CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: CLASS MATTERS
She chose Victoria to write names of students that made noise? That big girl really looks mean and scary
Victoria tore a piece of paper from her note book and scribbled a name down
"I swear, I think she put down your name" a student whispered to the big girl
"Victoria, show me your paper. Let me see something" the big girl said but Victoria ignored her
Morayo turned to see who called her and gave the big girl a glare
"I swear to G**, if it is that you wrote my name and the woman beats me for that. I will talk to you and talk to those seniors to send you an errand that you will hate the most" the big girl said
Victoria did not bother to look back or cancel any names she had already written down on her paper but instead, she wrote down another name
She turned back to see who makes noise and then writes down their name. She really is not showing the noise makers any mercy. Sometimes she will read her book and if she hears someone talk, she will turn to look at the person before writing down their names
I focused on reading and didn't bother to say a word because I don't even know if Victoria will write my name or not
John entered the class and sat beside me. Well, his normal space as usual
I turned to look at him and I could see mark of beating on his hand. Was he beaten? I am sure he was been beaten because of something he had done
"What are you looking at? Focus on your studies" he said to me, I gave him a signal to keep quiet
I looked towards Victoria and I saw she hasn't written his name, maybe because he doesn't know
She turned to face John and gave him a signal that she is writing noise maker
I looked away from him to not be the cause that Victoria wrote John's name
Moments later…
The female teacher, Mrs. Mustapha came into the class and requested for the noise maker list
"These are the names of students who were disturbing the class with their noise" Victoria said as she handed over the paper to Mrs. Mustapha
"Okay" Mrs. Mustapha said as she collected the paper from Victoria "If you hear your name, come outside" she said as she looked at the paper given to her by Victoria
"If she doesn't write that John name, it will be called favouritism" the girl beside the big girl said
"That girl beside Benita, come outside" Mrs. Mustapha said as soon as she noticed her talking
"Ma?" the girl asked as she put her hand on her chest referring to herself
"Yes, weren't you the one just talking while I am in the class with you?" Mrs. Mustapha said
The girl didn't say anything but walked outside
"If you hear your name come outside" the female teacher announced again "Benita" she called and the big girl came outside and gave Victoria a glare "Fatima" Mrs. Mustapha called and the girl that spoke earlier notified Mrs. Mustapha that she is already outside
"Shame on you, your name is on the noise maker list again Fatima" Mrs. Mustapha said looking at her before looking at the students in the class
"Haven't your seniors told you all that this school repeat students that scores lower than fifty percent in their report card?" she asked as she looked at everyone including the students she called outside "if you don't read and work hard, you will repeat" she advised before looking at the paper again
"Joshua" she called and a short boy came outside "Matthew" and so on she called until she looked at the students she called outside and nodded her head as if to say that she is ashamed of them "you guys are so lazy that you chose noise over reading. I just hope you guys don't repeat" she said before folding the paper
"But ma, Victoria didn't write John's name on the noise maker list" Fatima said
"What it is with you and John? Do you like him?" the teacher asked her and the whole class screamed, some laughed while screaming
I turned to look at John and saw the irritation expression he had on his face
"No ma, I am just saying that Victoria is doing favouritism. When John entered the class, he started to talk to his seat partner…"
"Aren't you hearing yourself? When John entered inside… You must not like John at all because of this your cruel behaviour towards him" Mrs. Mustapha said to Fatima "all of you that I called outside, go bring your book that you were reading. If you don't answer the questions correctly, you will cut grass" Mrs. Mustapha said as the students she called outside went to get their books and later on, followed Mrs. Mustapha outside of the classroom
"What happened to you that you came to class late?" I asked John since no one is writing noise maker
"What is it with you? Why will you be asking me that kind of question?" he asked as he turned to look at me with an irritation expression shown on his face
"I asked because of the marks on your hand" I answered him showing him the obvious marks
He looked at the marks on his hand before looking at me "it is none of your business" he answered before he turned to look into his bag for something
"Sorry to put my mouth into your private matters" I apologized as I turned to continue solving maths "I believe it is because I am sitting beside you that you don't seem to like talking to me" I said still looking at my book not turning to face him at all
He turned to look at me and nodded his head and said "I am just uncomfortable talking to people I just meet and I hate sharing things with people I just meet"