Chapter 17: Chapter 17

~Jade's POV~

I was in my room contemplating about Hana's outburst. After we both left the cafeteria, we went to the field and sat down on the grass, our hands still intertwined. After a while, I'd asked her

'Okay, are you going to tell me what's wrong with you now?'

She'd shook her head after a while. I was nearing experation. Seriously, I felt like shouting at the top of my voice.

'Really, Hana? You're not going to tell me? Well, suit yourself.'

And I'd stood up, ready to leave when she grabbed my hands. I looked down to find her smiling.

'God! Jade, you're really going to leave me like this.'

I laughed and sat down again.

'Well, you left me with no option.'

She laughed and I joined in laughing too.

'Geez, Jade. What will I ever do without you? I'm sorry about my outburst earlier. It's just the stress of work and how grams is successfully mounting pressure on my parents. And there's other reason but I can't tell you now, maybe when I sleepover or you sleepover.'

Then she closed the gap between us and hugged me and she whispered I'm sorry to my ears.

Now, sitting in front of the mirror in my room, I was thinking about her and how she's really not told me what's wrong with her. Ya Allah, don't like it be what I'm thinking oo.....

'knock knock'

I turned to see Zee at the doorway

'Why are you saying knock knock when you're already inside?'

She shrugged and sat down on my bed. I looked at her from the mirror.

'Hey, you okay? You look down.'

She looked up and shrugged. 'I'm okay?'

'You sure'

She nodded just as we heard mom shouting our names from the sitting room. I groaned as I stood up. Zee followed suit.

'They're always indoors. I don't know what it is that they're doing in their room'

We heard her say just as we got to the sitting room. Mummy Ola, one of her oldest friend was in the sitting room.

'E kasan ma' We said simultaneously, kneeling down.

'Jadeshola, how're you doing? Aunty Zainab, you guys are all grown now.' Then she turned to mom 'I was telling Zainab the other time I saw her at a wedding in Ogun that she should do quick and bring husband home, abi is she not twenty now?'

Fuck! Fuck!! Fuck!!!

I looked at Zee, her face was devoid of any emotion. I dared a glance at my dad who still has his eyes glued on the TV and my mom who was looking at Zee as if she has grown two heads.

'Abi oo' mom replied with a tight smile. The whole mood changed in the sitting room. We both sat down like lost puppies and we had to nod to everything they were talking about. In less than 30 minutes, Mummy Ola left and mom saw her off to the Gate. Dad still sat nothing, the newspaper still in his hand. Then mom came back inside.

'Zainab, don't tell me you really attended the wedding we prohibited you from attending?'

Zee stood up from her seat.

'Are you deaf or has your mouth gone on holidays?'

'Mom, it's not like that. I can explain.'

I don't know when Dad got up from where he sat but the next minute, he had hit Zee's on the face, twice, consecutively. My eyes doubled it's original. I can't remember the last time dad hit us. Zee held her cheeks, her face glassy. Dad disappeared into her room.

'Zainab, I'm more than disappointed in you. Really? I thought we raised you better than this. Must you be the only one who cause problem for us, ehn?'

Then mom left the sitting room.

'Zee.....'

Zee did not wait for me to finish the sentence as she dashed up the stairs. I followed her but she locked me out. I stood outside her door for a while before going to my room.

Around midnight, I felt someone open my door. I turned the florescent bulb on and Zee entered my room, his eyes huge and swollen.

'Zee...'

She said nothing as she made for my bed, she got under the duvet.

'Zee, I'm sorry.'

'Come on baby, it's not your fault.'

'I wonder why that woman couldn't keep her mouth shut. You don't say everything you see.'

Zee said nothing and I lay back on the bed. I was almost falling asleep when I heard I say..

'He broke up with me.'

What???

'Wale broke up with me. Technically, I caught him on bed with another girl and even though I was even going to forgive him, he called it off. Just like that. I guess I meant nothing to him.'

Oh shit. This explains her shitty mood. I've never seen Zee this vulnerable. She loved the guy, I guess she still does.

'And then this happened, I thought home is where I can always find solace in but the way dad looked at me and the way mom spoke to me, I guess I'm just not enough for you guys.'

'come on Zee, you know we love you. We love you so much. They were just angry. They love you.'

'Jade, we both know it's you and Saheed that they adore. I'm the problematic child.'

I've never seen Zee this vulnerable. I never thought I could see Zee this vulnerable. Then, when I was thinking of the right words to say, my sister did the last thing I never thought she could do. She burst into tears.

*****

The next day, I was in the library writing my speech about MARLIANISM, the topic for UBA oratory contest when someone pulled out the chair beside me and sat down. I turned to see Uthman peering at my almost empty paper. Truth is I couldn't concentrate. I keep thinking about Zee. She was going to school. I know I'm not going to meet at home when I get back.

'I'm not in the mood for your silly disturbance so just leave me alone.'

'Who said I wanted to be here?'

'Well, that makes two of us'

'Uncle Felix gave me some key points to work on. He apparently wants us to work together.'

'I can get by on my own. Thank you'

'Says the girl who has been chewing her pen for the past 30 minutes.'

I turned to glare at him.

'How do you know I've been chewing my pen for the past 30 minutes?'

He shrugged.

'Maybe I was staring at you....'

We held each other's gaze. Something fluttered in the pit of my stomach. Something unnecessarily warm and stupid.

'Maybe not'

I rolled my eyes and hissed. He burst into laughter.

'God, Jade!! Do you really expect me to be staring at you?' He laughed again. 'Who do you think you're self?

I bit my tongue to keep myself from replying.

'let's work on the key point then.'

'Are you Marlian?'

I turned to look at him, eyebrow raised.

'Why do you ask?'

'it's related to what we're writing about.'

'Well, I'm not a Marlian. Real intellectuals ain't Marlians. It's just a stupid idea.'

'I'm a Marlian and I know I'm intelligent.'

I burst into laughter.

'Says who that you're intelligent. You're just lucky to have good grades. Shioo.'

He looked at me with his eyebrows raised.

'Jade, it won't kill you to compliment people.'

'Why would I compliment you? Uthman, who do you think you're?

He looked at me and burst into laughter.

'Really, Jade?'

I shrugged.

'Two can play the game.'

He laughed again. I crossed my arms over my chest, wondering what's so funny

'So, you're Marlian? Why am I not surprised?

' Yeah, it's a vibe.'

'it's a bad vibe and it's just leading people astray'

'come on, it's just something we use to put ourselves in a good mood, it something that makes us daring, makes us stand up for our rights.....' He trailed off.... 'it's a vibe really.'

I looked at him and rolled my eyes.

'So, you're telling me you'll go on stage on Friday and advocate for Marlianism. Don't disgrace Lakeview please.'

He laughed again and I smiled.

'Of course not, youths are more into Marlianism today than their academics so I'm not really going to advocate for it but that doesn't change the fact that I'm a Marlian. An intellectual Marlian.'

'I don't like the guy and I don't vibe with him. His songs are totally off it. But he's daring, I give him that.'

'His songs have the best lyrics. Put you in whole good mood.'

'Best lyrics really. That guy practically do sex with his songs and you think that's the best?

'Practically do sex with his songs? Really?'

He started laughing and I joined in, subconsciously.

'You guys have something up your sleeve, don't you?'

We both stopped laughing and turned to look at the person. It was Akin, he has his arms crossed over his chest.

'What are you guys doing together? Laughing like....' He trailed off. 'you guys are suspicious, really really suspicious. The bell went off a long time ago and you guys are here, laughing together? Really? Jade and Uthman?

The bell went off? How come we did not hear? Or did we subconsciously ignore it?

Uthman dropped the key points on my jother and he walked out of the library. I turned to Akin who was looking at me with his eyebrow raised.

'what?' I asked him

'I should be asking you that?'

'that what oo?'

'you and Uthman were laughing together when you should be in class. Isn't that breaking news?'

I rolled my eyes as I picked my jother and the key point. Breaking news ko, Breaking in ni.

******

9pm, I was lying in Hana's bed with her, wearing a face mask she claims will make us glow.

' So, are you going to tell me now?'

I heard her exale and I sat up, tucking me legs under. She did the same, avoiding my gaze.

'Do I need to prepare myself mentally for this?'

I asked and she did not answer.

'Actually Jade, there's this guy I like in school...'

I suck in breath. I really hope this won't be a repeat of what happened with Michelle. How do I do if Hana likes Uthman? What do we do?

'Who?' I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She took a minute longer before she answered.

'Daniel'

'Uthman'

We both said at the same time and I did not know the amount of relieve I felt at that moment.

'What Jade? You think I like Uthman? Really? Why do you think so?'

'I don't know. You've been really off. I thought you've fallen for his charms as well. God! I was so scared.'

Hana laughed

'But you know you just agreed Uthman is charming'

I rolled my eyes.

'But you and Daniel. How did it happen? You guys don't even talk? This happened when you were paired together, right?'

Hana chuckled and blushed. Oh God. My bestie is lovestruck. Geez.

'Yes. We had a moment the day we got paired together and from then..........'

'wait wait wait' I interrupted her shaking one of my fingers in her front to stop her from talking. 'What do you mean by you had a moment?'

Hana turned pinker and she cuddled her teddy bear.

'We kissed,, well, technically he kissed me because I did not even know what to do'

'WHAT?' I shrieked and she quickly covered my mouth with her palm.

'Stop it Jade, don't shout. Mom will be angry'

'Damn, I thought we were best friends. How could you have your first kiss and not tell me? God! I guess I overhyped importance in your life. God! I'm so hurt.'

'I'm sorry Jade, I did not how to tell you. I thought you'll be mad.'

'Mad? That what please?'

'It's Daniel'

'so?'

'He's Uthman's best friend'

'And?'

'How come on Jade, how can I like the best friend of my best friend arch rival. It's pathetic. I'm not different from Michelle.'

'Don't ever compare yourself to Michelle. And why on earth will I be mad? It's Daniel, not Uthman, so we're good. Wow, I'm just so surprised. How did it even happen? I mean the kiss.'

I said and we both laughed. We both lay down on the bed again.

'okay, we were both in the library. We were meant to be looking at a textbook but he wasn't even looking at the textbook, he kept staring at me. I'm used to guys staring at me all the time but his unnerved me. Then I looked up at him and......'

'... He kissed you.' I interrupted.

She laughed.'No, not yet. I looked at him but I had to look away from him quickly because my heart and body was doing like they weren't mine. He then tucked my hair behind my ears and he touched my cheeks. I looked up at him at the contact and he kissed me.'

'oh wow. I'm speechless. As in. I can't believe this at all. You like a guy. I thought we agreed not to like any guy until we're eighteen.'

She laughed. 'love happens babe.'

'oh, we've gotten to this point. So what happened afterwards? He said Fola was his crush at the party. Wait! Don't tell me the feeling is not mutual.

'I don't even know. After the kiss, I did not want to have anything to do with him because I was afraid I'll grow to like him so I told you that we should  swap but in the end we couldn't and I had to put on with him and that invariably led to me growing to really like him. He asked me if we could date, I turned him because obviously how can we, where does that put you and Uthman? He was pissed off and in less than 24 hours after he confessed to me, he told the whole class and he likes Fola and he even had the nerve to kiss her right in front of my eyes. I mean, I was beyond pissed off so that was why I got angry when you and Uthman were arguing again. I mean, if you guys weren't rivals, I would have said yes to Dan in less than a second. But that's by the way, we can't be together....

'... Why?'

'Because I obviously can't be with a guy who kisses random girls.'

'I think he did that to annoy you.'

'changes nothing, I'm not interested. It's just a silly crush, it'll pass.'

'Are you sure it's just a crush?'

She was quiet for a while before she answered, almost silently.

'No.... But...'

'No but. Hana, if you like him, nothing is going to stop you guys from dating.'

Hana stood up Pronto from the bed.

'What are you thinking of doing Jade?'

I smiled coyly.

'wait for it'

'Don't do anything crazy Jade.'

'You know I'm crazy on a normal day. Just lie down and sleep. Tomorrow is another day.'

Hana lay on the bed and drew the duvet to her chest.

'I'm really sorry Jade. I know things is going to be super awkward for the four of us now.'

'You apologize one more time, we're over. Just go to the bed hun'

Minutes lather, Hana fell asleep after we'd removed the mask from our faces and I turned to stare at the stars. There was a question in the pitch of my stomach.

'Why was I this relieved that the one Hana likes is not Uthman?'

Does anyone know the answer to Jade's question. If you know, tell me in the comment session because I don't know why oo

****

Bonus Bonus Bonus

Hana has her eyes fixed on the book trying to digest what she was reading but the truth is, she's finding it difficult to read because Daniel was staring at her. She's used to guys staring at her all the time, she gets that everyday but Dan's gaze unnerved her. She cleared her throat and looked up at him, that was a mistake. His face was so close to hers. Fuck, her gaze subconsciously dafted to his lips. That was a mistake. She looked away.

Dan moved even closer to her. He found her intriguing. He'd always known that she's a beauty to behold but staring at her up close like this is invoking dangerous sensations in his body. She was a dangerous territory and yet he wanted to cross over to that territory.

Subconsciously, his hands tucked the strands of hair faning her cheeks. She did not look up even though he wants her to stare at him again. Then she turned pink when he touched her cheeks.

'You're blushing'

Hana blushed again and a little smile lit her eyes. She did not understand what's going on. Why her heart was beating erratically in her chest? She swallowed and dared another glance at him. That was another mistake because as soon as she looked up at him, he kissed her.

They'd probably told y'all how first kisses feels like but you won't really know how it feels like until that very minute.

He kissed her and for a minute, she did not know what to do, then she put her hands on his shoulder for support because she was going to fall  From the chair if she did not lean on something for support. That made him pull her closer to him. He teased her lips apart and he nipped on her lower lips.

Fuck!

She pushed him off at the same minute he broke the kiss.

What the fuck? She scrambled to her feet, her thoughts in disarray. She had just kissed the best friend of her best friend's arch rival. Now, isn't this betrayal in it's utmost form. She was no different from Michelle. She'd broken Jade's trust in less than a minute. She'd kiss a guy she doesn't even talk to on a normal day in less than 2 minutes of being in a enclosed place with him.

'This is a mistake.' This should have never happened.' She murmured and walk out of the library. Her heart was still beating erratically and the first thing she did outside was to sit on the pavement because the weight in her chest was to heavy and if she should keep walking, the weight will crumble her and her legs will fail her.

Daniel watched her walk away from him. 'This is a mistake' Really? His hands fisted into a ball and he kicked the next chair. Mistake really? Except it doesn't feel like a mistake when she was in his arms, leaning into the kiss and kissing him back.

Heck! He did not even understand what's going on. Why did he kiss her and why the fuck did it feel so right?

And where do they go from here? And how will he tell Uthman that 'Hey Bro I just kissed your rival's best friend. What does that feel like? Fuck!!