Anywhere, whenever. Apart, but still together. I know I'm not alone. I know I'm not alone.
~ Alan Walker.

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And we're back, people!!!🥺🥺 Yes, I'm going to finish this book whether they like it or not! Okay, so, I have many people to dedicate chapters to, but I'mma dedicate this to Talkmarie11  because it's her birthday todayy! Happy birthday, b.😍🤩🎉 And to _atangemem_ one of my newest readers, I think.❤️

Thank y'all for waiting for me— those that waited sha oh.🌚😌

Also, thank y'all for 13.3k reads on this book.🥺 God bless you.

That said, we meuve!

_____°•°_____

*UNEDITED*

Song for this chapter: I Just Wanna Know by NF.

•BOLU•

“Today’s the day we kick your butt!” Jeremy yelled in our faces and smacked his fist against his palm.

The interhouse sports competition day fell on a Thursday, and after the school bus dropped us all in Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, the eleven of us found each other and occupied a few of the seats. Eleven of us as in: Nina, Joy, Ninuola, Fred, Ore, Ashley, Chidera, MJ, Jeremy, Ayo and me. The first five on the top seats, second six on the seats below. We faced each other so we were in a circle. Around us, other students gathered in different groups, their sports outfit creating a beautiful palette of colours.

The stadium was not what I expected it to look like. I was thinking it would have been renovated into something more befitting as, you know, Nigeria’s first stadium, but nah, it looked more like another civil war had happened here and they had to do quick mending. Maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, but I was seriously disappointed. Anywho sha, we were gonna use it for whatever we wanted to use it for today.  

“Guy, this is like the umpteenth time you’re saying this thing. You no go like chill?” Ninu said, rolled her eyes and made a gesture with her hands.

“Men don’t chill,” Jeremy said, “we’re always on fire!” He turned to MJ. “Abi?”

“Got that right, nigga!” MJ yelled back, even louder than Jeremy.

“I can see why you both have burns all over your body,” Ninu said and everyone burst out laughing. Even Jeremy was laughing at himself.

“Hey!” He faced Joy Anne, still laughing. “You’re not supposed to be laughing!”

“And you are?” she asked. “Abeg oh, let me laugh in peace.” 

Then the laughter continued.

It was enthralling. Seeing us like this. Together. Laughing like we had no other care in the world; like we didn’t have to compete against each other very soon, or have a lot of exams ahead of us, or would not finish secondary school in the next couple of months.

Again, I threw the thoughts of leaving secondary school deep into the back of mind. I wasn’t ready to dwell on it now. Didn’t know If I’d ever be, but it felt just right to live in the moment. Because there was always a calm before the storm, right?

So, I laughed along with my friends, well, all of them except Chidera were my friends. I wasn’t going to lie to myself abeg. I didn’t exactly like her so much even before we became ‘close’ and now, the fact that she was extra clingy to the boy I was in love with made me like her less. 

Yes, you read right, I was in love with Ore Jumai.

Since Saturday, after I was left to my thoughts in the middle of the night in my room, I finally admitted it to myself. I loved him, which meant it would be harder to keep us a secret. That’s why I was becoming restless. Ore had better tell her the truth soon. I mean, I got humiliated the first time, he wouldn’t let that happen again, right? Right? I just had to trust him. We also had not talked much lately. Apart from the late-night texts and subtle flirting— one that nobody noticed— we were always inches apart.     

“When are we going to start sef?” Nina asked when all of us had finally stopped laughing. Her voice was hoarse so she cleared it. She was seated beside me, and on her other side, Ayo had his arm around her. Of course, it was cute. But the way he positioned his arm looked like he was shielding or protecting her from something.

Ashley checked her watch and answered, “I think it’s supposed to be by ten. It’s just nine-thirty now.”

“Oh,” Nina shrugged, “okay.”

“Why are you wearing a sweater in this heat?” Chidera asked out of the blue, pointing her index finger at Nina, and raising her brows. I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

Nina shrugged again with a smile. “I’m cool with it.”

I also wondered why she put on a sweater too. Our new sport outfit was different this time— a short-sleeved sweatshirt with the houses’ colour and a black jogger with two white stripes at the sides. The material was thick and we were in March already. Save for the short-sleeves, the sportswear meant premium heat.
Nina’s change in clothing style still baffled me. After she wore a long-sleeved shirt to my house last Christmas, I hadn’t thought much about it again. But now, after she repeatedly wore her sweater and long socks, suddenly falling in love with anything long, I knew I needed to find out what was up.

“You’re cool with it? Hian! Can never be me, I’d just die,” Chidera said again.

“Exactly, not everyone is a fowl like you, Chi,” Ashley fired.

I wanted to laugh. Was sure everyone else also wanted to, but we held it in as we looked around at each other, knowing that if one person could release a full-blown laughter, the rest of us would be gone. I noticed that only Ore had his head down, though.

Chidera laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world, making the air awkward. “You’re so funny, Ash.”

Ashley only rolled her eyes. For the thousandth time, I wondered what was up with both of them. Or what was up with Ashley. Back in Ninu’s house, I had wanted to ask her, but I figured it was not in my place to do that. Not yet, at least. I shrugged off their matter and brought my attention back to Nina.

We needed to talk. She wasn’t looking like the Nina I knew anymore. I mean, she was usually the life and vibe of a place. But now, she was becoming a shadow of herself. The moment I reached out to touch her hand, was when one of the coaches for blue house arrived and started yelling at everybody in his house to assemble.

Nina had actually turned to look at me, her usual smile taking up her whole face. It would have passed for a genuine one, but then, the smile didn’t reach her eyes. So, I knew it was sort of forced. Plus, her face was contorted in a way that showed she was hiding pain?

“We should talk,” I told her before I stood up. “Later, yeah?” She nodded slowly. I turned to the others, stole a quick glance at Ore who was already looking at me, then I waved at them and stalked off to where blue house was called to assemble.

◦•●◉✿ ***** ✿◉●•◦

Most of the activities had already taken place and we were down to just the relay races, both for RBA and the invited Schools, which, of course, Towns’ High International was a part of. Which meant I would be seeing Joba and some of my former classmates — most of whom I couldn’t even remember at the moment.

Anyway, I had already run the Senior Girls’ one hundred metre race. Coach left the two and four hundred metre races to some other girls in the senior class. All the houses brought in their A game to the competition today because three of the houses had a tie. It was still very hard to decide who would win.

And right now, even though I was a little bit worn out from the previous activities, the Coach organised us for the Senior Girls’ relay race. He said, “Jayeola, take the last leg, please.”  I nodded. I still had enough strength to pull it off. He also assigned other girls who would take the other legs. Kathy Alero, the sports prefect, was one of them. Joy-Anne was a part of us, a substitute runner because the original person fell ill. She was the third leg.

So, we arranged ourselves in our different lanes and soon enough, the referee blew the whistle. My heart pounded against my chest, not because I was scared, but because of the rush of adrenaline. I placed my arms akimbo as the first legs of all the houses began running with full speed.

Loud cheers erupted from the students who sat in the seats. I puffed air out of my mouth and rubbed my palms together, getting ready, because the baton had already been passed to the second leg. And no, Blue House wasn’t in the lead, White house was. We were second.

Time passed and Joy was with the baton, running as fast as she could so she could hand it over to me. She was so fast and she somehow managed to be in a draw with the White House person before she handed the baton to me. Just as my hand touched the baton in hers, she tripped and fell, and accidentally flung the baton to the side.

“Oh, crap!” I said with gritted teeth and ran to pick up the baton. I glanced quickly at Joy to make sure she was okay and then, I took off.

Suffice it to say that I ran with all I had in me and despite the delay, Blue House managed to come second in the Senior Girls’ relay race. I bent forward, hands on my knees, puffing air out of my mouth. I could hear the cheers of the students and everyone. Coach came to pat my back as I bent.

“Good job, Jayeola,” he said. “You have really done us well.” I nodded my thanks and congratulated all the other girls around me.

“I’m so sorry, Bolu,” Joy said and hugged me. “I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay. We’re all right,” I said, smiling.
Joy squeezed me in a hug and Nina did too. She appeared from under her health tent and engulfed me in one of her infamous hugs, squealing out how much she loved me and was proud of me. Then she handed me glucose; which, of course, I was very grateful for. You know, having your best friend as the health prefect had its perks— free and lots of glucose to lick. She almost looked like herself again. Almost.

After all the cheering and congratulating, I left that area to go to the bathroom, or changing room. Because I was sure as coconut that the bathrooms in this place would be extinct. Or maybe decomposed. God knew when last they tried to clean it. Nonetheless, I needed to wash my hands and face and pee, too, so, I bought a bottle of water and brought my back pack with me since I had toilet paper in it.

I hummed the tune of a song as I walked to the place. The path was quiet and empty because I don’t think anybody ever dreamed of coming down here at all. I made a turn, and just as I was about to enter the corridor that led to the bathrooms, I heard someone call my name from behind. I halted and turned around.

I was met with a familiar face. I furrowed my brows as I tried to remember who the good-looking guy in front of me was. His name was almost at the tip of my tongue and I tried so hard to remember where I knew him from, but I just couldn’t. So, I settled for, “Do I know you?”

Of course, he was taken aback. Like he did not expect I’d ask that sort of question. Well, blame me and my failing memory.

He smiled, and when his teeth flashed white, I remembered who it was. Alex Badmus. Then I widened my eyes mentally, because omo…

“Alex,” I said, monotonously.

“You know, for a while, I actually thought you could not remember me.” He chuckled.
I let out a dry laugh. He grinned. “Hi, Bolu.”

I replied with a curt “Hi” back at him. Tried to smile, but it did not come.

“What’s up, babe?” — I cringed when he said ‘babe’ — “How are you?”

“I’m fine.” I gave him another curt reply. Obviously, baba was supposed to take a hint, but he didn’t. Because he continued talking. And from my previous encounter at Ashley, his cousin’s party, I knew he talked for a living. And honestly, I did not want to be a part of it today.

“What happened to all your socials?” He took a step closer to me and grinned again, his white teeth flashing in my eyes. “I mean, I couldn’t reach you on any. I’d hate to think that you blocked me or something.” He snorted. “Because that would be totally impossible. Nobody blocks Alexander Badmus…”

I titled my head and stared at him as he kept rambling. Did I…block him? Whoa, I think I did. Well, shoot. I shifted my weight from foot to foot, praying to God to free me from this.

“So, what happened?” he stopped to ask me.

“Um, I—”

He cut me short. “And by the way, you are so freaking talented. You know how to run. I knew we would make a good match the moment I first laid eyes on you. We have so many things in common, babe.”

Haew. God abeg.

“Alex, thank you, but I—”

“We should hangout sometime. I didn’t even get to ask you the other time at the party. Wait, I did not even see you again sef. What’d you say?”

I opened my mouth to answer when someone else beat me to it.

“Guy, I already told you a million times that my sister doesn’t dig you.”

A smile lit up my face as my brother, Joba, jumped down from a pavement just by the side of where we stood. He was here to save me. Thank God.

Alex’s smile dropped. “You just had to cast me in the open, huh? What happened to the bro code?”

“Doesn’t exist when my family is involved.” He sauntered to where I stood and threw an arm around me lazily. “So, you should just scram. Yeah, find someone else who’s into you. You be fine boy, my guy. No dey embarrass yourself like this.” Joba reached out and patted Alex’s shoulder. Alex just shot him a scowl, brushed Joba’s hand off his shoulder and walked away.

When he left, Joba and I burst out laughing.

“You’re a life saver. That guy talks too much,” I said and threw my arms around my brother.

“No cap.” He hugged me back and then, we pulled away. “I’ve been looking all over for you. I saw Alex walk to this direction and just knew that you’d be there too.”

“Osheyy, brother instincts.”

“Yeah, I know.” He pulled his collar. “I am too much.”

I laughed. “Thanks again for saving me, guy. We’ll meet at home.” I patted him twice on his back. “And don’t worry, I’ll say hi to Ninu for you, okay?”

He rolled his eyes at me. “I hate you, guy.”

“I love you too.” I grinned at him and then walked into the corridor, remembering the pee I’d been holding for the past couple of minutes. I looked around for the best stall I could find and did my business. Thankfully, the place was not as decomposed as I thought it was. I washed my hands and face, and with that, I left the stall.

As I was about to make my exit, I felt an arm grab my wrist and another cup my mouth so I wouldn’t scream. I struggled to get free as the person dragged me to a corner of the corridor just behind the door. It would have been a lot dark, but there was a very small window, so, light streamed in through it. 

Once the person released me, I balled my fist, ready to throw a punch at whoever it was. But before I could, the person caught me. A feeling of déjà vu washed over me and I knew who it was before his face became clear in the dim light. Ore Jumai.

“Jesus Christ, Ore! You need to stop doing that.” I exhaled and massaged my temples.

“Funny how you got scared because of this ‘ambush’ twice. Or wait, thrice now? Right?” He grinned.

I glared at him. “Shut up, jhor.”

“Nope. Never,” he said, still grinning. I smacked his arm and he rubbed it. “You’re too violent.”

“You deserve it.” I stuck my tongue out at him playfully.

I’d thought a lot about how awkward it would be once Ore and I spoke to each other again. But thank God, it’s not awkward at all and it was a big relief.

Slowly, he walked closer to me and circled both his arms around my waist. I placed both my arms around his neck and stared at his beautiful face. My breathing quickened and my heartbeat picked up its pace. He bit his lower lip as he stared back at me with a kind of intensity in his eyes. For a few seconds, all we did was stare at each other. No words. Nothing.

As I stared into his eyes, I saw that vulnerability again. I saw the tiredness from last week. I saw that Ore Jumai did not look like himself.

“Are you okay?” I asked him, breaking the silence.

He sighed and lowered hung his head. Then slowly, he nodded. “Got a lot on my mind, but I am okay. At least, I’ll be.”

I sighed, too. What exactly was happening to everyone? “Do you maybe…wanna talk about it? I’m a good listener.”

Even if I wasn’t, I had to be for him. Ore Jumai was there for me when the voices in my head were the only ones I usually listened to. In fact, I had to be there for all my friends. They had, in one way or the other, been there for me. We were going to graduate soon. Maybe we were in March right now and July seemed a little bit far, but I knew time would fly so fast and before we knew it, we would be saying our goodbyes.

He chuckled and looked at me. “You’re cute. Very cute, Boluwaji.”

I blushed. I couldn’t stop myself because I liked the way he called my full name. “You’re annoying.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly why you’re blushing like this, huh?” He wiggled his brows at me.

“Shut up. Ode.”

He threw his head back and laughed. Then after a while, he pulled me in a hug. A tight one. Deep, deep down, I’d wanted him to kiss me. But I don’t think it was just right for the moment. Because it felt like he was holding in so much and kissing me would feel very insensitive, like maybe he was using me to suppress whatever he was going through. For a long time, I’d never imagined Ore could go through anything, you know, apart from being the popular kid and all; but now that I suspected Nina was not herself, it opened my eyes to other possibilities.

So, I hugged him back. He dug his head deeper into the crook of my neck and pulled me even closer. I rubbed his back gently and he shivered, like I had some effect on him. I wondered what exactly he was going through. I mean, it was just too hard to believe. He was too…perfect.

We stayed that way a couple more seconds and then, he pulled away. We went back to staring at each other. My eyes kept going to his lips. Even though his were focused on my face. All I wanted him to do was just kiss me. Judge me all you want, but a girl wants what she freaking wants. I’d been starved long enough!

“I’ll free you from all this, Bolu. I’ll tell Chidera the truth today,” he said, suddenly speaking up, taking my face in his hands. “I promise.”

Still didn’t kiss me…

“Okay…” I nodded with a small smile.

“Yeah?” he asked again, just to be sure.

I rolled my eyes. “Of course, I trust you.”

“Thank you.”

I nodded, a full smile taking its place on my face now. Then slowly, his eyes travelled down my face to my lips and he used his thumb to trace the seam of my lips.

Finally! He’s gonna kiss me.

As he inched his face closer to mine, the monkeys in my stomach started dancing, and I was eager for his lips to connect with mine.

But they never did.

A loud noise, the sound of people yelling, broke our almost connection. Both of us jerked away quickly from each other. My heart began racing and was banging hard against my chest. I forgot about me wanting to kiss Ore so bad, what I didn’t want was anyone catching the both of us here.

“I’ll go first,” he said.

I nodded my head very fast as he snuck out of the corridor and to the path outside. I paced the corridor for a few minutes before heading out too. The noise was still there and as I walked, the yelling became louder and the words clearer.  The voices sounded like they were from the mouths of two females.

“I can’t anymore, okay? I really can’t!”

“You’re very ungrateful. How can you treat me like this after all I’ve done for you?!”

“Ungrateful? Lee to the freaking mao! I’ll have you know that you’re the ungrateful one and everything you’ve ever done, was for yourself!”

“What’s going on…?” I started once I finally reached the scene, but trailed off when I saw, with wide eyes, the cause of the whole commotion. My mouth hung agape as I stared at the least people I’d ever expect to be in a verbal fight: Ashley and Chidera.

“How,” Chidera said, “how can you even talk like this? I made you who you are, Ashley. I did it! Me! You wouldn’t even be known at all if I hadn’t stepped in to make your life so glamorous!”

I looked around and saw Ore watching both of them. People were already gathering, forming a small circle around both of them. Juniors, other seniors and even some students from the invited schools— I sighted and recognized the two foolish girls from Ashley’s party, Kiki and Tami. And I began wondering, was the interhouse sports competition finished? Where were the teachers when you needed them?                                                                                                    

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nina and Ayo arrive with the rest of the gang. They stood where Ore was and began watching the fight.

“Wow! We’re exposing secrets now, aren’t we?” Ashley chuckled without humour.

“Ore boo, please do something!” Chidera called out to him. I rolled my eyes; I couldn’t help it.

Ore, looking a bit embarrassed, tried to step into the situation to help. He hadn’t even uttered a word when Ashley lifted a finger to shut him up. “No, Ore,” she said. “This isn’t something you can fix.” She shook her head. “Please stay out of it.”

Ashley had on her face, an expression I’d never seen before. It was at the same time, rage, determination and satisfaction. While Chidera wore a look that showed she was very afraid. She was plain now. Only a little ounce of confidence was left in her, I could see it.

Ore raised his hands, still embarrassed, and did as he was told. 

“We’re exposing secrets now, abi? Bo se ri niyen? Good. Let me start spilling everything. From the top.”

Ashley’s Yoruba took me aback. I’d never heard her speak it before.

“Do your—” Chidera started to say, but was cut off by Ashley.

“Have you forgotten how lonely you were when you first joined RBA? Have you? Or maybe those times you wanted to fit in so bad you went ahead to claim you’re rich using my wealth? Wait, wait, or was it when you told me you were in love with Ore that I helped set you guys up and now you both are in your happily ever after? Or no, maybe you have forgotten the last one.” Ashley snorted. “The last one, the one I regret the most: I sacrificed my post as timekeeper so you could be it, Chi! You wanted to be a prefect so bad and I gave up my post because you were supposed to be my best friend! And how the heck do you repay me? How?” Ashley’s voice broke and tears were running down her eyes. Chidera was crying too.

“But Ash, you don’t have to embarrass me like this…”

“Oh, please. I’m done with you. I’m tired of being your sidekick. Don’t show up at my place don’t talk to me, don’t call me, don’t text me!” Ashley wiped sweat away from her forehead and stomped out of the scene with Chidera staring at her retreating back. She was frozen to her spot.

Everywhere was pin drop silent. My mouth refused to close as all my friends and I shared eye contact. Trying to comprehend what we had all just heard. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. All my brain kept repeating was, Eskelebebe!

Not long after, the little crowd dispersed and I heard Kiki and Tami say something like, “I knew she was only a bitch. Too good to be effing true”, as they walked away. There were other murmurings and mumblings, but I paid them no attention.

Chidera still remained frozen on the spot and my stomach tied in knots when I saw Ore walk towards her, probably to comfort her or something. I took my eyes away from the scene and walked over to my friends instead. None of us said anything as we trod down the path that led to the main bowl.
I guess we were all shocked. Either that, or we didn’t just have anything to say. Because I didn’t see this coming, not this way, at least. And this was not even the worst of it all…

And that's a wrap for this chapter, y'all!😌

Spent days writing this. *Melts* Stayed up hours to finish it. *Melts again*

Anyway, let me know what y'all think about Ashley and Chidera. Is the story complete, or there's more somewhere?👀👀

And what'd you think about Bolu and Ore?

Do you think Ore would be able to tell the truth before it's too late?

What has changed about Bolu? If you noticed it in this chapter, please tell me.

Let me know what y'all think. Spam me with your commentsss!😌🤌🏽💞

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Once again, thank you so much for reading. Anticipate the next chapter, hopefully in a short time. 🤲🏽🤲🏽🤲🏽

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I love y'all. God bless you.❤️

~ Ife.😍