CHAPTER ONE

"Taaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwn..." rang the school siren, signaling the end of the checking-in exercise for the boarding students at exactly 6pm on Sunday 25th, April, 2020.

It was the beginning of a new term for the management of Prudence High School, Yaba. Yet for the students; it was another term of ceaseless assignments, unending preps, unnecessary staff punishments, lengthy church services, hectic Inspection Saturdays and a host of numerous activities.

Students could be seen walking hastily to and fro with their luggages in hand as they rocked their perky shining uniforms, that was the talk of all high schools in the whole of Lagos Mainland and its environs.

Being both a junior and senior secondary school, the uniforms varied according to classes but that didn't, in any way, reduce the high level of daily drip on display. Male students sported plain white shirts paired with black khaki trousers, complemented by the school's magenta tie, pure white socks, and black lace-up leather shoes. A clear distinction between junior and senior boys was observed in the shirt sleeves: juniors wore short-sleeved shirts, while seniors wore long-sleeved ones.

For the girls, there were minor modifications to the dress code. Junior girls wore black long pinafores instead of skirts, similar to the differentiation seen in the male students' shirts. Additional elements included wine berets for junior girls and white ceremonial hats for senior girls. The school's mandatory black blazers, required for all genders and classes, added a final touch of sophistication to the already impeccable attire.

Cars ofdifferent models raced past the gate into the school compound, provoking the school's security officers who had decided to shut close the entrance gate. A small line of cars soon followed as the parents parked midway into the school so as to allow their children alight with their luggage in order to get to their checking-in locations quickly before the house masters and housemistresses decided that they were unwilling to go on with the exercise.

For the students who had checked in, it was that time of the year again to exchange goodbye hugs and pecks with their parents and siblings. Tears flowing because of the fear of the unknown in the new term while still stretching their hands out for the exclusive pocket money from Mummy, which was different from the ones handed over to their guardians. In most cases, the money was collected separately from both Mummy and Daddy while still getting some change from big sister and big brother.

Sincere and emotional tears miraculously changing into glee and laughter the instant they set foot into their hostels.

The school, Prudence High School, consisted of a junior and senior school structure that included science students, who were given the Senior Secondary School tags; SS1, SS2 and SS3 while also accommodating students in the technical section with their tags being Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3.

The school enabled a boarding and day system with majority of its over four thousand students being occupants of the school's male and female hostels. Being a federal school in Nigeria in West Africa, it was only suitable that the names of each of the four hostel houses would be named after some of the great rivers in Africa.

Niger House, coined from the River Niger, stood for Green House; Ogun House, named after River Ogun, representedRed house; Benue House christened after River Benue, epitomized Yellow house and finally, the Ethiope House called after River Ethiope embodied Blue House.

It was the third term in the school, also known as the promotion term, where students had to address any academic shortcomings from the previous two terms or face the possibility of repeating the year.

For the SS2 and Year 2 students, the To-Be Mini gods and Divas, it was a term to plan, coordinate, organize and take charge of school activities while still studying and having fun as they start their campaign for leadership.

With both sections of their senior colleagues having completed their external and final exams the previous week, the stage was all set for them to pick up the mantle of leadership.

Sitting solemnly on the metal railings in front of the school's cafeteria, with entangled arms and a mind far deep in thought, was Adeoye Adeola, a dark-skinned 16-year-old boy in SS2B, who was just one of the many suitors for the head-boy post.

He was a boarder-turned day student, who had just turned back into a boarder some few minutes back. Having been a boarder since the beginning of his secondary school life, he had become a day student in SS2 so as to improve his already fallen grades and recover his mental health from the then callousness of the current final year students.

Returning to the hostel with the intention of running for head boy felt odd. Adeola was uncertain about how his peers would react to the news and how he could convince them that his motives were sincere, not merely driven by the desire for the badge.

Feeling exasperated, he removed his blue-colored eyeglasses from his face. Though intended to correct his shortsightedness, Adeola couldn't shake off the feeling that the eyeglasses had only worsenedhis situation.

Running his hand through his dark wavy hair, that was shaved into low afro haircut, he looked up and noticed Gabriel Chukwu, one of his fellow contenders for the Head Boy post and a student of SS2D, approaching him from the direction of the school pavilion.

"Bro!" Gabriel called out, coming over to meet him.

"How far na?" Adeola asked, in the typical Nigerian horde greeting while stretching his hand forward in anticipation of a handshake.

"I dey bro, what about you?" Gabriel replied as he returned the gesture.

"Just pushing man." Adeola answered, staring at him pensively, his gaze lingering thoughtfully on Gabriel's imposing figure.

He couldn't help but notice how the neatly buttoned-up blazer on Gabriel's tall, lean frame exuded authority and gave him an administrative air. The tie, secured with a tie clip, added a refined touch. Reluctantly, Adeola admitted that Gabriel, like other senior students, adhered to the dressing style typical of senior students, accentuating his entire physical appearance and giving off an administrative and authoritative aura, unmistakably portraying him as a natural leader.

"What a head-boy figure for you, Adeola!" He teased himself.

"What are you doing here?" Gabriel asked him as he joined him on the canteen's railings.

"I just came here to relax."

"Oh, that's good." Gabriel said, nodding his head as he gazed at the ground.

Adeola kept quiet, expecting the next question.

"Wait, chill! What are you doing in school on a checking in day? Don't tell me you are checking in, are you not running for assistant Head-boy Day again?" Gabriel asked, as if he was just thrown back into reality.

"Yes, I have checked in." Adeola answered drily.

"Why!?" Gabriel screamed.

Alaye, what's your business na? "I am running for head-boy." Adeola replied as if that was supposed to explain why he had decided to check into the hostel after two termsaway. Well, Gabriel hadn't been one of the few to ask him why he left hostel in the first place.

"Yes, I know." Gabriel said. "Assistant head boy for Day students so, why are you checking into the hostel?"

"You aren't getting me, Gabriel." Adeola said calmly. "I said I am running for head-boy; the main head boy post of this school."

Gabriel's face became stony and frosty as he digested what he had just heard. Seeing that icy look on one of the top contenders of the post became a turning point in confidence for Adeola. He could definitely get that badge!

"Seriously?" Gabriel asked, not yet convinced. "You are also running for Head-boy?"

"Yes."

"Mad o!" Gabriel said, with a derisive chuckle. Did this guy just laugh? Adeola thought.

"That is...great. Makes sense sha."

"And why does it make sense?" Adeola asked and he immediately regretted asking the question.

"Well, it makes sense sha because I was getting anxious about having one bolo as my assistant but thank God, here you are." Gabriel said, with a feisty smile.

Adeola's eyes blinked numerous times while having his mouth wide open as he thought over Gabriel's words.

"Wait, what!?" He said when he finally got the memo.

"Ha!" Gabriel said, laughing. "I am just joking."

No, he wasn't.

To be frank, Adeola's decision to check in for the Head Boy post caught Gabriel off guard, triggering memories of their junior school days. Back then, Adeola had earned the unofficial title of 'Head Boy' among their peers and seniors, thanks to his academic prowess, confident demeanor, and impeccable appearance.

Gabriel recalled how Adeola had meticulously tailored his House wear shirt and trousers, adding buttons to the collar and slimming down the fit. Adeola had also been one of the first to sport Sebago Docksides, a coveted shoe among Prudence High students, making him one of themost stylish boys in their set until they reached SS1, where Adeola seemed to lose his edge.

There was a shift in Adeola's academic performance as well. Gabriel vividly remembered a moment after exams when he overheard classmates discussing Adeola's decline from junior school genius to senior school underachiever. Initially skeptical, Gabriel's doubt waned when he saw Adeola's math script, marked with a disappointing 28/70.

In addition to his academic struggles, Adeola's once-impressive attire took a nosedive in SS1. He traded his beloved Sebago Docksides for plain, pointed shoes dubbed 'I swear to God', and his wardrobe resembled that of the average SS1 student, a far cry from his previous stylish self. Even worse, Adeola committed a fashion faux pas by wearing the school's standard white shirt, typically reserved for less fashion-conscious students.

Adeola's clashes with members of his social circle, some of whom were senior figures in their set, further tarnished his reputation. As Adeola's status waned, Gabriel found himself rising to prominence among their peers, assuming the unofficial 'head-boy' title that once belonged to Adeola.

"Okay," Adeola replied vaguely, his tone indicating a reluctance to engage further. He wasn't one to entertain mind games, especially not from someone like Gabriel.

Adeola's decision to vie for the Head Boy position stemmed from a deep-seated desire to prevent future students from enduring the same hardships he faced during his SS1 days. The early wake-up calls at 4 am, dealing with ruthless and dirty room captains who wielded canes for the slightest infringements, fetching numerous buckets of water while hustling to secure enough for personal use, and enduring the morning chase by those same room captains at 5 am - these were ordeals he wouldn't wish upon anyone.

Missing meals due to hostel chores, arriving late to class, and the overall hostel atmosphere were conditionshe aimed to rectify. Most afternoons, he strategically stayed outside until 6 pm to avoid encountering his room captains, ensuring he dressed quickly upon returning to prevent being labeled a thief if anything went missing in the room.

Post-prep, he deliberately kept away until an hour after lights out, navigating his way silently to his belongings before the room captains awoke. By the last two weeks of SS1, he practically lived a shadowy existence, often forgotten as a room member, and that became his routine.

Upon returning home for the summer holidays, Adeola adamantly refused to unpack his luggage until the day resumption was due for SS2 first term. Despite countless pleas from family members, he remained resolute in his decision not to resume as a boarder. He still harbored suspicions that someone else had influenced his father to fully support his decision to become a day student.

"Well, if you need my help, Gabriel dey for you." Gabriel said, standing up finally.

"Thanks man." Adeola said, giving him a sinister look.

"What room are you in?"

"Ethiope Room 5."

"Room 5? Is that not the room for JSS3 students? Why are you there? I thought that is Labalo's room."

"Yeah, I am the new room captain. Labalo is my assistant."

"Assistant ke? Egaji, Assistant?? How come abeg?"

"Ask Mr. Toyeeb when you see him."

"Omo. How you dey do am?" Gabriel was beyond words. How does someone who hasn't been hostel for two terms get to become the main room captain of a room that has always been known as the exclusive Common room for Head-boys in Ethiope House and that too over the incumbent room captain, who is probably the most popular person in Ethiope House?

"Na God o." Adeola said simply.

"Omo, your juju strong o."

"Make I carry you go where I do am?"

"Where?" Gabriel asked, with a frank lookon his face.

"Heaven's gate." Adeola almost laughed.

"See as you dey do." Gabriel hissed, his face breaking into a smile as soon as he found out that Adeola had pulled his legs. "Anyhow sha. We will talk later; I have to get to the hostel. I am really tired. Are you not leaving now?" He added wearily. He wasn't willing to walk alone alone all the way to the boys'hostel.

"No, I will still be here for a while probably till 7pm." Adeola lied, sitting firmly but painfully on the slab so Gabriel wouldn't suggest that they should walk together to the hostel. He was about to leave as well but he would prefer to enter the hostel alone, and at his own pace.

"Oya na. We go see." Gabriel said resignedly, as he began to walk away.

"Normal na, boss!" Adeola replied, forcing a laugh as he waited patiently for Gabriel to walk a few metres away from the canteen.

"Na you be boss na." He heard Gabriel say but he didn't respond as he watched him glide away.

Thank God! He puffed out air when he was unable to see Gabriel's form anymore. He wouldn't leave now, maybe in two minutes' time.

But then, what did the guy mean by '...here you are'? Don't overthink it, he was just being shrewd. He seemed to hear in his thoughts and he wouldn't overthink it.

Turning his head, his eyes came across one of his classmates and his adorable girlfriend, Peace Olie standing near the school library with her best friend, Winifred Okeke. They were both looking like newly admitted students as they held the plastic handles of their boxes.

Peace, the tall, gorgeous dark beauty in Ogun house, who was neither the one of the most popular nor one of the finest of the girls in their setbut she was definitely up there as one of the most attractive, especially when it came to bodily assets. He smiled thinly.

As soon as he stood up with the aim of approaching her since he could just go straight to the hostel from there, the idea instantly became unrealistic to him, knowing that he wasn't really in the mood for chit chat. He took one last glance at her and for a second, he was thrown into confusion on whether she was calling out to him or someone else because her hands seemed to be waving in the air.

A car came in between their lines of vision as it wanted to reverse out of the field and, not wanting to take any chances, he hastened his steps taking another route, leading him straight to the Boys Hostel.

Today was one of those days when Adeola couldn't help but appreciate his decision to join the Press Club back in JSS1, a choice he made during the extracurricular activities' recruitment drive. While he had been a member of the debate reserve team since SS1 third term, he never managed to secure a spot on the school's official debate team for external competitions - until last term.

With Uche Chima, the official Chief Debater of the debate team and the school's headboy, falling ill and unable to participate in the imminent Federal Schools' Presidential Debate Competition scheduled for the following week, there arose a need for an additional member to join the team.

Coincidentally, it had also been the transition period when the SS2 students were to take over from the SS3 students and with two SS2s namely Olanuga Tunmise and Udeh Favour, already on the school's debate team, adding a third would significantly tilt the balance. Hence, at the final Press Club meetingon a Friday, just before the team departed for the competition, Mrs. Kotun, the Matron, tasked Chima with selecting someone to fill his spot on the team from the seven SS2 students who were part of the debate reserve crew. It had been decided that Oluchi Kalu, also an SS3 student and the incumbent Press Club President and Press Prefect Girl, who served as the official deputy chief debater of the school team, would assume the role of Chief Debater for the competition.

When the seven SS2 students were called out to the front of the class, Chima had assessed all of them before eventually singling out Adeola as his selected replacement.

Mrs. Kotun, still unsure due to her lack of familiarity with him, demanded that Adeola engage in a debate contest against Tunmise that afternoon to validate his suitability for the team, despite Chima vouching for Adeola's debating skills and attesting to witnessing him debate in person. In the end, Adeola emerged victorious in the debate, leaving Mrs. Kotun astonished by his talent.

During the lead-up to the final debate, Adeola participated twice: once as the third debater in the second round and again in the semi-final as the second debater. As they prepared for the motion in the Debate final against Loyola Jesuit College, Oluchi grew nervous, haunted by memories of their loss in the final to the same team the previous year. Prudence High's repeated close calls in the competition had never resulted in a victory. Additionally, facing the shrewd and highly skilled chief debater of Loyola Jesuit College, who had narrowly defeated Chima the year before, only made matters worse.

She had informed Mrs. Kotun and the other officials who travelled with them that she decided to step down from the chief debater role and become the second debater toalleviate the pressure, leaving them with an unresolved issue regarding who would take on the role of chief debater for the competition finale. The other SS3 student in the team, who was also a female declined when offered, citing same reasons; Tunmise also refused and Udeh Favour decided he wasn't as skilled to take up the role. In a dilemma, Mrs. Kotun turned to Adeola; recognizing this as his opportunity to make history, he eagerly embraced the role, determined to prove that the chief debater of Loyola Jesuit College was beatable.

The Prudence High debate team secured a landslide victory in the end, largely due to the overconfidence of the chief debater of Loyola Jesuit College, who underestimated the rest of Prudence High debate team after recognizing Chima as their only formidable speaker. Adeola emerged victorious as the best speaker in the final competition, solidifying his position as the chief debater of the school's debate team. This victory was particularly significant as it had already been decided that the presidential debate competition would be the last for the current SS3 students on the team.

Approaching the Boys Hostel gate, Adeola wore a faint smile, relishing the memories of joy and the excitement that followed their victorious return to the school. The thunderous applause during the assembly, where the Principal and Uche Chima presented him with the award for best speaker, was still vivid in his memory. He still remembered the genuine gratitude expressed by his juniors after the principal announced that Jollof rice and drinks would be shared in the dining hall that afternoon, to celebrate the Big Win. Adeola remembered the sudden surge of recognition and admiration he received from peers and members of staff. He still vividly recalled that even weeks after the competition had ended, there was a playfulexchange between his class's Mathematics Teacher, Mr. Kasali, and another Mathematics Teacher, Mr. Tijani. Mr. Kasali had proudly boasted that he had the Chief Debater of the school debate team in his class, prompting Mr. Tijani to inquire about the notable students in his own class.

Apart from maintaining his position as the new Chief debater of the school's debate team, he also became a prominent leader during the transition in the Press Club. He was voted in as the Vice President of Press Club alongside Udeh Favour while Tunmise became the President.

His exploits with the school's debate team in the Federal Schools Presidential Debate Competition last term had been one that had opened so many doors for him - and once again, it did an hour ago.

Being a member of Ethiope House, he had been appointed room captain for Ethiope Room 5 alongside his classmate and popular big boy, Jacobs Egaji, who was one of the driving forces in the most famous squad in school, TALKLESS. Labalo, as he was fondly called, was one of his old friends and also, funny enough, one of his old foes.

When his housemaster, Mr. Toyeeb ?OG Wahala' who was an English Language teacher, had announced it when he was being checked into the hostel, he had been surprised because the decision had come unexpectedly and at a time when he desperately needed it.

Mr. Toyeeb had looked him over suspiciously with a shocked and animated look when it got to his turn to be checked in.

"Whose face am I seeing? Is this really Adeoye Adeola?" The man had asked while looking amused.

"Good evening, Sir." Adeola had replied, blushing.

"Is this really you? Adeola, the school's awardwinning chief debater?" Mr. Toyeeb's astonishment lingered. "Are you not a day student? What are you doing here ona checking-in day?"

"Yes sir, I am the one. I am checking into the hostel for this term sir."

"Ahn, why? Were you a boarder before?" The man had asked, astonished.

"Yes sir."

"Ahn ahn! I have never seen you before in hostel. Are you sure, you are in my house?" Mr. Toyeeb had asked again, his hands briskly turning through the sheets of papers in the Ethiope House register that was in front of him, searching for the name 'Adeoye Adeola'.

"Yes sir."

"Wow! I can't believe this." The man said, finding Adeola's name on the register. "Mr. Odukoya, please help me look at this boy in front of me. Do you know him? Is he truly in Ethiope House?" He had asked Mr Olukoya, Ethiope's former housemaster and current Ogun housemaster.

"Ahhn ahhn! Adeoye? Back in the hostel? I thought you said you won't check in again? How are you?" Mr Olukoya had said, immediately recognizing the face.

"No, I didn't say that sir. I am well." He had clarified, smiling.

"Ohh okay ooo. Toyeeb, he is my boy, he left hostel in SS1 and now he is back with us." Mr Olukoya had said, turning to Mr Toyeeb before returning to what he had been doing.

"So, are you an acting prefect?" Mr Toyeeb had asked him.

"Yes sir, I am." Adeola had said, not knowing why the question was asked because the man had definitely not asked the person that had been before him, who was also his set mate.

"What post?"

"Head boy sir." He had replied, with a timid but audible voice.

And just then, Mr Olukoya had turned and stared at him as if he had just solved the mystery.

"So that's why you want to check in, Adeoye?" He had said, laughing.

"Not really sir, but it is one of the reasons." Adeola had replied, feeling quite embarrassedand somehow angry because the other housemasters there had focused their unsolicited attention towards him.

"But Adeoye, talk to me." Mr. Olukoya's tone shifted and his skeptism was evident. "Do you think you stand a chance? Do you think you can just come inside the hostel and within six months become a strong contender for the Head-boy post? You better go back home before it is too late and focus on your external exams next year." The man had said, shaking his head.

"Mr. Olukoya, I am sorry but with all due respect sir, I don't think your opinion is necessary and whether i become a strong contender or not, we will get to find out with time. I believe you have more important things to worry about other than me so leave what belongs to Adeoye, to Adeoye." He had replied, glaring defiantly at Mr Olukoya, who had looked so flustered. He had noticed the other Housemasters exchanging surprised glances but at that time, he had been too incensed to even care.

"Errm...that's okay." Mr. Toyeeb had said, breaking the silence and in one way or the other, coming to Adeola's rescue. "Head-boy, right? It seems you are the only one running for Head-boy in my house. There is only one room captain in Ethiope Room 5, take your luggage there; I will tell Egaji that you will become the room captain while he will be there to assist you."

And that was how he had innocently usurped the post of an incumbent room captain and even if it was possible to refuse, why would he? From what Adeola knew and heard, all of the acting head-boys were room captains and they all had common rooms at their disposal so this was, indeed, a blessing in disguise. He knew though that if hewasn't familiar with Mr. Toyeeb who had been part of the Debate Team entourage last term, he might not have had a sniff at the room captain post.

Entering into the hostel, Adeola glanced at his wristwatch. 6:58pm! Wow! That was fast!

The mood in the hostel was quite a lively and intoxicating one. Everywhere was bubbling with noise and excitement.

The juniors were excitingly talking about Dora the Explorer, Sponge Bob Square Pants, and other animations and cartoons they had watched over the holidays. A few gathered somewhere close to the bathing area and were busy talking about Henry Danger, The Thundermans, Bella and the Bulldogs, Game Shakers and every of the other interesting Nickelodeon Tv series they had watched.

Their senior counterparts on the other hand, were greeting each other on the norms; football, music, babes, fashion and phone accesories that were now in vogue. They could not wait to share the exotic American action movies they had watched; the number of Instagram likes and followers they had garnered over the holidays; the exquisite places they had visited to take pictures for the gram and the latest trends on the internet space.

On getting close to the senior hostel, he noticed his mates were assembled around the hostel slab, just in front of the main hostel.

Some seemed to be talking football.

"Bro! Did you watch Barcelona vs Bayern!?"

"Yes! 8-2! Barcelona are fools; their own player, Coutinho scored two against them. I almost died of laughter,"

Then die na, Idiot! Adeola cursed under his breath. He was a lifelong fan of FC Barcelona.

Some were talking American Pop and baddies.

"Imagine saying Cardi raps better than Nicki? What are you on, bro!?"

"Bro, let's forget about the rap but just imagine having Nicki as your babe. God!"

"Finished man!"

Some were gisting about Reality shows.

"I can't wait for this year's BigBrother Naija."

"How do you as a guy, sit down and watch Big Brother Naija? Disgusting, right?"

"Why do you sit down and watch 22 grown men running after an innocent ball? Disgusting! We all have things we enjoy and I enjoy Big Brother Naija!"

And as was common when students came back to school after listening to the songs of their Favorite artistes over the holidays, some were arguing about the all-time greats in the Nigerian Music Industry.

"Wizkid is just too good! Did you see what he did on that Escape song with Akon? The Best!" One guy said from nowhere.

"How is he the best?" Another asked with a sarcastic tone, prompting Adeola to slow down his steps a bit to listen to the response because he was a big fan of Wizkid.

"Erm, he is the best because 'she tell me say'." One of the guys sitting beside the one who had asked the question, responded slyly and everyone went into convulsive laughter.

The dining hall opened for dinner but no one went in to eat because according to hostel trends, only someone who didn't have food to eat at home would eat dining food on the first day of resumption.

Adeola slid through all the ruckus as he was stopped every now and then by some of his mates, who cared to ask why he was in the hostel and all of their faces seemed to produce the same disbelieving and doubtful looks when he gave them the reason.

Once he got into the main hostel and went into the Ethiope and Benue Boundary, his nervousness began to increase.

His luggage had been taken to the room earlier by Farouq Hussein, who was one of the three acting Ethiope House captains that had been assisting Mr. Toyeeb during the check-in exercise.

Of course, it hadn't beenfree of charge as he had let go of one of his two food packs and a Pepsi drink, all of which had been bought from a fast-food restaurant just outside the school gate. His Dad had insisted on him putting something in his stomach before he checked in. He had devoured the first one and had kept the second for dinner but since he hadn't been ready to go into the hostel at that time, he had gotten no choice but to let go of his precious dinner.

Actually, all the acting prefects had been asked to come the day before so as to assist in cleaning of the school but just a few of them had acknowledged the invitation and the entirety of them were acting house captains so since he would be defying hostel tenets by going to the dining hall this early in the term, food thus became Farouq's main target.

Walking into the corridors of his room, Adeola was welcomed by a loud hoot of laughter, which seemed to be coming from the Room Captain?s common room.

He knocked on the door, totally not expecting the next thing that came when the door was flung open.

"Yes, what do you want?" The supposed gatekeeper barked, with a stern and hostile voice. He was Madu Brandon, another classmate of his in Ogun house and another member of TALKLESS.

Adeola's eyes glided past Brandon into what appeared to be a coven meeting inside, what would now become, his common room. There were three other boys inside the small room that housed just a single bunk, two white plastic chairs, a long mopstick on which was a row of hangers and a brown semi-large wooden locker.

"Guy, answer. What are you doing here?" Another voice called out in like manner, this time from thedown bunk. It was John Jerry, popularly known as 'J.J', who was also in his class and Ogun house. He was another meticulous member of TALKLESS.

"Errmm...I..." Adeola stammered, ruffled by the hostility in the air.

"Guys, guys, guys." A very deep and familiar voice said aloud, immediately grabbing Adeola's attention because it didn't seem to come from any of the guys he had set his eyes on. "He is the new room captain of the room and I am his assistant."

Oh! That was where he was. Adeola thought. His eyes had been searching all round for Egaji and there he was, by the right side of the bunk, arranging his clothes by the window.

"Ugh!?" J.J exclaimed. "You are what!?"

"He is what!?" Adeola watched Brandon yell while the other two guys, who were both seated on the top bunk, didn't really seem too surprised; it was more like they had already been informed earlier by Egaji.

"Yes, he is the room captain and I am the assistant. Toyeeb appointed him today and me." Egaji said, impassively. He looked so at ease with the manner of things.

"Wait! Wait! Wait!" Brandon said, trying to wrap his head around what he had just heard. "Like you are telling me that Toyeeb demoted you to assistant room captain just so he can make this guy, the room captain? Where is that done!?"

"But this is rubbish sha." J.J said before turning towards Adeola, who was quivering.

He had expected this but expecting it and living it were two different things.

"You sef, are you not a day student? Why are you back in hostel? Abi is this not the Adeola in our class? The glasses guy?"

"He is the one!" Brandon said. "That is what shocked me when I saw him na, like guy, what are you doing in hostel? So,your daddy bribed Toyeeb so SS1 boys will not be bullying you, right?"

God will punish you, idiot! Adeola swore but he didn't voice it out.

"You guys should stop." Egaji said, coming to the door and dragging Adeola inside the common room. "The main reason why Toyeeb made him the room captain is because he is the only boy in Ethiope house running for Head-boy."

"Headboy!?" Brandon shouted.

"This is a skit, definitely." J.J quipped, breaking into a laughter that would come to worry Adeola in subsequent times.

"So, that's why you came back to hostel?" Brandon was reeling with mirth. "Better go back before they lock the gate; the last position isn't sure, na Joshua get that one."

Adeola ignored him and in spite of the stiff discomfort around his presence in the room, he pulled one of the plastic chairs to his side by the locker and sat down.

"Brandon, you guys should stop it." Egaji said, sitting on the locker. "Bro, how far?" He said, extending his hand towards a baffled Adeola, who instantly returned the gesture.

"I am okay, you?"

"I am good o, how is your side?"

"Side is splendid, yours?"

"Jiggy as always. Ikeja is always jiggy." Egaji said, laughing. "Where do you stay?"

"Around that Iju-Ishaga side." Adeola said, knowing that none of them would be conversant with that name.

"Iju-Ishaga? I know that place, it is not too far from Ikeja. The place is always jiggy too."

The two boys that had been on the top bed, jumped down and walked towards Adeola.

"Bad boy!" One of the them shouted, clownishly slapping Adeola on the shoulder. "How is the mother of your kids?"

He was Okolie Joshua, a fearfully tall and dark student in Ogun house and Year 2, Secretarial Studies. He was not a member of TALKLESS but he was just a top member in asimilar group of boys, named B.W.A, which was an acronym for Boys with Attitude. He was also a fellow member of Press Club, where Adeola was the Vice-president. Apart from all that, he was also an acting head-boy, which was what made Adeola's interest in him to surge.

Adeola laughed for the first time since he came into the room. "Guy, leave me abeg." He said, still laughing. Joshua was always going to crack him up.

Late into last term, Joshua had seen him and Peace exchanging a few pecks and kisses behind his classroom after school and that was when the taunting had commenced.

Adeola looked up and fell into a gaze with the last person in the room that he was yet to encounter. Aji Abubakar.

The introverted and calm Aji, who was a student in S.S.2F and an affiliate of Benue house, was also a member of TALKLESS and although none of them voiced it out, he was the apparent leader of the squad. And asides that, he was also an old friend of Adeola.

"How far, Adeola?" Aji said, focusing his eyes on Adeola as he stretched his hand towards him.

"Boss, I am okay. You?" Adeola replied, shifting his gaze away from him.

Reality had just hit him and panic was setting in. He would have to put up with having all of these guys and their colleagues around at least till when the Head-boy would be selected.

"I am alright. Heard you are running for head-boy, are you a candidate or you are just trying to be funny? Like Joshua."

"Aji, are you crazy? Who is trying to be funny?" Joshua exploded, giving Brandon and Egaji something to giggle about for a while. "Don't play with me man, I am a serious candidate."

"Okay sorry, you are a candidate." Aji responded. "Adeola, better person,are you really running for Head-boy?"

"Yes boss."

"But how will you go about it?" Aji asked him, desiring more explanation. "You know there are a lot of guys on that post, like Gabriel, Favour, C.M.O, Kuwam, Bright and lastly, Joshua."

He and Adeola had been comrades since their JSS1 days, when he had still been in J.S.S1C, which had been Adeola's class in junior school, before he had been transferred to J.S.S1E and they had ended up walking together in the same circle of friends until SS1 so if there was anyone who knew Adeola very well, then he was the one.

Despite his below standard academic performance in senior school, one couldn't deny that this guy was still one of the smartest and influential people in their set, his debate heroics last term being a great example, and if he could be appointed room captain on the first day of his return to hostel then he could easily become Head Boy, if he desired and worked towards it.

"Aji. See, I will do my thing, let them do theirs. Anybody that gets it, gets it." Adeola replied. He wasn't going to be discouraged, at least not this early.

Since the Olukoya incident, he had been thinking and he felt his motive should probably change. If he focused his aim solely on the badge, then he would probably be fighting for a lost cause. His aim now shouldn't be for the badge; the housemasters would make that hard for him most especially during the screening. His aim now was to become a strong contender while still causing a revolution in the scheme of things in the school. If he got the post, fine but if not, still fine.

"Aji what about you?" He asked, despite knowing he would say Sports Prefect being the fastest athlete inthe school.

"Sports Prefect."

"Egaji, you too?" Egaji was one of the school's best football players.

"Yeah." Egaji answered, with a smile.

"Alright then." Adeola said, unbuttoning his shirt. He glanced up at the row of shirts, trousers, sport jerseys and vests on hangers placed on the long mop stick just above the upper bed. They obviously belonged to Egaji.

"You can also hang your clothes there. This is your room, boss." Egaji said, as if reading his thoughts. "Just make sure you can identify them."

"Oh, thanks." Adeola said, trying to hide his excitement. So, this was how it felt like. The feeling of a senior student. The feeling of a prefect with rare priviledges. The feeling of a room captain.

While in Junior school and S.S.S 1, whenever he came back to the hostel after school classes, his shirt would always go back squeezed or semi-folded into his school box until it was time to wash it. No matter how neatly folded it was, there would always be wrinkles on it, making the shirt look rough and rumpled but now, things would be different.

He slipped on a black T-shirt, that had TOM DESIGNS AND PRINT MEDIA, which was the name of his brother's company, boldly printed in front of it. He stood up from the chair, placing his shoes inside a black thick nylon before putting them into his box and withdrawing a pair of palm slippers from there.

"Put your shoes in front of the locker na." Egaji volunteered again. "You will still have to polish it for tomorrow. Put it there beside mine."

Adeola glanced at the ground, in front of the locker. He was absolutely loving this. There was a pair of shoes in front of it, which was similar in brand to his own.

He walked towards the door, ignoring the malicious looks fromBrandon and J.J, both of whom had been silent since he had been brought into the room. They seemed to be nursing their anger and frustration. He knew that once he got out through that door, they would pour everything out but that wasn't why he was going out.

He was going to the main room to speak with his new room boys.

"Egaji, I am going to talk to the boys." He informed Egaji, who nodded his head coolly, before he went past the door and slammed it shut.

"Labalo, what is this?" J.J probed as soon as the door was shut.

"What is what?" Egaji replied, still sitting on the locker as he faced his colleagues.

"Why would the housemasters demote you because of one bolo that is whining himself with head-boy ambitions? I can't accept this!"

"Egaji, why are you so calm? Are you not angry?" Brandon said, finding it strange and annoying that Egaji looked pleased and okay with Mr. Toyeeb's decision.

Egaji laughed, exchanging glances with Aji and Joshua.

"Actually, I am not angry. Why should I be angry? It is annoying staying inside this room alone so I will gladly welcome a new roommate." Egaji answered.

"But guy, what about the demotion?" Brandon insisted, feeling less bitter now. "How will Adeola, of all people, become the room captain over you, the current room captain?"

"Bro, this guy is running for Head-boy na...do you expect me, an acting sports prefect, to be room captain over him? We are talking of the head-boy post here."

"Which stupid head-boy!?" Brandon shouted. "I have more chances of becoming head-boy than him and I am not even campaigning!"

"Stop underestimating the guy. He is one of the smartest in our set so why not?" Joshua said, in Adeola's defense.

"Which silly smartest? Is this junior school? Guy, the person we are talkingabout is in my class. The guy was failing deliciously in SS.1, he just started picking up last term. At best, he is average! Besides, leadership isn't just about academics. Who can this guy influence, please?"

"What are you talking about? Is this ment or malaria!?" Joshua said, in his casual aggressive manner. "He is the vice-president of Press Club and he is the school's chief debater! Who is in Press club here abeg...?" He looked around and on sighting Aji, he continued. "Ask Aji na, the guy is very good when it comes to leadership."

Aji nodded. "Don't underrate Adeola, I am sure he is capable of becoming a strong contender, if given the chance to show himself." He said, agreeing with Joshua. "And about the room stuff, I also had to leave the room captain position for Favour when he submitted his name for those running for Head-boy. You can't be running for head-boy when you aren't even the head of your room.

"Then he also has to be the head of his class too na or that one doesn't matter?" Brandon argued, not wanting to go down so easily.

"Class captains are chosen right from the beginning of S.S.S 1 because your class teacher in S.S.S 1 ends up being the same up until your end in the school except he or she becomes a housemaster so that theory doesn't work." Aji explained.

"So, he didn't have leadership skills in S.S.S 1 or what?"

"Guy na!" Egaji shouted in frustration. "So, if everyone in the class has an outstanding leadership skillset, so everyone should be class captain then. Why are you thinking like this? Why are you not the class captain of our class or you don't have leadership skills?"

"I don't have!" Brandon said flagrantly, prompting the others to laugh.

"You guys are worryingabout the wrong thing sha." Joshua said. "How do you guys intend to roll with your phones and other contrabands in and out of here like you usually do?" He asked. "I am sure Adeola didn't come inside the hostel with a phone so, how would you do it?"

"Ahn ahn! See question, what does he want to do?" J.J said.

"Hope you remember he is the room captain not Egaji?"

"And so? Wetin the guy wan do? He will have to mind his businesss or face the consequences."

Egaji and Aji began to laugh.

"Face the consequences?" Joshua repeated. "Seems like you don't know who you are dealing with. This guy was the Head of reporting in junior school; just try to touch him and the next morning, you are back in your daddy's house."

"Ehn normal, he is a bolo so, no surprise there." Brandon said casually.

"That means you are also a bolo because this guy was also one of us in junior school." Aji replied, ignoring J.J and Brandon's ludicrous looks at him when he began to talk. "He used to move with us."

"Even before the both of you." Egaji added, pointing at Brandon and J.J.

"And what is that supposed to teach us?" Brandon asked. "Just because you were rich yesterday, doesn't mean you have money today. It is not new!"

"Wisdom, my bro!" J.J said in agreement. "Fact remains that now, he is a bolo and that's just it!"

"And that is decided because he doesn't walk with us anymore or what? So, everyone that isn't in a clique is a bolo?" Aji asked.

"Aji, stop acting like you don't know what I mean. Jeffrey and Dayo are not in TALKLESS or B.W.A but they can move freely with any of us without anybody having issues with it but can this guy, do it?"

"What ifhe just doesn't want to? Must everyone flow with the guys in cliques?"

"Aji, leave them alone." Egaji said before turning towards the two antagonists. "Whether you like it or not, this guy is here to stay. How do we find a way with the contrabands we own; the phones, chargers, and irons?"

"But why are you guys being this nervous because of this guy?" Brandon asked, feeling irritated. "He is a senior student na, he can't be that retarded to meet housemasters and report that his mates are using phones in hostel.

"He is running for head-boy bro, that's the difference between him and a normal senior student!" Joshua said. "Literally everyone knows that once you are able to report the crimes of your own mates, you become a staff favorite immediately."

"Okay, so what do we do?" Brandon said, resignedly and they began to look at one another, expecting answers from anyone.

"Omo, I don't know." Egaji said. "You guys have messed up what I had in mind already. I already planned with Aji and Joshua that I would just accommodate the guy and make him comfortable so when he sees us with phones and all, he would just look away but all that is messed up already."

"Okay, yes we messed it up but you should have informed us when we came in instead of finding out when the guy came inside." J.J argued.

"Was it not after both of you came that Adeola knocked on the door? How is it my fault that you can't calm down and use your brain?"

"Egaji, it is okay." Aji said calmly. "I don't know about the long-term action but for now, let's just accommodate Adeola. I know the guy well; he is someone who would not snitch on someone he likes or people he is comfortable around."

"Yeah,that is true." Joshua agreed. "Forget, Adeola is a real gee."

"This thing is actually easy, very easy." Egaji said plaintively. "Just put up with him, turn him to your guy and be rest assured. I don't talk to him despite being in the same class but this is about my phone here; I can't allow Olukoya to smash my phone on the floor o! Iphone 8 Plus that I just bought!? No way!"

"I didn't bring phone inside hostel, so you guys are on your own." Aji said, laughing.

"Guy please o, talk to your guys."

"It is none of my concern."

"Me too, I hardly come here and definitely Adeola would never snitch on me if he sees me with phone." Joshua said.

They heard a loud and rumbling 'Yes sir!' that seemed to come from the main room.

"Guy already has the juniors on lockdown mode. He could really contend for the head-boy post but that post already belongs to one person." Joshua said, smiling wildly when he said the last words.

"Favour?" Aji said, with a contemptuous smile on his face.

"No!" Joshua screamed. "Favour will be my assistant, I am already the head-boy. Brandon, what do you think about me becoming the head-boy?"

"You want to become the head-boy?" Brandon asked tiredly.

"Yes, of course."

"Of which school?" Brandon asked, prompting Aji, Egaji and J.J into a fervent howling laughter.

"God will punish you, mad man." Joshua replied, biting his lips.

"Guy, everybody knows you are not serious about this head-boy thing. You are just catching cruise." Aji said.

"No, I am not catching cruise! I want that Head-boy badge!"

"Okay then, go and steal it." Brandon quipped.

"Guy, I will break your head. I swear!" Joshua said, just as someone knocked the door.

"Yes, who is there?" Egaji asked.

"Adeola."

They all exchanged eerie glances before Egaji replied. "Come in na, this is yourroom."

Adeola walked in, feeling quite better than the first time he had walked through the door. His session with the room boys had been a good one. There had been no disrespectful moments, something which he had feared as the boys were all in JSS 3. He had been surprised to know that they knew his name and the post he was running for. He had been more surprised as to how silent they became whenever he began to speak.

Now he was worried by the way Brandon and J.J were staring at him as though they were infatuated with him. What is happening here?

"My guy!" You probably guessed right. That was Brandon becoming lively again as he stood up to shake hands with Adeola. "How far?" He asked, still having Adeola's hands in his.

A confused Adeola kept nodding mildly while looking to an amused Egaji for an explanation that never came.

"Sorry for how I acted previously, I was just being childish. Now, I understand."

Adeola nodded again, still fazed. What happened within the few minutes that he had been away from the room?

"J.J, come and apologize to our Head-boy. Are you okay? Stand up!" Brandon yelled at J.J who stood up grinning broadly as he walked towards Adeola.

"How far boss? My Head-boy!" J.J said, still smiling.

"I am okay." Adeola said, wondering how he went from 'Glasses boy' to 'Boss and My Head-boy' in the period of not more than twenty minutes.

Something must have occurred while he had been away. Quite odd. He thought as he sat down on the chair he had been sitting on before he left the room. He had only come in to take a drink from his box because he had wanted to go sightseeing on a stroll down to the Ogun and Niger boundary of thehostel.

"What is that stuff? Is that Maze drink?" Adeola heard Brandon ask.

"Yeah, it is Maze drink." Adeola replied, getting worried that he might have to let go of his drinks. He had taken only two of the drinks with him into the hostel because he had thought that the housemasters would search thoroughly but that had not seemed to be the case, at least for him.

"Omo, I have missed this drink!" Brandon said, grabbing one of the two drinks from Adeola's box and instantly popping it open.

Are you kidding me!? Adeola's mouth was agape as he helplessly watched Brandon gulp the contents of the drink.

"Guy, don't finish it! Stop!" J.J was screaming at Brandon as he struggled to wrestle the drink away from Brandon's lips.

Adeola's attention had been so focused on the two boys that he hadn't noticed Joshua coming towards him until Joshua's right hand found its way to the remaining one drink inside the box.

"Joshua! Joshua! That's the last one, stop!" He screeched.

"Calm down, I just want to test if there is poison inside so you won't drink it and die. It is for your own good." Joshua replied, holding the drink at arm's length so Adeola's outstrectched hands won't reach it.

"What poison? If there is poison inside, won't you die?"

"I can't die; my daddy is a pastor and my mummy is a prayer warrior" Joshua said, and the other guys burst out laughing.

"Guy, please na. Stop. That's my last one." Adeola pleaded.

"Joshua, give him na!" Egaji said.

"Guy, calm down. I know what I am doing." Joshua replied before turning towards Adeola. "Come, I want to talk to you. I am already going sef so let's go outside."

"Broke guy, you want to beg for drink. So shameless." Brandon said.

"The one you took; did you take permission before drinkingit?"

"Did he complain? You want to copy me! You are still small." Brandon replied and J.J broke into a laugh.

Joshua eyed the both of them and faced Adeola. "Adeola, let's go." He said, walking towards the door.

Adeola stayed rooted to where he sat. He would have to let go of the drink anyways. He had suddenly remembered that he had a spare one but he wouldn't bring that out. He wasn't going anywhere again; he would stay back in the room. That remaining drink in his school bag must be preserved.

"Don't worry, I give you. Bye." He said to Joshua.

"It is not because of the drink I want to see you jor, come seriously. I want to talk to you." Joshua said, lingering by the door till Adeola stood up.

"Guys, I am off, later." Joshua said to the others.

"Bye bye! Make sure you give him his drink!" Egaji said, laughing.

"Guy, leave me."

"Bye, Uncle shameless." Brandon said, laughing coolly.

"Your real dad! Both of you should sleep in Ethiope, don't come back to Ogun o!" Joshua warned, pointing at both J.J and Brandon. "You Brandon, I am going to tell Kuwam to lock the door to your room and common room."

"He wouldn't dare because he is going to cry!" Brandon said, reminding Adeola that he had heard that Brandon shared a room with another classmate of his and another member of TALKLESS, Kuwam Olanipekun, who was also running for Head-boy.

"Okay na, we will see about that. Adeola, let's go." Joshua replied, walking out of the room.

The remaining guys in the room watched on in silence as Adeola followed Joshua out.

"What do you think Joshua has to say?" J.J asked no one in particular.

"It is about the drink." Brandon answered.

"Nah, it is not the drink." Egaji replied. "Adeola told him to take itbut he still insisted on talking to him so it is not about the drink."

"He might have just said that to save face, it is the drink." Brandon insisted.

"It is not the drink o, if it is drink, Joshua would have escaped with the drink since. He obviously wants to talk to Adeola."

"He probably just wants to advise him about the Head-boy stuff." Aji said reflectively.

"So..." Adeola said, as he stood side by side with Joshua. They were by the exit door that ushered both occupants and visitors into Ethiope Room 5. "What did you want to say?"

Joshua looked up at him, resting himself on the wall in dramatic fashion.

"Do you have a plan?" He asked.

"Plan for what?" Adeola asked, puzzled.

"Plan on becoming Head-boy."

"No, I don't have any such plan." He answered simply.

"Maybe you are saying this because you feel I am running for head-boy but let me inform you." Joshua said, staring fully at Adeola. "I am doing this for cruise; I have too many disciplinary cases in my file to even think of becoming a prefect at all talk more of Head-boy!"

"It is not because you are running for head-boy; I just don't have any plan at all." Adeola said, with a slippery laugh. "And you having disciplinary cases doesn't mean you can't get the head-boy post. In one-way sha, for all the contenders I know so far, we all have, at least, one disciplinary case."

"So, you have a disciplinary case?" Joshua asked, ripping into a laugh. "What did you do?"

"I threw shoe brush on Newsong's forehead." Adeola answered, still laughing.

"Wait, Newsong? Newsong? Who is Newsong?" Joshua asked, trying so hard to hold his laughter.

"Oni Newsong na, that dark girl in SS2D na; she is Ore Elizabeth's best friend."

"Oh! Oh! Newsong!" Joshua said, breaking into laughter yet again."Why!? What did she do to you?"

"It was back in JSS3, she was in my class at the time. So, that day, I believe it was a Friday after assembly, I was sitting at my desk in front of the class. Her seat was a couple of desks away from mine, and I was busy brushing my shoes when I started feeling orange seeds hitting my body." He glanced at Joshua. "I looked up and saw her smirking at me while devouring the orange. I was so irritated. I told her to stop because I used to claim to be fresh and those seeds were bothering me! But she didn't respond and just threw another one. That was it! I lost it and flung the shoe brush at her. Unfortunately, my aim was off, and her forehead took the hit."

"Ah! What happened after that?"

"Blood started coming out, and everyone in the class just held me and started shouting. They rushed her to the clinic, and since we had just finished assembly, they had to pass in front of the staff and vice-principals. Our form teacher was there, and the people who carried her only relayed the part where I threw the brush to her and the Vice-Principal of the Junior School. That's how they came for me."

"I can imagine the beatings!" Joshua said, laughing.

"Actually, I wasn't beaten at all, except when she herself slapped me on my back after my brief shotput experiment."

"Mad man! What happened to you after that? What did they do to you?"

"I knelt for two hours outside the Vice-Principal's office before being arranged before the so-called disciplinary committee inside the Chemistry Lab. They didn't do much, Mr. Blaise was just writing notes and all. Later, I went back to the Vice Principal, who then told meto go to my class and come back by break. Eventually, Newsong and her friends came to meet me, hugged me, and we reconciled. She mentioned that she had already pleaded with the Vice Principal on my behalf, so I didn't need to go back there."

"Awwn! That's sweet. You guys were close then?" Joshua asked.

"Yeah, somehow. The girl was one of my favorites then, a sweet soul."

"Now?"

"Nah, we don't really talk. I can talk to her when I see her but if there is nothing to say, why do we have to talk?"

"Okay, okay." Joshua said, exasperated. He wanted to sleep. "So, I am going to advise you to come up with something or if you can't then stick to the basics which are, working hard, gathering respect and admirers and becoming the best bet the school has to go for." He paused, staring blankly at Adeola. "You've already gained considerable fame in school, especially after winning the debate last term. Nearly everyone knows you, which gives you an advantage. Now, you just need to transition from being a well-known chief debater to becoming the respected head boy of the school."

"Tomorrow morning, wake up early, go out to where the students bathe outside...go there and announce the time you want to chase them out from the hostel. Tell them your name, and give them the deadline for leaving that place and make sure you come back there to chase at that time you had given them. Make sure you aren't holding belt or cane when chasing or when you go there to give that announcement. Come back and thank me later. See you later." He said, walking a few steps away from Adeola before suddenly turning back. "Another thing, be careful with these guys." He said, pointing towards the commonroom. 'I don't know what you have in mind but just make sure they don't put you in trouble. I trust you know what you are doing. Bye."

"Yeah, thanks." Adeola said, thinking hard about the last sentence. "What about my drink?" He asked, suddenly remembering that Joshua had said he didn't want the drink.

Joshua stopped momentarily on his tracks just outside the door, eyeing Adeola with derisive eyes. "The advice I gave you, you think it is free of charge?" He asked, walking away before the drink could be taken away from him.

Adeola stared after him, amused while still in deep thought about the paid advice he just received.

He walked back to the main room and on getting there, he met the guys talking about Instagram and that was one topic he, Adeola, really sucked at.

Not that he didn't have an account, he just didn't have the many followers and the engagements that comes with posting on a regular basis. He hardly went out and even if he did, he didn't go out in expensive designers and sneakers.

"That place Escobar and King went last time? Bro, that place is cute!" Adeola heard Brandon say as he laid down on his bed.

"What's so cute about it? It's the Radisson Blu hotel in Ikeja, for Christ's sake. Are you trying to compare it to La Presidential Hotel & Suites in Ikoyi where Joshua and Charles were recently? Or did you miss the pictures on their page? Escobar and King just went to Radisson to dress up and take pictures for Instagram; they didn't buy any food or drinks. They are all living a fake life." Egaji replied.

"Egaji, what are you saying na?" Brandon said with an irritated expression. "Escobar's got money, man, and King is doing well too. Those guys are usingiPhone X, bro. Do you know how much that is!? Keep it on the low, please, don't mention it outside."

Adeola was now on his bed while J.J and Brandon had moved to the plastic chairs to give him room to sleep. He lay there quietly, allowing his ears to absorb the conversation while keeping his mouth shut. With nothing to contribute, he was content to remain silent.

His thoughts drifted to the four guys they spoke about.

Nwafor Kenechukwu Christian, known as Casey Escobar, was an SS2E student in Niger House. King Daniels, an SS2A student in Benue House, Joshua Okolie, and Ojia Charles, a Year 2 Bookkeeping student in Ogun House, were all members of the Boys with Attitude squad.

The B.W.A group was an array of SS2/Yr2 students in which some members formed rap songs with a fusion of afrobeats hoping to be the next Nigerian impressions and other members engaged in personal modelling hoping for engagements on social media while posing as the leading big boys in Prudence High.

Both the Boys with Attitude (B.W.A) and TALKLESS were renowned for having the most popular guys in school among their set mates. As is often the case with such groups in high schools, they occasionally clashed with each other.

It all began in JSS1 when Mark Okonkwo arrived at the hostel alongside other JSS1 students in October 2015. Mr. Eze, the senior boarding housemaster at the time, assigned the ultra-modern block (U.M.B) to the newly admitted students. Mark, an Ogun house member, quickly bonded with Udeka Tochukwu, another new boy in Ogun house, and they became close friends. Soon, Achilonu Obinna (Obisco) and China Michael Okoh (C.M.O), both also new to the hostel and Ogun house, joined their clique, forming a strong group among the JSS1s.

During inter-house sports practice, Adeola, seeking a groupto join, began hanging out with them but he soon distanced himself due to his preference for independence. He found solace with Charles Ojia, who had a disagreement with Mark at the time. Charles was charismatic, and Adeola felt comfortable with him, especially since his friend Makuo Okeke also associated with Charles. All was well until well when Joshua Okolie happened. The day Joshua came over to meet Charles to talk about being friends with Mark, Adeola was there but there was really little he could do. Charles had agreed, and as Charles and Mark got united so did their guys; Makuo, Abiola Divine and Joshua began walking with Mark under the new name, Boys with Attitude, but then again, Adeola disembarked.

Upon entering JSS2, the "big girls" discovered that the "big boys," the B.W.A squad, had formed a strong alliance. In response, they decided to unite as well. Angel Amaechi, considered the most beautiful girl in school, and her self-consumed rival, Diana Goyin, who happened to be Adeola's crush at the time, became friends along with their respective circles of friends.

Other people joined the B.W.A gang such as Nwoye Chris, the tallest guy in their set, who was in Niger house; Chidubem Osuji a day student; Matthew Okoye, a boarder in Ethiope house, Kene in Niger house; China Nwoga, also known as King, a boarder in Ethiope house; Nasiri Mohammed, a day student; Sullivan Emeka, a chubby boy in Niger house and finally Chizzy Fessera, a day student.

With Mark and Angel now dating, match-making began among the so called 'big girls' and B.W.A. The peak of the alliance matchmaking and the birth of a new prevalent boy group came on a Friday afternoon in JSS2 third term when both the B.W.A boys and 'big girls' gathered around Timbershed, a namegiven to the JSS2 main block, to play the Truth or Dare game where a few of their members dared the couples to exchange kisses and a lot of other things. While all these had been going on, one of their set boys named Ibe Emmanuel, who was miserably single, roguishly reported the incident to some members of staff, who summoned all listed members of the male and female groups and threatened to suspend them if any of them were found guilty.

Fortunately, the case was forgotten, and afterward, the B.W.A squad and their female colleagues threatened Ibe. Seeking refuge, Ibe joined a group of guys who, at the time, enjoyed walking together and were gaining popularity. The members included Aji Abubakar, dubbed the strongest guy in the set, along with David Nwanezi, Qudus Adenuga, Ugo Abraham, Favour Williams, Benjamin Ebirem, Franklin 'Tyler' Osondu, Egaji Jacobs, Budom Henry, Umoru Elisha, Anthony Bedekeremo, Shittu Mahmuda, the Badmus twins, and notably, Adeola Adeoye.

A fight broke out, and witnessing the Aji group standing firm to protect Ibe, the B.W.A squad decided to leave him alone. This marked the beginning of a prolonged feud between the two groups and initiated a journey toward acceptance for Aji and his crew. Most of their peers began referring to them as 'TALKLESS,' inspired by Aji's refusal to engage in discussions with Mark and his straightforward stance that B.W.A must not touch Ibe.JSS3 came and a few of their mates left the school and Chidubem Osuji, one of the members of B.W.A was a notable mention.

In the early days of SS1, new guys like Brandon Madu, Tolu Badejo, Bori Olaiya, and J.J joined Aji and his crew. However, it became surprising when some members of the group, especially the new additions, began emulating the behavior of the B.W.A boysthey detested. Eventually, Adeola, who had been experiencing a challenging year, chose to withdraw gradually, and soon enough, he felt lost within the group.

The end finally arrived on the eve of the inter-house sports in SS1. Adeola's classmate, Yahbueze Abraham, had entrusted him with some money to hold onto, but it somehow went missing. Adeola spent most of the school hours searching for it. Egaji, who was the assistant class captain at the time, instructed Adeola to sweep the class during the weekly sanitation, which came as a surprise since they were in the same group. However, he explained that he was searching for the missing money. He had thought Egaji understood, but it turned out there were other intentions at play.

After settling the owner of the money, he had unexpectedly linked up with the guys from B.W.A that day.

He, Obinna, C.M.O, Matthew and Joshua had spent time together after school up until till late in the night.

At first, they had caught up with talking football and Adeola, who had just started watching that year in 2018, had caught up well with the guys as they dished out football facts after facts. As they got along, they had come across some of their set girls training for calisthenics, which was compulsory for SS1s during inter house sports and off, they had gone to taunt and flirt with them.

As Adeola got into the hostel that night after a day of mixed emotions, he had decided to see the mood of his set guys who were all based in U.M.B while he was in the main hostel. As he climbed up to the first room, he met Egaji, Ibe and Aji on their way out. He shook hands with Aji and as he was about to touch Egaji, his hands were slappedaway.

"You! I was telling you to sweep and you were doing big boy for me; you were doing big boy for me. Aji, this one dey do big boy for me!" Egaji had said, with his hand crashing down on Adeola's face, the force of the slap stinging sharply, and as he prepared to land the second one, Ibe got him restrained from doing more damage.

"Egaji, stop!" Aji had shouted but the damage was already done.

"Egaji! Are you crazy? Why will you slap me?" Adeola had shouted when he had recovered himself. His voice had been a mixture of shock and indignation. Ignoring the pain, he had moved closer to Egaji who was trying hard to break free from Ibe's grip so he could get hold of Adeola.

Before Adeola could lay a hand on Egaji, Aji had dragged him and held him still.

"You guys need to stop, please. This isn't cool at all," Aji had urged, his voice firm but calm as he attempted to defuse the tense situation. "Why are you fighting over something like this?"

"When he slapped me, weren't you there? And now that I want to retaliate, you're telling me to calm down?" Adeola's voice had been filled with frustration. "He's your friend, and yet he is the first one you are coming to meet and ask him to sweep the class because you're the Assistant Class Captain. Is that how Mark treats his friends? Let's just go our separate ways. I can't tolerate disrespect just because I'm associated with someone. Au revoir!" With that, he had forcefully freed himself from Aji's grip and stormed off downstairs.

Adeola smiled as he laid down on the bed, oblivious of the conversation going on in the room. He wondered whether Egaji or Aji still remembered the incident. They would haveprobably forgotten about it.

On getting downstairs, the first person he had set his eyes on was Obinna, who seemed to have been watching the scene from the ground floor. Obinna had dragged him along to Joshua's common room in the junior block. That was where the other guys in B.W.A gathered for their discussions and cruise though at that time, it was only Obinna, C.M.O, Joshua and Jude who had been around as the others had sneaked home to shun the interhouse sports.

After the inter-house sports, which Ethiope won by the way, Mark and Adeola had gotten along really well but Adeola made it clear - he wouldn't be walking with them on a regular basis.

The harmony in B.W.A went low for some time in the early days of SS1 third term when Mark didn't resume back to school a week after resumption. Findings were made and the news flew around; Mark had relocated to the United States over the holidays.