Chapter 46: Chapter 46

~Jade~

'I think it has always been long buried emotions and feelings because the memories of when I did not feel like this are blurred. I can't remember.'

I smiled sheepishly at the message. It was sent around 6am. Talk about waking up to a love message. I thought this only happens to American teenagers or older Nigerians but definitely not to a sixteen year old me.

'Won ti n tan, abi?' (They are already fooling you, right?'

I looked up at my brother's voice. He was standing at the foot of the stairs and he was looking at me. I mentally rolled my eyes as I descended the stairs.

'Why does it have to be that someone is fooling me? Can't it be the other way round?'

I asked as I finally got to the bottom of the stairs. Fatima and my brother's fiancee, Aunty Fatima were both setting the table in the dinning room. I guess they clicked because they were namesake Mom was not at home.

'It can't oo. We both know if a girl your age is dating a guy, it's always the guy fooling her.'

We were all by now seated at the table and were eating the food prepared by Aunty Fatima. I really like her. She is so unlike all his ex girlfriends. Most of them dated him because he is the son of a big man, he is the heir to a very big hospital, he is this, he is that especially one particular one, Aminah. Even Zee hated that one and despite our vehement warnings, my brother was blind to all her faults until she stole his ATM, withdrew all his money and flew. Lol. Definitely not a good time to go down that memory lane.

'Isn't that extremely sexist? Why does it have to be the boy fooling the girl? Who says the girl can't fool the boy too?'

I asked him and he briefly spared a glance my way.

'We are not doing this feminist sexist argument today. That's just how it works and just so you know, you are not allowed to look at a guy till you're eighteen.'

Fatima burst into laughter just as my subconscious whispered to me

Eeh. Your brother doesn't even know what you've been up to. You that you already have a Guinness record for being one of the longest kissers in the world.

'But that's funny Saheed. Were you not the person that told me that you had your first girlfriend at 15?'

Aunty Fatima interjected before I could even say anything. Thank God oo.

'I'm a boy. Our hormones are different.'

Different ko, similar ni.

'But that's very sexist oo. I mean so a boy can have girlfriend but wait oo, you started dating someone at fifteen, how old was your girlfriend then, 19?

I asked and Fatima and his fiancee burst into laughter.

'So what you're saying now is that you have a boyfriend?'

I shrugged and he scowled.

'Jadeshola, sha don't allow me to catch any with you.'

I shrugged again.

'It's boys that you'll kuku catch with me.'

I stood up.

'I'm going to school oo. I can't wait to see my boyy....'

I burst into laughter at my brother's expression. I shook my head as I bade them bye bye.

Our driver was waiting for me outside. He got into the car as soon as I stepped outside the house.

'E kaaro sir'

I greeted as I got into the car. He replied in his usual cheerful manner. His daughter, a girl of Zee's age used to come around during the weekends to wash clothes and clean the house. Whenever I whined or complained about not getting what I wanted on time, Dad would tell me to look at our driver and his daughter and think twice before complaining and in my mind, I'd just be like. Why can't he tell me to look at the likes of Otedola? Or Dangote? Or Alakija?

Thinking about Zee. God! I don't even know what to think again? Zee was right. I just assumed the worst, I never asked. I never tried to put myself in her shoes. I never even tried to know what she was going through. I just assumed she should ignore someone claiming to be her biological mom,  not even knowing that the woman was severely sick. Reading her message last night made me cry. I can't even try to imagine what she has been going through.

Cancer? Cancer? God! That was a foreign word. Even though dad and Saheed were always talking about cancer patients, Zee and I had always managed to separate ourselves from that reality and now, she was dealing with it first hand?

But why did the woman seek Zee out after she got diagnosed with cancer?

Was she trying to do something?

I don't know why but my spirit just don't seems to go with that woman. What on earth was I supposed to think of a woman who opened her legs for a married man?

What about your dad? A married man that slept with another woman.

Ever since that revelation, the way I looks at  him has changed. With the way him and mom were always doing in the house, all the lovey dovey, one would think he would never look at another woman but apparently, I was wrong. So wrong. I brought out my phone and stared at the messages Zee sent, I don't know how to reply, what to say. I didn't know something this enormous was happening and I kinda feel guilty.

And a part of you is still lowkey mad at her.

Yes. I know. What are sisters for? Zee could have told me. She allowed me to waste my emotions by getting angry. But then, all these doesn't justify running away from home. She did something that enormous without telling anyone just because her biological mother who never looked out for her turned up after almost 19 years.

But blood is thicker than water, isn't it?

Oh shut it.

The driver drove into the school premises and I instantly noticed the huge banners by the hall's entrance.

Oh. Rise Initiative were coming over today. I had completely forgotten. I got down and bade bye bye to to driver. I immediately saw Akin. He was talking to two juniors and he waved when he saw me. He jogged over when he was done with the juniors.

'Our wife, good morning and how are you?'

I rolled my eyes.

'Who is your wife? Iyawo eyin melo? (wife to how many of you?)

'Eeh. So you want to deny Uthman because he is not here, abi? But who are you fooling. I was not blind to all the lovey dovey you guys did on Saturday.'

I kept a neutral face.

'What lovey dovey are you talking about?'

'Hmm. Come on. All the secretly holding hands while we were watching film. All the not so subtle locking eyes and smiling sheepishly. Uthman self was smiling like an idiot and me I just dey look. Like who did this to these children.'

I smacked the back of his head before I could stop myself. He held his head and turned to look at me with a feigned anger. I covered my mouth with my palm.

'Oh sorry. My hands slipped but then, you shoukdht talk about my boyfriend like that.'

He was still looking at me.

'Your boyfriend? Oh really? You guys laying claims already. I go love. Just know that I'll always he there to taunts you guys about the five years you wasted hating each other and doing your childish rivalry.'

The blush that was forming on my face dissolved into a scowl.

'It wasn't childish'

'It wasn't childish.'

He mimicked, injecting a feminine tone into his voice.

'No way. I don't sound like that.'

He laughed.

'I never said you did.'

I rolled my eyes. Trust Akin to always twist words to suit himself. If I should smack the back of his head now, they'd say she has come again, blah blah blah.

'By the way, how are things between you and Aisha? When will you guys become official?'

'Official?'

He replied and I did not fail to notice the sarcasm in his voice. I don't think things were going fine between them at all.

'I think I should just accept my luck with girls. I can't seems to like a normal girl who would just like me back.'

'Aah aah. Why the negativity? No girl in her right senses would turn a charmer like you down.'

He scowled.

'indeed'

I turned to look at him so I'd read his expression. It was unreadable.

'So Ayisha turned you down?'

He made a sigh that suggested he would rather not talk about it and I did not say anything until he said.

'Not exactly. She just keeps saying she doesn't deserve me blah blah blah. She's too broken to be with me. Stuffs like that. She's going through stuffs, serious stuffs.'

What stuffs?

I was about to ask but I momentarily forgot the words when I saw Michelle and Uthman standing together by the rails.

********

~Uthman~

I was walking down the hallway with Daniel when we saw Michelle. My mouth dropped open as I stared at her.

'Michelle. What did you do with all your hair?'

Daniel asked, his voice incredulous.

All of Michelle's hair were gone. Everything. I mean every single thing.

Lol. Almost everything though.

What was left was like a month's old hair. Pretty sure she wouldn't be able to plait anything with that hair.

I opened my mouth and closed it again, unable to form words. Michelle was staring at us pointedly.

'Michelle, what did you do with all your hair? What happened?'

I finally asked and I heard her drag a low hiss. I heard Hana call Dan from downstairs and he excused himself leaving me alone with Michelle.

'What happened to all your hair?'

I asked again and she snapped.

'I cut it all. Isn't it obvious?'

I instinctively moved back at the intensity of our voice. Wow. Michelle never raised her voice like that to me.

'I can see that. I'm asking you why? Why on earth would you cut your precious hair?'

Because she was always going on and on about her hair, about how precious it is and blah blah blah and now she'd suddenly cut everything off. Why on... My thoughts trailed into another thing as I remembered something.

'Don't tell me it's because of what you said the other time.... About cutting off all your hair if I should even look at Jade like that. Don't tell me.....'

'Now that you've finally realized the reason, please stop looking at like I've grown two heads.'

Is this girl really stupid?

I moved closer to her.

'God! Michelle. Who cares about what you said? Who cares about that? Now you cut all your beautiful hair because of what you said. You shouldn't have done something that stupid.'

'Something that stupid? Really? You were the one who did something that stupid. You were the one who broke your words. Do you know how people look at me now? I'm the pathetic and useless one to the people. People are going around sputtering useless things about me, about getting what I deserved by betraying Jade and you know who gave them the liberty to do that?  You. You.'

She repeated. Pointing a finger to my chest. Jabbing a finger to my chest.

God! Not this again. Ehn. Shey I have not entered yawa with this girl like this?

'You gave them the right to talk that way to me, about me and now, you have the right to tell me I shouldn't cut my hair. This is a symbolism.......'

Her voice trailed off when we heard footsteps on the stairs. It was Jade and Akin. Jade paused a little when she saw us before she smiled and walked closer to me. She linked her arms with mine, still smiling widely at me.

Suspiciously widely.

'Good morning. Are you done here? Let's go'

She nudged at my arms and I blinked twice, my brain trying to register her words.

Because you're staring at her face and lips. Douurh

'I don't even have any words for you Jade but just know that I'd definitely get back. Big time. Just wait for it.'

Jade showed no indication that she heard her as she continued go smile seductively at me.

Did you just say seductively?

I don't even know. My brain wasn't even functioning properly with her standing this close to me.

Way too close.

Jade pulled me and we started walking away. I could not even dare a glance at Michelle as we walked off. Immediately we were out of Michelle's sight, Jade dropped my arms like a hot lead. And quite unfortunately and fortunately too, we were in the corridor. Our corridor.

Nigga said our corridor.

She moved to the farther edge of the corridor, shooting daggers my way. I smiled at the opposite wall.

'Good morning to you too.'

She rolled her eyes.

'Why waste your greetings on me? You already greeted everybody....'

She emphasized on the everybody and I smiled again.

'Trust me, I was reserving the best good morning for you.'

She was about to say something else when I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips against hers. She stilled before she moved her lips ever so slightly against mine.

Fuck! God!

I pulled back before I do something stupid. Like deepen this kiss when it's just minutes to assembly. When anybody could walk pass.

Her eyelids flickered open as I moved back.

'Uthman'

She called out in a stern voice.

'Hmm?'

'Don't ever do that again'

I smiled as I watched her.

'Do what? Kiss you or break off a kiss you're so hell bent on prolonging.'

She glared at me. This beautiful glare that made me laugh out loud.

'Both'

She snapped and started to walk away. I attempted to follow her and she turned back, abruptly, wagging her fingers in my front.

'And don't follow me ever again. Ever'

And she walked away. I laughed at the emphasis on ever as I followed her.

***********

I listened in admiration as Jade gave her speech. Rise initiative just finished addressing the SS2 and SS3 students. From their introductions, they were all university students. They mostly talked about Jamb and choosing courses. One particular speaker reiterated that we shouldn't choose a course because our parents wanted us to study that course.

Exactly what I was doing though. Planning to study medicine even though I absolutely detest doing that.

One female speaker spoke about dating in Secondary school. She was like 'I won't tell you guys not to date oo because obviously, If we tell you guys otherwise, you'd still follow heart. Just be careful. Know what your priorities are and practice safe sex.'

That earned noises from students and I saw as most of the teachers' expression change to bewilderment. I burst into laughter just as Akin whispered into my ears.

'Shey e gbo? You and Jade that finds it so difficult to keep your hands to each other. Sha practice safe....'

I did not allow him to finish before I smacked the back of his head. He shook his head, muttering 'the both of you ehn'

'Eeh. I was once your age and I know the things I did then so. I'm not saying you should start having sex oo. God! I would have loved to give you a full lecture on sex education but that's not on the agenda.'

The female speaker went on, undettered by the responses.

Jade soon ended her speech by saying.

'I'm an advocate of SDG's 1,3,4&5 which are Zero hunger, no poverty, good health and gender equality, which SDGs do you advocate for? Thank you.'

The whole hall erupted into loud applauses as she descended the stairs from the podium. I saw the speakers nod their head in appreciation. One particular guy's attention was so on her.

Shey a gbadun? (Are we alright?)

'That was a killer speech.'

I said to her as soon as she got to where we sat.

'Something that we wrote together. Stop trying to talk to me, abeg.'

I laughed. She was still acting angry because of what happened in the morning.

Jade and her unpredictability. She sat down beside and I leaned over to whisper something in her ears.

'Should we just sneak out and make better use of our time?'

She gave me a murderous look and I burst into laughter.

This girl!

God!

***********

A small moving truck was in our compound when I got home. My first thought when I saw the moving truck was that my step mother had finally came to pack all their lots and my heart sank at that thought. It was only when I entered the main house that I discovered it wasn't mom's belongings, it was my mom's belongings, as in my biological mom. Dad was standing in the hallway as the movers moved the belongings. I just stood there, not quite believing my eyes.

Dad was moving mom's belongings out of the house.

Who was the one who never allowed us to touch any of the belongings?

Who was the one who never wanted to let go of her?

'Hey Uthman. Welcome. How was school?'

He asked, his voice cheerful.

Who is this man?

'It was fine Sir'

I replied, my voice low, unnecessarily low.

'I decided to give out her belongings ti charity. You don't have a problem with that, do you?'

No. Of course not.

But I could not reply, feeling an unnecessary and uneasy weight in my throat.

'It's about time.'

I said finally and I started to walk to my room. A family picture was on my study desk. The one we snapped during one Ileya festival. I was around 4 then. I remembered that day vividly. Mom's vigrant face and laughter. How she and dad had pressed their lips together right in front of me and how I had screamed eeeew.

I smiled at that memory.

I smiled at mom's memory.

I've always cried at her memory.

*********

~Jade~

There's always this festive atmosphere about inter house, it's like an excitement in the air and even though I'm neither running for my house nor partaking in the March pass, I was excited.

Left Right

Left Right

Get ready to salute

Get ready to salute

Saaalute!

I sat underneath the canopy sipping my cold juice as I enjoyed all watching the various house salute. My house did the best salute, no cap.

'Are you preparing for your relay race already?'

I turned to look at Uthman as he sat on the empty chair beside me.

'Relay race ko, race relay ni.'

He laughed.

'Then what are your thin legs for?'

I saw his gaze dropped to my legs and stopped there. My shorts only covered my upper thighs. My lower thighs and the full length of my legs were out for display and Uthman was doing a good job ogling them.

I crossed my legs.

'For you to stare at them, obviously.'

His eyes met mine.

'Hmm?'

I scowled just as we heard the announcer calling those doing the 100meters race.

'I should go. I have to organize those running for my house.'

'Best of luck. I'd be here sha'

I watched him jog off.

Hours later, the interhouse sport was almost coming to an end. We were done with the races and what was left was the long jump and high jump but most people weren't even watching again. Students were busy snapping pictures with their parents and friends who came to watch from other schools. Exactly what we were doing too. Only God knows the number of pictures we've took. We were still snapping pictures when I someone covered my eyes with their palms.

'Who is this?'

I asked but nobody answered. This person must be extremely close to me sha because..

Isreal?

He was the only one I know with the farmer's palm.

'Isreal'

I said and the person immediately removed their hands from my face. I turned around. It was really Isreal.

'Isreal. God!'

I screamed and hugged him. He hugged me back.

'Small girl. Did you miss me that much?'

I pulled back and rolled my eyes at his use of small girl for me.

'For you mind.'

I turned to look at the gang and I introduced Israel to them. He gave me a knowing smile when I mentioned Uthman's name.

Isreal and I actually go way back. He was our neighbor for good six years before they moved away. He was like the first boy to ask  me out and even though I turned him down, he never allowed it to ruin our friendship. The idiot would even tell me about all the girls in his life.

'Is that how you hug every other guy? I though that kinda hug was reserved for me alone.'

Uthman whispered into my ears later. I crossed my arms on my chest.

'So you were jealous?'

'Of course not.'

I smiled. Obviously, he was jealous. I turned back, feeling someone's eyes on me. I've been feeling like that since the sport activities started. Nobody was staring at me. Infact nobody was behind me.

Finally, it was time to announce the scores. Blue house won again for the third term in a row. Wow. Those in blue house shouted, cheered and jumped, raising dusts. In the midst of all the excitement, I don't know where the rest of the gang had walked to and I couldn't even call them because my phone was with Hana. Good!

After searching for them in the midst of like a thousand students, all to no avail, I decided up go and carry my bag that I left in the locker room. I felt like someone was following me and I turned back but no one was there.

What's with this odd feeling?

I entered the locker room. It was empty. I picked my bag and turned to leave when I came face to face with a boy I've not seen before. He closed the door and turned the key, locking us in. He wasn't dressed in our school's sport wear so I knew for sure he isn't a student of Lakeview.

'Who are you?'

I asked, trying hard to make my voice strong but my palms were already getting sweaty.

The boy started walking towards me. I instinctively started moving back.

'Oh sweatheart, so you've forgotten about me? Was I that insignificant to you?

Who is this lunatic and what the fuck is he saying?

I smiled tightly.

'I think you have the wrong person. We've never met.'

He laughed sadistically. By now, my back had reached the wall and he was directly in front of me.

'Oh really? Look at me again. You don't really know me?'

'No, I don't and now, if you would excuse me, I have to leave.'

I attempted to walk away and he pulled me back, slamming my back unto the wall. God! I must have broken a bone with the intensity of the pain I felt.

'I see you still have a loose mouth'

He said, moving impossibly close to him. I leaned further into the wall.

Who the fuck is this guy?

'I only asked for a kiss then and now, I'm going to have my way over and over with you'

The dread that formed in the pitch of my stomach had now risen to my throat.

He ran his fingers across my lips.

'Your loose mouth would do all the screaming.'

I stared at him right in the eyes before I spat in his face.

He cleaned the saliva off slowly and he slapped me, the force threw me to the ground.

Now, I was scared.

He started to loosen the zipper of his trousers as I closed my eyes, silently praying for a miracle to happen.

'Don't worry, I'd be gentle.'

He said and smiled.

The words. I've heard them before. I stared at him again. God!

He was the guy from Pauline's party.