“Each of us can make a difference. Together we make change.” – Barbara Mikulski

                                
                                 •°°°°•

                            •BOLU•

The second day of the New Year was one of the most memorable days of my life. Nina who had practically been at my house throughout the Christmas holiday, decided that we head over to Ninu’s house today.

When I asked why, she just told me she and Ninu organized a get together at Ninu’s house.

I asked who and who were invited but she just told me, I’d find out when we get there.

Perhaps she wanted it to be a surprise or something.

Nina was dressed in a baby pink turtle neck long sleeved blouse, white trousers, black flats and also a grey woolen buttoned down sweater over her blouse.

Her hair was fixed in a weave-on which she let down the sides of her face. She wore light make up and her glasses frame was colored grey today. Wonder what happened to the golden one.

I still wondered why she decided to wear long sleeves, although anyone who didn’t wear any today would be a big fool because I was sure the weather was almost on freezing point. If not for one thing, my teeth would have started chattering. If Ibadan was this cold then I wondered what Jos would be like because the cold was really fierce.

Anyway, as much as Nina was always so bubbly and jumpy, I still had a feeling that something was off about her, really off but I shrugged it off because Nina was always fine. She never complained about anything so I didn’t really see the need to ask her about it.

There were sometimes though that she’d drift into her own thoughts but it was only for a short time. She’d be back to her normal self again.

We passed through Joy’s place and picked her up. Together the three of us headed to Ninuola’s house. I wasn’t so sure Ninu would be pleased to see Joy but Nina and I insisted on bringing her with us, she was our friend after all.

                  ☼  Ѳ  ☼  Ѳ  ☼

We finally arrived at Ninu’s house which was a real big house. I caught my breath as the gate man opened the gate for us. I had been in Ninu’s house before, probably once or twice. Most of the time, we all agreed to hang out at mine but seriously every time I got to her house, it always felt brand new.

The house wasn’t as big as Ashley’s mansion but it was bigger than my house. The architecture was extremely wonderful, something Joba would go crazy about if he spotted it.

He’d make sure he sat down to draw it and add it to his future design collections— so he called them. Plus, he’d also go crazy because of Ninuola.

Anyway, the building had this kinda dome shaped thing going on, making it look like a bigger version of the kokodome. Of course it was round and honestly I can’t really describe the beauty.

Painted a warming white and pink color, it also had a fountain just before the entrance of the house— a cupid fountain, where water sprouted from his mouth as he held his love arrows, set in a bow.

We passed the fountain and walked to the main entrance. Nina knocked and a maid came to open the door. She looked like she was in her early thirties and she wore a blue and white checked dress, with an apron worn over it.

Her face was pretty, would probably have been prettier when she was younger. I knew this lady, she was nice and the one who welcomed us each time we came here.

Her name was Lisa? Yeah, Miss Lisa.

We greeted her.

She smiled at us. “Um…Nina.” She pointed at Nina.

Nina nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

“Bolu, am I right?” She asked me. I replied with a nod and a shy smile.

“And uh…I don’t think I’ve seen this pretty girl here before,” She looked at Joy Anne. “What’s your name, dear?”

“Joy…Joy Anne,” Joy said with a shy smile of her own.

“Okay, Joy, you girls look great and happy New year, by the way,” She said. 

We all muttered same to you and Lisa said; “Come with me, Ninu’s waiting for you. Some of the others have arrived.”

Others, who?

Lisa led the way and we were brought to the courtyard, located in the middle of the dome house. It was spacious and without a ceiling or roof. There were tables and chairs with umbrellas on top of them and stuff.

There was even a small pool and the water was so blue I felt like jumping in immediately but thought twice because of the cold.

“You girls have a great time, okay?” Lisa said and left us standing at the entrance, which was a glass door.

We nodded our thanks and Nina slid the door open as we walked in.

MJ was the first person I sighted or heard because of his overly loud voice. He yelled something about a new movie being the best one he’d ever seen Kevin Hart star in. Then, I sighted the rest of the guys who weren’t far from MJ.

In fact, they all crowded one table as they talked. Fred was seated beside MJ and Jeremy was on his other side, laughing. Ore Jumai was also there, opposite MJ, shaking his head and smiling at whatever the dude was yelling about.

Ayo was the only one quiet in the midst of all the noise. He had a smirk on his face and crossed his arms as he leaned back on the seat directly beside MJ. He didn’t say a word. How could someone be so quiet?

Then to the other side, I saw Ninu. She was arranging the food and drinks.

“Happy New Year, guys!” Nina squealed excitedly and that got everyone’s attention.

“NINA BABY! BOLU! FOLARIN!” MJ yelled as he rushed towards us. Picked Nina up and spun her around. He did the same for Joy and wanted to do it to me too when he looked at my height and thought twice about. I laughed as he shook my shoulders vigorously instead.

Fred crashed us in hugs. I couldn’t breathe. Jeremy gave Nina and I fist pumps then kissed Joy after saying; “My baby!”

Joy was so red she would have been a tomato.

Nina strode to where Ayo was, quiet with an amused facial expression, his hands in his pockets, reached up and kissed him. So cute, I almost cried.

Ore greeted us too and when he got to me, he smiled and a warm feeling spread all over my body like a volcano was warming up for an eruption.

The way he smiled at me…these days ehn, it just made me feel all jittery.

He was clad in a navy blue flannel shirt checked with red and white, faded blue jeans, a brown hooded jacket and a brown beanie. He looked stunning as usual.

“You’re staring…” Ore sang out, jolting me out of whatever trance. “Am I that breath taking?” He wiggled his brows.

I huffed and bluffed. “You wish. I was using you to block the sun from entering my eyes.”

That was a really dumb bluff by the way because, the sun was behind me and it wasn’t even that bright.

Yeah. Real smooth, Bolu, real smooth…

He chuckled. “Yeah, right. Your bluff is calling you out, mama. Admit you were staring at me because I am gorgeous.” He wiggled his brows again.

“You annoy me,” I replied instead, holding back my smile.

“And you can’t live without me,” Ore said and I smacked his arm. He feigned hurt but smirked.

“For your mind.” I shook my head at him and we locked eyes.

He held my gaze with that smirk and he bit his very pink lower lip.

“So…Waji, you been working on the project?” He asked.

We’d been chatting throughout the holiday with him disturbing me, sending dumb stickers and creating humans with emojis (don’t ask me how) on whatsapp. He’d once in a while chip in some stuffs about the project and I’d always managed to evade it.

I picked up my physics textbook to read, went through all the research stuff Gift sent to the group on whatsapp and honestly, the voices didn’t sound so strong because there was that soft voice in my head, saying positive things I somehow didn't wanna believe.

Ore had his hands in his pockets and he looked at me expectantly, waiting for my answer.

I gave him a very smart reply like; "Uh..."

"Uh-huh?" He raised a brow.

I blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice. "Uh..."

“Step away from my girlfriends, losers!” I heard Ninu’s voice yell, saving me from answering. I exhaled.

Well, that was close.

She walked right through the middle of the boys, pushing them apart as she glared at them. She glared but I knew it wasn’t a serious glare.

She marched to us.

"Babes! I missed you guys like crazy when I was in Lagos," she said and I wondered if Joy was included too. Ninu faced Nina and I as she talked and I saw Joy looked left out.

She threw her arms around us in a hug, squishing us like crazy. Nina giggled. When Ninu pulled away, I took time to really look at her. She'd really changed.

She looked more like a celebrity now. Her brown skin was glowing. Her outfit -  a maroon mini skirt, white woolen crop top, black knee high boots, and a white faux fur coat - was on point. Her hair was braided - real long white braids and her face shone with little make up. Her eyes looked blue and it clicked in my brain that she was probably wearing contacts.

"Ninu, you look... gorgeous!" Nina said.

"Totally. This is a massive change," I seconded.

"Thanks babes," she replied and smiled prettily at us.

"Happy New Year, Ninuola," Joy said, walked up to her and pulled her in a hug.

Ninu was stunned but she hugged her back anyway, reluctantly.

"Thanks b, same to you," Ninu replied and then pulled away awkwardly.

"What a wonderful girl squad reunion," Fred said and did a mock yawn.

"Shut up, doofus!" Ninu snapped. "You're not getting anything from me because I can't believe you will join the boys to sly your best friend on top one stupid bro code!"

"But...you always said..." Fred feigned hurt.

"Forget what I said. Now I regret it. Bro code ko, brokers password ni. Mtchewww."

Ore laughed. "Baeeee, take a chill pill." He put an arm around her which she shrugged off immediately. He laughed again.

"Yeah, chillax, it's always bros before misses!" Jeremy said. Joy glared at him. "Uh...I mean, in some cases, like, yunno..." He smiled goofily at her.

She elbowed him and scoffed. "I don't know."

Jeremy winced and pouted.

The rest of us laughed, except Ninu who said "ha-ha, real funny."

"But seriously, Ninu-don-spex," MJ said. "Relax jhor, shey because we did not help with the food, ni?"

"What kinda name is Ninu-don-spex?" I asked.

"Help me ask him oh, he's been calling me that since he got here," Ninu said and did an I-don't-know gesture with her hands.

"It's a spectacular name!" MJ yelled and wiggled his brows.

"You're an idiot," Ayo said which stunned me because he hadn't said a word since we got here. He blushed when everyone looked at him though.

"Very much appreciated, bruv," MJ replied with a smirk. "I love you too!"

Ayo grimaced. "Yuck!" Everyone burst out laughing again.

The way Ayo and MJ related made me wonder the kind of friendship they had and who Ayo really was.

Honestly, I couldn't say I really knew him other than the fact that he was my schoolmate, classmate, basketball mate and my best friend's boyfriend.

"Oya, seriously boys, apologize to Ninuola. It was very irresponsible of you to just sit down while she did all the work," Nina said.

"Seconded," Joy said. "After, you guys will be calling yourselves 'men' and you can't do anything without us girls." She flicked her let down hair.

"Thirded!" I added.

"Fourthed, fifthed, six___"

"Oh, shut up, Fred!" Ninuola yelled, cutting him off.

He laughed. We all laughed, even Ninu.

The boys apologized and we got around to the main event which meant laughing, eating, hosting, dancing. I sat with Nina and Ayo, even though I felt like a third wheel.

I was somehow avoiding Ore because well, I couldn't find a way to evade my answer to his question.

Ninuola was gisting with him and I still found it weird that they were friends. Joy and Jeremy were being all lovey dovey, I removed my eyes because well...

PG-rating!!!!

*Coughs awkwardly*

"I have an announcement!" Nina suddenly said and dragged Ayo up with her. He protested but she dragged him anyway.

"So...y'all know Ayo Balogun, my gorgeous, smart, freaking handsome..." She looked at me. "Bolu help me continue the hype na."

Hype is my second middle name so I laughed and stood up to the front. "The freshest, bestest, basketball player at RBA, baba wey sabi cruise, low key shana, high key mad runner..." I raised my hands.

"Baba ooo," Jeremy said and prostrated, literally.

"I hail oh, sinzu!" MJ added.

"Geez...you guys should stop," Ayo said, flustered. "I get the whole stuff and it's not necessary..."

Nina cut him off as she tucked her arm in his. "It is very necessary to say all those things because apart from the fact that you're all that - thank you Bolu for the rest -"

"- don't mention -" I waved it off.

"- today is your birthday!!!"

"Wawu!!!" MJ yelled as if he didn't already know that. "It's the effing birthday of my guyyy!!"

"And that's the real reason we are here today, you know, apart from the whole New year stuff." Nina continued. "So...two cheers for Ayo Balogun who turned seventeen today!"

We all clapped and cheered.

Ayo looked at Nina like she was the most adorable thing in the world, pulled her close to him and kissed her. I almost passed out.

Everyone cheered again.

We took turns to wish him a happy birthday and sing for him.

From there, it was partying till the stars were out. Nobody got drunk - thank the Lord - because Ninu didn't allow any alcohol. I honestly didn't wanna see drunk MJ and Fred.

Nina, Ninu and I talked for a while. Jeremy was clingy to his girlfriend so she wasn't able to talk to us. Ninu told us all about her trip to Lagos and how she met Keve Davidson. Yes, the Keve Davidson.

Ninu met her and they did a photoshoot together. I couldn't believe how fast Ninu was blowing. Very soon, she'd be as popular as Shade  Onam or maybe Sophia Williams too.

We giggled and hyped as she filled us in.

"I actually wanted Ashley and Chidera to come but well..." Nina shrugged.

"Yeah, but it turns out Chidera ain't in Ibadan and Ashley doesn't go anywhere without her friend," I finished for her.

"True," Ninu added but I noticed she was distracted.

I think Nina noticed too because she touched her shoulder and asked; "are you okay, Ninuola?" Nina looked worried.

Ninu was about to answer when a phone rang. It was Nina's. She looked at the caller ID and her expression changed quickly, she looked nervous.

"I uh...gotta take this," she said and excused herself.

I nodded and turned my attention to Ninuola who was still distracted. Her eyes were fixed on something, her brows furrowed in concentration, her eyes were sad - I could see that much, though it was dark- really sad.

I wondered what could make her so sad. She was the one shouting up and down since na, feigning anger for the boys and gisting with Ore and us.

I followed her gaze and realized her gaze was not on something, it was on someone...

A guy with his girlfriend.

Jeremy Tosin.

I kept looking back and forth between them and it's like someone slapped a frying pan on my head with some sense.

Ninuola Adams liked Jeremy Tosin.

And judging from the way she was staring at him, it was more than just a silly crush.

No wonder...

No wonder she always acted cold towards Joy Anne. She was jealous!

Wawu!

This was a great discovery.

Not once did I ever imagine the beautiful sharp mouthed and ever confident Ninuola Adams could feel sad because of a guy.

I suddenly felt guilty for snapping at her when she acted cold towards Joy.

"Ninu..." I touched her arm.

She jerked and looked at me. "Yes?"

"Um...uh..." I didn't know how to say this. "You are okay, right?"

"Um...yeah." She managed a smile but it was fake. "I gotta...um arrange stuff," She stood up and dusted her skirt. "I uh...need to go."

With that, she excused herself.

I exhaled. I hope it would never have to come down to me choosing between friends. It'd be horrible.

I silently prayed that there would be no drama.

But of course, I don't control the universe, do I?

As I sat down, staring at the sky and the constellation the stars made, I felt someone staring at me. I shrugged it off until I felt a presence beside me.

I turned on instincts and almost jumped out of my skin.  He reached out and held my arm.

"Relax mama, I'm not a ghost," he said with a smile.

"Uh...huh," I replied. "Sorry, I was just shocked."

"It's cool." His hand was still on my arm, I removed it from his hold and looked at the sky, my heart was beating fast.

Don't ask me why, I didn't know either.

"You're avoiding me."

"Absolutely not." My voice came out really pitched, exposing my real answer.

He chuckled, that soft, easy and sweet kind he always does. "You're a bad liar, Waji."

"But..."

"Shhhh, say no more, it'll only get worse."

I pouted and ran my hands over my face then sighed. "I'm sorry, okay."

"Of course, you are," he said and locked eyes with me. "You look pretty."

My eyes went wide. "Wha- what...I mean, um, thanks." I managed not to blush.

"You're welcome. So you're avoiding me because you don't have an answer to the question I asked you, the question I've been asking you since..." He dragged.

I sighed and didn't even bother to ask how he knew. "Yeah..."

He smiled. "You shouldn't always run away from your problems, Bolu," he said softly, his eyes didn't leave mine. "Face them head on. Just like a lion."

"But...I can't. I suck, at Physics and at public speaking...and you made me and everyone think I'm capable, are you trying to embarrass me... correction: are you trying to embarrass our whole group?" I threw my hands in the air, exasperatedly.

He kept looking at me. "You're not gonna embarrass anyone, Jayeola. I believe in you."

He believes in you.

He does not! He's lying!

The voices came again. I shook my head.

"And if there are voices in your head, " he said like he read my mind. "You have to choose which one you'll listen to and which you'll suppress. Choice is all yours mama." He winked at me.

I sighed again as he took my hand in his. The tingling effect came again but I didn't pull away.

"You can do it, Bolu. Just like how you defend your teammates during a basketball game and run as fast as you can with a baton and like how you hype in public without being shy or scared about it... Hype woman," he said.

I glared at him playfully.

He smirked. "You can do it, Boluwaji. I believe in you. You got this."

He still held my gaze and my lips stretched into a smile.

Could I really do this?

Could I?

If Ore Jumai actually believed in me then...

Nina believes in you too.

The soft voice reminded me.

If they both believed in me, then I got this?

I nodded at him. "I got this."

This time, I was sure of my answer, the same way I was sure that this New Year held a lot of good stuff and everything would be fine.

If only you and I knew how wrong I was...

Hey guys!

Wassup?

What's popping?

How's life going?

What's good?

Happy Sunday - again 😬

How's the weather treating y'all??

Over here, it's...🥶🥶🥶🥶

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this chapter?

Nina?

Ayo?

Bolu?

Ore?

Ninuola?

I apologise for the late update...I hope this chapter was worth the wait...cuz it's over 3k words😁✌️

Vote. Comment. Share. Repeat!

Love always

~Ife💖💖