₦airaland Forum

[b]Chapter Three[/b]EkoValley

“Jadesola take care of your-self, if you need anything make sure you call” her mum had said. Her father held her hand, looked into the worried but cool eyes of jade. “My girl” he called her “you will be ok, let God be your guide He will protect you”. Then Jade had no personal conviction so he just spoke mere religious words to her. She was happy within but wanted to cling to her parents. Dare was laughing “Jade I’ll miss you”.
“I’m still coming home” she replied abruptly. “Daddy, mummy” she said with a plea. “I am just 10 yrs old”.
“Jade we’ve gone through this” her mum said adjusting Dami in her arms. Jades’ eyes filled with tears and she hugged them, don’t worry they told her waving as they entered the car. Jade waved until they were out of the gate.
She was walking straight to her room with her head down,she had wanted to wear glasses to avoid unnecessary stares but her dad had said no that she mustn’t be ashamed of what God gave her.
“Come here!” someone shouted breaking her thoughts she looked up by impulse. “I am talking to you” her eyes focused on a tall fair girl who was definitely older than her with at least 4 yrs and was standing in the midst of five other girls sitting just at the entrance of her hall of residence Adele Hall it was called with green its flag colour. She turned back to see if there was another person.
“ Ode!” another one said “come here jo!” She walked to meet them still with her head down rebuking silently that she wasn’t a ‘mumu’.
“Can’t you put your head up”. The one who called her ‘ode’ said as she got to their front.
“Chineke!” the fair girl exclaimed “you are wearing contacts”. They all began to clap their hands in jest and sigh in disbelieve. It brought a quick knowing smile to Jadesolas’ face here I go again she thought “I’m not” she said. “Shout up” they chorused
“so how come your eyes are like this? You are not even as fair as tomi” they said in the direction of the only girl that hadn’t talked, who was quite dark…”I don’t know” Jade said “it’s a genetic thing, ”
“Eh! I think its an ‘obanje’ thing” one said interrupting her and they all laughed “her eyes are like cat eyes, all those witchy kind of eyes” the girl continued
“Chioma, haba! leave the girl alone …where are you from?” “she’s Yoruba” someone suggested, “are you a quarter cast?” they bombarded her with questions, she felt like crying but steeled herself against it. After some 20 minutes, they let her go. As she moved into the hall she heard someone say ‘I have a bad feeling about her., at least we do biology and this can’t happen normally. She’s weird definitely, A freak if you ask me”
She ran to her room, the tears finally breaking free. She dove on her bed, God please change it, You have the power to change this she sobbed ignorantly.
Some hours later or so she thought, she heard some girls talking and giggling. She opened her eyes they felt sore, rubbing them she blinked and looked around the room which was a four-person room, definitely her classmates because all JSS 1 students where on one wing. The fresher wing it was nicknamed.
The girls, three of them where seated on the bed opposite hers. When they noticed she had woken up. One whispered to the girl in the middle with eyes locked on Jade. The girl’s eyes grew larger in fright or surprise, Jade wasn’t sure then but when they left the room looking at her in a funny way she knew what it was. “Why are people like this” she said holding her head in both hands as she sat up on the bed. “What am I going to do”
She looked around the room again, feeling hungry she got up, looked into her wardrobe for a novel and a crispy snack. Settling on her bed she disappeared into the book.
“Hello!” someone said in a tiny voice. At first Jade thought it was something from her thoughts until a shadow fell on her. She looked up
“I said hello” the girl whispered “I’m Rhea Adenuga one of your roommates”.Jade who was already very self-conscious noticed people down to their tiniest details.
Jade had been surprised the girl didn’t look taken aback or startled “I’m Jadesola Adeyemi” she finally said noticing how smallish she seemed with almost same skin colour as herself ,just some shades lighter and slanted dark brown eyes, her hair was in all-back style and it just grazed the collar of her shirt.
“Nice to know you” Rhea said putting the bag she had being carrying on her bed which was just after Jade’s.
Jade stood up not knowing what to say. “I guess they put the first A’s in this room” she offered lamely making an attempt.
“Yeah” Rhea replied arranging the things from her bag in her wardrobe
“Want one” she said handing a bar of Mars™ chocolate over to her
“Thanks” Jade said accepting it not wanting the girl to be offended.
“How come you have green eyes?” Rhea finally said “most people are talking about it, at least most of the people I met, saying I hope she’s not in my room, this and that”
Jade hung her head and just watched an ant run about absent-mindedly. “Are they so bad?” she asked wanting to hear someone’s opinion
Rhea shook her head “in poor light it may pass unnoticed but with daylight or really bright light it becomes very very noticeable but it’s actually beautiful”.
“Thank you” Jade croaked “It’s a genetic thingy …all the doctors I’ve met say some theory I can’t state but I’m not a witch, obanje or whatever you people think. I’m normal!”
“Please take it easy, I didn’t say anything” Rhea said moving over to hold Jade’s arm.
, ”Don’t worry people are just ignorant I’ll be your friend”

Yes the first day of secondary school had been a mix of bad and good and she couldn’t forget it.