Chapter Four

Octavia

I helped Tunde put on his uniform which I ironed to perfection yesterday. Thanks to NEPA (National Electricity Power Authority), there was light throughout last night.

I wore him his pair of white stockings and black boots. When I was through, I took a good look at him, and felt so proud of him because he looked extremely handsome. Plus cute in his white shirt, navy blue shots and black boots which I took my time to polish early this morning.

I put his lunch in His lunch box, making sure to add two meats. Tunde used to lay complains about how I don't put meat in his food. I took it as joke at first, but when his complains became repetitive, I took it upon my self to go to his school on a particular day before his lunch break, to check on him. I checked his lunch box, the food was untouched with the meat missing.

Only to find out it was the class minder who always ate his meat, and also ate the meat of other kids who bought food with a sweet smelling aroma. It was silly of her to carry out such act. I reported her to the school authorities who got her fired.

I even added that Tunde always returned home with the marks of cane on his body, which wasn't a lie either. My poor brother was three then, he was quiet and shy and it made her took advantage of him.

I heaved deeply when I thought about this.

After putting his snack inside his backpack, I walked him to the junction and waited till his school bus arrived. I carried him into the school bus and sat him on seat next to a sleeping kid whose snore could bring a house down. I smiled, waved him goodbye and left as the engine of the bus roared to life.

Dad left for work as usual without breakfask. Mom would return from the market tomorrow. Times like this where when I visited Adetayo, at the Hospital or his house when he wasn't on duty.

I ate the remaining spaghetti on the pot, then relaxed on my favourite couch in the sitting room to watch a movie that was released three months ago on YouTube titled. "Someone Great." On my IPad.

It really was an interesting movie about a 30years old Lady who got offered her dream job in a new city. She was to leave everything behind. The guy she had dated for nine years since broke up with her because it was obvious they both wanted different things. Tgeir relationship was quite a mess but she still loved him, and wanted him back after the break up.

I cried in the process of watching the movie. After assuring herself she wass fine and everything, she thought she could move on,b ut everything reminded her about him. She really was heartbroken and couldn't get him off her mind, thinking about the good times made her cry even harder. She really was inlove with him.

Maybe that's why I was in tears right now because as little as I was, I felt something for Adetayo after all. And that's why I was hurting deeply. His traditional marriage ceremony was even tomorrow.

Fat drops of tears streamed down my cheeks as Ed sheeran's 'Give Me Love' blasted from my earbuds. It wasn't really a sad song or a song about heartbreak. It was just the perfect song for crying. I was kinda weird. I could cry over 'Sia's Eye Of The Needle or 'Avril lavigne's Wish You Where Here'. Most Christian songs even sound Like romance songs to me, the Rhythms and beats though, and not the lyrics.

I unplugged my phone from the powerbank where it was charging to log in Facebook. I was bored so I waved at most people I saw online.

I had 4,787 friends. Once 5,000 but got unfriend by people whenever I uploaded a pics till it got to 4,787.

I was no slay queen on Facebook, my mom was into clothes and make up and I was supposed to be flaunting my clothes on Facebook, but I don't. I sucked at make up too. I was been taught severally by Tana, but it seemed like I was born to suck at it.

But I got up to a thousand likes on Facebook. Something that amazes both Tana and Annie till today.

When active on Facebook I always got numerous messages from people, mostly perverts. I'd have to turn off my mobile data to reply those messages because in the process of replying with my mobile data on, more would troop in.

I was scrolling through my news feed, and tapping on the like button at almost everything I saw. I watched a funny video on krakstv where a guy was asked The difference between A Cock, Hen, Chicken and Fowl, and the guy replied with "A cock has a penis, and a hen as a peninsula."

I cried of laughter when he said, "A cock is a male and a hen is a shemale."

I kept watching funny videos till I came across a video of Fulani herdsmen. I hurriedly scroll down without viewing it because there was nothing good about those men. They derived pleasure in killing people. People have mind sha, to watch videos where your fellow human is be chopped like meat. Godforbid.

I made the mistake of watching one of their videos and couldn't eat or sleep for days. I fell sick. Ever since I had been avoiding such videos or any, video related to them. I was a chicken at heart.

I kept scrolling, liking and commenting on posts if necessary, until I saw a post from Ryan Okonkwo.

Just Now.

Like.   Comment.   Share.

Ryan Okonkwo the Facebook Celeb with 5,000 friends and 33,000 followers. He gets up to 8,000likes on just his post. He was fair, average height, muscular and super cute. And also a model.

But there was one thing I disliked about him. He was snobbish. Didn't even reply to comments on his pictures, talkless of people's message. He's never even liked any of my post before. And he's been on my friend list for 3years.

I wanted to skip the post but I found myself type " Hi" and clicked the comment button.

But it was too late. One Mirabel Stephen's comment came first, and mine came second, followed by fifteen other people whose comment read "just now" like mine.

The post was updated three minutes ago and it had 59comments and 80likes. See them, jobless people. I mentally said. As if I wasn't an exception.

I clicked on Mirabel Stephen's profile and went through her pictures. Her pictures where kinda blurry which signifies that she wasn't using a good phone and she dressed like an S.U (Scripture Union) member.

I clicked on my profile and viewed my own profile picture. It was a selfie of Tunde and I, on my bed. We looked cute smiling with our perfect set of white teeth on display. My two incisors where slightly big and the dimple which I always forced out by smiling widely was visible. Tunde hadn't lost his two incisor then. I smiled at this and logout

. Mentally telling my self my pictures looked better than Mirabel Stephan's.

The house was tidy as usual. The soups and stew where in the fridge. I'd just have to prepare eba for Dad when he returned at night. So I was free.

I stare at the time on my phone, it read half past twelve and Tunde's school was to dismiss by 2pm.

I settled on playing 'Cooking Fever' on my iPad.

Few minutes later, my phone started ringing, and I picked it up from the couch and stared at the caller. It was an unknown number, and I mentally called myself an idiot for turning off the mobile data. If it was on, Truecaller would've displayed the name of the person.

Maybe it was Adetayo. I thought, as a little tad od hope formed in my heart. Because he'd refused calling or taking my calls ever since he announced he was getting married

"Hello." It was deep and distinct masculine voice which sent shivers down my spine, that I heard when I swipe the answer button to the left.

"Hello, Good day." I replied formally, disappointed it wasn't who I thought it was.

It really was obvious the guy was forming beause his 'Hello' sounded like 'Hell-o-uh"

"Gooday to you, Babe. Listen, I'm the guy you commented on his post on Facebook few minutes ago."

"Ryan Okonkwo?" I questioned with disbelief.

"I guess."

Wow! I mentally screamed and fist pumped the air. It was impossible to believe, it felt like a dream.

" I uh, wanted to send a message but you went offline so I..uhm,decided to call." It really was awkward between us on call, because we had never chatted before.

"How did you get my cell number." I asked without thinking.

He laughed at this. His laughter sounded like music to my ears. God, it was beautiful, just like him. I totally forgot about Adetayo right at that moment.

"Its on your profile, Octavia." He reminded me and I physically face palmed myself for being so stupid. "Well, I was going through your pictures and I must say you don't look bad." At least he didn't say I was ugly. So he ditched Mirabel Stephen for me. I smiled, I smiled again.

"Let's meet up at Coldstones today by 6pm. And uhm, wear something nice cause We'd take selfies together. Bye, see you 6pm." And he hunged up, interrupting me from any protest I wanted to make.

The offer was tempting but I couldn't leave Tunde at home alone. I had no idea on what to put on. I sucked at make up. The only thing I was good at was applying lip gloss on my lips. My cornrows was even three weeks old and the odour of it wasn't pleasant.

What am I to do? I layed flat on the rug contemplating on what to do. Dad would get furious and have me grounded for the whole year if he finds out I left Tunde at home. That's beside the point. I couldn't leave my kid brother at home, alone, Godforbid.

But Ryan.

This was my chance of being friends with him. God! Why did I even comment on that stupid post? And if I don't show up he'd think I'm a looser and I'd loose the chance of being friends with him, or even his girlfriend.

Perplexed, I dialed Tana's Number. She was my helper at situations like this.

She pickes on the first ring, guess she was going through her phone before my call went through. "Babe, howfar? (How are you)"

"I'm not fine oh, Tana. Not fine at all." I responded unsettled.

"Awww." She cooed. "See the way she's whining like a baby. Oya what's wrong?"

I narrated everything, how it all started, not skipping an 'If' sef. She asked me to give her twenty minutes, that she'd come over.

Twenty minutes felt like twenty hours, as I sat on the floor eating Golden Morn without milk or sugar. I liked it that way, the taste of it was heavenly.

Finally a soft knock came in two rows and I permitted the door to be opened. It was Tana. I thanked my stars as she walked in looking happy and beautiful as ever. Suddenly she halted and stared at me with a bewildered look on her face.

"Babe, you look like shit."

"I know, you idiot. You don't need to remind me." My face was still a swollen mess despite I had stopped crying for over an hour. Crying wasn't good for me. My eyes and lips would get swollen like I was beaten. I stared at my face with the screen of my phone, thankfully the swollen had subsided a little.

Tana made her way into the kitchen to get a bowl, spoon and gallon of milk from the fridge.

She returned and settled on the floor next to me.

"Mehn, O.C don't tell me you're like this because of that Adetayo." Tana asked as she took the golden morn from me and poured it into the bowl, added milk and sugar. She disliked Adetayo from the start, even warned me not to get myself too attached to him.

"Leave that dried fish abeg, there are plenty of fresh fishes out there and you won't to kill yourself because of that man. I mean take a look at this Ryan Okonkwo, the boy is tush." I stretched my neck and peered into her phone and saw that she had already sent him a friend request and was clicking on his pictures as she ate. "He's 20years old, studying Business Administration at Unilag. You're there crying your face to pulp because of one old man, when a fresh dude wants to take you out." She kissed her teeth and stared at me. I stared at her in return.

"That's why I say you're going."

"Ah ahn, Tana now, I thought I told you my hindrances from going out with Ryan." I scowl.

"When, I'll ask Ike and Ugo to come and stay with Tunde." Ike and Ugo where Tana's twin brothers, both fourteen.

"What about my dad?"

" You say he comes late abi, leave the man Joor! Someone that is busy flexing his life."

"Comot Jare (Get out my friend) You'll be saying things you know not of."

"Be there now, upon this your big eyes you're still blind, don't worry one day it'd open up for you."

I flung a pillow at her and she mock glared at me. "Ehen, about your hair, I'll lend you that my full curly wig." She looked at my hair and frowned.

"I don't get it. Why don't you like putting on those beautiful clothes your mom stacks in your wardrobe? Everytime loosed sweat tops and shorts. If I were your mom's daughter I'd be slaying everywhere, even in my sleep."

" You're crazy." I laughed as I chewed on my golden morn.

"And your face, I'll do your make up for you, but you'll pay me." When I made to protest she interrupted me. "With that sky blue gown you wore to church last week Sunday. You'll dash me that gown. It'd fit me nicely. No vex oh(Don't be angry) but you just loss inside (You're skinny inside)."

"Its mad you're mad. Idiot." I flung another pillow at her but she caught it and stucked out her tongue at me. I smiled. Although I was slightly angry at her for the insults, but I was happy she was here. She was always around to help, and that was why she I chose her as my best friend.

************

"Ah Ahn, is this make up not excessive? See the way you decorated my face like pancake. A light make up would've been better. Ryan is going to think all this one is for him.".

I outcried, staring at my face on my mirror, in horror.

"Who is it for if its not for him, Mumu (Fool)"

" If you call me that again, I'll slap you you upside the head, idiot."

It was 5:11pm and Tana was in my room with me. She was through with the heavy mask she called make up on my face, and waa setting the wig on my head. Thank God for the cornrows though.

"I can't believe your mum gives you make up Kit and all you do is hide them inside your box. This girl you're slacking oh." She sprayed oil sheen on my hair, to make it shiny.

" Ehn, thank you, pepper body (Pucknoser)" She laughed and retouched my lips with lip gloss.

"All this one just for ice cream and selfies."

" Isiewu (Goathead) its a date." She said grinning from ear to ear dancing 'Shaku Shaku' (A popular dance in Nigeria, mostly in Lagos) as she stared at my mirror. I laughed as I slipped on the handless cream coloured gown, which stopped few inches below my knees. Tana said it was the one that moulded to my bony structure. After putting the gown on, I put on my black wedge shoe. I would've looked nice if it wasn't for the excessive make up. I guess.

"I'm scared." I said more to the mirror than Tana.

"Do you want me to go with you?" She asked closing my make up kit. It wasn't what I wanted to hear. I wanted her to assure me I looked nice and I'd be fine, just like the way they do in movies and novels. To be sincere I didn't like her reply.

" Yes, but it'd take long because you'd spend two hours decorating your face like you want to go for photo shoot."

"Who says I'd put on make up?" She scoffed. "I'll go with you like this, I don't need make up to look beautiful." She replied picking on her nails.

I felt slightly insulted at her remark.

So its me that needs make up to look beautiful, abi.

That would've been my reply but I kept my mouth shut.

Ike and Ugo where watching 'The Boss Baby' On my iPad along with Tunde. Tunde was happy he had companies and hardly payed attention to me. My very shy and quiet brother turned into a Talkative while watching the cartoon. The movie still fascinated him despite he had watched it for over a hundred time. He loved it so much.

I hugged him and told him I'd be back. He noddes without taking his eyes of the movie. There were pastries in the fridge for him and Tana's brothers.

Finally, after making sure everything was in check, both Tana and I took a cab to Coldstones.

***********

Overly Dressed, excessive make up, too tall, ugly and antisocial are what I thought about myself, as Tana and Ryan's laughter filled in  the atmosphere.

They where both engaged in a serious talk about Beyonce, Wizkid, Saint John and Blue Ivy Carter's 'Brown Skin Girl' and the 'Lion King Album'.

I only knew Beyonce and Wizkid, I didn't know who the rest artists where, never even heard of them. And when they started talking about 'Billie Eilish' I ate my ice cream feeling out of place as self pity overwhelmed me. I didn't know Beyonce sang a song with WizKid and I didn't even know who 'Billie Eilish' was.

I just felt so outdated. Ever since I wrote Jamb (Joint Admission Matriculation Board ) I had always been at home with Tunde, I didn't hang out with people like Tana and Annie does. I was an an introvert.

Yeah, Ryan was handsome and everything. And I was stupid enough to think he'd like me when I brought Tana along. I wondered why I was still here, with a make like a witch. The stupid wig was even itching me.

Should I tell you why I agreed on Tana coming with me?Okay.

It waa because I knew if Ryan got close to me, he'd definitely get to know Tana cause she was my best friend. I liked introducing anyone I knww to her. So Ryan might fall for her looks.

A normal girl would've told her friend she was fine and would go on her date alone. But I didn't, because I wasn't normal. It was better to feel the heartache now than later.

Only the wise would understand what I mean.

Why I'm I still here? is the question I had been asking myself as Ryan and Tana posed for a selfie, both smiling, looking perfect.

Ryan didn't even bother to take pictures with me like he'd promised.

He possibly forgot because Tana's beauty eclipsed mine. And he ditched me and took pictures with her. They didn't even asked me to join them. My own best friend that I bought on a date, is taking pictures with my date and couldn't ask me to join them. She was pretty as always. Looking so adorable in her black long gown, neat cornrows and make up free face. Just artificial lashes which made her oval face look more angelic.

Why wouldn't he ditch ugly me for her.

She wasn't overly dressed like I was.

She was with no make up while I was with a heavy make up, looking so ugly and twice my age.

I pushed my chair backwards and stood up, forgetting I was holding my ice cream and it spill on my dress and fell on the ground.

The looks I received from people sitted on their chairs, and moving about, made me felt inferior. I felt like a looser, like the worst person on planet earth. It'd have been better staying at home, watching movies with my brother, it really would.

A look of Pity clouded Tana's face and Ryan's face was a smirks. It was stupid of me to think he was nice after all, and I was stupid, still stupid and will remain stupid.

I ran out of Coldstones before I could burst into tears in front of everyone and make myself look more inferior.

While running to nowhere in particular, anywhere but Coldstones, I heard footsteps running after me. And I heared Tana called my name.

Oh, I thought I was invisible after all.

I halted almost bumping into a couple. They gave me weird looks as they headed their way. I bit my lip trying so hard not to cry.

"You don't have to be like this, Octavia. It was Obvious he was interested me when he saw me." Tana pointed out standing behind me.

I made no response, still breathing rapidly.

"You don't have to be jealous because he likes me, Its natural." She had her arms folded and was pouting when I turned to her.

It took everything in me not to press her to the wall and scream the word "Bitch" into her face.

I made to leave when she held my hand.

"Where are you going?"

" Isn't it Obvious? I'm going home. Its your date after all. Enjoy." I smiled through the tears that dripped down my cheeks. I knew my already messed up face was now messier.

"Atleast you should come inside and tell him you're leaving. We're about ordering pizza, your favourite." She still had the nerve to tell me such.

" I'm leaving. I shouldn't have left my brother, shouldn't have agreed to come to this stupid date. If only I had know this is how it'd be. Go back inside Tanachukwu, and enjoy your date." I took her hand off mine to hail a cab.

"Me I don't get why you're making a big deal out of this Oh. Anyway suit yourself." she hissed and walked back into Coldstones.

Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as I watched her go. I thought she would've agreed to leave with me, atlease to say sorry for treating me like that back there.

But she didn't. It hurt so much that I was made the third wheel on my own date. It hurt even more that my own best friend ditched me for a guy she just met today. It signified that I meant so little to her.

It was half past seven and cabs weren't that much, the ones I saw where filled with people so I open the Uber App in my phone to dailed the an available Uber number.

Five minutes later, the Uber arrived and it took thirty minutes before I got to the entrance of my street. I payed the money and alighted.

As I trekked home I took out my phone from my bag to stare at the time, hoping Dad hadn't arrived yet or I'd be in Hot soup (Problem). It was 8:05PM.

I walked on the street with self pity and self loathe. Feeling like I should creep up in a corner and die. I cried while walking with my heavy mask of a make up. I knew I would've been pretty without it. I cried more when I thought about this. I didn't even pay attention to the people walking on the street, moving to and fro, I just walked.

I took off Tana's wig and felt the cold wind gush through my hair.

I made to put the rubbish wig inside my bag, I'd make sure to return it with the blue gown she requested for tomorrow.

It was dark, and in attempt of putting the touch light of my phone to live, my face collided with a hard chest and I lost my balance and fell. Landing flat with my already flat butt on the floor. I heard the sound of something cracked.

It was partly my fault because I was walking without paying attention to the surrounding, but the guy was at fault too. He could've made way for me to pass, on seeing I wasn't paying attention. Why would he stand on the road like that sef?

"Hey you! Look what you've caused". I yelled after the very tall male who I bumped into. He couldn't even say sorry and be a gentleman to help me up. I stared at my phone and saw it had cracking lines.

"Bastard, you don't even have the decency of apologising. Look what you've caused!" I scream and pointed my phone flashlight at him.

From the steps he was taking, you'd know he was very angry or mad. And I was angry too. I bumped into him, because he stood in the way just like that, which caused me to fall and crack the screen of my phone. He couldn't even say sorry.

Today was one hell of a frigging bad day. Ugh!

I groanws and threw my shoe at him. It landed right on his head and fell on the ground.

Immediately he halted, touched his head with his hand and stared at his hand.

Serves you right. I muttered, feeling satisfied.

Suddenly, I saw something like blood prickling out from his head and I knew I was doomed for.

Jesus Christ! I took things too far! I'm dead.

He turned, and started walking rapidly towards me and I almost died out of shock, fear and embarrassment.

He was the guy, the one who was checking out Tana the other day. The handsome guy who just moved into the new compound a few blocks away from my house.

I screamed when I ssw how furious he looked. He looked like he'd reap my head off with his death glare.

Oh God! I muttered as he stood in front of me. I closes my eyes tightly, as I shivered violently.