CHAPTER 7- A SMALL REVEAL

   Just thinking about the whole scenario between Rachael and me kept me in a state I cannot decipher. 'I WILL BE LEAVING,' those words of her's only brought many questions to my mind. I felt as if a load was on my body the moment she spilled those words.

   I could not help but fake a smile after she told me she would be leaving Beatitude College after our 3rd term. She is going for G.C.E( GENERAL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION),( an examination that can be sought for admission into higher education,)which after getting a good result would be used for her higher education.

   I only wish her all the best even though 99℅ part of me kept hoping she does not leave soon. She is one in a million,  someone with tolerance, love, patience, and intelligence. She alongside Joshua and Gloria has made my stay here at Beatitude less stressful and more memorable for me.

*******

   After the 3rd term examination, we were chosen for a debate competition the school arranged. In my group, we have Gloria, Ethan, and one SSS1 student named Joana. Only two people are to participate at a time.

    Gloria and Ethan are not making things easy for me as Gloria kept insisting that Ethan must either be the Chief speaker or Assistant speaker in the first or second round of the debate competition. On the other hand, Ethan refuted it for quite unreasonable reasons.

     I saw Gloria's angry look as she stepped into the class. I rolled my eyes, breathing in and out, knowing fully well she is coming to report to me. 

  "Can you believe what that rascal said? He said he would not come to school if I keep disturbing him about participating in the debate," Gloria said on an irritating note.

  "It seems you have a crush on him, maybe you want to be closer to him during the debate competition," I stated jokingly, maybe to ease the tension a little.

   I glanced at Gloria, whose face flared up as she glared at me, which made me realize I made a mistake with that silly joke. She released her breath, making her hand form into a fist.

  "Yuck, I will not even dream about it especially with someone like that rascal. You can say something else so that I will agree to it, but this is a NO-NO," she stated firmly.

    I told her I will see to the situation, after which she calmed down. It was not up to a minute after Gloria kept her cool that Ethan stormed into the class with that 'fake angry look', plastered on his face. It is quite a surprise our friendship is on a good one after that moment we shared at the library.

   The rascal Ethan, as I would put it stated that he would not participate in the debate competition. I moved closer to him, as I held his right ear tightly, which he squirmed too.

  "Ouch, please stop holding my ear," he pleaded as I released my grip lightly.

"But you can place your palm on my face," he smirked 

   I withdrew my hand placing it gently on his shoulder, my eyes meeting with his.

  "I would be honored to slap you, maybe it will help reset your brain," I said as he quickly moved back a little, turning his head in a 'no' reply.

  "Ahem.., when you guys are done with your drama, can you look into the situation, please?

  I turned to face Gloria, as my face flushed lightly.

  "Ethan does not want to take part in the debate, which I am not in support of," Gloria stated, glaring slightly at Ethan.

   I tried to think of a way out of this little palava(problem), as an idea crept into my mind.

  "Well, we all have to participate since we are four, we should all take part," I announced with my eyes scanning both of them.

  

   Ethan held my arms almost making me fall, as I tried to balance.

  "I cannot do this, I do not like giving talks in public," he said pleadingly. Is this the great Ethan?',  I could not help but laugh in my mind as he looked like someone in distress. Oh, I forgot, he is in a distress zone, he can't give a debate. 

    Gloria had a lewd smile as she placed her hands akimbo.

  "Not bad Ethan. You can display your rascal behavior in the public like 'a peacock' displaying his colors during courtship behavior, unstabilized fellow," Gloria mocked and Ethan glared at her giving her the 'I will deal with you later eye'.

    It took me my self-control not to burst into laughter as I kept watching the drama unfold. Silence erupted as they both glared at each other.

  "Can you please calm down? I am not through yet," I declared as they both look sideways.

  "Since Ethan probably has a problem with giving a public talk, we cannot force him. He would just have to prepare some meaningful points for the debate. He must not be absent from school during the debate competition too," I said.

  "Woah, I love that idea Michael, at least someone would not have any other choice than to accept," Gloria said icily.

   My head turned in the direction of Ethan, hoping he would be pleased with the solution only to see him in a disheveled look.

   "I cannot do this. Where do you expect me to get the points from? Ethan lamented with a frown on his face.

  " You do have a phone, don't you? Then google it out and write it. Do not force me to take some measures regarding this. I am pretty sure Mr. Williams would be delighted to hear about it," I said sternly, wondering why he is such a strong head.

  "Alright, you won. I will try. I am only doing this because of you, and not because of some pests," he replied as I breathe in a sigh of relief that everything is finally solved.

  "So Joana would be my assistant for the first round of the debate and I will be the Chief speaker," I announced as I left the class leaving them to continue their bickering.

   I sighted Rachael at the side of the window, her head down probably reading something from a paper as her hand curled perfectly around the small size pen, jotting down some things.

    She is the team leader of another group for the debate competition. For the first round,  they would be debating against Junior Team 1.

  While my group would be against Junior Team 2. I moved closer to her as she looked up gently, a warm smile across her lips.

  "Oyedele, perfect timing. I hope you do not mind checking out my points for some minutes," she said as she stretched the paper to me. There is nothing bad in checking, at least her team is not against mine,' I thought, collecting the paper from her.

    My eyes scrutinized the paper as I got to know about their topic which is:'It is better to attend a Mixed School than to attend a Single School,' while ours is: 'Government work is better than entrepreneurship(which we are to support).

    The topic was written in papers, well folded as each team leader will choose from. Whatever the topic is, either on the opposing or supporting side should be prepared by the group.

   

   I began reading the points as I smiled broadly at her excellent points not until I saw a particular point bringing a conflicted mood within me.

  

   'Almost every Secondary school Students are in their puberty stage. At this stage, they tend to develop some feelings toward the opposite sex. Feelings like crush or infatuation are bound to happen, which are normal and acceptable. On a contrary, in a single school, such kinds of teen feelings can be developed towards the same sex which is totally against society's view.

  If such feelings which happen to be a new one against their hormones are developed, homosexual acts would be very rampant. Even if it is not displayed openly, would be done in the secret'.

   My mind kept beating fast as I felt somehow shallow, my head spinning fast.