Something Gained

CHAPTER ONE

I wondered why it always ended up like this.

I'd be wide awake before 6 am on a morning when I won't get penalized for waking up late and on mornings when I needed to wake up early, sleep would decide to intoxicate me.

Like this morning.

I've been drifting in and out of consciousness since my alarm sounded for almost 30 minutes while I kept muttering to myself; 5 more minutes, just five more minutes.

Well, that's how you'd oversleep

I groaned, my eyes still closed and I brought my hand up to rub sleep off my face. I could already feel the morning air, chilly air and for a moment, I allowed it to lull me back to sleep and I drew my comforter to my chin again, knees pressed together so I'd be able to get into a more comfortable position.

What's so important about this morning again?

I asked myself before I could allow the chilly air to lull me back to sleep.

It's resumption morning, you idiot.

My subconscious answered and that woke me up instantly. I sat up with a start, my eyes opening hurriedly and I had to close them because of the impact of the too-bright sunlight streaming in.

Oh, fuck! I must have overslept.

I reached for my phone on my bedside table and a small gasp escaped my lips when I saw the time. 6:30 am. Fuck! On a normal day, I'd already be on my way to school now? Why did nobody wake me up?

I hurriedly got up from the bed, shrugging my nightgown off and throwing it away. I was about to enter my bathroom when someone knocked and they opened the door before I could say whim and I started to reach for my comforter to cover myself but it was only mom.

"Tola, you're not yet dressed for school?"

Mom asked as she took in my appearance, making me feel a tad bit self-conscious even though she was my mother.

"Yes, mom. Good morning. I'll have my bath now."

I answered her, all in one breath and I did not wait for her reply before I entered the bedroom. T The first day of SS3 and only a miracle would save me from being late.

                                                                   **********

I was late for school.

Well, almost late.

That would have been a very big slap on my face because I was the labor prefect. The driver drove onto the school's premises just 5 minutes before the assembly and I dashed out of the car before he even packed properly and ran as if I was been chased to the hall. I got to the hall the very minute the bell went off and I paused at the entrance, holding on to the doorframe as I panted heavily.

Oh My God! What a dramatic first day in school.

The students started filing into the hall and some paused to look at me, eyebrows raised and some even asked me what was wrong with me.

What's wrong with me?

I asked myself and I fished out my phone from my bag and my mouth dropped open at the girl that stared back from my phone's screen.

I looked like a mad woman.

My hair was in disarray, most of it had not left the bun, and my face, oh God! This couldn't be my face. There were sweets everywhere, on my forehead, on my nose, on my chin.

No wonder the student was looking at me like I had grown two horns. I fetched out my face towel and I started dabbing it on my face to get rid of the sweat.

"Where were you?"

Someone asked me plainly and I looked up to see David staring down at me, a bored expression on his face as if he'd rather be looking at a piece of shit than at me.

Well, I felt the same way.