SECRETS IN THE STAFF ROOM (A new high school story series.)

EPISODE EIGHT

As Mr. Dennis packed Lila’s items in the clinic, his eyes filled with concern and care. She could see the worry lines on his face, and her heart softened towards him. She knew he only wanted the best for her.

Once they were ready, Mr. Dennis thanked the principal and the nurses for their care. “thank you” Mr . Dennis said to the principal and nurses.

The principal walked with them out of the clinic, when Mr. Dennis said “I’ll go get the car and bring it here, so we don’t have to walk far.” He turned to Lila, “Wait here, I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay, daddy.” She said as they both sat down.
Few minutes after, Lila remembered her diary in the school hostel. She had written a special phone number in it. It was the number of the girls’ hostel gate man. She usually would use it to talk to her friend Soma through the boys’ hostel gate man’s number. It was a secret way students talked to each other on weekends.
“How do I get my diary?” Lila wondered on how to get her diary. While she battled on that, the principal’s phone rang. She answered it, stood up and started talking, walking through the corridor. Lila saw her chance and quietly slipped away.

Even though she was still weak, Lila was determined to get her diary. She slowly made her way to the school hostel. Lila was focused on getting her diary, no matter what.

She walked slowly, but she didn’t stop until she reached the hostel.

Thankfully for her, she saw the gate man, Usman.
“Thank God!” She heaved a sigh of relief and walked towards him
“Please, Usman, I need to get some things. I’m going home because I’m sick.”

“Ah! No, Lila. I don’t want to get in trouble. You’re not supposed to be in the hostel during school time.” He said , throwing his face away.
“Please, Usman. I’ll give you money. Write down your account number and my dad will send you some money. He’s just came back from Scotland.” She bribed him as he smiled at the mention of money.

He didn’t hesitate opening the door for Lila.

“Thank you, Usman.” She said and smiled as she went inside to get her diary.

Lila went to her corner in the hostel. She looked around to make sure no one was watching. Then, she went to the hiding spot where she kept her diary, grabbed it and quickly left the hostel.

Lila didn’t even say goodbye to Usman, just “I’ll call you, Usman. You’ll help me with some other things while I’m away. You shall be my invisible CCTV man henceforth.” She chuckled, running towards the school clinic, her legs feeling weak and tired, yet she wasn’t bothered. She held her diary close to her chest, feeling relieved to have it back.

Lila didn’t stop running until she reached the clinic, where her father and the principal were searching for her.
As she burst into the clinic, out of breath and anxious, her father and the principal immediately surrounded her with concern. “Lila, what’s going on? We were so worried about you! Where did you go?” her father asked, relief evident in his voice.

Lila hesitated, clutching her diary tightly to her chest. She didn’t want to reveal the truth – that she had gone to retrieve her diary from its hiding spot. So she fibbed, “I just went to inform my matron of my absence. I really needed to go.”

Her father and the principal exchanged skeptical glances, but they seemed to accept her explanation. “Okay, my dear. We were just worried about you. Let’s get you home safe and sound,” her father said, putting a gentle arm around her shoulders.

Lila nodded, feeling a mix of guilt and relief. She knew she hadn’t told the truth, but she was glad to be safe with her father and the principal.

As they drove away from the school, Lila gazed out the window, watching the familiar sights of her school fade into the distance. She felt a mix of emotions: sadness at leaving her friends and school, and of course, Mr. Tunde but also relief at getting the rest she needed.

In the car, her father asked her about her dreams, her friends, and her studies. Lila opened up to him, sharing stories and laughter. For the first time in a long while, she felt connected to her father again.

During the lunch time, Soma who had been absent minded in class and worried about Lila walked into the clinic, his footsteps echoing off the walls.

He had been looking forward to seeing Lila all day. But as he approached the reception desk, the nurse’s words hit him like a ton of bricks: “Lila’s father came to pick her up, she’s already gone.” Soma’s face fell, his eyes widening in disbelief. He felt a lump form in his throat as he struggled to hold back tears.

How would he get through school without seeing Lila’s bright smile and sparkling eyes? He turned and walked slowly out of the clinic, his feet heavy with sadness.

The sun seemed dimmer as he trudged back to his the canteen with his heart feeling empty and lost.

Few days into the week, Mr. Tunde sat hunched over his desk, surrounded by stacks of scribbled scripts and empty coffee cup.

The sun lights above cast a pale glow on the worn office furniture, as the soft hum of the air conditioner provided a background tone.

The scent of stale paper wafted through the air, a familiar aroma that signaled the tedious task at hand. He was alone in the office, as most of the staff who shared his office were on leave.

The door creaked open and Ava entered with her vibrant presence.
“Ah, Ava,” he looked up and smiled.
“Good afternoon, sir. You sent for me.” She smiled, revealing her well beautiful dentition.

“Yes, I did. Please sit.”
“Come help me out, please,” Mr. Tunde said, his voice wearied from hours of grading. He gestured to the chair beside him, where a stack of scripts awaited her attention.

Ava settled in, her eyes scanning the pages as Mr. Tunde handed her a grading sheet.

“You check through and write here.” He explained what he wanted from her.

“Okay sir.” Ava said, slying stealing gazes at him in admiration.

Ava felt the prompt to ask him of the perfume he uses but being that Ava is quite an opposite of Lila. Collected, calm and inexpressible, she didn’t bother asking him.

Together, they worked in silence, the only sound that could be heard was the soft scratching of pens on paper.

With time, Ava’s pen hovered above the sheet, her eyes fixed on a single spot as her mind wandered away from the task at hand.

The moment around her faded into the background, and she was lost in a world of her own thoughts. The sound of Mr. Tunde’s voice, inquiring about their progress in the recommended books, barely registered in her consciousness. She didn’t flinch, didn’t respond, as if she was a statue frozen in time.

Mr. Tunde’s voice grew softer, more gentle, as he repeated her name, “Ava?” Still, she didn’t stir. Her gaze remained fixed on that spot, her mind miles away, untethered from the present moment.

It wasn’t until Mr. Tunde’s gentle touch on her arm, a soft tap, that Ava’s trance was broken. She blinked, her eyes refocusing on the sheet in front of her, her pen still poised in mid-air. She turned to Mr. Tunde, a faint look of confusion giving way to a sheepish smile, as she returned to the world around her.

” I’m… Sorry sir.” She looked at Mr. Tunde with a mixture of confusion and embarrassment. “Oh, sorry sir! I was just…lost in thought,” she said, trying to compose herself.

Mr. Tunde’s expression was understanding. “It’s okay, Ava. We’ve all been there.” He said to her but she was quiet.

“What troubles your mind? A kobo for your thought?” He looked concern but she would not talk. She tried to speak but no words were out. She had to slightly bend her head to hide her tears.
“Oh, no. Are you crying?” He reached to her, gently trying to lift her head up to see if she was really crying.
“Shhh… Talk to me.” He kept asking her

“I miss her,” Ava’s voice cracked, her words barely audible.
“Who ?
“I miss her so much. I miss, Lila” The dam broke, and Ava burst into tears, her body shaking with uncontrollable sobs.

“Oh no,” Mr. Tunde’s voice was laced with empathy, his heart aching in response to Ava’s pain. He swiftly pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket, its soft fabric a gentle comfort against her tear-stained skin.

“Shhh! It’s okay,” he whispered, his words a soothing balm to her raw emotions. “Stop crying, Ava.” He wiped her tears away, his touch gentle and reassuring.

Ava’s sobs slowly subsided, replaced by hiccup-like gasps for air. Mr. Tunde’s handkerchief, now damp with her tears, remained pressed against her cheek.

To be continued! What is going through your mind? Share with me in the comment section.

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