Chapter Six

                                   ~Fola~

It was the period for club's activities and I found myself walking towards an empty class without thinking much of it. I just needed that alone time and solace.

I sat down by the window overlooking the garage and I could see some drivers driving in already. I don't know how long I sat there until I heard shuffles of feet behind me. I turned back, alarmed. I had thought I was alone.

Deep black orbs stared right at me. It was Tobi and I found myself swallowing. What was he doing here?

"Hey sorry. I did not mean to intrude. I was actually here before you came in."

I did not say anything. I did not have anything to say and I did not trust myself to say anything.

"I'll just leave you to be alone. It seems you want to be....."

He stood up and started to walk away and I did the last thing I ever thought I would.

"No, it's okay. You can stay. I met you here. If anyone should leave, it should be me."

He looked uncertain for a second, just a split second before he flashed a boyish grin and started to walk towards me.

What? When I said he should stay, I never meant he should come and sit beside me.

I blinked twice as he took his seat right beside me. It was the chair for the junior class, the one like a short bench where you have a partner.

"This brings back Junior class memories."

He started as if reading my thoughts.

"That was actually how I became closer with Moji. She was my seat partner right from JSS1 and even though she was small, like very small, she always manage to take up space and she always end up leaving the smallest space for me. No matter how hard I complain, she would just ignore me. It was really frustrating but then, I just couldn't get mad at that cute baby."

The way he said it pulled my eyes to him. His eyes were lit up and his smile was tugging at his lips. I know he was reminiscing on those days and I felt a pull in my heart. I don't have any days like that to reminisce on like that. The days I could reminisce on were filled with Kenny.

And I always avoided thinking about her.

"Hmm, I can't relate. I was learning mine at home. I don't even remember how seat partners fight is again."

I did not mean for it to come out as it came out. Pained. The last thing I needed was for someone to look at me as pained. I wasn't pained. I was far from being pained.

"You're here now. That's how that matters and I'm pretty sure this year will make up for all the lost years."

I smiled and nodded, even though I did not quite believe him. But it was always good to look at the bright side of things, to be optimistic; to look at the bright side of things.

"And besides, you have Moji..."

"That cute little thing.."

I butted in, without thinking twice and he burst into laughter. I joined in too.

"Cute little thing? She wouldn't like that name but it suit her perfectly."

Ikr.

"You guys seems to be very close."

"Oh, we're very close. Like really close. I like her, a whole lot."

Hmm. I thought as much. They were too close to be ordinary friends.

"....She's like a baby sister to me. She is too cute. She just crack me up everytime."

I burst into laughter. I thought I was the only one that felt like her. I trailed off to see him looking at me, a small smile tugging on his lips. The side of the face that was to him was the scarred side and I subconsciously used my hand left palm to cover it. He looked away when our eyes met and I looked away too, feeling the warmth at the pit of my stomach again.

What was that?

We fell into a comfortable silence that I was grateful for. We remained like that for a while until something eased the near discomfort in my throat.

"So why are you here? You should be in your club."

"Technically, I don't have a club."

I turned to look at him. Is that even possible?

"I enjoy moving from one club to the other. I really find it difficult to be in one place. Highest level of irresponsibility. I know but then, I'm not exactly responsible."

"I did not even say anything."

"I know but that's just exactly how it is."

I chuckled to myself once again.

"I'm here too. I don't have a club... At least, not yet."

"You see? At least, you plan on having one. I don't see myself staying in any club."

I started to say something when we heard the door being opened. We both turned to the back to see Moji entering the class.

"Oh God! Tobi. Do you know how much I searched for you. What are you...."

She trailed off when she realized he wasn't alone. Tobi already stood up and was walking towards her. She looked from Tobi to me, then from me to Tobi again.

"Oh, you guys were together?"

I silently silently hoped that wasn't disbelief laced with her voice. Well, it couldn't be. The Moji I know wasn't like that.

"Nooo, we were not together, You just saw just together."

Tobi answered once he got to her and he ruffled her hair with his left hands. She shrugged his hands off and looking at them now, I realized they looked more like bickering siblings than a couple.

I felt an instant relief that I absolutely don't understand.

"Sense Tobi, have sense. Anyway, it's closing hour, we should leave now."

I turned back to look at the garage and students were already there, talking students, shouting students. They were either entering their designated cars or the school bus. Excitement of the coming weekend was evident on their faces.

"Fola, are you not coming with us?"

I picked up my bag, stood up and followed them out of the classroom.

                            ***********

                                ~Moji~

"Hmm hmm, Moji won't even give us face now that she has a phone. Oga oo, I can't believe I'm now competing with a phone."

I neither looked up from the phone, nor reply Tobi until I was done with that level of candy crush. I giggled at the burst of candies and the colours and balloons that filled up my phone screen. I just couldn't get over the fact that I was now using a phone. Wierd that something this simple would affect me like this but wait till you've being deprived of something that simple to know how this feeling feels like.

"So, what did you say is wrong with you?"

I asked him when I finally looked up. We were done with our first CA. It only lasted for two days and we were in the love garden. We come here once in a while. When the cafeteria gets overwhelming and it becomes too suffocating, we always hang out in the garden. Long rows of benches were arranged horizontally and vertically and a set of swings was at one corner. Leke was with us too. Well, he was always with Tobi and that meant being with me too.

"You're always pressing your phone. Wasn't that the reason why your dad stopped you from using phone in the first place?"

He replied and I rolled my eyes. Dad can't seize this phone from me. Infact, I was going to protect this particular one with my life.

"Your phone was seized? Because you press it too much? Wow, your dad must be a disciplinary."

Fola, who was sitting beside me asked, her voice incredulous. Most people find it hard to believe it.

"Well, not exactly. I was 10 when he seized that phone. That was more than 5 years ago. It has history behind it sha."

"Tell us the history behind it na. Abi, are you shy?"

I glared at Tobi.

"Tobi. Shut up. You know the story already and besides, what's there to say?"

He shrugged, a nonchalant look on his face. I wished I was sitting beside him so I'd smack his head. Too bad it was that boy who wouldn't stop looking at me that was beside him.

"Anyway, my uncle gifted me a phone when I was 10. I started neglecting my house chores and assignments because of the phone and dad ended up seizing the phone. He said he wouldn't allow me to use another one till I was 16. He just decided to give me one some months to my 16th birthday."

Fola's mouth dropped open.

"Wow, you tried oo. You did not use a phone for five years? Don't tell me you did not have internet connection too."

I burst into laughter. Haba!

"Fola na. I did not use phone ni. I used a laptop and my brother's second phone was mine whenever he was home but then, he was hardly ever home."

She visibly relaxed.

"Aah. I was scared for a moment."

"So, there was no boy involved? Stories like that always have boys involved."

I turned to look, no, glare at Leke. Who asked him to contribute? And besides, how did he even know that? Only Tobi knew that there was a boy indirectly involved and he couldn't have told him.

"No, there wasn't a boy involved. What are you talking about anyway?"

I started to turn back but not before I noticed a small smirk playing on his lips. What's this boy's deal anyway?

He chuckled when our eyes met.

"Really? Moji! Is it that you really can't recognize me or you're just pretending not to? Have I changed that much?"

I stared at him, like really stared at him. He has always looked family and now, I was starting to place his face. I vaguely the small fine boy who consoled me whenever I cried in class. The one who kissed me on my cheeks. The one who left school out of the blues. My dropped dropped open while his stretched into a lopsided grin.

"Jamal?"