the story of my first love(Episode 1)

my God!” I exclaimed as I reluctantly jumped up from my small and tattered mattress, I ran to the window to confirm if my stopwatch is working perfectly.
“It’s morning.” I articulated surprisingly. I opted for the bathroom and take my bath. After taking my bath, I brought out my bed-ironed uniform under my mattress and I examined the job well-done done by the mattress, I looked for the bottle of the groundnut oil and let some drops on my palm; I used that in substitute of cream and hair cream, I went to the backyard to fetch my water-polished sandal, I came back to my room only to find my breakfast (pap and bean cakes) lying on my bed, I know it’s my mother, I gulped down the hot pap in haste and mash the delicious beans cakes.
“This is delicious!” I exclaimed while trying to digest a stubborn pulverize beans cake that got struck in my oesophagus.
Shortly, I was able to finish up with the meal, I hurrily put on my school uniform, and my white socks and then I wore my water-polished sandal, I packed my books inside my 10 naira polythene bag, I examined my look and it seemed I am good to go.
“Oops! My handkerchief.” I called back. I spy at my only hanger and my Ankara-made handkerchief was there, I picked it from the hanger and I opted for the backyard in search for my mother.
“Mama! Mama!!” I called in an alarming voice.
“I’m here my son.” She replied appearing from a corner.
“Good morning mama.” I greeted kneeling down before her. She responded to my greeting earnestly and solemnly and she showered me with blessing and prayer as usual.
“Mama I am ready for school.” I voiced out while trying to get back on my feet.
“My son, you are going into another phase of life, remember the child of whom you are, face your study as that’s your primary assignment, don’t mingle with bad and irresponsible friend’s; they has nothing to offer than destruction, don’t keep girlfriend; they only cause distraction and they resist one from performing one primary assignment. There are many challenges awaiting you in the school; from your juniors, your mates, your seniors and the school managements at large, try as much as possible to overcome them, they are just tests and you just have to tackle them and win, they come and go,they can’t stay forever, fight them and you will surely win. You know I am the only one running here and there in search of food you eat and money to fund your education, your father dumped me and ran away with another woman. Please lessen all this pain for me, because you are my last hope of survival, I am living in this world because you are breathing please don’t change from been good, you can only lessen or even kill this pains, pangs, and twinges only if you face your study and become successful in life and you know ‘education is the key to success’. Lastly, don’t fall a victim of love like I do, face your study and make me proud, put my enemy and envious in shame let them be like ‘God is really wonderful, I couldn’t believe the only son of this woman could make it in life’ let them praise the lord in you. An old adage says ‘a word is enough for a wise’ stick to my words and you will surely excel.” She advised with teary eyes.
“I promise I won’t disappoint you mother, I promise to make you proud as I always do.” I enunciated with a serious impression showing on my face. My mother move closer to me and gave me a motherly hug. I wept silently in my mother arms and my mother couldn’t help as she burst into tears.
I hate seeing my mother tears and that made me to hate my father more, I may had seen him before but I can’t recognize him, I pleaded to my mother on several occasions to let me see my father’s picture but she is always mad at me whenever I tried to bring up such discussion, the hatred I have for my father grow like a stubborn grass, I keep on hating him and I don’t think that can stop until he came on his kneel to plead to my mother.
“Time wait for no man, hope you are ready?” My mother asked as she disengaged herself slowly but spontaneously from me.
“I am ready mama.” I replied while wiping the tears on my face with my Ankara-made handkerchief.
Mama unwrapped her wrapper and unhooked the edge of the wrapper as that was her only bank I knew, she handed over #150 to me as my transport fare to and from the school and my pocket money. I thanked her and gave her a side hug. I rushed out of the house and hurried to the bus-stop.
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Oh! I haven’t introduced myself, right? Anyway, I am Johnson Olamilekan Jeff, fifteen years old, charming, brilliant, intelligent, handsome, smart, calm and talented. I am the only surviving child of my parent even thought my father remained unknown to me hitherto. It is my first day in Comprehensive High School as a newly-admitted SS1 student.
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PRESENT
I disembarked from the bus at the bus-stop and headed straight to the school which was about a stone thrown from the bus-stop. A neon signboard displayed conspicuously the name of the school dabbed in uppercase letters designed with golden coloration. I greeted the gatekeepers and walked pass them and make my way into the school compound. As a newcomer, I haven’t gotten a class so I decided to walk round the school premises. After a boring and mind-numbing roaming, I located a sit under a huge tree situated very close to the school hall and I decided to sit there. The school environment was a pleasing one, it was very beautiful and neat even though the school had just resumed. the buildings ofthe school were coloured after the school uniform which are Butter and Light brown, the football field is something to natter about, bedecked and ornamented with well-mowed grasses, the goal posts are not that big but I doubt it is only a goalkeeper that will be keeping such a huge goalpost, the field is big and wide enough to build a modernized factory.Medium-sized stones and granites which are coloured white and some were coloured with carbides are used in demarcating buildings and blocks, the school only library was built upstairs of the junior’s classes blocks, the school computer lab is extremely ornamented with different flowers. I sat down quietly admiring the beautiful and dearly environment when the bell for assembly was rang.
“Gbagam! Gbagam!! Gbagam!!!” boomed the jingling bell the timekeeper was handling. He rang the bell continuously for a moment before he gave his message for the assembly. I sluggishly stood on my feet ready to leave for the assembly ground when I heard a voice from behind.
“Hey! Don’t you hear the bell for assembly?” A senior in his long sleeve shirt blasted with some kind of husky and gravellyvoice. He has a long whip on his hand, he moved closer to me and I was trembled with fear.
“Sir… I am about to …” I tried to defend with a shaky voice but I was hijacked from concluding my statement because of the lash from the long whip that landed on my head.
“Haaaahh…” I groaned in pain as hot tears parsimoniously escaped from my eyes, I could feel the pain as I reluctantly ran to the assembly ground.
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“Now let chant the National Anthem and Pledge.” The assembly prefect commanded and we recited the anthem and the pledge with full meditation.
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“Good morning my students.” The principal; a light complexioned, good-looking, eloquent, fairly built young man greeted. His scalp and moustache were shinning black. He wore a well-ironed black Italian suit over an alluring white shirt, and tied up a stripped red tie.
“Good morning sir.” We all replied in chorus.
“You are all welcome back into this session. And the new students are also welcomed to Comprehensive High School.” The principal addressed smiling as he adjusted his glass.
“Thank you sir.” We replied in unison.
The principal introduced himself as Mr. Ayo Johnson popularly called Mr. Chorus because he has a great aversion forchorus answer. He is a professor, and whenever he went into any class in the school, he normally asked question base on their previously taught topics in different subjects and whenever the class is turned to a marketplace because of the noises made by the students in eager to answer his question because they knew that a correct answer attract a prize or let say small gift like money or food, he do cautioned them by screaming on top of his voice ‘No chorus answer’ and since this has became part of him, he was nicknamed Mr. Chorus by the students. Mr. Chorus conferred some issues with our seniors concerning their negligence to their academic works the previous term and also advised to serious one among them to keep it up and not to relent. He also counseled the low-IQ students that are promoted on trial not to give up but to buckle up. He addressed we SS 1 students and he stated the ‘do’ and ‘don’t’ of the school to us. I was really gratify with the rules and regulations because most of the rules and regulations are part of me, I could see some student grumblingand peevishing over the restriction of student bringing phone to the school, some were tetchy by the cramped of student wearing slipper to the school. I was just looking like a moron since I have no one to bring up a discussion with.
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“Silent!” The school disciplinarian yelled and the assembly ground was as quiet as a graveyard.
“The new students, march to the school hall, I will be there in a jiffy… round off the assembly and monitor the students to their respective classroom. I must not see any student roaming about or else you prefects will be responsible for that.” Mr. Chorus concluded and commanded the prefects and he left the assembly for his office.
I was in the school hall with the rest of the students. The hall is moderate in size, which I guess can occupy at least 500 students. Students were rushing to be in the front sits. I sighted a sit at the back and I walked majestically to the sit and sat down quietly, I could see some set of students staring at me mocking and laughing, I looked at myself from head to toe but I couldn’t fish out my blemish, I dressed like a normal and sane student, so what’s wrong? I thought rhetorically.
“Na them sabi jare.” I voiced out silently in Pidgin English. I could see other students chatting and discussing.
“Do they know one another before?” I asked emblematically.
“Look at how they are chatting and laughing as if they had known themselves for years.” I serenely voiced out.
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Few minutes later, Mr. Chorus and four teachers (two female and two male) entered the hall.
“Good morning sir.” We greeted in chorus but on our feet.
“Good morning, how are you my students?” Mr. Chorus asked smiling.
“Fine, thanks you sir.” We responded in unison.
“(clear throat)… I welcome you all to Comprehensive High School. I am also using this medium to congratulate you all because here are the only selected candidates that gain admissions into this school. Over 2000 candidates apply for this school but I’m using this medium to announce to you guys that we only selected 356 candidates that are being admitted into this school… I think by now you should all know the rules and regulations of this school … according to an old adage ”a land without law there is no offence”, there are severe punishments for any students that break the rules and regulations of this great school. My being here is only to let you know your respective class and your respective class teacher; you will be put into your respective class according to your performance in the entrance examination, you will be classed into four classes, the A class will be the science class, the B class is for the commercial class and the C and D are for the art classes, listen to your name and your class carefully because I am not repeating myself, is that clear?” Mr. focus concluded as he brought out a higher education note book.
“Yes sir.” We replied in chorus.
Mr. focus started calling the name, he was so fast and steady, students were rushing out as they heard their name being called… no 300, “my name haven’t being called, or I wasn’t admitted here… or has he called my name and I do heard him? Or did I fail the exam? No I confirmed I passed the entrance examination, so what is the problem?” those are the thought that were pounding in my mind. … 350, my name haven’t being called … I was becoming restless and impatient because he is now calling only Art students, the truth is that I want science to be my discipline because I wanted to be an Agriculturist, I was thwarted and frustrated. “What will be my fate now?” I asked metaphorically.
“And these are the list of the students admitted into this school, other go back home you are not admitted here, thank you.” The principal concluded after he called the last student, he further in closing the higher education he was holding, I was like “‘ehn’ hope it is not what am thinking? I am not admitted here or what?” I thought, I was dumbstruck and flabbergasted… I felt like the ground could just open and swallow me, I don’t know when I started yelling and crying like a baby. “This is Daniel (my neighbor) on the science queue, I think I have a higher score than any other students, so what’s wrong?” I thought yelling.
“Sorry my dear, you’re not admitted here, you can try your luck next time or you search for another school.” A teacher consoled a boy sitting next to me.
“But I tried my best to be admitted in this school, I score 198 in the entrance examination, I think I score a good mark, so what’s wrong Madam?” The young crying boy enunciated.
“I’m so sorry my dear, 200 is the cut-off mark for any student to be admitted into this school and you did not make the cut-off mark so you can’t be admitted here, all the students that their names are called they are able to meet-up with the cut-off mark.” The consoling teacher explained, the boy busted and cried out loud.
“Ma, you just made mention of 200 as the cut-off mark, right?” I asked facing the consoling teacher.
“Yes, I guess you did not hear your name, right?” the teacher riposted.
“Ma, I didn’t hear my name to be called and I got 321 in the entrance examination, here is my result.” I replied as I hurrily search for my result from my polythene bag, I was able to bring out the result and hand over it to the teacher.
“Wow! I can’t believe you score 321 in the entrance examination, let go and meet the principal, I think there is a mix-upsomewhere.” The teacher expressed and commanded.
“Yes ma, I replied as I hurrily pack my book inside my polythene bag, I leave the hall for the principal’s office, as I was about stepping out of the hall, I mistakenly collided with a girl who was holding her breakfast, the food fall from her hand and decant on the ground.
She landed three thunderous and deafening slaps on my face; I staggered a little and everywhere became dim and duskyon appearance to me.
“I’m sorry ma.” That was the only statement that came out from my mouth, I went on my kneel begging my mate because I know the money with me can’t be enough to pay for the food.
“What are you begging me for? You’d better pay for this food if you don’t want my trouble.” The girl blasted and yelled; this called the attentions of some other students, the students form a circular queue watching the drama played by the girl and me.
“I don’t have the money for the food, please I’m sorry, I will foot the bill later, I have something important and significant to attend to right away and it is more important to my life than any other thing right now, please I will be back.” I replied and excused myself, I took to my heel and head for the principal’s office, some students were about to chase me when Daniel (my neighbor) called them back.
“Hey, how much is the food?” Daniel asked facing the girl.
“Are you paying for him?” The girl asked with a scorn face.
“Okay, I’m paying for him, how much?” Daniel replied
“Okay since you insisted to pay for him, just pay #1000 and I will forget everything.” The girl enunciated confidently.
“Am not paying for the wound he cause on you, I am only paying for the food he mistakenly decant, answer me and please stop the expensive joke.” Daniel replied disappointedly.
“Mr. man, you volunteer to pay for his misdeed, must you ask me question? I bought the food for #1000, pay now or you guys will face my wrath.” The girl bragged moving closer to Chorusman.
“I think we have to see the chef that sold the food for you for #1000.” Daniel suggested.
“You better foot the bill and stop saying trash and garbage.” The girl lashed and yelled with all her energy.
“You idiot…” Daniel uttered angrily but couldn’t finish off with his statement.
“Whether you like it or not, I am leaving here with 1000 naira, else I doubt you are going to go home completely today.” The girl blasted smiling.
“What’s happening there?” Mr. focus yelled from a distant. ‘peew’ all the students were well sited inside the hall.
“Good day sir.” The students stood up and greeted the principal.
“I am using this medium to plead on behalf of the whole staffs and I to this wonderful student, Olamilekan Afolabi by name, he is the student who score the highest in the entrance examination with 321 marks, 97 marks more than the second, it was a mistake made by a 9-man admission committees, in which they wrote his name on the next page of the note I held earlier because he is the only student to ever reach 300+ marks in this school entrance exam, so therefore he is hereby offer admission to be a science student in this school, please congratulate him and also emulate him. As from now on, he will be the class captain of SS1 science, please can he get a standing ovation from everyone of you?” The principal enunciated and started the clapping; the whole hall was rented with clap and applauds. I couldn’t hide my joy, I keep on smiling. “What a wonderful u-turn.” I exclaimed, I sighted the girl that I decanted her food, our eyes collided and I touched the cheek feeling the pain from her thunderous slaps, she looked away in disgrace and scandal.
“This is a small gift from me to this young scholar.” The principal uttered and brought out 1000 naira from his shirt’s pocket and handed over it to me.
“Thank you sir.” I uttered bending down as a sign of respect.
“My pleasure, see you later.” The principal concluded and went out of the hall.
“Scholar!” A boy barked from behind, I turned to look at the boy and the boy appear to be Daniel.“My guy, that witch deyvex o (pointing to the girl), she even dey demand 1000 naira…” Daniel uttered unfinished.
“Let me go and pay her.” I replied and turn to leave.
“I swear they no born you well, give her 300 naira make you forget level, you appear to be a mugu to her, maybe that’s why she is demanding much.” Daniel concluded warily.
“Let me go and pay her, if she collect the whole 1000 naira, God knows what he will give me in return but if she didn’t collect the whole 1000 naira, I will give my mother the remaining change.” I concluded and head for the girl sit.
“Ola! Ola!!” Daniel barked as he hurrily followed me to the girl’s sit.
“Here is the money for the food I mistakenly and erroneously decanted.” I uttered as I stretched my hand forth holding the 1000 naira note, she looked straight into my eyes and  “Ola! Ola!!” Chorusman barked as he hurrily followed me to the girl’s sit.
“Here is the money for the food I mistakenly and erroneously decanted.” I uttered as I stretched my hand forth holding the 1000 naira note, she looked straight into my eyes and felt dejected.
“Don’t worry; you can go with the money.” She replied facing down.
“No, you can have the money; I am to pay for my misdeed.” I replied sincerely.
“Please just go with the money, I think I am okay with everything that happened.” She riposted dejectedly.
“Now that you insist on not collecting the money, I think I will just leave with the money, thank you, such won’t happen next time.” I pleaded and turned to leave.
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“Guy, I don’t know what’s always wrong with your head, she insisted on not taking the money yet you are forcing her to collect the money…” Daniel uttered frankly.
“She has rejected the money so forget that event.” I blasted loudly.
Shortly, a female teacher entered the hall and introduced herself as Mrs. Anita Frank. She further stated that she is the assigned science class teacher; she led us science students out of the hall to the classroom. The classroom was coloured white, moderate in size, drawing of some mammalian animals with the likes of the skeletal system of a human being, the nervous system, the skin, some organelles organisms to mention few were drew on the wall which beautify the classroom the more, three fans were electrified and are working perfectly, there was a detained room in the class which is locked with an ancient key, I guess the room is the classroom store, the windows is made of aluminums and rods, the chairs and tables were segmented into three roles; right, left and middle, the classroom is in block with the science staff room and very close to the principal’s office. I prickle Daniel and he responded angrily, I notified him of an empty sit close to a window at the second role of the left side, I led the way to the sit and Daniel’s follow, a guy join us and we make up the required three on a sit. Mrs. Anita addresses and advices us to be good and reliable. She narrated some story of some irresponsible students who were rusticated by the school authority.
“I think I will have to rearrange you, boys can’t sit on a role and the girls too, you have to mingle with one another since this is a mixed school, now all of you fall out.” Mrs. Anita said and commanded, we frown our faces as we move out from the class.
“I will be grouping you and I will also assign a group leader of each group, you will also introduce yourself to me as the grouping is going on, understood?” Mrs. Anita explained as he started grouping us, she grouped me with Daniel and the girl I decanted her food earlier, Daniel, the girl and I were sitting on the same sit, this made me uncomfortable but I just have to obey the class teacher commands. Mrs. Anita finished her task, she called the register and leaves the class.
Shortly, the Physics teacher came into the class.
“Good morning students.” He began.
“Good morning sir.” We replied standing before the teacher.
“I am Mr. Bright Kayode, I will be taking you Physics; I know the subject might sound strange to some of you, but it is a compulsory subject and one of the main science subject.
“I heard that there are many genuine and scholars among you, I think learning will be easier and faster with this class. Let me begin with the introduction of my subject.” Mr. Bright paused reading the student’s attentions and seriousness.
“Does anyone of you have any idea of what physics is as a science subject?” Mr. Bright asked holding a chalk.
I looked round the class and I could see no one is raising his or her hand, I know the answer but I was just scared and afraid of the numbers of eyes that will stared at me if I signified I knew the answer.
“But I was told that there many brilliant and intelligent students are in this class… anyway I don’t expect you to know the answer.” Mr. Bright paused.
I slowly raised my hand up, I could see the attentions of the whole students in the class were shifted to me, I could feel my heart pounding and thumping, the answer seems to have vanished from my head.
“What have I done? Why should I raise my hand up? But I know the answer I think I will just close my eyes and answer the question…” I thought looking that the staring student’s.
“Yes… you.” Mr. Bright uttered pointing to me with the chalk in his hand.
I take a deep breath and I look directly at the teacher as I begin.
“Until the end of the 18th century, the study of material things was treated as a single aspect of human thought and it is called NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. But, as knowledge increased, it was found necessary to divide the study into two main branches, (the physical sciences and the biological sciences). The biological sciences deal with living things, while the physical sciences are concerned with the properties and behavior of non-living things.” I paused looking at Mr. Bright, I could see he is so much interesting with my explanation, he was atoned with my points, he opened his mouth wide in surprised, I looked at the students and I could see they were much more interested in my explanations, I faced Mr. Bright and continued.
“The two main physical sciences are Physics and Chemistry. It is quite difficult to make a clear-cut distinction between the two, but, broadly speaking, chemistry deals with the action of one kind of substance on another while physics is concerned mainly with matter in relation to energy. For elementary purposes, the study of physics may be grouped under such headings as mechanics, properties of matter, heat, wave motion, light, magnetism and electricity, but this list is by no means exhaustive. At a higher level we have particles physics which is concerned with the ultimate particles of which matter is composed; nuclear physics deals with atomic nuclei and plasma physics relates to research on the production of energy by processes similar to those believed to be responsible for the sun’s energy, in 1912 a physics scientist defined physics as a science subject that deals with the study of natural phenomenon such as eclipse, thunder and rainbow. But in the modern physics, physics can simply be defined as a pure science that deals with the study of the properties of matter and their relations with energy.” I concluded looking at Mr. Bright.
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“Like seriously, I don’t even know what to say, I am really amazed, I don’t know we have a researcher as in a scientist in this class, Comprehensive High School (C.H.S) is really blessed to have such a wonderful student. Please sit down. Can he get a standing ovation from everyone of you?” Mr. Bright expressed happily, the students stand on their feet and gave me a round of applaud. I feel on top of the world.
The physics teacher further with his explanation on physics as a science subject, he elucidated us on the relationship of physics with other subject like, biology, chemistry, geography, economics, mathematics and so on.
Shortly, the bell was ring for change of lesson and Mr. Bright leaves the class for the Biology teacher.
“My first in school was partly fun and partly boring, the teachers only came into the class to introduce themselves and their subjects, the day was fun because I was doing the answers of the teacher’s question and that has made me more popular and known to the teacher. The bell was rang for closing time, I picked up my #10 polythene bag and hurried to the bus stop, I entered the bus only to find out that I was sitting next to the lady I decanted her food earlier that day