Back in my secondary school, when i was still in JSS2, there was this particular period I’ll never forget. Our classroom was just a few steps away from the staff room, so anything we said—even in whispers—had the potential to echo all the way to our teachers. But as young students, we didn’t really care much about that. Especially when there was no teacher in class. Once the bell rang and a teacher didn’t show up, the classroom would instantly turn into a mini market. People would be shouting, playing, some singing, some dancing. I won’t even lie—I was part of the noise gang that day. Everyone was just catching cruise.
What we didn’t know was that the class captain, a girl (let me not mention her name), had quietly started writing the names of noisemakers. I think what annoyed me the most about that whole experience was how she handled the whole thing. She was the kind of person who only warned her close friends whenever she started writing names. So, while the rest of us were busy having fun, laughing, and talking, she had already written a full page of names and was proudly heading to the staff room to submit it.
I didn’t even know anything was happening. I was just there, minding my business, joking with the guy sitting beside me. Then the next thing—gbam!—our teacher barged into the class, holding a cane. The whole class went dead silent. You know that type of silence where even your heartbeat starts to sound loud?? That was exactly what happened.
He then called out a list of names, mine included. I was confused at first. Then I saw her—the class captain—standing at the corner, holding her noise makers list with that annoying “I’m innocent” face.
That day, the beating we received on our backs was not small. The man didn’t even ask for any explanation. He just said, “So you people want to scatter the school with noise?” Before I could say anything, wham, I had received two strokes.
From that day, I told myself: Never again. I made it a personal vow not to ever make it to that list again, especially when I didn’t even get a chance to defend myself. It wasn’t just about the beating—it was the betrayal that pained me. How can you write my name and not even give me a warning?
Most of us in the class were actually very frustrated by what she did. But then personally i despised her, and from that moment onward, i decided not to have anything to do with her again.
Thanks for reading.