I sat down and brought out my books and my diary.
I should say the diary is my only companion. It's all I do write. Anytime. Anywhere.
Miss Michelle entered the class, ready to take attendance.
"Present, ma," voices echoed around the classroom one after the other.
"Precious Kaffy."
"Present, ma," I said, my voice calm, even though my mind wasn't.
She paused and looked at me. "Hope you are coping with our school?"
"Yes, ma. Thank you, ma," I replied.
She nodded and continued.
I opened my diary again, running my fingers across the pages. After all, it was the only place I could be honest.
"Do you still hear from Mathew?" someone whispered beside me.
I turned slightly, it was Ezra "Honestly… no. I haven't heard from them. But I miss them."
He nodded. "Let's go out tonight, it might help."
I hesitated for a second, then smiled and nodded. "Okay."
But even as I agreed, my mind was somewhere else.
Mr. Alex.
Before I could change my mind, I stood up and walked out of the class towards the staff room.
"Sir…" I said softly.
Mr. Alex sat behind his table, piles of neat but bulky files arranged carefully in front of him. His small glasses rested low on his nose as he looked up at me.
"Miss Precious, you know why you are here?" he asked abruptly.
"Yes, sir," I said quietly. "Because I couldn't answer the question in your class."
He leaned back slightly.
"It was difficult to accept and register you here," he said. "But we took some factors into consideration. Your former headmistress gave you a glowing recommendation."
I bowed my head a little.
I already knew where this was going.
"Oh sir…" I said softly, trying to sound as meek as possible. "I promise I won't do anything to make you regret accepting me."
I sniffed a little, hoping it sounded convincing.
He stared at me for a moment.
"You are under probation for this term," he said finally. "I will be watching your results closely. And you will meet the guidance counsellor twice a week."
My heart dropped."Good luck in Greenfield High School."
"Thank you, sir," I said, then turned and left.
The moment I stepped outside,
I dropped the act.
I exhaled deeply and walked back to class like nothing happened.
Before I knew it, the day was over.
At home, I got ready for my outing with Ezra.
I stood in front of the mirror, looking at myself for a while. For once I felt satisfied.
I picked my bag, took some cash, and headed out.
"Stay safe!" my mum called from inside.
"I will!" I replied.
I got to the agreed place early.
There was a mango tree nearby, so I stood under it, leaning against the rough bark while adjusting my dress.
"Sorry I'm late," a voice said.
I looked up.
Ezra stood there, stretching to his full height, flashing his brightest smile.
"How do I look?" he asked.
"Handsome," I said before I could stop myself.
He laughed. "Keep up."
Then he looked at me properly.
"You look beautiful too."
I felt my face warm slightly.Then he gestured forward.
We stepped into the club.
He held the door open for me and a rush of loud music spilled out, hitting me instantly.
The bass was heavy, vibrating through my chest as we stepped inside. Lights flashed across the room blue, red, purple, people moving like they had no worries at all.
For a moment, I hesitated.
This wasn't my world.
"Come on," Ezra said, glancing back at me. "Don't overthink it."
Too late.
I was already overthinking.
We walked further in, squeezing past people dancing and laughing. The air felt warm, almost suffocating, mixed with perfume and something else I couldn't quite place.
He found a small table at the corner.
"Sit," he said.
I sat down slowly, still taking everything in. My eyes moved around the room girls laughing too loudly, boys showing off, couples too close to each other.
I suddenly felt out of place.
Ezra noticed.
"You've never been to a place like this before, have you?"
I shook my head. "Is it that obvious?"
He smiled. "A little."
A waiter came and dropped two drinks on the table. I stared at mine, not touching it.
"Relax," Ezra said again, leaning back. "You're too tense."
"I'm not tense," I replied quickly.
He raised an eyebrow. "You've been holding that glass like it offended you."
I almost laughed.
Almost.
Silence fell between us for a moment, but my mind wasn't quiet.
Mr. Alex.
Probation.
Guidance counsellor.
Those words kept echoing in my head like I never left school.
"Hey," Ezra said softly this time. "You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Disappearing."
That word caught me off guard."I'm right here," I said.
"Your body is," he replied. "Not your mind."
I didn't respond. Because he was right.
Before I could think of something to say, he stood up and stretched out his hand.
"Dance with me."
My eyes widened immediately. "No."
He leaned closer. "Or you won't?"
I looked at his hand then back at him.
Everyone around us was moving so freely, like nothing mattered.
And me?
I was still stuck in my head.
Slowly, I placed my hand in his.
He pulled me up gently and led me to the dance floor.
At first, I felt completely awkward. My body stiff, my movements unsure. I didn't know what I was doing, and it showed.
Ezra laughed lightly. "You're thinking too much."
"I don't know how to do this," I admitted.
"Then don't think. Just move."
Easier said than done.But I tried.
Little by little, I let go.
Not completely but enough.
The music got louder, the lights blurred, and for a few seconds.
I forgot.
Forgot school.Forgot the embarrassment.Forgot the pressure.
I was just there.
Alive in the moment.
Ezra leaned closer again. "See? You're not as boring as you think."
I rolled my eyes. "I never said I was boring."
"But you thought it."
I didn't deny it.
We went back to our seats after a while, both slightly out of breath.
I picked up my drink again, this time not just staring at it.
"Tonight is not so bad," I said quietly.
Ezra smiled. "That's the spirit."
But deep down,
I knew this feeling wouldn't last forever.
Because sooner or later,
Reality would come back.