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YAZEED'S POV:
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The school's visiting area was packed with people when we left after the Zuhr prayer. Cadet boys filled every corner, from the school gate to the hostel areas, and nearly everywhere you looked. It was evident that students wouldn't find a way to smuggle in contraband.
Not expecting to encounter anyone, I headed straight back to the hostel. It was empty, so I lay down on my bunk before dinner. Since today was visiting day, I anticipated plenty of food in the dining hall, and I planned to indulge and even sneak some out.
I closed my eyes for a brief nap, but when I opened them, I realized I'd dozed off. Students were already returning from dinner. I sighed and grabbed my diary to write, hoping to ease my pain:
Hey bud! When will this ever end? I'm so tired of everything that's happening. Today is the worst day for a boarder, as no one is coming for me. I don't...
I paused when I heard someone calling my name.
"Yazeed!" I looked up and saw Huzzy standing by my bunk. To be precise, I wasn't expecting to see him.
I closed the book I was holding and forced a small grin.
"Hey," I replied softly, trying to conceal my unease.
"Still sleeping?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Actually, my parents are here, and I'd like you to meet them, if that's okay with you," he said, radiating happiness.
"By the way, your parents will be mad if they find out you're still sleeping at this hour," he teased, which offended me a bit.
'Parents, seriously?' I thought.
I wished it was only because I was a scholarship student, but it went beyond that. I wasn't sure if my father even remembered I existed. I wanted to decline Huzzy's offer, but I couldn't. I didn't want to be the odd loner always.
"Okay, let's go," I said, jumping down from the bunk.
There's a first time for everything.
As I emerged onto the visiting ground, I entered a different world – my dream world, to be precise. Families, laughter, and happiness surrounded me, something I'd yearned for all my life. In the past three years, this was only the second time I'd ventured out to the visiting ground. I had been shattered during my first term in school when I learned that no one was ever coming to visit me, and no one had up to this day.
It was difficult to tell if it was real life or some kind of dream, but I could only imagine having a family like Huzzy's. They were outgoing, warm, and full of love. His twin brothers turned everything into a joke, and we laughed all the time. We played paper games and had a great time. I was starting to doubt if I was really an introvert, as we connected so well with Huzzy's family, and it felt like I'd known them all my life.
When his parents asked about me, I wanted to tell them who my father was, but it made no sense to claim I was the son of the famous businessman from the states, Alhaji Bukar. I thought better of it and said, "Actually, I'm staying with my uncle, and my parents are late," as they sympathized with me.
Huzzy's father offered to help me with anything I needed, and they displayed their love and concern. I was deeply grateful for their kind gestures and appreciated their generosity. I noticed the stares from some students, and I knew they would gossip about me, but I didn't care. All I cared about was the love I found from Huzzy's family.
We enjoyed a variety of dishes, some international and unfamiliar to me. I found myself talking more than usual, expressing opinions I never thought I could. I realized I could be talkative if given the chance. Maybe I'd never had the opportunity to express myself fully. We were so engrossed in conversation that we didn't notice the visit was over until the cadet boys began ringing the bells and shouting, "Visit over!"
"This isn't fair; we haven't reached the fun part yet," one of the twins lamented.
"It's okay; there's always a next time," I said, patting him on the back.
We escorted them to the gate with their food basket and belongings. The cadet boys accompanied them to the car parked outside the school, a privilege they enjoyed. I, too, longed to breathe the outside air, to feel its warmth and welcoming embrace. I wished I could go out as well, but I didn't dare.
We waited by the school gate until they drove off, and then we headed back inside, back to our prison-like dormitory.
The unfortunate Zuma students whose parents couldn't visit, were seen all over the visiting ground, crying their eyes out as parents departed. I could relate to their feelings, and it was heartbreaking. I prayed that their parents would make it next time, as the disappointment would be hard to bear.
I helped Huzzy bring his provisions to his room, and he generously shared most of them with me. I initially wanted to decline, but I was running low on provisions and money. I had never realized that wealthy people could be so generous and caring. I used to believe they were all like Yasman, self-centered and egotistic.
Today turned out to be the best day ever for me, and I realized that even though I was naturally an introvert, I had connected with strangers I had only recently met. I wondered if I was an ambivert, having qualities of both an introvert and an extrovert, or perhaps an extrovert entirely. I needed to discover more about myself, but I would always cherish the time I spent with Huzzy's family. I felt safe and comfortable with them, and I wished it could go on forever.
MINAL'S POV:
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"Tomorrow is Sunday, and our general MSSN will commence,
Based on that;
All students are expected to be at the MSSN hall by exactly 6:30 AM,
I repeat, 6:30 Am,
Lateness will not be tolerated,
I repeat; Lateness will not be tolerated.
All the MSSN officials should wait behind,
I repeat, All the MSSN officials should wait behind.
The rest you may leave."
We heard the announcement as the boys excitedly left the mosque, heading to the social night. We all anticipated hearing the same from our female officials. They later instructed us to "move out and line up."
As we came out of the mosque, the music from the dining hall was loud, making it difficult to focus on anything else. The MSSN officials intentionally held us in the mosque to delay us from attending the social night, and this time they all showed up.
The Ya Ameerah stood in front of us as we squatted down before the officials.
"As you all know, I can deal with you here in the mosque, deal with you as the school prefect, and deal with you as your senior," she said, adjusting her glasses. SNR Amina always boasted about being a prefect and an official. She rarely laid her hands on any of us but had a way of hurting others with her words. She continued, reminding us that we were insignificant and they were everything.
While she lectured us, I was actually following the lyrics of the song playing in the dining hall until she said we may leave.
"Minal Shettima and co should wait behind," the rest of the students hurriedly left, leaving my friends and me behind. I knew it was related to what happened today at the visiting ground and before that. I was ready for whatever was to come.
"Maryam, calm down, I will deal with them personally," we heard SNR Amina tell SNR Maryam from inside the mosque. SNR Maryam, as an official, enjoyed punishing us in the mosque more than as just our senior in the hostel. That's how they had set it up,it was like a tradition or something. They came out of the mosque, facing us with a stern look.
"You girls know what you did. Go to SNR Maryam's corner and start crying immediately after the social night," SNR Amina said and they left.
My friends and I exchanged glances, knowing we were in for a serious trashing today, and we'd have to double our clothes later tonight.
The queen's contest usually involved selecting the most beautiful girl from a particular house as her set's queen. But this time, they had us perform on stage, which I wasn't comfortable with.
"I can't even dance alone, let alone in front of that crowd," I reminded Suffy, as I had multiple times today.
"I told you not to worry; just stand, and we'll do the dancing," she reassured me. But I still didn't feel ready to dance in front of everyone.
As we entered the hall, "All of Me" played in the background, and all the students were singing along, as if reciting the national anthem. The SS3 students were seated in the front row, followed by the queens from different sets. They had selected the most beautiful students from each set, and they sat there glamorously. They were stylish and seemed to stand out in any crowd. Every student aspired to be chosen as a queen, and it was a significant privilege.
I was overwhelmed by the crowd and felt this was not my place.
"There comes my queen," our house captain, SNR Hannah, said when she saw us.
She was different from other seniors, kind and supportive. I was sure she would make the friendliest and most popular student from her set. She wasn't a tyrant.
"Good afternoon, seniors," I greeted them, bowing my head out of respect.
"I heard they're already calling you a queen. Don't let that get to your head. I don't even think you're qualified. You're lucky students are voting; otherwise, I doubt you'd stand a chance," SNR Maryam said, attempting to intimidate me, but it only strengthened my determination to face my fears.
"Come on, Mary, that's mean," SNR Hannah said, giving her friend a disapproving look.
"Hey, don't worry, I'm sure no girl can match your beauty in this entire hall," she said reassuringly to me and gave a pointed glance at SNR Maryam, who hissed and left the scene.
I felt energized at that moment and felt like I could conquer the world. But that feeling vanished when the social prefect announced it was time to start the contest. I felt as if cold water had been poured over me, and my palms started to sweat.
Abigail from Rima House was the first to perform. She did a slow version of John Legend's "All of Me," portraying a one-sided relationship between two couples. It was both educational and entertaining, and her crew made the performance lively. They captured the attention they wanted, with every student singing along.
I was scheduled to go on stage after her, but I had decided to back out. Alvin and the Chipmunks' "Everytime we Kiss" was playing in the background when I turned to leave, and I had Suffy and some of my team already on stage. To my shock, I heard the entire hall erupt with shouts and applause. The song was barely audible due to the students' cheers, singing along and clapping. I turned back to see the surprise of my life – Yazeed and Huzzy were on stage, dancing with my crew.
"OMG!" I shouted and ran back to the stage. I didn't know most of the dance steps, but I found myself dancing like a star. All I could think about was the crowd chanting my name, hailing and singing along as we danced.
I mouthed a "thank you" to Huzzy as the song ended, and other participants came on stage. I went back to my seat, thinking about what had just happened.
How'd had that even happened?
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