Life Of Jiji

All Rights Reserved

©2022 Tena Ifiemi

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telepatia - kali uchis ♪

interference - tems ♪

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I just paid for the gift box that Khadi found on Instagram. I think its the most perfect gift. There's a pair of Nike slides, there's a sports water bottle, a customized basketball jersey top with BRIGGS written at the back and a tin of chocolate chip cookies. They say it'll be here on the 29th. I just pray it'll be early.

Damian's birthday is just one of the things on the long list of things there is to worry about though. There is inter house sports, there's prefectship elections, there's IGCSEs and we can't forget school exams either. But maybe the stress is good for me, because with all these other stuff on my mind, there's no space for my uncle to show up in my dreams.

"Hey rich girl."

"Khadijah, stop calling me that."

"You just spent 52k on top a man's head and you guys are not even dating. You're now my mentor, my master, my queen."

I burst out laughing at her choice of words, my stomach muscles protesting, "So now we're not dating? Weren't you always calling him my boyfriend?"

She shrugs, "Was hoping you'd come to your senses but you haven't so let me indulge you." She says before biting into her egg roll.

I roll my eyes. Egg roll isn't even something to fawn over.

"And its 50k, Khadi." I remind her, "Not 52."

"I added delivery fee."

"Senior Ejiro, Ms Margaret has sent me to get you."

"Who is that fly? See your mouth like 'get you', awon policeman. Did you knock?"

"Senior, its break time."

"And so, if I—" Khadi made a threatening gesture, halting her words when I leaned in and whispered to her,

"Khadi, you're an aspiring prefect."

She straightened up and looked at the poor junior, "She has heard, leave my class."

The boy scurried off and I shake my head at Khadi, "It's not even your class."

"Ejiro, what are you doing for your house?"

"Pardon?"

"The inter house sports." She clarified, already sounding impatient, "What role have you taken up in the sports?"

I stutter, "N-none ma."

"Why?"

"I'm not very good at sports ma."

"That's not quite true. You won the race during our last class."

"It was a tie."

"A tie for first place nevertheless." She pushed herself back from her swivel chair before getting up, "Come on, we're going to the tracks."

"But ma..." I scurried after her, seeing that she was already in a sportswear and trainers. "Break is almost over. I'll have a class soon."

"I have the Principal's permission. Come on, the others are there already."

Luckily for me, I had decided to wear pantyhose instead of stockings today but it didn't make me feel less silly since I had to wear running shoes with my school uniform. And it definitely didn't help that the first person that I saw when we got to the tracks was none other than Damian S. Briggs.

"What is he doing here?" I gasped out loud and Ms Margaret turned to look at me,

"He's aspiring to be sports prefect. It's good that he's making an attempt to prove himself."

I nodded, shocked that she decided to reply me.

Well, big ups to Damian that this is looking good in his résumé but I'm not sure if my legs would be able to move when my brain knows that he's standing at a corner. And as if I was not nervous enough, he caught my eye and winked. I looked away, feeling my face heat up. 

Some people were in sportswear doing high jump and I was about to protest to Ms Margaret on why I was in my school uniform but she was no longer beside me. Through my side eye, I saw Damian make his way towards me. I started to fidget; subtly shifting from foot to foot and playing with my fingers.

"Hello Jiji."

"Hey you." I smiled at him and he grinned.

"Never knew you were a sports star. I just might've have proposed like two years ago."

"You didn't know me two years ago boy."

He laughed. "I hear you're running with two other girls for a position in your house's relay team."

I widened my eyes, "Even I didn't know that. Ms Margaret just dragged me kicking and screaming to this place."

"I would never call you a liar Jiji, but we both know that sounds a bit vague." He said with a laugh.

I shrug, smiling back and just before he walked back to his position he gave me a look before saying,

"I'm rooting for you."

I will not explain the look.

"Ejiro Irikefe, Faith Chukwu, Temi Rowland, on your marks!"

The 'on your marks' threw us off since we weren't even at the starting line judging by the shocked looks on the other girl' faces which mirrored mine. I hurried to the line at took position.

"Set."

I could almost feel Damian's gaze piercing into my side.

"Go." I zipped off.

Faith and Temi were fast!

In fact, the moment I realized I was behind, shame washed over me and I almost stopped. That's when I noticed, panting and puffing that someone was running beside me. Not on the track though; outside the track, Damian was running beside me, and I remembered: He was rooting for me.

I wasn't far behind Faith, so I aimed at the space in front of her and focused on the wind on my skin rather than the tension underneath it. As we got closer to the finish line, I realized that I couldn't beat Temi but if I pass Faith, I would have a chance to do that later, so I did. I passed Faith.

I kept on with that speed until I crossed the finish line just behind Temi. Damian gave all three of us a high five although I had seen when he fist-bumped the air the exact moment I passed Faith.

Damian walked me to the hostel gate, as Ms Margaret had given me permission to change out of my now sweaty uniform since I still had two more classes to attend.

"I knew you would pass her, it was just a matter of time. You needed to see the look on her face when she found out she'd have to be last."

I smacked his shoulder, "Damian that's mean. You'll soon be sports prefect, you're not allowed to be biased."

He let his hand graze mine, "The amount of faith you have in me ehn... What's a less corny way of saying 'it makes my heart swell'?"

"Its enough like that." I giggle, "Besides, I actually do believe you'd get it. You know that right?"

He smiles at me, "I'll leave you to go and change now." He nodded at my hostel gate which we were standing just beside.

"See you!"

•••
On the day we've all been waiting for, well, the day I have been waiting for, the 29th of February, I woke up with a head splitting headache and a sore throat.

"Are you sure you'd even be able to go for morning sports today?" Tolani asked, a concerned frown marring her face as she pulled on her joggers.

"She can't." Khadijah asked trying to mask her obvious worry.

"But I have to." I croak, "Damian will be there."

Khadijah hissed, but not out of spite of Damian I'm sure, "Think about yourself for one second, I beg you."

I tried to stand up again, only for the headache to knock me back down.

"I'm going to get the nurse." Mercy says at that and leaves the room.

Few seconds after, Ayomide came in and rushed to my bed with Amarachi just behind her.

"Aww, my baby." Ayo cooed before Amarachi started wrenching my duvet from my body,

"What's all these layers? Your body is on fire!"

"Was that a compliment?" I whisper.

Amarachi only narrowed her eyes, "Seriously Ejiro, your temperature is freakishly high. Has anyone called the nurse."

"But I'm cold." I groan the same time Tolani tells her that Mercy has gone to get someone.

"I know, but you need to." Khadi says softly surprising me cause Khadijah never says anything softly but NO! I still wasn't going to take off the duvet. Cold was tearing me up!

"Please you guys should just go. I'm tired." I say turning in my bed trying to find a comfortable position.

"She has a point." Tolani says and soon they were able to get everyone out of the room.

Except Khadi.

"Why are you still here?" I ask her in a whisper.

"Waiting for the nurse."

A few silent seconds later, I spoke again, "Khadi, why is this happening? This can't be happening today, I have so much to do!"

"I know boo, just don't think about it right now." She says but that wasn't what I wanted to hear. That wouldn't help anything!

Defying all the aches in my head and joints, I sat up only for saliva to begin to fill my mouth rapidly and I'm getting up in a jiffy and running to the bathroom.

I feel Khadijah's hand on my back as I wretch my out the fluids from my otherwise empty stomach. Maybe if I had eaten it would be less painful, I thought as my whole body wretched to bring forth nothing.

"She has to come to the Health Bay." The nurse said simply immediately she saw me, "The driver is already outside."

"Can I come?" Khadi asked as the nurse helped me to my feet.

She eyed her skeptically, "Well you'll still have to leave eventually so that she can rest. Do you mind?"

Khadi shook her head, "No, not at all. I'll leave whenever you want. Let me just get some of her stuff." She says grabbing a bag.

Now I wish I had helped Damian find a less corny way of saying, 'makes my heart swell' cause I never thought I'd see Khadi be so sweet.

"Don't worry." She was telling me in the school car, "I'll call your mom and find out about the cake... Do you want me to tell her that you're sick?"

"No, please; I don't want her to worry."

Khadi sighed.

"When did they say they'd deliver the gift box?" I ask her as Nurse Amanda helps me out of the car.

"Ejiro, can you not worry about that right now?"

Inside, they check my vitals and collect a sample of my blood to run a few tests just before I eat the tiny bit of my breakfast I could manage with my appetite loss. After all the hassle, they still had me stand on the scale to check my weight before I was finally allowed to lay down. I was just dozing off when the nurse came in.

"Malaria plus plus and typhoid." She recited as she stuck a thermometer in my armpit.

"Sounds bad." I say closing my eyes.

"I'm going to give you an injection okay? It might hurt a little." I bite my lip as I felt the needle prick my skin.

"My mouth feels dry." I tell her when she's done.

I feel the cup she pushes to my lips so I tip my head forward and have a sip.

"It's bitter."

"Young man, please go. You cannot see her now."

Nurse Amanda and I both turned at the ruckus coming from the reception. It was Damian, I knew it.

"Please let him come in, he's my friend."

"He can come later. I've given you something to help you rest."

My face crumpled up at the realization of what she said, "No...please no. I don't want to sleep. You don't understand, I have so much to do..." I start to cry, the tears hot on my cheeks... Too hot, burning almost.

I had finally cracked, from all the disappointment and frustration that came with this unexpected illness.

"Ejiro, calm down please." Nurse Amanda begs, frowning at the door. "What you're doing is not good for your health. The sooner you can get some rest, the sooner you can leave here, okay?"

"Okay." I squeak, giving way to a very wide yawn.

Two more yawns and I'm out...like a light.

When I wake up again, Khadijah is the first person I see. She smiles,

"Everything's here!"

My yawn and sigh of relief kinda mixed themselves up.

"The cake, and the gift box?"

She nodded.

"What's the time?"

"Past one." Came a different voice.

Khadijah stood up and Damian immediately took her seat. I'm a bit alarmed that he might've heard our discussion but Khadi, catching up on it just shook her head and I relax

"Hello."

"Happy birthday."

He laughed, "I know you've been dying to say that. Thanks."

I made a face, "What do you mean?"

"Okay, I'm leaving, bye." Khadijah says, looking like she just caught Damian and I doing dirty deeds when we're in fact just talking.

Damian and I both give her a wave and she leaves.

"Its so inconveniencing to be sick." I groan.

"I was a bit worried, You—"

"A bit?"

"Shh, I'm trying to sound brave here."

I giggle.

"You were fine last night, what even happened."

I shrug, "A team of mosquitoes attacked, nothing deep."

Damian laughed, "When did you become funny?"

I fake gasped, "How dare you!"

"I don't want to ever be sick in this school again now that I have a best friend." He winks at 'best friend' before leaning in, "Needles make me cry."

"I would pay to see that."

"Shush, bestfriend! I just implied that I don't want you to see that."

I snorted at the way he said 'bestfriend' like some gay wannabe.

"Why didn't you tell me about your birthday?" I ask after a quiet moment.

He shrugs, "Didn't want you to think you had to do something. It's just another day, nothing special. Let's not talk about the fact that some years it doesn't even come."

I frown, hating every bit of that talk, "Why would you say that? You shouldn't think that way."

He shrugs again, "But I can though, that's why I didn't say anything." Then he smiles, "But stalkerish Ejiro here..." His laugh interrupted him when I gave him a stink eye, "Stalkerish Jiji, I like that better."

I'm about to swat his arm when Nurse Amanda walks in, "Thankfully, you've exhausted this." She says examining the IV bag, "So you're free to continue this outside, the School Clinic is not the place to get lovey dovey. Also, you'll still be on medication you'll be getting from the hostel dispensary. If there are any other concerns and complaints, well, this place is always open."

"Okay."

"Now shoo."

I don't know if it was the IV or the sleep, but I did feel refreshed and not so weak anymore although if there's anything I know about malaria, it's that the symptoms could decide to fluctuate; at one moment you think, 'Oh, I'm better now' and then few hours later, you have a high fever and a pounding headache again.

But, let's not be negative.

I turn to Damian, "I missed sports this morning. Was looking forward to see you play everything."

He chuckled, "That sounds sarcastic."

"What? No, seriously."

"Just say you want us to go to our spot."

I coo, "Aww, so it's our spot now?"

He looked at me incredulously, "You stingy human, did you think it was yours alone?"

I roll my eyes as we walked across the field to the basketball court and then the bleachers looking over it. That's when I realized that we kinda had a spot in our spot, cause we always sit on the same seats every time we come here together.

We were seated in silence for almost a minute before Damian leaped down the seats and down on the court. I looked down in confusion and slight fear (cause that jump was scary) while he just grinned exaggeratedly and gave me two thumbs-up.

"So, bestfriend."

I close my eyes. Again with that awful tone?

"I've decided to give you a show. Since you deserve it for being such a good bestfriend."

I couldn't hold it anymore, I burst out laughing, tears about to fall from my eyes, "Stop saying it that way." I plead as he disappears beside the bleachers and appears again with a ball.

"Bestfriend!? Why?" He calls, as he enters into the court, bouncing the ball in front of him.

His first 'basket' seems almost effortless and so is the second after it and the third as well but when I really start to get into it is when he dunks for the first time. I almost stand on my seat. Who knew I would enjoy watching one-man sports this much?

And then it seemed I wasn't the only one getting into it because the next thing I knew, Damian was shirtless. When it happened and where his shirt was were two questions I'd never be able to answer, first reason being that I didn't know and second reason being that my brain is too shook to be doing any answering anyway. I can feel my mouth dry up so I know my mouth is wide open as my eyes go over every contour of his chest.

1, 2, 3, 4... Six! He has six of them! Or is that eight?

He's not exactly muscular which is actually okay, cause as much as I love The Rock in movies, I'd rather not date his lookalike. Damian was more lean than muscular in fact, but you see that chest... I've never seen anything like it. I don't even want to see another like it. Like, this boy is fine enough to not need such an amazing body.

"Woah! Jiji did you see that?"

I blink.

"What?"

"I just did a three pointer! Three times in a row!"

"Huh?"

He sighed, looking a bit disappointed, "Were you not watching?"

"Oh, I was. Believe me."

We leave when its almost lunch time because Damian needs to freshen up and me too, I realize. Since I've practically been in bed all day.

After I've taken a bath, trying my best to avoid wetting my cannula, Khadijah and I walk to lunch together. All the others had already left and I would've stayed back in the hostel since I didn't have an appetite anyway but since Khadijah was only behind since she was waiting for me, I decide to go out. Even if it's just to watch the others eat.

It's on our way to the cafeteria that Khadi tells me her ideas for the surprise. I'm surprised and so thankful because while I was trying to get everything I didn't even think of how everything was going to come together and immediately it'd have hit me, I'd probably have lost my mind.

So, the cake was in the kitchen. Khadijah, surprise surprise is related to the head kitchen staff and asked her to keep it in the fridge. Then she got permission to throw a small party after night prep.

"Mide bought drinks." She adds and my eyes go wide.

"That's amazing, oh my God. That's so sweet. I didn't even think of drinks."

"Thank God you didn't." Khadijah mumbled, "Like you haven't already spent enough."

I ignore her and even if I had an appetite, I'm too happy right in this moment to even be hungry.

I can't wait for tonight!

•••

Hi everyone! So if you didn't already notice, the surprise I mentioned in the A/N of the last chapter was the new cover. I hope everyone loves it because I do and I was really excited about it since this is the first time I've changed my book cover.

To all new readers, thank you for joining the family and I hope you're loving this book enough to stay.

I love you!

Tena.