chapter 4

The echoes. 

They kept going on and on in my head.

I turned around to find out who the voice belonged to. It was the stupid Headboy of Daylight academy —Timilehin.

I rolled my eyes at him, not bothering to pay him any attention.

"Hey, you've gone back to ignoring me." A stupid grin crosses his face as he bent a little to look me straight in the eye, making me wonder what was funny.

He's so tall.

"I never acknowledged you in the first place," I  focused my gaze back on the view ahead.

Not that the ' view ahead' had anything interesting to focus on. The sun was just coming out and it was almost reflecting on my eyes, but I  just wasn't  interested in looking at the bozo's smug look.

"Like always, you hurt my feelings. but aren't you happy to see me? We were gone for quite sometime," he crossed his legs, placing a hand on his hips to support himself.

"And what would the purpose of missing you be? You think a whole me will miss the likes of you eh?" I shot back at him with a deadpan, not failing to roll my eyes again.

"You've got to be kidding me." His expression wasn't so rosy anymore when he said that. I smiled.

"Please, just give to me my punishment and let me go."

Timilehin adjusted his tie and looked at me intensely...it was so intent I didn't have the nerve to maintain eye contact, that I had to look away. 

"Temiloluwa." 

There was no doubt that he had taken voice lessons during the holiday, the timbre of his voice when he said my name was so...

 Focus Temi! Focus!

"Fine you don't have any punishment for now. I would come give you later."

"Okay." I croaked, slightly flustered, "I'll just leave your lazy ass here, bye."

I was about to hurry away like I was being pursued by wild animals, when he suddenly held on to my hand and pulled me to him. Before I knew what was happening, his lips moved closer to my ears and licked on it after whispering words that sounded like 'you're beautiful'.

I went numb in shock, surprised he had the guts.

At first, my heart stopped beating for a few seconds, then resumed with double its former speed.

 Timilehin did not just compliment me, more-so why is my heart beating like I just ran a marathon?

The school's head boy, tall, dark and handsome guy, intelligent captain of the school's football team, Playboy and ladies' guy didn't just compliment a bland, plain nobody, aka me.

He was long gone by the time the bells for first period rung out to bring me back to my senses. I scurried away to my class with warm cheeks.

*

Sarah, the closest person to me in the whole senior level, waved me over to a vacant seat besides her when I walked into the class. A teacher was thankfully not present yet.

"Hey boo boo. How was your holidays?" she questioned a sly grin embedded on her oval shaped face.

Eventful as usual. But I wouldn't tell her that now, would I? 

"It was good. I just hung out here and there. What are we having now?" I asked her. 

"I think it's Religious studies but that's by the way. Have you see Timilehin today? He looks more handsome. I couldn't help but drool after him when I saw him this morning. He's so—"

Rolling my eyes in irritation, I interrupted her, "You call that fine? Girl, you need to check your eyes, You call that guy with a big head handsome?"

"Keep saying that, you love him as much as I do, if not more," she replied me with a knowing smirk.

Really? Love? I sure as hell this girl is on crack this morning.

I was about giving her a fitting reply when Mr. Odeh, the religious studies' teacher waddled himself into the classroom, books and markers on his hands. And  that put an end to our conversation. 

I Focused on bringing out my book and other writing materials when—

You're beautiful.

Was that my imagination or what?

Oh God, no!

I had no idea where that thought came from but there was something I'd been wrong about:

This term, unlike the former was going to be an interesting one.

..

"And that was how God called Samuel and his first message was the destruction of his master, Eli, and his sons..." 

Mr. Odeh's deep voice trailed off gradually as my thoughts travelled from 'The biblical calling of Samuel', which was our lesson for the day, to the sight of my food flask beckoning to me with a halo and an ' awwww ' being chorused in angelic voices. 

Yes. Hunger did stuffs like that do me. 

 But it isn't even short break yet.

You could go ahead to sneak a few bites. Since that's the only thing you are good at.

It was the echoes again.

 Sigh.

"Temi... earth to Temi!" I flinched when two slender fingers of my annoying friend suddenly snapped very close to my face.

 My mind had wandered off  unconsciously again.

"What were you thinking about? The bell has already been rung for break. Don't you want to anything from any of the vendors or something?"  The knowing smirk playing at Sarah's lips made me glare at her.

"You go ahead, I'll be there in a bit," I said with a fake smile on and nodded towards the doorway of the already empty class. 

She raised her brow questioningly but complied. After a few seconds, I was alone in the empty class.

I took in deep breaths for a few seconds before I began to arrange up my stuff into the empty space of my new locker. 

My heart skipped a beat when I noticed a white envelope peeking out of my biology textbook. I didn't remember putting that there.

Even though I knew about the saying 'curiosity kills the cat', I couldn't help my inquisitiveness.

 Why won't they stop? Why continue?

Almost all the time, these voices, echoes, whatever they were.They came at intervals, draining out my emotions and leaving me bare. Despite the fact that I sometimes took solace in them, I just wished it

"Temiloluwa! You have started again haven't you ? If I come and meet you there, you will hate yourself..." The voice of my mother snapped me out of my reverie.

I groaned in displeasure and let out a low-key hiss.

My mum was to drop me off at school before going on to her office and because she was intolerant of tardiness, her annoying yells rings out every two minutes.

In moments like the current one, I couldn't help but dislike her attitude.

Not that I don't love her so much, but really, she's annoying. 

It wasn't like she couldn't be sweet if she wanted to, she just preferred to annoy the hell out of my life every time and it didn't help that I had no one to share the receipt of her annoying tendencies with.

"Temiloluwa! Aren't you going to school?!" Mum yelled again, the pitch higher than normal this time. I knew I was in trouble.

"I'm almost done ma!" I exclaimed back, quickly gathering  the remaining books loitering my desk and shoved them into my backpack in a haste before zipping it close and shrugging it on.

I left the room in a mess, cleaning up would have to wait till I got back from school. I'd wasted too much time processing random thoughts already.

Mum was fuming by the time I walked down the stairs. I could literally see the steam blowing out of her flaring nose and scarlet-coloured ears.

I sensed trouble.

"Just know that there's no breakfast for you, you hear? Do you know what then time is?!"

In a bid to avoid answering her question, I peered at the slim leather watch strapped to my wrist. 

It read 7:01 am. 

Which wasn't late at all. Morning assembly didn't start until eight and the school was just twenty minutes drive away.

"Mum is just seven—"

" Gbenu ee soun, before I sound you. Do you know how hectic Monday traffic is?" Mum snapped before I could finish whatever I was going to say. 

I  mentally added ' hectic traffic ' to my bucket list of reasons why I hated Mondays.

The complexion of her face hadn't improved, her normally pale skin maintained the deep shade of red that announced the level of anger she was displaying. It was safe to say that she was near level two.

Level two meant: don't say another word that is not an apology. 

"I'm really sorry mum, it won't happen again." I murmured meekly. Looking down at my feet and sucking in the lower part of my trembling lips.

"Oya! let's go Jo, ode!" My mum finally said after she gave me a look all mothers had. And just like that, I knew I was forgiven.

I grinned inwardly and sighed in relief. Her anger didn't advance to level one or there would have been hell to pay for it.

*

No one on earth could beat my special loathe for 'School'.

I called it the devil's incarnate,hell on earth, death by fire, mental abuse to humans and so on.

Even all those words couldn't express how much I abhorred school and I had the feeling that this new session wouldn't be any better that the last. Just books, books and even more boring books.

 Sigh .

"Aunty, oya get down from my car kia kia!," My mum snapped, interrupting my thoughts once again. 

Mummy and the weird names she calls me. 

"Bye mummy, I love you." I gave her a big smile. 

Her frosty expression gradually dissolved into a warm smile. Well it was no longer cold like before, but I think she was trying to put up a front. 

"I love you too baby. Take care of yourself and don't cause trouble." 

My grin widened when she brought out my food flask from her bag and handed it to me with a feigned expression of indifference.  I closed my hand around her in a hug and pecked her cheek.

I love anything related to food. 

"You better don't get us killed," she grumbled but I knew it was just a front, "now off you go! You've delayed me enough. Be good okay?"

"Okay mum," I replied cheekily as I climbed out of her her Black Lexus jeep.

By the time I was done waving her off and trekking the short distance to the school's gate, the final morning bell that indicated the end of assembly had been rung. I was late.

 OoGod! Not todayoooooh!

"Our customers, late comers just come and line up, and receive your punishments."

 Oh. No!

If the 'punishments' included strenuous activities like weeding the school garden or even as little as kneeling down, my uniform which I'd ironed with so much care and attention will get rough and The echoes. 

They kept going on and on in my head.

 Why won't they stop? Why continue?

Almost all the time, these voices, echoes, whatever they were.They came at intervals, draining out my emotions and leaving me bare. Despite the fact that I sometimes took solace in them, I just wished it

"Temiloluwa! You have started again haven't you ? If I come and meet you there, you will hate yourself..." The voice of my mother snapped me out of my reverie.

I groaned in displeasure and let out a low-key hiss.

My mum was to drop me off at school before going on to her office and because she was intolerant of tardiness, her annoying yells rings out every two minutes.

In moments like the current one, I couldn't help but dislike her attitude.

Not that I don't love her so much, but really, she's annoying. 

It wasn't like she couldn't be sweet if she wanted to, she just preferred to annoy the hell out of my life every time and it didn't help that I had no one to share the receipt of her annoying tendencies with.

"Temiloluwa! Aren't you going to school?!" Mum yelled again, the pitch higher than normal this time. I knew I was in trouble.

"I'm almost done ma!" I exclaimed back, quickly gathering  the remaining books loitering my desk and shoved them into my backpack in a haste before zipping it close and shrugging it on.

I left the room in a mess, cleaning up would have to wait till I got back from school. I'd wasted too much time processing random thoughts already.

Mum was fuming by the time I walked down the stairs. I could literally see the steam blowing out of her flaring nose and scarlet-coloured ears.

I sensed trouble.

"Just know that there's no breakfast for you, you hear? Do you know what then time is?!"

In a bid to avoid answering her question, I peered at the slim leather watch strapped to my wrist. 

It read 7:01 am. 

Which wasn't late at all. Morning assembly didn't start until eight and the school was just twenty minutes drive away.

"Mum is just seven—"

" Gbenu ee soun, before I sound you. Do you know how hectic Monday traffic is?" Mum snapped before I could finish whatever I was going to say. 

I  mentally added ' hectic traffic ' to my bucket list of reasons why I hated Mondays.

The complexion of her face hadn't improved, her normally pale skin maintained the deep shade of red that announced the level of anger she was displaying. It was safe to say that she was near level two.

Level two meant: don't say another word that is not an apology. 

"I'm really sorry mum, it won't happen again." I murmured meekly. Looking down at my feet and sucking in the lower part of my trembling lips.

"Oya! let's go Jo, ode!" My mum finally said after she gave me a look all mothers had. And just like that, I knew I was forgiven.

I grinned inwardly and sighed in relief. Her anger didn't advance to level one or there would have been hell to pay for it.

*

No one on earth could beat my special loathe for 'School'.

I called it the devil's incarnate,hell on earth, death by fire, mental abuse to humans and so on.

Even all those words couldn't express how much I abhorred school and I had the feeling that this new session wouldn't be any better that the last. Just books, books and even more boring books.

 Sigh .

"Aunty, oya get down from my car kia kia!," My mum snapped, interrupting my thoughts once again. 

Mummy and the weird names she calls me. 

"Bye mummy, I love you." I gave her a big smile. 

Her frosty expression gradually dissolved into a warm smile. Well it was no longer cold like before, but I think she was trying to put up a front. 

"I love you too baby. Take care of yourself and don't cause trouble." 

My grin widened when she brought out my food flask from her bag and handed it to me with a feigned expression of indifference.  I closed my hand around her in a hug and pecked her cheek.

I love anything related to food. 

"You better don't get us killed," she grumbled but I knew it was just a front, "now off you go! You've delayed me enough. Be good okay?"

"Okay mum," I replied cheekily as I climbed out of her her Black Lexus jeep.

By the time I was done waving her off and trekking the short distance to the school's gate, the final morning bell that indicated the end of assembly had been rung. I was late.

 OoGod! Not todayoooooh!

"Our customers, late comers just come and line up, and receive your punishments."

 Oh. No!

If the 'punishments' included strenuous activities like weeding the school garden or even as little as kneeling down, my uniform which I'd ironed with so much care and attention will get rough and dirty.

 My life does suck a lot. 

Doesn't it really?  I heard an illusion of a voice, whisper into the depths of my hear. A menacing voice only I could hear. The Echoes always waiting for any opportunity to lash out at me.

I was still thinking about how the garden dirt that would mar the lemon colour of my school shirt, how my blazer would get soaked and how all the intricate designs I'd ironed into the navy blue flared skirt will clear out and don't even get me started on the gore my poor grey socks and shiny black shoes will go through when a deep voice sounded out of nowhere.  

"Oh! Look who came late. Love of my fucking life."

Love of his what?!

What the hell is he saying?

I turned around to find out who the voice belonged to. It was the stupid Headboy of Daylight academy —Timilehin.

 My life does suck a lot. 

Doesn't it really?  I heard an illusion of a voice, whisper into the depths of my hear. A menacing voice only I could hear. The Echoes always waiting for any opportunity to lash out at me.

I was still thinking about how the garden dirt that would mar the lemon colour of my school shirt, how my blazer would get soaked and how all the intricate designs I'd ironed into the navy blue flared skirt will clear out and don't even get me started on the gore my poor grey socks and shiny black shoes will go through when a deep voice sounded out of nowhere.  

"Oh! Look who came late. Love of my fucking life."

Love of his what?!

What the hell is he saying?

I turned around to find out who the voice belonged to. It was the stupid Headboy of Daylight academy —Timilehin.