First Day, New Beginnings.

Chapter 1: First Day, New Beginnings.

...Kemi Adeniyi...

The gates of Jubilee International College loomed ahead, the sight of the familiar red-brick walls doing little to calm the nervous flutter in my chest. SS3. The final year. It felt surreal to think that after this year, I’d be leaving these walls for good. A part of me wanted to run back home and hide under the covers, while the other part—the more logical, responsible part—reminded me that there was no turning back now.

I stepped through the gates, adjusting the strap of my bag on my shoulder. The courtyard was already buzzing with activity. Groups of students clustered together, their voices carrying a mix of laughter and gossip across the lawn. Reunions after the long summer break were in full swing, and everywhere I looked, there were hugs, handshakes, and high-pitched squeals. I couldn’t help but smile at the familiar chaos.

I spotted Kunle leaning against one of the pillars near the assembly hall, looking as laid-back as ever, his tie hanging loosely around his neck. As soon as he saw me, a mischievous grin spread across his face.

“Ah, here comes the Queen herself,” he said, pushing off the pillar and walking toward me. “Look at all the boys turning their heads. You haven’t even been here five minutes, and they’re already checking you out.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide the slight blush creeping up my cheeks. “Kunle, please. No one is checking me out.”

Kunle raised an eyebrow and gestured toward a group of boys loitering by the basketball court. Sure enough, a couple of them were glancing in my direction, but I pretended not to notice.

“You see? I’m just saying. You’re making it too easy for them.” He winked.

“Whatever, Kunle. Shouldn’t you be worried about your own admirers?”

He laughed, throwing his arm around my shoulders as we made our way toward the assembly hall. “I don’t need to worry. They’re already lining up.”

Kunle had always been this way—loud, confident, and completely carefree. His humor had gotten me through many awkward moments at Jubilee, and even now, on the first day of SS3, I was grateful for his easygoing attitude. But behind the laughter, I could feel the undercurrent of tension—this was our final year, and things were going to change whether we liked it or not.

As we reached the hall, the bell rang, signaling the start of morning assembly. Students rushed to their places, the sound of shuffling feet and last-minute chatter filling the space. I took my usual spot with Kunle beside me, feeling the familiar nervousness creep back in. I hated assemblies—the formality of it, the stiff way everyone had to stand, the principal’s long-winded speeches. But today, something different caught my attention.

Standing at the front of the hall, next to Mr. Agbo, was a girl I didn’t recognize. She was tall, with smooth brown skin and hair that fell in soft waves down her back. Her posture was straight, almost regal, and she held her chin high as Mr. Agbo introduced her to the school.

“Students, please welcome Ifeoma Ibe, a new student who will be joining us for SS3. Let’s make sure she feels at home.”

There was a low murmur of interest as heads turned to get a better look at the new girl. Ifeoma didn’t seem fazed by the attention at all. She stood there, cool and composed, as if she’d been doing this her whole life. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of admiration. Most new students would’ve been anxious or awkward, but Ifeoma looked like she belonged.

Kunle nudged me with his elbow. “I give it a week before she’s queen of the school.”

I smirked. “You think?”

He nodded. “Look at her. She’s got that ‘untouchable’ vibe. The boys will be falling all over themselves trying to impress her.”

I stole another glance at Ifeoma, who was now walking toward the back of the hall to find a seat. Kunle wasn’t wrong. There was something about her that drew you in. Confidence, maybe. Or mystery. Whatever it was, I had a feeling Ifeoma was going to shake things up this year.

After the assembly, the crowd dispersed, and I made my way toward the classroom. As I navigated through the throng of students, I felt a sudden bump, and before I could react, my bag slipped off my shoulder, books spilling out onto the floor.

“Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” a voice said, and I looked up to find myself face to face with Emeka Okonkwo.

My heart skipped a beat. Emeka was the guy every girl whispered about—the notorious heartbreaker of Jubilee. He had that effortless charm, the kind that made girls swoon with just one glance. His dark, intense eyes met mine as he bent down to help me gather my books.

“It’s fine,” I managed to say, though my voice came out quieter than I’d intended. My hands fumbled with my notebooks, my mind racing. I didn’t want to look flustered, but Emeka’s presence had that effect on people.

“You’re Kemi, right?” he asked, straightening up and handing me my notebook.

I blinked, caught off guard that he knew my name. “Yeah.”

He flashed a half-smile, one corner of his mouth lifting slightly. “Good. I’ll see you around, then.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there with my heart hammering in my chest. It wasn’t much—just a brief exchange—but there was something in the way he’d looked at me, something that made my skin tingle and my thoughts spin. I shook my head, trying to brush off the feeling. Emeka was bad news, I reminded myself. He wasn’t the kind of guy to get involved with, not unless you wanted your heart broken.

“Kemi, you alright?” Kunle’s voice jolted me back to reality.

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I’m fine.”

Kunle gave me a knowing look, his eyes flicking in the direction Emeka had gone. “Don’t tell me you’re falling for his charm.”

I scoffed, though my cheeks felt warm. “Please. He’s the last person I’d fall for.”

Kunle didn’t look convinced, but he let it go, grinning as he grabbed my bag and handed it to me. “Come on. Let’s get to class before Mr. Agbo finds something else to yell at us about.”

As we walked into the classroom, I couldn’t help but glance at the door, half-expecting Emeka to walk through it. But he didn’t, and soon enough, the first-day routine settled in. Teachers droned on about expectations for the final year, homework assignments, and upcoming exams. I tried to focus, but my mind kept drifting back to Emeka’s face, the way his eyes had lingered on mine just a little too long.

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. It was only the first day, and already, things were more complicated than I’d expected. This year was supposed to be about staying focused, keeping my head down, and making it through to graduation. But if today was any indication, it wasn’t going to be that simple.

Something told me SS3 was going to be full of surprises.

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