She would then embr--ace me from be--hind, and we would sle--ep in that position until morning.
Sometimes at night, I would hear silent noises coming from the two other roommates behind our bed.
Whenever I tried to look back to see what was going on, Linda, with her arms aro--und my bo--dy, would assure me not to worry about them.
She would always say that they were having a nice time and that I should go back to sleep. She told me she could make me feel good without any cons--equence.
.
.
I was overjoyed as I opened the letter that had been mailed to our home address earlier that day. Of course, I knew what was in it, but holding and opening the letter felt like a dream come true for me.
My best friend Eva and I were offered scholarships to further our secondary school education at Merited Queens College after our outstanding academic performance at the Earth Brains Competition, organized by the administrators of Merited Queens College. It was so tough, as it was the Battle of the Brilliant Girls.
Three hours after racking our brains, Eva, three other girls, and I were chosen as winners among over 300 girls who applied for the scholarship and attended the competition.
Merited Queens College was one of the best female boarding schools outside Lagos. The school prided itself on academic excellence.
It had the best set of T-shirts, amazing building structures, and spacious learning rooms that were fully equipped. The school was mainly affordable only to the rich because of its overpriced school fees.
My hands trembled as I read aloud the content of the letter. Hard work really paid off, I thought, as I hurried to find my parents to share the good news with them. My parents hugged me, tears of joy dripping from their eyes.
Preparations for resumption started, and I went shopping with my best friend, Eva. Eva and I had been best friends since we were two years old.
Our parents had been friends, and we automatically clicked. She had lost her father at the age of nine, and we had all cried, for he was a kind man. Her mother had been struggling ever since to cater for her and her younger brother, Prince.
My parents were not wealthy; they were civil servants being paid peanuts. However, they assisted Eva and her mother in the little ways they could. This was why the scholarship was a big deal for both our families. It was as though a heavy weight had been taken off our family's shoulders.
Although we were low on cash, we tried to shop for class because we were attending a school filled with rich kids. We didn't want to look awkward and unc--outh in their midst.
Fast forward to the night before the day of resumption, my parents prayed for me. They also gave me advice and words of encouragement.
That night, I couldn't sleep. I was on cloud nine and couldn't wait for dawn. It was an exciting adventure that I was anxious to experience.
On the day of resumption, my parents asked me to carry my luggage to my father's old Ford car. We drove to Eva's house and picked her up. Then, we all drove to Merited Queens College. It was the first day of resumption, and the compound was filled with fleets of exotic and expensive-looking cars.
Beautiful and well-dressed female students alighted from various cars and walked toward their dormitory majestically, while their drivers carried their luggage for them.
I immediately felt ashamed of being seen with my parents in that old Ford. As if that was not enough, the engine of my dad's car refused to turn off.
It started making funny noises, then our car started jerking and releasing thick smoke into the atmosphere, causing everyone in the school compound to turn in our direction, curious to see the unfortunate occupants of the car.
Eva and I stepped down from the car. Eva smiled brightly, while I bowed my head in shame, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me. I heard some girls giggling, while some rolled their eyes. At that instant, I hated everyone and everything.
We were directed to the admission office for registration and documentation. The principal briefed us on the routine in a boarding school and every other important activity we ought to know.
After an hour in the office, we were done with the registration process, and it was time to say goodbye. Eva hugged my parents, while I just waved and mumbled goodbye from a corner with an unsmiling face.
I had not forgiven my parents for the public humiliation their car had caused me. Where were they when their mates were hustling and making money? I thought.
As Eva and I dragged our luggage to the dormitory, we arranged our clothes in our designated wardrobes, amidst stares from other girls in the room.
Some were talking in harsh tones, but we didn't give them any attention. We were in SS1 after all, so no one could order us around, I thought to myself. But I was very wrong.
During lunchtime in the dining hall, while Eva and I were eating our food quietly, a big woman came to stand in front of us and ordered us to clear her dishes.
At first, I thought she was one of the staff, but the school uniform she was wearing gave her identity away. She was a student like me. Eva and I looked at each other in surprise.
We smiled, then kept on eating our food. In an--ger, she banged her two feet on our table, startling us to our bones. In fear, Eva jumped up and ran to clear the big bu--lly's table, while I kept on eating my food, nonchalant.
Deep down, I became angry with Eva for chickening out in fear. The big bu--lly stared at me angr--ily, and I stared right back.
Our eyes locked, as if waiting for the first person to blink or look away. She blinked first, of course, which made her angrier. She made a sign of rev--enge and marched out of the dining hall.
Eva made her way back after clearing the bu--lly's table, and I looked at her and shook my head in disappointment. The big b--ully must have thought that we were in the junior class, which was why she picked on us, I told Eva.
"But the junior students wear Pinafore for their uniform, but we are clearly wearing skirts," Eva said back to me.
I rolled my eyes, got up, and walked away from her.
I met the big bu--lly in the hallway, and she immediately pou--nced on me, threa--tening to end my life if I ever reported her to the school authorities.
She promised to make the school a living hel-l for me, and she kept to her word. She made me fetch her water, do her laundry, massage her ugly and dirty feet, and all sorts of chores.
She even made me miss class twice because she loc--ked me in a dark cupboard for hours with no vent--ilation.
I tried explaining to my teachers and the principal the reason I was absent from class, but they didn't believe me because I was a new student and had no reputation. The principal war--ned me that if I missed class for any reason again, I would be suspended.
I became depr--essed. I went to my dormitory and cried, while Eva comforted me. My other bunkmates, whom I had become familiar with, also comforted me.
One of them told us how she had been bu--llied when she was a junior student and how the bul--ly had gotten away with her atrocities.
Thankfully, the bu--lly had graduated the previous year. Hearing her story made me cry harder. It had only been two weeks at Merited Queens College, and I was fed up.
I got up from the bed slowly and sadly as my roommates kept sharing their bu--lly experiences with each other.
I prayed as I walked toward the bathroom, hoping not to meet the b--ully on the way because I had just finished washing her disgu--sting underwear, which she had stacked up for a week inside her bag.
I entered the bathroom and washed my face. My face was red from too much crying. I tried to for-ce a smile, but it only resulted in another emotional breakdown. I sobbed aloud. Someone flushed the toilet from inside one of the toilets behind me, and I quickly dabbed my tears away. But it was too late.
A very beautiful damsel with a gracious figure walked out of the toilet and approached me. She smiled and extended her hand for a handshake.
She introduced herself as Linda and told me not to cry anymore. She also told me she was in SS3, the same class as the bully.
She had seen me being pun--ished severely by the bu--lly and promised to help me get rid of her, on one condition: she wanted me to be her friend.
She promised to give me lots of cash and make sure no one bu--llied me anymore in the school if I accepted her offer
I said...