I stood at the school gate, taking simultaneous glances at my wrist watch,7:34am. Omotoni was late. Toni was my best friend since Jss 3. She was this thin bony girl when she resumed at Barcliff Academy, and the bullies seeing that they had a prey were eager to pounce on her. I had to just not mind my business.
As time went on, I later got to discover that my best friend was anorexic. Before she became that thin, she was very big and fat. She was bullied and made jest of, and instead of taking the right way. She decided not to eat again. Taking in food when only necessary and then purging it right back. It was sickening, I had tried to convince her several times to go for therapy. That she wasn't fat in anyway, but Toni wasn't convinced. She continued to starve herself till now and became more thinner as the days went by. I didn't think eating disorders were a thing until Toni proved it to me.
"Hey!" Someone smacked my head from behind and I knew immediately the one and only person who could try such a thing.
"Toni!" I exclaimed, patting her back,"You came late."
"Yeah. Mummy cooked and then tried to force me to eat. I had to come up with some story." She answered, adjusting her bag strap. Honestly, the bag looked bigger than her and I couldn't help but wonder if she wasn't weighed down by it.
My face wore a sad look immediately," One of these days she'll notice. You have to tell her." I tried convincing her, it had never worked.
"Abegi," She dismissed me, walking into the school. Then muttering so silently that I had to strain my ears to hear her,"If she wanted to notice since, she would have."
Somehow Toni was convinced that her mum was the source of her problem. Toni's mum was plump, maybe big boned, and that was where Toni got her supposedly big stature from. Coupled with the fact that she was a single parent. Toni's mum was trying her best, that I knew, but I just wished she had more time for her daughter.
"You better walk fast, it's 7:40 already. Five minutes more and we'll be late." She called out to me, pulling my arms and walking fast.
"Like we were not late before." I murmured, grabbing my arms from hers and then walking like one that was on the runway.
Toni shook her head and then left me alone, muttering something along 'You have body for cane, I don't'. The bell rang just as I got to the class and dropped my bag. Ever so slowly, I browsed through my bag for my hymn book. By the time I had gotten my hymn book, assembly had started.
Oh well!
•°•°•°•°•
The bell rang out loud jerking me from my semi conscious state. Without thinking I yawned and spoke out loud,"Hallelujah oh."
This for some weird reason brought laughters to my class mates lips. I raised my head and I soon knew why, the Mathematics teacher, the one I and Toni had so graciously nicknamed Elebi was standing arms akimbo glaring daggers at me.
He ambled towards my table, his gait was funny and then hit the drumstick on the table,"Teni is my class that boring that you shouted Hallelujah at the first ring of the bell?" He asked menacingly.
I considered ignoring him,but stood up gingerly,"No sir." I could not afford another suspension.
"I thought so too." He said slowly, his breath reeking of garlic. I regretted standing up to face him.
"I'm sorry sir." I apologized, though not exactly sure on the reason I was apologizing.
I mean the man was so boring, that the moment he walked to the class, I was sent into la-la land immediately. What made it worse was the dry jokes he kept sharing at intervals. His droning voice made it worse. Maths class was like an automatic sleeping pill for me.
"Sorry for yourself." He shuffled back to his position, while I rolled my eyes taking back my seat.
Minutes later, the actual bell rang and I sighed in relief but not loudly to avoid any episode. Typical of the Maths teacher, the man spent extra 5 minutes in the class explaining the gibberish he wrote on the board. He finally left when the grumbles of the class became unbearable. I rested my head on the table, since it was break. Neither Toni or me went for break, it was usually spent on our seats. Me sleeping, her busy reading one of her cheesy romantic novels.
However, noises made me raise my head. "She thinks because she is reading all these romance novels she would find someone that would like her. See lemme tell you something, nobody can like a bag of bones like you." I saw Nevaeh bullying Toni.
I guessed she hadn't learnt her lesson from the last time. Nevaeh's best friend, Tolulope was the one I had beaten to a pulp, the fight that became my Achilles heel. And here was Nevy, doing the exact thing I almost killed them for.
I sat watching, praying Toni would stand up for herself so she wouldn't need my help. The answer to my prayer was Toni's lips quivering trying to think of a better come back. Nevy pushed her, and since Toni wasn't one with weight she fell alongside her table and books. I knew I had to do something.
"Nevy stop!" I yelled from across the room. The reason I was seating that far away from my best friend was a mystery, even to me.
"Ooooh! See Mike Tyson," Nevaeh chuckled humorlessly,"If I was the one i'ld better keep quiet or else welcome to Military school!" She laughed mockingly, the class joining.
And yes, they all knew about the ultimatum daddy dearest gave me.
He practically yelled it on the assembly, in the presence of the whole school population.
I strolled leisurely towards her, rolling my sucker in my mouth. This girl was daring me. I helped Toni up gently, holding up her bags and school books and then rearranging the table. Just as I was about to place the last book in her bag, Nevy slapped all, both bag and books of my hand. I saw red!
I had had enough!
Tutu's frustrating at me and mummy being on my business every single time. I didn't know when my fist crash landed on her jaw. Before I knew what was happening, I had already been reported and the counsellor was by the class door fuming.
"Teniola! I have had enough of your trouble making and truancy in this school," I knew I was done for, but the counselor wasn't quite done berating me,"We culture and raise students, future leaders and not touts. To my office right now!"
"And you too." She said, referring to Nevaeh.
I gave a last glance at my best friend, giving her a sad smile.
I guess this was it.