"It turns out I'm absolutely terrible at staying away from you. It's a very serious problem."

  ~•~•~•~

Dedicated to RachealOlatunji  she's a babe❤️💞

                             •BOLU•

"It's all on your head."

"It's all in my head?" I asked myself as I once again, stared at my bathroom mirror. I've been staring at it a lot lately, talking to my reflection as if it would somehow, magically not repeat my every move and give me answers.

No such luck.

"What does he mean by 'its all in my head'?" I scowled at my reflection. It scowled back.

"But Mr. Noah's voice is real na, abi?"

Of course he is human, he's gotta have a voice.

A voice sent from the pit of hell.

Today was Christmas and this was the umpteenth time I'd stand in front of my mirror to try and wrap my head around what Ore told me on Wednesday, two days ago.

And honestly, I'm yet to fully grab.

At first, I was angry at him. My insecurities sprang as usual and the voices in my head told me he was judging me.

But then he explained that wasn't the case. He then asked me questions like what if the voices in my head came against basketball or chemistry or English.

Or what if someone said I was terrible at sports.

The person would probably be blind or dense or maybe had hit his head somewhere. How would anyone say I was terrible at sports? Or maybe bad at Chemistry or English?

When it came to those, I didn't have to struggle or stress my butt off unlike the way I do for physics. So no matter how he tried to compare those stuffs with physics, it still wasn't the same thing. It could never be the same thing.

Or could it?

Was it really just in my head?

Arghhhhh!

Ore Jumai, what kind of confusionist are you, huh?

It did not help that he left me hanging. Did not help at all.

"It's all in your head."

"It's not in your head, it's real. You suck!"

"Your best in physics is your worst."

"You're too cheap. You ask cheap questions."

"Everyone in your group thinks you're dumb."

"Ore thinks you're smart and beautiful."

"Nope. He was just flirting with you."

"No. He actually sees..."

"Stop!" I yelled, holding my head and massaging my temples. "Stop it you stupid voices!"

Surprisingly, the voices stopped.

Oh God, I need help.

Just then, a knock came on my door. I quickly turned on the faucet to pretend I was using it and hoping no one heard me shout.

The knock came again and I quickly washed my face, turned off the faucet and exited the bathroom. I wiped my face with a towel as I opened the door. When I removed the towel from my face, Joba was standing in front of me, an eyebrow raised with a skeptical look on his face.

"Um...what?" I asked.

"Water!" He replied and pushed himself in.

"Wow, what a nice way to start Christmas, insulting your older sister!" I exclaimed, feigning hurt.

"You were the one who opened the door and said, 'what?' " He mocked my expression and flung himself on the bed.

"Yup, just walk in here unshowered and reeking with body odour and lay on my bed, it's totally cool with me," I said sarcastically.

"Yen, yen. Neat freak!" He didn't move from my bed.

"I'm not__" I sighed. "You know what, I can't stress myself today, what's up?"

He signaled for me to close the door and I did. It was then I really looked at him. He wasn't happy. His face was all pouty and his brows were knitted together, as if he was thinking about something.

Joba never got so sad or angry at anything, he was a free spirited, confident human being. Seeing him like this? Something was definitely up.

"Joba, what is it? You finally.got the balls to ask Ninu out and she broke your heart?" I said, trying to lighten his mood but he wasn't moved.

"Haha, real funny babe," he said and scoffed. "Who told you she'd break my heart anyways?"

"Well...Ninu is a babe with a high spec rating. The last guy she ever dated was in Uni and that time she was in SSS2, so, I'm just looking out for you bro."

"I'm sure she'll make me an exception..." He sounded confident and I wondered if my brother was really serious.

I always knew he had a crush on Ninu and teased him about it but that was what I always thought, it was just a crush. And crushes did not always last long.

Looks like my brother wanted to take his to the next level.

"But that's not even why I'm here..." He sat up.

"Oh." I raised both brows.

"Oh." He mocked my expression and I glared at him. "You remember that scholarship stuff I told you about?"

"Yeah..." I said as I recalled, then smiled. "Did you get it?"

His head went down. "No..."

"Oh," my smile dropped. "I'm sorry about that." I moved close to him and wrapped an arm around him.

"Yeah, yeah," He leaned into my arm. "I was just so confident I'd get it, you know. I thought I could really do it. But I was two marks away from the cut off." His shoulders slumped. "Two stupid marks and they freaking kicked me out of the competition."

"Hey calm D. Maybe it wasn't meant to be." I said.

Gbagaun!

Insert - Boluwaji, the motivational speaker.

"We win some, we lose some. That's how life is. The main thing is for you not to give up."

Omo, I be original spec oh!

Add hypocrite join.

When I've basically given up on my own advancement in physics, I'm telling someone not to give up.

"Try harder and you'll get what you're looking for. I believe in you, nigga." I smiled at him. "You got the brains and you can do anything. My own is that when you sha become the architect, you will design my future house for free oh."

He looked at me and his lips curved into a smile. "Idiot."

"Love you too." I smiled back. "Feel better?"

"Yeah, thank you sis. You always have the right words."

"I know right, I'm a spec."

"Don't hype yourself too much, abeg. Plus, I heard you talking to yourself today."

My eyes widened. I suddenly became embarrassed. He heard. How much did he hear?

"Yeah, babe and the other days too. Sometimes I wonder if I live with a mad person..." He snickered as I smacked his arm. "Thanks for believing in me and maybe..." He hesitated before he said, "you should start believing in yourself too."

My mouth opened but no words came out. He closed it for me and smirked.

"Merry Christmas sis," He kissed my forehead. "Come downstairs quick and cook."

"Merry Christmas Joba." I smiled at him, still in shock. Now my younger brother was talking like Ore. Great! If an ant should whisper to my ear in a human voice, should I be surprised?

He stood up and headed to the door but before he left, he turned and said:

"Guy, abeg reply Alex Badmus' messages on whatsapp and IG nau, man has refused to let me rest oh."

He left the room and closed the door behind him.

Alex Badmus. That talkative cousin of Ashley. Yeah, that one. He promised to message me on whatsapp and of course, he did. We chatted but when I realized the only thing he talked about, was himself, I started leaving him on read.

Then I turned off my read receipt.

Next thing he did?

He stalked me on IG

And on twitter.

And as if that was not enough, he went ahead to inform my brother. What was this guy's deal?

I wonder how he and Ashley are related. But then again, I also wonder how Ashley gets intertwined with people who are so...

*Sigh*

The best thing to do was to reply him, but nah...

I didn't... Too stressful.

My phone dinged and I picked it up from the table where it was charging. It was a message from Ore on whatsapp.

COCKY GOAT😒😒: Merry Christmas, Waji. 🎊🎊🎊🎊🎄🎄🧑‍🎄🧑‍🎄🎄

ME: Merry Christmas 😁

COCKY GOAT 😒😒: Yeah. I have a present for you😁😉

ME: Uh...really? I thought you already gave me one.

COCKY GOAT😒😒: Yeah, I did but this one is special. Here you go: 🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🦜🦜🦜🦜🦜🦜

ME: Really? 😒 Chicken in emojis. And you just had to add parrots too? Very nice😒

COCKY GOAT😒😒: 😂😂😂 Yes, very nice and parrots taste like chicken, trust me.

ME: Goat😒

COCKY GOAT😒😒: Correction...Spec😎

ME: 😒😒

COCKY GOAT😒😒: Uh... I'm getting a video call from my bae, she's in Lagos right now...we'll talk later, mama😉

I shook my head and closed the chat with a smile on my face. Ore was, no doubt, a goat but he'd made me smile a lot this year...

"It's all in your head."

Was it really all in my head?

                         |~|~|~|~|

The sound of Christmas songs and loud guffaws from my siblings filled the entire house. One reason I always looked forward to Christmas - It was a day to be jolly and forget about all your troubles.

As per, when you see chicken and rice, problem go just disappear!

My house was decorated. Kanyin, Joba and I decorated the walls with all those sparkly and glittery stuffs (I don't know the name). We also hung Christmas lights inside and outside the house. Joba made a portrait of the baby Jesus and Mary and placed it on the wall.

Tomide and Fayo insisted on decorating the Christmas tree. Occasionally, they fought over who would go first but the tree came out nice anyway.

After the short service at church, we came back home to eat. That was the best part - The food. Food is life, don't let anyone tell you any different. Case closed.

My mom, of course, was the amazing chef. Kanyin ran away from the kitchen leaving only me to help out. Joba was catching cruise and making live videos on instagram. He also occasionally came to try and steal food (the chicken) but mom always caught him.

He seemed a lot better than he had been this morning.

Dad, well, he just sat and enjoyed himself in the sitting room, using his phone and cracking jokes, making my younger brothers to laugh a lot. He was not around a lot so I guess he was making up for it.

Again, I cherished my family.

Times like these always reminded me how important and dear they were to me.

"Fayo, would you say grace for us?" Mom asked sweetly, as we sat down round the table to finally eat.

"Yes mom!" He exclaimed excitedly.

He said grace and just when we were about to dig in, the door bell rang.

"I'm not getting the door," Kanyin said first and started eating.

"Me neither!" Fayo and Tomide said at the same time.

And their annoying jinx game began:

"Jinx."

"Double jinx."

"Triple jinx."

"Quadruple jinx."

"Jinx till infinity!"

"Soooo__"

"You guys should shut up!" Kanyin yelled and went back to eating.

Fayo and Tomide looked annoyed but they listened to her. They muttered  something like "big sis is too wicked sef." as they ate their food.

"Well, I'm not getting the door," Joba said, gave me a look that annoyed me. "Bolu always gets it, she's the door girl- woman!" He smirked.

"Mom!" I yelled. "See what Joba is saying oh."

Mom smacked his head.

"Mommy nau!" He whined.

She eyed him. I smiled smugly. Good for him.

Dad sighed and shook his head on exasperation. "Will someone just get the door?"

I sighed. "Fine, I'll do it." I stood up and when I opened the door, I was shocked beyond reasoning.

I didn't even have time to say anything as she wrapped me in her usual engulfing and tight hugs, squeezing me to death. And her straw berry  scent was still there. I hugged her back too but not as much as she did, me.

She no get chills.

She didn't let go until after a few seconds.

"Oh God. Nina! Where have you been?"

She smiled sweetly at me. "I missed you jhor, who cares where I've been?"

"But__"

"Merry Christmas!" She squealed. "I got you something!"

She got me something? I didn't even remember I should have gotten her something too. Didn't even wish her a Merry Christmas.

I suddenly felt guilty. I hadn't even remembered her. I'd been wrapped up in my own thoughts - with those stupid voices - that I'd forgotten I was supposed to be worried about my best friend.

I'm such a...

*Sigh*

But then, Nina was always fine. She probably just went somewhere maybe travelled or...

"Hello oh! Earth to Boluwaji Arabella Jayeola!! Come back oh!" She waved her hand in my face.

I blinked. She was still smiling. Smiling. That smile. She always smiled. But...

"You there?" She asked again and worry took over her face. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head. "Of course na." I smiled. Merry Christmas to you, too! I missed you!"

"I missed you too, b!" She hugged me again. I almost died.

"Come inside na," I said after she pulled away and she skipped in happily as I locked the door behind her. She found her way to the dining. Nina was always welcomed by everyone in my family. They loved her...a lot. She took my house like it was hers.

"Nina's here oh!" I announced as we both walked into the dining.

"Merry Christmas fam!" She said still smiling.

As usual, my family welcomed her wholeheartedly.

I took my seat and watched her. Something was off...

It was her outfit. She wore a white long sleeve turtle neck blouse and denim dungarees. She already pulled her jacket.

What was off about her outfit?

The long sleeves...

Nina never wore long sleeves, no matter what. She always complained about how it caused her arms to itch and that she'd rather wear a sleeveless hoodie in cold weather.

But today, she wore long sleeves?

She finally sat down and turned towards me. My mom dished her food. "Thank you ma," She said.

"You're wearing long sleeves?" I asked with a raised brow. "Since when? Wetin dey sup? Gist me!"

She shrugged. "Had a change of mind. Wanted to try something new."

I scoffed. "You? Something new? I laugh in Spanish!"

"Yeah, b! Things change, okay?" She exhaled. "I got you something."

"Me nko?" Joba asked.

"Mickey mouse ni. Don't eat your food, you hear? I will gladly eat it for you!" I said.

"I got something for you too, Jobz." Nina said after giggling at our bickering.

"Ntoooo!" Joba said and stuck his tongue out at me. I did the same to him.

Nina burst out laughing at both of us.

"That's how we see it on this house oh," mom said to Nina. "Toms and Jerrys. Opoorr."

All heads turned towards my mom.

"Mommy, did you just use a Nigerian slang?" Joba asked.

"So what?" Mom said and shrugged.

"Ahhhh. Mad oh!" Dad yelled and we burst into uncontrollable laughter not just 'cause he said it but 'cause of the way he pronounced it.

It was so wrong.

"Daddy, that's not how you say it," Tomide said.

"Who cares? He sha said it," Kanyin countered.

That was how we spent our Christmas, laughing and laughing and eating and singing Christmas songs.

Nina was fine and my other problem...

Well...

Heyyyy Guys!!!!

Whadup?

Whadup?

How are you doing?

Merry Christmas in the book.

😂😂😂

So... how'd you see this chapter?

I had fun writing it oh, especially that jinx drama😂😂😂😂 how many people did that stuff in secondary school???

Me: 🖐️🖐️🖐️🖐️

So...who also loves Bolu's family?

And what do you think about Nina showing up in front of Bolu's door?

Plus, how do you think Bolu's gonna handle her own issues?

Tell me oh, I wanna know your conspiracy theories!!

Thanks for reading my book and sticking with my annoying slow updates😕😩😩😩  forgive me for that, okay????

God bless you all oh!!!

~Ife💖💞