Chapter 8

The night before school had Zion busy, he had to sort out his books and all the things he would be needing the next day. He exhaled as he dropped on the bed as soon as he was done. He was somewhat nervous which was very weird, he didn't know what to expect after his last time in school. It really ended terribly.

Zion started at his uniform which he placed on the chair next to where his bag was. He couldn't help but feel he was about to enter something that would change him totally. He remembered his mom, while she was still alive. The night before every new session, his mother would come to gist with him, encouraging him and helping him get set. But now he had to do that all alone.

He caught and image of his mother running up and down, in a bid to make sure he wasn't missing anything, in his head. He closed his eyes as he searched for sleep, slowly but moment later he fell into a deep sleep.

"Just one drag will make you feel alright, Zion take!” A partially clad boy said to Zion.

"I don't know guy, this thing is wrong,” Zion said scared.

"You no Sabi anything oo, all the wahala we dey face for school, na this thing they make us dey alright,” another boy said in pigin English.

"Zion, it will make you feel on top of the world. You gonna forget all your worries. Just one drag, bro,” the first guy persuaded. "Just so you know. I'm doing you a favor,” he added.

"Just one drag?” Zion asked.

"Just one drag!"

_

Zion woke up panting heavily, he sat up immediately. It was a dream, a dream that reminded him of all that caused him to be where he is. He held his head and wiped the sweat off. The alarm went off that minute.

Zion stood up as he headed for the bathroom, he opened the door to the bathroom and went to the washbasin. He washed his face and brushed his teeth. He went out of the bathroom and out of the room.

Walking down the steps, he went straight to the kitchen. The servants were already up, as there was light everywhere.

"Good morning,” he greeted a worker who wasn't aware of his presence, startling her. She yelped as she turned to see him, she rubbed her chest in relief and walked up to him.

"Good morning, boss,” the girl, who was around the same age as Zion, said.

Zion chuckled as he removed a bottle of water from the fridge. “Priscilla, I know you wouldn't call me boss for anything. Stop whining,” he said as he picked a cup.

"Yah,” Priscilla said in a Ninja like tone, thrusting him in the stomach with her elbow.

"Ouch, what was that for!” Zion cried as her ran to the opposite direction.

"That's for startling me bro!” She said as she walked back to her work shelf.

"You're mean!” Zion said as he walked back to where he was standing, he poured some water into the cup and drained it's content.

"Hope you are prepared for today?” Priscilla asked as she continued working, not looking watching him.

"Yes,” he said as he sat on a kitchen chair.

"Hmm, okay,” Priscilla muttered. "I believe in you. Just don't let your emotions get the better of you this time. Your dad won't take it lightly.”

"I know that, just don't know what to expect,” Zion said worriedly.

"It would be fine,” Priscilla encouraged. Zion nodded as he continued to watch her intently.

Priscilla had started working with them for only three years, but her mother had worked for the family since when Zion was born. They lived in the boy’s quarters apartment in the compound. So Zion and Priscilla had been friends since forever.

Priscilla attended a public secondary school a few miles from the neighborhood, so she did some house chores before she left. She was Zion's ride or die, the only true friend Zoe could boast he had. When everyone seemed to judge and find faults in his actions, Priscilla was there with him.

When he lost his mother to the cold hands of death, Priscilla's mother had been a mother figure to him. He was more comfortable with Priscilla's family than with his.

"Won't you go and prepare?” Priscilla asked, as she turned to look at him.

"Yeah, I'll do that now” he said and stood up lazily, he dragged his feet as he walked out of the kitchen.

Just outside the kitchen door, he hollered.

"What's for breakfast?”

"Your favorite!” Priscilla hollered back.

He smiled as he walked up the stairs and into the room. He went straight to the bathroom and had a cold bath. Stepping out of the bathroom, be got dressed in his uniform and wore his socks and shoes.

After he was finally done, he took his bag and went downstairs. Everyone was ready for the day’s activities, well except his stepmom who had no job. Emily had gone to school the previous day, since she was in the boarding school.

"Good morning Dad” he greeted his dad with a bow. "Good morning ma’am” he greeted his stepmom.

"Morning Son” his father greeted as he headed for the dining table.

"Morning Zion” his stepmom greeted.

Zion walked up to his little sister Gloria and lifted her up. She giggles and he pecks her. They all converge at the dining, where Gabriel gives his son more advice and instructions as they ate.

After they finished eating, Gabriel offers to take Zion to school instead of the driver. Zion agreed and the entered the luxury car and drove to EIC.

"Here we are” Gabriel announced as the entered the school gate. The gate keeper stopped them with a twisted look on his face, he walked towards to car and Zion had to roll the glass lower.

"How many times we go tell una say car no they enter here if hin no be teacher car?” The gate keeper said. Gabriel smiled while Zion looked straight ahead.

"We are first timers sir; my son is just about to join the school. So, we want to sort out his registration,” Gabriel explained. The gatekeeper watched them closely, peeped into the car and let them in.

Gabriel burst into laughter as they drove into the school. "That was funny” Gabriel said but got no response, Zion was busy looking at the school.

It is beautiful. Zion thought.

Indeed, EIC was the most beautiful school in the country, it was big and had beautiful buildings.

The buildings were mostly painted blue, with lawn and kerns that were clean and attractive. Zion watched the buildings closely and smiled to himself, he also sighted at some of the students going to their different classes. He smiled as he thought about his next few days in the school.

The students started gathering fur assembly in the hall he sighted, he saw how happy they were and that made him nervous. Zion was not the one who was lived and accepted, he was always the weird one wherever he found himself.

The car stopped in front of an administrative building and they both came down of the car, to conclude the admissions process.

____

"Okay, everything is finalized now let me call your class teacher,” The principal Mr. Aregbeshola turned to a land line phone in the desk. "You can go now Mr. Gabriel” he said as he picked the telephone headsets from its cradle and dialed a number.

"Okay Zion, I'll leave now take care of yourself” Gabriel waved while Zion nodded in with a smile as his father turned to leave.

"Hello Mrs. Komolafe, please come see me in my office now.” The principal said as he dropped the telephone back to its cradle.

"She'll be here soon,” The principal smiled. “Don't forget that you're on probation, we don't take students into the final class, but because of your father. So do your work well or we'll have to drop you to SS 2, okay?” Mrs. Aregbeshola said sternly.

"I'll try my best.” Zion said.

He wasn't the exceptionally brilliant boy, but he wasn't a dullard either. His unseriousness in his previous school had affected his results which made the principal have missed feelings on whether he would cope. He promised himself to be at his best since he loved the school already.

As the duo were talking about many other things Zion needed to know. Mrs. Komolafe stepped in, she wore a smile as she saw Zion, making Zion calm and happy.

"Welcome to EIC, Zion?” She said, with doubts if she got the name right.

"Yes ma'am, Zion”

"Mrs. Komolafe, this is your new student. I specifically made sure he would be in your class cos your class is full of responsible students that would influence him positively.” Mr. Aregbeshola said.

"It's an honor that you find us capable,” her face beaming as she spoke.

"That's good. Mr. Zion here would need to be monitored a lot. His academics and you know the morals, so please pay him extra attention for the time being” he added.

"No problem sir. I'll do just that” She nodded.

"Alright! You can go now, Zion follow her”

Mrs. Komolafe and Zion walked out of the office, with Mrs. Komolafe walking ahead will Zion followed closely behind.

"You'll follow me to my office now, I'll take my materials and we would go to introduce you in class okay?” Mrs. Komolafe said as she continued walking briskly.

"Okay ma'am!”

They walked for some minutes before they got to the staff room, Mrs. Komolafe packed her books while Zion stole glances of different parts of the empty staff room.

"Mr. Zion,” Mrs. Komolafe called as she packed her books, without lifting her head up.

"Ma,” Zion replied as he turned to face her.

"I've seen your results, and I must say, you have a lot of work to do. The final exams are in a few months and I hope you'll improve before then.” She said looking him in the eye now.

"I'll try my best ma,” he uttered. Mrs. Komolafe smirked and lifted her books, motioning to leave the office.

"You'll be in my class now, first thing you should know is. I dislike hearing the word try, I want you to be your best!”

_

Zion followed Mrs. Komolafe as she walked to the classroom, he wondered at which one she would stop because there were many classes on that row. She finally stopped at one, where the noise could be heard from outside.

Mrs. Komolafe stepped into the class and the students went silent at once, a boy who happened to be the class captain rose and bellowed.

“Class greet.” The whole class stood up and greeted. "Good morning ma.”

Mrs. Komolafe and Zion walked to the center, in the front of the class. While eyes were feasting on him, whispers were going all out already, and he had was already feeling nervous.

"Quiet!” Mrs. Komolafe commanded as the whispers were becoming too much and had turned to a noise.

"Good morning to you too,” she said as she dropped her books on the table. As always, she walked round the class and cane back to where she was standing.

"I hope we all enjoyed our weekends?” She asked and the students chorused a "Yes.” She nodded her head and continued.

“It's a new week. I want you all to take your studies very seriously. Attend classes and make sure you do all your assignments. I wouldn't love it, if any teacher comes to complain about you guys.” She warned. The was a brief silence as she scanned the students faces, she smiled as she looked at the boy standing beside her.

"I know you all have burning questions. For example, who the person is,” she said, “he'll tell you himself!” She gestured Zion to introduce himself.

"Hello everyone. My name is Zion Adesanya, and I'll be your new classmate. I hope we all become friends,” Zion said in the sweetest voice ever.

"Welcome!” The class chorused.

"Zion will be your new classmate. I hope you help him settle well. Where is Matthew?” She called.

"Ma'am,” Matthew said as he rose.

"I want you to show Zion around the school and tell him about all the classes you'll be attending. Tell him all he needs to know about being a student here.” She said and Matthew nodded, and sat down.

"Well, Zion you can go have your seat,” she told Zion.

"Where ma?” he asked as he didn't see an empty space.

"Oh. Any empty space?” she asked the students. Julia raises her hands. "Julia"

"There's an empty space here with Zoe,” Julia said pointing at the girl sitting behind her. Zion stared at the girl being pointed at and something in him seemed to know her before.

"Shut up,” Zoe yelled at Julia.

"Zoe, you'll have to sit with Zion okay!” the teacher said dismissively. "Go and sit,” she commanded Zion.

Zion walked to the back of the class as eyes were fixed on him. He got to the seat and sat beside Zoe, who was obviously not excited about the development. He removed his back and looked straight.

Mrs. Komolafe started saying something when he felt, someone touch his hand which was placed on the desk. He looked up only to see the girl grinning and smiling, he smiled as he loved how simple and nice she looked.

"Hey, Welcome to EIC. My name is Julia,” she said as she stretched out her hands for a handshake. Zion smiled happily as he took her hands giving her a handshake.

"I'm grateful. I'm Zion,” he said beaming, he might just have made a new friend.