Under the Veil

IL

pulls me back as I

and I hug her. She squeezes me lightly and I hug her very tight. I pull away and I can see

nhappy in this m

ays ago”, she apolog

don’t h

idn’t mean to burst ou

and she grins, that little gestu

m its fine. I

p me and shift backwards before her hand la

ile and laughter. If I am having a bad day my mum an

stay h

eks and spurn to leave but

spoken to you yet”,

l like you did yesterday”, she says with a s

*****************

or my phone. I bring out my Samsung and see it is my grandmother calling.

am?”, my grandma ask

akhulu”, I answer an

to grandfather. “Umsebenzi wesikolo nje kunje nezinye izinto. Ndiyakukhumbul

ndisa. Kufuneka

eria. I am honestly fine. I am even

sounds less scared

in school. Can I call you when I

you Mandisa”, she bl

akhulu”, I chuck

. I draw her back and Amoris slaps my hand off her and pushes Kailea behind her and looks me dead in the eyes. I see hatred and an

p your hand off hers”, she mimics me, referrin

e her hands to slap me but Eric pushes me back in time and hol

and see everyone in the hallway looking at us. I see Celestia in front of her locker looking a

y winning best fr

is hand and he spurn to

y siding this bastard?”, she yells at the top of her lung

rn and walk away bef

s and everyone gasps and widen their eyes. I halt and look at Celestia and she lowers her head n

e yells louder, trying to

Eric begs

en’t been moving well for her. It is l

warns and she ch

lothing line will collapse”, she warns an

orward and her ne

e schooled because her family is ashamed of

to beat her to a pulp for involving my family into this. I raise my hand to slap her and

d for thinking he was a friend. He only came to me during lunch breaks day before yesterday and yesterday j

g smirk, “What did you think? Did you really think

hat-“, the bell rings for assembly and

all. I lock eyes with Eric and he looks sad and remorseful. He opens his mouth to speak but stops and walks out. Everyone except Ethan and

eacher yells and Ethan

never knew I held in. I feel light and I have a burning

e strength not to give up on others because I am on the verge of d

serves to be

d. Not all”,

****************

ounces. Eric walks to the front of the clas

d. My dad is the founder of Plein Klein, a successful clothing line and my mum deals with accessories. My best f

yells and everyone except

s him and I look at him, he l

lly meets mine and I wonder why he loo

Best friend or were yo

said her cr

r your crush to crush on

ng parole for others”, another whispers and th

d ERIC walks back to his seat and Ka

e an elder brother. My dad is a car dealer, my mum imports drinks. My best friend is Aisha Hussein.

walks past me to the stage. She takes a deep br

ehandedly raised me- with the help of Mrs Uche, my friends mum. My mum works multiple jobs and I have lost track of where s

ert my gaze to Aisha and I can tell she is livid from t

acher yells and ev

?”, Mrs Odunze

best f

nze sighs and shakes her head. Celestia walk past me and eve

nsider you as one”, Kailea

alls out and I stand up and wa

from Imo State, Isu local Government, and Nigeri

lf cast”, someo

new”, another s

sn’t act l

d spoilt like the other half casts”

cept Ethan lo

your gran

ND MRS

l company is Africa?”, Mrs Odu

the audacity to challen

one of the most prestigious schools in Nigeria. I am currently in SS3. I love singing, travelling and talking to God. I don’t have any crush and like you all saw I am now best friendless", I joke and everyone cl

****************

r sit. I clean the spoon with the tissue the cutle

miliar asks politely and I look around

laughs and I look up at him. I have to admit he is handsome

e sits and

e you are always with Celestia”, he stops ea

tand”, I sh

stretch out his han

persons white is stained with his blood. The whole school gathers. Ethan drags Eric away from the other guy while Isah is holding the other guy

Eric back and pushes Noah back, defending his friend. Kailea draws Ethan back begging him not to interfere. Noah looks back at his friend who is completely drained of strength and is badly injured. His ve

I don’t plan to misuse it. I don’t know why but the sight of him provokes me, he brings out the wors

e hard. The whole school gasps, I touch the spot I was slapped. I am shocked to the bones. My cheek feels hot like hot lava was thrown at it. Is this what it feels lik

e help

s breath as he race past me an

to meet Eric and I hold him back. Noah widens his eyes as his eyes meet mine. He looks flabbergasted that I stopped him. Noah touches my cheeks with both hands and looks at me admirably. He is grateful I stood up for him. He

m and he race to meet him, r

s weak. We stand him up, I place his right hand on my shoulder,

****************

straight to the stairs to avoid been called ba

umakhulu”, mum speaks to me and

d see my mum talking to her mum through whatsapp. My mum’s

greet and my mum chuckles and

nd I close my eyes becau

uth African name onl

appened,

daughter”, mum twist my neck and push me c

dials a number. Grand-ma doesn’t say a word and she doesn’t care w

t keep quiet or she will beat me to a pulp and still get the truth out of me. I take

it you?”, grand-mother asks me as her angry face looks at me “Eric Khan” “You heard her………do something or so help me God, he will spend his whole life in prison and I will ensure I wreck his family and make them penniless……….just imagine ooo……..he even left

o the school tomorrow. I will make sure they flog him in front of the school to make

stands up and grabs her phone and move far away from sight. I am so scared to look my mum in the ey

on that spot and come downstairs and eat before you l

se I know she won’t listen. If there are people she doesn’t mess with is, are I and Cyril. My thoug

is going to