Chapter 53: Chapter 53

~Uthman~

And once again, our house became lively like it once was.

It became loud like it was once was. It was impossible for it not to be loud considering my sister's chatter every now and then. The girl keeps talking. Over the last two weeks, she had filed me up with every single details of what I missed when they were not in the house.

'And do you know the most important thing you missed?'

She asked me one evening. We were both in the varender. I was reading my chemistry textbook because our Neco already started and I had Chemistry in two days time.

The Almighty Chemistry.

'What's that?'

I asked her, not looking up from the textbook.

'I got a boyfriend.'

Ehn?

I closed the textbook and looked at her. She was looking at the book in front of her. Then she looked and giggled.

'What did you say?'

'I now have a boyfriend.'

She replied again, in all sincerity. Then she giggled again and blushed.

Aah. Modaran. I'm in trouble.

She did not wait for me to ask her anything before she started talking.

'He's the new boy in my class. He's really cute and I immediately started crushing on him but we did not talk until one day when I was crying in the class because I missed you too much, he came over, patted my back and told me not to cry again. We started dating the next day.'

I opened my mouth and closed it again.

What?

'What do you know about dating?'

She hissed and raised her eyebrows.

'What do you take me for? Well, if you don't know because me, I know. It's when you and the person of the opposite sex are together and you do things like holding hands, kissing and the other things.'

I sat up.

Other things? Other things? Modaran. Wahala de oo. This girl has watched many things on TV oo.

'Other things? What other things? Wait, how old are you again? What class are you self.'

She rolled her eyes.

'What has age and class has to do with matters of heart?'

Matters of the heart? It is finished!!

'Anyway, his name is Jamal and he's very fine, he so cute.....'

Then she stared at my face intently.

'..... He's finer than you self.'

Aah!

'I'll introduce you to him on our End of the year party.'

I just stared at her, not saying anything. Then she stood up and walked to where I was. She put her mouth to my ears.

'We've held hands countless times and we kissed too.'

Then she giggled again.

'Kissed?'

She raised her brows again.

'Yes. Kissed on the cheeks but I'm going to kiss him on the lips the next time. I don't have time for rubbish.'

I lost my voice immediately.

'Girls of these days don't have patience. All these stupid patience. If you don't take care, you'll just loose that pretty girl. What's her name again.........?'

'MOJI!!!

We heard mom's voice from the main house. Moji rolled her eyes.

'Moji!!'

'Ma'

She answered grumpily.

'This woman won't just allow me to rest. Moji Moji Moji everytime. Don't worry broda mi, we'll continue next time.'

Then she winked at me before walking into the main house.

Someone tell me to close my mouth.

Don't close it. Let fly enter.

I closed it.

**********

~Jade~

The girls were coming for a sleepover. And by the girls, I meant Hana and Ayisha.

Well, we sorta became closer with Ayisha after she and Akin started dating. I was in the kitchen, mixing cake ingredients because I wanted to bake cupcakes for them when Zee walked in. She was dressed casually, a black Jean with a blue plain round neck top. She looked so pretty that  I took a minute to admire the pure gold that my sister was.

'Why are you looking at me like that?'

'Can't I admire a pretty girl again?'

She rolled her eyes.

'Please don't try that corny line with me and please reserve that look for the cute boy.'

Then she stuck out her tongue at me. I smiled. I don't see my sister growing up any time soon. Even after going through that much, she still remained unbreakable.

She always remind me of this episode from Game of Thrones.

Unbowed. Unbent. Unbroken.

I dropped the mixer and walked closer to her. I hugged her, careful to not hug her too much because of the flour on my hands and body but I still managed to get it on her.

'Baby sis, what's with this public display of affection?'

She asked me once I moved back. My eyes was moist and I had to tilt my head back a little to stop the tears from coming.

'Nothing. I'm just going to miss you too much.'

She smiled.

'We're still going to sleep in this house tonight oo and tomorrow and besides, I'm only going to school. Ile-ife. Just how many hours journey? Besides, I'm coming back in less than six weeks for your graduation so what's with all these...?'

'I don't know. Can't I just hug you in peace?'

'No, you can't. Hug that cute boy all you want. His body is all yours.'

I rolled my eyes.

'Why are you baking by yourself? You should have waited for your friends na'

'Oh'

I replied her, turning briefly to look at the batter.

'We still have a long way to go. I'm mixing red velvet and we're still going to bake chocolate, make pancake, small chops, samosa......'

I trailed off when I realized Zee's gaze was intense.

'This is not a sleepover. It's a suicide mission. Aah aah! All that food.'

I burst into laughter.

'That I was about to ask you to help us get KFC chicken and Domino's Pizza when you're coming from the mall.'

Zee opened her mouth and closed it again.

'Wait, you guys are not going to eat for weeks after tonight?'

I shrugged.

'What's fun without food?'

'Nothing oo.' She replied sarcastically. 'Nothing at all.'

Then she turned and walked out of the kitchen.

'Don't forget oo. You know I love you.'

'Noooo. You love the cute boy.'

She shouted from the sitting room.

And mom was upstairs.

You'll kuku tell her who the cute boy is because me, I don't know any cute boy oo.

**********

Hana and Ayisha arrived not long after Zee left for the mall. I just finished putting the bater in the oven when I heard their voices in the sitting room. I washed my hand and went to meet them.

'Hey babes. How are you?'

I greeted, hugging them. Hana rolled her eyes.

'Is it because Ayisha is here that you are greeting me politely?'

'Haba! Come on. Am I not polite?'

Hana opened her mouth to talk but Ayisha beat her to it.

'Far from it.'

We all burst into laughter.

'Hmm hmm hmm. I smell something.'

Hana said sniffing the air. Then her eyes grew thoughtful.

'Are you baking already?'

I nodded.

'Yes. I decided to bake 12 cupcakes. Red velvet though. We'll bake chocolate when that one is done.'

'Is any one at home? Mom and Zee?'

Hana asked, she did not even bother asking of Dad and Saheed. They were hardly ever home.

'Zee just went out and Mom is having her siesta.'

'Nice house by the way. Your sitting room is so fine.'

Ayisha said, looking around the sitting room. Her eyes landed on a framed picture of Zee and I.

'And your sister is so fine but then, you're prettier than her.'

I smiled, opened my mouth to say Thank you but Hana beat me to it.

'Lai Lai. Zee is finer than Jade. Jade, don't allow Ayisha to fool you oo.'

I eyed and she moved back.

'Talk your truth and.....'

'Abegggi.' I said, interrupting her. Then, I turned to Ayisha. I grabbed her hands.

'Let's go to my room. You're the one I can see.'

Then I started pulling her towards the stairs. Hana burst into laughter behind us.

'Wow. Such a nice room. I love it.'

Ayisha said immediately we entered my room. She walked to the middle of the room and she looked around, taking it all in.

'I love the your room. It's like I just walked into a wonderland.'

Wonderland indeed! It was Hana that made me change the interior of my room. She insisted on the color pink and now, we were standing in the middle of a pinky pinkie room. What saved my room was the left side that was painted blue and artworks on the wall and the picture of Riri covering the whole of the right wall.

'You love Rihanna?'

Ayisha asked, her tone sounding surprised. Hana had entered the room. She sat down on the bed. Smiling at the wall. Pink walls. I would've have preferred black self.

Black bawo? Abi black and red self. Set Awon cultist.

'Yeah. She's like the only female musician I really vibe with.'

'Wow. I love the Queen more sha.'

I did not need to ask who the queen was. It was Beyonce.

'When you're both done ignoring me, let's go and bake our cake oo.'

We both turned to look at Hana. She narrowed her eyes at me.

Dourh

**********

Hours later, we were done with all our baking and coming. Zee had returned too with our pizza and chicken. We arranged everything on my bedroom floor. We stepped back to admire our setting.

Wow

Zee was right. We just embarked on a suicide mission. What were we thinking, making this much food?'

'Wow. I live for this. Look at this much food. I can't wait to start eating.'

Hana said, bending down to pick a chicken. I watched her eat out of it.

'Ain't you worried about your weight?'

Hana only shrugged. 'Lemme eat tonight own.' Then she added soberly. 'But I'll have to starve for five days at least.' Then she shrugged it off again. 'But I'll just eat today's own. A girl cannot kill herself.'

Ayisha only smiled at her.

We snapped lots of pictures of the cakes and  chicken and pizza and pancakes and and drinks.

Akin had initially created a whatsApp group for the six of us and we sent the pictures to the group. The boys were also sleeping over at Uthman's house.

Ayisha sat on my bed and I joined in, flopping down on the bed. Hana sat on the floor, closer to the food. Olounje Iya Lomo yen.

I watched the screen of Ayisha's phone as she waited for someone to reply the messages we sent to the group chat but I knew none was forthcoming. Those ones were probably lost in PES by now.

'Forget about them. Ayisha. Let's just enjoy our last supper and ignore them. They'll sha come back last last ni.'

She looked at me and dropped her phone on the bed.

'True. But that Uthman's PES ehn. It should just spoil self.'

'Dan will just die.'

Hana replied her and I picked a cupcake, thinking of ways to sneak into Uthman's house and to smash that stupid game.

'So Ayisha, gist us about your relationship with Akin. Akin always keeps information like that from us. It's Dan and Uthman that are his closest confidant.'

Hana asked and I watched Ayisha blush and look down to her hands. She was wringing them together. She looked lovestruck. It was amusing watching the almighty Ayisha like that.

You people should not tell me this is how I look when they ask me about Uthman.

You actually look worst than her.

'You guys know everything already. We became closer after he started to watch me play the piano and we kissed once and since then, he had been on my case. I turned him down couple of times but he did not relent and after Jade told me something about not turning people away. I realized I liked him but felt I was too tainted to be with him. I was just pushing him away.'

'Wow. Akin did not even tell us a thing. So how many times have you guys kissed?'

Hana asked again, this time, she stood up and sat beside Ayisha on the bed.

Amebo reloaded.

As if you're not interested too.

We both turned towards Ayisha whose eyes grew thoughtful as she tried counting on her fingers. She finally gave up by slumping her shoulders.

'I lost count already.'

What? Akin? Okay. You'll be answerable to me.

And Uthman. Oh God! Uthman!!! Just wait till I see you.

We still up till around 4 in the morning. We were all already sleepy but we still wanted to talk. We had the face mask Hana brought on and God knows the number of pictures we've snapped within 6 hours. We've had our own karaoke session too. Thank God mom's room wasn't close to mine, if not, we would have carried party to another place.

'So, what's that one thing you can't wait to do once you graduate secondary school?'

Hana asked out of nowhere. We were all sprawled on my bed. It was big enough to contain the three of us. Heck! It could contain 5 people self.

'Many things. It's hard to just pinpoint one thing.'

Ayisha stated. She was chewing the chicken meat off its bone. I don't think my stomach could take even the tiniest thing at the moment. I was so filled up. I doubt if I could walk self.

'I can't wait to gain admission.....'

'That's too trite.' Hana interrupted.

'....... So I would do sleepover in my boyfriend's house and wear his shirt.'

Hana and Ayisha both turned to look at me at the same time. I was in the middle and they propped the head up by leaning on one hand. Hana's eyes were filled with mischief while Aisha's own was filled with amusement.

Wear his shirt? Wear his shirt? Eeh eeh.

You can sneak out from your father's house and go to his own father's house too.

'Wow. Bae, I never knew you had it in you like this. If I had known, we would have pushed you to date Uthman sooner.'

'Yeah. I've always wondered why you guys took so long to get together. You hid under that your called rivalry for how many years?'

Hmm?

'We did not hide under 'our so called rivalry. We were really rivals. I never thought we could become close, not to talk of dating'

'Really?' Ayisha asked, her voice and eyes doubtful. 'Then why was it that right from JSS3, I could tell that you guys were going to date?'

'Oh. Wow. Maybe you're an upcoming seer.'

Hana stated, sleep evident in her voice and eyes. She yawned again and again.

Upcoming seer ko, upcoming artiste ni.

'We were supposed to do video call but now, they've gone awol. Because of game! Oga oo.'

Ayisha said. Her eyes were closed and I could tell she was going to sleep any minute from now. Hana already slept off.

'Don't mind them. I already knew something like this was going to happen.'

She yawned and opened her eyes slighty.

'For the mathematics tutorial, we've not agreed on where to meet, right? Your house or Uthman's?'

'Probably Uthman's. Mine is too far from Akin and Daniel's. It's going to be a waste of energy coming all the way when they have another option'

So, we're going to we boyfriend's house? Kikkiki

This my subconscious is just mad anyhow.

Minutes later, Ayisha was already sleeping and I was viewing statuses when Uthman called me, a video call.

I rolled my eyes before picking the call.

As if this wasn't what you were waiting for.

'Hey babe. How're you?'

'Hey babe. How're you?' I mimicked. 'Is this your own 11pm? This is 4am. You deserve an award for worst boyfriend of the year. I'm about to sleep now. Goodnight abi good morning deni?'

'Aah aah. Hot hot ni. I just wanted to give you guys time to talk and chill.'

'As if I asked you. What of Akin and Dan?'

I watched his eyes dance with amusement. What's doing this one now?

'They slept already. Hana and Ayisha nko?'

I tilted my phone sideways so he could see them.

'So hope you guys had fun?'

I nodded and yawned.

'Don't let me keep you. Sleep tight and dream of me.

'When there are other people to dream of. Shioo'

There was a mischievous glint in his eyes and I still don't get why.

We said our good byes and I made to drop my phone on my bedside table when Ayisha turned and opened her eyes.

'I thought you were on a video call.'

I nodded and she looked at me from head to toe.

'Like that?'

'Yes... Like....'

My voice trailed off when I realized what she was talking about and probably why Uthman had a mischievous glint in his eyes.

My nightgown was a complete see through.