"Look at him," Ade whispered from behind me.

"Who?" I looked around, trying to figure out whom he was talking about.

"Mr. Samuel. I mean, imagine what he would have done if he found out I didn't do his homework."

I saw Mr. Samuel standing at a corner in front of the assembly. It was hard to notice him as he was alone, standing behind a pillar. The look in his eyes was as steely as the lion I saw in my nightmare earlier.

I tried to forget that and focus on something else. Eniola was walking up to the front of the whole school assembly. She stood on the podium and instructed us to conduct ourselves before we sang the national anthem.

One thing I loved about her was her confidence. She was not scared of any crowd. She also had a lovely voice to back it up. Anytime she spoke, I was in Dreamland.

"SS2 boys. Your line is not straight," Eniola called out, and immediately we straightened our line. Her voice was firm. If she wasn't in her uniform, you would have mistaken her for a teacher. No wonder she was appointed assistant to the current head girl. She fits that role so well.

We sang the national anthem and recited the pledge. The principal also came with a few announcements before we marched back to our classes.

Moments after getting to class, we started preparing for Math, the first subject of the day. Everyone had their notebooks and textbooks on their desks, seated patiently, waiting for Mr. Samuel. There was no need to annoy Mr. Samuel on an early Monday morning.

"Did you hear what those guys in SS3 were saying at the assembly?," Ade whispered to me.

"No. Anything I might be interested in?"

"Yes, of course. The inter-school football competition starts in two weeks. Coach Dele would pick his team next Monday, depending on who performs well in training on Wednesday and Saturday."

"How is that exciting?"

"No. Don't tell me you want to pass this up again. Why don't you want to go out there again and enjoy yourself?"

"Coach won't pick me anyway. He hasn't picked me since you know...," my voice broke off, and I knew he totally understood.

"I know you don't want anyone to pity you or whatever. What's important is that the coach and the team would be happy to have you back again. That dangerous and lively winger you used to be. They want to see that person, and if they don't, they will still give you that pity face."

"But Ade...,"

Our conversation was cut short by the arrival of Mr. Samuel, his usual steely gaze and angry demeanor met by complete silence in the class.

"Think about it," Ade mouthed before he opened his book to the page where he did his homework, as if anticipating Mr. Samuel's request for it.

I understood Ade's concerns. He wanted me to go out more and try to move on from my mother's death. I loved football so much and played in many competitions. I excelled in my right-wing position and was known for my dangerous left foot.

That was where I got my popularity. Football. My mates loved how I played, and I was the coach's favorite.

Last year, after my mom's death, I totally switched off. I was really shaken by her death. I didn't play as well, and I wasn't as popular anymore. Coach Dele didn't let me play in major school competitions, saying he 'wanted me to heal.'

I haven't played in a while now, and the popularity I got from football vanished. It's funny how people forget things so easily. Now, they barely even remember that I was once a player they all liked. In fact, it felt like nobody except Ade knew me.

At least, there was someone all this time that was supportive and still remembers that lively winger. He wanted me to go out there and enjoy myself again. I was just scared I won't play like before again. One small error on the pitch, and coach would think I was still 'healing.'

I was lost in thought that it took a tap on my desk by Ade for me to get back to class.

"Go and submit your homework," Ade whispered, and all eyes, including Mr. Samuel's, were on me.

"You didn't do it right?,” Mr. Samuel asked, his voice deep, and his grip on his pankẹrẹ tight.

I dashed forward with my book, placing it together with the others.

"I did it. Everything," I was breathing heavily like I just ran a marathon.

"Hmm," Mr. Samuel glanced at my book and asked, "Who did you copy?"

"No, I didn't copy anybody. This is my work, I swear."

"Let's find out then," he took his whiteboard marker from his pocket and wrote a question on the board, similar to the ones he gave us. He only changed the digits.

I walked to the board, collected the marker, and began solving. Though Mr. Samuel's presence behind me and the total silence in the class made me uncomfortable, I managed to solve the problem a few minutes later and handed him his marker.

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"Good. Next time, you submit and don't let me scream your name before you submit your homework."

"Okay sir," I replied and returned to my seat. Yeah, Math classes were always intense.

Lessons started immediately after, and when he was done, he gave us another homework without checking out the one he gave us previously. That's his habit. Sometimes, I wonder whether he gives us these homeworks to see who wouldn't do it.

He left afterwards, and there was a sigh of relief in the entire classroom that it was over. Then in came the sweet and nice English teacher, Mrs. Titi. She was a sharp contrast from the annoying Mr. Samuel. Her classes were always interesting and engaging. She also checks our homework, and I've never caught her hitting a student before. She's the best.

Mr. Umar, the Biology teacher, was next. His class was also good. The Chemistry teacher, Mr. Ikechukwu, came next. His classes were always boring, and what made it even worse was that I hated chemistry. Ninety percent of the time in his class, I was either sleeping or just staring in space. I also think half the class hated the subject too because most of them were asleep, and some were copying unfinished notes from other subjects. I don't think Mr. Ikechukwu cared anyway. He was content with spouting nonsense about hydrogen or whatever.

I was more than glad when the bell went off for break. I think more than half the class felt the same too. Those who were busy with other things stopped what they were doing. It was like a bored audience dispersing with relief after a terrible speech.

"Wait, please. Let me quickly explain aromatic hydrocarbons for five minutes."

An unbearable murmur broke out after that. It was like an annoying swarm of bees buzzing all around you.

"Alright, alright," Mr. Ikechukwu gave up.

"You can go for a break, but I'll give you homework explaining aromatic hydrocarbons. Is that okay?"

"Yes," the class chorused and cheered as Mr. Ikechukwu left the class. We all knew he would forget about the homework before the next class. He's never asked us for it before, and even when we reminded him, he'd tell us to 'keep it for now.' No one really cared anymore about his homework.

"Come on, let's go," Ade said as he took some money from his bag. "I'm hungry."

"Yeah, me too. Let's go." I stuffed my Chemistry notebook inside my bag and joined Ade, who was waiting for me outside the class.

"You were thinking about it?" Ade asked.

"About what?"

"Football. I know that's why you didn't respond quickly when Mr. Samuel requested your homework."

"Oh, that? Well, I'm not sure. I'm scared."

"To go back out there?" Ade stopped walking, and so did I.

"Look Akin, I know the past year has been rough for you, and I totally understand how you feel. You're hurt not just by the death but everything that's happened after.

"You can't keep hiding. You'll only be in pain. I know your mother and how nice she was. It's hard to lose someone like that. My point is your mother, wherever she is right now, would be happy to see you happy and doing what you like again."

"Nice speech. When did you become a motivational speaker?,” I smiled, and we continued walking.

"I just have a way with words. So, will you join the team when they train for the next interschool football competition?" he held his gaze with mine, and it was too hard to say no. It was just hard.

"Alright, I'll talk to the coach."

"Yes!" he jumped like someone who just won a lottery.

We headed to the school canteen to get something to eat. It was small and crowded by students who wanted to eat first. Some of them even made it a competition. Anyone who managed to order first gets a gift from their mates. Most times, it was like a group of angry mobs trying to order something all at once. It was crazy.

But one of the perks of being friends with Ade was that he was popular and loved. So when he came, they allowed him all the way to the front to order whatever he wanted.

They called him by his popular nickname, Starboy. He participated and excelled in all sports available in the school. He was in the Press Club and is the assistant head boy. Everyone liked him because he returned the love to everyone. He somehow had time for everyone in the school. When he finished eating here, he would go to some other class, gist, crack jokes, and advise them like he did to me.

So, when he ordered, they automatically let me order too. After that, the madness would continue. But this time, he didn't allow it.

"Guys, common stop this. Why don't you behave, and maybe I'll talk to Iya Ẹwà to give you extra of what you ordered," he winked at the owner of the canteen who returned it with a smile. The boys ululated and immediately formed a straight line.

"That's more like it," he smiled, and we sat on a bench outside the canteen to eat our food.

"If she gives them extra, will you pay?"

"No, she won't. Also, these boys are juniors. I just had to find something to make them cooperate. I was surprised it worked," he took a spoon of rice and beans he ordered.

"When the seniors come here, they would stop immediately."

That was wrong though. No senior did it better than him. Especially judging by what was going on in the girls' line. The pretty Eniola was there trying to organize the girls but was doing a bad job. She was only screaming without any effect. Eniola was good but no match for this hungry crowd.

"Your food will get cold. Aren't you hungry?,” Ade asked as he took his last spoon of rice.

"That was fast," I glanced at his empty plate in disbelief.

"Yeah, and you'd better be too or else I will leave you here to stare at her as much as you will."

I rolled my eyes.

"Nonsense, I wasn't staring," I turned my gaze somewhere else.

"Oh really, Mr. Lover Boy?"

"God, you're the worst," we both laughed.

"Let me go and get some water," he stood up and paused, "But you really need to move on from staring. It's weird."

"I don't stare that much. I mean, we also talk too."

"Akin, I'm not talking about Biology and Chemistry practical classes. I mean, real conversation about anything. Not you trying to force yourself into her group in Chemistry practical class just to talk. Which is also weird," he turned and left before I had a chance to respond.

I sighed, took one last look at her, and continued eating.

I returned to class later while Ade went to SS3 class to do his usual advice. I also had a feeling he wanted to discuss the upcoming football competition. He loved football but wasn't participating in this one. He wanted to play in the basketball competition, which will begin next term. He participated in all three sports available in the school and was decent in all of them. He just moved from one sport to the other every term.

He returned after break, and classes continued immediately. All were boring except Mr. John's Geography. It wasn't his subject or teaching style that made his class interesting but his accent. He speaks in an amusing Ghanaian accent. That alone is enough for the class to be engaged. Sometimes, some students try to ask him a question in that accent as a joke; he would scold that student in a very funny way. He would say "Step that," instead of "Stop that" and we would all burst into laughter.

He had reported us to the principal several times, but nothing has changed, so he just ignored anyone who tries to mimic his accent.

Eventually, the timekeeper rang the bell at exactly 3:30 pm to signify the end of school for the day. I had mixed feelings. Even though I was happy the lessons were over, I was not happy that I had to go back home again. Anywhere except that place would be cool, but I have no choice. I cleared my table slowly while Ade was waiting for me by the door.

"Akin, be fast. What are you doing since?"

"I'm coming. Just a minute."

Wasting time wouldn't change anything. We would all still go back to our various houses at the end of the day. I stuffed my remaining books into my bag, zipped it, and hung it on my shoulder. It was very heavy, but I was used to it.

Soon, Ade and I were on the road, trekking back home. I insisted we trekked so we could talk about the football competition even though that was clearly not on my mind at the moment.

"It would be good if you can find your way back into the team, you know."

"Yeah, of course. But it'll be a miracle if the coach picks me."

Ade paused and pointed at a path into a bush.

"Let's take a shortcut."

"Ade, let's continue on this path," I pointed at the road we were walking on. I didn't want us to take a shortcut at all.

"I have a game with some of my friends at five. I want to get home quick."

I opened my mouth to protest, but I couldn't. It was pointless, and we always took this path most times on Ade's insistence.

"Alright. Let's go."

We continued towards that path into the bush. It was quiet and lonely. It was only the two of us walking on the path. But it wasn't surprising. It was always like that. You could see one or two people, but that's all. People rarely used this route.

"So why did you say the coach wouldn't pick you?" Ade asked, and I totally forgot I said that.

"Well, because I have tak..." I stopped halfway and felt a sharp pain in my head. Then, all of a sudden, I heard voices of different people.

"We will bring...," a random voice called out and it broke off before I could make sense of what he or she was saying.

"Bami gbe kini..."

"Are you coming home....?"

It was like a thousand people shouting into my ears at the same time.

"Akin!," Ade's voice sounded distant, and the pain in my head increased. I fell on my knees holding my head trying to make it stop. But it didn't. I kept hearing more and more voices.

All of a sudden, there was a very loud scream. It sounded like that of a young girl in trouble. The moment I heard the scream, the pain in my head stopped immediately. I was confused and looked around but didn't see anyone or anything except Ade standing over me.

"Are you okay? What just happened to you?"

"I... I don't know," I stood up, trying to make sense of what just happened.

"Did you hear the voices? And the scream?"

"What scream? Akin, we're the only ones on this road. What's wrong?"

I didn't have an explanation for what just happened. It was painful but fast. Different voices and then a scream.

"Nothing."

"But you're sure everything's fine?"

"Yes. It's not

hing."

"It didn't look like nothing."

"Well, it was just a headache."

He didn't look convinced, but we continued walking anyway. I also knew it wasn't nothing. First, the nightmares, now this. Something wasn't right.