The air was electric with excitement as the vice principal introduced a mysterious new teacher to the science class. "This is Miss Lora," he announced, his voice dripping with enthusiasm. "She's one of the new batches of Youth Corpers serving in Lagos State this year. She'll be filling in for Mr. Gabriel to teach English." The class stared at her in awe, taking in her striking features and youthful energy. Her short hair and NYSC uniform only added to her enigmatic charm.
As the students filed out of the classroom, Deborah found herself at the receiving end of a nasty collision. Nora, the school's resident mean girl, had bumped into her, sending Deborah's books flying. "Oh, excuse me," Deborah said, her voice laced with sarcasm. Nora shot her a cold glance before flouncing off with her entourage.
A friendly voice whispered in Deborah's ear, "Don't mind Nora. She's just jealous of your awesomeness." Deborah turned to see a bright smile and a helping hand from a girl named Jessica. As they picked up the scattered books, Jessica whispered, "Caleb Michael's got a crush on you, and Nora's not having it." Deborah's eyes widened in surprise. "Is it true?" Jessica asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Deborah shook her head vigorously. "Of course not! I barely know him." But the damage was done. Nora's animosity had already made Deborah's life more complicated.
As they walked to the assembly hall, Deborah couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The hall was abuzz with excitement, decorated with colorful banners and a stunning glass chandelier. A beautiful painting by Joshua took center stage, and the school choir's harmonious voices filled the air. Mary's trilling voice soared above the rest as she led the cultural dance drama, Oluronbi.
Caleb seemed to be everywhere, his charming smile and effortless charm making him the center of attention. Deborah found herself rolling her eyes in exasperation. "Nice painting," she said to Joshua, trying to change the subject. But Caleb was relentless, sauntering over to join them. "Hello," he said, his eyes locked on Deborah's. "Have I ever done anything to offend you?" Deborah's reply was icy. "I barely know you."
The conversation went downhill from there, with Caleb's attempts at charm falling flat. Deborah snapped at him, and he made a shooting motion with his hand as she walked away. Joshua giggled, and Caleb muttered, "She's not human!" But Caleb was undeterred. "Don't worry, I'll get her," he said, a determined glint in his eye.
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Suddenly, they heard a loud thump and people were shouting. It was a junior student who had fainted. A group of students gathered around the boy, and some pupils were already panicking. "Carry him! Pull him!" someone cried. "Stop! Move aside and give room for air." It was the new corper. She pushed forward and knelt beside the boy. She felt his neck. They watched her tilt his head upwards a little. Then she opened his mouth wide. "Hey, I need assistance," she told the nearest boy. "Put your arms straight like this and press his chest there. Press fifteen times, and then I'll breathe into his mouth." They repeated the motions a few times until suddenly the boy spluttered. It was a beautiful moment. "Turn him over. Let's carry him quickly to the health center. I think he has a heart condition. Be very careful and hurry up." The teacher looked gloriously triumphant. Deborah stared at her.
That Friday was the Mid-Term Dinner, which the students always looked forward to. Deborah hadn't wanted to come at all, and Mary didn't enjoy dancing. She felt dancing to worldly music was not Christ-like. However, Deborah's aunt wouldn't hear of them staying home. "School dinners are lovely, and you have an opportunity to blend," she had said. She had even supervised their dressing up. "Cheer up," Mary said to Deborah. "You're looking beautiful." Deborah was wearing a cream dress, and she had dressed her hair so it fell in ringlets in a very attractive fashion. She grimaced and said, "It's a waste of time. Caleb was part of the organizing committee, but his luck wasn't with the ladies recently. The girl left him alone; he was known to belong to Nora, whom no one wanted to cross. He caught sight of Deborah when they came in. That someone so lovely could have such a malignant spirit was beyond imagination. All the same, thought of Nora vanished from his mind. "She's a witch," he thought, "but what a witch!"
"Hey!" The DJ's voice boomed through the microphone. "The party isn't rocking! Grab your partner and feel the beat! Boys, stop slacking, and girls, stop fronting!" Deborah and Mary sat down at the table. The first victim came forward. It was Kane, the smallest boy in class. He wore suspenders with trousers. "Deborah, w-w-would you like to dance?" he stammered. "No," she said without looking up. He quickly slipped away, embarrassed. "Deborah, that wasn't very nice," said Mary. "Too bad." Dancing soon began in earnest for the impatient students. The teachers stood outside, monitoring the event discreetly. If they saw anything too forward, they'd come towards the pair and say, "We don't allow such things!" Deborah kept hoping the time would go quickly, but the party seemed interminable. She turned down everybody who asked her to dance; finally, she decided to go to the toilet. But getting there, she found a group of students gathered in front of the closed door, giggling and whispering. They straightened up when they saw her. "No space in there for now!" one called out. She turned back and caught sight of George. He made a rude sign at her, as if to say: You - I'll get you. She felt her blood beginning to boil. Boy! She hated the whole lot of them.
When she returned to the party, she saw Kane sitting glumly in a corner, looking small and harmless. On an impulse, she turned to him. "Sorry Kane, I was rather rude earlier. I wasn't in a very good mood, but I'd like to dance with you if you still want to." He looked up uncertainly. She gave him a dazzling smile and held out her hand, leading him to the dance floor. He was shorter than her, and he kept stepping on her feet, but she didn't mind. Caleb glared at them both. He couldn't believe it, Deborah dancing with Kane of all people. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Why was she with that pipsqueak? He strolled over to them. "Hi," he said, tapping Kane's shoulder. "Can you excuse me, please? Come on." Kane was unwilling to move.
Caleb's eyes locked onto Deborah's, his gaze burning with intensity. "What are you doing?" Deborah asked, her voice firm but her eyes flashing with annoyance. Caleb's response was a low growl, his words barely audible as he warned Kane to back off. Kane scurried away, leaving Caleb and Deborah facing off in the midst of the lively party.
The air was electric with tension as Caleb and Deborah clashed. "You needed rescuing," Caleb said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Deborah's eyes narrowed, her anger simmering just below the surface. "You're a disgusting bully!" she spat. "How dare you!" Caleb's smile was a thin-lipped affair, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You're a conceited, nasty..." He trailed off, his words hanging in the air like a challenge.
The music pulsed around them, the beat throbbing like a living thing. Caleb's eyes never left Deborah's face, his gaze burning with intensity. "Look, let's just dance," he said, his voice low and husky. Deborah's laughter was a cold, mirthless sound. "No. I'm leaving! You can dance with yourself!" She turned on her heel, her skirt swirling around her legs as she stalked away.
But fate had other plans. As Caleb watched Deborah walk away, he accidentally bumped into a waiter, sending a tray of drinks flying. The contents of the glasses poured all over Deborah, staining her dress with bright splashes of color. Froth dripped from her ear, and her eyes flashed with anger. "You idiot!" she shrieked, her voice echoing through the hall.
Caleb's face went white as he stared at Deborah, his eyes wide with horror. He wanted the ground to swallow him whole, yet a part of him wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Deborah's shriek of rage was still echoing through the hall as she made a run for the door. Caleb moved to follow her, but she spun around, her eyes blazing with fury. "Don't come near me!" she spat, her voice venomous.
As Deborah stormed out of the hall, Nora couldn't help but giggle. "You look a mess," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "That was very unkind of Caleb." The crowd around them erupted into laughter, and Deborah's face burned with humiliation. Not many people felt sorry for her. "Sort of serves her right, acting like she's better than everybody," someone muttered.
As the full moon cast its silvery glow over the landscape, Deborah found herself pondering the mysteries of the universe. But her reverie was short-lived, interrupted by the gentle voice of Miss Lora, the new teacher. "What's the matter?" Miss Lora asked, her eyes sparkling with kindness. Deborah explained her predicament, and Miss Lora's face lit up with a warm smile. "I got drinks spilled on me," Deborah said, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. As they strolled together, Deborah felt a sudden surge of shyness. But Miss Lora's warm demeanor put her at ease, and soon they were lost in conversation.
"I want to tell you, Miss Lora, that what you did with the boy who fainted was absolutely brilliant," Deborah said, her eyes shining with admiration. Miss Lora's laughter was music to Deborah's ears. "It's called cardiopulmonary resuscitation," she explained. "I was a volunteer with an NGO for three months in Sierra Leone." Deborah's eyes widened in awe. "Really? Can you tell me all about it?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
As they walked, the sound of laughter and music drifted from the hall, but Deborah was oblivious to it. She was too caught up in Miss Lora's fascinating stories of adventure and bravery. Time seemed to stand still as they talked, the world around them melting away.
Finally, as the night wore on, Miss Lora glanced at her watch. "I'd better be going," she said, her eyes sparkling with regret. "You missed your party!" Deborah smiled, feeling a pang of disappointment. But as she watched Miss Lora walk away, she felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. She had found a kindred spirit, someone who shared her passion for making a difference.
Just then, Mary appeared at her side, her eyes shining with concern. "Deborah, I was looking for you," she said. "I'm sorry about what happened. Caleb's very sorry too." Deborah's eyes narrowed, her mind flashing back to the incident. "What were you doing here?" Mary asked, her voice gentle. Deborah's voice was distant, her mind still reeling from her conversation with Miss Lora. "Talking to the new teacher," she said, her eyes gazing into the distance. "It was nothing really. It doesn't matter."