Dignitas

St. Theresa's didn't look like a school. It looked like a five-star hotel that accidentally got a license to teach calculus.

The main building gleamed with polished marble floors that reflected the soft glow of recessed ceiling lights. Gold trim ran along the cream-colored walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows looked out onto manicured gardens where staff in crisp white uniforms trimmed hedges into perfect curves. The air conditioning hummed at 16 degrees, quiet enough that you could hear the scratch of pens on paper from three rows away.

Inside, the controlled chaos of first-day energy hummed.

Students in navy blazers with gold crest embroidery moved between desks that were solid oak, not the wobbly metal ones you saw in other schools. Water bottles were steel, engraved with names. No one was shouting, but the room vibrated with low chatter, laughter, the rustle of uniform fabric.

"Alright, settle down, 2B!"

Mrs. Okoro's voice cut through it cleanly. She was 41, sharp in a tailored skirt-suit, hair in a neat bun, eyes that missed nothing. She didn't need to raise her voice twice in this school.

The room quieted instantly.

"Before we begin, we have two new students joining us this term. They transferred from Kebbi last week." She turned to the door and smiled. "Come in, you two."

The door opened with a soft hiss.

Praise and Esther Adeleke stepped in together.

They were twins. Same height, same deep brown eyes, same sharp jawline inherited from their father. But standing side by side, they looked like two different answers to the same question.

Praise walked in like he owned the air. Blazer buttoned, tie knotted, hair cut low and clean. His posture was easy, shoulders relaxed, eyes scanning the room with quiet confidence. He had the kind of presence that made people look up without knowing why.

Esther walked half a step behind him. Blazer buttoned to the top, tie straight, hair in a low bun without a strand out of place. Her eyes were down, focused on the floor like it might move if she looked away. She clutched her bag with both hands, knuckles slightly white.

Mrs. Okoro gestured to the front. "Class, this is Praise Adeleke and his twin sister, Esther. Please introduce yourselves."

Praise stepped forward first, hands in his pockets.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Praise. I play football badly. Nice to meet you."

A ripple of laughter went through the room. Already, half of 2B was on his side. Esther stepped forward, voice quieter.

"Good morning. I'm Esther. I like reading and... quiet places."

She stopped there, cheeks pink. She wanted the floor to swallow her.

Mrs. Okoro smiled kindly. "Thank you both. Praise, you can take the seat beside Tobi in the middle row. Esther, there's an empty seat at the back by the window."

Esther nodded and moved toward the back without looking up. Her steps were careful, like she didn't want to disturb the air.

Praise glanced at the middle row, saw Tobi waving him over, then looked forward.

At the front, second seat from the left, sat Chloe Ada. She wasn't looking around. She had her notebook open, pen in hand, already reading ahead in the English textbook. Her hair was in two low plaits, blazer sleeves rolled once, neatly at the cuffs. She had that stillness about her-like she'd rather be anywhere else than in the middle of attention.

Praise didn't know her name yet. But he knew the seat beside her was empty.

He walked to Mrs. Okoro's desk.

"Excuse me, Ma."

Mrs. Okoro raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Praise?"

"I focus better in front," he said quietly. "Can I sit beside her? I promise I won't distract her."

Mrs. Okoro followed his gaze to Chloe's seatmate, Damilare, who was already grinning like he'd won the lottery.

Damilare shot to his feet. "Ma, I can move! I actually sit better at the back. More space for my legs."

Mrs. Okoro sighed. She'd seen this before. New boy, front-row girl, it was a pattern. But Praise didn't seem cocky about it. He seemed... intentional.

"Fine," she said. "But if your grades slip, you're back to the middle row. Switch seats."

Damilare grabbed his bag and practically jogged to the back, sliding into the seat beside Esther. Esther looked up, startled, and gave him a small, polite nod.

Praise took the seat beside Chloe without a word. He set his bag down, pulled out his notebook, and opened it to a clean page.

Chloe glanced at him once. "Hi," she said quietly.

Praise smiled. "Hi."

That was it. The lesson started. For 40 minutes, Praise acted like Chloe wasn't there. He answered questions when called, took notes in neat, spaced handwriting, borrowed a pen from Esther when his ran out. He didn't glance at her. Didn't lean over to ask her name again. Didn't try to be funny.

But Chloe felt him there. The way his pen tapped twice when he was thinking. The way he shifted when the AC hit too cold. The way he didn't try to talk to her, which was weird. Most new boys tried too hard on day one.

When the bell rang, Mrs. Okoro dismissed them.

"Praise, Esther, stay behind for a minute. I'll show you the staff room and go over your timetable."

Esther waited by the door, still quiet. Praise followed Mrs. Okoro out, but not before glancing back once at Chloe. Chloe didn't notice. She was already packing up, efficient, practiced.

10:20am - Break Time, Field Walkway

St. Theresa's had a rule: no phones during break unless you were in the library. But students actually break that rule. So, people actually talked.

The field walkway was a long stretch of pale stone lined with mango trees and wrought-iron benches. On one side was the football field, perfectly trimmed. On the other, the senior science labs with glass walls you could see through.

Praise and Esther walked slowly, not talking much. Esther was taking it all in. The size, the quiet confidence of the students, the way no one stared at her like she was an exhibit.

"It's big," she said finally.

Praise nodded. "Yeah. But you'll get used to it. Just don't talk to any girl who smiles too much in the first week. They're either in student council or trouble."

Esther frowned. "That's mean."

Praise grinned. "I'm joking. Mostly."

They passed the football field. Praise waved at two guys from 2A who nodded back. He'd learned their names in 10 minutes.

Esther didn't say anything. She wasn't bad with people. She just needed time to warm up. Halfway down the walkway, Praise stopped.

Chloe was sitting alone on a bench under a mango tree, earphones in, reading something on her tablet. Her blazer was off, draped over the bench beside her. She looked smaller like this, less like the girl who sat ramrod straight in class.

Esther noticed him stop. "You know her?"

Praise shook his head. "No. But I sit beside her."

He started walking toward her before Esther could answer. Esther stayed behind, watching.

Chloe looked up when Praise stopped in front of her. She pulled one earphone out.

"Oh. Hi."

Praise smiled. "Hi. I'm Praise. We sit together."

Chloe blinked. "Right. Chloe."

"Can I?" Praise said pointing the bench Chloe was sitting on.

"Yeah" she said, taking away her blazer on the bench

Praise sat on the edge of the bench, leaving space between them.

"So, what's the deal with this place? Do teachers actually check if your tie is straight, or is that just for the website photos?"

Chloe smiled, small.

"They check. Mrs. Okoro has eyes in the back of her head. Also, don't wear your blazer wrong on Wednesdays. The head boy patrols."

Praise laughed. "See? This is why I came to talk to you. I need a guide."

Chloe closed her tablet. "I'm not a guide."

Praise shrugged. "You're sitting here alone reading during break. That makes you a guide."

Chloe rolled her eyes, but she didn't look annoyed.

"What do you want to know?"

Praise leaned back, hands behind his head.

"Everything. Who's fast on the field? Who gives the most homework? Where's the best place to hide if you skip assembly? The important stuff."

Chloe laughed.

"You're not skipping assembly on your first week."

Praise grinned. "Not saying I will. Just asking."

For the next ten minutes, Chloe talked.

She told him Tobi was fast but lazy. She told him Mr. Adebanjo gave surprise tests every Friday. She told him the library was the safest place during assembly if you had a note.

She told him about Fiyin, her best friend, who talked too much in class. She told him about Sharon, who sat with Fiyin and had a temper but was fiercely loyal.

Praise listened. Really listened. He didn't interrupt. He didn't try to one-up her. He just nodded, asked a follow-up question here and there.

Esther watched from a distance. She saw her brother lean forward when Chloe talked about the library. She saw Chloe stop fidgeting with her pen when Praise asked a question.

"Alright," Praise said, standing up suddenly.

Chloe looked up. "What?"

Praise stretched out his hand to her.

"If you're my guide, you should show me around. Properly. Come on."

Chloe stared at his hand.

"I'm not done with my break."

Praise wiggled his fingers.

"Break's over in five minutes. You can read on the move."

Chloe hesitated. It was stupid. She didn't do this. She didn't just get up and follow new boys around. But Praise wasn't asking like the other boys. He wasn't trying to impress her. He was asking like he actually needed her help.

She sighed and put her tablet in her bag.

"Fine. But if Mrs. Okoro catches us, I'm saying you dragged me."

Praise grinned and took her hand to help her up. "Deal."

His hand was warm. Calloused a little from football.

Chloe pulled her hand back quickly and adjusted her blazer.

"Let's go."

Esther watched them walk away, Chloe pointing toward the science block, Praise nodding and asking questions. She didn't feel jealous.

She felt relieved. Maybe this place wouldn't be so bad if Praise had someone to talk to.

10:35am - Science Block Corridor

The science block was quieter. The air smelled faintly of chemicals and old textbooks. Chloe pointed as they walked.

"That's the chem lab. Don't sit at table 3. The stool wobbles and Mr. Bello will blame you even if it breaks on its own."

"That's Mr. Bello's office. If you hear him laughing, hide. It means someone's in trouble."

"That's the staff toilets. Don't use them. The head teacher checks the logs."

Praise nodded, absorbing it all.

"You know a lot for someone who looks like you just read books all day."

Chloe glanced at him. "I watch. It's easier than talking."

Praise stopped walking.

"Why?"

Chloe shrugged.

"People say dumb things. Easier to listen first."

Praise studied her for a second.

"You're not wrong."

They reached the back of the science block, where there was a small courtyard with a stone fountain. It was quiet there. Most students didn't know about it.

Chloe sat on the edge of the fountain.

Praise sat beside her, not too close.

For a minute, neither of them spoke.

The sound of the water was soft, drowning out the distant noise of the field.

Praise broke it.

"So... why'd you sit alone?"

Chloe picked at a loose thread on her blazer. "Don't like crowds. Too much noise."

Praise nodded. "Me too. But I fake it well."

Chloe looked at him. "You don't seem like you're faking."

Praise smiled. "Good actor."

Chloe almost smiled back. "Maybe."

The bell rang in the distance. Break was over. Praise stood up and stretched.

"Alright, tour guide. Thanks."

Chloe stood up too, brushing her skirt. "Don't call me that."

Praise grinned. "Why not? You did a good job."

Chloe didn't answer. She just started walking back toward the main building.

Praise followed, hands in his pockets.

"Hey, Chloe?"

She glanced back. "Yeah?"

"If I have a question in class, can I ask you?"

Chloe thought about it, then nodded.

"Yeah. But don't ask me too much question and about football. I don't care."

Praise laughed. "Deal."

They walked back together, not talking much. But it didn't feel awkward. It felt... easy. Esther was waiting by the 2B door when they got back. She saw them and said nothing, but she noticed how Chloe's shoulders were less tense than before.

Praise went to his seat. Chloe went to hers. The lesson started. And for the first time since they met, Praise didn't act like Chloe wasn't there. He glanced at her once when Mr. Bello asked a question he didn't know.

Chloe saw it and mouthed the answer. Praise answered correctly. Mrs. Okoro nodded.

"Good, Praise."

Chloe looked back at her notebook and smiled, just a little. Outside, the gardens were still perfect. Inside, something small and new had started.

The class ended. Mr. Bello told Praise to borrow a note from anyone so he could keep up with the class. Praise borrowed Chloe's note, but Charlotte walked over, took it from his desk, and dropped it on the floor.

"Oops. Sorry", she said, intentionally doing what she just did. Chloe was vexed at that but she didn't want to talk to avoid trouble, and Praise was also surprised.

"I think mine is better", she said, just dropping her note on the desk. "She doesn't have good handwriting, mine is better". Praise picked Chloe's note from the floor where Charlotte had dropped it.

"I think it's better, at least, I can still see what she's writing" Praise said, smiling. Though he didn't mean the smile.

Charlotte was angry, not at Praise, but that the fact that he had to choose Chloe's note, not hers.

"Ok, it's fine" Charlotte replied. Chloe on her own part knowing fully well what Charlotte was going to say next, already stylishly covered her ears.

"I'm Charlotte, the Managing Director's daughter, and I'm most brilliant student in the class", Charlotte said stretching out her hand for a handshake. Immediately, Chloe coughed, knowing that Charlotte just dropped a bomb, 'lies.

"Excuse me!", Charlotte said facing Chloe.

"Sorry", Chloe quickly said adjusting herself. She didn't want to have anything to do with Charlotte.

"As I was saying", she continued "I'm the MD's daughter and you are?"

"I'm Praise", he said.

"Hmmm, nice name, Praise. So welcome to class 2B, feel free to ask me questions whenever you don't understand anything". Charlotte said now standing straight. "So, when can we meet, today?"

"Huh, maybe closing." Praise said randomly.

He actually didn't like Charlotte first appearance but just pretended he loved her company, since he was just new and wouldn't want to act wrongly.

"Ok, that's fine by me", Charlotte said. Hands back, turning from left to right like a cartoon princess always do.

Closing period

Closing period at St. Theresa's didn't feel like the end of the day. It felt like the school exhaling.

The marble floors were still spotless despite hundreds of shoes walking on them for eight hours. The air conditioning had dialed down to a softer hum. Outside the glass walls, gardeners in white uniforms were already adjusting sprinklers for the evening. The senior building across the quad glowed gold in the late sun.

Inside 2B, chairs were being pushed in, Notes closed, blazers straightened. The day was done.

Chloe was packing slowly. She always packed slowly. Notebook in first, then tablet, then water bottle. Fiyin was beside her, chatting about the weekend drama club rehearsal.

Sharon was leaning against the desk behind them, arms folded, watching the door. She'd been quiet all day, which meant she was either planning something or trying not to.

That's when the corridor went quiet. Not silent. Just... quieter. Charlotte walked in.

She didn't storm. Charlotte never stormed. She walked like she owned the air she moved through. Blazer buttoned, tie perfect, hair in a neat bun, heels clicking softly on marble. But her eyes were sharp. Fixed on Chloe.