In Rita's class, everyone knew there were two brilliant heads, and it was almost impossible to determine who was the most brilliant between the two. It was the talk of the class—Rita, the quiet, reserved girl who always had her head buried in a book, and Anne, the confident, "head girl" who carried a sense of superiority wherever she went. Both girls were exceptional, but their personalities were as different as night and day.
The next day, Rita and Anne were in class, deep in conversation. Anne had always carried herself with a certain level of arrogance, believing that her family's wealth placed her above the rest. She sat confidently after being called by the teacher to assign a group of students to tidy up the hall. As she sat down, Anne pulled out a card from her bag—a beautifully decorated one, adorned with flowers and ribbons. She had written something in her elegant handwriting.
"Please, let me borrow that card," Rita said, her voice quiet, almost as if she was interrupting something personal.
Anne immediately raised an eyebrow. "No, you mean, 'Let me have a look,' not 'borrow.'"
Rita didn't respond. She wasn't the type to argue. She was reserved, almost introverted, while Evelyn and Anne were the complete opposite, always full of energy and conversation.
On the card, in Anne's graceful handwriting, was written: "HBD 2 You, Dad. 49 years old. Then, continue resting." Rita furrowed her brow, confused.
"Anne, what does 'HBD' mean?" Rita asked, genuinely puzzled.
Anne turned the card towards her. "It means Happy Birthday," she said, her tone a little colder than Rita expected.
Rita glanced at Anne, and her voice softened. "And... 'continue resting?'"
Anne hesitated for a moment, her gaze drifting downward. "My father passed away when I was in primary five."
Rita, always the compassionate one, didn't miss a beat. "May his soul rest in perfect peace," she said gently, her eyes filled with empathy.
Anne nodded silently, her head now resting on the desk. It seemed she was trying to hold back tears, but they were probably already there. Rita couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her, despite their differences.
Just then, Evelyn stormed into the class with a dramatic flair. She spotted Rita, who was reading a novel in the corner, and couldn't resist making a little joke.
"Rita, the church girl, reading novels again?" Evelyn teased, her grin wide as she sauntered over to Rita.
Rita looked up, a bit startled, and rolled her eyes. "Evelyn, can you stop calling me the 'church girl'? Am I living in the church or what?"
Evelyn laughed, leaning against Rita's desk. "Nah, I'm just saying. You always seem to be in a world of your own."
Anne, who had been chatting with a girl behind her, suddenly interjected. "Evelyn, leave her alone. Let her read her book in peace."
Evelyn, undeterred, plopped down beside Rita with a dramatic sigh. "So, Rita, what do you want to be in the future? A nun? Or maybe a novelist? A lecturer?"
Rita smiled, leaning back in her chair. "I want to be a lecturer and a novelist. I have too many stories inside me, and I need to get them out."
"Wahoo!" Evelyn exclaimed. "A lecturer and a novelist! I like that. Very academic. But me? I'm going to be a lawyer. Just you wait and see." She grinned mischievously. "What about Anne?"
Anne didn't look up immediately but responded as if on cue. "I want to be a chemical scientist. My older sister wants to be a lawyer, my younger brother wants to be an astronaut, and my mom is a lecturer. Oh, and I don't listen to Nigerian music or watch their movies."
Rita blinked, surprised at how much Anne had shared. It was rare for Anne to open up like that. Before Rita could respond, a girl entered the room, her voice loud and clear. "Senior Anne, Mrs. Owode wants to see you."
Anne quickly stood up, brushing her hair over her shoulder with a small huff. "Excuse me, ladies. Duty calls," she said coolly, walking out of the classroom.
As Anne walked out, Evelyn rolled her eyes, a little annoyed. "This girl... we ask her a simple question, and she answers four! Always trying to show off because she's the head girl."
Rita shook her head with a small smile. "Abi o, because she's the head girl, she thinks she knows everything."
Evelyn snickered. "Seriously though, who talks like that? Chemical scientist, lawyer, astronaut... Girl, we just want to know if she's ever going to chill out!"
Rita chuckled. "Let's just hope she doesn't try to teach us chemistry while we're still in junior high."
The two of them laughed, and the conversation drifted to other things, but for some reason, Rita couldn't help but think about Anne's words. Was Anne truly as confident as she appeared? Or was there a side of her that was just as vulnerable as anyone else? Rita wasn't sure, but she wasn't ready to judge her just yet. They were both exceptional in their own ways, and maybe that was enough.
Before they could continue their conversation, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. The girls gathered their things, ready for the next challenge, whatever it may be.
.