The compound didn't feel the same.
Even though everything looked normal.
Students were still talking.
Jiggy was still complaining about heat.
Mr Charles was still shouting at someone in the next class.
But for her—
Everything felt off.
She sat where she always sat.
Same chair.
Same position.
But something was missing.
Her noise.
She glanced beside her.
Empty.
Agadi wasn't there yet.
She looked away quickly.
Why am I even checking?
Oluchi came and sat close.
"Good morning," she said.
"Morning," she replied.
Oluchi looked at her for a second.
"You're quiet today."
She forced a small smile. "I'm always quiet."
Oluchi raised an eyebrow. "Not like this."
She didn't respond.
Because she didn't know what to say.
A few minutes later, Favor walked in.
She greeted.
Sat down.
Then looked at her.
Then looked at the empty seat beside her.
Then back at her again.
Nobody said anything.
That silence again.
This is uncomfortable.
Then—
Agadi walked in.
Her steps were normal.
Her face?
Not normal.
No smile.
No greeting to her.
She just greeted generally.
"Good morning."
"Morning," a few people replied.
She came straight to her seat.
Sat down.
Brought out her book.
Did not look at her.
Not even once.
Her chest tightened again.
Okay… this is serious.
She adjusted slightly on her chair.
Opened her notebook.
Pretended to read.
But she wasn't seeing anything.
Just lines.
Blurry lines.
She wanted to say something.
Anything.
But—
What will I even say?
Before she could decide, Jiggy came in loudly.
"I swear this sun—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Looked around.
Something was off.
Even him noticed.
"Why everywhere quiet like burial ground?" he asked.
Nobody answered.
Favor shook her head. "Face your front."
Jiggy raised his hands. "I didn't do anything oh."
Agadi didn't react.
At all.
That alone was strange.
Very strange.
Mr Charles entered shortly after.
"Good morning!"
"Good morning, sir!"
He looked around.
Paused.
"You people look like you failed exam already."
Small laughter.
But not from her.
Not from Agadi.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
Then shook his head.
"Open your books."
Class started.
But for her—
It didn't feel like class.
It felt like punishment.
Every small thing reminded her.
The silence beside her.
The way Agadi didn't lean over to talk.
Didn't comment.
Didn't laugh.
Nothing.
I really messed up.
She pressed her pen harder against the paper.
It was just small talk…
But deep down, she knew.
It wasn't just what she said.
It was how she said it.
That tone.
That slight irritation.
That moment of—
Why are you behaving like this?
She winced slightly.
I shouldn't have said it like that.
Beside her, Agadi shifted slightly.
She glanced at her.
And quickly looked away.
But in that one second—
She saw it again.
That same look.
Like she was holding something in.
Her throat tightened.
She's still hurt…
Mr Charles suddenly called out.
"You! Answer this question."
She didn't even realize he was talking to her until people turned.
"Me, sir?"
"Yes, you. Or are you invisible?"
Small laughter.
She stood up slowly.
Walked to the front.
Looked at the board.
The question was there.
Clear.
Simple.
But her mind—
Blank.
Completely blank.
I don't even know what this man is asking.
She picked the marker.
Stared.
Nothing.
Mr Charles watched her.
Waiting.
Waiting.
Then—
"You people will not read," he said. "You will just come and decorate chair."
The class laughed.
She forced a small smile.
But inside—
Nothing.
"Try," he said.
She wrote something.
Even she didn't know what she wrote.
She stepped back.
Mr Charles looked at it.
Then at her.
Then back at it.
He sighed.
"Sit down."
No "better."
No joke.
Nothing.
She returned to her seat quietly.
Sat down.
And for the first time—
She felt it.
That heavy feeling in her chest.
I'm not okay.
Beside her, Agadi didn't even look.
Didn't react.
Nothing.
That hurt more than anything.
Time passed.
Slowly.
Painfully.
At some point, Mr Jaja entered.
"Good morning, my people!"
"Good morning, sir!"
He looked around.
Then paused.
"Something is wrong," he said immediately.
The class laughed.
"Sir, nothing is wrong," Jiggy said.
Mr Jaja shook his head. "No. I can feel it."
He looked at Mia. "Moi-moi, what happened?"
Mia shook her head. "I don't know, sir."
He looked at Agadi.
Then at her.
Then back at Agadi.
"Hmm," he hummed.
Nobody spoke.
He clapped his hands.
"Anyway, open your books. Today we will learn something important."
Class continued again.
But this time—
Even the jokes didn't enter.
Even when he said—
"I saw somebody like you yesterday!"—
Nobody really reacted.
She just sat there.
Quiet.
Thinking.
Regretting.
Watching.
At some point, Favor leaned slightly.
"You go talk to her?" she whispered.
She swallowed.
"I don't know."
"You should," Favor said.
She nodded slowly.
I know.
But knowing and doing—
Two different things.
By the time class ended, her head was heavy.
Students started packing.
Talking again.
Laughing again.
Like nothing happened.
But for her—
Everything still felt stuck.
Agadi stood up.
Packed her bag.
And again—
Started walking out.
No word.
No glance.
Nothing.
Her chest tightened again.
This time, stronger.
Say something.
But her legs didn't move.
Her mouth didn't open.
So she just sat there.
Watching her go.
Again.
And the silence she left behind—
Felt louder than any noise in the lesson centre.