Chapter 40: Chapter 40

#Unedited.

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~Jade~

Zee✨: Hey Baby

Zee✨: How're you?

Zee✨: I've really missed you.

I stared at the messages. Was I supposed to feel relieved, happy, glad that my runaway sister has reached out to me? Because all I felt was anger. She started typing something else and I turned my phone off. She was supposed to be here. I was supposed to be in her room right now gisting her about today. About the fact that I held the hands of the guy I like, about the fact that I hugged him and all but I couldn't. Why? Because my favorite person in the world left home for weeks without checking back on me and now, she has the nerves to tell me I've really missed you. I've really missed you?

What a joke?

She was the one who left without a backward glance, without a hug, without a note, without nothing. Delinquents ain't supposed to miss those they left behind. I don't even care whether she comes back or drop messages again. I stopped missing her.

I miss her. A whole lot.

And that hurts. I felt something wet on my cheeks and I wiped it off angrily. I was fast becoming a cry baby these days.

I woke up in a shitty mood the next day. Zee had completely ruined my mood. I dressed up for school and when I got downstairs, someone was assisting mom in setting the table.

Fatima.

I hissed underneath my breath as I sat down. I had completely forgotten about her.

'Good morning to you too.'

She said and I glared at her. She shrugged and sat down to eat. Mom came out of the kitchen with fried plantain and she dished out our food. It was white rice and plantain, one of my favorite food but I did not even feel like eating it. I had no appetite. I managed to swallow like 5 spoons before standing up.

'I'm leaving for school now.'

I said and mom looked up at me then at the food.

'But you've not even eaten anything.'

'I'm not really hungry mom.'

'There is no way I'd allow you to go to school without eating the most important meal of the day.'

I inwardly rolled my eyes.

'But mom....'

'Daughter, sit down and eat.'

And that was how I had to force the whole meal down my throat.

**********

Look on the brighter side of life, think of a thousand reasons to smile, think of how intoxicating Uthman's smile is, think of how you felt when you hugged him, think of........

I bumped into Michelle in the hallway and her face tightened into a scowl when she saw me. I started to walk away.

'Hey'

I heard her call out but I ignored her. She grabbed my hands and pulled me back.

'Did you not hear me call you or are you going to ignore me?'

'I just ignored you'

I replied her and freed my hand. She chuckled and folded her arms on her chest, shaking her head.

'How low are you going to get, hmm? Okay, let me rephrase the question, do you like Uthman?'

Idiot. I shrugged and smiled.

'And if I like him, how is that any of your business?'

'Oh, you bitch. You even have the nerve and audacity to say that to my face?'

'And who are you? Who on earth are you?'

I asked and I saw her raise her hand to slap me. I moved back so she missed by a breath and she ended up stumbling at the impact.

'You are really pathetic, ain't you?' I asked her, shaking my head.

And I walked away but I still did not feel good. If anything, my mood worsened. Talk about looking at the bright sides. Trust Michelle to always be the idiot who worsens everything.

'Our wife, good morning'

I turned to Akin, Daniel and Uthman. They were all standing in front of our class. What Akin said earned a snack from Uthman. I smiled and went to stand by their side

'Hey, good morning.'

I don't why I avoided looking at Uthman and I saw Akin look at me and Uthman. He grabbed Dan's hands.

'We should probably excuse you guys, hmm?'

And they walked away, leaving the both of us. Uthman moved closer.

'So, good morning?'

I smiled.

'Was that a question or a greeting?'

He scratched his head as if thinking about how to reply.

'Both, you don't look like you wanted to greet me.'

I smiled.

'Don't mind me. It's just.......'

I trailed off and he turned to look at me.

'It's just what?'

'Nothing, never mind.'

I waved my hand dismissedly but I knew he wasn't buying that by the way he was staring at me intently.

'Are you okay?'

'Of course yes'

'I don't think.......'

He was cut off by the sound of the bell and I could swear I heard him groan.

'Do you want to skip morning devotion again?'

I shook my hand, smiling.

'No way, there is no way in the world I'm skipping assembly again.'

'Oh come on, it's not that bad.'

'It's that bad, Uthman. Infact it's very bad.'

'Okay, just know that I'm using that against you in the future.'

I smiled again. Talk about looking at the brighter sides.

*********

We had barely sat down for lunch when Michelle walked up to us and sat down. Akin raised an eyebrow and glanced at Uthman. Hana and Daniel exchanged a knowing glance. I focused my entire attention on my food.

'I thought you were eating with Amina and the gang. Why.....'

She did not even allow Uthman to finish talking before she interrupted.

'Uthman, we eat together almost everyday. It's like our tradition. We are seriously not seriously not going to stop that, are we?'

Ode, this girl did not even know what's coming for her. Tradition ko, cultural ni.

Uthman did not say anything as he continued eating. I looked at him as he ate. He was picking carrots from his rice. I shook my head.

'You don't eat carrot?'

I asked and he looked up.

'cooked carrot, yes. Raw one.....'

'Of course he doesn't eat carrot. Do you even know anything about him?'

Michelle interrupted before he could finish talking. I bit my tongue and continued eating.

'So, the competition is on Thursday, right? You have to win, remember the promise you made?'

I looked up just as she touched Uthman's hands over the table. He looked at me and smiled tightly before shrugging her hands off.

'Why don't we maintain the dinning etiquette?'

He said and smiled at her. I rolled my eyes.

'Maintain dinning etiquette? That's bullshit. Just tell Michelle to shut up.'

Akin earned a glare from Michelle at his words and the former just shrugged.

'So you've won Mandela's foundation contest and now, you're probably going to win ECOWAS contest too. Jade was always so sure that she was going to win either of them. Now her resumé won't be as glamorous as........'

I clampsed my hands together. Keep it calm. Ignore her. Don't talk!

'Yeah, Uthman won the first competition because you betrayed your best friend and.......'

She did not allow Akin to complete his sentence before she interrupted

'And he is winning the second one because he promised me.'

God! I can't just keep ignoring this idiot. She deserves to....

Uthman stood up.

'let's talk outside.'

'Why? Say anything you want to say here. I....'

Uthman cut her shut by grabbing her hands and dragging her outside. I looked down at my food. My appetite was gone.

'Wow Jade. You're growing oo. I can't believe you just ignored Michelle and all her rants.'

Akin said and I rolled my eyes.

'No, if that's growth, then I'm not interested in growing because I'm definitely going to put that stupid girl in her place.'

'Just ignore her. She is not worth it.'

Hana spoke for the first time since we got here.

'I feel for her though. It's not easy to.......'

'Abeggi'

Both Hana and Akin interrupted Dan.

'She had it coming. Who betrays their best friend and expect to go scotfree? Infact, this is like the best revenge.'

I smiled and looked at the entrance.

********

~Uthman~

I dropped Michelle's hands like a hot leed when we got outside. She stumbled and nearly fell.

'What is your problem Michelle?'

'Oh, I'm the one with the problem now? Really? You're the one who likes Jade. Look at the way you were looking at her. God! Uthman!'

I run my hands through my hair in frustration. Oh God. I kicked the air.

'Who was the one who told me to wait for you? Was this what you said when we started?'

I turned around and kicked the air in frustration.

'Started what exactly?'

She chuckled and moved back.

'Now you are raising your voice at me? Wow. When you started liking her, you should have fought the feelings.'

'You should have fought the feelings you had for me too instead of betraying your friend.'

She moved back, tears in her eyes.

'wow, it's.... You are.... Really......'

She stuttered and I grabbed my head.

'I'm sorry, I did not mean to say that. It's just that.....'

She walked away.

Well, Damn!!!

*********

I was not chanced to talk to Jade again. Even when I tried to talk to her in class, she ignored me. Akin and Dan came sleep over. My dad had been going in and out of the house like a ghost since mom moved out of the house. We were all laying on my bed rewatching the first part of fast and furious.

'Funny how small Vin Diesel looks. Imagine oo. Where did he now get all his abs from?

'We should be asking Uthman that. He is the one with the abs.'

Dan replied Akin's question and they both laughed. Akin touched my upper arm and laughed again.

'My-in-law.'

He said and they both laughed again.

'You guys should sha be careful. You're still young oo. Even if you want to do the deed, use protection oo. Me I can't be a godfather now at my age.'

I smacked Akin's head just as Dan burst into laughter.

'Ode ni e, Akin' (You're a fool, Akin)

'Just saying the truth'

'Shut up. We're not even official yet.'

'What?'

Both Akin and Dan asked at the same time. Akin sat up.

'So what was all that yesterday? During the assembly time yesterday, what were you guys doing?'

'None of your business'

I replied him and he burst into laughter.

'So you guys finally kissed?'

I turned to Dan and said no.

'Aah aah. Eeh eeh. Uthman, and you're my best friend oo. What are you still waiting for? God! It's very obvious that you guys like each other so what's the problem?'

I scowled, remembering how she ignored me after lunch.

'Well, I can't be so sure about that. She ignored me after lunch break.'

'What did you expect? When you female best friend was going on and on about rubbish. You self no try. How on earth will you collect stolen keypoints from a girl? That one too stole keypoints for you, you collected it and you won the competition. Not fair and you even won the second major contest because you promised Michelle. Smh'

'Number one, I did not win the competition because of Michelle. I already liked Jade then so, I don't know, I just won and for what happened in the past, I'm not so proud of it. I wish I could go back and undo it but then....'

'Funniest thing is that Michelle is still now rubbing it in Jade's face. How low is that?'

Trust Akin to always speak for Jade like this.

'Well, make it right. If you really want this thing to work with Jade, tell Michelle off completely. It's not that hard.'

I exchanged a glance with Daniel who only shrugged. Truth is it's hard to tell Michelle off completely. She has been a very good friend to me while I've been nothing but a jerk to her.

'Guys, I have something to tell you guys oo'

Dan and I both turned to Akin who was now  lying on the bed.

'What?' I asked.

'So I followed Dan's advice and I kissed.......'

Dan did not allow him to finish before he made a whooping sound.

'Wow wow wow. Look at that. Uthman. Even Akin has kissed Bunmi. What on earth are you still waiting for?'

I groaned just as we both heard Akin say no. We turned to him.

'No what?'

'It wasn't Bunmi.'

Ehn. I exchanged a glance with Dan just as be burst into laughter. I joined in too.

'Oshey, the original Yoruba Demon. Owo meji fun eyan kan. So you kissed a girl and it's not Bunmi? And I was thinking I'm the bad guy here. You are the baddest. Bad Baddo Baddest'

I laughed harder at Dan's words and Akin smiled. The idiot is still smiling. What kind of circle of friends is this for crying loud sake?

'Oya oo, CEO yoruba demons association. Who did you kiss oo?'

Dan is an idiot. I laughed harder.

'It's Ayisha.'

'Ayisha?'

I exchanged a glance with Dan before looking at Akin again.

'Ayisha? Who is Ayisha?'

'Ayisha. Ayisha Bello'

What?

Dan burst into laughter, stood up, ran across the room before jumping on the bed.

'Oshey, Akin. I want to be like you when I grow up sha.'

I stared at Akin as if he had grown two heads.

'You kissed Ayisha? You guys don't even talk at all. Wait, Ayisha doesn't talk to anybody. How did it happen? Besides, just like two weeks ago, you liked Bunmi so????'

He rolled his eyes at my words.

'it just happened. I don't even know. One minute we were talking and the next minute I was kissing her.'

'You were talking? You guys talk?'

I asked again. God! This is unbelievable. Akin kissed Ayisha?

'Okay, these past days I've been watching her play the piano and sing. You know I have to lock all doors after closing hour. The first day I saw her in the music studio playing piano and singing. I just waited till she was done before locking the door. It went on like that for like 5 days. Then she was me one day watching her, oh that was just last week oo. She allowed me to watch her and we started talking. The next day, we were still talking when I found myself kissing her.'

'So, did she kiss you back?'

Akin asked and I hissed. Ode.

'Hmm, kinda'

'oh wow. Akin Akin. Oko olomoge'

Dan hailed again and Akin chuckled lightly. I shook my head.

'So what now? Do you like her or something?'

I asked.

'I'm not sure. She won't even talk to me again.'

Dan hissed before saying.

'I'm pretty sure it's the kiss messing up her reasoning. She must be confused now. Just kiss her again and clear all her doubts.'

Haaa. O ti bo fun Daniel. (It has finished for Daniel)

'Do you ever think of anything but kissing?'

'Says the guy who can't stop thinking about someone's lips.'

'Shut up.'

I turned to Akin.

'So it's no more Bunmi now, it's Ayisha. You deserve some accolades indeed. Oshey. The original Yoruba Demon.'

The idiot just burst into laughter.

********

Jade rounded up her speech and the whole room clapped. We just gave our speech for the contest in front of the board of directors of Lakeview, the principal and some teachers.

'You guys have done a nice job. Pretty sure we're bringing home the badge tomorrow.'

The principal said just as the directors started to fill out.

'Yeah. I'm sure Uthman is going to make Lakeview proud'

Our tutor said.

'Yes. Uthman, make sure you are in a really good condition tomorrow.'

The principal said and turned to Jade.

'Miss Badmus, make sure you are in good condition too. I know the contest is tomorrow but then, anything can happen between now and tomorrow. So be prepared.'

Yeah, anything can happen between now and tomorrow.

I turned to look at Jade who had a plastic smile on her face.

'Yes Sir'

The principal walked out of the hall and our tutor followed him with a smile on her face. Jade walked out too. I followed her. The school was deserted because it was closing time. Only few students were in school and they were mainly SS3 students.

'Hey' I called out after her.

She turned back and said.

'I thought you were ignoring me'

What?

'No oo. You were the one ignoring me'

'Of not. Why would I ignore you?'

I shrugged. 'I don't know.'

She said nothing after that as she crossed her arms over her chest.

'Are you going home now?'

She shook her head.

'I'm not sure. I was going to read a little before going but now, I think I should just go home.'

'Are you sure you are okay? You've been distant since yesterday.'

She started walking towards the park and I followed her. Look at the girl who said she was going home oo. We got to the park and we sat down on a swing.

'I don't think you are okay. You are so unlike yourself.'

'Eeh, you don't even know what I'm like.'

'of course I do.'

'Oya what am I like?'

'Funny, always smiling, jovial, bitchy? Not sure of the last part though.'

She laughed and I looked at her. I've missed the sound of her laughter.

'if you should ask a random person to describe me, they would say just a single word and that would be bitch.'

'Heck, that means they don't know you.'

'And you know me?'

I looked at her again.

'At least, I want to.'

We held each others gazes before she looked away and smiled.

'Fair enough. I want to get to know you too.'

I smiled.

'I'm sorry about...'

'Michelle?'

'Nah, about...' I scratched my head. 'about the key points. I shouldn't have collected it from Michelle.'

She was quiet for a while before saying.

'We won't apologize for the things we did when we were not close. Because we'd just keep apologizing.'

I turned to look at her. She was staring straight ahead.

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

She chuckled.

'You don't forget things, do you?'

'Nah, oya tell me.'

I heard her heaved a sigh before saying.

'I probably shouldn't be telling you this.'

She heaved a sigh again.

'It's my sister, you remember her, right?'

I nodded.

'Well to cut the story short, turns out that Dad had her with his Mistress. We did not know until late last year and since then, it's been crazy. She moved out of the house like two weeks ago and it hurts so much that I don't know exactly how I'm surviving.'

I don't know how but while she was speaking, I had moved closer to her, my right hand around her shoulder.

'We are so close that I never thought she could do something like this. It hurts too much.'

'I'm sorry'

I said, not knowing what else to say. I had never imagined that she could have something like this going on in her life. I thought it was perfect, that her family was the perfect one.

'It's not your fault that my sister is self centered.'

'You should not judge her when you've not heard her reasons.'

She ignored my statement as she looked up at me and said

'So what about you? When you missed school last week, you weren't sick so what happened?'

I thought she was never going to ask.

I shrugged.

'Similar story as yours. Family issue. My step mom moved out with my sister.'

'What?'

'Actually I kinda saw this coming. Their union has never worked. Dad is too hung up on my mom, I mean my biological mom. You met him once, remember? He wasn't always like this but mom's death affected him more than anything.'

She was quiet for a while.

'you know, there is this unpopular saying that maybe we have to bend for the stars to align in our favor. Let's just think of this moment as one of those days when we are bending. I'm sure it's going to pass soon. Hmm?'

And she surprised me by placing her head on my shoulder.

I'm so dead.

**********

~Jade~

Someone's knock on my door woke me up. I jumped, startled at first. I glanced at wall clock. 6:30am. What could be wrong?

Mom opened the door and stepped in.

'Mom. Kilonsele? What's happening?'

'Someone called in from your school, said something about someone calling in sick and that you have to fill in for the person.'

I stared at her, not grabbing what she was saying. She pointed to the phone in her hand and I collected it.

'Miss Badmus, Uthman called in sick so you have to fill in for him. Be sure to get to school by 7 as your flight leaves before 8.'

I replayed the secretary's voice over and over again. Called in sick ke? He was fine yesterday. Was this a joke?

I turned my phone on and dialed his number.

It went to voice mail.