The air in the room was just too stiff to stay under; I would’ve suffocated so I didn’t waste any more time in there and headed for the dining hall hoping to find cover in my friends. The hall was a little five minutes far from my dorm but five minutes long enough for me to pull up my earphones in. Which was perfect as it gave me a chance to start out my day with good music. I couldn’t hear their salutations and greetings but as I walked I felt my self esteem climbing back up when all the juniors stopped in their tracks to give me respect as I went past my them. I’m sure they hated doing that just as much as I hated doing it when I was at that age. But this was one of the many school rules that we were encouraged respect and uphold morals in the community.

The hall was filled by the time I got in I scanned the room for my friends, it didn’t take long to spot them as I heard my name being called obnoxiously by “Nick!” I called back meeting him halfway with a fist bump and the rest of the guys on the table. I managed to catch up and join in on what they were talking about which was summer flings. Refusing to be the depressing friend with the sod story since I lost a lover over the summer when they managed to bag a couple of dames I kept the conversation going by focusing on them which they seemed happy to indulge liberally and decrepitly.

The siren went off signaling it was time for breakfast. Sister Alice got up and recited the food’s prayer. Not a minute longer after our Amens the doors made a heavy noise being slid open almost dramatically.

The three delinquents walked in not even bothering to stop talking out of respect for the student body or the staff they made their way in shooting for the empty table no one dared to sit on. The freshmen were in awe I was certain ,the sophomores glorified them and I bet were going to feed the freshmen tales, the juniors were already emulating them as were the seniors when they were not trying so hard to get in the three’s good banks that is. And then there was me a regular ol’ gay prefect, out for two years now and two years where I still found myself occasionally fantasizing about the head boy Conrad Jnr Beaufort.

Conrad Jnr Beaufort who would never see me in that regard and why would he? The guy was as straight as a pole with many female options willing to put out just for him if the twitter hash tags were correct. Last year his abs and smile had trended at number one in the city on twitter. And last year he’d sneaked out to go to constants’ house.

Awesome! I sure know how to pick ‘em.

You would expect the three be pulled out of the dining room to explain themselves for their tardiness or be given punishments but no, the sisters only got up the remind us to eat with less talking as ‘that would cause indigestion and hiccups.’ Of course no one listens and I also drowned in conversation with my friends. Stealing a glance behind me Sister Alice was smiling brightly at the three as they most definitely were showering her with compliments it always seemed to go well for them.

“They are not going to be punished for this you know so much for equality.” Sticking a forkful in his mouth Nick muffled “That gala last year was just for show…like always.” our other friend chuckled adding “My mother says Conrad Beaufort hasn’t finished building the engineering building yet so they can’t afford to get Conrad upset”

The whole table turned to look at him as we knew his mother worked closely with the Beauforts. He rolled his eyes “Conrad senior guys.” then finished gesturing with his fork to the three who stood in the middle of the dining room humoring Sister Alice and said “Genevieve and Conrad senior are forces and the children are coming up well too.”

Nick announced “His sister is a dame I could have her if I wanted.”

Our friend laughed and said “You could never, she’s far out of your league and word is she’s dating Lekan. Do you still think you could get her?” The whole table myself included said “Lekan?” then we directed our gazes back to the three who were now walking to their table carefree in conversation minus Sister Alice.

I focused on Lekan his smooth dark brown skin with warm honey undertones, hair styled in a ponytail of gold toned thin locks with a Rastafarian headband a dress code misconduct did sister Alice not see that or did she simply just ignore it. His father was very private and perhaps the most famous man of the 21st in hip hop, together with his mother was known as the Carter’s second coming. Being the only son to his two sisters from his father’s blood of African roots he was proudly named Lekan an Igbo name which means ‘my wealth has increased’. Standing confident, intelligent, handsome, and athletic and looking like cash I could see him pairing well with Conrad’s twin sister. And I wondered if that was what he had in common with Conrad besides their ‘immense’ wealth. I wondered if that was what it took to be close to Conrad. My family was affluent in most circles but against some circles in the school and especially against the three’s family our net wealth stood insipid in comparison. It dawned on me in that instant I definitely would never be able to at least make friends with them even though I was sharing a dorm room practically half the posse.

I hadn’t realized that I’d been staring too long or too obviously until from the corner of my eye I noted Conrad looking at me smirking before he nudged Lekan with his elbow and they both looked at me after Conrad whispered something in Lekan’s ear. Quickly I focused back on my plate praying they hadn’t just realized I was gay and thought I was now objectifying Lekan.

That was the last thing neither I nor my father needed nor wanted.