Yobanna

"How is your health now?" I asked Selena that morning once I got to class and the way she looked at me,like that piercing look she gave me,it was unsettling.

"Better. You didn't come to school on Friday and you didn't come back to check on me"She accused.

" You were busy"I told her

" Huh?"

I rubbed my hand against my hair that I had braided again, wondering how it would sound if I told her i stormed off when I saw her talking to Zion

"You were talking to your friend,I had to go"I said instead.

She played with her bracelet and I noticed the new hair she made.

"But still..." She paused and I saw her, how she was finding the right words to use

"The important thing is that you are fine" I told her and dropped my bag on the chair and sat down. She was still looking at me and I turned around to face her and my breath hitched

Why?

"Did?..did you actually punish a student?" She asked,the frail voice was back.

" Yes,I did and that was because she was disrespectful."

She nodded. And turned to face her book.

" You and Zion...?" I was dying to ask,I didn't know how to put it.

"Didn't know you guys were close"I finally said.

" We are friends"

" That's nice" I replied and as much as I wanted to ask her more questions. I kept quiet

"So you didn't miss me on Friday?" I asked, digging my hands into my bag

" I actually had my peace of mind" She sassed and I smiled.

Imagine oh!

I finally found what I was looking for and I brought out the little card and handed it to her. She was perplexed and hesitant.

"Take it" I nudged her and she did

"This is an invite to Precious' party" She said after reading through the card and I nodded

"It's in two weeks time"I told her,I wanted her to be there.

" I don't think..."she paused

"I know you'll make it, try okay, promise you will" I reached out for her cheeks, up close she looked more beautiful,her biting her lips like that was distracting enough and then her eyes. Unexplainable,my heart beat quickened.

And then she nodded though still having that face that showed she wasn't too sure.

"By the way your hair is fine" I complimented and I watched how she mumbled the thank you while her book seemed very enticing.

I smiled.

Precious was holding a party for the sake of holding a party. So since were in Ss 1,he always threw a party for everyone and this was the third of it's kind and there was way too much hype about it,cos it's Precious. And it was like our last year in school so everyone wanted to be there cos that was like the last party Precious will throw in school.

Seems everyone wanted to attend this party,like guy,it was the talk of the week, everywhere was buzzing.

Everywhere you just had to hear Precious and party together in one sentence.

I didn't fancy parties,I only went because of Precious, according to him I had to be there to support him as a friend and you know Precious na,he always blew things out of proportion.

So myself, Ken and Dozie always attended. No matter what.

And there was an invite and only some people got to attend, we wouldn't want the whole school trying to fit into his living room and someone stealing his properties.

The invites were distributed to majorly our classmates and some few people in Ss2 and like three people in Ss 1,which was even Ken's brother and two of his friends like that.

There were some of Precious' friends that usually came from other schools.

Somehow I just felt that this party would be better and I knew why.

***

Cynthia

"I swear I saw it with my two eyes,he was giving her the invite and she was was blushing"Hadiza Hassan explained to myself,Bimpe and Ella.

"Thank you so much Hadiza, you can leave" I threw a fake smile at her and she left.

Hadiza was such a desperate human, she'd do anything to seat with us at the cafe. She had once told us that she would do anything to be part of us,I didn't even notice she was part of our set until the day she came to our table, introducing herself and all that.

We were currently at the cafeteria, eating and talking about nothing in particular until Hadiza came along to play little spy.

"I thought we warned her to stay away" Bimpe asked, batting her eyelids.

I sighed.

" Sometimes I wonder why there is such much drama about her,first the viral photos and then the kiss and now these"Ella spat talking about Selena

" That girl disgusts me"She added scrunching her face and tapping on her iPhone 11 pro max.

"Have you seen her hair sometimes?" Ella dissed

" One kind boring cornrows" Bimpe seconded

"And her uniform,just plain,the girl herself is plain,dry, ugly thing,she doesn't even have breast"Ella insulted.

" Cynthia you aren't even talking?Bimpe nudged me.

"I'm thinking" I told them.

"I'm thinking of ways to deal with that girl better,she doesn't understand the fact that she can never have him"

" I don't like the way it seems you are losing him"Ella.

I glared at her.

" I am not losing him, certainly not to that pathetic poor human"

"But that's what it seems like, remember last week Hadiza told us they both went to the clinic and now these"

" Are you trying to make me feel worse or what?"I snapped at Ella, I've not really liked her.

"You don't need to lose your cool" Bimpe tried to comfort me. I eyed Ella who was now playing with her fingers nervously.

Suddenly,the whole cafeteria went quiet and it was then the music was more audible.

Only one person had that effect, just one. Yobanna.

There was a way he walked in, like he knew how handsome he was and there was nothing anyone could do. Like you had to see his boy,his height and signature bored face,like everyone was less interesting to him.

Like I wasn't exaggerating but nigga was fine,he was ranked the most handsome in school and he just had to be tall and then his eyes were the favorite thing I liked about him. Brown eyes that looked sleepy sometimes in a seductive way.

And his hair,I prayed for a day I could probably, just maybe play with and that was why I agreed,I agreed to get engaged to him.

"Go over and meet him na" Bimpe nudged me. I knew he was still mad at me probably but I wanted to share the same space with him,breath in his colonge again. I was that smitten. And desperate,so much that I met him at the counter. I didn't know how but I found myself standing close to him, trying to caress my skirt and put my braids in order.

"Hey"

He turned around slowly and I felt his orbs on me,I didn't know what he was thinking,his face was expressionless. But I liked the view,the well carved face and towering height and one button on his well ironed clothe popped open.

I gulped.

"I wanted to apologise again, I hardly see you around, I'm really sorry Yobanna, I know you are mad at me but I really am sorry" I didn't know why I was so nervous especially with the stoic face he had on,he didn't even flinch

"Yo...."

"You are always sorry Cynthia,always sorry but never remorseful,never have and never will be"

There was a way Yobanna talked,he didn't have to raise his voice at you,but every words hit you.

I was suddenly speechless.

He tore his eyes away and ordered for two pies and soft drink.

He picked his order and he turned around to leave.

Jesus! He was leaving, without a word more, without...does he even have any emotions,was he actually going to leave me there?

"Yobanna" I stopped him,I noticed everyone was still concentrating on their food. Thank God. St Louis students were finally learning.

He stopped in his tracks and turned around.

"Don't I get an invite at least?to Precious party?" I asked calmly,it was a dumb thing to ask but jealousy was killing me especially after Hadiza Hassan had spilled everything.

"I'm not Precious"He replied coldly and walked back to his seat, leaving me there, standing, speechless.

"Cynthia how far na?" That was Precious coming in, smiling at me. He was the most jovial of the clique, though they were all calm and snobbish, Precious was better. He spoke to me few times.

He handed me a card. His invite and my heart fell,I knew I'd get an invite but somehow I had wished Yobanna gave it to me.

"Thank you" I mumbled but he was already gone and I walked back to my seat, shutting out the conversation of my friends

I looked at the brown boy who was listening to Dozie and Ken talk, looking so effortlessly handsome, occasionally inputting something here and there and somehow every move he made with his body was a work of art.

And then right before me, I watched him, I watched him occasionally throw looks in a particular direction..to a particular person. Her.

I know him,I know him and in my years of knowing him,he hardly changed his expression but his looks were soft now as he watched her,his friends were even clueless.

The girl was even obviously not aware,just sitting there and reading nonsense. She wasn't even returning the looks.

And nothing could explain what I felt, anger and more anger,my hate for her suddenly grew twice as before.

And somehow,in between my glares and teary looks,my eyes locked with Dozie.

And I looked away.

***

Selena

Precious party was like the party of the year in school and everyone talked about it and as it drew closer,it became worse,I didn't know why they were so excited about it

For starters,I had never been invited to any party since I joined St Louis,I wasn't popular,neither was I in any clique and I wasn't even wealthy.

But somehow Yobanna had landed me an invite and I knew I was not going anywhere since the party started by 7pm.

I had told Kim and she had told me I must go.

"That's like the biggest party oh,last year,social media was blazing cos of those your school people,see dressing na"She hyped the party continually, showing me the pictures from the previous year.

"And do you know the best part?" She asked me as I sat on her bed that was partly covered with her clothes.

"No"

"I'm coming with you,I got an invite"

I smiled sincerely at her,she looked happy,she still brooded sometimes,normal Kim but I liked how she related with me now, at least I didn't feel lonely.

"And do you know the best best part?"

"Which one is best best part again?"

She laughed.

"Abegi, the best best part is the fact that my mum is traveling that time and CJ is going with her"

" Mad o"I laughed.

" E choke! "She was up from the bed doing some funny dance moves.

"So we are storming that place"she told me and I nodded.

My phone churned and I read the message that came from the number I was already used to getting texts from.

When will you be free?you can't keep ignoring my texts you know, we need to talk, I know you are seeing these.

"By the way Faridah came to see you yesterday" Kim sat back to her bed, pressing her phone.

"**

When I saw Faridah making someone's hair that evening,she was doing the last piece,I smiled watching her.

"What brings the queen to my domain?" She asked and I didn't fail to notice the displeasure in her voice.

"Faridah naaa" I whined and she eyed me.

"So you are mad at me?" I asked and she ignored me, sitting on the pavement.

Music was playing from the barber shop across, some song by Adekunle Gold.

I tickled her and she stood up fighting my hands off and trying not to laugh.

"Leave me jor, you just forgot about me totally, when last did you even visit? because you are now chilling abi?"

" Faridah.."

" No na, because I no get money"

I eyed her,she can never stop interrupting someone

"You know I wouldn't do that,just that you know my step mum na and these few weeks were kinda rough for me"

"I'll try to believe you"She mumbled,then looked at my head

"Kim made it for me" I told her before she asked and she gasped.

Everyone knew Kim as the ice witch so she had every right to be shocked.

"Oyaaaaa, gist me,tell me everything" Faridah clapped.

And so I started telling her everything,from the dinner,to the photoshoot and then the apology date, every single thing, Faridah knew how to suck gist and information from someone effortlessly.

"Wow, these past weeks has been eventful for you o"She laughed.

" How is your mum though?"I asked seeing the way the house was quiet. She slapped the fly that had perched on her leg.

"She's still at work"

We were quiet for a while.

"But do you like him?" Faridah suddenly asked me and I found myself thinking. Did I like him or was I just attracted to his looks?

"I.." I closed my mouth and then Faridah's mum came in view and after exchanging greetings,I had to leave.

"We are not done yet" Faridah yelled after me.

Did I really like him? I don't even know sef. I just liked his attention,liked watching him and hearing him talk and I felt warm whenever he was close by and I felt angry when nurse Lizzy was flirting with him.

I googled,signs you've fallen for someone.

*Butterflies
*Nervous feelings
*You find them attractive (I scoffed at that,he was attractive already, so whether or not I found him attractive,it didn't matter)

I thought of all the times together and somehow,the tender looks,the laughter and I think.

"Where is that stupid girl called Munachi?"I heard my step mother call.

***

Who is sending text message to Munachi na😒,you people should avoid her now o,she's engaged,Asin engaged with her studies.😂..but can you guess?

Precious is holding a party o😩,I never see my own invite,cos I no get money na😒

Who can guess the Adekunle song that was playing from the barber's shop? I've had it on repeat sha😂

And my two babies are storming that party 💋💋💋, you are going to be shocked, I'm not sure you are ready o😂

Be patient babies, we are going to have like two chapters before then☺️

Anyways this place is colddd🏔️🏔️🏔️, I'm shivering 😩😩😩,I wanna cuddle, God when na😂😂