Life of Jiji

All Rights Reserved

2020 ©Tena Ifiemi

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ΞЛТΞЯłЛG łЛТФ ТHΞ ЯФФM, I banged the door loudly behind me to alert Chisom of my presence. The noise made her jump and she quietly moved away from my wardrobe. Taking note of my face, she hissed and rolled her eyes.

"So its even you."

I didn't say anything for a while. I just stood there staring at her while she moved to her own wardrobe and started taking things out of it. I wanted to say something-I felt like I had to-but what to say and how to say it, I didn't know.

"Chisom, I don't know what I did to you..." I started and she gave a short laugh. The courage I had mustered up shrunk at that but I pushed on. "But I'm sorry. I swear I don't know anything about any outing with Mitchell. I don't even have feelings for him. Mitchell and I are just friends, Chisom."

I stopped there because I didn't have anything else to say and when Chisom didn't speak, I felt dumb for even saying anything. I noticed that in the time I was talking she had finished undressing and wrapped her towel around her body securing it with a hand on her chest. Picking up her bucket, she walked to me and placed a free hand on my shoulder.

"You should really stop talking to me." She said. "Cause I'll never have anything to say to you. You're not worth my time Ejiro." With that, she walked past me making sure to brush her shoulder against mine with a force that screamed 'I hate you.'

But why? I have been careful. I have done everything differently! While I didn't expect people to like me and want to be friends with me, I didn't think anyone would actually hate me! Except if its for being quiet and avoiding trouble. And apparently, having a boy as your friend.

Knocking the door impatiently, Chisom finally got my attention.

"I hope you realize that you'll pay for what both Ovieya and Kadijah did." That being said, she banged the door shut and my head reciprocated the action; It suddenly felt like twenty women were pounding foo-foo on my skull. How it hadn't cracked already, I really didn't know.

This payback Chisom talked about, I didn't know what it was and at that moment I didn't think much about it because the women in my head were not done pounding their foo-foo yet. But later on, I would wish that my head didn't hurt so much so that I could've focused more on what Chisom said. Because she meant it.

Same time, the next day, Dami came to our room looking very upset. She went to Nini and they spoke in hushed whispers but I managed to hear bits and pieces especially when Nini started to raise her voice.

"But I warned you about this..."

"What will you tell mommy now?"

"Daddy will kill you."

So I knew it had to be bad.

Then Ayo finally asked what we've all been dying to know. I don't know why she and Chisom didn't ask since but as for me, I didn't ask because I don't think Dami likes me very much. Since that Chisom incident she has been very hostile.

"Dami, what happened?" Ayo asked. Dami hesitated but Nini probed her.

"Let's just tell them Dami, they might be able to help. Besides, its not as if anybody would snitch."

At this Dami glanced at me. What?! Did she think... I suddenly didn't even want to know anymore.

"So..." Dami started. "I brought my phone to school and now I can't find it."

"Yikes." Ayo said.

"Dami!" Chisom screeched covering her mouth with her hands. "Chill, is it the iPhone?"

"Of course its the iPhone! What other phone do I have?" Dami said, obviously getting irritated and more and more frustrated.

"So what do we do?" Nini asked breaking the silence that had ensued.

"We could ask around?" Ayo suggested but Chisom shook her head.

"And you think the person that took it would say 'yes, I'm the one that stole the phone'? I think checking everybody's wardrobes would be more effective." She countered.

"Yeah? How do you suggest we check the Year 12's wardrobes?" Dami wanted to know.

"Who said we have to check them?"

"But what if it was one of them that took it?"

"You don't think it was a Year 11?"

"I honestly don't think it was any Year 11 or Year 12. Its probably a Year 10." Nini said.

Chisom just laughed.

~'√÷×'~√÷¶∆~

I didn't join them to do the wardrobe search because, I didn't see myself walking around the hostel with people that hate me for reasons I don't know and risk getting caught by Ayoola. Besides, I don't think they'll appreciate my presence anyways. So, I lay back on my bed reading a novel I got from Kene, hoping that they find Damilola's phone soon enough. They didn't find it that afternoon though, so they said they'll continue after night prep.

Worse case scenario, it was actually a staff that found the phone and seized it which would actually be really bad cause there'll be a lot of consequences and if they really stick to the school's constitution then she might not be getting her phone back. Ever. But if it was a staff that seized the phone they'd have summoned her by now. Right?

When I got to prep that night Mitchell was not there. Thankfully. I decided to take a different seat from where we usually sat to avoid him but that didn't stop the boy from rearranging some seats and coming to sit beside me immediately he came in. I made a sound of obvious distaste and concentrated on the history assignment in front of me not sparing him a glance. Missing class definitely had its downsides.

"You're avoiding me." He stated matter-of-factly.

"I happen to value my life." I said still not looking up even though it was hard to concentrate on my history assignment when the fact that I knew Mitchell was looking at me was making me uncomfortable. And besides I really wanted to hear what he had to say. Maybe I could finally understand why Chisom hates me so much and what role Dami plays in all of this.

Mitchell scoffed, "You're afraid of your class girls? That's low Ejiro."

What!? How dare he!? Did he even hear himself? Was that not supposed to be offensive? And even if I was afraid of them, does he know what I have been through? and I'm not talking about just recently. Does he know how seriously this affects me? Do I have to beg to be accepted anywhere I go? I was boiling with anger. I don't think I have ever felt this way before. I can take a lot of things but straight up judging me? I was livid and I would like to believe I have every right to be.

As if noticing the mood his words placed me in, Mitchell cleared his throat and out of the corner of my eye I thought I could see him scratch the back of his neck.

"Umm, look, I- I didn't mean it that way but see..."

"I know exactly what you meant Mitchell." I said and he felt silent.

Forcing myself to focus on my homework, I finally completed the History assignment and was about to put the book back in my bag and take out another subject when Mitchell blurted out.

"I'm dating your sister."

"What?" I said snapping my head in his direction, my History note halfway in its journey to my bag.

"I'm dating Ovieya and she told me everything that happened to you so I know what happened and although she's against it, I believe I owe it to you to explain the whole thing." He said. "So the thing is, I used to date Damilola."

He paused for a brief second as if to let it sink in but something told me he didn't want me to say anything. Yet. Besides, the boy was on a roll! I don't want to interrupt him, so I nodded but he had continued before I had even jerked my head.

"And during the summer me and Ovieya started to talk more and I started having feelings and it was mutual. So one day, we went out, one thing left to another and we made out."

Its my sister we're talking about o. If I tell you this didn't make me feel some type of way then I'd be lying but she's in Year 12 abi ? She's sixteen and besides, its her life so who am I to judge... Even though the thought of kissing a boy made me cringe. That's what making out entails, is it not? Kissing and the likes. Ew.

Well, not exactly 'ew' since I see them kissing in movies all the time and they look like they're enjoying it but sometimes I feel like screaming, "Do you guys like to get high on saliva or something!" Because forget the romance and reason with me here. Kissing is basically continuously swapping saliva and sometimes they get so high on it they actually put their tongues in each others mouths! Oh no, I'm getting a visual and its not something you want to see.

"Ejiro? Are you listening?" Mitchell asked bringing me out of my gory thoughts.

And I appreciated it.

"Sorry, go on." I said, my face heating up.

"So, word got out and I told Dami and we broke up. She didn't break up with me, I broke up with her. I know this would seem unfair since I'm the one that cheated on her but I was doing us both a favor. Damilola doesn't even live in Port Harcourt. It would've been months before I saw her again and I had strong feelings for Ovieya. I felt guilty to be dating Damilola when I would be thinking about another girl. She didn't want us to break up and I know I broke her heart but with Ovieya there, I think I would've one way or the other. Anyway, that's why most of your class' population hates me and Ovieya too, I guess."

I didn't know how to take this. So he cheated on Damilola with Reya and now both of them are dating? The triangle is so messed up.

"When did you start dating Reya?" I asked him.

"The second day of this month." The answer left his mouth immediately I asked like he has been waiting for me to ask it.

I laughed shortly as I remembered something. That day after sports when Reya had come to meet me acting like someone poured vodka in her water bottle. She said it was the happiest day of her life and she asked me the date and I said it was October 2nd.

The day Mitchell asked her out.

And so, that day Mitchell was writing that thing he was hiding from me, it was to Reya. I laughed again.

"What's funny." Mitchell asked and the irritated look on his face, for some reason made me laugh again.

"Sorry, sorry." I begged throwing my hands in the air when he glared at me.

"So...?" He said.

"So, what does Chisom have to do with all of this?"

Mitchell shrugged and brought out a textbook. "I have no idea. But please don't tell your sister I told you this. She's shy."

Shy? I nearly choked on my imaginary chips.

~|√Πו•Π÷¥^=∆•~

Night cap today was Kream Krackers and Nutri-C. Over-diluted Nutri-C. I decided not to complain because it would be like talking to a brick wall so I tipped the cup and drank up, trying my best not to taste it. Side by side, me and Ayo walked to our room. I just wanted to bathe and sleep but apparently my roommates had other plans for me, judging from the looks they were giving me when I walked in. I thought it was Nini at first, because she was sitting on Niniola's bed but then she walked up to me and asked,

"Ejiro, what was my phone doing in your wardrobe?"

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Hello, babies!!!

I know, it's been forever and I'm sorry but believe me when I say I've been busy. Here is the update you've all been waiting for. Well maybe not all, because I don't even know whether you guys actually look forward to my updates but anyways, here it is.

I'll try to work on another chapter since its weekend because my weekdays are so packed I don't even have time for myself. Don't ask me what I do, lol.

Hope you're day went well, or is going well. Depending on the time you're reading this.

Bye! See ya! Love ya!

Tena❤