Life Of Jiji

All Rights Reserved

©2021 Tena Ifiemi

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jeje de whine - ckay ♪

mother - charlie puth ♪

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I didn't feel like going to my room to sulk so I went into the balcony instead. I tried to call Damian again but it just rang, he didn't answer. I sighed and scolded myself for being so bothered. After staring at my call logs for the longest time, I moved over to WhatsApp and started leaving messages.

I see that u called me.

I'm sorry, I couldn't pick up, my mom was there.

It wld have been weird😅

Y aren't u picking up my calls? Is it payback?

Are you okay?

"Oh, sorry. I didn't realize anyone would be here."

I looked up from my phone and saw
the owner of the voice already retreating, with his baby sister in his arms. I loved how much he cherished his sister. It always made me feel a certain way when I saw them together; like a sad 'awwn' because it was adorable and I wish I had something like that. She'll hate him when she's a teenager though, he'd be so overprotective.

"You can stay!" I immediately called out. "I'll just go."

He raised an eyebrow as he let out a dry laugh, "Why? This is your house right?" He said, his tone confusingly bitter but I've learned not to judge Muna. I can't say I know what he's going through but I understand that it must be hard.

I shrugged, "Everyone knows that you're always here." I tried a smile but I wiped it off, feeling stupid when he didn't react. I made to leave again but he stopped me.

"We can both stay." Having said that, he grabbed a seat and moved it to the far end. Then he set Gracie down on the play mat and just watched her.

I looked back at my phone and pressed the power button. I and Damian's chat screen glared back at me. Suddenly feeling stupid about it, I deleted all the messages I had sent and exited the app. I sighed, wondering what to do next when Muna shocked me by speaking to me.

"Are you always so quiet? Or am I making you uncomfortable?"

My eyes widened and I waved my hands, "No, not at all."

"Which question are you answering?"

I tried to remember what he had asked, "The second one."

"So you're always so quiet?" He asked, taking his eyes off Gracie and looking at me.

I frowned and looked away, "Since when do you talk so much?" I retorted quietly but defensively. I hated when people tried to read me, the thought that they may find something scared me.

I think I hear him chuckle, I'm not sure but when I glanced at him he had his usual blank expression on.

"I feel bad...for being here." He spoke definitely catching my attention. He continued before I could think of asking anything, "For making y'all uncomfortable and for how I speak to your mom. My mom is Nigerian so I know that it's not okay... It's just.."

When he couldn't continue, I leaned forward, "You can't help it Muna. You shouldn't feel bad for anything."

He laughed humorlessly, "I don't understand why though. Mom was finally going to be happy..." He broke up, his face a mixture of anger, grief, sadness and fear of continuing. "Gracie is just a baby, she won't remember her."

He looked away and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. It seemed like he was crying and I felt like I wasn't supposed to be there. Even when girls cry in front of me, I'm awkward as hell and this is a boy; the gender which society deems uncrackable.

"I should kill that fucking driver!" He suddenly said, his voice calm and his tone icy. He sounded almost sinister and I actually shivered.

Either I had been thinking out loud or my face just displayed everything on my mind because he then stared at the ground, looking regretful. "I'm sorry." He said.

I spoke quickly, feeling the need to reassure him, "It's okay, I understand."

He hummed and played with Gracie's hair.

"I wish I met your mom." I said before glancing at his face, to gauge his reaction. I've really been talking too much these days, "She must have been amazing."

"You have met her actually. Of course you don't remember though, it was when we were younger. I'm sure there was a time when we ran around chasing each other."

My eyes widened on their own accord. Seriously? How didn't I know that? His last sentence sounded like something that was supposed to be humored but Muna said it with such a straight face it made me...cold.

"And please try not to speak about her in past tense. I can't bring myself to do it -or hear it- yet."

I nodded and I must have been so on edge, when my phone rang I jerked. I grabbed the phone and stared at the screen.

"Um, excuse me..." I rushed out as I darted out of the room. Thankfully I got to my own room quickly enough that the phone hadn't stopped ringing.

"Damian."

There was a pause at the other side of the line that made me uncomfortable, "It's not Damian. It's his brother."

"Oh, um..." I started even though I wasn't sure what I was going to say—I was very confused.

"You're Ejiro right? I'm not sure since that's not what he saved your number as."

"Yes, um... is Damian there?"

He laughed, "He was. He wanted to talk to you. It makes me sad that Damian doesn't have any real people in his life, y'know. Why you were the only one he would talk to in that moment is beyond me but if whatever he feels for you is not mutual you should better stop stringing him along—"

"What are you talking about?" I asked, nervousness reducing the tone of my voice.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"What are you doing!" I heard another voice growl. It was a voice I knew too well, with a tone I had never heard on him. He was angry.

My hand wrapped around my neck, What had happened?

"Maybe it's actually my little brother's fault and not yours. He has always been too trusting..." The voice began to fade and I flinched when I heard a crash.

"How dare you!?" I heard Damian say to his brother before the phone hung up.

I stared at the phone on my lap as unwanted tears welled in my eyes, I knew Damian was talking to his brother but strangely enough, it felt like that last statement was directed at me. Which was stupid, right? I mean, how dare I what?

Right?

I called again. Twice. But he didn't pick up and my heart sunk to my stomach.

I pushed myself up and into the bathroom and placed my hands under the tap letting the water calm me down for some seconds before splashing it on my face. I refused to look at the mirror as I grabbed a paper towel and went to lay on my bed.

I half expected Damian to call me and talk about what happened. Why he had called me earlier and to tell me that he wasn't actually mad at me. Cause the thought that he might be angry with me, terrified me for some reason. Okay maybe not for some reason, Damian is the best friend I've ever had. He's understanding, funny and kind but most of all, I like him and I feel comfortable around him. I actually let him hug me! I don't want to lose what I have with him over not picking up a phone call, so I hoped he'd call back.

Damian didn't call though and I felt stupid for waiting.

Muna and I spent more time in each other's company in the days that followed. Although he hardly talked, he was really good company and I felt like he really got me. Gracie was fun too and very playful although there were heart wrenching times when she'll start chanting, 'mama' and look around. In times like that, I felt like I was intruding because Muna would always look like he was trying not to cry.

Mom took us shopping two days before Christmas. She said that this year we were going to get gifts for each other. It wasn't really something we did in my family but then it wasn't really something we did in Nigeria at all. Since TJ is the only person that can leave the house without supervision, mom was taking us all to SPAR to get stuff. Gifts are supposed to be a secret till you unwrap them, but since we were all together, I don't even know how we would achieve that.

For someone who didn't want to leave the house at all, Muna seemed eager for the trip. He wouldn't admit it though, but I could tell.

"What exactly can you buy in this place?" He asked me after I let him into my room.

"Well, it's a mall so..."

"Yeah, it's a mall but I've learnt not to expect much from this country of yours."

I laughed, "Your both parents are Nigerian, Muna."

"Yeah, but I'm American." He said making a pose in my mirror.

I smiled, this quirky side of Muna was so rare even when he opened up, "Are you hoping to meet one fine girl or something?"

"I've already met one."

I gasped dramatically, "Are you serious? Who?"

He turned to me, "You."

I threw my pillow at him, "Stop playing."

•••

I didn't know what to get for anybody. I never really spent my allowance so I had quite a lot of money but mom still gave us all cash for our spendings. A gift for dad troubled me the most. Was he even going to get me anything? What does he even like? The whole thing made me realize that I didn't know anything about the people in my family.

I'll should just get TJ a shirt and maybe a piece of jewelry for Reya...you can never go wrong with that. Right?

I squinted when I thought I saw Muna coming out of Ruff-n-Tumble. I waved so he could see where I stood with Grace in her pram. He sighted me, waved back and started walking over.

Baby madness coming over me, I bent and looked into the pram smiling at Grace, "Look baby! Look it's big brother Muna!" I cooed in a baby voice I'm sure would sound annoying and very embarrassing.

I definitely wasn't ready for what was coming when I got up because I stumbled back and almost lost my footing.

He reached for me, steadying me with a hand on my back, "Ejiro."

I seemed to be in a daze for a few seconds, both confused and in shock and I hoped we didn't attract much attention because we must've looked questionable with me just standing there, staring at his beautiful face.

Then I snapped out of it pushing him away, trying to wheel Gracie around him but as expected, he stopped me again.

"Ejiro, hey, I didn't expect to see you here." He said and I ground my teeth.

"Likewise."

He chuckled uncomfortably, "Stop sounding so formal."

I looked away, "Don't tell me what to do."

"Ejiro... I wasn't telling you any... Please talk to me."

"Damian please." I begged not knowing exactly what for. I wished he would leave, but I also wanted to hug him. I guess what I really wished for was that I didn't meet him here at all.

"Eji—"

"It's obvious she doesn't want to speak to you." Muna said coming between us.

"And who the hell are you?" Damian sparked up. "Who is he?" He turned to me and I understood what he was thinking.

Muna was a fine guy around our age, he looked super cool (braids and all) and we were together at the mall. If we were abroad we'd probably pass as young parents with me carrying Gracie around. I should tell him that Muna is related to me and that he shouldn't worry about that but instead I said,

"It's none of your business."

Damian's eyes flashed and I imagined he looked exactly like this when he yelled at his brother that day for talking to me. I tried not to pay attention to the goosebumps I could feel forming on my skin.

His eyes followed my arms as I wrapped them around myself and his they softened.

"Please Ejiro, we need to talk." He begged.

I finally gave in but that was because everything I was feeling was about to burst out and make a mess and I didn't want Muna witnessing it. Muna had a stoic expression and it scared me because I hadn't seen him like that in a while. He looked like he was when he hated everybody.

He didn't know anything about Damian before this shocking meeting but he looked almost disappointed and it probably bothered me so much because I was a bit disappointed in myself too. Damian had hurt me by making me think I had hurt him if that makes sense. I might have not said I like him back but he probably realizes how little control I have over myself with him.

"I'm sorry." He said once we got somewhere private.

"For what?" I asked, resting on one leg, my eyes down.

"I practically ghosted you without an explanation and my brother... I'm sorry Ejiro."

"Then what is the explanation!?" My heart screamed. "I wanted to talk to you Damian! I missed you! I was scared that I did something wrong, why did your brother say that?" I cried inside me but all I could say out loud was,

"Okay."

Damian looked annoyed, "Say it Jiji, that's not what you mean to say."

"Don't call me Jiji." I say and it comes out harsher than intended but Damian doesn't flinch.

"When would you learn to trust me Jiji?" He calls me by the nickname again like the stubborn goat that he is, "I trusted you when I told you about my mom!"

My lips quivered, this is what I didn't want. It scared me when people opened up to me, because they always expected me to do the same, like some law of physics. I couldn't just tell people that I'm scared of everything and I could randomly throw up or faint when triggered and I have nightmares where my uncle rapes me in different scenarios because he actually did; when I was nine years old.

I couldn't just tell people that my dad knows and that was why he wouldn't relate with me. That he bought me an expensive phone to remind me not to spill and to make me feel better about telling me not to talk to boys because nobody needed someone like me...someone who wasn't normal.

It was until I felt strong arms pull me in that I realized that I was crying, my shoulders shook as I soaked Damian's shirt. He shouldn't be around me. I knew the truth about me but he didn't. I shouldn't deceive him like this. I willed myself to push him away but I only cried harder and hugged him back.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." He said when I had calmed down a little and I hated him for apologizing so much. "I won't push you Ejiro, but I want you to know that I'm here for you. You are very special to me and I'm sorry if I've made you feel any less."

My heart went funny at his words and I pulled away, blushing as I stared at the ground.

"I'm sorry about that...and your shirt." I say, I had noticed the giant map I had created on his tee with my tears before looking down.

"Are you joking? I have your tears on my shirt. I'm never washing it again."

"Damian, please stop." I fought a smile as I unattractively wiped my face.

"What? Only girls are allowed to do stuff like that?"

I blushed, "Stop."

"Hey, I'm sorry okay? A lot of stuff happened and that day when I called you, my mom..."

My heart clenched as he trailed off.

"I guess I just needed some sort of encouragement." He laughed nervously.

"Oh Damian, I'm sorry..."

"You don't need to be." He argued but I shook my head.

"No, I'm sorry I missed your call. I hope your mom is okay."

He forced a smile, "She's hanging in there."

I sighed and fell silent and that was when my phone chimed. It was a message from Muna.

We're leaving soon.

My hand flew to my forehead, "I need to go." I announced as I remembered all the things I hadn't bought yet.

"I'm glad I saw you, Jiji. Can I call you."

My heart jumped in excitement, "Sure." I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

And when I turned around, I didn't know that the smile he wore was as wide as mine.

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Whew! I know the wait has been long guys and I'm sooooooooo sorry! Writers block can be such a bitch but then it happens to the best of us.

I don't know how I feel about this chapter. As the writer I guess I can never be fully satisfied but I hope you like it anyways.

So, Iyanuoluwa-Temi started reading my book like a week or two ago and she's already given me a shout out in her own book. I'm so excited because I'm a fan of her own books and their really amazing. 

Anyways, my point is that some of you don't give me enough credit sha. Why have you still not reposted Life Of Jiji?? Sha, it's you that knows (∩_∩) 

I promise to *try* to update soon, so please vote and comment!

I've probably said this a million times but I love reading your comments <3

love, Tena