It was closing time and Angela along with Mary were at the toilet waiting for the cleaners to instruct them on what to do.
They have been leaning against the wall facing each other with blank looks on their faces.
Angela was lost in thought thinking of ways to approach Mary about her recent discovery while Mary was studying her expressions waiting for her to make the first move.
After her fight with Angela in the hallway she felt bad. She felt she said too many hurtful words and that's a first for her since she never felt remorse for insulting or putting someone in their place.
Maybe it's because she felt Angela didn't do it but then again if she didn't do it why did she over react?
Overreaction is the first sign of guilt right?
She didn't know what to think or believe.
She sighed inwardly as she stared at Angela who was now fiddling with her hands and sucking her lips.
Something she did when she was nervous or irritated.
Mary tapped her feet in annoyance as they waited for the cleaners to show up.
Five minutes later two middle ages women showed up both wearing long Ankara gowns.
"I see you're already here" one of the women said as she eyed the two girls.
Mary rolled her eyes and nearly scoffed
'you're seeing us and you are still asking... We are still on the way' she thought
Angela gave the woman a smile "Yes ma" she answered
"That's good...you'll both be washing the male toilet since it's the cleanest and after you're done I'll inspect it and only when I think it's clean will you be allowed to leave" the first woman instructed while the other just stared at them.
Mary and Angela stared at her with their mouth open.
"Kilode tefi fun won ni ise ti ko le?
Eje ki won fo toileti awon okunrin ati tobinrin kawa le sinmi...
Atleast kawa na enjoy diee." the other woman whispered to her partner with a smirk on her lips.
(Why are you giving them such an easy job? Let them wash both the male and female toilet while we rest...it's a once in a lifetime opportunity)
"That's true we should seize this opportunity" the other laughed.
"Close your mouths before you catch flies and instead of washing just the male toilet you'll wash both that and the female toilet" She said in a gruff voice and walked to the corridor to take a seat.
Mary glared at the women as Angela stared at them with distain shinning in her eyes.
Both girls were angry and irritated.
"What are you looking at? Come on get to work!" the woman screamed
Both girls angrily walked to the Janitors closet that's right beside the toilet to get cleaning supplies.
They both grumbled under their breathes cursing the women and Mr. Ben for giving them such a hard punishment.
'Couldn't he have asked us to be incharge of sweeping our class for the whole week' Mary though with a deep scowl on her face.
"What nonsense!" Angela exclaimed as she picked up a broom and bucket.
"Can you imagine these women?..Do we look like their servants?!" Mary screamed in annoyance as she kicked the door.
"What's that commotion about? I Hope you are not destroying the room ooo?" One of the women screamed.
Mary and Angela hissed as they angrily stomped out of the room.
They got to the toilet and Mary just stood with folded hands as Angela poured the detergent and izal to two buckets before turning on the tap.
"Stop glaring at the wall and start working so we can leave here on time" Angela said
"Whatever" Mary scoffed and joined her
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"That was disgusting" Mary wrinkled her nose as though she was back in the toilet.
"Tell me about it" Angela muttered
"How can something so clean be that disgusting!" Mary exclaimed and Angela bursted into laughter shaking her head
"Boys are dirty" Angela said
"More than dirty, have you seen their toilet? How hard can it be to push the flush button after using the toilet?" Mary yelled
Angela laughed as she listened to Mary's rant knowing It was the truth. After washing the girls bathroom they thought it was the worst since that's what the cleaners told them but after walking into hell, which was the boys toilet they knew nothing can be as dirty, smelly and disgusting as that.
Mary kept complaining as Angela just laughed and chipped in a word or two from time to time. As they talked they completely forgot about the fight and ill feeling they had towards one another.
They spoke as though nothing happened that morning or the previous day.
They got to the gate where their drivers were waiting for them and got into their respectives cars but not before waving Good bye to the other.
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It's been a week since the fight and the girls serving punishments and nothing much has happened in the school.
Maybe it was because the king was not around or because Diane has decided to stay away from Mary and Angela for the time being.
Even Kayode had stopped disturbing Angela apart from the occasional winks when they locked eyes.
The girls have been talking but it's mostly greetings and complains when they are doing their punishments.
Angela has been feeling guilty for not revealing the truth to Mary and planned on doing it soon but she doubted if the blame would not come back to her since she unknowingly told Diane about the video and left it at her disposable.
She sighed as she stared at the Waec Past questions and answer before her.
She took a deep breath to prepare her mind and tapped Mary's shoulder.
"I have something I need to tell you" She whispered as Mary arched her brows in question
"What is it" Mary asked
"Not here, let's meet in the toilet" Angela replied and walked up to the teacher. She asked for permission to use the toilet and was allowed.
Five minutes later Mary did the same and walked to the toilet.
She opened the door and saw Angela checking the stalls.
"Close the door" Angela said as she closed the last door.
Mary gave her a confused look but did as she was told. "What did you want to tell me?" She asked in a bored tone
"It's about the video..." Angela started but Mary immediately cut her off.
"I don't want to talk about it Angela, if you called me here just to cook up a story then I'm not interested" Mary scoffed
"If only you will let me finish before coming to a conclusion!" Angela said in an offended tone
"What's there to tell when the truth is staring right back at me?" Mary asked with an eyeroll
"That there is why we argued the other day! You claim to be my friend and yet you don't know me, you don't know what I'm capable of and what I'm not! The only reason why I refuse to answer you that day was because you accused me without thinking" Angela yelled with anger burning in her eyes.
Mary stared at her with emotionless eyes. She didn't know what to say or feel about what Angela said.
"That video was released by Diane and not me" Angela said a little calmer
"How?" Mary asked surprised
"I came to wash my face the other day and decided to take pictures on your phone. I was picking the ones I liked when I came across the video and made a disgusted comment about it unknown to me that Diane was listening, when I dropped the phone to go get tissue paper in one of the stalls. She quickly took your phone before the screen blacked out and sent the video" Angela quickly explained.
She took a deep breath and continued. "I know you'll still think it's my fault and I do too but it wasn't intentional, Diane knows how to take advantage of every opportunity she sees to ruin things and that's what she did. I'm sorry" Angela said with sadness written all over her face.
She felt her heart beating loudly in her chest and she was sure that she heard it too. She was scared of loosing her friend and at the same time felt free.
She had done her part and it was now up to Mary.