Chapter 30: Chapter 30

~Uthman~

Jade was absent from school on Monday. Michelle huffed when she saw her empty seat.

'Look who missed school, it's the bitch. She had better not resume at all. I can't even stand her.'

'Get a life Michelle'

One of our classmates replied to her. Michelle was about to answer when our teacher walked in. We had Economics. We were done with almost all our syllabuses and all we do now is to revise.

I heard nothing throughout the class. I kept glancing at Jade's seat. During the lunch break, I met Akin and Hana eating in the cafeteria. I and Dan joined them, Hana did not even acknowledge my presence.

'Hey babe, you're okay?' Dan asked her and she shrugged.

'I guess I'm supposed to be fine.'

Dan was about to say something else when someone pulled out the chair beside Hana. It was Michelle. Hana hissed under her breath.

'Where is your bestie? Is she cowering at home as usual?'

Hana ignored her.

'I'm talking to you, half-caste.'

Hana puffed and dropped her spoon.

'I heard you, I just choose not to answer you.'

'Of course, What do you have to say? You guys lost gallantly.'

'Cut the crap, Michelle. I won't sit here and listen to you speak down to Hana.'

Dan replied to her and she scoffed.

'Oh, you're picking her side. I've been friends with you longer than her and you're supporting her.'

Hana hissed, stood up, and carried her tray.

'You know what? I lost my appetite just listening to you.'

And she left. I watched her drop her tray angrily on the zinc. Dan glared at Michelle before he followed Hana.

'Well, someone just ruined the whole lunch thing for us.'

Akin said and left too. I avoided looking at Michelle, afraid my face will betray my emotion.

'I knew it was going to come down to this the moment Dan started dating Hana.'

I did not reply to her.

~Jade~

I feigned a serious headache on Monday morning so I wouldn't go to school. I knew mom did not believe me but she choose to leave me alone anyway.

'So, are you still going to skip school till infinity?'

Zee asked me on Monday evening. I was already plotting what excuse to give to skip school the next day.

We were both in my room, watching Power on my laptop.

'No, why are you asking?'

'You don't look like someone who wants to attend school tomorrow.'

I rolled my eyes.

'I still have a headache.'

'hmm, the headache that was never there in the first place.'

I laughed.

'You know, nothing is ever solved by you walking away or running away. You have to face it head-on.'

I heaved a sigh and laid back on my bed to stare at the ceiling.

'I know. It just that....'

'No No, no comma. You're stronger than this. You're going to school tomorrow, no excuses.'

I said nothing, still staring at the ceiling.

'Or do you want me to follow you?'

I laughed despite myself.

'Come on Zee, I'll be fine.'

'So, you're going to school tomorrow?'

'I guess.'

And here I am, inside the car at school, I glanced around, students were milling around. I heaved a sigh.

'You can do this Jade. You're stronger than this.'

I opened the door and got down. Some students stared and pointed at me, some greeted me. In all, it wasn't as bad as I had imagined.

'Hey. Welcome back.'

Someone called out as soon as I was about to enter our class. I turned back, it was Bunmi.

'Hey, Thank you.'

She smiled and I entered the class. A hushed silence fell upon the class.

'Hey, look who is back? Lakeview's favorite bitch.'

Ayisha Bello was the first one to talk. I rolled my eyes. What kind of nickname is that. Ayisha is someone who I don't talk to. Maybe because we have a lot in common. She was nicknamed Lakeview's Beyonce because of her singing prowess and good voice and she never fails to remind me to throw that in people's faces.

'I think you meant to say most hated bitch.'

Amina replied as I sat down. Hana smiled at me.

'it's good to have you back. A day without you felt like a hundred years.'

I laughed.

'Well, I'm back now, like I never left.'

She smiled at me and I smiled back.

'Hmm hmm hmmm. Are you guys done with your pathetic reunion?'

I did not have to look up to know that Michelle was in front of me. I ignored her.

'I get that you don't have anything to say. What could you say? You lost. You're a laughing stock right now.'

I ignored her.

'Well, she is ignoring you just go back to your seat.'

Daniella said and Michelle scowled.

'No, she is not ignoring me, she just doesn't have anything to say.'

That made me laugh. I finally looked up at her.

'You are pathetic.'

I stood up and left the classroom before she could say anything else.

*******

I don't think I have any business in Master Felix's office but here I am, in his office waiting for him. I wondered why he called me here. Someone opened the door and sat beside me. It was Uthman. I leaned towards the far end of the chair. He greeted me and I murmured a reply. The only thing I was interested in is talking to Uthman. Why was he talking to me?

'I was very worried about you. You looked like a mess on Friday.'

Something fluttered in the pit of my stomach. Damn this stupid hormone. Why am I getting this vulnerable with Uthman? He was worried about me? Was this a lie? I remembered what he promised Michelle and all the warmth disappeared.

'Why do I feel like you're taunting me? You won, as you've always wanted to like you promised Michelle so why on earth will you be worried about me? Are you trying to make fun of me?'

I said and glared at him.

'Jade, you think this is me taunting you, making fun of you?'

'If not, then what is it? Why are you supposedly worried about me? We're not even friends. We don't even like each other.'

It was when I said the last part that thought crossed my mind. I've not just allowed myself to think about it until now. Uthman and I, the whole school know we can't stand each other. The both of us know how much we can't stand each other but recently, I don't know, I'm not sure anymore. What am I feeling for Uthman? I was supposed to be hurt and angry that he won and here I am, four days after, talking to him, more like we were staring into each other's eyes. I swallowed at our proximity. What on earth is going on with me? Before I could process my thoughts, the door opened and Mr. Felix walked in. He sat down.

'Well, Jade, why do you look like the last place you ever want to be is here?'

'That's because this is the last place I want to be.'

He burst into laughter.

'come on Jade, it's not that deep.'

To others, Nay. To me, yes.

'Okay, Uthman congratulations once again.'

'Thank you, sir.'

I rolled my eyes, wondering what on earth I was doing here.

'Well, the competition is in two weeks in Accra, Ghana and so there will be an intense tutorial for the both of you during the next two weeks.'

'For the both of us? What do you mean by that?'

'Yeah, the school choose Uthman but we decided that the both of you should be tutored in case something happens to Uthman.'

Wow. How incredulous?

'This is something like a backup plan, plan B? right?'

'Yes.....'

'I don't want to be a backup plan.' I stood up. 'The school decided I wasn't worthy. I get that but I'm not interested in becoming a plan B.'

I left the office angrily. Be a backup plan indeed.  I went to the cafeteria and bought a drink. I had barely joined Hana and Akin at the table they were when Michelle and her minions walked in. They were straight to where we sat.

'You still have the gut to eat? I thought you should be cowering and crying in a corner right now.'

'Because I killed your brain?'

All the students close to our table burst into laughter.

'But then, you don't even have a brain I'll kill in the first place so please fuck off before I do something we will both regret.'

I glared at her, murderously. It feels good to have something to direct my anger at.

'You are angry. What happened?'

Hana asked immediately they left.

'You're squeezing the coke bottle, are you okay?'

Akin asked her.

'Michelle is an idiot. A big one.'

'Don't pay attention to that nitwit. What made you so angry?'

Hana asked again.

'Lakeview. The school wants me to be a backup plan in case something happens to Uthman.'

'That's expected. Why are you so angry?'

Akin replied.

I took a swiss of my drink.

'I get that you are angry but that's how it is always done.'

Hana added.

I gulped down my drink in one shot.

'You guys are not helping matter'

I replied, stood up, and left. I turned to go to the library. I saw Uthman and Michelle huddled in a corner together. I turned back.

Not helping matters.

*******

~Uthman~

I released a breath I did not know I'd been holding since Jade did not show up in school on Monday. We had a match with WestPrime Model college in the morning and I was in the locker room, changing into my school uniform when a junior came to tell me that Mister Felix wants me in his office. I entered his office and Jade was sitting in front of his desk, legs crossed. Uncle Felix was not yet around. I swallowed and sat beside her.

'Hey.'

She turned to look at me pointedly and she mumbled a reply I did not hear.

'Are you okay? You were absent yesterday.'

'I knew I was absent. Why are you telling me again?'

I smiled.

'It's called making small talks, Jade.'

She rolled her eyes and leaned back on the chair.

'I'm not interested in any stupid small talk with you.'

I smiled again. In the past, when she talks like this, I think of her like a bitch but now, it's just funny.

'I was really worried about you. You looked like a mess on Friday.'

I said as truthfully as I could. She said nothing for a while.

'Why do I feel like you're taunting me? You won as you've always wanted to like you promised Michelle so why on earth will you be worried about me? Are you trying to make fun of me?'

I pulled at my necktie, feeling suffocated. I turned to look at her. She was glaring at me.

'Jade, you think this is me taunting you, making fun of you?'

'If not, then what is it? Why are you supposedly worried about me? We're not even friends. We don't even like each other.'

Nah, you're wrong. I like you a lot, a whole lot than you'll ever be able to comprehend. Even sitting this close to you is making me feel things I did not know I could feel. And yes, we are not friends. I don't want us to ever be friends. I want us to be more than that. I can't imagine being ordinary friends with you. Not now, not ever.

I wished I could say all of this out but I did not and instead, I kept staring at her. She stared back, gaze unwavering. I did not know how long we sat there staring at each other until the door opened and Uncle Eelix entered. We broke eye contact.

Jade ended up storming away.

'Don't mind Jade. I'm sure she'll come around soon

Uncle Felix said after she left. I nodded.

'You guys will have two hours of tutorial every day from tomorrow till the day you leave for Ghana.'

'Okay, sir.'

None of this interests me other than the fact that I'll be spending time, probably alone with Jade. I smiled to myself. I left his office and I was almost entering the classroom when Michelle pulled me back.

'How was your match? You guys won?'

'Of course, we did. I played na.'

She smiled and moved even close to me.

'I have something to tell you

'Yeah, what's it?' I replied to her and attempted to move away from her but I was trapped.

She swallowed.

'I was going to wait but then, I figured out I had to do this.'

I hope this is not what I'm thinking. From the corners of my eyes, I saw Jade walking towards us.

'You know, you promised me that you'll win this for me, you did and I think we should just go to the next stage now.'

Jade looked up and saw us. She hissed and turned away.

'I like.....'

'You know what, Michelle? I have to be in the principal's office right now.'

I untangled myself from her and walked, well almost ran away.

What am I going to do with Michelle now?

But most importantly, what was I going to do with Jade?