"Lies travels halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put on his pants …"
It is not every day that you get to meet your soulmate right? I mean that's at least the lies we tell ourselves almost every day… am talking with the unmarried audience here… but for the married ones, are sure your partner is your soulmate? Well too late for you but does it really matter?
But what if in just few moments before your wedding hour, you get to meet your real soulmate? What will you do? But let me ask you this… HOW DO YOUKNOW HE/SHE IS YOUR SOULMATE HUH?
This is the story of high school sweethearts, more like lameness anyways, but it is not just that, it is filled with rivalry, friendship, betrayal, cultural ambiguity, society, peer pressure, religion, character development and growth, and most importantly, it has epic teen drama.
In Yola town, a place where everybody knows somebody who knows somebody that knows you, or your sibling, or likely your cousin, or your friend or even your friend's cousin… and with that comes so much relationship drama, cousins marrying each other, issue of "latecomers" swooping in at the last minute to snatch the girl, marry her and ride off to sunset, before you realize what the heck just happened…
So if you are a fan of happy endings or looking for happily ever after… ha-ha!!! better look for it somewhere else… just kidding…
Welcome to Chiroma Ahmad Academy (C.A Academy), one of the nine (9) elite schools in Yola, with a record of holding 11th times winner of the "elite'stournaments title (E.T.T)", second to only Ahmadu Ribadu college (ARC), one of the C.A Academy's biggest rival of all time with a record of 14th times winners… the rivalry between ARC and C.A.A goes beyond just inter-school championship, it is so deep and imprinted on every student in both of the schools… and nobody knows exactly why, but there are so many theories…
With just 5 weeks to end of first term exams arrived 3 students, the students that will change the history of CAA losing to ARC... Mimi Abdulkareem Jeddah, Tahir A. Salman, and Mustapha Baba Aliyu… Mimi was from ARC which makes her instantly famous and interesting to all members of the freshman class (sss 1a =science class) and 2 days later Mustyy came, his family moved from Kaduna to Yola… Tahir was the last to join the newcomers, which happens a day after Mustyy arrived… so the 3 of them were given a 2-day tour of the school and a day in rules and activities of the school class, which is seemingly boring to Tahir, on the other hand, Mimi was hyped about it all the time, and she likely became friends with Mustyy, not seemingly with Tahir, for what reason Mustyy wondered… the 3 will later become the famous love triangle gossips in CAA…
Meet your tour guides Saleem and Isham, says Yoboska (the vice principal), in the next 3 days they will orient you on all the things here in our infamous school… surely you know of the upcoming interschool tournaments E.T.T, which will start next week and we are up against Almashkur int'l academy (AIA), Mimi I hope you will join the teams, as we surely know how good you are when we played against your team, back in ARC last year…
Anyways Saleem and Isham, tag, you are it… see you guys... and also the 3 of you are not going to take part in the upcoming exams, hope you know that, but the principal says you are to get all the notes from your classmates before the last day of school… and during the break you will write your exams online, thanks… and good day…
Saleem: hey guys how re you today, excited? oh well, am saleem the active head-boy, and this is Isham the active head-girl, we both are in sophomore class(sss2a) … the grand head students are in the senior set and they are just like the supervisors of all the students of CAA…
Mimi: so your assistants (asst. head students) must be from the freshman class and since they are not here, it is likely that you haven't voted the people yet, and since the term is about to end and with the upcoming events, the voting is not likely to occur this term, maybe till next term, but in the events that it does occur, which means the students that performs excellently will be voted to be the next in line for the titles… is that so senior Saleem…?
Tahir: (rolling his eyes) nerd alert…
Mustyy: whaaaaa… nice intuition Mimi…
Saleem: wow… that's quite accurate, Mimi, so you are the one that scored over 90% on all the 3 subjects ofthe aptitude test huh?
Isham: surely we will need you on our special intelligent team (SIT) which is design for the ETT championship by the director himself… but that goes without saying, hey Mimi I wanted to ask you, why have you transferred from ARC, in the middle of first term and not to say it is your freshman year why not register here in the first place instead eh?
Mimi: ehm... its personal, sorry…
Isham: (with a suspicious face) hmm okay, I understand…
Tahir: (smirked)…interesting
Mustyy: saleem, there are some rules from the handbook that I didn't quite get, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the students are allowed to come with their phones and even if they do, they cannot use it during lecture time, it doesn't make sense, this is the only school that allows phone to be brought in to schoolenvironment in the first place, no other school in yola has such kinda rules… why? And also some of the activities and sports and also clubs of this school are kinda freakish and unheard of… and not to mention some of the subjects being taught in this school were never taught in the entire Nigeria… just what is up with that huh?
Saleem: well, ha-ha I wondered about that too, when I first saw it, however as I started to abide by such rules and activities, I absolutely enjoyed every inch of it, these rules are written by the director himself… for whatever reason, I don't know, but am sure he has so many…
Tahir: (thinking) so, this school has so many rules and yet provide so much freedom for students... and yet why aren't they ahead of ARC? isn't winning everything?
Saleem: with that said, I hope you guys chose your various house which you can identify with, it has some points to it, to be a part of a community is all the director has been yapping about every Monday speech, and that reminds me, he will surely come on Monday to give the speech and announce the (SIT) members of the competition… good day…
Later that day, the 3 were asked to join 3 clubs of their choices… and also it is a culture of CAA that every senior must have at least 2 younger students (primary set) and 2 junior students (Jss set) that they can mentor. There is an end of term competition for such students and it is quite the challenging, fun and very rewarding for both the parties involved (mentors and the mentees) …
On their way back to their class…
Mustyy: so, Mimi which clubs have you joined, am sure anyone will be lucky to have you on their team…
Mimi: ha-ha, why do you flatter me Mustyy, am not that brilliant, am just super competitive that's all… I have joint the quiz club, debate club, and anti-bully club…
Tahir: hmm… (thinking) "well, that's a shocker, I mean it's so obvious, what a show off… and Mustyy is a nice guy huh… it's obvious he likes her, which is a good thing for me… as long as they get along, they won't drag me in to their drama, and with me being in the same buddy-system with them throughout these coming 5 weeks' won't be troublesome for my life…
Mustyy: what about you Tahir eh?
Tahir: I haven't chosen yet…
Tahir: (thinking) the rules says you have to choose 3 clubs but it never says within a range of certain days, so I have till the rest of the first term to figure out which club has the less responsibility (I am allergic to responsibility) and less work, probably less active so that I can lay off and enjoy the quite time doing things I like instead...
Mimi: what of house? Which house have they send you to, Tahir?
Tahir: its blue house…
The 3 walked in to their class of which they found a geography teacher inside, that's obviously his lecture time… they were assigned a sit each by the class captain, throughout the rest of the day the students seems to give Mimi all the attention, Mustyy and Tahir seems to fade into the background which is just what Tahir wanted…
Back at the admin block… a phone rang in principal's office, it was the Director…
The principal: hello, sir
Director: hello, Mrs. Elizabeth, how are you doing today, hope everything is going well…
The principal: am fine sir, everything is going smoothly sir…
Director: I saw the aptitude test result for the last 3 students whom you have given admission to senior set… I was quite intrigued by one of the student's result…
The principal: indeed, it is quite interesting that Mimi Abdulkareem Jeddah manages to score at least 91% on all the subjects…
Director: No, am talking about the other one, somebody Salman, I think it is his surname, he scored precisely 50% on all the subjects, and what is interesting about it is that, he only answered the first 50 questions of all the subjects… don't you see, he was precise and confident, but the question is, why haven't he answered the remaining 50 questions on each of the subjects, has he ran out of time or something???
The principal: oh yes… his name is Tahir A. Salman… Now that you mentioned it, Mr. Jimmy says he was the first to be done with the test, finished before time, exactly 35 minutes out of the 90 minutes' test time… he tried to summit it before time but, he was asked to wait till the 90 minutes is over, however he slept through the remaining time…
Director: well, I will like to meet him on Monday, and surely I very much wants him and Mimi to join my elite SIT champions…
The principal: very well sir, I will arrange for that, and if I may add, I suggest you add Mustapha Baba Aliyu too, he has sport skills, and leadership mind, recommended by his former school principal…
Director: ok, we will see, I got a great feeling about these students…
Then comes Monday, the speech day, the week it all begins, all the students gathered in the great hall, all of them lined up according to their six various houses (red house, blue house, yellow house, green house, white house, and purple house) all in their respective colored shirts representing their houses…
A wind of silence as the director, the principal and other staffs approaches and unto the stage, to give his speech...
Mimi: (thinking) finally, about time…
Director: good morning students, (with a huge smile on his face), as we all know this is the week it all begins, the week we all look forward to, the week we show the elites who are the bosses, who are the greatest students and leaders of tomorrow, and from which elite school you are from, and how hard working, and talented CHIROMA AHMAD ACADEMY is, and will forever be, and now to welcome on stage our outstanding SIT champions with their leader Saleem abubakar…
Students: clapping, shouting to honor them… and also very excited…
Director: it appears we also have 3 additional members who will be joining the elite's champions, if you hear your name please come up to the stage, and join the team, ehm… Mimi Abdulkareem Jiddah…
Students: clapping…
Mimi: smiles (thinking) finally, my plan worked, I have join the team, I will finally get my revenge on my old team, just you wait, Aysha, Umaimah and my best friend Safeeyah… I will humiliate you just like what you did to me… I vow to win.
As Mimi walks over thinking about her sweet revenge plan, she can't help but notice a bunch of girls in a group starring at her with such an envy… but she held her head high and walks pass them…
Director: next is Mustapha Baba Aliyu…
Mustyy: with a smile on his face with all his 32 outside (thinking) I can't believe that I am going to be on the elite team with my crush Mimi, may be it is a sign from above telling me to confess my feelings to her… as he walks to the stage to join the team…
Tahir: (thinking) ooh god, please don't let it be me next… it is going to be troublesome, I don't like responsibilities…
Director: and finally Tahir A. Salman…
Students: clapping and turning around to see who the heck is that…
Tahir: (thinking) ooh crap…I thought I scored only 50% on each subjects of the aptitude test, doesn't that tells them enough about me? I don't wanna be included in their rivalry… it takes too much energy… I have got to withdraw from that nomination…
Tahir walks up to the stage, with students clapping on the background, and him putting his hands in his pockets while walking straight to the director and stood right in front of him… everybody was shocked, students gossiping and whispering, Tahir looks at the director and says…
Tahir: sir, with all due respect, I reject that nomination…
Everybody was like what??? The reactions from all the students was priceless and the teachers just freeze, because it never happens before, however it appears the director isn't that surprised at all, in fact he was smiling and then he said to Tahir…
Director: on what ground?
Tahir: on the ground that I don't want to…
Director: hmm just that huh?
Tahir: yes, and according to the handbook solely written by you, rule no53 says "any student is allowed to reject any post, duty or any nomination assign to him/her, if he/her DON'T WANT TO"
Director: are you also aware that rule 87 nullify rule 53…, it says I, "the director has the power to overturn rule 1 through rule 85… if it can benefit my school chiroma, and also" (whispering to tahir) I know that your correct name is Salman… I know who you really are, I called your previous school and I know how you dodge responsibilities… well not in my school, you will do all that and more here… besides, I know how you think, that's why I want you on the team…
Tahir: hmm, okay fine, but don't come blaming me for slacking off during the competition…
Aisha ahmed (tahir's sit-mate and a classmate):(thinking) what the heck is wrong with him eh? He thinks he is a big time stud eh!!! What an idiot… guys like him annoy me a lot… no wonder we aren't getting along quite well, TBH we never actually talked a lot… and I gotta say, I don't see me talking with him in the future but he is kinda cute though, I don't mind him asking me out on a date, I will definitely say yes even though I have boyfriend and if he likes me back then I will surely dump my boyfriend for him… why do I get stuck as his sit mate huh?? Why not musty… he is nicer than Tahir…and less attractive, am sure I won't be tense and nervous whenever I sit next to him unlike when am sitting next to Tahir…
Musty: (thinking) so, Tahir you really meant what you said to me last week eh… you really are going all the way out to challenge and exercise all the rules and see if they are true and real… but what if you get in to trouble by doing that… hmmm, you really do have confidence to confront the director on stage and say no to his face huh… what I don't understand is that, what will you gain by challenging them like that… after all you claims to be allergic to responsibilities, you just like doing what you like, could it be that challenges is what you like? And if so, why do you not want to join the league???
Mimi: tahir, we need to talk…
Tahir: no, we made a deal, you promised to stay away from me and I do the same till 18th October 2025…
Mimi: well yeah, but that was about 3 years ago… and you and I both know that our families has a huge history together… like it or not we will always get entangled together, you know that it was the decision of both our fathers, to come to this school… and youknow that once they made a decision, nobody can change their mind…
Tahir: don't lie to my face mimi, you and I both know that you were the one who told your Dad, you wanna come to this school, even after you have already registered at ARC, I don't know how you manage to convince your dad but what I don't want is being dragged here with you because of the friendship that the family have… and you know what they got in mind for us by the year 2025… since they already decided that future, all I want is to enjoy whatever time I can get as an individual to develop myself for better future… and I suggest you do the same… that's why we made that promise 3 years ago... I know you mimi, more than any one… I know how you manipulateeveryone around you… I know you are cooking something here, just what are you up to huh?
Mimi: hmm, that's for me to know, and you are right, I did convince my dad to let me transfer out of ARC, and I do have a certain goal by coming here, however it has nothing to do with you, you are just here as a collateral damage, due to the fact that our dads like to make the same decisions for their children, and if you are looking for an apology, I'm not going to give you one… instead I am going to tell you this, if you try to interfere with my plans during this competition, I will surely make you regret the day you met me, so you better not screw up my chance at victory, because you and I both know how much I wanna win… you played against me in family games competitions, you know the length I go just to win…consider yourself warned…
Tahir: wow, that's quite a threat, and you and I both know "I don't respond to threats, I make them", as for the apology part and being a collateral damage, I never wanted your apology, however since you put it that way, are you sure that I am a collateral damage??? I never planned to do anything before but since you backed me up to a corner, you better be ready when I come swinging back… and to talk about you plans, Safeeyah already told me about your little spat with your old team and her… even though I wasn't paying attention to her when she talked because it bored me to death… but now you just revealed your master plan to me… you want revenge against them, and you know the biggest rival of ARC is chiroma academy, so you came here… wow!!! Now that I confirmed my suspicions, I am not going to do anything, I am just going to sit down, relax and watch as they wipe the floor with you, and believe me, you will surely lose, because Safeeyah assured me they surely will take you down because they considered you a traitor, they already had a plan… and I know all about it, I know how you can beat them, but am sure as hell not going to lift a finger to help you, nor tell you what their plan is… ha-ha, now who is the guy with the big mouth huh… so much for being a collateral damage eh… don't you think???
Mimi: what thaaaa!!! Since when are you friends with safeeyah??? You are bluffing right??? Who told them that I came here??? OMG!!! You gotta tell me what they are planning… tahir…
Tahir: and why on green earth will I do as such? and I am not friends with Safeeyah, I went on a date with her latst week, have you forgotten how charming I can get eh?... "I am irresistible" …remember??? Those are your words… so we gotta get to class…or we will miss the first period lesson… hey, look mustyy is waving at you…
as they walk towards musty, mimi whispers something to him… which makes tahir stood still for up to a minute while starring into the air with a serious face… the exact words she said will surely gonna have an impact on their upcoming events against ARC…
musty: (thinking) what are these guys up to huh? And why is mimi whispering something to him eh? Wait a minute… DO THEY KNEW EACH OTHER EH? If so why have they ever indicated that eh? Something is definitely off with these two…
mimi: Musty let's go, we gotta hurry… don't wanna be late…
while they are in class… tahir sat next Aisha Ahmed…. His sit mate and then he turned and said to her…
Tahir: Aisha, I heard you know somebody named Sadeeeqah in jss3B, it's like she is your neighbor or something?
Aisha ahmed: yeah, kind of, why?
Tahir: nothing, just saw her earlier and I think she is is kinda cute… and somebody told me that you knew her…
Aisha ahmed: yeah… so you like her?
Tahir: yeah kind of…
Aisha ahmed: well… do you know who is her boyfriend?
Tahir: ehm… nope
Aisha ahmed: he is in ss3A, you probably heard his name he is like the famous guy in C.A.A and ARC combined… he goes by "jay jay" or jamal… he is so dreamy…
Tahir: ok, so what then?
Aisha ahmed: so you don't stand a chance against him… and FYI the girl is classy as heck, very pretty and brilliant … may be that's why they are the most gossiped couples of in C.A.A…
Tahir: hahhaa… interesting, well let's change that story shall we… am gonna go talk to her… I don't care if her boyfriend is the prince of whales or Saudi… she is so unique and exquisite… and no one will dare stand in my way… I will crush em… if they are even worth it
Aisha ahmed: (thinking) whaaat da… who da heck dyu think you are Tahir? You really think that you are gonna get her attention… I surely will like to see you try and fail… may be that might teach you some manners and it might even humble you a bit ….
Aisha ahmed: okay… by all means Tahir, go and talk to her… and if you succeed in getting her attention for a week I will copy all your notes for you for the entire term… I know it aint gonna be so cuz you are gonna be crushed… hahaha
Tahir: wow… are you sure you will be able to do that? Its gonna be hard for you... however I will surely take you up on your offer… after class I want you to go with me but hide away like few distance from me… I wanna show first hand… how I will get her attention…