Dignitas

It looked like a five-star hotel that acc

am-colored walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows looked out onto manicured gardens where staff in crisp white uniforms trimmed hedges into perfe

led chaos of first-

the wobbly metal ones you saw in other schools. Water bottles were steel, engraved with names. No

settle d

a tailored skirt-suit, hair in a neat bun, eyes that missed no

quieted i

this term. They transferred from Kebbi last week." S

ened with a

er Adeleke step

jawline inherited from their father. But standing side by sid

d clean. His posture was easy, shoulders relaxed, eyes scanning the room with quiet c

low bun without a strand out of place. Her eyes were down, focused on the floor like it mi

this is Praise Adeleke and his twin sist

rward first, hand

'm Praise. I play football

om. Already, half of 2B was on his side.

ther. I like reading

ks pink. She wanted the

can take the seat beside Tobi in the middle row. Esth

ithout looking up. Her steps were careful

e row, saw Tobi waving him

hand, already reading ahead in the English textbook. Her hair was in two low plaits, blazer sleeves rolled once, neat

me yet. But he knew the s

to Mrs. Ok

se me

ed an eyebrow.

d quietly. "Can I sit beside her?

's seatmate, Damilare, who was alread

can move! I actually sit better at

, front-row girl, it was a pattern. But Praise did

grades slip, you're back to t

e back, sliding into the seat beside Esther. Esther l

a word. He set his bag down, pulled out hi

him once. "Hi," s

smiled.

questions when called, took notes in neat, spaced handwriting, borrowed a pen from Esther when hi

ing. The way he shifted when the AC hit too cold. The way he didn't try

ang, Mrs. Okoro

a minute. I'll show you the staff

koro out, but not before glancing back once at Chloe. Chloe di

reak Time,

unless you were in the library. But students actu

wrought-iron benches. On one side was the football field, perfectly trimmed.

s taking it all in. The size, the quiet confidence of the st

" she said

don't talk to any girl who smiles too much in the firs

wned. "Tha

ed. "I'm jok

aved at two guys from 2A who nodded back

with people. She just needed time to warm u

mething on her tablet. Her blazer was off, draped over the bench beside her. Sh

d him stop. "

head. "No. But I

before Esther could answer. Es

stopped in front of her. S

. H

Hi. I'm Praise.

ked. "Righ

pointing the bench

taking away her b

e of the bench, leavi

achers actually check if your tie is straig

miled,

k of her head. Also, don't wear your blazer

is is why I came to talk

er tablet. "I'

ng here alone reading during b

eyes, but she did

you want

back, hands be

the most homework? Where's the best place to h

laug

ing assembly on y

"Not saying I wi

ten minutes,

njo gave surprise tests every Friday. She told him the libr

too much in class. She told him about Sharon, who sa

errupt. He didn't try to one-up her. He just no

orward when Chloe talked about the library. She saw Chloe

se said, standi

oked up.

ched out his

ou should show me arou

ared at

one with m

ggled his

ve minutes. You can

nd follow new boys around. But Praise wasn't asking like the other boys. He

put her table

oro catches us, I'm s

took her hand to he

. Calloused a lit

d back quickly and a

's g

g toward the science block, Praise nodding a

place wouldn't be so bad if

Science Bl

smelled faintly of chemicals and old te

3. The stool wobbles and Mr. Bello will

you hear him laughing, hide.

Don't use them. The head

ed, absorbi

one who looks like you j

m. "I watch. It's e

topped w

hy

shru

things. Easier

ied her for

e not

ere was a small courtyard with a stone fountain. It

the edge of t

eside her, n

, neither of

soft, drowning out the di

e bro

y'd you s

ead on her blazer. "Don't l

"Me too. But I

. "You don't seem l

iled. "Go

t smiled ba

nce. Break was over. Prais

tour guide

brushing her skirt.

"Why not? You

just started walking back

ed, hands in

, Ch

ced back

stion in class,

t about it,

oo much question and abou

aughed.

... easy. Esther was waiting by the 2B door when they got back. She saw them and

the first time since they met, Praise didn't act like Chloe wasn't ther

e answer. Praise answered c

, Pra

st a little. Outside, the gardens were still per

he could keep up with the class. Praise borrowed Chloe's note, but Ch

ust did. Chloe was vexed at that but she didn't want to

desk. "She doesn't have good handwriting, mine is better". Praise

ll see what she's writing" Praise said, s

e, but that the fact that he had

n part knowing fully well what Charlotte was going

ent in the class", Charlotte said stretching out her hand for a handshake. Im

Charlotte said

ing herself. She didn't want to ha

continued "I'm the MD's

aise",

ask me questions whenever you don't understand anything". Charl

osing." Praise

e but just pretended he loved her company, since

d. Hands back, turning from left to ri

ing

dn't feel like the end of the day.

onditioning had dialed down to a softer hum. Outside the glass walls, gardeners in white uniforms were alr

shed in, Notes closed, blazers

ok in first, then tablet, then water bottle. Fiyin was bes

ded, watching the door. She'd been quiet all day, which m

quiet. Not silent. Just... q

air she moved through. Blazer buttoned, tie perfect, hair in a neat bun,