Jide couldn't shake off the weight of the envelope. It had been days since he found it, and he hadn't told anyone—not Aisha, not Ngozi, not even his closest friends. The name _Adewale_ seemed to burn through the paper, whispering secrets he wasn't sure he wanted to uncover.
School days blended into each other, with Jide trapped in a haze of curiosity and anxiety. Mr. Adewale remained his usual composed self, unbothered, as if he knew nothing was amiss. But Jide couldn't help but watch him differently now. Every smile, every nod, every stern look seemed layered with hidden meaning.
It was during lunch on a particularly chaotic Friday that the whispers started. Students buzzed about a rumor—something about the principal being involved in a scandal years ago. Jide's ears pricked up as he overheard snippets of conversation in the cafeteria.
"…heard it was about money, something big…"
"St. Catherine's money? No way!"
"Not just money—lawsuits, names involved…"
The voices faded as students scattered, but Jide's mind stayed glued. Was this connected to the envelope?
Aisha slid into the seat beside him, eyes narrowed. "What's wrong? You've been weird all week."
Jide hesitated. "Just stressed about exams," he lied.
Aisha raised an eyebrow. "Try again."
Before he could answer, Ngozi dropped into the other chair. "Guys, have you heard? There's talk about Mr. Adewale. Something big from his past."
Aisha's eyes lit up. "Spill."
Ngozi leaned in. "Sources say he was involved in something back in the day. No one's talking officially, but…"
Jide's grip on his water bottle tightened. The envelope felt like a ticking bomb under his mattress.
That night, Jide made a decision. He'd tell Aisha and Ngozi. He needed allies for whatever came next.