious. I just fell into a gutter yesterday and I also ate rice very late at night that's why," I waved my hand and suffered to roll my already suffering eyes.
"Those look like cane marks," I could tell he knew I was lying by now.
"Cane?" I poked my head forward in unnecessary laughter. "Do I look like someone who they use cane on?"
Tobi's eyes narrowed to slits and I knew I was making a fool out of myself.
Gojo Satoru...Grant me your blindfold and uniform.
"We better get going to class. A teacher may be in already," I held his arm and pulled him back with me just to clear the awkwardness in the air.
And I thought that would be the worst experience I would face today but fate had something even much more embarrassing in store for me.
Immediately after school I boarded a taxi home since my driver was sick and as such, he was unavailable.
Today, I wasn't ready to magically see Miles. How was i going to face him looking someone that experienced the wrath of pepper spray? There was no way I could let him see ' this '.
I believe the taxi driver understood the assignment perfectly because with the way he sped across the streets, made it seem like we were in a police chase.
Soon, the taxi stopped right in front of my house. I paid the driver off and he left in the same fashion of inhumane speed.
Just as I was about to open the gate, the one person I was running from, called from behind me.
"Tilda."
Once again, I was wishing to be dressed like Gojo Satoru.