The first day of SS2 always carried a weight of anticipation. Morning Glory College buzzed with restless energy—students hurrying past the tall blue gate, uniforms stiff with starch, brown curtains shoes shining as if they had been polished with devotion. The sun was already high, casting sharp shadows on the compound. Teachers shouted out instructions, as prefects tried to herd juniors into neat lines. The smell of akara from a roadside vendor mixed with the dust of the dry season, which Zainab inhaled deeply, reminding herself that this year had to be different.
She clutched her backpack tighter, whispering silently, 'Focus, Zainab. No distractions.' WAEC loomed on the horizon. Her father's stern voice echoed in her head: 'Remember, books before boys. We didn't send you to school to chase nonsense.' She nodded at the memory, almost as if she could silence the temptation before it came.
The assembly ground was chaotic, teachers announcing changes, students catching up on holiday gossip. Zainab's best friend, Aishat, nudged her. 'See how everyone is shining today. You sef, fine girl!' Zainab rolled her eyes but smiled. She wasn't one for unnecessary attention. Books were safer. Dreams of becoming a doctor kept her anchored.
But then, as they filed into their SS2 classroom, Zainab froze. There he was—Tobi. He had grown taller, his shoulders broader, his skin glowing with the sun's touch. He sat casually at the back, eyes glued to a worn paperback novel. Time slowed as memories of childhood flashed: playing ten-ten in the compound, sharing chin-chin after church, the quarrel that ended when her family moved houses. They hadn't spoken much since then. And yet, seeing him again stirred something she couldn't name.
'Zainab?' His voice, deeper, unfamiliar yet familiar, pulled her back. He smiled faintly. 'Longest time.'
Her throat tightened. 'Yeah… longest of time.' She quickly slipped into a front seat, her heartbeat pounding like a talking drum.
Throughout the morning lessons, she kept stealing glances. His laughter when he answered a friend, the way his pen tapped against the desk, how his eyes lit up when the teacher mentioned literature, it all unsettled her. She told herself it meant nothing. But the truth was clear: her carefully laid plan of focusing only on books had already been shaken.
The rest of the day blurred with chatter, introductions of new teachers, and notes scribbled hurriedly. Yet, every so often, her gaze drifted back to Tobi. And every time, she caught him already looking at her.