It was dark and uncomfortably silent in the forest, with only the occasional rustling of dry leaves under my feet breaking the silence. I looked left and right as I moved into the forest, certain that it was here. I could feel it; somewhere around here, everything wasn't right. Unsurprisingly, I wasn't wrong.

It stood in the forest, its angry-looking amber eyes glowing in the night. I tried to hide, but I was too late. Our eyes met briefly, and in that moment, I thought nothing was going to happen.

I was wrong. It burst forward at a searing pace, its sharp fangs looking ready to tear me apart. Now, I know lions are fast, but not as fast as this one. I could feel it right behind me, almost pulling my shorts once. I was too scared and slipped twice, but that didn't stop me from running. The ground was wet, as if it had just rained.

Running was difficult as the trees in the forest were clustered. I tried using the trees to trick the lion, but it didn't work. The lion was firmly on my tail.

Thinking of another way to get the lion off my back, I bashed my head into a tree and fell. I was confused for a moment, the hit was too hard and painful.

Wiping blood off my eyes to see the lion, I saw nothing. It was as if nothing was on my tail. It was quiet again, and I hoped I lost the lion while I was running. I rested on the tree to catch my breath. It was then I saw it—not on the ground running, but on the tree, its amber eyes staring angrily at me. Before I could make any move, the lion pounced on me, its sharp fangs tearing into my flesh.

***

I woke up startled, my singlet soaked in sweat, and I could hear my heartbeat. Searching for the lion, I found myself on my bed, in my room. It was a nightmare, the fourth time this week. I cringed at the recurrence.

Raising my head, I immediately laid back as I felt a terrible headache, pounding hard and beating like my heart. Turning to the table clock, it displayed 5:30.

Laying down for about twenty minutes, the pounding in my head stopped. I got up, rushed into the bathroom to wash my face, feeling much better afterward. Returning to the room, drying my face, I sat down thinking about the nightmare. It kept coming, getting scarier. This one was even more violent than the rest, with the lion tearing into my flesh. I gulped at the memory.

My Maths textbook and notebook were on my desk; I remembered leaving them there last night before sleeping. The homework was a bit complex, and I was dizzy, so I slept off.

I completed it twenty minutes later and stuffed my books into my bag. There were so many books in my bag that I didn't bother to remove them. I just took the one I needed before replacing it. It made my bag very heavy, but I preferred it that way.

Once I was done with that, I made sure my uniform was ready, and my socks were clean before taking my bath. When I got out of the bathroom and put on my uniform, it was 6:41. I took my bag and scanned the room, hoping I hadn't left anything behind. Once I was sure I left nothing, I turned to open the door when I heard soft footsteps from behind. The footsteps stopped at my door, and there was a pause. Then, a knock.

"Good morning, Akin. Are you awake?" the voice called out.

I rolled my eyes and opened the door. I just didn't know why my dad appointed a maid. She was too caring and did nearly everything for me. I'm sure she'd do my homework for me if she could.

"Good morning, Aunt Biola. I'm clearly awake."

She's not my aunt, but for older people, it's wrong to call them by their name, so we just add a prefix. Or if they have a child, then 'mummy' would be the prefix of their child's name.

"That's good, my boy. I cooked rice. Come and eat."

"Thanks, ma, but I'm good."

"What? No. You have to eat so you will be strong."

Like I said, she's too caring. She just reminds me of my mother too much. I see too much of her in the maid. She's been there for me, and I hate that. My mother is the only perfect person, and I don't want to see anyone else that way. At least, not for now. Not when her death is still fresh.

"Aunt Biola, I'm good seriously. I will buy something in school."

"No. Even if it's tea. But you are not leaving without taking something."

She just wouldn't give up.

"Alright, fine."

"Yes, that's good. Wait in the dining room; I'll put water on fire now."

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She hurried into the kitchen, and I closed my door. I rolled my eyes as I walked into the dining room. Aunt Biola won't quit until she sees I'm okay, but I feel that right belongs to mom alone.

I sat in the dining room, waiting. I just hoped dad won't come out yet.

But of course, he did. I heard the door to his room open, and then there was a pause. He closed the door later, and he came towards the sitting room. I gritted my teeth and wished I was out of here.

He stood at the middle of the sitting room as if searching for something. He then advanced towards the dining room.

I froze when I saw him. It was like seeing a long-lost friend. He raised an eyebrow and frowned.

"Can't you greet?" he said with an angry deep voice.

Aunt Biola came into the dining room just then with my cup of tea. She put the tea in front of me before returning to the kitchen.

"Good morning, sir," I bowed slightly, as was the custom in our town.

He moved towards my seat, his look menacing, and for a moment, I thought he was going to hit me.

"I don't want to remind you about greeting again. It should be the first thing you should do when you see me."

"I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again," I said, unable to look at his face.

There was dead silence for what seemed like hours before Aunt Biola came to the rescue.

"Take your tea so you won't be late for school."

Dad turned to leave but paused.

"Do you have enough money to get you to school?"

I felt the polymer texture notes in my pocket and knew that wasn't going to take me anywhere.

"I have some money, sir," I lied just to make sure our conversation is over. Anything that would make him go away would be cool.

He dipped his hands into the pocket and brought out some currency notes. He counted some and dropped on the table beside me.

"Just have this anyway," he said and left the room.

I stared at the notes and was a bit confused with everything about my dad. One minute, he's a man you hate, and then another minute, he's a good man all of a sudden.

I took the notes and carefully put them in my pocket. I sipped little from the tea before taking my bag to leave.

"Is that all? Take more tea now," Aunt Biola said, looking shocked by the small amount of tea I took.

"Aunt Biola, I'm good, and I'm also getting late for school," Aunt Biola sighed and knew I wouldn't give up.

"Alright then. But make sure you eat something at school."

I smiled even as I felt it annoying for her to be that caring woman.

"I will. Thanks, ma."

"Bye."

"Bye."

With that, I left the house and hoped the day would be good.

It was a few minutes before seven when I left the house. The other students in our neighborhood were already out and ready for school. Cars were driving out of their respective houses to prepare for the day. Those who didn't have cars walked or took commercial vehicles or bikes to wherever they wanted to go. I'm in the group of those who took commercial bikes. I could have walked since my school wasn't far, but dad saved me from that anyway. Also, my school has a strict latecomer policy. I definitely do not want to be among those who would cut grass that always seem to grow back quickly.

I got a bike few minutes after waiting for one. We negotiated a fee and got going. We were in school five minutes later. Students were already arriving, and some just stood by the school gate, discussing, and some just running around. Naïve JSS1 students.

I paid my fee to the bike rider and got into the school. Now I got a clearer view of the school. A few students were getting ready for the daily assembly, which I felt was pointless. Assemblies are supposed to be fun, but we just sing rhymes like we were still in preschool and march like soldiers to our classroom. I just hate it but what choice do I have? I would be punished if I wasn't present.

From the gate, there was a short road leading to the main building which from a bird's eye view looks like a perfectly shaped small letter n. It's a single-storey building with classrooms on opposite sides and administrative offices in between.

The school gardener was watering the beautiful flowers which were at both sides of the road. I greeted him briefly and went straight to my class, SS2.

Our class was small, and I hated it. We were thirty in our small classroom, which I am sure is the biggest reason for the heat in our class. The fans aren't working anymore, and it's as if there's no air coming from outside the window. The class was just so hot and not conducive. We even complained once to our proprietor, and he said he would get back to us. He didn't. I didn't expect him to anyway. School owners in our town cared less about students' comfortability.

Few of my classmates who had arrived were just starting their homework while some copied before the bell rang for assembly. A few gossiped, but I didn't care. I just walked to my table and dropped my bag heavily on the table. It was so loud, and every eye was on me for a moment. They continued when they realized it was nothing much.

"Have you done your homework?"

I looked up and saw Adeyemi dashing into the classroom, his shirt not tucked in, and his tie not properly knotted. He dropped his bag on his table, which was far better compared to mine. I almost didn't even hear a sound.

"Ade, why are you dressed like this? How did you even get past security like that?"

"Akin, that's not the problem now. I haven't done my homework. Have you done yours?"

Everyone knew how Mr. Samuel took his homework seriously. It was either strokes from his cane, which we popularly called 'pankẹrẹ' in our town. It was a smooth, long, and hard wood that even one stroke would make the skin red and hard. Mr. Samuel could give eleven or twelve. He could also give punishment for offenders to cut the grass for an entire week, and that's even on a good day. Mr. Samuel was unpredictable and could come up with something new.

"I've done it. Why haven't you?" I said as I opened my bag to get my Maths notebook.

"I did it in a rough book. I forgot to bring the book to school. I was too lazy to copy it last night."

"What an excuse!" I threw the book, smiling.

"Bring am jo. Shebi me sef don help you before," he replied in pidgin English, implying that he had helped me in a similar situation before.

He began copying my homework to his note frantically, and it always amazed me how someone like Ade, the cool boy in school who was confident and smart, is scared of Mr. Samuel. He always has been ever since the teacher came in SS1.

I took my seat next to him and began unpacking some of my books into my locker.

"So what's up?" I asked the trembling Ade.

"Look, let me be done with this first before I answer you."

Ade was my only friend in the class. We got even closer after my mom's death. He helped during the darkest days of my life. A time when I thought my dad and I would be there for each other, especially after my mother's passing. Instead, it's been more misery and our relationship fractured.

Ade gave me support, advice, and love. We were so close that a day without speaking to each other usually feels off. At least, that was how it was from my end.

As I took my seat, she came in, and I froze. Her steps like that of a proud peacock. She deserved to be proud anyway. Her beauty is unmatched in the whole school and I even think in our town. Her beautiful hairstyle with the braids intertwined into each other made her look stunning. Her black skirt and white blouse stood out from the rest of the girls. It was neatly ironed and fits her body perfectly. I just couldn't take my eyes off her as Eniola took her seat two places in front of mine.

"I don't know why you can't just go talk to her," Ade whispered.

"What? I can't do that."

"And why's that?"

I didn't have an answer to that, and I just stared awkwardly at the ceiling like it was written up there. But the bell for assembly rang anyway, and everyone began to leave the classroom.

"Saved by the bell, I guess," Ade said as he dropped my book on my table.

"Anyway, let's go for assembly."

I stood up, glanced at Eniola one last time before she left the class.

At least, it's better than staying at home. Having a supportive friend and a beautiful girl to admire every day of the week is why I love staying at school.