~Jade~
Zee's room was locked when I got home. That's absurd because Zee rarely lock her door. Maybe she went out. I thought as I made to leave her room, then I heard a sob from her room. I knocked louder.
'Zee, are you inside?'
No answer
'Zee! Zee!! Zee!!!'
I was only answered by silence. I turned to see Saheed entering his room. I followed him inside.
'What's wrong with Zee?'
I asked him immediately we were inside his room. He heaved a sigh and sat on his bed.
'Our parents told her the truth'
I staggered a little.
'What truth?'
My voice shook as I asked.
'The strange woman that came was right. She's Zee's mother'
I staggered and stumbl
~Jade~Happy new year except that there's nothing happy about the new year. Things have gone downhill since Zee attempted to commit suicide. It was really a narrow escape. She healed quickly and was discharged just two days after. Mom was discharged too. Our home fell into a rhythm of silence I never thought could happen to us. I wished Grandma was here, she would know what to do, how to resolve all these. She seemed to me, someone that would resolve anything and everything with just a snap of her fingers but sadly, she wasn't here anymore and we have to fight our way through this, ourselves. Dad called a meeting just last night to talk about the things that were happening. What was supposed to calm the situation ruined it even more.'Zainab, you're our child, our first daughter, nothing is ever going to change that. You fed on your mother's bre
~Jade~School resumes today. I saw Uthman immediately I got down from the car. Without thinking much of it, I called out his name and waved. He turned back and he smiled in his cocky way and started walking towards me. We were halfway to each other when someone else called his name. I did not need to turn to look at the person to know that it was Michelle but Uthman did and he walked to where she stood with the rest of her friends. Do I need to pretend that this did not bother me and just walk away? Yeah. I did just that.'Hey love, you're looking so hot today.'I rolled my eyes at Akin who was leaning against the wall at the corridor of our class.'I always look hot'I replied and watched his mouth drop open. I laughed.'what's
~Jade~'Don't be so nervous, I'm pretty sure you're going to win'Today was the d day and I was feeling nervous. My hands shook as I tried to comb my hair. Zee stood up from my bed, collected the brush from me and started combing my hair.'But why are so nervous? It's not like this is your first competition.''But it's the main one, Zee, what if I don't win? I've never imagined my future without winning this oratory contest and how will I even raise my head in school if I don't win.'Michelle will never allow me to rest.'Just calm down baby, you'll be fine.'I turned from the mirror to look at her.'I just have this premonition that things won't go the way I want them to.''Don't think in the negative baby, you're already a winner.''Amiin'I replied nerv
~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
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