Adiya
The breeze was whooshing lightly, the leaves were protecting me from the October heating sun. Here was I, under the tree beside the laboratory room. It had been my favourite place in the school after the "welcome party". I'd never set my feet in canteen again and that was a month ago.
I'd not be seeing Mr I-love-you lately in school. The latest gossip going around stated that he had travelled to hook up or whatever. I was safe because none of the students attacked me except verbally abusing and that, I was grateful for.
This school was about how wealthy and connected your parents were; the class was subdivided into three sets.
The higher, the middle and the lower class.
The higher class mainly consisted of the Royals; the sole founder of this school like Zaid and his squad.
The middle class were those who their parents were rich and wealthy.
While the lower class are students on scholarship or discount but me, I was the lowest of all. The tramp or leftover.
I opened my lunch box to devour my breakfast peacefully when I felt a shadow hovering over me, blocking my sight. I looked up and caught the sight of the devil himself (Zaid). I was shocked because it was said he was coming back today.
Then what is he doing here, I thought.
Have I forgotten to inform you that Zaid was the next in line to the crown, then imagine a crown prince loving a pauper. Unheard.
Hilarious.
His hair was dishevelled and it didn't affect his handsomeness, "Adiya, please just accept me, I swear I will take good care of you" his crouched on his knees while his voice croaked out.
I sighed mentally, preparing for the worst while I shook my head "my answer is still the same" I responded timidly.
"You rejected me again!!!" He stood up abruptly as he yanked my flask from me and threw it on the floor.
Good, I would starve today, I cried internally. I knew my face would show my distress and pain as my stomach grumbled.
"Look at what you are eating garbage," he said with disgust, eyeing my food with repulsion, "if you've accepted me, I will make sure you live the rest of your life as a princess" he spatted at me while I flinched from the volume of his voice.
Did he swallow a speaker?, I wondered.
"I'll make you regret" he promised again and left me with an empty stomach.
No food today for me today again, I cried out.
~~~~~~
"Please, I'm searching for my necklace, I bought it last week for my birthday and it was the latest edition" the slay queen of our school; Becky said with tears brimming in her eyes.
I shook my head "too bad, the rich also steals", I couldn't believe it but I was feeling unsettledness in me but didn't know why.
The captain of our class said we should assemble all our backpack outside.
I stood at the corner as the class rep was searching our backpack one after the other, when it was my turn, I was the only student remaining on the ground. He yanked my bag from me which made me fall, he opened it and turned it upside down making all my books scattered on the floor.
Everywhere was silent if a pin was to drop, it was going to resonate. He raised his head and gave me a murderous glare which made me gulp.
What happened?, I'm not the one who steals it, I wondered.
"You fifthly pauper girl" he shouted. I was surprised, I looked around me, was he talking to me?.
"What are you looking at, you stole her necklace, because your wench parents couldn't provide it for you," he said, pointing an accusing finger to me.
I shook my head vigorously "I didn't" I stated.
"Was it your parents that sent you because they are too poor to feed you?" he asked mockingly while the students laughed at me.
I knelt down, with tears pouring out from my eye ducts, I was humiliated.
I didn't know anything about it!
I was innocent.
I wanted to say but all I could do was to cry.
I raised my head to looked at my classmates, maybe I could see a person defend me but all I could see was hatred, disgust and rejection...
My eyes wandered off to Zaid who stood five feet away with his arm folded on his chest, he had that evil smirk on and he mouthed "I told you, you will regret it".
It was setup
It was his doing
"Adiya the kleptomania
Ole*
Olojukokoro*
Omo o jeru e ri*
Ebina*
Barawo*
"She is a thief, it is clearly written in on her face. What are we going to do with her" a random girl with a face of paint said from the back.
Becky came to me with her crew and slapped me hard on my cheek which made me taste a metallic substance."I thought you would be different, but all you lower trash would always be garbage. You are a disgrace to this school. You must be expelled" she yelled, "and be imprison".
"I don't know anything. I swear I'm not the one "I shook my head with tears brimming out from my eyes while they didn't believe me.
I was still shaking with emotions when I felt that I was been lift up from the ground I kneeled. I was shocked, why carrying me, I thought as I began to squirm from their hold before I was thrown inside the garbage disposal.
"That where you belong to, " the students said while throwing stones at me.
Kleptomania
Die
Die
Leave
Thief
The students' chorus.
That was all that I heard before my senses gave out not before seeing a concern emotion flashed through Zaid eyes. Maybe I was hallucinating.
********
Translations
Ole=thief
Olo jukokoro =glutton
Ebina (Igbo)= thief
Barawo = thief
*****