Four

                                ~Jade~

'I know you're my friend but seriously, Jade, you're crazy. Like seriously? You could have just ignored them.' 

I inwardly cringed at what Hana said. Yeah. I could have just ignored them. Yeah, I wanted to ignore them but seeing Uthman not reciprocating Michelle's feelings even after what she did to me because of him gave me joy. Not that I particularly care whether they date or not but for now, let me just bask in this joy. 

  

'Yeah, I wanted to ignore them but Hana, you should have seen her face and the way she was acting' 

I shrugged at a remembrance. 

'She's crazy, Hana. it was funny. Feelings reduce you to fickle things like that.' 

It was after school hours and we were both walking to the school's garage. 

'She's not worth your time, Jade. Just ignore the both of them. She's not even that old and she's snitching on people to please a guy.'

'It's not even about that. Like, you should have just heard their conversation. She was acting like.....' I paused, not knowing the right words to describe her 'Well, I don't know' I shrugged 

'Just ignore her Jade, She's not worth your time at all.' 

My best friend said and linked her hands with mine, smiling sheepishly at me. The late afternoon sun glowed on her skin. Making her caramel brown skin glow brighter. Damn. My best friend is pretty. She's so pretty that I don't think I deserve her. I smiled back at her. 

'So guess what?' 

I smiled at her. I could tell she has a good news for me. 

'What's it? 

She smiled again, her smile wider than before. 

'I got in. I've been selected for the next elite model competition. '

'Wow, that's great Hana. That's freaking awesome'

Now, I was shrieking and jumping up and down like a teenager which I absolutely detest but this is for my best friend and I can do absolutely everything for this girl. 

'Yeah, right'  She replied and hugged me. 'I can't even start to describe how I felt when I heard.' 

'Yeah, so why didn't you tell me since morning?' 

'Well, I was going to tell you over lunch but the whole ECOWAS stuff, I just wanted to give you little space.'

'Come on, Hana. You should have told me. It really doesn't matter.' 

'So what's our queen and her Bae going on about, shrieking like teenagers that you are.' 

A voice said behind us. We both turned to look at the person. Sure, it was Akin, the only person who has the right to talk to me like that after Hana. '

'Boo, finally. We thought you were finally going to ditch school for whatever.'

Hana said as he got to us, hugging him. I did the same. 

  

'Akin, you could have told us you were going to resume late.' 

'Jade, you really have to learn how to use nicer words  for your friends. You've not seen me in how many months and what I get is this? I was expecting a very dramatic reunion.'

I rolled my eyes at him but I hugged him again anyways savoring the moments of hugging a friend I've not seen in months. I pulled back. 

'Now, that's more like it'

He grinned at me before turning to Hana. 

  

'Our Prettiest.' 

Hana pouted in her cute way.

'You guys should stop complimenting my looks every time. Makes it look like that's the only thing about me.' 

'Oh sorry. I should call you ugliest then.' 

Akin said and we all laughed even Hana who pretended to be hurt. 

Akin was like our third friend, the only guy who had hanged around with us for years despite everything. There are other guys who talk to us, obviously because of Hana because I don't see anybody talking to me because of me. Akin was like the guy who'd discuss football with Uthman and Daniel and still come and hang out with Hana and I. There was a point I wanted him to choose a side but Akin was just too sweet that I did not even think about things like that again. 

'So when did you get back?' Hana asked

'Just like an hour ago, you guys were in class then. I used the time to just settle in the hostel.' 

'Good.'

'So where are you guys going? What are you guys still doing in school? The school is almost deserted.' 

'I don't know what's wrong with my driver. Hana is going over to mine for sleep over and we're waiting for my driver.' 

'Oh! Am I invited?' 

Hana smacked him hard across his back. 

'Perverted soul. In your dreams. Go back to your hostel and keep dreaming on.' 

'Oh Hana, you don't have to be that hard.' 

We all burst into laughter again just PA Kasumu drove in. 

'Well, guess we'll see each other tomorrow then. Take care of yourself.'

We hugged again and we entered the car, waving vigorously at Akin. 

We met Zainab at home. I was surprised to see her. She was supposed to have traveled to Ife, where her school was in the morning. 

'Why are you still at home, Zee? I thought you'd be in school by now' 

'Yeah, but I was tired in the morning and I decided to go in the evening. I'll be there before 5 if I leave now.' 

'Yeah.' 

'Pretty. How're you doing?' 

'Fine, sister Zee. Safe journey.' 

'Yes dear. Take care of yourself.'

We helped Zainab pack her stuffs into the car and watch PA Kasumi drive her away. Zainab has to be my absolute favorite person in the world. My sister is the perfect example of Unbowed, Unbent and Unbroken. If Zee said she was  going to do something, then she was going to do that. Nothing was going to change her mind, not even our parents. My sister wanted to study Threatre Arts but my parents would have none of it. She has been offered admission twice to UI to study Economics but she has rejected the admission until Dad caved in just earlier this year and now, she's studying Mass communication at OAU. I wished I was as strong and bold as my sister. I wished I could stay true to things that really matters to me like Zee is doing. But I wanted to be a good child to my parents. It's not fair to them if they have two troublesome kids in the family. Zee already has all the trouble 10 kids could possibly have. 

                               *********

  

                             ~Uthman~

Michelle was still fuming after school hours. Aminah and the rest of her clique clamored around her as I left her to join Daniel, who was waiting for me in the administrative block. I could hear Aminah's voice as I walked away. 

'You could have just shown her her place. Who does she think she is anyways? Trampling on others just because she's smart?' 

The rest of the words blurred out as I got to Daniel. We started walking towards the garage. 

'You know, you can just put Michele out of this misery and ridicule Jade is putting her through by asking her out.' 

Oh. This again? Daniel was definitely not going to relent on this stuff. 

'Really? What has that got to do with anything?' 

'Are you really clueless or you're just acting clueless about this?' 

I turned to look at him. 

'What now?' 

Daniel shook his head. 'Times like this, I don't understand how you manage to be a straight A student.'

'Michelle betrayed Jade because she likes you. Jade might act tough and untouchable but she must have been really devasted about what Michelle did. Now imagine her joy and satisfaction at the fact that, even though Michelle did that to her because of you, you're still not giving her that attention she demands.'

I processed his words for a minute before laughing.' So, you really think Jade would feel bad if I were to date Michelle?'

'Maybe not feel bad but she definitely won't ridicule Michelle like this.'

'Jade doesn't give a fuck about anybody except Hana of course. She definitely won't care whether I'm dating Michelle or not.' 

It's absurd, really. Thinking about it. That'll be the last thing on Jade's mind. The only thing she ever care about was winning over me. I could be dating Ariana and it still wouldn't affect her. 

'Anyhow! Sha ask Michelle out.' 

'Even if I don't like her like that?' 

  

'You do.' 

'I don't'

Daniel stopped walking to look at me.

'How long are you going to keep denying this?' 

'I'm not denying nada, I like Michelle a lot but not in a romantic way or whatever. Just cut the crap out. This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't kept going on and on about me dating her in the first place.'

'So now, you're going to put the blame on me? Just be a man. Hmm?'

Just then, we walked straight into Akin who was waving at Jade and Hana in the former's car. He turned, saw us and walked right to us. 

'Hey man, how're you doing?' 

We did the guy's hug thing Dan invented when we were in SS2, maybe not quite invented because guys all over the world were hugging each other like that. 

'I saw that you were just with the Savage queen just now.' I said

Akin laughed 'Don't call her that. Jade is quite sweet when you are close with her.' 

Daniel snorted earning an amused glance from Akin. 

'Anyways guys, I'm just heading back to the hostel. I need to rest. See you guys tomorrow.' 

'Yeah' I replied and we said our goodbyes. 

'You know, I don't get why Akin is still friends with Jade. It really doesn't make sense, their friendship.' 

I shrugged. Nothing makes sense when Jade was involved. That girl herself made no sense. 

'Wo, their problem.' 

Almost 25 minutes lather. My driver drove into the driveway of my father's house. Aunty Wura was in the sitting room. 

'E ku Ile oo' 

'Welcome dear, how was school?' 

'Fine.' 

I replied her, barely sparing her a glance as I proceeded upstairs to my room. I've never seen a more docile woman in my life. I've never seen a more.... I don't even know how to put it. Why did she marry Dad in the first place? They hardly talk, there was no love between them. They were worst than cat and mouse in the house. Dad never treated her right in their almost 9 years of marriage. I'm sure the only time they converse or have any sort of interaction was probably in bedroom and that's even going to be like.... I stopped my myriads of thoughts, not wanting to think of something that gross. Dan would have said 'something that gross produced you and sooner or lather, you won't be able to do without something that gross'. Dan was that crazy. 

  

I changed into something more comfortable, then proceeded to wash my clothes in the laundry. Moji soon stuck her head in the doorway. 

  

'So, you're back and you did not even bother to check on me. I'm hurt, you know.' 

  

She pouted in her cute way and I laughed. I knelt down in front of her and hugged her. 

'I'm sorry baby. I was so caught up in my thoughts.' 

She looked at me, her eyebrow burrowed in concentration. 

          

'What are you thinking about? You're too young to be thinking about stuffs, you know?' 

I leaned back to stare at her, her expression gave nothing away. I burst into laughter. She joined in. 

'Really, Moji?'. 

    

She laughed again and my heart soared with love for her. I love my sister. I love her so much. I thought it was impossible to love someone this much after Mom died but then Aunty Wura happened and subsequently Moji and now, I can't imagine my life without her. 

'You know I love you right?.'

'Tell that to that your fine friend' she stuck her tongue  and then laughed, running out of the laundry. I laughed too. She was talking about Michelle. 

  

It was Michelle's day indeed.