Chapter 6: Chapter 6

I and Faith turned to face the front of the class where a teacher and a student stood. The student looked and felt familiar but I couldn't place his face.

"Good afternoon students." The teacher said while we all replied with a chorused, "Good afternoon sir."

"This boy is here to address you; I want you to listen attentively and if you have any question. Ask him when he is done." The teacher said, pointing to the boy he came with.

"Thank you, sir. Good morning class." The boy started as we murmured a less enthusiastic, "Good morning."

He smiled as if expecting us to reply that way before going on.

"I do not want to take much of your time so I would like to go straight to the point.

My name is John Wellington, I am the spokesman for S.R.C whose full meaning is student representative council. I know most of us must have heard of it, right?" He asked.

Some students nodded, some said yes and some didn't reply like me. He nodded and continued after taking in our response.

"Anyways, I have been chosen to come and introduce this group to you. S.R.C is a group that fights for the rights of the students, we want what is best for ourselves and we want to be able to protect ourselves against corrupt teachers.

Let's take for instance, a teacher misses class two times in a row. He or she will be called to know why he isn't coming to teach. Another instance is maybe there is a young girl that a particular teacher is molesting but is unable to speak up because the teacher threatens to fail her.

She can walk up to us and we will help her discreetly, while also making sure such teacher is punished.

A thorough investigation will take place of course, because she could also be lying but if the teacher is found guilty as charged. He or she will not only be punished but will also be sacked because the

members' decisions are respected when they have concrete evidence.

So, if you are interested in joining this group, please write down your names on the sheet of paper I am going to start passing around now. Or, if you need more information, there will be a meeting at SSS2 A science immediately after school. It's the first-class on the year 2 science block.

Thank you for your time." He concluded as he collected the list and made to leave but suddenly, he turned back and waved at me.

I waved back at him, confused since I dont remember meeting or knowing him. I turn to Faith, about to ask her if she knew the guy but, she beat me to it.

"Don't you remember that guy?" She asked as I shook my head.

"No, I don't." I replied.

"You don't!!" she exclaimed, looking surprised.

"No, I don't. Who is he?" I asked indifferently, she had a thing for being dramatic.

"He was the guy you spilled your drink on the day we did our registration." She replied, reminding me.

"Ooh, ooh, okay. No wonder he looked familiar." I mused aloud.

"He is so handsome and manly." Faith said with a dreamy look on her face while I just looked at her weirdly. Shaking my head, I hissed.

"Why is this one hissing now?" She asked.

"I hissed because you never fail to amaze me." I said as they rang the bell for closing time.

"Yes, finally!" She screamed as I cover my ears with my palms, shaking my head at her.

"So, are you observing Jumah at school or the mosque down our street." Faith asked me.

"At school." I replied, smiling at how blessed I was to have a friend who even though wasn't a Muslim never fail to remind me directly or indirectly, to practice my religion well.

"Okay then, I will wait for you in class." She said as I checked my wristwatch and realized it was 1:20 pm and I had only 10 minutes before the school mosque starts the prayer.

I removed my hijab from my school bag and walked as fast as I could to the mosque, made ablutions, and walked to the female section where I observe nafilat.

Immediately I was done, I sat down on the mat placed on the floor and listened to the student making a sermon on respect and how the youth of nowadays don't respect their elderly ones anymore.

Although, I couldn't see the boy because the mosque had been segmented by some movable boards but from his words and the tone of his voice, I could feel how concerned he was about the topic.

Soon, he made the Adha and a teacher lead the prayer. After the prayer, the contribution box was taken around for little offerings and I placed the remaining fifty naira with me inside the box as the usher moved on. I made some little prayers for myself, my family, Faith's mum, and the country in general.

I walked briskly to the class so as not to keep Faith waiting after I left the mosque but, as I got to the entrance and saw Faith and Tayo conversing and laughing like they had no worries in the world, my heart skipped and I felt very uncomfortable.

If I by any chance look back to that moment in the future, I knew I would agree that it was the first time in my life that I would be feeling what jealousy is. I had read a lot about it, I had watched lots of movies about it and had also seen a series of actors portray it but yet, It didnt prepare me for what I felt.

I felt angry, very angry and my heart felt constricted like it was in pain as my breath became heavier. I place my hand on my chest and took a deep breath to calm myself down before walking into the class with a tight smile on my face.

"Hey, Itan. Faith said amidst laughter as I entered.

Let's go." I simply said as I removed my hijab and dropped it in my bag, zipping the poor bag with force.

"Ooh okay, Tayo is coming with us." She said, carrying her bag as we all left the class with me still angry.

As we walked to the carpark where we later departed with Tayo. I felt so angry and left out since they were just chatting and laughing without including me.

"Where do you live?" I asked, in an attempt to be included in the conversation.

"I live at accord estate." He replied.

"Really, that is like an hour ride to school." Faith remarked.

"Yes, it's quite far." He said as we finally got to the carpark.

"Okay, see you guys tomorrow." He said.

"He is so cool!" Faith exclaimed, immediately after he left.

"What?!" I asked, irritated but at the same time confused. I couldnt believe that it was the same Faith who some weeks ago hated the guys that was talking.

"You know when we first met him. I was like, who is this rude guy but I guess maybe he was just in a bad mood that day. When you went to pray, we got talking and we talked about a lot of things." She said a big smile on her face.

"Hmm mm." I replied, nodding even though I didnt understand, I just didnt want to understand.

"Yes, he even gave me his Whatsapp number." She said, and at that moment I felt something I have never felt towards my friend. Dislike, I disliked her at that moment and felt so angry at her. It was like she had just snatched something away from me even though, I had no idea what it is.

"That is good." I said with a forced smile, betraying my true emotions.

"I know right, the funniest thing was that when I accused him of always keeping to himself. Do you know what he said?" She asked, giggling like a primary school girl.

"What did he say?" I asked, somewhat curious.

"I will try to stop keeping to myself and besides it looks like I found the girl that is going to stop me from keeping to myself." She said, in a voice imitating Tayos with a wide smile on her face and I could bet that if she was fair, her face would be red.

"Cool, I guess." I said, pretending to be unaffected.

"Yes." She replied, still smiling goofily as we entered her house.

We greeted Adamu as he opened the gate and walked inside the house with me quiet and a blushing smile on Faiths face.

Kemi was sitting on the chair watching her favorite show "Keeping up with the Kardashian's." when we walked in.

"Good afternoon." We greeted her as she turned around, faked a gasp, and said, "Oh my goodness, I can't believe my baby is here. I have missed you so much." as she wiped off imaginary tears from her face.

"So dramatic." Faith said, rolling her eyes at us as Kemi threw a throw-pillow at her.

"How are you doing jare. Don't let the jealous one get to you." I asked her, a fake happy smile on my face as I tried to get a rise out of Faith.

"It is me that is jealous abi, you people are not alright." She hissed, walking away while we both burst into laughter.

"I'm fine, you?" She asked me, a large smile still on her face.

"Just ok." I replied and I saw her squint her eyes in a way that says "You have some explaining to do, madam."

"Cool, I didn't know you were coming otherwise I would have made you your favorite." She said.

"Well, anything will do for now because I am famished." Faith said, returning from the kitchen with a cup of cold water.

"So, you can eat aunty, jealous aunty." I said, taunting her.

"Abi ooh. I did not know she has mouth sef." Kemi added and we burst into another round of laughter.

"Abegi lemme jare. I'm shaa hungry." She said.

"Alright, I will make you guys something to eat." Kemi said, abandoning her show as she stood up to make us lunch.

Kemi is Bolarinwa's household keeper, she was just 19 and had been working with them for four years. It was obvious to everyone that knew the family that they treated her like family and that she was well cared for.

She finished her secondary education a year ago and now she was processing her tertiary education. Although she was years older than us, she preferred us to call her Kemi rather than sister Kemi but still, she was like an elder sister figure to us, the one we always went to whenever we had problems.

We trudged to Faith's room and I dropped my bag on the bed. I removed my socks and shoe while she went to take a shower.

I took her phone and switched on her data. Immediately, different messages came in on Whatsapp and her phone began to hang.

After a while, it stopped and I opened the Facebook app and log in to my page. Going through the page, I replied to some comments on my pictures and logged out.

Faith came back wearing comfortable house wears and snatched her phone from me.

"What are you checking on my phone?" She asked me, suspiciously.

"Pictures." I replied, sarcastically.

"Okay..." She said, too distracted to notice the sarcasm as she began to jump up eagerly.

"Yes! Tayo has messaged me." She said, doing some weird happy dance as I almost hissed but I didnt. I settled with rolling my eyes instead.

"Oya ooh, Let's start watching the movie." I said as she brought out her tablet from her bedside locker and passed it to me.

I started the movie and watched with utmost concentration but, got distracted by Faith every five minutes because she just kept laughing and smiling looking at her phone.

Kemi soon called us and we went downstairs to eat our meal. Her jollof rice was as usual fantastic so I made sure I ate enough with the boiled egg.

After we were done eating, we went upstairs to finish our movie and I prepare to leave around 6.00 pm. As I walked home alone with the sun getting prepared to get some rest, I couldnt help but wonder if Faith had been chatting with Tayo earlier while watching the movie and if he likes her.

I was at home alone this Saturday. Hence, I decided to wash some of my clothes since the washing machine became faulty the week before and my mum was yet to call the repairer.

I was lazily lying on my bed procrastinating when I heard someone knocking.

"Good afternoon." The person said as he or she knocked again.

Rushing to the door, I asked "Who is there?"

"It's me." The person replied and I groaned.

Opening the door, I stood across none other than Mrs. Ajagbe whom we call iya Motunrayo (Motunrayo's mother).

"Good afternoon ma." I knelt to greet her, all smiles as if I was glad to see her even though I wasn't.

Iya motunrayo was one of my mom's friends that loves to party, she was very fat and she loves paparazzi. She has a daughter that was a year younger than me and she always called her my friend even though we were never close.

"How are you, my dear." She asked. She looked pleasant and happy to see me but if only she knew I wasnt.

"Fine ma." I replied. She sat on the chair and I pitied the chair as I could feel it sink in from her weight.

"Your friend is always asking of you. In fact, I wanted to bring her over but I still have many places to go today." She said while I thanked my star, she didn't bring her so-called daughter.

"Help me greet her ma." I said politely.

"No problem, get me a cup of water." She ordered while I rolled my eyes at her discreetly.

"Ok, ma." I mumbled, getting up to get her the cup of water.

"Thank you, my dear, I won't be able to wait for your mum because she said she will be back late but help me give this fabric to her." She said as I passed her the cup of water and dropped the fabric on the chair.

She took the water, placed the cup on the table, and began to rant about the details of the party.

"I have told your mom that she must not miss this party, it's going to be a big one and lots of important dignitaries are going to be attending the event. I even heard that the likes of Ooni of Ife, Pasuma, and..." She rants on as her words kept flying in and out my ears. I stored none as I began to pray that she leaves soon.

"Don't forget to tell your mom to sew the material into iro and buba with lots of stones attached to it ooh." She said as she left, emphasizing the stone.

Closing the door, I sighed in relief and collapsed on the chair. I looked up at the time and realized it was already 1.26 pm, I stood up and walked into my room to pack my dirty school uniform and other house wears.

I took the savior bar soap my mom had given me before leaving and my phone. I took everything outside, dropped it in the backyard near a tap, and returned inside to get some bowls, bucket, and a basin.

I fetched water from the tap outside inside the bucket, set my phone to play music, and started washing as Simi's song "smile for me." started playing.

I soon found myself distracted as I stopped singing along while still washing and surprisingly, I found myself thinking about Faith and Tayo.

I didnt know why but I felt uneasy about them getting closer and that was what bugged me the most, not the fact that they were getting close.

I didnt understand why I was finding it hard to accept that they liked each other since it was very obvious. I should be happy because my friend is happy but, opposite is the case and I felt very guilty about it.

"It is not that I like Tayo so why am I not happy about them getting together?" I asked myself aloud, confused.

I thought about the previous day while walking home when I had felt like a third wheeler amidst the both of them, I had worried briefly about losing my best friend but quickly discarded the outrageous thought.

"Maybe I am just scared of losing my best friend." I muttered, spreading the clothes on the line.

I kept thinking about them until I was done washing. Taking in the basins and buckets I used, I shut the door behind me and went to place it in the bathroom.

I did a quick survey of the house and once confirmed that it was clean, I went back to my room to get a novel. I walked to the parlor with a pillow and the novel as the nepa brought the light.

Placing my head on the pillow and my legs on the other end of the three sitters, I started reading and fell asleep exactly after a hundred and thirty-six pages later.