There are big problems that change the world. If we are working together, that will make us understand each other, appreciate each other, help each other.

-Jack Ma.

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A massive shout-out to my guy, Fav! inlovewithdwestwind !!!!!😌😌😌🔥🔥🔥🔥 She's a really talented writer. Y'all should please read her journal here on wattpad - Don't Break Me. It's filled with so much humor and wisdom!🥺🥲🤲🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🧎🏽‍♀️🧎🏽‍♀️Omo. I know too many wise people.🥲😭😭😭😭😭😭🤲🏽🤲🏽🤲🏽

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•BOLU•

Purple house won the football match.

It wasn't as easy as I had imagined. Jeremy, who was in White House, played like a madman. I was not really a fan of football, but I was stunned. Jeremy Tosin had skill. But nonetheless, Ore Jumai was in Purple House, and because he was there, they just had to win. Even though he was kinda slow today. He kept missing the ball, kept passing it to his opponents instead of his teammates. Everyone was worried and probably wondering what had gone wrong.

But in the end, Ore scored the final goal that made his house win. Just like that, everybody forgot about how distracted he had been during the game. From where I sat under the canopy on the field, I saw how Chidera and her cheerleading squad - which was just her and a defiant Ashley - wailed and did horrific dance moves. As a-little-jealous as I felt about the fact that she was cheering the guy I was in love with-

Wait. Hold up! Did I just say in love?

Was I really in love with Ore Jumai? That's something really big to admit. I mean, sure, he was smart, annoyingly hot, every girl's dream, sweet, kind, funny, confident, a really good kisser...but that did not mean-

Okay, I'm getting off topic!

Anyway, back to what I was saying: as a-little-jealous as I was about the fact that she was cheering her boyfriend, I was actually more mortified for her. Because...omo, she didn't know how weird she looked doing what she did, and she also didn't know she was the only one putting in all the energy. Ashley stood there, just looking at her, with crossed arms and a blank expression. Well, I assumed it was a blank expression because it was, most times, how she stared at people.

After the football game, we went to the pool area for the swimming competition and believe me when I say I knew Ninuola was a good swimmer, but man, I think she went mad. She didn't even spare the other houses. The distance between she and the second person was freaking long. My mouth hung open for about two minutes-okay, maybe that's sort of an exaggeration, but you get the drift.

With the way these activities were going, it was hard to tell which house was taking the lead. Because each house had people skilled in different kinds of activities. It would be a tough one for the judges, or whoever was keeping records.

The activities finished earlier than expected - one a.m. - and everyone was relieved. But as usual, as RBA liked to do, they shocked us with the most amazing news ever: our mock exams commence the week immediately after our inter house sports competition. We groaned louder than a tired ocean.

And, as usual too, our groaning fell on deaf ears, as the Vice Principal kept telling us the wonderful news. It even got better - immediately after our mock, JAMB would come up, then shortly after, WAEC would follow and then NECO. Literally no breathing space for us. But then, it meant one more thing: we were getting closer to the end of secondary school. Each day was a step closer. Honestly, I tried not to dwell on it too much.

After all the announcements were made, I walked out of the class with Nina, Ninuola and Joy. Nina was still crazy about Ninuola's win.

"Babe, that was amazing! The gap was just too much!" Nina squealed. Her energy seemed to be on a high today. Well, it was always on a high. Although, she still seemed to be losing more weight by the day. But since she'd told me that it was because of reading and the diet stuff she and her aunt were trying, I decided not to push it. Besides, judging from today's announcements, we did have a lot to read for. And Nina was someone who hated slacking.

"Yes! Omo. I have no words," Joy said, shaking her head and smiling.

I added my own hype, raised my hands and stomped my feet, "Bosslady Ninu! Omni-fish! Water's got nothing on you. They have not born the bestest swimmer well. At all. At all." Yeah, I didn't know who the bestest swimmer was.

"Abeg, abeg," she raised a hand in my face while smiling, "don't start!"

We all started laughing.

"Y'all know Bolu's going to be extra," Nina said.

"What can I say? I'm a spec!" I said with pride. Wait...did I just sound like Ore? Tell me I did not just sound like him. Oh God, was this how much I was...

I cleared my thoughts.

"Na so," Ninu said. "But thanks for the hype."

As we trod down the corridor, we turned to the left and then walked past the class Ore and I were in just yesterday. My heart picked up its pace when I remembered what happened before we left. The door opened...

When I got home yesterday, I occupied myself with my family, telling them about the basketball game and all. And then, the exhaustion came in full force and I had to sleep. So, I guess my tiredness got my mind off it for a while.

And I hadn't thought about it until now. The fear from yesterday gripped me a bit. But I tried not show it. Tried to make myself believe it was just the wind - not Ashley. It couldn't be Ashley.

We'd barely passed the class when we heard MJ yell each of our names. Simultaneously, we turned. All the boys were walking towards us, and Chidera was clinging to Ore like a sticky housefly. I did my best not to get jealous. Ore said he was going to tell her about us very soon. So, till then, I'll act oblivious.

Anyway, they finally got to us and Fred said, "See this girls oh. Y'all think you can leave without us?" No, he didn't say it, he yelled it. MJ has really rubbed off on him.

"Yeah, we can," Ninu said.

"Exactly," Joy added.

Fred looked like he was going to say something but he just opened his mouth and closed it. The he pouted. We all started laughing.

"Baby, did you see me on the field today?" Jeremy said to Joy as he walked to where she stood and put an arm around her. "I would have beaten this goat here-" he angled his head towards Ore "- he just got lucky."

"Nah, I think Ore's just better," Chidera said.

Everyone remained silent until Ashley- who I figured was behind the guys the whole time - spoke up, "At least Jeremy's good at something. Wonder what you are good at."

Whoa.

Chidera didn't hear or pretended not to hear, she just kept smiling and holding Ore's arm. We all looked at each other. The air around us became awkward. It remained that way until Jeremy broke it and continued talking to Joy. I saw Ayo take Nina close to him too, and he was looking intently at her.

We figured our group was going to be too large and will block the way, so, together, we walked out of the corridor, down the stairs and to the front of the building. Once there, Ore, as he and Chidera walked beside me, brushed his shoulders against mine, slipped his right hand into my hand and gave it a little squeeze. No one seemed to notice that quick exchange. I was seriously trying to stop myself from blushing.

Ayo and Nina walked far away from us, still lost in a deep conversation. I wondered what they were really talking about. The others faced themselves and were talking about something else, maybe the just-concluded Heat activities.

"Na Purple house go win laslas," MJ said.

Ore just smiled. He looked worn out and tired when I looked closer at him. Well, he should be tired because he'd just played and won a football game. But I took another glance at him and had this feeling that maybe his tiredness wasn't just about the game. Maybe I would ask him later.

"Don't be so sure, abeg. White house has a very strong chance of winning," Jeremy countered.

"Nawa oh, you people are forgetting that it was blue house that won the basketball and most of the long-distant races," Joy said.

I was going to add to what Joy said when Ashley tapped me. I turned to her and she smiled. She didn't look like the Ashley who'd just indirectly called Chidera unskilled or skill-less. The stoic expression was gone and the Ashley I never - or I was just being introduced to - was here.

"You got my message?" She asked. Held on to my arm playfully.

I nodded and returned her smile. "Yeah, but I just saw it this morning. I think I replied or forgot to reply."

"That's okay," she said. "We're here now, anyway and I'm pretty sure you were really exhausted yesterday-sports and all."

"Well, yeah."

She started talking about how she'd gone and done more research on basketball, how she watched more videos, and how she couldn't wait for me to coach her.

In all my life, I never thought I would be a basketball coach. Basketball was just something I really had passion for. I never thought I would actually inspire someone with the way I played.

"And yeah!" Her face lit up, "I'm writing something about my favourite sports on my blog and if you don't mind, I'd like to interview you."

My eyes grew wide. I didn't exactly pay attention to the fact that Ashley had a blog and she was a writer. I pointed my finger to my chest. "Me?"

"Yes!"

"B-but why me? Ayo is a way better basketball player than I am, the best in the whole of RBA sef; why not him?" I gestured towards Ayo who was still in a deep conversation with Nina. I made a mental note to ask her what they really were discussing later.

"Of course I'll interview him- when I get bold enough to do that," she muttered but I heard. "But you come first." She nodded smugly.

"Okay," I chuckled. "But what do you need to be bold about when it comes to Ayo? He's really easy going and nice." And I meant what I said.

"Yeah...well, um, but you're up for the interview, yeah?" She asked and stylishly evaded my question. Again.

"Sure, I am."

"Yes!" She squealed. "Thank you! You don't know how much this means to me. And by the way, you don't mind checking out my blog, right? You'll be, um, pretty surprised what you would find." She sang the last part and I had to ask myself again if this was indeed the Ashley I'd known since I came to RBA.

"Of course. I'll check it out. I'll be honoured to."

"Yay!" She squeezed my arm. "I'll text it to you."

As I nodded, Ninuola snapped her fingers. "Nina, Joy, Bolu, we are going to my house! No exceptions!"

Nina looked away from Ayo and at Ninu. Joy's attention was on her too.

"Don't look at me like that," Ninu continued. "We have to study." Yes. We had to study, but I knew we were going to do more than just that.

"I'm coming too," Fred said.

"Um, no. You'll burst our ears with your newly-acquired MJ-loudmouth syndrome." She patted his shoulder. Everyone burst out laughing.

Fred stuck his tongue out at her and also joined the laughter, because it was true, anyway. Nina, Joy and I agreed to go to her house.

"Can I join you guys, too?" Ashley asked, her voice was low, but sounded determined.

"Join who? We are supposed to go shopping then we hang out at your house," Chidera said, suddenly looking up from her phone.

"No, Chidera. You are supposed to go shopping and hang out at your house," Ashley fired back. Her stoic facial expression was back.

Everyone flinched at Ashley's response. Chidera was the most shocked but she tried to save face by shrugging and saying, "Whatever."

"Anyway," Ninu cleared her throat and the awkwardness, "you're welcome to join us, Ashley."

"Thank you." Ashley beamed.

Ninu nodded. "I'll call my driver to come pick us up." She began typing away on her phone.

I snuck a peek at Ore. Turns out he was already looking at me. My face went hot and I quickly looked away before anyone else noticed.

• • •

We've been sprawled on Ninuola's bed for the past one hour but I haven't gotten over how beautiful her room was. And very classy- Ninuola always went for classy stuff. Every month - although I hadn't been here since last Christmas - she had her bedroom theme changed. This time, it was purple and Paris. Yeah, she literally had a big painting of the Eiffel tower on her wall.

Anyway, since we have been here, we'd done nothing but fool around and laugh. Go live on IG. Even Ashley was having a good time. She'd brought out her laptop and shown us how her blog looked like. She was so excited about our interest in her writing, especially when Ninu said she would like to be the first teen celebrity to be interviewed on her blog.

After that, we started arguing- again- about which house was going to win the inter house sports competition. So much for studying.
Joy and I were on the same side. Nina chose not to pick sides because she was obviously not interested in sports. Ninu, of course, supported Red and Ashley, White, because it was hers.

"Blue house won the basketball match doesn't mean y'all will win in the main competition!" Ninuola yelled. Threw her hands up in the air.

"But so far, Red house has a big chance of coming last because you guys only excelled in swimming," I stated matter-of-fact.

"Gbam!" Joy agreed.

"Not true!" Ninuola countered.

"Like Mango, it is!" Ashley said and we all stared at her. "What na? Mango is a true fruit."

We burst out laughing.

"What a nice way to remind us that we need to study," Nina said, stressing the 'need' in her statement. She looked at us from under her glasses and I saw how her eyes looked-weird. I'd seen Nina with her glasses off a number of times, but these days, she hardly took them off. And now I was almost starting to forget what she looked like without her glasses. I reminded myself that after now, Nina and I had to have that talk.

"Omo, I can't believe we have all those exams ahead of us," Joy groaned and landed face down on the bed.

"And we actually have to read for them!" Ninu complained and joined Joy on the bed. I was happy to see they had gotten closer and were truly getting along.

"See the person that said we should comman study oh." Nina snorted. Clapped her hands in wonder.

"Wo, abeg! Swimming has stressed me out. I want to sleep. Catch you later," Ninu replied and in the next few seconds, she and Joy were breathing softly.

"Ah!" Nina, Ashley and I said at the same time. Then we started laughing.

Funny how the two of them had things in common, and they would have been enemies.

Nina shook her head, still amused. "You guys will study with me, right?"

"Sure, I need to-."

Someone's ringtone cut off what I was about to say.

"Oh, that's mine!" Nina said as she searched her school bag for it. She got it out and picked up. "Hello...oh-" She looked at us, eyes wide for a moment before they returned to their normal size, and she smiled "-yeah, sure. I'll, um, be there."

I raised a brow, wondering what was up. So I voiced it out to her. My eyes followed her every movement as she hurriedly packed all her things back in her bag. Her behaviour now reminded me of something similar that happened back at the café close to our school.

"I have to get home quick," she said, her smile still on her face.

"Is it something serious?" I asked. "Maybe I could see you off?" I made to stand up.

She sat me down. "No, abeg." Laughed. "I can very well handle myself. Y'all keep studying and send me notes. Tell Ninu and Joy I had to go home early."

I nodded. "O...kay?"

She engulfed me in her infamous hug and did the same for Ashley and with that, she was off. I watched for the slammed door for while even after she was gone.

"Is she fine?" Ashley voiced out my exact thoughts. Pointed her thumb at the door.

"Yeah, I guess," I said. And for the first time in a long time, I wasn't sure of my answer. I wasn't sure that Nina was fine.

*Clears Throat and Taps mic.*

Hola, mi familia!🌚

WWAT has just reached 11k reads and to thank y'all for your wonderful support, this is a double update!!!! Yes, I know. Ife's doing it for the first time in so long. It's enthralling.😹😹😹😹

Anyway, on a lighter note, I'm really grateful to you guys for not giving up on my book!😭😭😭🥺 Thank you! THANK YOU! God bless you! I love you guys!!!🥺❤️❤️❤️❤️

All right, now let's talk about this chapter.

Tell me what y'all thinkkkkkk.🌚🌚🌚🌚😌

Seems like Ashley is tryna blend more with Bolu, Nina, Joy and Ninuola.🌚 Should we be suspicious about it?🌚 Hehehe.

Lemme know y'all's thoughts.

Expect the next chapter in a few.😌

Adios- for now.🌚

~Ife.❤️