Chapter 40: Chapter 40
THIRTY NINE - PINKY SWEAR
Dozie
It's been one straight week of me ditching classes
one whole week since I learnt about my dad's fears
one whole week of me learning about my mum
one full week of me turning off my phone
one graceless week of avoiding the one person i badly needed to see right now.
I sat at the nature park, the place were Meera and I had gone on our first date.I watched mum's drawing which dad had handed over to me, honestly she was good.NO! Mum's painting were the best and it finally made sense onto how I made visual arts my dream course
But now, I think I really was going to give it up for real.I couldn't imagine leaving Meera just for my own sake. That would be so selfish of me. Besides, I always thought dad was a coward for not letting go of his fears but I was being hypocritical cause I too was a coward for not having the balls to tell meera about this whole thing, I just couldn't bring my sanity to do that. And that was why I had to quit visual arts for real.
Call me stupid and all but I'm willing to sacrifice this one thing to be with her.
I didn't want to hurt her yet I didn't want to leave her.she had become my addiction and how do you loose an addiction that easily?
I could already imagine her with an angry, puppy-faced look glowering in sheer scowl at my sudden absence. I told Adam and other guys now my 'squad' not to tell anything since they already found out cause I told them.
I was still lost in my trail of thoughts when a shadow drew closer to me.I didn't bother to check whosoever it was cause i knew no one knew my whereabouts,not even the guys. So you can imagine how suprised I was when a smooth skinned hand stretched out in front of me, holding a pack of minime chin chin as she called in a light pretty voice
" hey chin chin! "
Meera
I still don't understand Uju. Why did she even seem so happy that her boss gave her a condition to sleep with him before he signed her up to model for some company?
I took a deep breath when she asked me what did I think?
Yes, what did I think? I don't even know. People say overfamiliarity kills.what If she did it already? I know I couldn't do much but I'd just be disappointed.I didn't want to judge but at the same time I just silently prayed she'd do the right thing.
For a whole week I'd been thinking about her question and I'm trying do hard not to conclude yet there was this ugly feeling settling down the pits of my stomach.
In fact, this past few days haven't been one to look forward to.I don't get Uju neither do I even understand why that mr fred was showing up more than often at my house and then there's dozie who had gone AWOL on me.
I groaned angrily, it was few days to our jamb exams and we handing over our prefect badges but before then, I still had to plan with Osaro on our last social night before we leave berley high
So here I was, in class.sitting with no dozie beside me and drowning in the noise of my classmates who still threw jokes at one another as a way of making their last memories
" are you alright meera?!" Osaro called, jerking me out of my trance
I blinked a few times before replying him "I'm okay.why?"
" cause I've been talking about the preparation for the social night when you zoned out "
I sighed "sorry. So what did you come up with?"
"Are you seriously asking me that?"he asked with a duh tone and I snap a glare at him
" didn't you just say you've been planning the preparation? "
" oya oya.." he replied making me giggle at his poker face expression "so I was thinking about we do talent hunt,give awards for best couple of the year and such, then we play games.our DJ sha will be priye..."
I nodded at his preparation "cool..and besides i'll look for people who want to participate in the talent hunt and nominees for those awards.." I said and he smiled giving me a high-five
Soon, our government teacher strolled in.taking us on a revision because of the jamb exams. Sandwich came to seat beside me, I raised my eyebrows at her questionably
" face your front jhare.I know this is your boyfriend spot " she teased and I chuckled
" ode oshi..better do and go back to your seat "I retort with a sneer
" but have you seen him yet? Like has he called you?" She whispered since the government teacher had started teaching already.I didn't want any of us to get into trouble so I tore a piece of my note and wrote on it
"No" I passed it discreetly to her.she read, a small frown on her face before she wrote back
" later we'll go to his house..after school "
"Don't you think I've gone there? I'm always going there after school " I replied then passed the paper back to her
She sighed, turned to Adam briefly then suddenly smiling she wrote back
" I think I know a way to find him"
"Annette tell us what you understand by the 1999 constitution? " the government teacher called. She quickly tucked the paper behind her before standing up to answer the question.
*******
After school, I quickly dashed out of the class. Annette had thought Adam will know where dozie is or perhaps he may be at his pent house but turns out that he isn't even there and Adam has no clue.
Where had he gone to? I was already getting mad at him..promising to hit him hard when i find him. I felt worried sick so I decided to catch some air, stroll round the nature park and grab a pack of chin chin on my way when I came across a figure that looked alot like dozie. He was sitting on one of the stone-caved benches which was attached to the ground.
A small smile formed on my lips, I could recognize him from behind.and who I was seeing was definitely dozie. I smiled happily, just some minutes I was worried sick about him and now I was already feeling ecstatic just seeing him
I steadily made my way towards him, stretching the park of chin chin at him
" hey chin chin! "I called trying to hide the excitement in my voice
He raised his face to look at me in suprise. I stretched my lips into a large smile as I sat beside him. My thoughts of hitting life out of him seemed to have vanished away and now the only thing I thought was the joy of just having to see that he's okay.
He stared at me in puzzlement "you're not angry?" He asked and I sighed, folding my arms around my bosom as I leaned my head on his shoulders
" I don't have strength to be angry "I replied truthfully. He chuckled lightly
Gosh!! I miss his hearing the sound of his chuckle..it sounded like music to the ears
"Why what's wrong?"he asked carefully
" I should ask you that" I retort sharply. A small silence hung over us for awhile before he finally broke it
" are you okay?" He asked. I raised up my face to glare at him.how dare he ask me that dumb question after I've been going gaga form missing him in just one week
" what kind of dumb question is that?"I spat out quite pissed off. My anger was slowly resurfacing
" you ignored me for a whole week, avoided me for that whole week and you expect me to be okay?" I yelled angrily. Slow tears were quietly streaking down my cheeks.
His face contorted into that of a contrite one, he used his thumb to gently wipe the tears off my cheeks "I'm sorry Meera, I didn't mean to do that "he pleaded as his thumb grazed my cheeks, sending electricfying shivers run through me
" dozie..what's going on with you? You know you can talk to me huh?" I said staring into his brown hazel orbs.
" Meera...I'm sorry for ignoring you.I swear, I didn't mean it..let me make it up to you chin chin" he said sending a warm feeling to my heart
I missed hearing that name..that name I once thought was ridiculous..it's still ridiculous but then hearing it from dozie sounded so beautiful to the ears
" but seriously you need to tell me what's going on with you?" I whined. He ruffled my hair before placing a light kiss on it
" it's nothing chin chin...no need to worry about me "
"So why did you skip classes for a whole week? And you didn't even register jamb with us?" I asked with a scowl
He shrugged "I just..maybe..wanted space and besides. I'll take care of the jamb registration" he said and I shrugged
" fine..if you say so"
" smile jare..you look like a dead oaf when you frown " he teased, tugging my cheeks playfully as I laughed
" get out...you're the one with the oaf look when I caught you frowning before " I retort. He feigned a hurt look, keeping his face like an injured puppy which made me laugh
" I missed you" he said looking into my eyes. I smiled widely, biting my lips gently
" me too...don't just go MIA on me again "I said.my voice coming out in a low whisper.his eyes dropped down to my lips making him gulp
" I promise " he leaned in closer to plant a kiss on me when I threw my head back. Stopping him short
" what nah" he whined and I eyed him squarely
" we're doing the pinky swear" I replied flatly and he huffed
" that's too old" I eyed him again
" then forget about kissing me " I snap, puckering my lips together. He groaned out a reply
" fine" he said sticking out his pinky finger
I smiled widely, holding my pinky fingers to his as we both entwined our fingers and pressed our thumb against each other
" and it's sealed "I said looking chuffed.he laughed
" we were supposed to seal it with a kiss "he protested and I sneered
" I didn't promise you a kiss "
" that's cheating " he accused and I shrugged sassily
" sorry but there were no rules " I retort making him huff. He folded his arms defiantly around his bosom like a five year old boy with a pout making him look cute asf
I grinned, bringing my face to meet his before placing a soft kiss on his lips which startled him. He snapped his head at me
" did you just- "
" no!" I cut him off smiling sheepishly as he pulled me closer to him, pressing his lips to mine.we nibbled onto our lips, twirling our tongues against each other as we sucked and moaned on each other lips
Gwad!! I fucking missed this
We didn't even mind the fact that we were in public.nah more like we didn't even care about the fact that someone maybe watching us infact, it made me feel so special.
We reluctantly pulled away, his hands still cupping my chin as we both leaned our temples on each other.still hearing our heartbeats throbbing
" fuck- that was amazing.. "his voice came out raspy as his hot breath fanned me
I grinned, nodding my head in agreement "yea..that was special"
"Let's do this more often" he said in a suggestive tone making me smirk
" only if you're a good boy "
" depending on what part of the good boy you want" he said smirking as I felt my cheeks heat up
" gosh..this is the perverted dozie I know!!" I said as we both burst out laughing so hard.
" bring the chin chin let's eat " I said, reaching my hands out to grab it but he was faster. He held it high above his head making me graon
Not again nau
" why?!" He asked with a raised eyebrow and I scowl
" there's love in sharing " I countered back making him laugh
" chin chin you know I love you already so forget about this one besides I thought you didn't like chin chin?" He said mockingly and I shoot him a glare
" the nick name was ridiculous but the snack is rather appealing-"I said pouting
He flashed me a boyish grin as he replied "-like you huh?" He said and I face palm myself, giggling hopelessly
Needless to say, we ended up sharing the same chin chin..
*******
"Uju!!!" I called her sharply. She snapped her head in alert and then relaxed when she saw it was me
" why are you waking me up from sleep na?"she asked with a low hiss
" cause I finally got an answer to your question" I said. She looked up at him quite startled, then rubbing sleep off her eyes. She gestured at me to take a seat beside her
I obediently did as she said , taking in sharp breaths as she asked
" did you finish judging me already?"
" no!! " I replied flatly.she raised her eyebrows at me then flashed a grin as she shrugged
" okay then..what did you think?" she asked
I swallowed, giving a deep sigh as I spurt "I don't think you did it"
Silence. She didn't say anything, I guess she waited for me to continue so I did.
"I know you didn't do it cause no matter how rude, snobby and annoying you are..you're still my big sister who wouldn't do anything you won't 've proud of " I concluded.
I looked up at her face.she was wearing a blank expression which made me wonder what exactly I might have said wrong. I didn't even realize she had started sobbing untill she pulled me closer to a bear hug
I hugged her back, equally sobbing. God! I hated emotional moments like this but i couldn't escape thus one. She kept saying "thank you" and even though i didn't understand why she said that i still appreciated the whole gesture.
When we pulled away, she began telling me how it all started. For more than six months her boss who she thought was just being nice to her only wanted to take advantage of her and that was why she kept acting up cause she thought I'd Judge her so she didn't tell me about it.
"So I lost the job" she said with a smug smile then paused briefly " cause I refused to do what he said my 'mates' were doing" she continued using her index finger to air quote.
I gritted my teeth together "why didn't you tell kelechi..at least he would have beaten the life out of that man"
She laughed "nah..I didn't want to cause any scene"
"So why were you extra happy that day you lost the job? Did you get another? "
She shrugged "nah..I'm still kinda jobless "she paused, laughing dryly
" I was just so happy that I didn't compromise my values and i did something I'd be proud of..so you were right" she said smiling cheekily
I grinned. Seeing Uju like this was like I was seeing a whole new side of her in my 17years of existence.she seemed so happy and so refreshed despite the odds and honestly I was so proud of her.
"You know...I actually feared you might have given in to the devil..turns out I just panicked myself to uncertainties" I told her truthfully as she cooed
" I know right..actually I wasn't even going to give in no matter what! He should goan die "she spat and I laughed
" and he should rot in his grave sef " I added and we both laughed then she turned to me with a scowl
"What now?" I asked
" you said I was rude, snobby and annoying abi? You think I've forgotten? "She asked still scowling while I jejely stood up
"I don't know when I said that one ooh..I was maybe caught in the moment "I said in my defense while she eyed me harder
" what stupid moment...better come back here you crazy girl!" She retort as I took to my heels laughing harder as she chased me out of the room.