“Together we stand, together we fall,
together we win, and winners take
all.”
                     ¢°¢°¢°¢°¢

Dedicated to _SHIMMER_SHINE_

                      ¶BOLU¶

First term exams had finally ended and I’m not so sure I’d call it a walk over because of one subject…

Physics.

I splashed water on my face once again, wiped it with a towel and sighed.

Was I really dumb? Could I really not grab physics at all?

Remembering the last words that my physics teacher had called me the other day to tell me, I held back my tears.

“Jayeola! I don’t know what brought you to science class. You should have gone to where lazy and unintelligent students belong instead of wasting your parents’ money!”

It had been the day after Physics exam, I was already done for the day and was packing to go home when someone had told me the physics teacher wanted to see me. I got to his office and greeted him. Told me nothing was good about the day and showed me my physics script — the one I just wrote — and shoved it to my face, showing me I scored an F this time.

He told me I was the only student capable of scoring that awful grade in the whole of our set. He then said that it was either I got a tutor — an adult or a fellow student who was good at physics like the head boy— to teach me ‘cause he was done trying; tried to pull my weight or he’d arrange a meeting with my parents so that I drop physics and not write it for my WAEC when he sure as heaven knew that I COULD NOT afford to drop it.

That even spoiled my already spoiled mood. And it doesn’t explain my reason for practically giving Ore the cold shoulder.

Well, maybe it does sha…but uh…

UH…

Moving on…

Today was the long awaited and over hyped birthday party of Ashley Badmus. One of the richest girls in our set and best friend to Chidera Odikanwa.

How are they even best friends?

Chidera, the most popular girl in our set, was always everywhere, hopping up and down, socializing, catching cruise with her friend, obsessed with her boyfriend−Ore Jumai− and stuffs while Ashley was down-to-earth quiet and hella reserved. She didn’t talk much except when she was with Chidera only.

Currently, Nina, Joy-Anne were in my room, getting ready. I walked out of the bathroom already dressed and my mouth dropped open as it seemed Mummy Nina and Aunty Joy wanted to sleep in front of the mirror.

Ninuola was not here with us ‘cause she and Goke Wilson, her fellow social prefect had to plan the party. I invited Joy-Anne over to my place since we lived in the same area and so she could hitch a ride with us. Then Kanyinsola was to drop us at the venue.

“Nawa o, wahala for who no do make up o,” I said and clapped my hands whilst shaking my head.

Nina was trying to style her natural hair in something I could not decipher and Joy was in front of the mirror with Kanyin doing her make- up.

“Yes oh, they turn to mama at the age of fifteen,” Kanyin said obviously mocking me ‘cause I didn’t use make-up except a transparent lip gloss and mascara which I almost failed at using.

I rolled my eyes and mocked her saying: “yen, yen, yen.”

She looked up from placing the fake eyelash on Joy’s eye and glared at me. “What did you say?”

I gulped. “Uh…you’re the best make-up artist?”

She smirked at me. “Yeah… I am.”

I rolled my eyes as Joy and Nina burst out laughing at the fact that though I loved my sister to death but I was scared of her. Trust me, you don’t wanna know. Case closed. Let’s move!

I sat on my bed and picked up my phone, logging into my instagram page and checking my feed, liking any post I see, both from people I know and people I don’t know.

My phone buzzed and I checked the heart button to see I have a new notification:

zeem_official started following you.

Who the heck was zeem official? I shrugged mentally and opened the person’s page. My eyes bulged out of their sockets when I saw he had over thirty thousand followers on IG and he was following less than one hundred and fifty people.

And I’ve been struggling with six hundred and fifty followers for the past two years. What? I opened one of his posts−his only post actually− to see it was my seatmate, Ore Jumai in the picture. I was wowed. He had nothing less than fifteen thousand likes on just that one post. How was he so popular? I mean I knew he was popular in school and many other students from other schools in Ibadan knew the guy but I certainly did not expect him to be THAT popular.

He joined the geng of those people popular on instagram for no exact reason. I followed back though and liked the post, adding to the over fifteen thousand likes he already had.

I got new notifications, clicked on the heart button again and saw that he went ahead to like my posts, about five posts.

I smiled. It’s like we were doing like for like and follow for follow.

So…uh…why was I ignoring this guy again?

Yeah… so, after I saw my GCE results and lied about it to Nina and Ninu, I told him not to say anything about it and he kept my stupid secret. He was the only one who knew the real details of my results.

Nobody else, not even my parents or siblings knew about it. The day after he saw my result, I started ignoring him because of the way he stared at me when I lied to Nina. He had that judgemental look and probably already judged how disgusting a liar and dummy I was.

Although I’d always thought he was one proud guy, always showing off his brains and naturally athletic skills; always the ladies’ man…yes, he was the centre of attraction for all the babes at RBA. Even junior students crushed hard and famzed him.

On the other hand, maybe I ignored him more because of what the physics teacher said. I did not want him to be my tutor and I did not want anybody else. They’d just find out they were dealing with a total blockhead and I think I’ve gotten embarrassed enough for that. No one else needs to know how dumb I am.

Even though Ore tried to make me talk to him once. It worked at first but got ruined when he brought physics up.

I admit I did feel bad for ignoring him but whatever. I couldn’t care less.

“Awww, lukatchu looking all cute, Joyie,” Nina gushed out as Joy-Anne stood up looking as hot as a model. I took in her outfit.

She wore a maroon-colored, long-sleeved loose crop top which one hand fell over her right shoulder, coupled with black jeans that had colored patches making it look ripped. She then wore black heeled boots on her feet. Her make-up was neat and nicely done — not too much and at the same time not too small. Her hair was let down in loose curls making her facial features come out more. No argument; Joy-Anne was beautiful, easily the most beautiful girl in our set.

“Yeah, you look amazing Joy,” I commented with a smile. I gasped when I saw Nina’s outfit too. She was dressed in a nude chiffon top, which had a zipper at the front forming a kind of V-neck; white shorts and brown-laced heels. Kanyin had done justice to her face and she looked absolutely stunning. Her natural hair braided and packed up in a bun making her golden round earrings dangle. “Nina you look…stunning, geez. I too know fine babes, abeg!”

“All in a day’s work babies,” Kanyin said complementing herself and blowing dust off the make-up brush.

“Touché,” I said agreeing with my sister.

“Thank you so much aunty Kanyin, this is so cool.” Joy gushed and hugged my sister. Nina joined in the hug too, squeezing my older sister into marsh potatoes.

“You’re welcome babies, anything for you guys. You both are sweet humans, so why not?” She replied after they let go of her. “And please don’t call me Aunty, only my future nieces and nephews are allowed to call me that. It’ll make me feel old, I’m only eighteen abeg. Kanyin is good enough.”

The girls giggled and nodded their heads vigorously.

“Okay, so let me take a picture of you three,” she said and I joined them, almost feeling underdressed as I looked at my tomboyish outfit.
A black, loose, sleeveless top, which had the picture of a white lion at the front, black leather trousers and denim sneakers, my hair was braided, very long braids that touched my butt and I let them down to the sides of my face, placing a black beanie on top of it. Yes a beanie, I dinnor send anybody.

About five shots were taken and I was already tired. After ten more shots, I snuck away and started pressing my phone.

Not up to five minutes, the handle of my door twisted and in walked Joba, with his head in his phone.

“Big sis, mom said…” He started saying and then looked up from his phone.

“Med ohhhhh!”  He yelled and walked forward to where my friends, sister and I were with an amused expression.

He placed his hands on his head dramatically. “See my granny looking as hot as chili pepper!” He said again referring to Nina. “And this light skinned girl whose name I don’t know looking like Selena Gomez in Nigerian flesh.” Referring to Joy-Anne. He was not familiar with her ‘cause this was the first time she appeared at my house. “And my guy here, hottest sis in the world looking like the razz nigga she is.” Complementing me. “Geez, I’m blessed oh…wait! Where’s Ninuola Adams?”

I smirked about to expose his secret when Nina spoke up first, ruining my plan.

I'm a good sister.

“Oh, Ninu’s already at the party venue, she had to set it up, you know, being the social prefect and all.”

“Oh okay na,” He said and I almost heard a slight disappointment in his voice, which covered up as soon as it came, with his former excitement.

“Have you guys taken pics? Who cares sef? You’re gonna take more with me.”

“Baba calms na,” Nina said to him laughing.

“I cannot calms kan, kan. This room is full of hot babes especially this spec here…” He said walking up to Joy and throwing an arm around her easily ‘cause he was taller, trying to flirt and I cringed. “I’m Joba by the way.” He winked at her.

“Iyamaaaa!” Nina said with a grimace.

“Joba please don’t try to flirt, you’ve already failed,” I said grimacing too.

“Totally,” Kanyin said. “You suck!”

“You people should not spoil paro for me jhor!” He said playfully annoyed.
Joy-Anne just giggled.

“Don’t mind them jare. I’m Joy-Anne Folarin and you are cute.”

“Now this is a babe the new love of my life!” He screamed loud again and we all laughed. As if he could ever give up on Ninu.

I laugh in Portuguese.

After that, he started taking pictures and posting on his whatsapp and IG statuses.

“Tell Ninuola Adams I said hi,” he whispered to me with a blush on his cheeks as his freckles stood out once we were outside and about to step into the car.

Lmaooooo!

Funny how boys could blush too.

“Will do and I’ll also tell her you’re hopelessly in love with her.” I smirked and winked at him.

He blushed again as his eyes widened and then returned to their normal size. “I hate that you know that…ugh, I regret telling you…”

“Nah…you didn’t. I figured it all out!”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever sha say me hi to her and enjoy yourself.” He rolled his eyes while I giggled.

“Husband and wife issokay oh, abeg release Bolu oh!” Kanyin yelled from the car causing Nina and Joy-Anne to laugh. I laughed too. Kanyinsola always called Joba and me that ‘cause of how close we are.

I shook my head and waved Joba goodnight before finally stepping into the car.

Hey!

Happy Sunday and Happy Easter fam!

Hope y'all are good?

Long time no see.

The picture in the media above is of Joba Jayeola, Bolu's younger brother. Isn't he cute?

Long author's note comes up in the next update.

So...uh, see you!