There was nothing special about lesson centres in Asaba.
At least, that was what she thought.
To her, they were all the same—plastic chairs that made noise anytime you shifted, teachers that shouted like you offended their ancestors, and students who somehow had time to gist even with JAMB hanging over their heads like judgement day.
So when the car slowed down in front of one that afternoon, she didn't expect anything different.
"This is the place?" her mother asked, peering through the window like the building might answer her.
Her father didn't reply immediately. He adjusted his glasses slightly and scanned the compound like an inspector sent to rate the place.
The girl in the back seat remained quiet.
She had already started observing.
A group of students stood near the entrance, laughing loudly.
"Guy, I swear, if you fail this JAMB ehn—"
"Na you go sponsor me next year," another replied.
They all burst out laughing like failure was something to joke about.
She blinked slowly.
Interesting.
On the other side, two girls stood close together, whispering and giggling.
The kind of giggle that made you feel like someone, somewhere, was being discussed.
She looked away immediately.
She was not ready to be part of anybody's gist on her first day.
"I'll go and ask," her mother said, already opening the door.
Before anyone could respond, she stepped out, smoothing her dress like she was about to attend a meeting instead of asking about lesson.
"Good afternoon," she greeted a girl standing nearby.
"Good afternoon, ma," the girl replied quickly.
"Is this where they do lesson?"
"Yes, ma."
"How many students are here?"
The girl didn't even think twice. "Plenty."
Inside the car, the girl almost laughed.
Plenty?
That could mean five. It could mean fifty.
Very helpful.
Her mother asked a few more questions before returning to the car.
"Well?" her father asked.
"Fifteen thousand," she said.
There was silence.
Not the peaceful kind.
The calculating kind.
The girl stared ahead, pretending not to listen, but every word was entering her ear clearly.
"Fifteen?" her father repeated.
"Yes."
Another pause.
Then—
The back door opened.
"I'm coming," the girl said, stepping out before they could ask.
She walked straight to the girl her mother had spoken to.
"How many people are really here?" she asked, lowering her voice slightly.
The girl shrugged. "Normal number. More people will come."
Still not helpful.
She nodded anyway and walked back to the car.
"What about Uncle Ken's lesson?" she asked.
"Too far," her father said immediately, like he had been waiting for that question.
Silence again.
Then he sighed.
"Come down."
That was it.
No long advice.
No motivational speech.
Just two words.
Come down.
And just like that, her fate was decided.
She stepped out fully this time, closing the door behind her.
Before she could even process it properly, the car engine started.
"Behave yourself oh!" her mother called.
"Read your books!" her father added.
Then just like that—
They drove off.
She stood there for a few seconds, watching the car disappear like they didn't just leave her in a completely new environment.
"Wow," she muttered under her breath.
Oluchi—because that was the girl's name—looked at her.
"First time?" she asked.
"Is it that obvious?"
Oluchi smiled. "Very."
She sighed and sat down on one of the plastic chairs.
It made a loud krrrk sound.
She froze.
Oluchi laughed. "You'll get used to it."
"I doubt it," she muttered.
They started talking.
Well… Oluchi started talking.
"So which school are you from?"
She answered.
"What subject are you doing for JAMB?"
She answered.
"You like maths?"
She paused.
"…Next question."
Oluchi laughed loudly.
"Don't worry, Mr Charles will force you to like it."
"Force?" she raised an eyebrow.
"By fire, by force."
Before she could respond, a tricycle stopped in front of the compound.
"Keke," Oluchi said, as if she needed explanation.
A girl stepped down.
Oluchi leaned closer. "She's one of us."
The girl didn't turn immediately.
She pretended to be focused on nothing in particular.
No need to look too eager.
Then—
"Wait… is that you?"
Her name.
Someone just called her name.
She turned slowly.
And froze.
"…Agadi?"
The girl standing there smiled widely.
Same face.
Same eyes.
But somehow… different.
It took a second.
Then—
"You?!"
They both moved at the same time.
A quick, surprised hug.
Then they pulled back, laughing.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"What are you doing here?" Agadi fired back.
"I just came now!"
"Same!"
They both laughed again.
Oluchi looked between them. "You people know each other?"
"JSS2 and JSS3," they said at the same time.
"That government school," Agadi added.
"Before I left," she said.
"Ahhh," Oluchi nodded like she understood everything.
Agadi looked her up and down.
"You've changed oh."
"You too."
Agadi flipped her hair slightly. "Of course."
She smiled.
Same Agadi.
But louder.
More confident.
Before they could continue, a car drove into the compound.
Oluchi straightened immediately.
"They're here."
"Who?" she asked.
"Mr Charles and Mia."
The car stopped.
A man stepped out first.
"Good afternoon, students!" he said loudly, like he was addressing a crowd of fifty instead of just a few people.
"Good afternoon, sir!" they replied.
He nodded, satisfied.
Then a girl stepped out from the other side.
Neat.
Calm.
Collected.
She greeted softly and sat down like she had been there forever.
"That's Mia," Oluchi whispered.
Agadi leaned closer. "Owner's daughter."
"Hmm," she nodded.
Mr Charles clapped his hands once.
"Hope all of you are ready to read?" he asked.
Nobody answered.
He looked around.
"You people are not serious," he said. "JAMB will shock you."
Agadi leaned toward her and whispered, "He says that every day."
She almost laughed.
Mr Charles continued, "If I ask you one question now, you will start looking at me like goat."
Agadi raised her hand.
"Sir, we are not goats oh."
The class burst into laughter.
Mr Charles pointed at her. "Agadi nwanyi, keep quiet!"
She blinked.
Agadi nwanyi?
She turned to Agadi, who rolled her eyes like she was used to it.
"Sir, stop calling me that," she said.
"That is your name," he replied calmly.
"It is not my name."
"It fits you."
The class laughed again.
Agadi hissed and folded her arms.
She shook her head slightly, trying not to smile.
This place…
Was definitely not normal.
And something told her—
This was just the beginning.