Six years ago
The school building comes to sight and I run even faster. My unfit limps burn with every step I take and my tongue is hunging out like a dog in summer. I gasp for air as I push myself to the limit. It probably didn't matter if I was late to school today. Firstly because it was my second day at the new school and secondly because I was, well I was a new student and I still had a million excuses not to get in trouble.
'I'm new and I got lost', my number one excuse could work like a charm. After a week I could use, 'My parents delayed me because they got lost driving me to school.' After the first week I'd feign illness and so forth... However I didn't want to exhaust my excuse lost so soon. Only a fool brings out big guns on the first battle encounter.
I fly through the gate as the last of students are disappearing through the corridor's to start their first lesson of the day.
I'm so lucky today. I think to myself as I hurry to get to class 012W. I'm the last in the now empty hallways and it's a blessing because I can move fast and more freely. I just manage to barely put one foot inside the classroom before the teacher is hot on my heels.
"Settle down" he says right behind me. It's Mr Gatuye Mabara the mathematics teacher. I hate mathematics to the core and I distaste panctual teachers even more. What is wrong with being a minute late and let the latecomers get a chance to wipe away their sweat? I sit at my sit with at near the far back with a thud getting my most needed breather before facing the Mr Gatuye again with distaste. He also happens to be our homeroom teacher and my shoulders sag with the weight of the misfortune that has befallen me. Romour has it that be has never missed a class since he became a teacher and I whine as a drop of sweat drops forcefully on my desk.
"Did you just run all the way" Tale whispers beside me in shock. All the evidence in he chubby cheeks that she has never run a day in her life. She only arrived early to avoid running.
"It was not by choice" I wheez a breath like a fish on land.
"That is so un..."
"Roll call time, roll call time, class president hand me the roll call." Gatuye cuts us off and our eyes snap to the front. The class president nods vigorously. He also happens to be the top student in our class. I arrived just yesterday and my deskmate Tale Mindatu of sauka tribe had already filled me with all the gossip. She was lazy in schoolwork but hardworking in gossip and she slightly lifted my misfortune. Together we were going to be failures and partners in laziness and our love had blossomed like a flower in just a day.
Kayu Asari, the class president was the top student in grade 012 and he topped across all three classes. He was upright as a board and strict to the bone. What a misfortune. I wish I was in 013Y. There class president was not a top student but good at sports.
"Lua sagita...!" My name is called a second time and I gasp and mummer a present.
"Tale Mindatu!" My deskmates mane is called. We are about to start today's gossip when the teacher announces something that has our ears burning.
"We have another new student today, Mister Sagiri."
The whole class is suddenly curious. Usually a new student is introduced in front of the class but this time things are different. Everyone follows the teachers eyes and his eyes fall on me. I panic for a second at the unwanted attention and squirm uncomfortably. I already endured that burning curiosity the previous day and having to endure it again was quite a misfortune.
I'm about to protest and say I already introduced myself yesterday when there is a movement behind me. I then realize the object of interest lays right behind me. I turn around almost too quickly and get a whiplash as my eyes befall the newcomer behind me. There is no greater joy for a new comer than seeing another new comer. It helps get the attention away.
I hadn't noticed a new figure behind me probably because I wasn't familiar with everyone yet, but once I turned around I knew I had indeed not seen him in class yesterday.
An involuntary gasp leaves my mouth when our eyes connect. Probably because his desk is right behind me and his towering figure is sitting stooped forward our faces end up just inches apart. The newcomer is nothing short of mysterious. He is clad in a black jacket besides the fact that our school blazers are required to be navy blue. His hands are clad in black gloves and they are rested firmly, one on top of a book on his desk like it's some office desk and his left hand is rested comfortably below his chin.
His face is covered in a black mask covering his mouth and nose and his hood is covering his head leaving only a slit of his face where a pair of amber orbs are burning into mine. A moment passes between us and it's like I'm trapped in his ambers with a hint of mechanical perfection. I had never seen such a beautiful pair of eyes. He doesn't blink or move back either and I give in first before turning back faster than lightening.
"He is Sagiri" make sure to make him feel welcomed class. I'm too sturned by what just happened and I don't even question his lack of a second name. What was his tribes mame? Everyone had three names the birth name, the clan name and the tribes name. Did Mr Gatuye forget to include his clans name or tribes name. That was impossible.
My tribe had seventeen clans and the state of Tagayia had had just over two hundred tribes. It was a pride for one to include their tribes name or at least their subtribes name in their official names to show pride. I came from the slightly smaller clans and even I was proud to belong. Why didn't this boy have a tribes name?
The class immediately erupts into gossip as his presence suddenly fills the class like a charm making the girls steal glances and hide away before being caught.They didn't care for his lack of tribal name or his lack of pride.
I can't say I didn't want to look at him again. I wanted to steal another glance but him being behind me made it impossible. I didn't want to get lost in those ambers again. Why was he covered like a ninja anyway?
"Today we are going to learn about vectors" Mr Gatuye introduces loudly to bring the class to order but I'm lost in my thoughts.