"Serena ! Wake up,mum's calling you".

I heard my third brother Kingsley popularly known as "King"call on me but I didn't budge . It's a Saturday morning and like every Saturday morning, is clean up day and trying to keep the environment clean but I didn't feel like it. I felt heavy maybe due to the amount of fufu ( A popular Nigerian food ate with soup) I had last night but that wasn't the problem, the problem is that I didn't feel like working this morning and knowing my mom she wouldn't hear it.

      "You are still lying down, wait till mummy gets up here".

   King said as he roughly push himself out of the small room I managed myself. I have three siblings and I myself,to be more detailed three brothers. Imagine living with three brothers, hell right? My first brother Wisdom, is having his NYSC( National Youth Service Corps) in Kaduna State. He is the child of my parents youth age if you know what that means. My second brother Precious,is in his finial year in University of Nsuka (UNN). Studying Chemical Engineering and my last brother King ,as I earlier introduced is in his second year at Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) studying Biotechnology or whatever that is. Then you have me Serena, sixteen going to seventeen which is a few months ahead and also in my final year in high school (secondary school).

        Am brown skinned ( not too dark,not too fair),5'8 inches tall. Am not thin neither am I too fat am just normal or should I say moderate.  Cat like eyes,one sided dimple also not to forget that am not curvy nor flat just okay I could say.

       I made my way to the living room expecting to see my mom seating on the couch counting her steps as she marched the floor repeatedly while frowning at no one in particular just being her moody self I guess. But she wasn't there so I made my way to the kitchen somewhere I know she would surely be and that's when I heard her voice nagging about  the leftover food that wasn't covered as instructed by her yesterday night. Mothers and thier dramas.

        "So madam, you've finally decided to wake up"?

My mother,a fair pretty lady in her late forties glared at me.

     " I thought I would bring a cow to wake you up today, you've forgotten that today is Saturday and there's work to do".

I sighed internally, there's always work to do. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't the household chores  type I preferred to cook than to wash and do other things but being the only girl I had to deal with it . 

          "Mum, Good morning".

Was what I said instead and didn't dare to respond or comment on what she said earlier because I know were it would land to.

        " Oya,oya carry yourself and start work, I have to leave before it clocks nine".

And that's how I spent my Saturday morning working my ass to death and my mom who said she would leave by nine left by ten claiming that she had to make sure the house is clean and blaming me for her lateness, typical mom.

     And today finally, being Monday am in school sitting on my chair, looking out of the window thinking about whatever floats through my mind.

       " Babe, how far? You don come school already"?

(Babe, how are you? You are in school already)?

That's one of my friends Emmanuella  . Always late to school, I've never seen this girl meet morning assembly.

    "  Babe , this one wey you dey like person e husband no give money for food wetin the sup"?

( Babe,this one you are like someone the husband didn't give money for food what's wrong)?.

     " See time wey you use dey come school the first thing wey you go tell me be say babe how far ,as if you go give me money make I chop"

(Look at how late you are to school and the first thing you tell me is babe how are you doing as if you would give me money for food).

I sighed and move my gaze to some of my classmates trying to busy my eyes.

     " I know you are a punctual human being, you don't have to rub it on my face. So tell me , anything"

She said expectly and I rolled my eyes     " Nothing, life is just normal no new thing toy with or put interest too".

I said plainly, my expression could show how boring I find this topic to be

      " This is you, indirectly saying that you've not found any scholarship program on the internet"

      "You know me too well

I chuckled and leaned on her while she pushed me away putting on a disgusting face

      " I've told you a number of times that those things aren't real the are all fake, scammers looking for people to scam. Don't be a victim because I won't sympathize with you"

I frowned at what she said but didn't comment on it. She threw her bag at me as I watch her leave the class to God - knows -were probably, trying to go brew up trouble like she do. Since I entered my senior year all I do is to surf the internet looking for scholarship grants but I've never gotten one even if I applied for it but I never gave up hoping that I will get one.  This is ss3( senior secondary school three or twelevth grade) and every normal teenager would be trying to enjoy there last year in secondary school but not for me instead I felt pressured. I had WEAC( West Africa examination),NECO(National examination council) and JAMB(Joint Admission and Matriculation Board Examination ) to think about so why should I enjoy when I had books to read.i know what you would be thinking, that am the "all serious type" you are not wrong ,I preroritize my education more than anything probably why my life is soo boring

           You know, even though I want to study Abroad that didn't stop me from pushing ahead of the one I had in hand which is Nigeria schools. ..."..

I wanted to study in Abia State University (Absu) and I wanted to study Theater Arts precisely script writing. So even if I couldn't study Abroad, I could at least study here. Although my parents didn't see my course as something worth the money the couldn't let there only daughter be an under graduate so the still had to see me through.

      To my parents, Theater Arts is something anyone could come out and do and you don't even need to read to gain it. Maybe all Nigerian parents saw it as the same thing but not for me , because to me there's a huge difference between something you read and have the certificate to boast and brag about it, not some talent not that talent wasn’t good enough.Moreover, it's script writing we are talking about here not acting.

          The rest of my first term went normal with nothing much happening except teachers making emphasis about our WEAC and NECO and before you know it first term was over. All final year student were given newsletter which contained details of our next payments and how it should be done. We celebrated Christmas but, like any normal Christmas we didn't travel . My dad said , he couldn't afford to spend much due to the heavy payment that awaits him thereafter and having my school pay list out was another thing.

     I got gift from friends, family and lovers you must already be thinking that I don't have a love life well,I did, it just that I am the type who has something called "commitment issues"and I never felt like I needed it, I mostly see it as something I wanted especially when I see people being all romantic and displaying PDA.

      Going back to school to start the next academic season is so stressful, joining the fact that I am somehow getting sick and tired of having to attend classes, having to see the same faces everyday and also the fact that I had to tolerate some people's mannerless attitude but the only thing that kept me sane is my friends, the people I placed high

    Just like every normal school,the first week is dedicated to clean up and everyone looking fresh,new, classes being empty and teachers not even bothering to teach. So I decided to stay at home for the first week, guess I later regretted that decision because my mother used that great opportunity which she saw to make my life a living hell. More chores and more farm work,so all I had to do is to pray that the week runs fast so I could get back to school and give my body a rest.

      On Saturday, during the stay at home period, am home doing nothing but surfing the web until I came across a new scholarship program for a school in Thailand and the best part is there were no need for international examination (ACT,SAT, IELTS,TOEFL,etc)and also application fee is waived. All I need is my transcript and my WEAC ,so am kinda excited to check it out. I clicked on the link below to go through the school status, check the courses the were offering scholarship and the eligibility status and surprisely the were offering undergraduates scholarship and creative writing too ,that's not even the best part,the best part is my course is available in the list of courses. Not every day you come across schools offering those course Abroad so I quickly filled the available forms and putted down my E-mail so they could contact me on the next step to take .

     Almost every scholarship I apply for never reply or even contact me even if they did it won'tPass that level or I won't be selected as one of the applicants to be offered that particular scholarship due to I lacked some qualifications. But I didn't lose hope, instead ,I kept on hoping on God, that one day the would see my name and choose me.

    Monday is finally here,I woke up around that kind six in the morning and going to school always took me two drops,am actually talking about public transport because as you may already know I didn't come from a rich family were you had cars and drivers and school bus wasn't an option, not like it isn't good it's just that I didn't like it . I know you would be asking if I won't be late for school, there's something people don't know about me and that's the fact that I do my chores at midnight so in the morning I had nothing to do just to sweep,mop,bath, eat and then leave for school. You see nothing much,as for washing dishes and clothes,I do that after school and it's not everyday I sock myself into washing clothes

      Reaching school,made my way to my class,sat down on my seat,fixed my locker by putting my books in it then I eye searched for my friends, noticing that none of them is in school I decided to rest my head, I just didn't have the urge or strength to go greet people. I had a lot on my mind especially the E-mail I got this morning,am happy the replied me but there response is a hard nut to crack

      The told me to write an essay on the achievement I have or had,I should also write on the benefit the would get if the admitted me and what I plan to do after my studies. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I couldn't write an essay, it's just that some of the questions had other meanings to them and what do they mean by achievement? Were they talking about awards cause am lost. It's not like I had any achievement or awards to brag about not since I entered Albert High School. Getting recognized in this school is a difficult thing to accomplish, even with me being one of the top ten best students in art class,yet, not all the teachers knew me or even my name just a few of them.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice someone tapping me or should I say, I was dreaming that I didn't notice.

"My love,my love, why are you sleeping? Wake up"

I repeatedly felt someone calling out to me but I didn't budge not until the tapping got worst that I woke up to see a tall fair skinned boy standing beside me with a high afro hair cut. His hands raised up probably getting ready to tap me again.

"James"

I said drowsily and positioned myself well in my chair while he sat down on my locker,placed his palm on my neck probably to check if am sick before removing his hands. He stared at me for a moment before asking.

"Why are you sleeping this early in school"?

Trust James to know when things aren't going well with me. James is the only male best friend I have in school,we became friends in our tenth grade (senior secondary school one) during our school end of the year party. In all my friends,he is the only male am extremely close to that people thought we were a couple. He wasn't my boyfriend but best friend at least that's how I viewed it but I didn't know what he thought of it.

"Nothing,am just tired and I didn't have anyone to talk to"

I yawned as I said that

"And you are you sleeping? Seriously Sere? Have you collected marker from the sectary office or even bothered to call the teacher"?

"No"

I answered truthfully before frowning my face, I hated doing all these. Sorry for not mentioning the fact that am the class assistant probably because I hated my work. Collecting marker and making sure a teacher was in class is one of my works as a class assistant and I didn't like it because I kept forgetting to do it. I stood up ready to leave the class and go do my work but James pushed me down to my seat .

"Don't bother,I already did that"

He said and showed me the four markers he brought and beamed with happiness.

"That's why I love you"

He chuckled lightly upon hearing me say that

" You keep saying that yet,you didn't even bother to call me all through the holiday".

He frowned as he said that as he took my hands squeezed it a little before interlocking it with his.

"I know you would say we chatted but you could have at least called and wished me happy Christmas or probably new year. I bet you called Emmanuella and Linda ".

This is the part were my relationship with this boy that confused me. He says we are friends or maybe that's what he wants me to think but sometimes he acts like a boyfriend that's being cheated on.

"FYI,I didn't call them, it was the other way round. Moreover,why didn't you call me yourself ".

He didn't say anything nor bothered to answer me instead he gazed intently at me.

"I missed you".

Were the next words I heard from him and before I could reply to that someone beat me to it.

"Awwn, isn't this the part were you guys kiss"

Trust Linda to make an entrance while Ella just rolled her eyes probably angry.

" James I've told you a number of times, even you"

She pointed at me and frowned heavily as if disappointed in me . Sometimes,I just don't understand her.

" You guys should start dating already and stop oppressing us with your love bird affections ".

"Tell them ooo, it's getting annoying ".

And that my friends is Adiguin,James best friend joining the conversation.

"Ella,leave them alone or are you jealous "

Linda eyed Ella suspiciously

" Oh please, don't be sly"

One thing you need to note about Linda is her obsession about romance,love, relationship and matchmaking. Even though she loves all these,she never had a romantic boyfriend nor a romantic relationship so she has the tendency of exhibiting defense and protection for couples who were romantic, always acting as the mother hen protecting her chicks from hawks.

" How could I get jealous,when I had better things to do than this nonsense. Am just advicing them to take a step and stop decieving themselves with their friendship talk ".

Emmanuella herself is quite the opposite, she's the bold type. Someone who believes that acting bold and fearless is the best course of action and that's the reason she always has issues with teachers. Teachers always felt insulted with her bold moves and she herself, didn't care about there feelings and thoughts. She always does or says what she feels is right or best.

" Guy, you came to school and the first thing you did nah to go meet your babe. You don forget say we get plans ?\(Guy, you came to school and the first thing you did is to meet your babe , have you forget that we have plans?\)".

I don't know much about Adiguin, although we were classmates,we were in different classes. He is a science student and we are art students. All I did know about him is the fact that he is James best friend and that the are mostly seen together.

"I will see you girls later"

He squeezed my hand a little before shoving Ella out of his way while smiling at Linda. Ella only rolled her eyes at him made her way to her locker without sparing us a glance. It had always been like that since tenth grade (ss1) I started this school. She and James never get along and it bothers me a lot I sometimes ask myself if she acts this way because she considers him a weakling or they had a mix up somewhere.

"Don't think much about it, you should have gotten used to it by now".

Linda said as she sat down beside me, she is after all my seat mate . So friends meet my best friends, hope you love them.

About the language, this is a Nigeria based story and the language Adiguin used earlier is called Pidgen. It's a Nigerian language, I known some of there names may seem odd. In Nigeria there are many tribes such as Tiv,Igbo,Hause and Yoruba etc , but they character Adiguin is from Yoruba.