“The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions.” – Leonardo Da Vinci.

•••

“Here we go,” Tomi exhaled, as he pushed the glass doors open and stepped through it, releasing it the moment he crossed the threshold, not caring if someone was trailing closely behind him. Actually he did it in purpose. An audible hiss was expelled from behind, before a growl-faced Alexis came into sight by his side, rubbing the pound of flesh protruding on his forehead. “Oops.”

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Alexis snarled, releasing the hold he had on his phone and letting it sink into the pocket of his trousers. “Sometimes, I just don’t get you.”

“And I just don’t get you too?” Tomi said. “Despite the fact that many accidents have been publicized related to people pressing their phones, while doing something else—you still press yours like you’d be separated from it soon–”

“One can’t predict when Jesus would come–”

“And like you still won’t have it all to yourself. If you had been looking up like a normal person, you’d have seen the door coming hard at you. So don’t complain. Next time, keep your head up and your phone in your pocket, until you’ve reached a secured position that you can afford to use it.”

“Wow, you sound like mom already.” He scowled. “The only difference is that I have to take her ranting because I need her money, but yours nah.” He finished, before striding forward—leaving Tomi behind.

“Oh really, and who is with your movie ticket money?” Tomi’s lip twitched, and Alexis whirled around abruptly.

“Hey, that’s my money. Not yours!”

“I guess I really I am your mom, then. Judging by the fact that I’m holding money of yours, given to you by someone else but still I’d regard it as mine. Now, if you don’t behave and respect me like the son you are, you might just never get the money back.”

“Sure, I won’t.” Alexis lunged at him suddenly, but he anticipated it. Swiftly, he ducked to his right—completely stepping out of the way, and setting up Alexis perfectly to head butt an incoming middle-aged woman, who had several bottles of soda stashed on a tray. Tomi swallowed, taking in the damage of the collision after it happened. The bottles of course, tumbled to the floor and rolled in several, uneven directions.

“Oh, no. I’m so sorry.” Alexis began to say, as he scurried about chasing after the bottles of rolling sodas that seemed to be running away from him. People around, began to laugh and some even brought out their smart-phones and began to record the comedy unfolding before their eyes.

Typical ICM behavior, Tomi smiled as his gaze moved about, taken aback at the quick escalation of their audience. This wasn’t good, it was probably going to end up in a comedy skit.

Oh, at least Alexis would finally get that popularity that he so much needed.

“What the hell is going on?” A familiar voice, behind him startled him and he needn’t turn around to know who it was. The girls had arrived. He felt her intoxicating presence, as she came up by his side—smiling at the scene of Alexis scampering about and making a fool of himself. He almost didn’t notice April come up by his right, because Rena was that present.

Looking as dashing as always, she was wearing coated black, slim fit dungarees on a white and black striped tee and black denim shorts that ever so accentuated her curvy, yet prim shape. Standing straight, he noticed that she was slightly taller than he was, which was definitely owing to her low-heel, black ankle boots. Damn it, she always exuded perfection. Was there ever a time where one feature in her appearance didn’t attain such defiant heights?

“He was probably scammed into believing he’d get those bottles of Coke for free if he ran around to retrieve them.” April was saying, and that was when his attention returned back to the present moment and he realized he wasn’t just alone, trapped in a chasm with Rena. “Fine, Coke is awesome but that’s too much stress, especially when you could end up starring in a Kraks Tv Skit titled – ‘Desperate boyfriend, trying to pick up scraps of his heart after it was broken.’”

He couldn’t help but laugh, and look April’s way after hearing her comical quip. She too looked dashing, even more dashing than Rena if he wanted to admit. She wore a green, leather jacket which upper buttoned-latches were undone, baring an inner black vest. Faded, deep blue jean trousers hugged her legs tightly, ending over her ankle where her feet was tucked into tightly, laced up heels.

Suddenly, he felt self conscious and inferior in his simple outfit of a maroon, cashmere sweater over black fitted trousers and brown brogues. It was pretty over the edge for a male, but still simple and formulaic when compared to the girls’ outfit.

“It’s an accident that I know he’d be thrilled to explain, when he gets back here.” Tomi replied finally, just as the drama died down and the crowd dispersed. They were currently in the long cubicle of space, preceding actual entrance into the main building and the throng of shops situated by its sides. Although it was well past noon, the illumination pattern didn’t fail to produce its usual, glow effect like it was well into evening and light rays weren’t penetrating the glass doors. “Speaking about that, he’s heading out.”

“Of course, you didn’t expect him to just continue going in and act like everything is fine. The eyes that would follow him.” Rena smiled, as they watched Alexis step out of the building. “Speaking about following people, I think we should follow him.”

“Got it,” Tomi said, stepping forward and the girls followed behind him. They didn’t stop until they had disembarked from the short threshold, and were in a secluded corner of the front building between two cars where Alexis stood—leaning over a car and of course brooding. A cold chill ran down his spine, at the thought of being pounced on by his friend but he remembered the girls were following behind and therefore Alexis would act with manners.

“Hey, fugitive.” April smiled, moving closer to him and shoving him gently on the hand. “That was quite a scene. Are you ready to be popular?”

He gave a noncommittal shrug, and proceeded into exchanging more words with April that became difficult for Tomi to hear, the moment he realized—a soft, delicate body frame snuggling into his. His brow arched, as he stared straight into Rena’s eyes—leveled of course by her shoes, and she smiled devilishly before planting a light kiss on his lips.

“It’s a good thing, we came here after all.” She rasped, still not stepping out of his arms and he involuntarily slid his right arm round her waist.

“Yeah, it’s not like you could do that back there.” He smiled, his gaze roaming her entire profile and not staying in one place.

“Oh, it’s not about that. I can do this back there.” She shook her head. “It’s about this…” She kissed him again for a short while. “This…” Yet, another light kiss. “And most of all…this.” And this time, she sealed his lips for a long time, devouring them with an unhinged desire and he did his best to match hers.

“Urgh! You guys, get a room or something.” April’s amused squeal made her pull away, not entirely pull away since she refused to step out of his embrace. “Just look at the poor boy. In the space of one week, you’ve corrupted him so much.”

“Funny how you would say that given account of similar stuff you’ve done in the past.” Rena rolled her eyes. “And with less familiar people.”

“Yeah, sure I did it all the time.” He thought April was hurt, by her smoky monotone but what did he know about girls anyway. They probably did this to each other all the time.

“Anyhoo, I say we wait here for the next five minutes for the heat to die down concerning Alexis drama.” April continued, lowering her gaze to a brown, leather wrist watch. “Even here in ICM, where there are so many people—people that don’t even know us, we still have to act like the royalty we are and avoid spotlight. It’s really is in our blood, isn’t it?”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Rena snickered, her attention now on him. “So what’s the plan for today? Are we going to see the movie and just go home? How long can you spend here before your mom starts calling you?’

“Hey, you don’t have to say it like—like the way it is.” He groaned. “I have to get home before 5:00 P.M. so I have to leave here let’s say an hour before then.”

“And the movie is two hours and a couple of minutes long, so we’d have an hour and a couple of minutes, tops to do something else.” She replied. “I know it’s somehow putting much thought into planning the entire day—it’s not like I’m much of a planner myself, it’s just that it’s not every time we’d have the luxury to hang out like this and I don’t want to spend any minute doing something that’s not appealing.”

“How cute.” April sneered, again.

Rena threw a withering look to her side, before looking right back at him. Waiting for a reply.

“Well, I don’t know. We could just—stroll, you know. If we’re lucky we’d find some stuff that’d catch our interest, and if not we’d just talk and–”

“Take crazy pictures. Let’s not forget that.” April’s face lit up like street headlights, beaming to life. “With wild poses and all that. Everywhere, so we can flaunt our outfits. I didn’t just dress like this to go see a movie, and go home.”

“Maybe, if we’re lucky we’d ask around and see if they have a beauty pageant around here so you can parade yourself.” Rena said, bitterly again. “I’m not surprised, this is ICM. They have everything. It’d be so great.”

April poked Alexis on his tummy. “You, what do you feel like doing?”

Probably, hauling you up on that car to kiss you. But he couldn’t tell April that, rather he interrupted with something equally snide. “Probably empting a drum of Coke over my head, on national TV. With the way he’s looking at me like that, as if there is one hidden treasure hidden somewhere in my body.”

They all laughed.

“Seriously though, there has to be a make sense something we can do after the seeing the movie.” April said. “Maybe we should play those 3D, virtual reality games. God, they’re so exhilarating. The last time, I was screaming the hell out and I made so much fun of myself. But that’s not even enough to stop me from playing again.”

“Okay, number one—we’re not interested in embarrassing ourselves again and attracting more eyes, Alexis has done that quite well already. Sorry about that, no hard feelings.” Rena smiled in his friend’s direction. “Two – that is not going to facilitate time sharing with us, as we’d be playing the games separately. I need an activity that is great that we could all do together.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” Alexis finally spoke, after what it seemed like a century since he stopped talking.

“Sorry?” Rena tilted her head in his direction.

“Maybe, you don’t know what you want but I think you do.” Alexis pressed on. “You want some alone time with Tomi. That’s it. This—me, April tagging along…” He paused, to gesture to April and then himself. “Was only to provide a perfect excuse for a date, isn’t it? Don’t be ashamed, Tomi is that ignorant. He probably hasn’t figured that out yet.”

Was that it?

The gentle lowering of Rena’s head, and the subtle dilation of her eyelids said it all. This was supposed to be a date.

“Which is why Alexis and I are going to hightail into thin air, once the movie is done to give you some space.” April laughed. “But now for real, we need to get back in there before the movie starts. I don’t want to take seats in the front.”

And so they followed her directive, and headed straight for the cinema to begin their much fun, scheduled day. Tomi could only wonder what other thing Rena had initiated, and had conveniently kept him in the dark about. If there was, he could only hope it was something equally exciting.

*****

“Okay, so Thor is so hot.”

Rena remarked out loud, a bit too loud as she caused the whipping of a plethora of heads in their direction, as they walked out of the cinema and back out to the open, general space.

The past two and half hours had indeed been memorable, and also boundary breaking. Not that she hadn’t gone to the cinemas to see a movie with a hot guy in the past, but this hot one had so much appeal. It was the first time she experienced that childish, restlessness that she frowned at in the past when she saw a couple make a fuss, eventually drawing attention to themselves. Now, she was doing so and she realized why it was so much fun.

“Sure, the take away from the movie is that Thor is hot, not that the movie was great or something.” Tomi said sarcastically, and she knew he’d have rolled his eyes if he were female. She elbowed him gently, with her left elbow which was linked in his and laughed.

Alexis and April also were in another world in front of them, as their comport seemed intimate. Poor Alexis, she thought. Only God knew what April had in mind for the ignorant boy. But there was something different about the way April treated him. They had been chummy for several weeks now, and she wasn’t throwing herself on him yet. Like she was bidding her time, which she never did.

Whatever was going on, she could only hope that no one got hurt in the process.

“Yeah, the movie was really great. I just don’t want to—say something, you might not agree with and kill the vibe, you know.” Rena said, swallowing. “You know, the movie wasn’t obviously that great to you.”

His brows creased. “Why would you say that? It was awesome, and one of the best Marvel films. The best this year, in fact.”

“Really?” She was surprised. His body language, now and during the film said otherwise. “But you acted so – unmoved by everything going on. Like it wasn’t blowing your mind away, it was for everyone else. Alexis also, I noticed you guys were just sorta withdrawn. So in my head, I’m like the movie isn’t really that awesome because of their attitude and April and I are only hyped because we’re girls and we hardly see stuff like this.”

Her explanation, caused his eyes to widen and he smiled a bit before he shook his head.

“Okay, I have a confession to make.” He cleared his throat. “Alexis and I have seen the movie before.”

“What? How!” She frowned, abruptly breaking the grip and drawing attention of the duo walking ahead of them.

“Well, the movie has been sorta out for an entire month, and I’m a Marvel fanboy so.” He bit his lower lip. “Of course, I saw it the first week.”

“So, why didn’t you just say so!” She frowned, feeling betrayed. It was a frivolous matter and didn’t hold much meaning, but she couldn’t get a grip as to why she felt disheartened. Probably, because he lied to her. Whether it was a trifle matter or not, he lied and refused to share information with her and she didn’t like the infidelity sentiment it portrayed.

“Calm down, it’s no biggie.” He said. “I just didn’t like the other movies in the schedule, and I knew we’d be seeing some sort of romance, or even worse – a Nigerian, movie if I told you that. So Alexis and I, decided to keep shut about it so we could see Ragnarok.”

“Something you’ve seen about a month ago.”

“Something, everyone has seen about a month ago.” He said, his lips twitching. Obviously, he found this funny. Her making a big deal out of it. “Besides, it’s not about me enjoying myself, it’s about you enjoying yourself. And I pretty much enjoyed myself, knowing you enjoyed yourself. That’s all that matters, really.”

She couldn’t stop her face from flushing slightly. “Nice save. Next time, do tell me if there is something going on that I don’t know about. I don’t like it when people hide stuff away from me.”

“Got it.” He nodded.

“Hey, if you guys are done with your family drama we could really go get that ice cream and finally get out of your way for the rest of the day?” April called out to them in an amused tone, and continued ahead with Alexis without waiting for them to catch up.

She linked her arm with his again, and they resumed their trek. “For the record though, I wouldn’t have chosen a romance or one stupid Nigerian movie like that.”

“And what would you have chosen?” He looked down at her, curiously. “Another cheesy film?”

“Nah, we’ve had that already no need to rehash it.” She smiled. “I’d have chosen an horror movie or something close to a really scary stuff, so I can have the excuse to grab your hand from time to time, and also bury my head into your chest.”

“Really? You should have told me that was all what you’re interested in and I’d have saved you the stress of coming all the way here.” He laughed. “We could have just headed to your house, and then stare at my chest for the rest of the day for as long as you want.”

She laughed, and prodded him on his rib again as they came out into the open. Due to the high volume of general multiple conversations ongoing, and music blaring from speakers—they silently resorted not to speak any more word with each other until they got to a less noisy place. The exits were already in sight, and they moved closer to the stalls on the right where their destination - Cold-Stone creamery was.

Upon getting there, they settled into a table while the girls remained on their feet—obviously, about to leave to take their orders.

“What flavor would you guys be having?” April asked, as she released her bag from her shoulders, letting it fall on the chair by Tomi’s left. Her own seat was opposite April’s, which meant Alexis was on her own left.

Tomi’s forehead became wrinkled, and she thought she caught whiff of a smile zooming past his face. Like he briefly remembered something, hopefully it wasn’t something significant or else she wouldn’t take it lightly.

“I’m not an ice-cream person,” He said breaking the silence. “I’d have whatever Rena’s having.”

“Which means, you would be having what I’m having.” April winked at Alexis, before pulling Rena away towards the counter behind them. She cautioned her friend to behave civilized, as they made about the action of placing their orders. As usual, Cold stone staff were being the professional children they were. Playing with the ice cream, as it was being shoved in the air and caught in platters, like multiple stones skewering about—propelled from catapults instead of being passed from one person to another. It was indeed a sight to behold.

A fair man with a receding hairline, who Rena was sure was in his early twenties finally attended to them. Adjusting his black-rimmed glasses, he smiled at them baring his teeth. Rena couldn’t help but smile back also. He was cute in a geeky, oblivious way.

“Your orders?”

“Uhm, I’d have the Banana caramel crunch. Two platters.” Rena replied, turning to April and gesticulating with her head for her friend to go on with hers.

“I’d have the B Cube good.” She smiled.

Huh?

“You don’t mean the Berry, Berry, Berry Good?” The attendant’s slip quirked in amusement.

“Too much stress calling it thrice,” April’s shoulders rose. “Who makes these names, anyway?”

“Is he or she going to know the number of platters you want? Because I sure as hell don’t.” The attendant replied, and April returned back to her senses.

“Two also.” Rena said in her stead, before the guy leaned back and bellowed an order across to the other folk on the table.

“So uh, let me guess—double date?” The geeky guy smiled, returning his attention to them. “And I’m guessing those two boys sitting on that lone table, are your boyfriends?”

“No!”

“Yes!”

Rena turned an incredulous look on April. “What do you mean yes?”

“And what do you mean, no? As If you don’t have feelings for Tomi.” She rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t make him my boyfriend and Alexis, yours also.” Rena snapped.

“You think I care about that? They were obviously going to give us a discount!” She facepalmed.

Oh!

April shook her head. “Urgh!”

“Hey suck it up, it’s just a couple of bucks–”

“That we’d have saved.” She cut in.

“Don’t worry, girls. We’d still give you your discount.” The geek guy was laughing, obviously amused at the drama going on. “But I’m taking it that they’re not your actual boyfriends.”

Rena finally relaxed. “No, actually. Just one, I have feelings for and the other one who is his close friend, tagging along to keep April company. You must have a very sharp eye sight, though to see the boys from there. I can’t even see them properly from here, without straining my eyes.”

“Who said I saw the boys at all in the first place?” He arched a brow. “All I need to do is take one good look at you, to know you’re here with boys. With the way you’re all kitted up and all.”

“What do you mean?” April frowned. “I’d totally look like this if I was coming here without a boy in my company. I look good for myself, without boys around or not.”

“Keep on telling yourself that, girls. Keep on telling yourself that.” He drawled, as their orders finally arrived on a tray. After handing it over to Rena, he flashed one final smile. “Have a nice fake date.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle, as she walked back to the table. The boys who were clearly engaged in a heated conversation, after noticing they had returned—let their banter die, as April distributed the ice cream.

“So, so far, so good. Have you seen any familiar face?” Rena asked the group, although her eyes were only for Tomi by her right. “Anytime I come here, I end up seeing someone or a group of people I know. Funny how I haven’t seen anyone at all today.”

“Are you sure you haven’t seen anyone at all?” April asked with a smirk on her lips, as she licked her ice cream with glee. “Or you have but you were too busy, or too lost doing something else that you didn’t notice.”

“Ode, even if that were the case and it totally isn’t—the person would have seen me and called me. Which didn’t happen.”

“Or maybe they called you and you couldn’t hear because you were just so lost in another world doing something else.” April laughed again, much to the amusement of everyone else. “The mainland, though. How can people envy islanders like us and think we’re living the life when they have something as awesome as this right here. And how can the island be called the best part of the country, if we have to come all the way down here to get stuff like this. Everyone be deceiving their selves.”

Tomi laughed, scooping ice cream into his mouth. He appeared to be enjoying himself. “We have these things, we just don’t have them all in one place.”

“Exactly, that’s the point.” April said again. “Having them all in one place and having an atmosphere like this that’s bubbling and making sense. On the island, with their annoying noise policies and restrictions—the closest you’d come to having a lively atmosphere like this is only if you go to night clubs or for an average person, when you’re in church. It’s just so annoying. The island is overrated.”

“While many here would beg to differ,” Rena said. “Envying us living on the island. Ours is even worse. At least if you’re living in Ikoyi or Victoria Island it’s still a lot more better because they’re even interconnected and not so secluded and far from the mainland. But Lake County is so far, it’s like you’re taking a trip from home to your village. But the good thing is that you can always waste extra time every time you leave, and lie to your folks that there was bad traffic even if it wasn’t that bad.”

“Okay, now I have an excuse to stay longer.” Tomi chipped in.

“You’re going to spoil this boy so much, Rena.” April shook her head, turning to face Tomi. “When she’s done with you guy, you won’t even recognize yourself and your parents also won’t. I advise you make a run for it while you can.”

“I’m irresistible, he can’t.” Rena laughed. “Plus, I’m quite persistent. I’d just run after him if he tries such.”

Tomi arched a brow. “In those heels of yours? You’re just going to make a scene like Alexis did earlier, but this time it’d only be more embarrassing as Kraks TV would have a funnier headline. ‘Desperate ex chasing after boyfriend after she previously dumped him, before he blew.’”

“Why would they go as far as that?” She placed a hand over her laugh, to inhibit the volume of her laughter.

“Because I would turn around dramatically and say – you for dey for me. When the boy dey hunger.” He replied, causing them all to burst into another bout of laughter. “Ah, seriously. Nigerian songs ehn, they don’t make sense.”

“They’re not supposed to make sense.” April contributed. “They’re supposed to be groovy and make you move your body and dance. I mean anytime – WO just comes on or any other shaku shaku ish song, I just can’t stop myself from bursting into a dance. Even If I don’t understand more than half of what they’re saying. And that’s an understatement.”

“It’s funny how songs that are recorded in native tongues tend to blow up these days.” Alexis said, finally speaking since the inception of the conversation. Rena had almost forgotten there was another boy in the group due to his characteristic silence. “Look at Despacito, staying on top of the billboard for sixteen good weeks. And that even sounds shorter than it is. It felt like eternity. Like the song was never going to come down.”

“Before Khalid came in with that his Wild whatever song I didn’t even like.” Rena said, now scraping the bottom of her ice cream cone. “You said – songs as if it pass Despacito on the global level, and WO here in Africa. Which other indigenous song do you know that blew up everywhere like that? They’re not that common.”

“That’s why music is just gold.” Tomi smiled. “Unlike everything else, you don’t need to find it relatable or understand it before you can like it. Like Movies or novels for instance. It even extends to science and all its productions and all. But music, all you need to do is just fall in love with its sound and that’s all. It’s just a plus if you find it relatable or you understand it.”

“I’m telling ya,” April agreed. “It’s also what people like the most. Music first, then movies then novels. Haha, novels are so low in rankings – especially in this part of the world sha.”

“Of course, someone like you wouldn’t like novels.” Alexis said.

“I actually don’t have a thing against novels, if it’s my type of stuff and its entertaining enough.” April clarified. “One time, when I was at Moyin’s place – Rena, you weren’t there for some reason. It wasn’t so long ago, I think it’s the time you had Tomi over. I found a novel lying about, and the front cover appealed to me–”

“Let me guess, it was a picture of a half naked man.” Rena interjected, rolling her eyes.

“Of course, you know me so well.” April gave her a knowing wink.. “And then I asked Moyin if it was a good novel, and she said she didn’t like it because it was too raw and crass. As in vulgar and all that, I was like cool totally the type of stuff I could like and then after reading the first few pages—I found out that I could like novels after all. As far as its, like Tomi said written in a relatable language that I understand, and not in those big grammar and ancient English and also has a lot of sex. I enjoyed the book o. The title is Egomaniac by Vi Keeland.”

“Whoa, you must have really enjoyed it for you to remember the title and the name of the author.” Rena sat up.

“Of course, I’m for real. The next Monday, after completing I asked the mumu girl if she had more books like that and she said no, that she of course told me before that she didn’t enjoy it. Anyhow sha, I made a note to my head that if I ever find myself near a bookshop I’d definitely—wait a minute! Isn’t there a bookshop in this place?”

The boys nodded, and Alexis confirmed. “Yup, it was one of the first shops by the entrance. And I’m very sure it had novels, because when we passed by it—I looked inside and I saw novel-like books in it.”

“That’s great,” April stood up instantly. “The only problem is I don’t think I have enough cash, if they have a novel by the same author there. But still there’d be no harm in checking. Alexis, c’mon let’s go check it out and leave this two love-goats with themselves.”

Tomi and Rena could only laugh, as the duo took their leave.

“Wow, April hurrying off to go buy a novel.” Rena said. Adjusting her chair so she faced Tomi properly. “Of her own free will, and not because the Math teacher told her buying it for him would guarantee an A.”

“Miracles do happen.” Tomi shrugged.

“Yeah, especially one like this.” She said. “If someone had told you on resumption day, that the weekend before exam week – you’d be hanging out with me and April, what would have been your reaction?”

“No reaction at all.” He shook his head. “Because of course I’d have thought such senseless statement shouldn’t even be worthy of a reply. I’d just run my eyes through them, and just leave like they hadn’t said something. Honestly, that’s what I’d have done if I don’t break down in laughter after being told, because the thing is funny as fuck.”

She tried not to take offense at him emphasizing at the ludicrousness of both of them being friends.

“But yet, here we are. So, let’s talk.”

He finally met her gaze, pushing his half filled cone aside. Obviously, he wasn’t a fan of ice cream.

“We’re talking, aren’t we?”

“Let’s talk about us.” She clarified. “We’ve been doing a lot of kissing these days, sure it doesn’t mean that we should keep on kissing each other and also keep on acting like we’re still friends.”

“Oh, you mean you’ve been stealing surprise kisses from me without telling me.” He laughed.

“If you didn’t want it, you could have pushed me away.” She spat angrily, not knowing where the sudden charge of anger came from. Of course, he was only messing about. He didn’t mean it.

“It was just like you said earlier, you’re so irresistible.” He winked, and her rage melted like candle wax. “So okay then. Of course, I know we can’t keep on acting like things haven’t changed between us. The question now is – what do you want us to act like, now?”

She sat up, taking his hands. “Like a real, actual couple.”

“A couple?”

Her heart sank. Why did he have to repeat her statement with such astonishment, and unbelief like what she had just said was totally foreign and strange? Or had she being fooling herself since these days? Thinking they had something more because they had declared their feelings for each other, and were now intimate? What did he want, exactly?

“I don’t mean for us to get married, if that’s what you’re thinking because I can’t seem to understand why you sound so surprised.” She frowned, withdrawing her hands

“No, no. I didn’t mean it that way.” He sighed, keeping her fingers in place within his grasp. “It’s just the term that scared me a little. So, uhm you mean the official, girlfriend and boyfriend thing.”

“Well, it’s not like I’m a fan of labels. But it helps to define what we are to each other well, and yeah – it tells other girls to back off and that you’re mine. So yeah, let’s do that. We would be low key about it of course, no need to be worried. Don’t think I’d ask you to kiss me in the hallway or walk me to the hall every day with our arms linked together.”

He chuckled softly. “I know you’re not that dramatic.”

“So, why do you look so tensed?”

He bit his lower lip, and looked away. Obviously contemplating on his thoughts, and filtering through them for a suitable answer. What could be the problem?

“I’m not clingy,” She blurted out. “I mean I won’t lie that I’m not possessive, but I’m not clingy or at least I’d try my best not to be. You’d still have your space to do whatever you like. Hang out with your guys, play your boyish games. I won’t be demanding every single minute of your life.”

“That’s not what I’m thinking about.”

“Commitment is it then?” She pressed on, her anxiety getting the better of her. “You don’t think you can stay faithful?”

“What, no! Is that what you take me for?” He frowned.

“Of course not, I’m just wondering where this hesitance is coming from–”

“Is this about Legide?”

Why in the world did you mention that name!

She jerked back, and sat up on her chair. “What is about Legide? Why did you bring her up? Are you the one having problems with moving on with what we are, because of her?”

“No, don’t go off point here. You suddenly brought up commitment, like that. I thought that maybe you didn’t trust me so much after our kiss last–”

“I already told you, Tomi. It’s nothing to worry about. I’m well over it.” She shook her head. Why that wasn’t entirely true, it still wasn’t wrong either. She hadn’t brought up the commitment point because she worried about sexual infidelity owing to Legide. It had just popped into her head without much thought. “I’m just saying things that normal people in normal relationships face. That’s all. It’s not because of Legide or something.”

His shoulders relaxed. “Well, that’s good to hear.”

Reaching for his hands again, she pulled at them. “So, tell me. What’s the problem? Something is definitely holding you back. Something you don’t want to share with me, apparently.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to share it with you.” He shook his head. “How would I put this? Okay, it’s just that—I’m a nerd, okay? I’ve always been sort of a nerd since J.S.S.1, totally not caring about chasing girls and all that like my mates were interested in. Not because I didn’t like girls, but I just didn’t see it as something for me. Now you’re saying we should label this, and I’m just like wow—I’m not only just in a relationship, with an actual girl – it’s none other than Rena Ilori herself.”

Her nose scrunched. “And are you happy or sad because of that?”

“None of the above. Just surprised that such is happening to me. It’s just like you said earlier, if someone had told me several weeks ago that this would be happening, I’d have smacked them senseless since I wouldn’t believe such could be true. One thing is saying I’d be hanging out with Rena and April, another is saying that I’d be dating Rena. But don’t get the wrong vibe off it, okay? I really, do like you and this is great. It’d just take some time to soak it all in and adjust.”

His tone was convincing, and she could see the anxiety in his eyes. He had spoken nothing but the truth.

“Okay then, I believe you.” She said, but that didn’t kill of all her worries. “What about Legide? What are we going to do about her?”

“What do you mean what are we going to do about her? You just said you’re not worrying about her, and now you just brought her up. I don’t understand.”

“Well, I just can’t ignore the fact that she’s your assistant–”

“Partner–”

“Partner whatever, and would be spending more time with you daily than I would because you both work in the same office!” She grunted. “You even have a spot to chill and watch Africa Magic Yoruba on, I mean come on. I’m a very jealous person. It’s already breaking me on the inside and it hasn’t even started happening yet.”

Despite his best effort to stifle his laugher, Tomi couldn’t. “Okay, look. Stop saying it like we have hours to ourselves every day. The time we’d spend together won’t pass a couple of minutes at several intervals. Which would be when we run into each other in the clinic while we do our jobs, and we would always be in company of other students and even if we aren’t. the clinic is like the most open place in the school. Our interactions would be strictly formal and nothing else.”

“And that’s supposed to make me feel better?”

“It is, Rena.” He nodded. “What else can I do? Write a letter to the school administration for you and her to swap posts because I like you?”

“That wouldn’t be so bad.” She laughed.

“You, health prefect.” He repeated in an incredulous voice. “If that happens, we’d start having an alarming number of boys visiting the clinic. Not because they’re sick or injured but because they just want an excuse to talk to you.”

She couldn’t help herself but laugh at the expensive compliment he had just thrown her way. But that didn’t throw her mind off her worries.

“But seriously, though.” She continued. “Put yourself in my shoes, what if my partner was someone that liked me a lot and…” She trailed off, realizing the hypocrisy in her words.

“Yes, can you see now?” Tomi said, matter-of-factly. “You have someone in your life, who also works closely with you and likes you, but yet I don’t worry as much as you do because I trust you.”

“No, it’s different.”

“How?”

“One, there is four of us. Not just me and Itunu. Secondly, I’d never let Itunu come close to me to the point that I’d give him one hot resounding slap, because there Is just a thin line between what I feel for him and disgust. You sort off like Legide, I don’t have that for Itunu. So yeah, very different.”

“Okay, first of all – I don’t sort off like Legide.” He replied, mimicking her voice in a way that made her laugh. “The kiss was a surprise one. Secondly, It’s not just Itunu I’m talking about. I’m talking about everybody else. Eighty percent of the boy population in the school has feelings for you and April, that’s like just more jealousy for me. Because I’m not only jealous when you’re with Itunu, I’m jealous when you’re also with Dabby–”

“Dabby, inyama!” She hissed. “That one is too disgusting, abeg. Don’t ever, ever worry about Dabby. And he doesn’t like me in that way also, it’s mutual. It’s always that way when you’ve known someone for so long.”

“Okay then. Everyone else, because they’re all trying to put the moves on you.”

“You have a lot of girls who admire you also, Tomi.” She smiled, running her index finger over his left cheek.

“Not as many as yours. Even if they were as many, I’m a boy. Girls don’t come on to boys, as much as boys come on to girls. So even if I had a lot of girls who like me, I wouldn’t be disturbed by most of them. Just the very few ones who are confident. The rest would just be admiring in silence.”

He did have a point. He had every reason to be more jealous, and insecure than she was. She wasn’t the one dating the school queen, whose accessories sparked up conversation and fashion style became trends for the entire student body. Whose interaction with a relatively unknown person, could stimulate rapid popularity or whose slightest falter could cause the descending of the greatest of hells.

She swallowed, finally seeing his point. “You’re right, Tomi. Very absolutely right. But I don’t know, you just don’t seem moved. I just appear like the one who is more jealous, you know. I don’t know. You don’t look like the type who could be jealous.”

“Do they write it on the face?” Tomi laughed. “I’m pretty sure that I’m every bit as jealous as you are. You’re only talking that way because you can only feel your jealousy, and you can’t feel mine. Simple. Don’t be deceived, I’m every bit as much as a jealous person as you are.”

She shrugged. “Alright, if you insist then. We’d talk about this later, they’re back.”

She adjusted her chair back to its original position, as April and Alexis joined them back on the table. She was able to deduce from the defeated looks on their faces, that their mission wasn’t exactly successful.

“They didn’t have any Vi Keeland book, or something similar.” April said. “And the man said, he knows the author and he previously had her books but he doesn’t have it now. Like, Baba why are you telling me you know and you previously had her books – if you don’t have it now? Are you trying to compound my pain or something? The thing is annoying, I swear.”

“Maybe he means that you could come back some other day and check back.” Tomi said.

“Oh, like we don’t live several worlds away on the island.” April rolled her eyes. “The man sha recommended that I browse it up online and see if its available for download. He also gave me an app to download Ebooks from. I hope it works, or else the trip to that place would be totally pointless. Well, not exactly pointless since you guys finally got some time to yourself.”

Rena’s eyes lowered to her watch. “It’s almost three, we should be leaving in a couple of minutes for Tomi’s sake, who has to get home before four. We don’t know if there would be traffic on the way and I don’t want to risk him returning home very late, and his mom grounding him for life because of that. It’s good not to overdo things.”

“And they said she was only corrupting me.” Tomi shook his head, in feigned unbelief and they all shared a laugh. Before anyone could make another comment, April was tapping her furiously and motioning at something behind Tomi in the distance.

“What’s it?” She snapped. “There are a lot of tall, fresh guys here. You just can’t be pointing to everyone that passes us.”

“No, idiot. Look at where I’m pointing at. It’s Itunu and Legide!”

“What!” She suddenly willed her eyesight to follow April’s finger, and then she saw it. Or rather, them. In the midst of several throngs of heads, heading in different directions was indeed the imposing figure of Itunu in an all black attire. Black leather jackets, black trousers and black boots – laughing, and exchanging discussion with that ever so malicious persona – Legide.

What the hell?

“When did they become chummy?” April looked more stunned than she was, but she only concealed hers.

“That looks a lot more than chummy.” Alexis pointed out, as his brows furrowed. Indeed, it looked a whole lot more than chummy. Legide leaned in to whisper something into Itunu’s ear in a rather intimate way, her lips almost making contact with his ear and they laughed just before Itunu fondled with Legide’s straw hat. The hell?

It wasn’t jealousy that she felt, no it was much more negative than that. Fear, was the closest thing she could label it. Not gut wrenching or nerve wracking horror, but an unsettling feeling that made the hair on her skin stand. To a normal person, the scene looked like that of a boy and a girl having a good time. But to her, it meant so much more. Legide and Itunu had never been friends or acquaintances, and now they were in ICM on an outing – like they had some close relationship all these while?

She couldn’t help but think there was some secret agenda behind it, especially the timing surrounding it. Legide getting rejected by Tomi, and Itunu coming close to hearing of his friend zone status with her. She couldn’t help but think—think what exactly?

“Rena, is anything wrong?” Tomi asked, concern spelt over his face.

She shook her head, trying to calm her raging nerves. “No, actually. Nothing is wrong.”

But that was well far from the truth. She knew something was wrong.

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Okay, so what do you think is wrong? Do not hesitate to share in the comments. The number of comments have dwindled seriously, since the past handful of chapters. So what's going on guys? I need assurance that people are still reading.

Tap that lonely star. See you next week.

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Glossary:

Terms used.

1. Shaku Shaku – Dance step/craze that went viral on the African continent. Pioneered by the music video of the most charted Nigerian song in 2017 – WO!! by Olamide.