Chapter 16

They went to the mall and bought all they would need. The matching outfits and food items for the cooking. Matthew had testified about Zion's amazing cooking, even though the rest found it hard to believe. After, buying all they needed Gbenga took them out to buy ice cream.

Zion couldn't help but notice Matthew's cool attitude towards Julia. He had been told that Matthew had liked Zoe for years. Zion could help but notice the glances he stole of Julia. He couldn't blame him, who wouldn't fall for such a lively and joyful person.

~~~

Gbenga and Zoe walked through the pathway observing the area, while the others sat on a bench just outside the ice cream shop.

"I love the ice cream, thank cousin,” Zoe said.

“Yeah. The ice cream is nice. It's also beautiful I love the same flavor of ice cream as my little cousin,” Zoe giggled. They were having vanilla-flavored ice cream with some strawberry toppings.

"I don't understand why anyone would live chocolate ice cream. Argh,” Gbenga said. Zeke was happy they agreed on the same thing.

“Me toooo,” she said. Julia had ordered chocolate ice cream. And it seemed to be her favorite. "My mom loves chocolate too. While my Dad's like us, he really loves vanilla.”

“My uncle was a real G,” Gbenga hailed while Zoe burst out laughing.

They were a minute of silence as they continued walking. Eating their delicious ice cream as they walked.

"Zoe,” Gbenga called.

“Yeah,” she responded.

"Huh. You've never actually talked about your mom. Where's she?” He asked.

Zoe smiled. A brief silence passed before she spoke up again.

"She's married,” Zoe said finally.

“Oh. I see,” Gbenga sighed. “But why aren't you with her. I mean, you are her daughter. And my mom said you've got a little sister where's she?” He asked.

Zoe smiled and opened her mouth to speak. "Emily. She's with my mom, in her husband's house,” Zoe said, Gbenga watched her expecting her to say something else. “Her husband only wanted one child. So she lied and made me stay alone with a family like that,” Zoe said.

"What!!!” Gbenga exclaimed stopping in his tracks.

"How could she do that? That's bad.” Gbenga said expecting her to say something. But Zoe was done talking. She turned and headed to meet the rest while Gbenga watched her walk away. He could see the vulnerable and lonely little girl in her. She must have gone through a lot.

They walked back to where the rest were. The remaining hours of their hang out made them bond a lot. Zion couldn't have asked for better friends. Zoe couldn't understand why she didn't want to be friends with anyone in the first place.

~~~~

The next day, Zoe got set for school and rushed into the car. He was so excited to see his friends again, the competition would be held in two weeks the same week as their test. They all had to prepare for the competition and read together. Zoe was happy he had found himself amazing friends like this. But he didn't know there was a lot of heartbreak for that day.

The driver dropped him just in front of the gate. He was late, and surely the assembly was over. He rushed into the school and ran as fast as his legs could take him. He reached his class and found the place noisy.

As always.

He entered only to find all eyes on him. Surprised, he checked his clothes for stains or anything weird hanging on him but could not find any. The class went silent as he strolled to his seat, stares almost boring holes in his body. He glanced around his seat, Julia and Zoe weren't around. Checking Matthew's seat, he also wasn't there. It was then he panicked. Something seemed wrong that he couldn't place his finger on. By that time, the students had continued what seemed like Gossip, and it was about him.

What could have gone wrong? He thought.

"You'll never know what these rich people are capable of,” Stephanie said, Zion looked at her with surprise. Why did he have a feeling that that statement was meant to shade him?

"I'm not surprised, all these rich people children don't have a life. They only Lynch off their parents' wealth and just be irresponsible,” Anita, Stephanie's friend said. All the students were staring at him, he couldn't understand what was happening.

"Why are you all looking at me like that,” he finally asked.

"We Know! Zion, we know about your filthy secret,” Amanda, one of his classmates said. He gave her a questioning look as he still couldn't get what was happening.

"Yes Zion, we know why you left Greatness High!” Stephanie said. Zion's heart skipped a beat. His secret was out, how did they find out!

"What are you talking about,” Zion asked feigning ignorance.

“You're on drugs Zion. You do drugs. You were expelled from school because you were caught with possession of drugs,” Stephanie roared. Zion's eyes widened in shock; his heart fluttered as tears rushed to his eyes.

They knew. His secret was in the open. He wondered if his friends had heard. He was sure they had. What would they think of him now? He had lied to them, no one would want to be friends with someone who was on drugs. Julia personally disliked them. He wasn't worthy to be friends with these perfect people.

His eyes flew to the door when a teacher walked in. It was a Corper Gbenga. The students all rushed to their respective seats to seem orderly. As Gbenga entered, his eyes and Zion's met. Quick, Zion dropped his head in shame avoiding Gbenga's pitiful gazed. He heard steps behind him as tears flowed freely from his eyes. He looked up to look at those who walked in. It was Matthew, Julia, and Zoe, his eyes were clouded by tears and he couldn't see clearly.

He was sure they wouldn't want to talk to him. And yes, they didn't. Julia didn't give him the usual high fives, and Matthew didn't greet him in the signature greeting they had formed. Zoe didn't smile at him or did she even care if someone was beside her? His tears fell out the more as he felt his world collapsing. He was about to enter the life he had just escaped from. The world of loneliness, depression, and fear. He wasn't worth loving.

He didn't deserve to be in the same class as these. As he thought of it, he looked for ways he could just disappear from that place that he didn't pay attention to when Corper Gbenga called his name. He wasn't thinking straight. He jumped up from his seat and dashed out of the classroom.

He could hear Corper Gbenga's voice calling after him loud and clear. He could hear, but after a while, the voice died down. Turning back, he couldn't find anyone chasing him or calling his name, he felt bad that they had forgotten about him so quickly, but he deserves it right? He continued to run. Till he got to the garden. He needed peace and quiet and this was where he could get it.

He sat on the floor as he allowed the tears to flow freely without obstruction. He cried and cried and cried. Desiring to leave the school at once to meet Priscilla, but then he still had long hours to go, same as Priscilla. After a while, he dozed off and slept.

Dreaming, he dreamt that he and Julia had a big fight in which they got very physical. As Julia was about hitting him on the head. Zion felt multiple slaps on his shoulder, waking him up from dreamland.

"Wake up silly!” Julia yelped happily.

"Lazybones. So, you came here to sleep abi,” Zoe added, Zion opened his eyes only to find his friends staring at him. He rubbed his eyes to know it’s not a dream, it was as real as ever. “So, you made me write all your notes just because you want to sleep. Argh,” Zoe said feigning upset. Zion was still dazed, it all felt surreal.

"Get up!” Gbenga commanded and stretched his hand while Matthew helped him up.

"You guys are not upset with me?” He blurted, as they all went silent. "I knew it. I know I don't deserve to be your friend. But please forgive me, if it would cost me our friendship, please forgive me,” Zion said, teary-eyed.

“I'm upset with you!!!"Julia yelled, Zion's face dropped as he played for his fingers. "You could have just told us in the beginning!”

Zion went mute. Unable to say a word in response.

"But we forgive you. And your fat head,” Matthew said.

Zion couldn't believe his ears. Did he just say Forgive???

“Corper Gbenga has told us. After we heard what they were saying. Zion your only offense was not telling us. But we understand,” Julia said and jumped on him, it was the tightest and most loving one he had received since his mother's death. Zoe joined the hug too. And Matthew and later Gbenga pulled them into a big fat hug. The hug lasted for minutes as Zion cried. He had never felt that love his entire life. It was the best moment of his life.

"You guys forgive me?” He asked as he searched their eyes. They nodded and he could see their sincerity in their eyes. "Thank you,” he blurted.

Few minutes passed away and the rest should their displeasure about his attitude but they still showed him nothing but love.

“I lost my mom when I was 8 years old. I was lonely, I mean she was my everything back then. Especially on days when Dad went out and traveled for business. I was so connected to her; I couldn't imagine life without her. But yes, she left me. She died of chronic disease, but she was very strong even till death.

"I got into secondary school. But I had no friends. Zero communication skills, I practically couldn't say a word to other people. They saw me as weird and crazy, which made me find solace in other things and seek adventure. Boma was a year senior, but he was a drug addict. From him, I learned to smoke, drink, and take drugs.

“He told me it would give me confidence and help me get through the day. But it never worked, I was sleeping all day during classes. Failed to do assignments and all and I couldn't even stop. It became even worse. The day I was caught, I attacked a teacher when I was high. They searched my stuff and that was when they knew, that was how I got expelled.” Zion explained.

“Hmm."

"Wao"

"Geez.” That was all they said as he told the story.

"After being expelled. I traveled to South Africa to see my mother's sister. There I got rehabilitated and taken care of.” Zion added.

"You are strong bro. That's your past, don't keep it with you. You've made mistakes and it's great you've learned from them,” Gbenga said.

“Yes Zion, we are here for you."