Chapter Fifteen

With her bicycle up for sale, Dera decided to walk to school. The morning sun bathed her in a warm glow as she strolled along, humming a tune to keep herself from dwelling on anything that would bring tears to her eyes.

No matter what, she was determined to continue studying hard and hoped to participate in this year's WASSCE with her classmates. Standing in front of the gates of Peach Secondary School, she looked up at the school's name boldly displayed overhead. As she gazed at those towering letters, she made a silent vow to never give up.

At the gate, Dera greeted the security guards and was about to enter when one of them stopped her.

'Miss Onuoha, wait a minute,' the guard called out.

Dera paused and smiled as the guard approached her. 'Sir, is everything all right?'

The security guard sighed and replied, 'The principal has given us strict instructions regarding you. I'm sorry, Dera, but I'll have to check you with this.' He lifted the metal detector, typically used to screen outsiders. 'Since you haven't paid, the principal doesn't see you as a student.'

Hearing the words of the security guard, tears welled up in Dera's eyes, but she wiped them away and maintained a smile. 'Okay, go ahead,' she said calmly.

The guard scanned Dera's body with the metal detector, finding nothing suspicious. 'I'm really sorry... you may proceed,' he said, opening the gate and allowing her entry.

Dera felt a mixture of emotions. Entering the school grounds, she wore a bittersweet smile. She walked alone, observing the groups of students carrying their neatly packed school bags, engrossed in lively conversations as they made their way to class. They seemed to be burden-free, untouched by suffering and pain, embracing the sweetness of life.

The weather was beautiful that day. Dera couldn't help but gaze at the azure blue sky above her. Instead of smiling, an overwhelming urge to cry washed over her. She paid no attention to the whispers around her, knowing that most of them revolved around her unpaid school fees for two terms and the apparent impossibility of sitting for her WASSCE this year.

'School gossip doesn't hurt me one bit,' she muttered to herself, seeking solace within. Determined, she continued walking towards the school building. As she approached the entrance, she spotted three girls from the SS1 class chatting on a bench.

'Hello, girls,' Dera greeted cheerfully. However, the girls ignored her and carried on with their conversation. 'Didn't you hear me?' Dera paused, glancing at them.

'We heard you, senior,' one of them replied arrogantly. 'But since you still owe the school and might be kicked out, we better start ignoring you now to get used to it.'

'I am still your senior and deserve respect,' Dera said softly.

'Only those with money deserve respect,' another girl, her hair tied in a bun, retorted.

'If I were you, I'd consider dropping out,' commented the third girl with a look of disgust on her face. 'Because of you, our school's long-standing prestige will be destroyed.'

'Dera will soon be leaving anyway. There's no point in wasting our breath,' added the girl in a bun.

The trio then stood up and walked away, leaving Dera standing there, unsure of what to do. After a moment of contemplation, she decided to make her way to class. Deep down, Dera knew that her worth wasn't defined by the opinions of others. She possessed strength, resilience, and an unwavering belief in herself. With her studies and aspirations in mind, she knew she had the power to overcome any obstacles that crossed her path.

Just as she reached the entrance, someone suddenly patted her back. Startled, Dera turned around and sighed in relief when she saw Jennifer standing behind her.

'Jennifer, I'm not in the mood,' Dera said, her voice filled with a mix of emotions.

'Hey, I thought we agreed to tell each other everything. I can't believe you didn't tell me about my mother. You have your phone, you could have called me,' Jennifer said, sounding genuinely hurt.

Jennifer, a little shorter than Dera with a darker complexion, had been Dera's best friend since childhood. Despite constant comparisons, they were both beautiful girls with amazing smiles.

'My mother told me everything about yesterday. I'm sorry,' Jennifer said, her voice filled with sincerity.

Dera glanced at Jennifer, still harbouring some anger towards Jennifer's mother. 'Yeah, your mum accused me of stealing from her, but she later found out that she had misplaced her own money,' Dera stated. 'And why does your mother consistently come to our shop, even though she purchases items online or from high-end supermarkets and shopping malls? It feels like she does it to mock and belittle me and my family. We may not have the same wealth as yours, but we strive to earn an honest living. She should understand that my family would never engage in anything that tarnishes our reputation. It puzzles me how someone who is educated can behave in such a manner, like an educated fool.'

'What did you say?' Jennifer asked, her face furrowing in a frown.

Dera sighed and, after a moment, replied, 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. But yes, your mum did accuse me, and I was really hurt. She also apologised. News travels fast in this school. Everyone knows me as the student in debt...'

'Dera, I know you're hurt. I'm sorry I shouldn't have told my mum,' Jennifer interrupted, remorse evident in her voice.