Godwin have found a reliable friend in Peter. So far Peter have been so good to him and makes him feel like they have known each other for long. He have shown him places in the school and have introduced him to friends.
“Is Mr. Stones our form Masters real name?” Godwin asked.
“No, I don’t even remember his real name”
“So why do they call him that?”
“Because he has a stone heart. He can’t change his mind from what he’s decided. You remember how he insisted on beating me yesterday. The issue have not ended but believe me he will get tired of me”
“So, have he sent for you today?”
“No. I’m still waiting. I don’t think I see him in school today”
“Peter, do you have money there?” A boy from their class called Solomon asked. When he got close he shook Godwin and lighted up his face with a friendly grin.
“No. Absolutely nothing” Peter replied.
“I will pay you back”
“I didn’t come with anything today. I’m even hungry as well”
“Let’s go to the market place. We may find someone. New comet, come with us. What’s your name”
“Godwin” Peter replied sharply “Godwin Mba”
As they were going they saw Junior in the market place buying snacks and soya milk made in a local way filled in already used plastic bottles. He is chubby and good looking but not smart. Junior’s family is average in financial status and being the only so in the family of three he was well taken care of. However he comes to school daily with enough money. He spends lavishly but he can be stingy sometimes. They went to meet him.
“Guy how far na?” Solomon alerted.
Junior turned and saw them. His countenance quickly displayed his disappointment. ‘Why now?’ His mind questioned. He did not respond, he waited to collect his order and go.
“Don’t think we come to beg you. We come to help you.” Peter said.
He turned with curiosity. The rest looked at Peter the same way for they never talked about anything patterning to helping him.
“How” Junior asked.
“It concerns your assessment”
“What happened to it?”
“You said you want to become a science student. You know your performance in SS1 determines if you will be qualified. You can’t go by choice but by merit”
“What are you saying in essence?”
“We wouldn’t want you to loose your dream? We will help you. We will walk together. We will do things together. Group friends. Is that okay?”
“Is this like cultism?”
“How could you have thought of that? What has a cultist to do with education. We say let’s become friends for the purpose of studies. I help you with what you don’t have you help me with what I don’t have. Sharing things together”
“If it’s about studies and not anything relating to cultism, I agree. I like it. So how many are we in the group”
“We are five. Including you and David”
“Who then is the fifth person? This boy?” Junior asked pointing at Godwin.
“Yes” Solomon replied. Junior stretched for a hand shake. He dipped his hands into his pocket and brought three hundred out. He returned hundred and gave them hundred to share and bring him the balance of fifty.
“It will buy only cake. Let’s add some lubricant to it”
“I need that one fifty for transport after dismissal”
“Is not of your parents at home?”
“No, they’re all busy…..”
Godwin saw Lovett passing his attention was drawn away immediately but he was careful not to keep it out of their notice. But not long enough Solomon saw her and started talking about her.
“See that new comer in our class. I like her not only that she’s cute she behaves well” Solomon said.
“Behaves well?” Peter asked surprise. “Someone you started seeing just about four days, you have known well about her behavior. So you do nothing other than sit and watch her”
“I am surprise as well. But talking about beauty she has all it takes”
“This is how we admire new comers until we get to know them. She’s cute but in our class we have people you can rate before her”
“Those annoying things that things that thinks if they talk to you they have change your life for better? They have so much pride”
“But you once admired them”
“That was ignorance. But you can see this girl doesn’t behave like them. She smile with everyone, just that you can’t seize her for a conversation”
“Yeah. Somehow, you are right but you know people differs. She may not really be as you think. If you get to know her you may discover her little flaws or she can possibly change like the others did. She’s new here, she must behave new until she make friends then you will know who exactly she is”
“But sincerely I like her” Solomon said.
“I like her too” Peter and Junior said the simultaneously. “She better behave as her look”
Godwin doesn’t enjoy listening to people talking about Lovett. He already decided to take his mind away from her but he have come to realize that what attracted him to her also attracts the others. That means he wasn’t loosing his mind and as it is now that many have developed the same intention he can’t be on the list of those fighting to become her friend. People seeing him among the desperate ones will think negative of him. He only wish to endure loosing her.