~Jade~
'Give it up for Uthman Gbadamosi'
I strained my ears to hear properly. I did not know when my hands that were otherwise clampsed together as if in a prayer became fisted until my nails started tearing my skin. I stared at the little blood horridly before I stood up admist the loud cheers from the students. Luckily for me, there was a door behind the podium so I used that and I went outside. I needed fresh air. Immediately I got outside, I felt something trickling down my face. I used the back of my hand to wipe it off angrily.
Damn it Jade, why are you crying?
I'm crying because I never imagined myself not winning this. This means a lot to my career, to the law degree I want to get, to the legacy
~Uthman~Jade was absent in school on Monday. Michelle huffed when she saw her empty seat.'Look who missed school, it's the bitch. She had better not resume at all. I can't even stand her.''Get a life Michelle'One of our classmates replied her. Michelle was about to answer when our teacher walked in. We had Economics. We were done with almost all our syllabuses and all we do now is to revise.I heard nothing throughout the class. I kept glancing at Jade's seat. During lunch break, I met Akin and Hana eating in the cafeteria. I and Dan joined them, Hana did not even acknowledge my presence.'Hey babe, you're okay?' Dan asked her and she shrugged.'I guess I'm supposed to be fine.' 
~Jade~'When should we go and register for Jamb?'I asked Hana, we were both sitting in class. It was a free period. Well, most of our periods were free now. We were only left with doing revisions. Hana tucked an imaginary hair behind her ears.'Actually Jade, there is something I need to tell you.''What's it?''I... don't... think... I'm going to pick University of Ibadan as my first choice again.'When she stuttered while talking, I knew she'll say something bad but definitely not this. I stared at her, pointedly. She did not meet my gaze. What happened to choosing the same university? What happened to living in the same hall?'Why? What happened?''It's my manager. We figured out moving to Lagos will be good for my career.'I nodded, without saying anything. She put her hands over mine that was o
'Uthman'Hana stared at me for a minute longer than usual before she burst into laughter. She clutched her stomach, laughing hard.'Oh come on Jade, telling me you like Caleb is more believable than you telling you like Uthman. What kind of ridiculous liking is that one?'I smiled. I've always thought that it is ridiculous too, Hana saying it again confirmed it. I said nothing for a while, staring into space.'Wait oo Jade, are you actually serious?''No'She looked at me strangely before she laid on the bed.'Goodnight Jade, dream of me till the loyl comes.'I laughed.'Well, dream of me too.'After a while, Hana fell asleep but I was not even feeling sleepy. The time could as well be 2pm. Why did I say Uthman's name? Could I seriously like him? Uthman? Of all p
~Jade~Friday Morning and we were about to start our journey to Lagos State. We were 25 in total. 11 players, two teachers, 11 students and the driver. I leaned by the bus, still not feeling up to travelling. Uthman and Michelle entered the bus and I watched them sit beside each other. Uthman still hasn't spoken a word to me since Wednesday afternoon, in fact, he was acting like I did not exist. Good!I saw Akin walking towards the bus. He was talking to Malik, the SNJ(Small Neymar Jr), a boy in SS2 who can play ball like something else.'Do you realize I've been waiting for you?'I said as soon as he reached where I was standing.'Pele, mabinu. Oya let's go now.'I entered and he followed me. As I passed w
~Jade~What the fuck did I just do?I know what I just did though. I just saved Uthman's number from the group chat, he's one of the three admins of our groupchat, Bunmi, myself and Uthman. What was I even thinking when I typed the messageHello ooGood evening. This is Jade I'm sorry for what I said the other time, trust me, I did not mean to hurt your feelings.I stared horridly at the message and was about to delete it when it showed two blue ticks. Damn. He had read it. He has read it. I practically jumped from my bed. What will I do now? Oh God! Why did I even apologize in the first place? Because I felt bad. Actually, I've been feeling somehow since that day. And I'd realized with him not talking to me and all that I've gotten used to us talking and him ignoring me was kinda breaking my heart. He surprised me by actually talking to me when we were coming back from Lagos.
~Jade~I was filled with dread as I sat down on Zee's bed. This can't be true. This is me overthinking things. This is me overthinking things. This is me going overboard. This is me..... God! No! Please. I took calming breaths and when I felt my breaths returning to normalcy, I left for my room. I picked my phone, unlocked it and dialed Zee's number. It was switched off. I dialed it over and over again but that wasn't going to change the fact that her number was switched off. I took calming breaths and called Saheed's number. He picked up at once.'Hey Sis, I'm doing a round now, is this urgent?'His voice was almost automated.'Is Zee there with you?'My voice came out in low whispers.'What's
~Jade~I stared at the messages, thinking of what to type, what to say. I couldn't even think of anything.'I'm fine now.'I finally replied. I started typing 'I miss you too' but I deleted it, my inner voice whispering 'Jade, don't you think that is cheesy?'Uthman: oh that's good to hear. Was it Malaria?Me: not really.I lingered for a while, wondering if I should tell him, I don't know why but it kinda feel safe now, talking to Uthman. Does that come with love?Me: not really, there are some stuffs going on at home and it's kind of taking a toll on me.'He replied a
~Uthman~'I'm filing for a divorce'I stared at mom, no my step mom or Aunty Wura, I don't even know what to call her at the moment. Divorce? I've always imagined them getting a divorce but not like this, not when I've already getting used to her,not whenI've already gotten used to her. Moji just burst into tears.'Take your sister into her room'Dad barked, his voice authoritative. I stood up just as mom, Aunty Wura also stood up.'I'll tuck her in' She said and made to grab Moji's hands.'No, not you. We have to talk. Uthman, are you deaf?'I grabbed Moji's hands and started to drag her upstairs.'We don't have
We say goodbye, we hold on to these memories that never die. ~Jade~There were tables o
~Jade~I was walking with my back, all the while waving at Isreal when I bumped into someone. The drink the person was holding feel on the ground and it spilled on our bodies. I instinctively bent down to pick the cup and the keys that fell with it.'I'm sorry. I wasn't looking at where I was going.'I stood up and handed the key to him. His hands brushed against mine and it lingered there for a moment. I met his eyes, about to tell him off and I froze.He winked at me, smiled and gave me a mock salute before walking off.I had an instant flashback and I instinctively moved back.I did not know how long I stood there. I was too immobile to do anything. It was only when two girls bumped into me that I regained my composure and started to walk back
Last Days at Lakeview High ~Uthman~We finished our exams today. Like we were really done with exams. No more secondary school's exams.We trudged out of the hall together because the external invigilator had insisted that we should all submit our scripts together.I shielded my eyes from the sun with my hand immediately I stepped out of the hall. It was closing time for the school and we could hear the loud chatters of students as we walked from the hall to the main building.'Now, I'm really done with secondary school. It's almost unbelievable.'One of my mates whom I couldn't place his voice said and almost immediately
~Jade~He motioned for me to wait a little. Then, he disappeared to a room and reappeared with a slippers. He dropped them in front of me.'You should change into this.'I stared at the big slippers before wearing them. They were big, way too big, that my feet got lost in them self.'Is this your dad's?'I blurted out without thinking. He smiled.'Nah, it's my grandfather's.'I made to hit him and he ducked.'Mama, why are you this violent?''I'm not violent and besides, why are you slippers this big? Your feet are too big.'I said, staring at his feet.'They're not. It's your feet that are too small. Too tiny. Even Mo
~Jade~Mogbe. Moku. Modaran.Won ti padà kó èsúrú wá.What the...?What was I even thinking?You were not thinking anything. You were just too eager to pick his call that you forgot you were literally wearing nothing.Aah. My God! How will I face him now? How will I even act around him?But wait oo, what of he did not see anything?Then I laid down on my bed and pretented I was on a video call while my front camera was on.Everything was in full display.He saw everything. 
~Uthman~And once again, our house became lively like it once was.It became loud like it was once was. It was impossible for it not to be loud considering my sister's chatter every now and then. The girl keeps talking. Over the last two weeks, she had filed me up with every single details of what I missed when they were not in the house.'And do you know the most important thing you missed?'She asked me one evening. We were both in the varender. I was reading my chemistry textbook because our Neco already started and I had Chemistry in two days time.The Almighty Chemistry.'What's that?'I asked her, not looking up from th
Last Days at Lakeview High ~Jade~It's been 5 days.5 days since Zee's mom died.She had handled everything strongly. Attending the funeral, sorting out her wears with her other relative. She said she saw it coming. How many cancer patients actually survive it?I was still lowkey mad at Uthman even though he had been nothing but sweet and caring the past days.But he still doesn't know what he did wrong? Just imagine oo!It was all rainbow and sunshine until I walked into Michelle. It was a Saturday and we were attending a t
~Uthman~I swallowed at our close proximity. I shouldn't have hugged her.So, you should have just stood there and watched her nearly have a panic attack?I patted her back, smelling her shampoo, her long hair tickled my ears as I started to move back.Jade grabbed my shirt, stopping me from moving away.I stopped.I looked down at where she grabbed my shirt before looking up at her again. Her eyes were still glassy. Glassy from crying.Now, it looks like the sexy kinda glassy.O beere? What are you thinking about?'Jadeshola, we should......'
~Uthman~When the driver drove in, I saw our extended families coming out of the main house.My first reaction was panic because seeing them like that reminded me of when mom died.I calmed down immediately afterwards, believing nothing tragic had happened. I got down on from the car and took them in, one by one. They were mostly from my dad's family and then mom's too. They must have just finished one of the numerous meetings.They've done so many meetings and it has yielded no positive result. They might as well end the marriage. Completely.Are you really sure about that? Can