Itan, what should we eat tonight?" My mum asked. She was sitting on the three sitters I had slept on earlier in the afternoon with her legs placed on the center table. She had her phone in hand but at the same time she was watching the television which was tuned to AM Yoruba (The local movie station.)

"Anything you want." I mumbled as I chatted with an online friend; Adrian.

Adrian was a friend I had met on social media last year, he was five years older than me but we clicked. Although, I have never met him. I could feel he was caring and nice from his way with words and actions.

He is in his first year in university and he knew me well. I could say he was my closest friend after Faith and he was always teasing me about a lot of things. Yet, he was one of the people in my life that I wouldnt think twice about laying my heart to.

I dont know why but, I guess like they say, it's better to talk to a stranger.

Adrian- How are you doing.

Me- I'm cool, Just have some stuff on my mind.

How about you?

Adrian- I'm cool too. And what's bothering my little friend's mind😉😉

Me- I am not that little, it's just a difference of 5 years.😐😐

Adrian- I am older than your elder sister so you are little to me. 😂😂

Me- With just 3 months.😏

Adrian- Whatever, I'm still older😋

Me- Whatever.

Adrian- Lol, so what up with you.

Me- Hmmmm...

Adrian- What is it?

Me- There is this boy in my class...

Adrian- A guy's matter😂😉😉, sounds juicy 😋😋

Me- Never mind.

Adrian- Oya sorry sorry, tell me.

Me- ok, there is this guy in my class. He is really cute and all and I don't know why I got angry when I saw him and Faith talking on Friday.

Adrian- Really, I am guessing you were jeal ous which leads me to the conclusion that you like him.

Me- I don't think I like him🙄🙄

Adrian- I think you do cause I am very certain you have met several boys and this is the first one you are telling me about.

Me- I guess so.

Adrian- I think you like him and should go for him as I tell you at all times, I don't think you are too young.

Yes, you are 14 but you are also matured enough to be in senior secondary school so what else and besides you will be turning 15 in a few weeks. Hence, I feel you should go for him if you really do like him.

Me- Thanks 😀😀 Faith likes him but I don't.

Adrian- Hmmm, so that is the problem. You don't want to admit you like him cause your best friend does.

😂😂😂This sounds like a love triangle to me but you should talk to her about it and stop denying.

Me- 🙄🙄🙄Whatever, thanks anyways.

Adrain- Yea, you are welcome.

Me- So, how are your girlfriends.

Adrian- They are all fine.😘😘

Adrian is now offline.

"Mummy, so what have you decided on eating." I asked her.

"When I asked you, shebi you were pressing your phone. Keep on chatting with your boyfriend's shogbo (You hear.) That's what you will eat tonight." She said and I could tell she was angry.

"I said we should cook anything you want nah." I reminded her.

"Eehn, you are even saying I'm lying. O ga ooh, I see you have grown wings." she said.

"No mum, that's not w..." I started but she cut me off.

"Don't disturb me, shaa go and cook rice. Oniranu (Useless child.)"

"Ok ma, I am sorry ma." I replied as I stood up to go to the kitchen to prepare the rice.

"Sorry for yourself. It's only phone they know. Every time, they will just be pressing that phone. It's only God that knows what they are pressing there." She complained, trying to understand my obsession with my phone.

I sighed silently and walked into the kitchen as my phone flashed alerting me I got a text. I checked it to see it was a text from Faith.

Smiling, I opened it and it reads "Finally!!!."

Lots of thought ran through my mind as I wondered what "Finally" could mean but I couldnt figure it out so, I decided to call her.

I called her and she picked on the second ring.

"Hey, girlfriend." I said

"How are you bestie." She said

"I'm fine, what up with the text you sent me."

"Can't you guess." She said excitedly while a very stupid thought got into my head.

Did you get together with Tayo? I asked, my voice sounded like I was accusing her of something and she knew because her next reply was a defense.

Wait, what! What do you mean and why do you sound like it would be a bad thing if I did that? She asked as I wondered what was going through her head.

Im sorry, I didnt mean it like that. I was just wondering why you didnt tell me you guys are meeting outside school. I said, sealing the words I wanted say In my heart.

Well, I didnt tell you because we never had such plans and didnt meet outside school. She said as I felt relieved as if a burden was lifted from my shoulder but, the relief came with guilt as I felt bad about accusing her.

"Alright. Im sorry I jumped to conclusion, What up?." I asked.

"I told you my mum was getting discharged today." She said, as another wave of guilt wash over me.

Im sorry I forgot, I will come over tomorrow to see her. I said, feeling terrible.

I used to take note of everything Faith said before especially important ones like this and I wondered if I had become a bad friend and if Tayo was part of the reason why.

I worried about how I would face Faith the next day as I made the rice and later ate it with mom. I went to bed after observing solat but it took a while before I fell asleep because I couldnt sleep.

I kept turning and that night, I concluded before falling asleep that I was starting to doubt Faith truthfulness in our friendship because of Tayo and I had to find a way not to ruin my friendship because of a guy.

The next Monday was boring and stressful, I basically had to listen to my teachers rant on about complex theories that hasnt been tested by them and also watch Tayo and Faith converse freely as I felt left out. I however, acted like I didn't care and buried myself in my latest novel.

I went to Faith's after school and Faith's mom wasn't surprised I came but, she was so happy I came and it showed on her face.

"My dear, what will you eat." She asked from where she was watching a movie still seating on a wheelchair since she still needs therapy to walk well.

"I'm fine ma." I replied politely even though I was a bit hungry.

"Nonsense, is rice okay or do you want salad?" She asked again.

"I am really fine ma, thanks for offering." I denied her offer again.

"I won't accept that. Kemi, please serve her salad and give her malt." She said and I politely muttered a thank you while Kemi carried out her order.

"How is your mother?" She asked.

"She is fine ma, she has gone to work." I replied politely.

"Okay, please tell her to come to see me or call me but I would prefer it if she came to see me."

"No problem, I will relay your message to her ma." I replied.

"Thank you, my dear." She said as we continue to watch the Tv.

Kemi served me salad a while later and I ate it while I dropped the malt into my bag.

"Thank you ma." I said when I was done eating and she kept me, Faith and Kemi company as she told us about her high school days.

"I remember those days when I was in secondary school, you know I lived in the hostel back then so it was fun. There were bad girls, the dating couples, the good girls, fighters and even the troublesome ones." She said laughing at a memory while we chuckled.

"Which were you?" Faith asked, curiosity lightening up her face.

"I think I could be classified as the sassy type, I was gentle when I needed to be and not gentle when I was also needed to be." She replied.

"I remember a time when the principal said that those students that were dating were caught and he started calling them to the podium for punishment. I was so scared eehn, since I just started dating your father then but I acted bravely in front of my friends like it was nothing." She said, laughing.

"Awww." We cooed.

"Yes. I never believed in love at first sight until your father and it wasn't even love at first sight. It was hate turn into love." She added, laughing.

"How did you know it was love?" Faith asked.

"I knew it was love because I wanted to do everything I could to please him and also make him happy. At first, all I wanted being for him to notice me and when he finally did, I was glad." She said. She had a wistful look on her face like someone lost in her thoughts and memories.

"What does love feels like?" Faith asked. At that moment, I don't know and I may have read more to her expression but I felt like she was asking to confirm how she feels for someone and my first guess again was Tayo.

I studied Faith trying to confirm my suspicion but she seemed unaware of my stare as she listened attentively to her mother.

"Love is like an exotic wine, lots of it gets you drunk which can make you misbehave. It's that feeling where you want to do just anything to protect your loved ones."

"You will never feel complete without them and you get worried when you don't hear from them even if its just been a few hours." Faith mum tried to explain to us.

"Ooh really, that is so wonderful." Faith said.

"Cool. I hope to find that kind of love when I am old enough."Kemi said.

We all talked more about random stuff before I left, I got home around 7.00 pm and I was surprised to meet my mom on the chair crying.

"Good afternoon ma." I greeted her.

"My dear, how was school?" She asked, trying to wipe her tears so I wouldn't see it.

"It was fine ma. Why are you crying?" I asked her, worried as I took my seat beside her.

"Nothing my dear, Just go and shower and pray." she replied, sniffling.

"Mummy, it's just me and you in this house. You can't be crying and expect me to just leave you, what if you get sick. Please ooh, I am the only one at home ooh." I said, raising my voice a bit that I almost didn't get what she said.

"I lost my job." She said sniffling quietly.

"What?!" I said, taken aback as I tried to understand what that meant. It took me a few seconds but my brain finally figured out that it was done for us. My mum's salary was our only source of livelihood, my dad is not responsible and my elder sister who just got married worked at a small company thus her salary wasn't even enough for her and her husband was not so rich either, they were just an average okay family.

"It's going to be fine." I said instead of voicing out my thought.

"You are going to get a new job." I said, reassuring her even though I wasn't sure.

"No, I won't Enitan. Who will employ an old woman like me? I am 48, even youngster out there are yet to get a job." She said sadly.

"Don't worry, we will find a way around it." I pacify her.

"Thank you, my dear. Go and pray and eat now." She said and I reluctantly stood up and did as she said.

That night when I prayed, I cried to God asking him to let mom get a new and better job not knowing my life was about to take a new dimension.

Everything felt weird the next morning. I didn't hear mom's patter of feet as she prepares breakfast or her voice as she sings like she does whenever she is cooking early in the morning and it took me a while to remember she had been sacked from work and that I had set my alarm at 4:30 am yesterday so I could wake up early and make breakfast for myself.

I stood up and went to put my breakfast on fire before I observed solat after taking my bath.

I was done by 6:30 am, So I went to meet mum in her room to get my feeding money and as usual, she was already awake.

"Good morning ma." I knelt to greet her.

"Good morning my dear, how was your night..." She asked, as she prayed for me and gave me my feeding money before I left.

I took my bag from the chair in the parlor and walked to school thinking about the next step for mum and how she was going to get a new job, I had planned to do a three days fasting and praying but I had also decide to start on Thursday.

I got to school early and Tayo was already in the class, I sat down, thinking about the next step for mum when surprisingly, he greeted me first.

"Good morning Itan." He said as I wondered what the special occasion was and why he was talking to me so early in the morning.

"Good morning, how are you?" I replied.

"Fine, thank you." He said as someone entered the class.

I turned around and to my surprise Faith was standing at the entrance, she waved at me and came over.

"Good morning Faith." Tayo greeted her and immediately she sat down, I felt like I was invisible as they got lost in their little world.

"Why is she at school early?, Faith never comes to school early. Everyone knows she isnt one to wake up early so why? Why? Why?" I kept on asking myself as I made a mental note to ask her later before I ran crazy thinking of numerous reasons.

I left the class immediately the assembly bell rang, not wanting to feel left out anymore. I was the second person on the line so I muttered a hi to the girl in front of me.

The morning devotion was boring since it was Tuesday and the Muslim assembly prefect kept on singing the same song over and over sluggishly but thankfully it ended quickly and the principal came on stage after the anthems have been recited.

"Good morning students, the session has been good so far, and as you can see your test is fast approaching. Next week will be the 7th week of this term and that makes it the test week so if you haven't been preparing for the test, start now." he said

"Also, if you haven't paid for your school fee exempting the first-year student. You should do so in time before your tests, Good day." He said as he left the podium and we all dispersed, moving to our various classes.

The school was as usual boring since my best friend was slowly becoming another person's best friend but thankfully Bode was willing to study with me for the fast-approaching test so we exchanged seats and Bode was now sitting beside me and Faith was sitting beside Tayo in front of us.

The next few days were made of the same routine. School, boring class, reading with Bode, and seething with jealousy as Faith and Tayo acted as if they were the only ones in the world but something changed.

I didn't go to Faith's house after school anymore and she didn't ask me why, we hardly get time to talk anymore since we walk home with Tayo every day thus they were always gisting on the road and just like that we were slowly drifting apart.