Life Of Jiji

All Rights Reserved

©2022 Tena Ifiemi

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Deep breaths Jiji. Deep breaths.

I inhaled, doing just as I repeated in my head. Chisom's taunting voice had long faded from my head and my roommates' as well when they stated why it was impossible for Damian to like me and not be sexual. What plagued me now was Khadijah and Reya's voices when they asked why I told Damian to give me space after accepting his apology.

"Do you think he's lying?"

"Why then? I expected to be hearing wedding bells by now."

I breathed out, letting pent up air as well as emotions out of my lungs. Although as for the emotions; I could only try.

I switched on the tap loving the sound of the water rushing, serving as a bit of distraction from my thoughts. I sigh when my hands finally make it under the tap and I scoop the cool water and splash it on my face.

"Ejiro?"

I turn around to see Zainab.

"It's time, right?" I ask and she nods. I use the electric dryer to dry my hand before following Zainab out of the girls' toilet.

How long had I even been there? I thought as I noticed the empty classrooms when we passed.

"Senior Ejiro!"

I put on my best smile as I had practiced in the mirror every morning in the past week. "Ola, hi!"

She started to chant, "Senior Khadijah for Library Prefect. Senior Tolani for Cafeteria Prefect. Senior Damian for Sports prefect. Senior Amarachi for Head Girl. Senior..."

I listened as she continued to call out the names of the people she was voting and a hint of a genuine smile began to make it's way to my face.

"Amazing choices, Ola." I tell her and she beams. Then I lean in to whisper to her, "Don't forget, If the person beside you is picking differently let them know how wrong they are."

She grinned, "Already done."

"Isn't that against the rules." Zainab pointed out beside me with a laugh as we continued on our way to the auditorium.

I shrug, "What's the worst they can do?"

"Disqualify the aspirant."

"What!?" I turn back seeing Ola bickering with her friends. I hold them in view for a few seconds before shrugging again, "They wouldn't dare."

Zainab giggled, "Yes ma'am."

When I remained silent, Zainab nudged me softly, "Don't tell me you're worried. Damian has this okay? Did you hear his manifesto? It was the best! His claps were the loudest."

I chuckle, "I'm not worried exactly. I know he 'has this'. It's what I might never have I'm worried about."

If Zainab didn't understand, she didn't ask.

"This is going to be as brief an event as it can possibly be. A small booklet will be passed around by your teachers and you will tick the box beside the name of the person you think is right for a particular post. After which you will stand row by row to cast your votes in the boxes here at the front. When you entered the hall, paper wristbands were attached to your wrists. After voting they will be cut to ensure that nobody votes twice.

"There are rules. While the voting process is going on which includes the stage where you tick your chosen candidate and the stage when you cast your vote, there should be no verbal communication. If you speak you will be sent out. If you campaign for anybody from now forward, not only will you be sent out but your candidate will be disqualified."

There was a string of murmurs after that and Zainab leaned in and whispered, 'I told you so.'

"After casting your vote in the box, you are to go back to your seat and wait while the votes are being counted. The votes will be counted right in front of you in a process we will try to make as quick as possible. Immediately after the results will be announced."

Murmurs escaped from all corners of the hall again as the Vice Principal went to take his seat after speaking and a chill went down my spine. I know I said I wasn't worried but I don't know; this is a bit scary.

Just as soon as the thought came and went, I was handed my own booklet. I brought out my pen from the purse in my lap and opened the booklet. It wasn't a hard decision since these were my classmates and even in the midst of a few people I barely knew, in every category there were familiar faces.

As I flipped, Ola's chants rang into my mind;

Senior Khadijah for Library Prefect. Senior Tolani for Cafeteria Prefect. Senior Damian for Sports Prefect. Senior Amarachi for Head Girl.

Chisom? No.

I ticked all my friends' names and acquaintances and even a few random ones and just as quick as VP promised, we were done with that phase, the teachers were ushering us out and we were casting our votes.

Since I got back to my seat, I haven't been able to stop my leg from bouncing. With how anxious I was, someone would think I was one of the candidates. At the thought, I peeked at Khadijah at my other side. Her knuckles were pressed to her mouth and her leg was competing with mine for most bounces per minute.

I sighed and brought mine to a stop. Slipping my hand into her free one, I whispered, "You got this, okay?"

She was still staring into space but she nodded. I thought she wasn't going to say anything since she didn't for the next two minutes but then she whispered,

"I really want to win this. I need to..."

I turned to her even though she still faced front, "And you will." I said in the firmest voice I could muster so that she could believe it. So that I could maybe force it into existence.

After what felt like eternity, the head of the Prefect Electoral Committee who was also a teacher grabbed a mic and cleared his throat into it. Everyone sat up immediately, the anticipation realer than ever.

"The votes have been counted..." He began and chattering rang out in the hall. "I will mention a prefectship post, the candidates and their individual scores and the winner and I'll repeat that process for the other prefectship posts."

"Now, Social Prefect. Bisola Olajide; 101 votes. Joshua Bassey; 222 votes. Chisom Ike wins with 224 votes."

People clap and I hear Khadijah whisper beside me, "As narrow as her thinking capacity." I coughed out a laugh and gave Khadi a mock stern look making her crack a smile.

"I forgot to mention..." The PEC head starts, "If you're mentioned as the winner of your post, make your way up to the stage." After saying that he continued calling stats and winners and I saw Tolani and Khadijah go on stage before he got to Sports Prefect.

When they called Khadijah as the winner for her post she actually started crying. I was so shocked, I didn't know what to do. I didn't think I'll ever see Khadijah shed a tear.

"Sports Prefect." The man called and my whole body tensed in anticipation. When I inched to the edge of my seat, I didn't know.

"Tope Makinde; 202 votes. Damian Briggs; 358 votes."

At first, I didn't put two and two together. The hall was quiet and I stared at the man at the podium but my mind was not really on him. It was as if everything paused until Zainab threw her arms around me causing me to jolt.

"Can our new Sports Prefect make his way to the stage."

That's when the screams started.

It was the first standing ovation of the afternoon. I relaxed into Zainab's hug as people jumped and shouted beside me and tears filled my eyes. As soon as one rolled down my cheek, I laughed because a few minutes ago, I had wondered why Khadi cried. Damian's cheers lasted so long that the coordinator had to beg us to take our seats.

Some wins even though based on majority were antagonized but it seemed like everyone really wanted Damian to win. Out of everything, I smiled the most for that. At least he has that to make him happy.

|Damian Briggs|

"Damian. Pleasant surprise."

"Sounds like reflex...like you say that to everyone." I replied matter-of-factly.

She smiled, "Guilty. But it is in fact a surprise to see you here and it's also not unpleasant in the slightest so there's truth in my greeting."

I shrug in my seat rethinking my decisions.

"Is there something you want to talk me about?"

I sigh, "To be honest, I'm questioning why I'm even here. I wanted to unload my mind somewhere and school counselors are pretty much snitches."

She laughed, not seeming the slightest bit offended. "I heard you're a prefect now. Congratulations."

I roll my eyes, "Thanks."

"You don't seem excited."

"Well its everything I've been wishing for since Year 7 but I have bigger things on my plate these days. When your problems are bigger than the good things in your life, it tends to shadow them and you could forget to smile."

"I agree. Care to share these problems, Damian?"

When I don't reply, she sighs, "Does your silence have anything to do with you thinking I'm gonna snitch you to the school?"

"It's a very valid reason to be silent."

"First of all Damian, I'm the School Psychologist, not the School Counselor. You must be a bright student cause almost everyone is sent to him for grilling based on their grades from once in a while."

I frown, "Thought there were two of you guys."

She shook her head, "Nope. You must have missed it but even the sign on my door says School Psychologist. Your school is one of the few in our country that realizes the need for a psychologist hence my employment. Even teachers come here from time to time."

I leaned in, "Correct me if I'm wrong but your licence could be revoked if you're found to have leaked my business."

"Shocker; wouldn't have pegged you for a worrier but yes, you're right."

I relaxed in my seat and drag my hand across my face before shaking my head with a small chuckle. "Everything is so messed up." I say not knowing exactly how to begin to tell someone about my life. Someone who was an adult and a staff in my school. But I knew I had to get things of my chest, if only so I can breathe properly.

Since she didn't still speak, obviously waiting for me to continue, I took a deep breath. "I've always wanted to be sports prefect. If I was going to be a prefect, it couldn't have been any one else...even if they handed me Head Boy on a gold platter. The day has come and gone and I'm yet to be excited.

"You have already concluded that this is because of some problems you're going through."

I nod.

"These problems, can they be solved?"

"I wish I knew. Neither are in my hands. If they were, I would've solved them in a heartbeat."

"How is your friend? The pretty girl you came here with the other time."

I stilled and raised my eyes to meet hers in a sharp gaze, "Why do you ask?"

The woman smiled, "You claim you want to talk, Damian but you're still a tad bit uptight."

I frown not knowing whether to feel offended or challenged. Then I muster a smirk, "You want to know my girl problems?"

She giggled now, "If you want to call it that. If it makes you feel better."

I didn't expect to succumb but I left Dr Nafisat's office feeling very...light.  I succeeded in telling a school staff as much of my life's problems as I could and I surprisingly wasn't even bothered. If anything, I felt relieved.

Gosh, I really am messed up.

"Sports Prefect!"

I rolled my eyes at Khadijah when I glanced behind me and was met with her unpredictable gaze.

"Library Prefect."

She smiles, "I like the sound of that."

I ignore her and keep walking, my large strides overtaking her with a large gap in seconds. She sped up her walk and caught up.

"Is it me you're ignoring? This small boy."

For some reason that made me stop in my tracks and a laugh generated from somewhere in my stomach.

"You're sick, this girl. Emi small boy? I'll pick you up like you're my basketball and throw you over the fence."

"Eh ehn!? Does Ejiro know you say things like this? If its her you're talking to now it will be 'aww baby', 'love of my life', 'sugar in my tea'."

I couldn't help the laugh that followed that, "That's actually very cringe. Do people say that?" I widen my eyes dramatically, "Do you call your boyfriend 'the sugar in your tea'?"

She scowled at me and I finally stood to face her, "What do you want?"

"What we're you doing in Dr Nafisat's office?"

I narrow my eyes at her, "I don't see how it's any of your business."

"I'm just concerned at the intensity with which my girl has broken your heart."

My jaw ticked as I glared at her, "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"I'm concerned for Ejiro but now I'm concerned for you as well because in her hurt she's hurting you and she's unable to stop."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I demand again, my voice not losing its hostility.

"Ejiro has a secret. I don't know what it is but I know its serious and I know its what's making her distance herself from you. I know this secret is one she plans on taking to the grave with her but I also know that if you don't get her to open up to you, you can kiss any progress in your relationship goodbye.

"I know you know that she's hiding something. You don't want to invade, I don't want to invade. I won't but maybe you need to. Just probe a little bit. Even if not for your relationship, for her sake. I'm worried about her... that this thing, whatever it is, will eat her up because she thinks she can't talk to anyone about it." Khadijah looked straight at Damian, "Be the person she tells, Damian."

Damian was quiet for an entire minute after Khadijah went silent.

"I know that Ejiro has something to hide but doesn't everyone? Don't you have something you'd also like to take to the grave?" I let that statement hang until Khadijah dropped her gaze.

Hmm

"I don't see how that has anything to do with her not liking me. Its a hard fact I have to face. I must have pressurized her into saying it the last time, I'm not going to push her into saying anything again. Don't come to me with this again, it doesn't look good for you as Jiji's friend, okay?"

I left her then and went on my way and she didn't stop me which I'm grateful for. I'm just not grateful for the fact that the session I had with Dr Nafisat just now has been wasted cause I can not longer feel the calm I left there with.

I debated whether to stop at the school gym or go for a run on the tracks. I've always worried for my mom but her being abroad for treatment makes me more than antsy. I randomly have these terrible visions that something bad is going to happen to her and she's going to die in a place so far away and I'm going to find out a whole week later.

I've never been religious so when adults say to stop being so negative and have faith, well... I wish I could but I can't help it. I'm a realist and I know that it can happen. The least Pete could've done is get me out of this godforsaken place. If she would die at least I should be beside her. It's my mom's fault. She spoiled me. Maybe if she hadn't been so doting I wouldn't be such a mama's boy and maybe it would've hurt less.

That's why its good that I prepare myself before it happens. Perhaps if I live like it already has, when it does it wouldn't be new.

Then the worst thought hit me, making a painful jab at my chest. What if she's already gone and this is part of the one week I said they're going to take to let me know.

"D-damian?"

I look up sharply seeing that I had unconsciously made my way to the tracks. I sigh when I see who called my name. Perhaps if I was looking I'd have known she was here and gone to the gym instead. She was avoiding me and I didn't want to make her uncomfortable so if I saw her first, I'd turn. Its been the routine for the past week.

She had been running too, taking this inter-house sports practice more serious than most. I see her pushing herself and I wonder why sometimes. These days she's pushing herself with everything; sports, studying... I know I shouldn't be paying so much attention to her but I can't help it. I've liked her for months and I still do... no matter how much I tell myself to stop hurting me.

I slowly leveled my gaze with her face cursing myself for not walking away. The sun was her friend today, highlighting her face in ways that made my heart skip beats. I looked away from her lips immediately my eyes went to them cause nothing else would be wise.

She wasn't looking at me. I used to think it cute, how shy she was but that nagging negativity now tells me that she just can't stand to look at me. Just my luck isn't it, to have two women torment me all at once.

I clear my throat and say her name, letting it hang in the air like she did mine. Let's see how long it takes her to her to flee today.

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my dear readers, I neglected you and i'm sorry : (

i hope you enjoyed this chapter though... even though it's seriously unedited.

my real life is really stressing me out and I hope as different individuals from different backgrounds with different things happening in our lives we can all understand that. this is not to say i would not try to keep updating, i'm just disappointed in myself cause i really wanted to finish this book this year

well, maybe i still can..

au revoir! à bien tôt!