Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Jade's POV

'Dad please, I have to attend this wedding, it's my best friend's sister's wedding.'

'No, and let this be the last time we'll have this conversation.'

That was dad's curt reply. We were having our rare family dinner and Zee decided to ruin it by asking Dad for permission to attend a wedding in Ekiti.

'oh oh'

'I don't have any problem with you attending weddings in Oyo, Ibadan, or Ife but you're o Ekiti for a wedding.'

Zee grumbled, pushed her plates away, stood up, and made to leave the dining room.

'Come back to the table young lady'

'I'm done eating' was her curt reply to dad and she left the dining room. The silence in the room was deafening and I grumbled down water to calm my nerves.

'Speak some sense into your daughter'

'She's my daughter as much as she's yours.'

Mom replied dad and then she added as an afterthought 'I wonder who she takes her rebellious ways after' earning a sharp glance from dad maybe dad was like Zee when he was young. That's probably why they never see eye to eye on any issue

'I'll talk to her'  I said and stood up. 'I'm the rational one.'

Bro Shaheed patted my arms as a sign of support and I left the dining room. Zee has her earpiece plucked into her ears when I entered the room. My sister's room was all shades of color, gold, pink, purple, red, and all her walls were littered with posters of various celebrities, Genevieve, Tacha, Tiwa Savage, Rihanna, Ariana, Chris Brown, BTS  Andes of her life, WizAndesand Naira Marley. Yeah, my sister is a Marian a proud one at that. Dad has once described Zee's room as stupidity. She was lying on her bed, face down. I joined her on the bed and used the other earpiece. She was listening to Brown Skin Girl. I stilled and allowed myself to float with the music

Have you looked in the mirror lately

Wish you could trade eyes with me

There are complexities in complexion

But your skin is, glow like a diamond

In everything in life, baby, know your          worth

I love everything about you, from your      nappy curls

To every single curve, your body natural

Same skin that was broken the t    over.

The music finished and rolled off to the next one and the next one and then the next one, we were probably listening to the 15th music when Zee finally spoke.

'I know you are here to say something, just say it.'

'No, of course not. I'm only here to keep your company.

'I'm not bored.'

'oh yeah, but I'm bored.'

'Go and read or do video call with Hana, that's all you do anyways.'

'Oh, come on, someone is jealous of my books and Hana'

'There's nothing to be jealous about.'

'If you say so.'

Silence

'if I'm your age and I want to attend any event I know our parents won't allow me to go, I'll probably go without their permission.'

Zee was looking at me crazily, she's probably thinking about what I'm about to say.

'But what if something happens to me while traveling, imagine the guilt they'll feel. They want the best for us, Zee. They'll never do anything that'll harm us.'

Zee rolled her eyes

'Don't be a killjoy Jade, nothing is going to happen.'

'Yeah, of course. Those involved in car accidents always planned to have accidents, right? Besides, in 3-4 years, you'll be able to do whatever it is you want to do. Don't be the bad child.'

She smiled 'I'm already one

'It's not too late to rectify'

'It's going to get boring'

'You're crazy.'

'I know.'

We fell into a comfortable silence and minutes after, when I was almost falling asleep. I heard Zee whisper

'I'll apologize to dad tomorrow morning.'

'Go do it now, he'll probably be gone to work before we even wake up tomorrow.'

Zee grumbled but stood up anyway. She canes back like 20 minutes after.

'Done, can you now leave my room? I want to do a video call with my baby.'

I rolled my eyes and stood up from the bed.

' Apple, anti oni baby.'

'it's paining you, right? Get one. When I was your age, I was already dating my third boyfriend.'

I burst into laughter.

'Not everybody is as crazy as you Zee and I'm sure you don't want Dad hearing that.'

I made for the door.

'Whatever, just get a boyfriend. The date that fine boy I saw at your inter-house sports the other time.'

I rolled my eyes.

'Do you even know that's Uthman you've been talking about all these while?'

'Doesn't matter, just end your childish rivalry and date him.'

'It's not childish and he just has a pretty face, his attitude sucks.'

I replied, remembering our last debate. That guy is a good-for-nothing asshole, to think I've wasted 5 good years contending with a nutcase like him irks me more than anything.

'Are you going to get out or you're going to keep fantasizing about him.'

'Oh come on, good night, and have a good time talking to the loyal.'

She smiled, her smile reaching her eyes and making her more beautiful. Zee was definitely in love with this lol. I got out of her room and moved to my room. Contrary to Zee's room, my room wasn't a marshmallow of colors, just four colors on each wall, pink, gold, silver, and blue. A single poster of Rihanna was on the left wall. Yeah, Riri is the only celebrity I'm crazy about enough to have a poster of her on my precious wall. The adjacent wall has tiny cut-out stickers of celebrities like Deepika, Genevieve, Falz, Wizkid, korede Bello, Osas, Tacha, Hrithik Roshan plastered on them. That was Hana's handiwork though. I left then there for her. I turned my data on as I laid on the bed. WhatsApp notified me of a new message from Hana.

Hana: Hey babe

I.       : baby, how're you doing

Hana: Not fine, bored as fuck, I'm the only one at home tonight

I.        : oh, and you're scared of sleeping alone ain't you?  Just pretend this big sis is there with you and go to bed.

Hana.: , it seems like you're high tonight

I. Pele baby. Should I come over tomorrow for a power?

Hana: Yes yes

I.    : Say please

Hana: , in your dreams, better get your sick ass over here tomorrow before I disown you

I.     : please do and see if you'll be able to survive a day without me.

Hana: , sha come, I'll for you

I.     : ode

Hana: wo, I'm about to sleep. Pray someone doesn't break in

I.   : idiot, just go to bed already and dream of me

Hana: And you're?

I your lifeline

Hana dreams of a baby girl. Goodnight ❤️

I was still typing my night when she went offline. I smiled and put my phone on my bedside.

****

Uthman's POV

'She's very cute and pretty, I just don't understand why you won't ask her out.'

I groaned and turned over. Daniel was in my house for a sleepover and even though it's almost 2 in the morning, we were still awake because of Money Heist. That's why he came over though, to watch money heist together. And now, that we are lying on my bed, this buddy of mine can't stop talking about Michelle.

'it's almost dawn, Daniel, let's sleep please.'

He ignored me and continued his ranting.

'This is supposed to be like it is in all those novels and American films. The school's most popular boy is the most handsome, he plays football, he's got a hot body, he's brilliant and he's the school Heartbreaker but iro, you probably don't even know how to ask a girl out.'

I rolled my eyes and ignored him.

' If you need help, just talk to me, okay?'

I burst into laughter

' help in what exactly?'

' how to talk to a girl naa

'you're high bro.'

'high on you'

'wo, shut up and goodnight. Do you even realize this is 2 am and we're going to school in the morning?'

'You're changing the topic bro but it's alright. I just hope it's not too late when you realize what you're doing is wrong.'

'Sun Joor'

Minutes later, Daniel was already sleeping. I groaned and turned to look outside, the sky was almost starless except for a single lonely star up there, it was twinkling and twinkling. I remembered a quote I heard a long time ago, stars shine the t right before they die.  I knew this is the night I'll probably think about her again, I was forgetting her face now, heck, I've forgotten her face if not for pictures but dad had gotten rid of all of them except the torn one I was able to to to keep. I groaned and turned away from the window. I should not think of bitter memories now, there's only one way to stop thinking about these memories and that's what I did.

Think about the bitch.

*****

We were almost late to school the next morning, courtesy of the idiot beside me.

'You know what? I hate you.'

Dan smiled and replied

'Mutual feelings bro'

Walahi, ode Lomo yii

We were able to scale through being punished and during our free period, Michelle came over

'Hey guys, so I want to throw a birthday party this weekend. My sweet sixteen and I'll announce it to the whole class later.'

'wow, nice! Sweet sixteen' Dan replied her.

She smiled

'yeah, I'm going to give Lakeview something to talk about.'

'Good' I murmured. I wasn't a fan of Michelle's idea of parties but I have to attend this.

She smiled again. 'Now, let me announce it to the whole class.'

I nodded at her and she walked to the front of the class.

'Hey, guys.' She paused for a minute, allowing everyone to fully concentrate on her. The bitch was writing something in her note, she neither looked up nor show any indication that she heard someone speak. Smh

'So guys, this coming Saturday is my sixteenth birthday and I'm throwing a birthday party. You're all invited to my sweet sixteen birthday party.

She flashed another smile and mean, Michelle is a beauty. The class burst into murmurs of wow, hush, can't wait, mad oo. All was fine until someone said

'You said the whole class is invited, does that mean Jade is too?'

Oh shit. I looked at Jade first, she was still scribing away in her note, I doubt she even heard what the person just said. Well, the supposed stupid person is Kate. I don't even know her deal, she's always stirring up trouble and fights. I then looked at Michelle, she had a bewildered expression. Then she said

'of course not, I don't invite bitches to my parties.'

The whole class fell into a pitch of silence that only Jade's pen on paper could be heard. Then Jade looked up and smiled.

'I remember someone wept tons because I couldn't make it to their 13th birthday.'

Well, I saw that coming

Michelle smiled tightly. 'That's three years ago bitch, people grow.'

'Yeah, pretty obvious that you've grown' She pointed to both I and Michelle, 'pretty obvious indeed'

Bitch! Bitch!! Bitch!!!

'Girl, I know you're pained but I don't even have your time.:

Silence, silence. The bitch was back to scribing whatever she was scribing. Wonder how people have normal conversations with her. This girl is a pro at making people feel bad.

'So guys, I'll be expecting you all on Saturday. Thank you.'

Michelle said and move back, almost dejectedly to her seat. Jade has completely ruined the mood.

I looked at her again, subconsciously making a tsk tsk sound. She glanced up

'can you please stop making that stupid sound?'

I continue to make the sound till the bell rang, signaling another Mathematics class!!