Sorry if it always takes me too long to update :(

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While Kene enjoyed the sweet ride to her new school, Adamma currently has to stand under the rain to wait for a tricycle.

"Don't you think we should have carried the umbrella?" She asks Joseph using her handbag as shield from the rain.

"The rain is not heavy na. It's only drizzling small small." He replies stretching out his neck to look for a tricycle.

Joseph had the duty of taking his sister to her lesson today. Because of the rain, it's hard  finding a tricycle. It's either they're full or the empty one is not giving rides.

"Maruwa!" Joseph calls out after finally finding a half-filled tricycle.

"Gate." He says to the rider. "Enter." The rider replies.

Joseph nudges Adamma into the tricycle and goes in after her.

The ride is quick and soon enough they are standing in the tutorial's compound.

Adamma looks at the three story building in front of her.

"MR PAULO'S TUTORIAL COLLEGE." A fading blue sign reads at the top of the building.

Joseph looks around at the familiar environment. His eyes subconsciously wander to the backyard; where all this mess had begun.

He sighs. "Let's go to your class."

He walks her up the stairs and points in the direction she should go. "That's your class over there. Good luck." He says with a smile.

"Wait! Aren't you coming with me?"

"Nah, I have classes in like fifteen minutes. I have to go. Bye." He says and leaves without a backward glance.

Adamma's shoulders sag as she sighs. She walks hesitantly towards the sound of animated chatters.

As soon as she steps her feet into the class, loud squeals are heard.

"Kene!!"

"My baby!!" Fatiya and Anita scream, engulfing her in big hugs. Bolaji stands hesitantly a few feet away.

She had really missed her best friend. She heard about what happened and had been feeling guilty ever since.

"Bolaji can't you see Kene is back?" Fatiya pulls at her. Bolaji stares at Kene hesitantly before jumping into her arms.

"I'm really sorry Kene. I'm sorry for what happened." She mumbles into Adamma's ear.

In no time, the rest of the class gathers around Adamma who is yet to say a word.

Adamma's Pov

I stand frozen as I'm all of a sudden ambushed by three girls followed by an entire class.

"Kene I'm sorry for everything that happened."

"Kene I missed you."

"Is your body paining you?"

"Kene, did you bring meatpie?"

"Oh gosh, Kene you look prettier than before!"

"Kene bring your bag."

"Kene your top is so nice!"

"Kene there are no snacks in your bag."

They continue to talk in loud voices, hugging me, tugging at my clothes, pulling me about.

I stare bewildered at the number of people surrounding me.

"Stop." I tell one of the girls touching my hair. She ignores me and before I know it another person is hugging me. I push the person away gently and not so long after another is holding my hands.

When I get free from that person, another comes and hugs me from behind. It goes like this for a little longer and before I know it I find my breathing start to go uneven.

"Excuse me. Leave me alone. Stop touching me.  Excuse!" I scream out and run out of their midst. I feel like I'm choking.

I run down the stairs and bump into someone.

"Hey. Kene, you're back!" The person says. I nod and continue down the stairs. I notice the person follow behind me.

Finally outside I feel the fresh air wash over me and I breath out.

"Kene!" Someone calls. I look at a girl and two boys approaching us.

I groan inwardly. "More people."

The girl stops and caresses my cheeks with her two hands. "How are you, dear?"

I give a tight lipped smile in response. One of the two boys come in for a shake and I dodge his touch. He doesn't seem to mind as he throws his arm over my shoulder.

The other boy thankfully greets with only a wave and they go upstairs.

I feel my whole body start to crawl like the whole touching had left particles all over me.

I dust my hands and rub them on my trousers in an attempt to clean up.

"Are you okay?" The boy that had followed me downstairs asks looking concerned.

I don't reply as I concentrate on trying to clean myself up somehow.

"Here." He says again. I turn to see him stretching out a hand sanitizer to me.

"I take one around with me everytime." He says.

I sigh gratefully and take it from him. I squirt some on my palms and rub them together. I take more out of it and rub up my elbows thoroughly. I'm about to rub my cheeks with the sanitizer when he stops me.

"I think that's enough." He says, looking amused.

"Sorry. I just feel really dirty." I explain, handing him back his sanitizer.

"Sure, it's fine." He says with a smile. I feel something flutter in my tummy. His smile is so beautiful.

"What's your name?" I ask, still admiring his smile.

"Wow. So it's true. You can't remember." He mutters. "My name is Frank."

"Frank, nice name." I compliment. His forehead creases in confusion. "When did you get an accent?" He asks with a small laugh.

His laugh causes me to smile. I could listen to him laugh the whole day.

"I don't know." I shrug. "Were we close before?" I ask in curiosity.

He seems to stutter before replying, "yeah, we were...we were close."

"How close?" I ask trailing my eyes over him. He has on a pair of ash joggers, a white T-shirt and a pair of sneakers. He is a little light skinned and has really pink lips. Nice.

"Close enough." He replies unsurely. I nod, holding his brown eyes in mine.

"How close is close enough?" I ask, tilting my head a little.

"Well-"

"Hey, you guys!" One of the girls from upstairs suddenly calls out to us. "Kene why did you leave us upstairs like that?" She asks and I cringe at her fake accent.

"Oh gosh, Frank, you've already come sef." She says batting her eyelids at Frank.

"Yeah." He replies with an obviously forced smile.

"Let's go upstairs, class would soon start." She says to Frank and I.

"I'm coming. The both of you can go." I reply, not really feeling like going back up there.

"Erm alright. Frank?"

"I'll come later. You can go." He replies as well.

She looks at the both of us hesitantly before shrugging and going up.

"You don't have to wait for me. I'm not going in anytime soon." I say after a moment of silence had passed.

"I know." He simply replies.

"Cool."

"Cool."

Silence falls on the both of us as I stare at the cars and buses speeding past.

"Sweet donought! Sweet, sweet donought! Buy your sweet donought!" A lady carrying a show glass filled with donoughts cries to passersby and I feel my tummy rumble.

I hadn't had anything to eat this morning. I wasn't hungry that time but now, those donoughts seem to call out my name.

My hand subconsciously goes to rub my tummy and Frank here seems to notice as he asks, "Hungry?"

"Yeah." I reply walking out of the gate. I need to get some of that donought.

By the time I leave the gate, the girl has already gone quite a distance. I huff in annoyance. I'm prepared to turn around when Frank surprises me by hissing loudly.

"Donought!!" He yells out and hisses loudly again. "Donought!!" I stare at him wide eyed.

"What are you doing? Stop shouting!" I whisper loudly, feeling embarrassed for him.

He ignores me and continues to shout until the donought lady turns.

She hurries to us and sells to us in transparent nylons.

"Thank you." I mutter and pay her out of the money Mrs Helen had given me this morning.

"You shouldn't have done that." I start to tell Frank after the lady leaves. "You embarrassed yourself." I tell him but then notice he isn't paying attention to me.

He was staring at something down the street.

I trail his eyes and find them settled on a raggedy looking woman sitting on the sidewalks far across from us.

"Oh God, she's the one." He suddenly says, sounding upset.

He hurriedly crosses the road and I watch in confusion as he squats in front of the woman.

He stands up all of a sudden and shakes his head, looking frustrated.

He starts to yell out words I can't quite make out. The woman doesn't even seem to acknowledge his presence.

He turns in my direction and waves me to come over. I hesitantly cross the road.

"What's the matter? Do you know her?" I ask, feeling stupid right after the question comes out. Of course he knows her. Why else will he be with her?

"Yeah." He sighs. "She's my sister." He mumbles out.

"Oh." I reply dumbfounded.

I look at the woman again. Her hair was lose and unkempt, her clothes looked dirty and she was wearing two different slippers.

How is this fine Frank's sister?

"Please I need your help getting her home." He asks in a soft voice. He looks pained. My heart breaks at the expression of hurt that lay over his beautiful features.

"Sure, of course." I reply.

We lift the woman that looks lost in her own world. Frank places one of her hands over his shoulders and I do the same.

We stagger a little, almost losing balance but Frank is quick to cover it up.

"Maruwa!" He calls out. Thankfully, it's empty so we place her in. Frank goes around the tricycle to his sister's left while I stay at her other side.

"Rotimi compound." He says and the rider speeds off.

I take a peek at Frank and notice him looking angrily at his sister that had already slept off.

What could be wrong with her?

•••

What do you think is wrong with Frank's sister🤔

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