Chapter 9: Chapter 9

EIGHT - LONG TIME FRIEND

" hey stranger " a voice called behind me as I paid the cashier at the supermarket. I rolled my eyes and turned back to see the cute fair guy who was looking at me with a bewildered expression.

I frowned at him.stylishly checking him out.he had a golden coloured dreads which looked cute on him and he had cute brown eyes and a small pointed nose,his lips were so pink that it made me wonder if he applied lip gloss for more effect.and he had really deep dimples which showed effortlessly even when he smirked.

He was damn cute alright. But I've met one unknown person today, i wasn't ready to meet another. I ignored him when he said hi stranger.

" hey were are you going ?" He asked and I turn to glare at him, picking up my stuffs as I walked out of the supermarket. He was asking a ridiculously stupid question. He didn't know me and he wants to know where I was going

" you got to be kidding me " I muttered.

" c'mon M.J " he said and I immediately freeze.

Okay this person seemed like he knew me .only one person called me M.J

I know what you're thinking and yes you're right.I had many names coined out from my name

Meera which my mum calls me

Mimi-Uju called me that

Chin chin- well.when did I accept that as my name ?

M.J - my unknown person.

I blinked my eyes repeatedly at him "sorry do I know you?" I asked finally and he chuckled.

" you gotta be shitting me.don't tell me you have forgotten me. I'll kill you if you have " he said giving me an amused glare as I shrugged

" you said it yourself I'm a stranger dude you can kill me " I sassed and he smirked

" still sassy " he muttered loud enough to hear me.

" I can hear you "

" Ayo " he said smiling widely as I racked my brain to think of of I knew any Ayo.well apart from mr.Ayodele in school

" I'm sorry. I don't...." I was about saying

" Ayo Bamidele. " he said making a childish gesture with his fingers which made me laugh. my eyes widened in realisation as he smiled more widely.I immediately flew in to hug him

" Ayo!!!" I shrieked wrapping my arms around him as he laughed heartily. Attracting a little attention to us

" I'm supposed to be mad at you " he said and I smiled

" I'm sorry..." I cooed still taking in his cologne which had a musky scent

" how come you look this big? " he teased

" it's been ages alright.I'm supposed to grow " I retort pulling away from the hug as he smirked

" I know right.you needed that, like you needed to escape from pea sizes " he teased again and I playfully smack him

" you're mad. ".I smiled taking in his appearance again.Ayo was really tall.he had always been tall.and me neither I wasn't always short.

He was still the playfully, teasing and fun guy which I knew back when we were little.he moved from port-Harcourt to lagos but fact is.he's back and I'm happy to see him again

" see you all's grown.guys must be completely smitten by now " he said and I laughed

" seriously. You too..let me not start with you now " I said and he winked at me.making me laugh.I exchanged numbers with him and we went along catching up on old times.

Ayo said he was starting to write SSCE exams in port Harcourt because his dad got transferred.his dad was a navy commander so they never stayed at one place.

" have you found the school you are going to write your SSCE exams in? "

" not yet though. You know Nigerians, it's hard for them to just accept you like that except you're the super brainy one" he said rolling his eyes and I hiss

" like you're not one.don't let me start with how you made me look dumb doing primary school. Thanks to that debate" I said and he laughed out loud

" geez.you still remember that?"

" that was the only memory which wouldn't wipe off so easily" I said shrugging and he still chuckled

" mehn .you need a brain cleansing capsule " he replied and I smack his arms playfully

" I don't blame you." I retort playfully rolling my eyes at him..

It was already past six when Ayo had decided to walk me down to my house while we continued talking. He lived not far away too.he was still the same old funny teaser.just that he was cuter and taller.

I was smiling throughout as I bade goodbye to him, promising to keep in touch.

Talk about today all being dramatic.

*****

Mum was back when I got inside.i greeted her and handed Uju her stuffs. Kelechi choose to come down that minute.

" hey kelechi " I greeted with smiles

" why are you smiling so widely? "

" cause I'm happy durrh " I replied rolling my eyes at him as he shrugged.

" Dinner is ready ooh " Uju announced. And soon we were all helping ourselves to the food on the table

I immediately remembered something I thought should ask.

" mum do you know any Mrs Okoye Anna ? " I asked and that minutes it was as though mum choked on her food.Uju shot me a suprised look, handing a cup of water to mum while kelechi acted like nothing was going on.

" Where did that come from? "

I shrugged, oblivious of the suprised looks mum and Uju were shooting at me

" a man..I don't know him but he said his name is Fred " I say and this time kelechi raises his face up to me

" that's how one day, they'll collect your destiny.continue talking to strangers " he sneered and I immediately frown

"It's your own destiny they will collect" I snap and mum glared at me

" Meera!!!!!" He growls and I immediately cower

" sorry " I apologized. Uju sighs

" emm..can you not talk about that.let's just enjoy this food " she says and I shrugged

" okay o."

*******

It's been two days since I saw Alex, met mr.fred and mentioned it at dinner to mum.she didn't even ask me about the whole stranger_fred thing again.even Uju too.I decided to channel my attention to other things.

We had already had the prefects board meeting and all but guess what?

I still haven't written my agenda.I'm not lazy.if that's what you're thinking. Just that, I've been having quite a few headache trying to meet with my subject tutors.All of them and when I say ALL. I meant it.All of them were such a pain in the ass.not to even talk about Sir Ahmed that kept prodding me to join the art club. Something I was wayyyy less interested in

I sat in class during break.I wanted to write my social agenda activity before joing Annette and sophie who I had earlier told to go on ahead without me.

I had written quite a few when I raised my eyes to see someone peering at me

" oh my goodness!!!.." I exclaim quite startled. Dozie was busy smirking at me while I eyed him

" missed me " he whispered in a creepy tone that only made me laugh

" that was creepy but if you tried it with me again I'll make sure you limp back home " I threatened and he chuckles

" why are you so concentrated writting that rubbish " he say and I give him a stink eye

" this is far better than your thinking"I sneer and he gave a mock gasp, holding his hands to his chest

I chuckled " what are you doing here?"

" i came to see chin chin" he said and I glare at him

" don't call me that"

" did you just accept to be called chin chin cause I didn't point at you " he said smirking and I eye him more

" you're just annoying. " I said

" you love me for that" he replied smirking as he made himself comfortable on the seat in front of me so he could face me better

" have you sign up your subjects already? " he asked picking the school manual which was on top my desk

" yupp" I said popping the 'p'

" arts?"

" No.why did you ask?"I ask and he shrugged

" I saw your name among those taking Creative arts " he revealed and I scoff at sir Ahmed's antics

" No way.I'm not doing that " I shrugged

" you serious?"

" of course I am.sir Ahmed just tried fixing my name into that and for crying out loud I'm never interested in that stuff " I rambled and paused for awhile to see dozie staring at me.he seemed to be somewhat disappointed but then he had masked it up so quickly

" so you're never going to take the class?"

" he signed me up and that means I'll take it but later on I'm so pulling out.I have music classes which I'm also taking and I don't want to jinx them..besides it's been long since I handled a pen to draw " I said shrugging

" I can teach you..and later on we go for music classes " he said with a bland expression

" we?" I ask raising my eyebrows.

" yupp"he replied popping the"p" which made me smile abit

" anyway thanks for offering to teach me.but you'd just end up wasting your energy " I say and he seemed like he was thinking about it

" I don't mind..so long as it's my favorite chin chin we're talking about" he said grinning at me and I pout

" okay o.don't say I didn't tell you " I said and he smirks

" so we cool?"

" sure" I say as he stands up to ruffle my hair again

" thank goodness this is like the first time we talked without eating each other out " he said and I smiled genuinely at him

" I know right..I wonder if you finally borrowed sense " I say and he smirks at me

" your problem..." he said staring intensely at me.I bit my lips gently as I suddenly felt excited about the way he stared at me.

" MEERA JOHNSON OOH!!! "a loud shrill voice snapped us out of our reverie. I snapped my head to see Annette or rather sandwich smirking at me in mischief.

" hey Annette" I say avoiding her gaze.she approached me with a small mischevious smile playing on her lips

" I'm fine..so Sophie and the rest are waiting for you at the cafeteria while you were here talking about...." she feigned a small cough still smirking "God knows what..."

" it's not..what you're thinking...." I say stuttering. Okay why the hell was I stuttering

" hmm..I know...ahh dozie how far?"she greets as if she just saw him.God knows I was going to wipe that mischevious smile playing on her lips as soon as possible if she doesn't stop

Dozie coughed nervously as he began walking away

" ...hey Annette " he says then turning back to me " so chin chin. See you soon huh?" He asked and I nod with a small tight smile while Annette watches both of us in amusement

" and throw that rubbish you're writing away " he added snatching the paper from me.I yelled

" dozie that paper is worth more than your life ooh.." I retort going after him to get the paper back.

He had long legs which he immediately put to use as I was kinda running to meet up with his fast pace.

" well done ooh " I heard Annette yell and I roll my eyes at her.when I bumped into Clara who shot me a death glare.

" Are you blind?? She asks icily.

" I'm sorry for bumping into you " I say simply but knowing clara who stood with her minions as if ready for war.I knew this wasn't going to be easier for me.