The ride to school was silent, all I needed at the time. I stared out through the windows of the cab, as I crossed my legs, my back pack just beside me. I observed the early morning activities going on. Secondary school students rushing to school, and mothers grasping the younger ones hands as they motioned to cross the road.

My phone chirped in my backpack as I removed my gaze from a crying child hugging her mother's neck tightly. I reached out to my bag as I retrieved my phone.

It was a message from my Dad, an obvious response to mine. The driver wasn't available and I couldn't stand or even imagining staying in the same car with my dad, as my mum was still locked up in her room.

I sent him a message before I left the house, it was rather very early in the morning when I left.

It read...

Morning Dad, I decided to go to school in a cab. I didn't want to disturb you. And I'll be fine. Have a nice day.

I had expected to receive a response like. What?!!?!!, Jemi you haven't been out by yourself before.
Or.
You're in real trouble today. When did you start taking decisions on your own.

But then, the response was nowhere near that. I didn't even feel surprised, I hadn't expected it but I was not surprised.

His response..

Okay, take care of yourself.

I dropped the phone in my bag and zipped it up, and I began to fondle with the strap. I took a deep breath and focused on the view outside the cab, but I was far from that place, I was lost in thoughts.

"We Don reach o Madam" the cab driver announced, snapping me out of my thoughts. I jerked, as I grabbed my bag, and opened the door of the cab. The whole surrounding was buzzing with student activities, this was the first time I was standing out of the school gate. I glanced around before I reached for my purse. I stretched out the payment to the cab driver.

"Thank you sir" I said. The cab zooming off almost immediately.

I sauntered through the schools entrance, students walked past me, chattering noisily as they walked. I crossed the school gate and walked towards my  faculty's building, my legs hurting more with each step.

Few minutes to reaching my lecture theatre, I recognized a slim figure, clad in the white and black uniform for law students. He was speaking with some other people, and his gesticulations while talking made my heart flutter. I walked closer and soon his gaze caught mine. A smiled crossed his face and I could hear the thump-thump sound my heart was making.

Dismissing his friends, he walked straight to me. It was then I realized I had stopped on my tracks the minute he saw me. My nervousness creeped in, and just as always I couldn't find my voice. I bowed my head as I stared at my shoes.

"Hey" Ephraim said.

"Hello" I muttered, avoid eye contact. "I'm sorry about yesterday" I apologized.

Giggling he replied. "It's nothing, sorry for bumping into you too"

" Okay" I bit inside my cheeks, staring at no one and nowhere in particular.

"Okay" he said. "So... I'll see you around?" He asked, stroking his hair playfully, his other hand fixed in his pocket.

"Sure" I managed to say, a warm smile plastered on my face. I motioned to leave when I felt a hand wrap mine, I looked back and saw Mo' grinning widely, Semiloore standing right beside her.

"Hey guys" I greeted.

"Jemi, Jemi" Mo' called my name playfully.

"Morning Jemi" Semiloore said.

Few minutes later the four of us, Ephraim, Shemmy, Mo' and I walked into the lecture theatre. The one for the 100 level students.

"So how's your preparation for the competition"  Ephraim asked.

Talking about the competition, I had completely forgotten about it. I sighed as I avoided the question.

"How about we hang out later today?" Mo' suggested.

"Yepii, Hangouts" Shemmy snickered happily.

"I don't know" Ephraim muttered under his breath.

"Come on" Mo' started "it's amazing to have the most sort after guy in the faculty talk to us and possibly hangout with us" Mo' said with a pout and I smirked.

Ephraim laughed heartily, "  I don't actually know you guys you know. We met yesterday remember" he said.

" Yeah, good reason why we should hangout"

" Okay then" Ephraim agreed. " But I won't be available until after 5pm" he said and they all glanced at me.

" What?" I asked, genuinely ignorant of what was going on in their minds.

" Will your driver come get you?" Shemmy asked.

" Or your Dad?" Ephraim added, and the girls laughed. But I didn't find his 'harmless' comment funny.

"No!" I snapped curtly. "No one is coming to get me" my mood and facial expression changing immediately.

" Uh, I'm really sorry" Ephraim apologized.
He hadn't said anything wrong, but I was rather very sensitive. I felt bad immediately but It didn't mean my mood lightened.

"Jemi, we are sorry. Is something wrong?" Mo' asked.

" I'm fine". I muttered in a low tone.

" It's okay if you can't come, we can just reschedule" Shemmy said.

" It's fine. I'm fine. I'll love to hangout too" I smiled " I'm sorry for snapping Ephraim" I apologized as I noticed he still felt bad.

" No problem" he said managing a smile. "I've got class now, see you guys later then" he said as he walked away. My gaze lingered on his slim figure for a while and I turned to face the girls.

They had amusing and funny looks on their faces, giving out that they were thinking or planning something. "Guys?" I asked questioningly with a puzzled face. "What's wrong with your faces".

"Nothing oo" Semiloore answered.

" Are you sure?". I asked.

"Yes o, it's not like we have a friend that gets the attention of the most sort after guy in the faculty of Law " Mo' added, as she clapped her hands playfully, a smile on her face.

" I don't know what you are talking about" I said as I removed my bag and proceeded to sit, Mo' and Semi joining me.

" Yes you don't know, Ephraim's sweetheart" Semi stated. My eye balls widened as I gasped, coughing and laughing hard all at the same time.

The duo watched me laugh, the smile on their faces not leaving for once. I hit my chest lightly as I tried to calm down.

"Do you guys even know what you are saying?" I asked them.

" We see the way he looks at you" Semiloore said in a sing-song voice.

" Looks at me?" I asked genuinely surprised. The looks on there faces spelling out that they were sure if what they were saying. "Guys I told you how we met, that guy snubbed me twice" I said, pulling out my textbook from my bag.

" Well, you're the only one he has offered a sit. The only girl ever seen having a proper conversation with him. And the only girl that as gone Scot free after snapping at him". Mo said staring right into my eyes.

" We just found out we are family friends, that's why he his being nice." My words slightly High pitched.

" Girl, because of you he is coming to hangout with us. we are only our ride to popularity" Semiloore said, hanging her hands in the air to say "can't you see this"

"Guys your weird assumptions are sickening and unbelievable" I said as I dog-eared a page in my textbook to read later.

" Believe it or not. I see a thing happening soon" Mo' said. Just then the lecturer entered.

••••••••••••

Ephraim sat beside Mo' as the girls giggled and laughed heartily at random jokes and comments. He did his best to join in the conversation, but he couldn't help but glance at Jemima at intervals.

Everyone thought that Semiloore had a very beautiful smile, but Jemi's? Her smile always made his heart flutter. Her pink lips and bright glistening eyes, her dark natural hairs and the way they were packed up bringing out the shape of her head.

They had always cut his attention since the first time he saw her. He had met her in camp when they were still very young. Thirteen year olds excited about the fact that they were attending the Teenagers summer camp they had always heard about. He was about fourteen then though, but it was his first year.

The very day he saw her, he was rushing with some friends to get water for bathing. She was coming down from the bus that had brought her district Teens. She was young and innocent, carrying her heavy bag and following her sister closely. He stared at her for so long that he almost tripped.

A warm smile crossed his face as he remembered the day vividly. He had looked forward to seeing more of her in the days they would spend in the camp. She was a spectacular and different girl, she was bold and was always ready to take on challenges in the camp, even those higher than her age. He remembered how she had won a sixteen year old in a Bible quiz and spelling bee. He had thought she was a very intelligent girl, she was everywhere, and her desire to know more about God was overwhelming.

Unlike other girls her age who liked to miss ' boring' lectures and teachings. She made sure she was at all meetings. And that had encouraged her secret stalker to attend all meetings too. He admired her so much and desired to have a chance to talk to her, but he couldn't find the courage. He felt really bad about this and was on a journey into hating himself forever because he couldn't bring himself to talk to her. Until the last night of the camp.

He was sitting alone, thinking about the next few hours. When they would all leave the camp ground and head to their different destination. He felt bad about how he couldn't get to talk to Jemima. He had even found her name really beautiful. Just there, as he was lost in the world of thoughts. A familiar voice that had kept him on his toes for the last few days rang through his ears.

" Hello, please is this seat taken" she had asked.

He looked up and saw her, she was standing directly under a light bulb and the light had shined brightly into his eyes causing him to cringe a little.

" No, no" he managed to say. He courteously sat back as he tried to be of good behavior. He checked his shirt for stains and rumples, there weren't any. But he groaned inwardly at the fact that he wore his least favorite and least attractive shirt today, because it was the last day. He was confused on whether to start a conversation, because he was extremely nervous and his mom had told him he always stuttered when he gets nervous.

As he was contemplating on what to do, Jemima called out to him.

" Hey please can I take a look" she said pointing at the program he was holding, her eyes glistened in the dark as he watched them.

"Yeah, sure" he had managed to say. After a while, Jemi engaged him in a very long conversation about the activities that had been going on in camp and how it felt sad they would be leaving the next day. Though his nervous and shyness made him withhold some things he could have said on a normal day to someone else. He gave comments and also talked a lot.

At the end of their conversation, he felt they had a connection. And the feelings that were already growing in his heart gained full force. But maybe she didn't feel the same,it's not a maybe, she didn't feel the same way. Because she didn't bother to ask for his name and she completely forgot about him.

Even till now...

Every year after that, apart from the numerous reasons associated to experiencing a time of fun with teenagers. He had always looked forward to seeing her, every single year.
And she did come, all those years. Four years now, but she never remembered him. Not even now.

••••••••••

Ring....Ring....

My phone rang, I picked it up from the table as I dropped my drink. It was a call from my Dad, my face twisted into a grimace, as I took a quick glance at my wrist watch.

6:50pm

My heart skipped a beat, as it started beating fast , audible to my hearing. I picked up the phone, contemplating on whether to pick the call or not.

If I did, I was in for serious scolding and tongue lashing. If I didn't, I would have double of that. I stood up and walked to a corner, placing my phone in slow motion against my ear. As I heard the voices of my happy friends as they laughed heartily.

"Hello" I managed to say. My hands vibrating already.

"Jemima, where are you!" I heard my Dad yell at the other end.

I could feel the circulation of blood in my head as my throat heat up and became dry.

"I'm sorry Dad, I'm in school. I had to finish an assignment". I lied, completely shocked on how I was able to cook up that lie so quickly. I took a quick glance at my friends and felt slightly relieved they weren't listening to this side of Me they never knew, that I never knew existed.

"Are you done now" he said, the tension in his voice slightly reducing, "cos I'm on my way to your school"

On his way!??

"Okay Dad, I'm done already. See you soon".

"Start walking to the gate then, I'll soon be there". He said as he cut the call on the other end.

I walked back to my seat and grasped my bag. Lifting it up and putting it on my back.

"Guys I've got to leave. It's late already" I said.

After some seconds,the trio volunteered to walk me to the gate. We were few minutes away from getting to my Dad who was already outside and I dismissed the girls. I didn't want to introduce the girls to my Dad at a time like this. But Ephraim decided to follow me, just to say hi to him.

Just then we saw Dare walking into the school with someone. Someone too familiar, her short and plump body gave her out too easily. Her sight reminded me of all that happened in my home the previous day. Maria.

I motioned Ephraim to hurry before they saw us. We crossed to the other side of the road and walked out of the gate. All I could do was wonder what my father's mistress's daughter was doing in my school.

" You know Maria" Ephraim asked as we walked towards my dad's car, he had already seen us.

"Yes, I do" I didn't need to wonder how Ephraim knew her. They attended the same church. "I'm late already I can't stop to greet her, that's why I didn't make us stop" I said hurriedly, trying to clear whatever questions he had on his mind.

"Oh okay, She's here for pre-degree"