Classes continued going fine. I kept on showing up (as if I had a choice), doing my assignments, and trying to keep myself from losing my mind.
***
This might sound weird, but Piano Tiles helped me through the summer coaching period. It was on my sister's former phone which she gave to me when she left for school, so playing it reminded me of her, and that lessened the ache of being alone.
***
Finally, we came to the end of the lesson, and were told to resume officially in the next two weeks. I still remember how the events of that day played out. First, our science teacher held a test for us based on all we'd learnt throughout the duration of the lesson. (But if you see that man's questions ehn, chai. He's the type of teacher that would teach you 2+2 in the class, then set exam questions like, "If Jack flies to school every morning, calculate the age of his younger sister studying abroad.") He again said that our results on the test would determine if we'd continue in science when the school resumes, with the pass mark being 70%. He then asked us to write our parents' number on a sheet of paper so that he'd send our scores to them. (Did he ever send it? No. We all waited in vain.) But at that time, I was a bit awed, because nothing like that had ever happened in my former school.
***
Then, towards the end of the school day, rain started falling, so I stayed back till it reduced to a drizzle. Ella was in the SS2 class talking to her friends there, but when I went to tell her goodbye, she just hastily replied as if we weren't "best friends". I didn't even dwell on that and just started going home, but Coal saw me and offered to walk me to the end of the street. As we came down from the last steps and walked into the school compound, I slipped on a puddle and would have fallen on my butt— then maybe dislocated my waist and have nothing to shake again when I dance (like I can even do so)— but he quickly caught me with one hand and steadied me. (It's giving 20 yards boyfriend material.) Some girls at our back saw it and whispered, "awwn," but I just thanked him (okay, maybe I blushed a little) and continued going. (You think it's a Bollywood scene that the girl would stay locked in the guy's arms, while they looked at each other for five minutes, and the camera shows them from every angle, abi? Those people have strength in their neck sha.)
***
When I got home, I got on a long call with one of my "friends," who was close to Ella. She told me she heard what happened between me and Coal (how did the news travel so fast?) and I narrated the whole experience to her. Then she went on to gist me about a lot of things in the school and warned me about who to move with and not, shading some of her classmates in the process. Looking back now, that call actually made my heart feel lighter after everything that had been going on for the past weeks. Chatting with a new classmate about everything and nothing for 16 minutes (I still remember the duration) was surprisingly therapeutic. I couldn't wait to finally resume and meet them again as well as everybody else.
***
The lesson was filled with fun, actually. I do less talking and more observing, so I noticed a lot of things. Plus, my classmates were funny so I had a good time laughing at their jokes.
***
Oh, and did I mention? Even Levi called me too. We didn't really talk, but still, I thought it nice of him. The whole of the summer coaching was mostly good. I was really excited about being in a new environment and was looking forward to being an official student. I liked what I'd seen so far about the school, and I thought things were going to be the same way, but I couldn't have anticipated how relatively difficult it'd be at first.
***
I enjoyed the two-week holiday which soon came to and end, and before I knew it, it was the Sunday before the Monday. I talked with Ella that night, but I didn't know I'd be met with the cold shoulder the very next day. I'd share that in the following episode.
***
(Shout out to
who was my sole motivator for writing this piece. I see you, girl.)***
Thank youu for reading. I appreciate you all and I'm so grateful. Please subscribe to get notified when I drop the next part. You can be my motivation, too.
What kind of human being is that Ella girl😭
I’m hooked to this series 😭
I hate Ella fr, and 20 yard boyfriend material😭😂😂. Girl, you're killing me. And also you mentioned me in your post!!!!
I'm so happy I could cry, but I won't.🥹❤️