CHAPTER SIX: THE TRUTH FRANCIS NEVER TOLD ME
Two of my mates assisted me with my load as I went into the hostel.
"What is your room number?" one of my mates asked as soon as we got to the entrance.
"Room four," I answered politely.
"That is my room. The bunk next to my bunk is vacant, you can stay there," the dark student said.
As soon as we got to my room, they dropped my load on a down bunk bed.
"You can stay here!" the dark girl said as she sat on the already laid bed next to my bunk.
"Who is going to stay on the up bunk?" I asked, looking at the upper bunk.
"I don't know, maybe transferred seniors," the dark girl said as the other dark girl sat on my bed.
I sat on my bed as well. "Seniors?" I asked, confused at what she said, remembering what the other seniors said about seniors not being allowed to enter juniors' hostel.
"Yeah, but Grade 10 to Grade 12 girls aren't allowed inside our hostel. We Grade 7 to 9 are junior school students, and we aren't also allowed inside seniors' hostel," she answered as she dropped her small bag on her bed. "By the way, I didn't catch your name?" she asked, looking at me.
"I am Floral!" I answered her, looking at her with a smile, I guess.
"Well, I am Victoria and the girl beside you is Morayo," she said, sitting upright.
"You are beautiful," Morayo said, looking at me with a smile.
"Thanks," I answered, not quite moved because I have gotten used to the compliment.
"We are in Grade 7D, what about you?" Morayo asked.
They may be first batch because why will they know almost everything about the school?!
"Same here!" I answered as I dragged my load.
"Wow, we can be reading partners and can turn out to be friends," Victoria said, smiling, showing off her dimples.
She is quite a dark beauty!
"Thanks," I said as I dragged my load closer to me.
"Do you have a locker?" Morayo asked, looking at the way I was dragging my load.
"Yeah, my cousin left one for me," I answered them.
My cousin Gabriella left this school last month after her dad got promoted to China to continue his business.
She was also part of the first batch.
Mom seized the opportunity to use her locker since she just used it for a month and three weeks before relocating with her family.
"Is she in senior school now?" Morayo asked as she got up to help with my big bag (Ghana Must Go).
"Nope, she resumed last two months ago before some issue came up," I said, not wanting to say any of our family stuff out.
"Wow, the same month we first batch resumed," Victoria exclaimed.
"What is her name?" Morayo asked.
Come on, you guys and your talk.
"She is Gabriella!" I answered as I carried my box on my bed and opened it to get my bedspread.
"Gabriella?" Morayo asked and covered her mouth.
"Yeah, anything wrong?" I asked as I brought out my folded bedspread and my folded blanket with my towel.
"Her cousin's name is Francis, the finest senior in senior school," Morayo said, looking at Victoria with a gasp.
None of these words are my concern; my brother is not so fine to me. I don't know why they will be saying that.
"He is my brother," I answered, bringing out my nightwear before arranging my box to zip it.
"Wow, she told almost everybody in our set that she is going to China. Her family are so rich with the things that they always bring to school, the same as Francis," Victoria said.
Isn't there someone else rich in this boarding school?
"Senior Francis is like—" Morayo was about to say before Victoria closed her mouth.
"They are siblings, you don't say that," Victoria whispered loudly into Morayo's ear.
I pushed my box under the bunk and looked at them, expecting them to continue.
"Come on, I won't be hurt," I said sincerely.
"No worries," Morayo said, nodding her head.
"Please!" I said politely.
"Okay… Your brother is a playboy, like I heard. When Gabriella came here, two weeks later she adjusted to the school environment and walked with the seniors. One day, they dared Gabriella to kiss or do something wild with Francis," Morayo said, and I gasped, already annoyed in me.
Gabriella is ten years old; she is too young to do that and besides, they are cousins.
"The next day, she told Francis that she would love to kiss him, but Francis growled at her before leaving," Morayo said, and I sighed in relief. "I don't know if it is true, but Gabriella said she kissed him," she added.
I didn't say anything but looked at them.
They were looking at me, expecting an expression in me, but I calmed myself down since I would face Francis tomorrow.
"You said Francis is a playboy, how is that so?" I asked, wanting to hear what they knew.
"Rumours said that many girls in his set forced sex on him and he agreed since it is what they want, but dumped them at last," Victoria said, looking at me.
"Okay, it is not bad since that is what the girls want, and my brother can't love any girl like that," I shrugged as I stood up.
"Gosh, your brother is fine," Morayo smiled.
"Thanks, I guess," I dragged my big bag out of my corner. "Do you know where Gabriella's locker is?" I asked them.
Victoria nodded. The both of them stood up and assisted me with the big bag since my provision was inside.
We later stood in front of Gabriella's locker, and I smiled at the way it was large. My things could fit inside the locker.
The locker was so pink and looked like it was made from glass, but it wasn't.
I am sure she requested for this, and wow, she really knows good things.
Gabriella is the only child of her family, and she is created to be rude and spoilt. She has a car of her own and her own driver.
I begged Mom for that, but she refused; she even convinced Dad not to get one for me.
Francis got his when he clocked sixteen.