I returned to school when all my classmates had probably finished writing their JAMB. Alesscia didn't let me rest after she saw her JAMB score and she miraculously got three hundred and ten.
She made such a noise about it, it was just left for her to write 310 on her forehead just so that the world could see her JAMB score. She even got 310 tattooed on her right arm.
"The tattoo is nice isn't it?" She asked waving her hand in face so I could see the tattoo properly.
"It's just numbers. There isn't anything so wow about having numbers tattooed on your arm."
"Well it is better than that tattoo on your hand. I don't even know what it is, is it a sword or just the tattoo artist's mistake?" She asked. She just made a rude remark about the mark on my hand without really knowing it.
"It's not a tattoo," I said. I wondered how in earth people kept mistaking a scar for a tattoo.
"Then what is it?"
"Just a constant reminder that I am the only one who could truly be there for myself," I said not minding how it sounded to Alesscia and not even bothering to reply any of the questions that followed my reply.
The rest of the term passed by smoothly and it was quite easy to forget that there was so much chaos at a certain point in time. The periods of my external exams were relatively uneventful with me not actually being as serious as I should have and sometimes staying up late to do something as stupid as watching a seasonal film in the night with Alesscia while I had a subject like Chemistry the next day.
I still passed although I believed that to be a miracle from the universe. In fact I was the valedictorian of the set. Alesscia was like Salutatorian or so.
Then finally the graduation day arrived. I initially thought I overdid it a little with the extra long single strapped sleeveless dress with silver sequin lined on the sleeve and around my waist region which was practically open topping it off with a really really long slit until I saw Angela in a really pretty strapless dress with an exaggerated slit which ran up the full length of her legs.
Alesscia wore a dress which showed off her bust and also a tattoo of a sail boat I had never really seen. The dress she wore had a really short front and extremely long back and she actually wore hosts which matched the color of the dress and really high heels which didn't permit her to walk properly.
I found the whole concept of her dressing dumb but it wasn't really up to me to comment.
After opening prayer, the chairman's speech (which was basically him criticizing our dressings, hairstyles and the generation I belonged to) and a few dance performances, I was called up for the valedictorian speech.
After greeting and thanking the principal, management and other people who I wasn't interested in greeting, I finally began my speech.
"Today marks the end of a journey we began here a couple years ago. It also marks the beginning of a new journey in whatever destination fate has for us. A total cause for celebration. Celebration for what we have achieved. Celebration because we know we are prepared to face whatever shit life throws at us.
"Fellow graduates, I want you to know what a great gift it is to be as prepared as we are. These past years have presented us with a lot of challenges and it is so great to know that we had our friends and families by our side. We must be grateful to each other and celebrate the friendships we made here for they would last a lifetime. Of course we had difficulties, but we overcame all of it.
"Often on graduation day, we look outside for heros but I see them right here among us. When we leave here today, we have ample reasons to celebrate what we have accomplished here, but we must look forward with an eye towards what we can achieve in the nearest future, to be an inspiration for others.
"A latin adage says "quid quid initium habet, finem habet". I assure you that this moment marks the end of our secondary school, especially after everything we have faced. So from here it's either goodbyes or good riddance but it isn't a time to try and relieve the past. Yes we had memories, good or bad. Some which we wish to relieve and others which we don't. But the important thing now is that it is time, not to move on, but to go on another journey. It is a time to reflect on the past while living in the present and preparing for a wonderful journey ahead.
Long live Venos High!!!"
A round of applause followed my exit from the stage which actually surprised me because I assumed nobody would have listened to the speech. The loudest cheer could be heard from Angela Attah and the rest of my classmates.
"That was actually nice girl," Alesscia commented once I returned to my seat.
"Better thank google and the countless teen fictions I have read," I joked.
After a couple more performances and a speech from the principal (which was basically her giving us advice that would last a lifetime) the graduation was over.
We changed our clothes in the hostel in preparation for the night party. I had initially expected nothing more than eating, drinking and playing really senseless games... Well all those actually happened but what I didn't expect was that someone would actually come up with such a nice game.
It was a bit touching though but nice all the same. Before people got drunk (some were already tipsy though) they would come out to the stage in turns to say the set of people they would miss and when they were actually drunk (for those who got drunk) they actually got to say what they actually wanted to those people.
I was surprised when quite a number of people claimed that they would miss me. I and Isa were sitting next to the table which had food lined on it none of us actually a part of the party. We were basically just there eating food and busying ourselves with our phone when Alesscia who had initially left us to actually join the party returned.
"I can't believe you guys are still here," she said taking a seat. "They really shouldn't have kept seats in this party. You two are total killjoys. Do you both plan to just sit here all night eating food?"
"Yep."
"Of course."
Alesscia stared at both me and Isa shaking her head. "The least you can do is to watch those playing games since you don't want to actually join the party. Ifeanyi's going on stage. Why don't you listen to who he's gonna miss, I bet you would be number one," she said nudging me but I kept my eyes on my phone pretending to ignore her.
I soon heard Ifeanyi's voice.
"So firstly I am going to miss all of you whether we really talked or not but I am going to actually miss my bro Ubaro like crazy. The guy be g. Then I am going to miss the craziest girl I have ever met by the name Jessica. I am also going to miss our lovely popstar Alesscia. Between her and Jessica I really don't know who would win if they both competed to know who is crazier. I am also going to miss Aldrin like mad. These people really made my year."
A small applause followed his speech. I frowned as I kept staring at my phone. So I wasn't going to be missed? Great!
"Are those the only people you'll miss?" Wale who was more like the mc asked.
"Hmmm.... Actually I think I am really going to miss this certain girl. She's actually the best part of my year and she probably doesn't even know it."
"What's her name?" Wale asked.
"I think her name is Alya or so."
"Alya," Wale repeated causing me to turn reflexively.
"Alya Chizitaram please come up to the stage. Since you made this guy's year, I am sure you won't mind making his night," Wale announced causing my jaw to drop.
"C'mon girl, go on stage already!" Alesscia said. I was about to object when Alesscia began chanting my name and sooner than I expected the rest of my classmates joined.
Finally giving in, I stood up from my seat and headed for the stage. Wale met me midway and dramatically ushered me to the stage.
"So you guys should like make out or at least kiss. All this trouble I went through really shouldn't be for nothing," he whispered to the both of us when I got on stage. He asked us without wasting much time or even giving us a chance to react to his statement.
"So you are gonna miss me?" I asked looking at my classmates who had momentarily forgotten about us and had their attentions on different things.
"As, I said earlier, I pretty much will. I really can't help it," he said smiling.
"You know you could always visit," I said.
"Yeah, I know," he said with a wistful smile.
"I am really really going to miss you," I finally admitted near tears. He stared at me in silence for a while and I wondered if he could see the tears I was trying to fight back.
Finally he bent his head slightly closing the space between our lips. His mouth lingered on mine for a couple of seconds as he pulled me closer to him, so close it felt as if even air couldn't pass through us.
I heard a couple of sounds which I really didn't bother to pay attention to before he broke the kiss. I frowned at the loss of contact. Why on earth did I reject his proposal before?
When I finally came back to my senses I realized that my classmates were awwing and applauding some were even videoing us.
At a corner I saw Chiamaka angrily drop a glass before attempting to leave. I think Delight tried to stop her and they got into a little argument which wasn't noticed by anyone partly because they were still interested in me and Ifeanyi and partly because of the Peru remix playing loudly blocking out their voices.
I later joined the dance floor at Alesscia's insistence. By the time it was late and the party had gone far, I, Isa, Ubaro, Angela, Ifeanyi, Chudi and Alesscia (surprisingly) were the only ones who were still sober.
We sat at a table reminiscing about memories I was sure we wouldn't forget so easily. I didn't have many good ones with them but I was sure to cherish the little ones I had and I would definitely never forget my last year in highschool.
THE END.