Chapter 12

Zion walked into the staff room with his new friends to meet with Corper Gbenga, as he was now called. His father had placed a call through to Mrs. Komolafe the previous night and she had said she would look into it.

Zion was told to meet up with Mrs. Komolafe which he did when done with his lunch. She had been impressed that the possibly rebellious student who the principal had asked her to pay attention to, desired to get better academically. Mrs. Komolafe knew she wouldn't be able to pay attention and follow Zion through the after class studying so she decided to involve the new Youth corps member who was loved, especially in Zion's class. He would be the best person for the job, since he lived in the school's premise, the corpers lounge.

She had called him in the early hours of the day and explained everything to him. Zion had the possibilities of being rebellious, which was the real reason why he was needed. Corper Gbenga had agreed, and she was more than excited.

Zion was told about this and was meant to meet the said Corper. Only for them to get to the Staff room and meet Corper Gbenga and his seat mate, Zoe, talking.

"Good afternoon sir!” The three greeted as Zion watched Zoe. She seemed pretty uncomfortable.

"Ah,” Corper Gbenga said excitedly. "You guys are here. Matthew, Zion and Julia, my very special cartoonist,” he said cheerfully, making Zion's nervousness disappear.

"Thank you, sir,” Julia said sheepishly.

"I'll be going now,” Zoe said to Corper Gbenga out of the blues.

"Ok dear. But let me introduce you to my new friends,” Corper Gbenga Said. "Guys meet my cousin. Zoe.” He said.

"Really! You guys are cousins?” Julia asked excitedly. "I knew it. The semblance was just too much,”she added.

After a while Zoe walked out of the room.

"Okay so guys. What are we doing today?” Corper Gbenga asked.

"We'll be waiting after school. We have a timetable so we would be studying Mathematics today,” Matthew explained.

"Okay. But you know I'm not the one teaching right. I'll be with you guys for Zion's sake,” Corper Gbenga said.

"We know, sir. Daddy's boy told us,” Julia said smiling.

"Hey, I'm not Daddy's boy,” Zoe protested.

"Yeah, him wanting him to be watched is understandable. I mean from—” Corper Gbenga started saying but Zoe interrupted him. He was scared his words would blow his cover. Julia and Matthew had really seen him in the good boy light. He remembered that he had lied to them when they asked why he left his former school.

"Why did you leave, Greatness High,” Julia had asked while they were in the cafeteria on a lunch break.

Zion didn't expect the question, so he stammered and stuttered while he searched his mind for a lie. He couldn't let anyone know that he was once a drug addict.

"I was being bullied,” he had lied.

"Oh,” Matthew had said, he was also interested in the conversation. He thought the questions were over until they stared at him, with the look that said they wanted him to say more.

"Errr. My roommate had some mental issues and was on drugs. So, he stabbed me one day. It was a small bruise, but my Dad couldn't bear seeing me in the school. Even when the authorities had said the boy was already in rehab.” He had lied before. He thought that they would notice he was lying with his ever shifting gazes, but it seemed they didn't.

"Ohh. That's really bad. You must have been so scared,” Matthew had said compassionately as Zion nodded in agreement.

Such a big liar!!!

"I still don't understand why teenagers take drugs. What pleasure do they derive from something they know will destroy their lives?” Julia complained. Zion had swallowed as he heavier a sign of relief. He was happy he hadn't told them the truth. Julia did hate people on drugs with the look in her eyes showing disgust. He only hoped he would be able to keep it as much as a secret as possible.

"It's because here is a new school, so my dad was worried,” He lied again as he stuttered. Gbenga looking at him strangely.

"Okay then. So I'll see you guys later in the day?” Corper Gbenga asked.

"Yes sir!!!” They chorused as they matched out of the room.

"Zion, can I get a minute?” He called as they were about going out of the door.

Zion turned back to look at him, obviously confused. The others left him as he walked back to meet him.

"Please sit,” Corper Gbenga said.

Zion sat down slowly on the chair opposite Gbenga.

"I heard about your issue, and I'm happy to know that you were strong enough to get over it this quick. You are amazing you know,” Gbenga said. While Zion looked confused. No one had ever acknowledged him that way.

“Please sir. I don't want my friends to know,” Zion said. “Please can you help me keep it a secret before I can tell them?”

"Wow, I wasn't going to tell them,” Gbenga said. “They don't have to know if you aren't ready to tell them,” he added. Zion heaved a sign of relief as her smiled.

"Thank you sir,” he said.

"No problem Zion. I really admire you. Not everyone can be able to get over drugs in five months,” Gbenga commended.

“I discovered I was ruining my life. But I didn't think I would ever get over it too. I travelled out of the country and stayed with my cousins for a while. They care so much for me and helped me overcome my depression,” Zion explained.

"Depression?”

"Yeah. I must say. I didn't have many friends and the once I had were a negative influence on me"

"I see. I'm sure Matthew and Julia will be good influence. But you know every true relationship lies on transparency,” Gbenga said. “It would be nice if they don't hear about this somewhere else.”

Zion nodded as he sighed, confused and scared. He just hoped they wouldn't know until he was a good friend to them too, it wouldn't be so bad by then.

•••••••••••••••••

The bell rang for the close of the days activities, students rushed out of the class to catch a bus or walk home. After some minutes, four students are seen still in class. Zion, Zoe, Julia and Matthew.

"You aren't heading home?” Zion asked Zoe who was reading a new comic book she had just bought.

"Nope,” she said. "I want to finish this,” she said.

"You must be a huge fan of anime,” Zion asked as Zoe's face lit up and she smiled. She had been so addicted to anime since she was a child, she used to watch them with Julia who took inspiration from the movies and started drawing her own comic characters.

“You got that right,” she said cheerfully not taking her eyes off the book.

"I don't know how grown-ups love watching cartoons,” Zion said, his statement getting all of Zoe's attention.

“What?!” She exclaimed. "You just asked if I love anime. Anime! Oh. They are not cartoons, my friend,” she said slamming the book on the table as she laughed.

"Yen, yen, yen. That's what you all say. I'm sure you are addicted to it the way you are defending its cause,” he said jokingly making her laugh. “My cousin is also in love with anime,” he added.

"Well, you cousin is the real deal!” She said as she winked.

“True! I've noticed people who watch and read lot of anime series, tend to be very intelligent. Like you and my cousin. I think I should start watching too,” Zion said as he chuckled.

"Yeah. You should bro,” Zoe said as she turned to face her book again. Face beaming with smiles. Matthew and Julia were busy arguing about something.

“Talking about intelligent. That reminds me, can you please explain some sums to me tomorrow?” He asked politely. Zoe smiled faintly as she faced him.

"Only if you promise to read an anime comic book,” She teased.

"Definitely!!!” He exclaimed playfully, with a smile plastered on his face. Zoe couldn't help but smile, she couldn't but understand why she was feeling so drawn to him and acting all cool with him.

"Hey. M and J. Quit arguing and let's go,” Zion hollered at the duo who liked like a couple arguing.

"M and J???” They asked simultaneously as they started querying him.

"Stop the questions. Let's go,” he said with a tone of finality. Zoe couldn't help but watch their drama.

"Goodbye Zoe,” Zion said.

"Bye Zion,” she said and waved at him, as the trio walked out of the class.

"Goodbye Zoe,” M and J hollered.

"Bye!” Zoe responded. Her response shocking them.

Zion, Julia and Matthew walked to the garden and to the small lawn there. Where they would be reading.

"Why were you surprised when Zoe responded to your greeting?” Zion asked the question that had been burning in his heart since they left the classroom.

"Uh. It's a long story,” Julia said while Matthew rolled his eyes underneath his glasses.

"Argh. Stop being dramatic Julia. It's just simple, she doesn't like either of us,” Matthew said while Zion watched on with a puzzled look.

"It's not simple Matthew,” Julia said face Matthew. She turned to face Zion and then continued. "Zoe and I were best friends. From preschool till primary.” She explained.

"Wao. So, what happened? Why did the friendship crash?” Zion asked inquisitively.

“Well, her dad died a day to get 10th birthday.”

"Wao!” Zion exclaimed.

"Yeah. Since then, she’s been unfriendly and cold. Especially to those who seem to care about her,” Matthew added.

"What made matters worse was that her mother left her and remarried another man. Leaving her to fend for herself. It's said that her mum played a huge part in the death of her husband,” Julia explained further.

"Wao. That's cruel.” Zion blurted.

"That's the reason for the cold Zoe. She was never like that from the beginning,” Julia said as she was getting emotional.

"Losing one's parent can be hard on a person. But losing too, because of one’s mistakes. That's hard,” Matthew added.

"Yes,” Zion reacted, lost in thought. He lost just one parent and his life turned upside down. She lost two, he could only imagine the hard times she is facing.

“I lost my mum too,” Zion blurted before he knew he said that.

"What"

"Really,” they asked simultaneously.

"Oops. It's nothing, it's been a long time,” Zion added. "But one thing is sure. Losing a parent is the hardest thing anyone can ever face,” he said with emotion filling his eyes.

"It must have been so har—” Matthew was saying when the sound of someone walking in interrupted him.

"Hey guys. Enough talking, let's start studying!!!” Corper Gbenga said with so much enthusiasm in his voice. Causing Zion to snap out of his emotional state, and he became as excited as he was when he got permission to study after school.

"Sir, yes, sir!” They bellowed as they stood upright. Corper Gbenga laughed threw a mat at Matthew.

"Spread that.”