Chapter 28: Chapter 28

~Jade~

'Don't be so nervous, I'm pretty sure you're going to win'

Today was the d day and I was feeling nervous. My hands shook as I tried to comb my hair. Zee stood up from my bed, collected the brush from me and, started combing my hair.

'But why are so nervous? It's not like this is your first competition.'

'But it's the main one, Zee, what if I don't win? I've never imagined my future without winning this oratory contest and how will I even raise my head in school if I don't win.'

Michelle will never allow me to rest.

'Just calm down baby, you'll be fine.'

I turned from the mirror to look at her.

'I just have this premonition that things won't go the way I want them to.'

'Don't think in the negative baby, you're already a winner.'

'Amiin'

I replied nervously and Zee burst into laughter.

'Jadeshola oo, see what this contest has reduced you.'

I rolled my eyes. I can't even handle any tease today. Let me win first.

Our third period in school was free so I went to the library to revise my points for the oratory contest. I was still reading when someone pulled the chair beside me, dragged it closer to mine, and sat down. It was Uthman. I ignored him.

'Why do you look so serious? It's just a competition. It's not like we've never competed against each other before.'

'oh? For you, it might be just a competition but for me, it's not. I can't afford to win this.'

'And what if you lose? Will you die? Of course not so....'

I interrupted him before he could continue

'I don't know how to handle failure, Uthman. And since this competition doesn't mean that much to you, you can always back off.'

He laughed.

'Oh, come on Jade, if you want me to forfeit this competition for you. Just tell me. Who knows? I might.'

He said and shrugged. I bit my lower lips to keep myself from saying what was on the tips of my tongue.

'Uthman, get out.'

'This is not your private space, any student can sit wherever they like.'

'Then, I'll leave for you.'

I stood up and started packing my books. He grabbed my hands as I made to leave. I shrugged his hands off angrily.

'And what's with grabbing my hands these days? Let this be the last time you will grab my hands.'

'Why? Is it bothering you? It's not like we are holding hands.'

He said with something like a frown. I heaved a sigh and rolled my eyes.

'What is wrong with you these days? Ehn? Is this about what my sister said the other time? Well, that was a crazy joke so....'

I was interrupted by the sound of his laughter. I stared at him incredulously, wondering what I said that was so funny.

'Jade? What am I saying? What are you saying?'

Then he moved closer and I instinctively took a step back. The side of the library that we were in was deserted and I'm not even sure of what I was imagining. Soon enough, I was backed against the desk and Uthman lowered his face so we were staring into each other's faces. Something was beating erratically in my chest and Uthman was staring at me intriguingly. Then I watched his eyes drop to my lips. I swallowed. This is crazy Jade. Why ain't you pushing him off? Then he looked into my eyes again and smiled.

'May the best player win.'

He said and walked off.

I released a breath I did not know I was holding.

*********

'You sure are going to win this, Jade. Just relax'

Hana said to me, we were outside the hall where the contest will take place.

'Yes Jade, relax.'

Akin also said. I laughed nervously

'is it that obvious that I'm nervous?'

Hana nodded 'You're shaking yourself.'

Oh, Jade. Calm down. I put a hand to my chest as I tried to calm down.

'I'm rooting for you to win so you're going to win.'

Akin said.

'Really, what about Uthman? Don't tell me you're going to say the same thing to him.'

'Oh come on, Jade. I'm not like that. I want you to win this. You need the badge more than him.'

Hmm. I nodded as I mentally recited 1 to 20 to stay focused.

'Sha don't allow this nervousness to affect your performance.'

Hana said and put her hand on my shoulder. Not. I won't allow anything to affect my hard work.

Just then Uthman and his entourage walked to the entrance of the hall. He smiled when he saw us and he doffed an imaginary hat to me.

Let's see if you'll still be able to smile at me like that when I win this contest.

'Okay, let's enter.'

I said and we entered.

Let's do this.

I'm wining this.

*********

~Uthman~

'So today is your contest at school, right?'

Aunty Wura asked. We were eating and it was just the three of us. Dad was not at home as usual.

'Yes ma'

'I wish you good luck. I'm pretty sure you'll win though.'

I smiled

'My partner is equally good as well.'

I smiled at the use of partner and not rival.

'Oh, the Badmus daughter? I don't know why you guys don't see eye to eye. She's nice. At least, from what I saw the other time.'

'Yeah, she's nice.'

Both my stepmom and Moji paused to stare at me.

'You don't sound like you're talking about your rival.'

'oh, don't mind him. She's not his rival anymore. The last time we were at the mall, he was looking at her and not the film and at the park, he was looking at her too. He even forgot I was there.'

What?? Those words came out of my 9 years old sister. My step stepmother to laugh

'You've watched too much sitcom on Nickelodeon.'

'She's just someone you have a crush on, just admit it.'

I shook my head as I stood up. I can't deal with Jade at school and my sister at home.

'I'm leaving. Take care of yourself, sis'

She rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue.

'I wish you good luck

My mother, no stepmother called out after me.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to win this. I have to.

********

'Where are you going?'

Michelle asked as I stood up. It was our free period.

'Library'

'Should I follow you?' She asked and started to stand up.

'NO! I mean, I'll like some quiet. I need to revise my points for the contest.'

She smiled.

'Alright then. You have a competition to win.'

'Yeah' I smiled at her and left. I felt like a jerk for lying to her. I had no plans of revising any point in the library. I had overheard Jade tell Akin that she was going to the library and I was going there to probably see her or strike a conversation with her. We've not even said a word to each other since Monday and today was Friday.

I found her in the most silent corner in the library. Her brows were burrowed in concentration. I sat beside her and her lips pursued in this cute way whenever she's probably annoyed or nervous.

Why do you look so serious? It's just a competition. It's not like we've never competed against each other before.' I said

'oh? For you, it might be just a competition but for me, it's not. I can't afford to win this.' she replied without looking at me.

'And what if you lose? Will you die? Of course not so....'

She interrupted me before I could continue

'I don't know how to handle failure, Uthman. And since this competition doesn't mean that much to you, you can always back off.'

I laughed.

'Oh, come on Jade, if you want me to forfeit this competition for you. Just tell me. Who knows? I might.'

I said and shrugged. She was quiet for a while before she bit her lower lips. Damn! We were treading on a very dangerous path here. My thoughts were swerving on directions I did not want to like but still liked

'Uthman, get out.'

'This is not your private space, any student can sit wherever they like.'

'Then, I'll leave for you.'

She said, stood up, and started packing her books. I grabbed her hands as she made to leave. She shrugged my hands off and I could tell that she was angry.

'And what's with grabbing my hands these days? Let this be the last time you will grab my hands.'

'Why? Is it bothering you? It's not like we are holding hands.'

I asked her and she heaved a sigh.

'What is wrong with you these days? Ehn? Is this about what my sister said the other time? Well, that was a crazy joke so....'

I burst into laughter. The always uptight Jade was blabbing. This is funny.

'Jade? What am I saying? What are you saying?'

I asked her and she rolled her eyes. I stood up and moved closer to her. She moved her and put her book to her chest. I smiled. Soon enough, she was backing the desk and I was directly in front of her. I lowered my face so we could be the same height. She swallowed nervously and I smiled. I just keep staring at her, my eyes involuntarily or probably voluntarily moved to her lips. I've been thinking about them since she bit her lips earlier. I don't think I've seen more sexy lips than hers before. I swallowed as I suddenly had an insanely crazy urge to feel her lips against mine.

I straightened.

'May the best player win'

I said and I walked off. Once outside, I took a deep calming breath and sat on the pavement, else my legs will fail me. Damn Jade! What the fuck are you doing to me.

'You have to win this. What am I saying? You sure are winning this.'

Michelle said to me once we entered the hall.

'Yes. I have to.'

I replied to her and made to walk to the podium.

'Make me proud dude.' Dan said to me as he elbowed me.

'As always.' I replied and walked to the stairs leading to the podium. Jade walked in at that moment too.

'Who do you think is going to win?' I asked her as we started climbing the podium together.

She tilted her head to a side and laughed.

'The best player.'

Exactly an hour after, Mr. Felix stood in front of the whole school. I glanced at Jade, who was sitting beside me, her hands were clamped together, as if in prayer.

'And the winner of.....' He trailed off and the students shouted ooh, aah. They were curious about who will win this.

'And the student who will represent Lakeview in the upcoming ECOWAS oratory contest is none other than.....' He trailed off again and the students shouted again.

'Give it up for Uthman Gbadamosi.'

The hall erupted into loud applause. I glanced at Jade. She was frozen on her seain