Chapter 19: Chapter 19

~Jade~

Exams are coming, Exams are coming, exams are coming, prepare well for your exams, read well for your exams, stop frolicking around, this is your last school exam before your mock exams, stop chasing boys around!!!

Well, we were done with the exams and we did not die. Two weeks after Hana told me about her escapedee with Daniel, two weeks after Michelle's outburst at the cafeteria, two uneventful weeks, well, if I should count Hana and Dan's palava as eventful. I don't even understand the duo anymore. They kept circling around. Dan had called it off with Fola and Hana was yet to date him. Yet to date him because she obviously would do that soon. If not, why on earth will she allow him to kiss her on two different occasions?

Now, we were in our class, some were playing ludo, some whot, some scrabble, some monopoly and all sorts of games. My bestie was painting her nails again and I was reading a book Zee sent to me from her school, The Sun is also a star. I was so engrossed in the novel that I did not when someone snatched it awy from me. I looked up to see Hana glaring down at me.

"Do you realize this after exams period? We're meant to chill and not bury our head in books again."

I groaned.

"That's not a book, it's a novel, a very interesting novel. Now give me my novel before I change it for you."

"Now give me my novel before I change it for you."

She mimicked me and I laughed, clutching my chest.

"Do you have a clothe in mind to wear for our cultural day?" She asked as she flipped her chair closer, she sat, so we could sit facing each other.

"Yes, there's this Ankara Mom bought for me, it's very fine. I think that's what I'm going wear."

"That's good. Well, I'm going to wear hanbok." she said, flipping her hair and winking.

"Hmmm? Hanbok? As in that huge traditional wear of Koreans?"

"Hmm hmmm."

I burst into laughter

"I can't wait to see you in that huge thing. It's going to be epic."

"It's going to be spectacular."

We both laughed and I attempted to take my novel from her, she put it out of my reach and glared at me.

"Jade na, let's do something fun."

"Like?'

"Play a game, ludo, scrabble, monopoly, whot. Anytime but you reading a novel. What do you want me to do if you're reading a novel?"

'Read a novel too or better still, go and hang out with the love of your life.'

She smiled

'so, you just agreed that he is the love of your life.'

'Partially.'

I laughed.

'You're an hormonal teenager indeed'

She laughed again.

'Okay, let's play a game. Ludo maybe or jackpot.'

'We are not enough to play jackpot, let's just go with Ludo.'

'or better still, ask our classmates to join us in playing ludo.' I added

Minutes lather, four other students joined us, Akin, Bunmi, Paul and Paulina.

'I'll go with Paulina' Paul announced

I rolled my eyes.

'We all know that.'

He winked at me. 'Get a boyfriend and get to know this feeling.'

'I'm not interested.'

'Eeh, E dey your body.' Akin said and I laughed.

'I'll go with Bunmi.' Akin said and both I and Hana turned to look at him.

'why can't you choose me?' I asked him

'Because I don't feel like' He answered and shrugged.

'Jerk, Betrayal.'

'So does that mean I have to partner with Jade?'

Hana asked just as Daniel and Uthman entered the class. Daniel heard the last part and he came over to our side.

'I'll be your partner in everything baby.' He said to her.

'Lame. Outdated.' Paulina said

Everybody laughed.

'Do you want to join us in playing Jackpot?'

Hana asked him

'Anything for you bae.'

'You guys should please just get a room. Don't corrupt our ears and eyes.' Akin said and Daniel laughed.

There was a exchange between them that I did not miss. And I know it has to do with a girl. Good! Akin likes a girl.

'So who do I partner with?' I asked them, my arms crossed over my chest. 'You all have forgotten about me.'

'Oh oh. Who do you partner with now?' Hana asked and called out to the class if anyone is interested in playing Jackpot. Nobody answered and I was about to sneakily pick my novel again when Uthman walked over from Michelle's clique.

'I'll play. Who do I partner with?'

I rolled my eyes and settled down fully on my seat.

'Jade is the only available option.'

'Not bad' he said and settled down on a chair. The whole table was quiet for a while before Akin said

'Well, let's play the game.'

The six of them dispersed to whisper their signs to each other. I remained on my seat. Uthman remained on his too. I turned to look at him. He was staring at me. I swallowed

'You don't have to play the game, you know?'

'Just keep looking at me, you will know when I have complete cards.'

I rolled my eyes

'And how would I know? It's not like I'm a magician'

He was about to say something else when the others returned to the seat.

'Hope you guys have decided on what your sign is?' Akin asked

'These guys don't look like they've said a word to each other since we left.'

'Let's play the game already.'

I said and they all settled down. We distributed the cards around. We started playing and like 5 minutes after, Paul and Paulina were out.

'Thank God you guys picked each other. Couple crush.'

Akin joked and we all laughed. We continued the game and I was able to guess Uthman has complete cards three different times. I don't know how but I was just able to guess and he already knew I had complete cards like five times. Hana and Daniel were soon out, leaving Akin and Bunmi with us.

'Why is that I have a feeling that Uthman and Jade will win this?'

Paul said once Hana and Dan were out. I rolled my eyes. God knows how many times I've done that since we began this game. This clique is driving me crazy.

Four minutes into the game, Akin and Bunmi were out. I did not know when I high-five Uthman in excitement while laughing. I imagined we held hands longer than usual but I knew it wasn't imagined.

'You guys, you guys....' Akin said while shaking his head. 'I reserve my comment sha.'

'I'm not the type to lose out like this. Let's go again.'

Paul said and we all settled to go for another round, all the while, I was ignoring the the warm sensation in my stomach after I held Uthman's hands. I dared a glance at him only to see that he was staring at me. I looked away.

After playing like four different rounds, in which my team won two different rounds and the other teams won once each.

'You guys make a very great team. Wonder if it'll kill you guys to actually see eye to eye.' That was Paul

I rolled my eyes again, for like the hundred time. Oh God!!

'That's not going to happen anytime soon.' I replied

'Never say never.' Paulina countered and gave me a sly look. I looked away.

'You guys better try actively to become closer because once I and Hana start dating, you'll no other option than to become closer.'

'Says who that I'm going to date you?'

We all watched Dan's expression turn into dread and we burst into laughter.

'Babe na, I've been apologizing for the past three weeks.'

'Well, keep apologizing. I might change my mind before we graduate.'

'WHAT??' Dan shouted and we all laughed harder this time.

'Sorry to break up the party but Uthman, can I see you?'

That was Michelle and Uthman stood up to follow her. Dan and Hana stylishly excused themselves. Paul and Paulina walked off hands in hands. Bunmi walked away silently like she came.

'You're full of surprises these days, do you know that?'

I turned to look at Akin with a feigned growl on my face.

'What have I done again?'

'You know what you did. You played a game with people other than Hana and myself. That's a breaking news.'

I smiled in spite of myself

'Well, I've decided to live more in the moment.'

Akin looked at me with his mouth agape.

'This is not my friend, Jade. Who the hell are you and what did you do to my friend?'

I laughed harder.

'I'm still the same old Jade. Don't cross me oo. I'm warning you now.'

He merely shook his head.

'And this brings us to the question...?'

'What question is that?' He asked me, eyeing me suspiciously.

'Who's the lucky girl?'

'What lucky girl?' He asked me, his expression neutral.

'Oh come on, don't feed me that bullshit. You know what I'm talking about.'

'Geez Jade, does anything pass your eyes or ears? How do you even know?'

'I pay special attention to the people I love.'

'You love me?'

'No, I hate you.'

He laughed.

'So, who's the girl?'

'I can't tell you that.'

'Oh oh, you can't tell me but Daniel knows. I'm sure Uthman does too.'

'Geez Jade, they're males na. I can't tell you everything I tell them.'

'Really? Okay then, stick to your male friends then. I'm out.'

'Are you angry?'

'Angry? On something I know that you'll still tell me. Abeggi.'

Akin laughed just as Uthman walked in again. I don't know why I avoided his gaze as he came over to where we sat.

'It's time for the match, let's go.'

Akin stood up and dusted the imaginary dust on his trousers.

'Jade, come and watch me play na.' Akin said and I rolled my eyes, Again!

'You know I don't like that thing called Football and besides I have a novel to finish reading.'

'Aah aah na, come and cheer for me.'

'Your girl will do that for you.'

Akin laughed again.

'God! And I can predict that your first boyfriend will be infatuated with football.'

'So help him Lord.'

'Jade, I want to go watch Daniel play, do you want to tag along?' Hana said from the door and I groaned.

'Come and support your class members na.'

I groaned again and I stood up to follow them to the field. A tiny part of my heart was whispering this to me

'You're going because you want to see Uthman play.'

I killed that voice.

******

Uthman's POV

It was a risk, volunteering to play with Jade. I knew she was the only one left without a partner before I even volunteered to play. I was expecting her to want out of the game but surprisingly, she did not. She just simply agreed. Like seriously? What happened to the bitch? And that's how we won, four times. Paul said we make a  great team. Well, who is interested in making a good team with the bitch?

When Akin asked her to come and watch us play, I expected her to say No and maintain the No vehemently but she surprised me again by actually agreeing to follow us.

'So, you are really not going to tell me who the girl is?'

Jade asked Akin en route the field. Hana and Daniel were walking in front of us, hands intertwined. These two definitely needs to get a room.

'Cut it out babe. You will know sooner or lather so please.'

'oh oh. Really Akin? Uthman, do you know who the girl Akin likes is?'

I stopped and turned to look at her.

'Are you talking to me?'

'is there any other Uthman here?'

I started walking toward again.

'I do but I'm not going to tell you.'

'Everybody is ganging up against me. I will know sooner or lather.'

I laughed and turned to see Akin who was staring at us back to back.

'Wait Guys, Guys. Wait oo' Akin said, folding his arms over his chest.

'This is between the three of us. Just tell me. I won't tell anyone, you guys have something going on, don't you? Because it's just so wierd seeing you guys like this. I'm not used to you guys taking like this'

I subconsciously turned to look at Jade. She was looking at me too. I thought they said boys don't feel butterflies. What was that in my stomach just now?

'When you watch too much stupid teen romance and love story, you tend to overthink things in a overly crazy way.'

Jade answered him and walked away.

'You know you just sold yourselves out, don't you? I never said anything romantic.'

Jade did not turn back but she gave him the middle finger. I smiled.

'So, bro code, tell me. Are you guys doing something behind our back or what?'

I shook my head. 'You should stop watching Korean films, especially. They'll ruin your life.'

I walked off but I heard him say something like 'Oro ti ani ki baba ma gbo, baba nan Loma pari.'

I laughed again. Jade has caught up with Hana and they were talking about something. I stood and watched her for a while. I need answers to the things going on in my head.

Something is going terribly wrong.

********

Uncle Felix called us again to discuss the ECOWAS Competition. Immediately after our match with SS2 and we won again. Well, we can't lose with the star boy playing.

'So guys, you know the competition is last week of January, right?'

'yeap'

'And we will choose who will represent Lakeview the first week of resumption. You guys are going on holidays next week. The school decided to give you the topic we'll use to select the representative now.'

OH wow. Good!

'The topic is something you guys are used to.'

'Just tell us already. I'm so so curious.'

Jade said in an extremely funny way and Mr Felix laughed.

'Really, you're that eager to know.'

'I'm that eager to win.'

'But it's always two ways, it's either you win or lose.'

'I'm not interested in losing. Infact, I can't lose.'

'And who's interested in losing?'

I asked, turning to look at her. She kept staring at Mr Felix.

'I was speaking for myself. You should speak for yourself too.'

'Guys, no bickering please. I'm not in the mood for your childish bickering.'

'It's not childish'

We both said in unison. And he looked at the both of us, shaking his head.

'You see? The topic is.....'

He stopped again and we both groaned. He laughed.

'The topic is The Reading Culture: prons and cons.'

'Wow wow. I love the sound of that. That's too creative. Oh my God! I can't wait.'

Jade shouted, shaking her body in happiness.

'Now, that's what we call a brilliant topic. I can't wait.'

'Good guys, I knew you'll like it. That's all for now. Till next year, right?'

'yeap yeah. Thank you sir.'

Jade said happily and that amused me. I don't know why she's this happy particularly because of something I'm sure I won't allow her to win. When we got outside, she turned and opened her mouth to tell me something, I sidestepped her and walked her.

Time to get rid of whatever stupid unwanted  emotions that's growing.