Chapter 12: Chapter 12

I woke up sometime around 4.00am the next morning, everything was still the way It was before I fell asleep the previous night. The Tv's remote and novel I was reading were on the floor, the Tv was on and my phone was still beside me on the couch.

The only odd thing was that I didn't feel normal, my body was heating up and I was terribly cold that even with a duvet, I felt like I was putting on a bikini and standing in the snow. To top it off, my head ached and I had a terrible headache with my stomach was slightly aching.

Blaming the cold on the fan, I pushed myself up and walked very slowly in pain to the fan switch, my leg ached also. I switched off the fan and walked to the dining table to get paracetamol which I took with water.

I returned to the chair to lie down, hoping to get some sleep but, after what seemed like hours but was only a few minutes, I was still awake. My temperature had worsened and my hands were trembling, the duvet felt useless since I still felt cold under it.

I closed my eyes as I prayed to fall asleep soon but, few unbearable minutes passed with my eyes still wide awake. My headache hasn't reduced and my teeth were clenched together to endure the pain when my mom alarm rang.

I heard patters of feet as she woke up to prepare for the day. I could hear her singing as she walked into the bathroom to make ablutions and pray.

Around 5:20 am, mom left her room and I could hear the surprise in her voice as she saw me lying on the sofa.

"Haha, what is this girl doing here." She spoke up aloud as she bent down to tap me. “Enitan?”

"Ma," I replied so weakly that I could barely hear my own voice.

"What is wrong with you?" She asked. My voice alarmed her as she placed her palm on my forehead to check my temperature after she brought down the duvet.

"Haa Haa, your temperature is high ooh. What's wrong with you? Oya, come and take paracetamol." She said in a hurry as I struggled to tell her I have taken it. She asked me if I had taken any food to hold the drug and I said no as she stood up and got me an apple.

"Oya Oya. Drink water." She said, after she ensured I took the apple.

"Lie down, let me go and prepare breakfast. You won't be going to school today." She said, getting up while I nodded with the little strength I had.

She left me in the sitting room, hurrying into the kitchen. As I listened to the hustle and bustle of the pots, spoon and cooking in the kitchen, drowsiness hit and I fell asleep.

I woke up when mom woke me a few hours later. I squint my eyes, adjusting to the brightness of the room.

"Itan." My mom called, gently as she shook me lightly.

"Ma." I replied, my voice still drowsy from sleep.

"How are you feeling now." She asked me, placing her hands on my forehead.

"Fine." I replied.

"Hmmm, are you sure or would you go to the hospital?" She asked me.

"I am fine ma." I replied, I didn’t want her to worry.

"It looks like your headache has reduced. Are you still cold?" She asked, looking at my hands which were holding the duvet tightly as if my life depended on it.

"Yes ma." I replied.

"Haa, okay.” She sighed heavily. “Oya, come and eat. I made your favourite, yam and egg with hot tea." She said.

"Okay ma." I said, glancing at the clock that states that it’s 8:34 am.

"Oya Oya." She urged, I somehow managed to stand up with the duvet still wrapped around me. We walked to the dining table and I almost tripped on the duvet but mom caught me just in time. I sat down on a chair as mom served my meal.

I took my first bite as I tried to gulp down the yam but unfortunately, it got stuck in my throat and I started coughing as mum got up to get me some water which I gratefully accepted and gulp down.

I took a few more bite as my mom turned to me. "Enitan, why did you stop eating." She asked, under watchful eyes.

“I am full ma." I replied.

"What do you mean you are full? You ate just one slice and you are already claiming you are full." She complains.

"Mum, I am really full." I said, trying to convince her.

"Haa." She sighed deeply again, before instructing me to drink my tea which I drank without hesitation.

She passed me the paracetamol sachet and asked me to take two tablets again. Following her instructions, I took the drug and dragged myself back to the couch and before I knew it, I was back in dreamland.

Mom woke me when she was leaving for the shop by 10 am to lock the door behind her as she fuzzed over me.

"Will you be able to stay at home alone?" She asked for the thousandth time as she stood by the doorway.

"Yes ma." I replied.

"Are you sure or you would go to Faith's house and stay with Kemi." She asked again.

"I can stay at home ma." I replied tiredly. If only she knew I couldn’t show my face at that place yet and that this illness was my body’s way of trying to push the inevitable- my moment of overthinking forward.

"Okay, my dear. If you feel sick or dizzy, call me or Kemi eehn. There’s rice in the cooler. I made pap also, it is in the second cooler and there is still yam too. Also, there’s hot water in the flask. Make sure you eat ooh, drink tea and take the paracetamol in the afternoon." She instructed, as she exited the house with one last look at me. I felt better than I did earlier but still wasn't completely okay and I felt weak. As I walked back to the couch, the Nepa brought the light.

"Thank God." I muttered, plugging in my phone. I slotted in a disc into the DVD and 10 minutes later, I was asleep again.

I was woken up by a sound at the door, I looked at the time which was 2:46 pm and I was surprised by how long I have slept. Yawning, I sat up as I surveyed my surroundings trying to make sense of why I was awake.

There was still light and I noticed I was feeling better. I was still looking around when I heard another knock at the door, I rushed to open it recalling it was the reason I was awake. I opened the door, not bothering to look presentable or even as who was at the door since I assumed it's just one of our neighbour’s or someone asking for mom or dad, I would later realize how stupid that is but, at the moment I was more preoccupied with my surprise at who was at the door.

Tayo stood opposite me, his mouth wide open as he looked at me and I tried to imagine what he must be seeing.

I, clad in a bum short and tank top with no bra but thankfully I had a very small breast so he probably won't notice but I felt conscious anyway. My hair wasn't bad since it was plaited but my face must be horrible because I haven't taken my bath and I was also sick.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, confused. I wasn’t expecting him.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?" He said while I invited him in.

"I was worried, you skipped school." He said, as he sat down.

"Ooh that, I wasn’t feeling fine.” I said.

“I thought as much so I figured I should probably come over.” He said, scratching his head shyly.

"Ooh okay, Thanks for coming." I said. He brought out a big bottle of lucozade boost wrapped in a little polythene and handed it over to me.

“I didn’t know what to get so I asked the sales girl.” He said. I smiled at him and told him I was grateful.

"You look horrible though." He said, after a while as I burst into laughter.

"Idiot, I wasn’t feeling fine.” I stated like it was an excuse for how I was looking. “I feel better now though but, I haven't taken my bath so please excuse me. Feel free to watch the Tv." I added, embarrassed as I stood up.

"Dirty girl!!!" He said, rumpling his nose like I stink. I laughed hitting him on the head with my hand as I left the sitting room.

I rushed into my room and hurriedly, took my bath. Afterwards, I changed into a modest jean trousers and tee top. I walked back to the sitting room and wasn't surprised to see Tayo watching football since it was most boy’s favorite pastime.

"So now that you have come to greet me, what will you eat." I said, rolling my eyes slightly.

"Ooh really, you want to cook for me. I would have done the cliché stuff in novels and cook for you since you aren’t feeling too well but…” He trailed off.

“But what?” I asked, already having an idea of what he wanted to say but I wanted to hear it anyways.

“I am afraid I will burn down your kitchen." He said and we both burst into laughter. “But I can keep you company as you cook through." He added, still laughing as we both walk into the kitchen.

“What would you like to eat, there’s yam and rice but I feel like eating noodles.” I told him.

“Then noodles it is then; I want to taste your food.” He said. I got three noodles and two eggs from the cabinet as I prepared indomie and egg.

"So, I just realized that I still do not know much about you. Tell me more." He said as I switched on the gas.

“Liar, you know I love singing dancing, you know my favorite pastime is reading, you know I love chocolate, ice cream and basically any sweet thing. You know that my favorite food is yam and egg. You basically know everything except maybe…” I trailed off, trying to think. I hated having to tell people about myself, it was always stressful and annoying. I wouldn’t know what to say.

“What?” He asked.

“That my birthday is on Saturday, I will be turning 15.” I said.

“You see, I don’t know everything. When were you planning on telling me that before?” He asked.

“Never.” I replied, teasing him.

“Whatever, do you want to play questions?” He asked, staring at him in confusion.

"What's questions." I asked.

"It's a kind of game where I ask you a question and in turn, you ask me a question." He said.

"Ooh okay, go ahead then." I said

"Who’s your best artist worldwide?" He asked.

“Hmmmm, Chris brown.” I said.

“What's your best colour?" I ask.

"I don't really have a best colour but I will go with black because I love dark colours." He said.

"What's yours?"

"Orange. When is your birthday?" I ask.

"March 28, yours is November 24. Right?" He asked, and I nodded.

"Yeah, What's your favourite hobby?" I asked

"Singing and playing football." He said. I shook my head at him.

“I said favorite, you have to pick one.” I told him.

“Singing it is then.” He said.

“You have a beautiful voice, I would love to hear it again one of these days.” I commented and he nodded eagerly, as he promised to sing for me very soon. I smiled and served the noodles and egg into a flat plate. We ate at the dinning talking about random things. I used two tablets of the pain reliever after eating.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" He asked, out of nowhere as I nearly choke on my water.

"Why do you ask." I said, clearing my throat.

"Do you?" He asked again.

"Well no, why did you ask?" I asked, wondering if that was his way of making me address what he had said to Faith the previous day. I hoped he wouldn’t bring it up because I was not ready to address the elephant yet.

"Thank God." He muttered instead, not replying me. I almost missed it before he said he was just asking.

We kept on playing the game and he kept me company till 5pm when he said he had to leave. I escorted him, closing the door behind me with the key.

I didn't take long outside because my leg was still shaking, besides he also urged me to go back in since he was worried about my health.

I was going back home when; I noticed my dad's car around the corner of a bar around our house. It would have been easy to miss if I hadn't passed the short route to the house. I remembered then that my mom had told me two days ago that he was getting back today and I was grateful he hadn't come home early and met Tayo but, knowing my dad. He would have probably ignored us and went his way; he just did not care.

I walked back in and went to observe solat. Immediately after solat, I picked up my phone and starting chatting randomly as I thought of Tayo’s visit.

I pondered about the best way to settle whatever issue I had with Faith because, I knew deep down that no matter how much I like or love Tayo, if Faith doesn’t agree to our relationship then I would never be able to be with him.

I would never be with him knowing my best friend was hurting. She might have done a lot of hurtful things but that’s how best friends do, it’s ride or die.

Mom arrived quite early that evening with a pharmacy nylon on her left hand. It contained the chalk like malaria tablet, paracetamol and the white vitamin c. I used the tablet by exactly 8.00pm as my mum instructed because, according to her it would make the drug schedule perfect.

"Are you sure you will be able to go to school tomorrow." She asked me.

"Yes ma." I replied.

"So, what do you want to do on your birthday." She asked. We were both seated in the sitting room after the final solat for the day and my dad wasn’t back.

"I dunno." I said, thinking of it but coming up with nothing.

"I won't be able to take you out this time because of shop so why don't you invite a few friends over and I will cook for you before I go out." She said as I looked at her in surprise.

"Really ma?" I asked her.

"Yes, my dear, you are turning 15. It’s about time you start getting a little freedom.” She said, as I wondered what or which spirit has possessed my mom.

“I remember 15 years ago when I gave birth to you, it was 6.00am in the morning and I was preparing to pray. Your father wasn’t at home and all of sudden..." She said, reminiscing about the past.

"Thanks ma." I said, happily. Normally, she rarely lets me invite friends over except Faith on rare occasions and I couldn't wait but imagine how my birthday was going to be.

As I went to bed that night, I kept thinking of whom I was going to invite and I compiled a list in my head as I laid on my bed. I thought of how I was going to invite Tayo and I smiled as I thought of him.

Ever since the date, I have found myself thinking about him more frequently than I would love to and whenever he did something nice for me, it was always like my heart would fall out of my chest.

"What would it be like to have him as my boyfriend?" I thought, blushing shyly as I shook my head to get rid of the thought and turned over, still compiling the list.