Bee wakes up to the usual sound of her alarm clock. It was 6 am on the dot. Lazily, she got up from bed and walked to where the mirror was hanging on the wall above her study table.
She stared at herself in the mirror. Her large eyes were slightly swollen and she has dark dark circles under her eyes. She didn't get a wink of sleep last night not until 5 am this morning.
She hissed when she saw that the bruises from the fight she had with Karen at the dinner night were still visible on her face.
Both the corner of her mouth and the edge of her eyes were bruised. The bruises were more visible on her elbows, palms, and thighs. She stood in front of the mirror contemplating if she should skip school today and report in sick or not, then she heard a knock on the door.
" Sister Bee, mummy is home," Ben spoke from the other side of the door with excitement. Betty hasn't come home since she left on Saturday morning.
She called Bee on the phone yesterday morning that she won't be returning home that day as expected. She told Bee that there is a lot of patients in the hospital and the other two nurses were on leave so she have to stay back and help.
Bee's heart missed a beat upon hearing what Ben said. How will she hide these bruises from her mother? She was happy when Betty called and told her that she would be working extra hours and wouldn't be home till this morning. She thought before today, the bruises would have disappeared after she applied the ointment prescribed to her by the pharmacist.
If her mom sees the bruises on her body, she will ask her what happened and if she tells her the truth, there will be trouble.
Knowing her mom to be the no-nonsense kind, she will not hesitate to go to the school and create a scene. The last time her mom did a thing like that, was when she was still in Girl's college, she remembered how her mom attacked the teacher who had whipped her, tossing him around and landing punches on his face. He was admitted for a week in the hospital.
Bee rolled her eyes at the thought of what her mother will do to Karen and her friends. She doesn't want trouble. She wants to handle the situation by herself.
If her mom should find out what happened at the dinner night, she would not only create a scene but will make sure she hurts Karen and possibly change her school. And changing schools was the last thing on her mind.
" Um, Benny, is mummy in her room?"
" Yes, she is. She asked me to call you. She wants to have a word with you." Ben replied in his tiny voice.
" Hum...tell her I will be in her room shortly."
" Okay," Ben said and ran off. Bee always complains about him running and jumping around in the house. It was as if he had forgotten how to walk.
" You can't blame him, that was how you were at his age. He took after you" Betty always relied on him whenever Bee complained about Ben to her. Bee eventually got tired of complaining to her mother. She had no other choice but to accept things as they are.
Bee let out a sigh and walked into the bathroom. She took her bath, brush her teeth, put on her uniform, and tidy up her room slowly hoping that her mother would get tired of waiting for her and fall asleep.
After she was ready, she looks at the clock and it was 7:20 am. With her bag in hand, she took a deep breath, tiptoed to the door, and opened it gently so as not to make its usual cracking sound. She closed the door gently behind her and then tiptoed down the stairs she was halfway through the living room when her mom called her name.
" Bee, sweetie, won't you have breakfast?"
Bee stiffen. She thought her mom was in her room, at least that was what Ben said. She stood there, rooted to a spot. She clenched her fist and said,
" Mum, Ben said you wanted to have a word with me. But can we do that after school? And I won't have breakfast today, I don't feel like eating now and I've already packed some snacks so you don't have to worry about packing some breakfast for me." She said everything quickly and hurriedly walk out of the house before her mom could say a word.
Outside, a cab was waiting for her. She had booked a few minutes ago on her phone. She got in and ask the driver to start driving immediately, she didn't want her mom to come out and start asking her why she booked a cab knowing fully well that she can take her to school.
Betty thought that Samuel was the one picking her up if she had known that it was a cab, she won't allow Bee to go to school in it.
Speaking of Sam, she hasn't spoken to him for two days now. After dinner night, she switched off her phone. She didn't want to talk to anyone. She didn't even go to church yesterday which was unlike her.
Her next-door neighbor, Mrs. Williams, was the person her mother called after trying to reach her several times on the phone. Betty pleaded with her to give Bee her phone so she could talk to her. When Betty asked Bee why she haven't been taking her calls, she lied that her phone was faulty.
After she hung up, she felt bad for lying to her mum. It was the first time she have done something like that. She could lie to anyone except her mother. She tells her everything.
As they drove to school, Bee decided to switch on her phone. Immediately she did, several notifications popped up on the screen including messages and missed calls for her mum, Sam, her teenage pastor, and Julian. Most of the missed calls and messages were from Julian.
She scrolls through her messages and clicks on one of the many messages sent to her by Julian.
" I'm sorry Bee. I apologize for Karen's behavior. I promise you, she didn't know what she was doing."
" Of course, she doesn't," Bee said sarcastically. She sighed and click on another message, this time it was from Samuel.
" Hey Bee, what's going on? I've been trying to reach you. Please call me when you get my message." Bee felt bad, she knew Samuel must have been worried sick about her.
She wanted to dial his number when her phone started ringing. The name Susan, with a love emoji displayed on her screen.
Bee was surprised that Susan was calling her. After Susan left to live with her Aunt in Abuja, she rarely called and replied to her text messages.
Bee stared at the screen for a while before she answered.
" Baby girl, I've been trying to reach you for the past...My goodness! I was worried sick, what happened?"
Bee raised the corner of her mouth. I should be the one asking her that question. What happened and why hasn't she been calling me and replying to my texts? Bee thought before she replied.
" My phone was faulty." She said flatly.
There was silence for a while before Susan broke the ice.
" I know you're angry with me. I clearly understand why and I don't blame you for it. Bee, I have been..."
" Can we talk later? I'm close to the school gate" She cuts in, and hung up."
Bee rolled her eyes and sighed.
She was not in the mood for any kind of chitchat. She put back her phone in her bag, fold her hands on her chest, and leaned back resting her back on the seat.
From her house to school is a twenty-minute drive. But today it seems as if they have been driving for hours. Not long after, they arrived at the school junction.
She stepped down from the back seat, carried her bag, and slammed the door behind her. She slammed it so hard that the cab man yelled at her. Asking her if she wants to destroy his car.
Bee glanced at him and then turned towards the school gate without apologizing. That was unlike her not to apologize when she offended others.
The cab man stared after her in disbelief as she went. He shrugged his shoulders and said,
" Na wa for children of nowadays, single respect they don't have. She couldn't even say sorry. I don't blame you. It is not your fault. All these big men children behave like they own the world. Na wa o!" He signed and then drove off.
Before Bee entered the school premises, she opened her bag and fished out a pair of dark sunglasses and a pink hat. Today unlike before she wore makeup and red lip balm to hide the bruises on her face. The last thing she wants is for people to start asking her questions that she is not ready to answer.
As she entered the school premises, the gateman greeted her politely expecting Bee to reciprocate like she always did. But she just glanced at him and walked away without a word.
The old man stared after her in shock. She was among the few that greeted him and showed him kindness. He has grown fond of her and even calls her 'my pikin' (meaning my child.)
During the morning assembly, Bee sat in the back seat to avoid being spotted by any teacher. She soberly participated in the praises and prayers section and every other thing they did later on.
Ten minutes later the assembly was over. The morning assembly usually takes up to thirty minutes but to Bee, it felt like an hour. Why is everything today taking time? She thought.
As usual, students crowded into the school corridors and hallway chatting about their weekend and exchanging pleasantries.
Bee hurriedly walks to her locker to get her chemistry textbook for the first lesson of the day. She wasn't looking and bumped into Sam.
" Ouch!"
" Excuse me," Bee said as she adjust the hat and sunglasses that were about to fall off.
" Bee?!" Sam called surprised.
"What happened? I've been trying to reach you for a while now. I was worried. I thought of dropping by your house later today if you didn't show up in school today."
" I am sorry Sam..."
Sam noticed that Bee is wearing a hat and sunglasses when it isn't sunny outside. He cuts in.
" Why are you wearing a hat and sunglasses inside the school? You should take them off before a teacher catches you and ask you to wash the toilet as a punishment for breaking the law."
" Sam, can we talk later?" She didn't even wait for Sam's response before she leave for her class.
Sam stared after her confused. Why is she acting strange? He thought and shrugged.
*
After the first lesson, Julian went to the restroom. On his way, he saw Karen walking up to him smiling as she comes.
Julian decided to ignore her and just walk past her. But Karen hasten her footsteps and caught up with him.
" Are you ignoring me now?" She said and made a puppy face.
" I don't have time for this. Please excuse me!" Julian said firmly not desiring her pretense.
He pushed her aside and continue to walk in direction of the restroom. Karen staggered due to the push.
She was shocked to see Julian's reaction. The Julian she knows will not do such a thing to her. He worshipped the ground she walks.
" Don't tell me you're angry with me because of that insect!" Karen's voice came from behind.
Slowly Julian turned to look at her. He scowl and said,
" She has a name...Bee"
Karen could swear that she saw spackles in Julian's eyes when he called Bee's name.
Could my suspicion be right? Is Julian in love with Bee? Nah...he can't stoop so low. I am certain he is only doing this to make me jealous. Karen thought. She bit her lower lip with her head down she seems to be thinking about something.
Slowly she began to raise her head. Julian watches her closely.
" I'm sorry Julian. I didn't know what came over me the last time. Please forgive me and let us get back together." She said with tears in her eyes.
Julian was shocked. He felt the urge to walk closer to her and wipe her tears but he resisted the urge.
He knows Karen is a drama queen. She is pretty good at acting. This might just be one of her tricks to get him to change his mind and run back into her arms like a puppy.
He would have done that but not after what Karen did to Bee. He has known Karen for a long time, and he knows she is a mean person and a bully but after he saw what Karen and her friends did to Bee he started having doubt about getting back with Karen.
" Karen, you and I are done. You were the one who ended the relationship in the first place. You were the one who ignored me for a month. You told me that we were only having fun with each other nothing more."
Karen was beginning to get irritated. Who does Julian think he is? He should thank his stars that she is even begging him.
In normal circumstances, she wouldn't care less about Julian and who he chose to date. But after she saw him with Bee, she felt like a loser. She wouldn't care if it was any other girl but it wasn't, it had to be Bee of all people, her rival.
She felt disappointed when she saw Julian turn towards the restroom area. She bit her lower lip and clenched her fist in rage.
She couldn't understand why Julian is so adamant. She even force herself to shed fake tears but yet he dared to walk out on her.
"Urgh! I won't be defeated by that insect" She muttered angrily.
Karen walked faster to catch up with Julian. And when she did, she grab his wrist, and Julian stopped.
He turned to look at her, he was about to say something when Karen pressed her lips on his.
Julian didn't hesitate before he pushed her back and Karen staggered.
" What the f**k is wrong with you?!" Karen snapped. She couldn't pretend to be the innocent girl anymore. She rushed forward and push Julian.
" Karen listens, we're done. You're Jack's girlfriend and he is my best friend. what we were doing was wrong..."
Before Julian could complete the last sentence, Karen interrupted him with a crazy laugh, causing a confused look to spread across his face.
" What's funny?"
" You of course. You talk as if you didn't know that Jack and I were together before you approached me and said we should be secret lovers." Karen shook her head.
" Don't be dramatic, Julian. Jack will never find out. He didn't find out then neither will he find out now" Karen smiled wickedly as she walked closer to Julian till she was only an inch away from him.
Slowly and romantically she trails her index finger from his belly button up to his hard chest. Julian swallowed in. He could feel his blood pressure raising.
" Ka... Karen...we should not..." He stammered.
Karen moved her finger to his lips and press a little hard on it.
She leaned forward and whisper into his ear,
" Shhh! Don't worry, no one will find out" And with that, Julian lost control of himself, he pulled Karen into an empty bathroom and slammed the door close.
A little head peeped from behind a pillar. She had not only been watching them but also making a video of everything they said and did.
The small figure came out from where she was hiding, behind a pillar. She rolled her large eyes, clenched her fist tightly, and chuckled wickedly.
" This is going to be interesting." She muttered. She glanced one more time at the bathroom door before she left.
*
During the lunch break, Bee sat at her usual spot-a picnic table under a walnut tree. She sat there staring blankly into space.
Sam sighted her from a distance, he walked up to her and sat opposite her. He was surprised that Bee didn't notice his presence. She just sat down straight staring blankly at a tree in front of her.
I wonder what she is thinking about. Sam thought and frowned. He leaned forward and snapped his fingers in front of her face, interrupting her thoughts, and bringing her back to reality.
" Oh... Sam" She jerked slightly.
" What are you thinking about?" Sam asked a little worried. He hasn't seen Bee like this before. Bee didn't say a word, she only nodded.
He wondered what was the matter with her and why is she acting strange. He was still pondering his thought when he noticed the bruises on the edge of her mouth and eyes and also the dark circles under her eyes. Bee had taken off the hat and sunglasses earlier after she saw that she was alone.
" Bee, what happened to your face?" Sam asked tentatively. He tried to touch the bruised parts on her face but Bee leaned backward.
" Don't worry Sam, it's nothing serious" She replied and stood up.
Sam stood up abruptly and said,
" What happened at the dinner Bee? Did Karen hurt you or was it, Julian? That Jerk, I will deal with him..."
" I don't need your help or help from anybody, I can handle my issues," Bee said with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
She was about to leave when something fell from her bag, it was a flash drive. Sam bend over to help her pick it up but Bee rushed to pick it up first.
" Why do you have a flash drive?" Sam asked.
" It is none of your business" Bee replied coldly. With that, she walked off. Sam stood there staring after her with a mixed expression on his face.
*
In a Corner, a girl brings out a flash drive and gave it to a boy.
" I believe you already know what to do with it." The boy took the drive from her hand and nodded.
" When will I get my balance?" The boy asked.
" You will, once the job is done" The girl replied and they both shook hands before the boy jog off.
" Tomorrow, tomorrow, and the entire school will see you for who you are Karen. It is time to pay you back for all the pain you cost me." The girl chuckled wickedly.