The alarm kept crying so hard that Sonia couldn't resist waking up. She yawned lazily as she stepped out of her bed only to had her nose got flooded by persisting aroma of food. She ran out of her room over the moon only to know it was from their neighbours. Her mum was in the sitting room , dressed up for work.
"Morning baby"
"Morning mum"
"How was your night? I'm sorry I couldn't prepare breakfast. I woke up late "
"It's okay mum. I will sort myself out"
"Alright. Be a good girl" She said adjusting her old trousers before running out with her almost tattered purse.
"Alright mum. Don't stress yourself " She shouted after her through the window and she waved in return.
Sonia went into the bathroom and within few minutes, she was done dressing up for school. She had to continue going to her current school Academia before she would get transferred to Litton if only she would be able to pass the exam.
She was about going to school when she remembered someone was inside the house. Her father must be a pin for her not to noticed he was still sleeping at one corner of the sitting room snoring loudly.
"Dad. I'm off to school" She said but he didn't even lift a finger
Sonia held unto her bag and left for school. She looked up when she got outside and the sky was vibrant, the blue seeped in the vivid imagination of a peaceful day ahead of her. Her hands dipped into her pockets and she found the money Emilee had given her the previous night. It would be enough to take public bus to school.
From her house to the bus stop was just ten minutes. Not realizing how late she was, she walked majestically to the bus stop . By the time she got there, the bus was moving already. She ran after it , trying to call the driver's attention but it was lost. She couldn't get it until the bus zoomed off finally.
She stood still trying so hard to get her breath under control. It was after she was able to, that it dawned on her how miserable she had being. Mr. Alan would punished any student for coming even a minute late and now that she had to walk for almost an hour before getting to school, it must meant her death. As if heaven knew her thought, she sent an angel.
"Sonia! She heard her name across the road.
It was Emilee in her mother's wrecked, smoky car.You wouldn't even be able to fathom the car's colour.At least it was better than having nothing. She gestured to Sonia to come get a ride. Happy Sonia quickly crossed the road and almost got the door broken.
"Good morning ma"She greeted Mrs Deborah, Emilee's mother as soon as she entered and it zoomed off.
"Good morning Sonia" She replied with all her attention focused on driving. Sonia looked to check if she was on her glasses. Oh yes! You will always see her on her glasses.
Emilee's family weren't rich either but they were better off Sonia's family who could hardly afford a day's meal. Mrs. Deborah was a nurse and her husband worked in a company as the managing director. The only thing that drained off their money was Emilee's constant visit to the hospital due to her weak heart. Yet, she worked part-time in a restaurant and at the end of the month, she would give the salary to Sonia and lied to her parents she had come late home everyday because she was reading with Sonia.
Sonia didn't know about her ailment. Even when she asked, she would lied the doctor wasn't able to diagnose anything yet.
"You girls should be good" Mrs. Deborah said while dropping them at school.
The gate was almost being closed when they got there. They couldn't even replied her. They ran out of the car in unison and was able to get through the big black gate before it was closed.
Academia wasn't even up to half Litton but discipline was their watchword. You dare not act like a boss in that school. They didn't care about your status, under their own law, everybody is equal irrespective of their status and any laid down rules is a respecter of nobody. Emilee and Sonia walked down to their classroom arm in arm.
Their classroom was a small one painted in white and blue. It comprised of twenty students. Sonia loved sitting by the window and Emilee's seat was just beside hers. They were inseparable.
Few minutes after they entered the class, the class president stood up to announce the teacher's arrival.
"Good morning sir"
It was Mr. Alan, the Mathematics teacher you must never get annoyed. His class was always a silent one. You could even hear the sound of a mustard seed if thrown on the floor.
"We will start with calculus"
"A cursed topic" Emilee muttered smirking and that caught the devil's attention as he moved away from the board.
"Emmy" As she's fondly called. "What do you understand by calculus?"
Emilee stood up perplexed. That was a close call! She wasn't expecting that. But she got engulfed in a sudden unexplained boldness.
"Sir, since it's a new topic, I knew nothing about it"She said with little or no expression on her face. It got the whole class stunned. Everyone was always scared of Mr. Alan. A student would almost get himself wet if he asked a question without him knowing the right answer to it. But Emilee had that bold voice that sent everyone's spine shiver especially Sonia who stared at her with dropped jaws.
"I love that girl! The confidence is there"
"Thank you sir "
"However, if I asked you a question, try and find an answer to it. Sit down!"
Emilee had her seat with her heart almost having its way out of her chest. Mr. Alan taught for fourty five minutes and left after giving them exercise and enough homework in their textbook.
"Mathematics is just a headache for me. Only God knows who started it" Mr. Alan had hardly gotten out when Emilee started complaining to Sonia.
"Girl! We are in this together but... You left me speechless with your answer"
"Help me with the exercise honey"She said hugging Sonia whose stomach growled loudly. She disengaged herself from her.
"Don't tell me you haven't had breakfast"
Sonia shook her head while opening Emilee's textbook. She's got money to buy any.Emilee brought out her lunch pack and gave her part of her lunch.
Sonia couldn't pray for any other friend. To her, Emilee is a darling! They had few more classes for the day and the school closed.