Chapter 18: Chapter 18

~Uthman~

"Do you think Jade and Hana fought?"

I asked Daniel when we got home. We were both in my room, lying down on my bed.

"Why do you care? It's not like you're interested in their stuff."

I turned to look at him, his age on a picture on his phone. He was obviously going through someone's Instagram page. He put his phone away when he caught me looking.

"Stop peeking, it's not like I'm watching porn."

Aah God! How did I become close to this guy in the first place?

"Hana is full of surprises sha. I never thought she could raise her voice at Jade."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures."

"Was she desperate and how would you know that?"

I asked, propping my head up with one hand so I'd be able to see his face.

"I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

I watched him turn to the opposite. He was staring at Hana's IG page earlier. I've seen how he looks at her in class. I wonder when he was going to tell he has something going on with Hana.

"You have something going on with Hana, and you?"

He turned to look at me abruptly that my head almost slipped from my palm.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's pretty obvious that you like her. The way you look at her and all."

He groaned and sat up, scratching his head.

"I thought I was being discreet about it."

"Well, not for me. You keep staring at her in class."

"Wow. I thought I was being discreet."

'You were being too obvious.'

"Wow."

"You stare at her every time."

He shrugged.

'I'm sorry bro. I know this shouldn't be happening."

My eyes automatically rolled at the absurdity of what he was saying.

"Why shouldn't this be happening?"

"She DDoesJade's best friend. How can I like her?"

"So you like her? I thought you guys don't talk."

"Well, it happened. It just happened."

"Wow, so how does Fola come into the picture?"

"I did it to get back to Hana, now I regret it."

"Wait, wait, wait. I don't understand. Can you just recap?"

"I asked Hana out and she told me blatantly that we can't be together because of you and Jade even after you kissed her first kiss with me."

"What?' You kissed Hana? You kissed Lakeview's prettiest?"

I watched my best friend chuckle like an idiot.

"Yeah, let me add that to my many accolades."

I slapped the back of his head. Bobo yii ti ya werey.

"Why? That hurts a lot."

'That's the point. You need to get your act together."

"You know what? You're just pained. Just get a girlfriend. For fuck's sake. Michelle is there for you. You don't even need to stress yourself. That girl likes you more than you'll ever know. Damn. I wish someone likes me half the way she likes you."

Here we go again.

"I know dude. I know. I'm kind of feeling bad for her these days. I don't even know. She deserves better from me."

"At least you know. Just ask her out ehn. Forget about love, forget about stupid butterflies. Who knows, you might even grow to like her?"

I kept quiet for a minute before answering

"Maybe I'd do just that."

"You'd better. Because I'm going to actively start dating Hana and your heart and might not take some things we'll do, even in front of you so just get someone you will do models things with, okay?"

"Shut up and sleep ode."

He laughed before he muttered something about looking at her pictures openly now since I already know they have a thing going on. I turned to the other side to chat with Michelle on my phone. This went on for your minutes before Ihimeard Dan exhale softly. I turned to look at me. He was looking at someone's picture. I peered closer.

"Jade is full of surprises indeed. Can you believe this is her?"

I peered even closer.

"Hana uploaded her picture on her IG page as WCW. She's fine sha."

Then he turned to look at me

"But I know you don't think of her as beautiful. I know the hate stroller than frivolities. So...."

Then he scrolled away from the picture and I know I'll never hate Dan more than I hate him at the moment.

.                               *****

After Mr Felix told me to share the key points with Jade. I looked for her everywhere until I stumbled upon her in the library. She had an blank page in front of her and she keep chewing the cover of her pen. I did not know how long I stood there watching her until someone touched me.

'Are you going to keep standing or you'll go and sit?'

I groaned and rubbed my eyes, my thoughts in disarray as I moved towards her. She turned to look at me and her face dissolved into a scowl.

........ We both turned towards Akin and they point used in my throat I looked at the keypoints in my hands and at Jade. I glanced at my watch, Almost 20 minutes past, break time. I stood up, dropped the key points and walked away. What thereafter  fuck was I doing? I saw Michelle immediately I got out.

"Hey boo. You missed where stuff yououuffyou?"

"I got caught up with my speech stuffs in the library. Where are you going?"

"Looking for you, Even Dan did not know where you were."

"Yeap. Let's go now."

Akin and Jade came out of library. Akin winked at me and they walked off. I fell into step with Michelle and we started walking towards our class.

"You okay?" She

"Yeah. Why do you ask?"

"You seem awfully quiet."

"I'm fine. Do you want to come and watch me play today? We have a match against Royal Academy today."

"I'll gladly come. I'll be your cheerleader self.

She chuckled to herself and I couldn't help but smile to myself. We soon got to the class and the first thing I noticed was how Daniel was looking at Hana. Damn. I doubted she'd be able to concentrate with his scrutinizing gaze on her.

"Calm down bro. It takes just a word for you to start a conversation."

He turned to look at me.

"It's not as easy as it seems. She won't even look at me, not to talk of talking to me."

'Well, you were the one who blew up your chances.'

"Says someone who's the main reason why she said no in the first place. I think it's high time you and Jade put your differences aside because your best friends like each other."

"Just shut it."

"Quiet Quiet class."

Our economics teacher said as he entered the class, Jade and Akin right behind him

****

I got home quite late and I was feeling kinda  down  because we lost to Royal Academy. Moji and her mom were the only ones at h, home and they were watching Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and dawn. Well, technically, Moji was every timeunforcingra to watch it. She does that everytime, force people to watch kids since oms with her.

"Come and join us in watching film when you're done."

"I'm in no mood."

"It's a order."

I laughed Minute'swords as I opened the door to my room. Minutes later when Istepmomng on the bed, I heard a knock and my step mom entered.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"hmmm."

She stayed for a minute more before the door to step outside the room.

"Actually we lost to Royal Academy and I kinda feel down."

She paused at the door, clearly surprised.

"Uthman, don't let this get to you. You win some, you lose some. That's life. Don't worry, I'll prepare your falter meal for you."

And she left. Minutes later I was eating noodles in the sitting room with Mo, Ji. We were still watching Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn.

"I thought you said you weren't in the mood."

She said, sticking out her tongue at me.

'Well, is always in the mood for Noodles."

My baby sis only laughed.

*****

The next day in school, I was in the cafeteria with Michelle and Daniel. Michelle was eating a small quantity of Spag.

"Why are you eating something so small? Is it even going to get anywhere?" I asked

She shrugged

"I'm watching my weight."

"What? What weight are you watching? Can you get any slimmer than you already are?"

Daniel asked her, staring at her incredulously. I shook my head. I wonder what she wants to gain by losing weight. She was slim, so slim, too slim. Just then Jade and Hana walked in. I followed Dan's eyes as he stared at Hana. They went to order their food. After ordering, they started walking towards where they will sit. Jade looked up and saw us, she start pausing towards we were sitting. I saw Hana paused for a moment before walking towards us. Jade got to us first and she sat down in front of me, making the only chair available the one in front flattered. She avoided looking at him whileopenater was staring at her, mouth a little opened.

I whispered to his ears

"Close your mouth dude."

He glared at me.

"What are you guys doing here? It's not like there are no chairs again."

Jade and Hana ignored Michelle as they started eating, ignoring the whole table. I was done eating so I just folded my arms over my chest, waiting for the drama I'm sure Jade will perform. And she did not disappoint.

"Daniel, don't you have anything to say to Hana?"

Daniel glanced at her, his eyebrow raised.

".... Or do you want us to excuse you guys?"

Dan ran his hand over his hair.

"And how on earth is that your business?"

"It's my best friend's business so it definitely concerns me"

"It's her personal life. Are you going to run that for her?"

She shrugged.

"Obviously, since you guys are not ready to do anything."

Hana touched Jade and mouthed 'Stop it' to her.

Michelle was glancing furtively from Jade to  Hana to Daniel, then to me.

"If you like my friend, then you should man up and ask her the proper way instead of kissing random girls to back to her."

Dan's fist clenched at his sides. I touched his hand to calm him down.

"She has a mouth, doesn't she? And besides, you have no right to talk to me like that."

"Stop it guys. I'm here. I'm neither dumb nor deaf. You guys should stop talking about me as if I'm not here."

Daniel turned away from Jade to look at Hana, I watch his gaze soften and his lips moved in a smile. Hana did not return his expression though.

"Okay Hana, I'm sorry. Do wto e get to talk now? Hmmm."

Hana did not reply him as she went back to eating her food.

"Wait. I guess I'm the only one lost here. What's going on? Daniel and Hana likes each other?"

Michelattersked, her question directed at Jad,e. The later ignored her.

"I'? taking to you Jade. Don't you dare ignore me."

"What do you want now?" Jade asked in an overly tired and bored tone.

Michelle chuckled.

"What I want? Really? What I want is for you to start treating Hana the exact way you treated me."

Jade turned to look at her.

"Are you writing a script?"

"I knew it. Since it's Hana, it's okay for her to like Daniel, even if she likes Uthman, it's okay, isn't it? But it wasn't okay for me, was it? I guess you never truly liked me."

"Please Michelle, I don't have time for your irrelevant tantrums today so please....."

"Oh oh, really. You know even when I was friends with you guys, you never liked me. I was the unwanted one who was always trying to fit in, who always have to bend for you guys, the one....."

Jade stood up and carried her almost untouched food to the Zinc and walked out of the dinning. Hana glanced at her before she stood up too. Daniel groaned.

"You know what? I don't like Jade's guts at all. Who the hell does she think she is?"

I smiled. She wasn't even half bitchy today oo.

"Well, I guess you have to consciously start liking her now. She's HanHana'sst friend."

He groaned again before he stood up and ran after Hana.

"Wow. Is this some kind of drama? And are you okay with this?"

Michelle asked me.

"Well, I don't have a problem with it."

'OH oh. What if it was Jade Daniel likes? Will you be okay with it?'

'NO!' I almost shouted and the few students in the cafeteria turned to us. 'definitely not'

Michelle smiled. But the reason why I said that was different from the reason she thought. The truth was that I wasn't even sure of the reason anymore. Ever since that moment we had when we were discussing our class project, there was a growing warmth for her in my heart. I heard the bell loud and clear the other time we were in the library but I ignored it, why? I don't know. Jade entered the cafeteria again with Akin. They proceeded to the tuck shop to buy snacks. Akin whispered something to her ears and she threw her head back and laughed. And I could have sworn something flickered in my heart.

warmth