CHAPTER 1: THE CHALLENGE.

Have you ever been madly in love with your childhood best friend, but they never loved you the same way? I mean, not like they didn't love you back, but just not how you wanted it to be?

Well, if you have ever been there, then you would most definitely relate to everything you are about to witness in Idara's funny love story. But if you haven't experienced such before, all I can offer is a piece of advice: Get tons of tissues or handkerchiefs, grab a snack, sit back and learn as you dive into Idara's colorful, twisted life.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER 1: THE CHALLENGE.

It all started when Yomi and Idara gained admission into the same school. They were both undergraduates in the University of Lagos, studying the same course—Mass Communication, and this period was their second semester for 100 Level.

Today happened to be a blessed, peaceful Saturday, which meant that there were no lectures for the weekend in most departments. Usually, Idara spent her Saturday mornings at the school's Sports Center where she enjoyed watching other students play their favorite sport or do some serious workout, but today, she sat on a stony pavement which served as a barrier between the land and the wide lagoon, chatting with a talented roommate of hers called Anastasia.

“I think I'm getting better at this thing.” Anastasia said as she moved her fingers smoothly on the strings of her new acoustic guitar, creating a melodious tune which caught Idara's attention.

“That sounds familiar.” Idara stared at the neat musical instrument with curious eyes, trying to remember where she'd heard that same melody from before. “But I can't seem to wrap my head around it. Do you mind telling me?”

Anastasia smiled and doubled the pace of her fingers. “Lonely! I am still lonely! I have nobodyyy—” she replied in a singsong voice, chuckling, “—for my ooown. Oh, I am so lonelyyy!”

On hearing that, Idara started clapping and chuckling too as the memory came back in a flash. “Yeah. Correct. That's the exact one. Bravo!”

Both ladies laughed to their heart's content, then silence took over for a while.

Wearing the strap of her guitar over her shoulder, Anastasia turned around in her sitting position and joined Idara in gazing at the peaceful waters far ahead.

“So, is that really all you have to say about it?”

Quizzically, Idara raised an eyebrow and mumbled, “Sorry? What was that?”

“Come on, you know what I'm talking about.” Anastasia inhaled fresh air, her eyes fixated on a small speedboat moving under the mighty Third Mainland Bridge. “It's about that song I sang some minutes ago.”

Idara raised another eyebrow, giving her friend a sideways look. “Okay. What about it?”

Anastasia's breath came out in a whoosh as she said, “Dara, I can't believe you still haven't figured out what I meant, despite the hint I just gave you.”

Idara shrugged a shoulder. “Well, I'm not a mind reader, so whatever it is, spill it already.”

Anastasia shook her head in self-pity. “Actually, what I'm trying to say is that, in spite of my dashing looks and my astounding talents, the fact that I'm still single and lonely baffles me big time.”

“No, you're not.” Idara disagreed at once. “I mean, yes, you are single, but definitely not lonely. Remember, Jesus Christ, our Lord and personal Saviour, is always there for you, dear. So cheer up, babe. It's all good.”

Anastasia giggled and elbowed her roommate's upper arm, gently. “Dara, you are not serious o! I mean, of course, everybody needs Jesus one way or the other, but there are certain limits to what our Heavenly Father can do for us physically. Romance, for instance.” Her lips stretched into a crooked smile. “With due respect, my Lord and personal Saviour won't kiss my cheeks or send lovely good morning texts to me every day, would He?”

“Yes, He would, if you pray hard.” Idara answered with a silly smile on her face. “Trust me, fervent prayer is the master key. With steady prayer and fasting, nothing is impossible, Asia.”

With that, Anastasia burst out laughing, fighting the urge to whack her dear friend upside the head. “This girl dey use me play sha,” she mumbled and shook her head again. “See, Dara, you fit think sey na joke but no be so o! On a very serious note, I really wish I had someone to call mine, though.”

“Honestly, I don't understand why you are so bothered about boys all of a sudden.” Idara complained, concerned. “Aren't you the same chick who rejected five fine guys last semester? What about them?”

Anastasia sighed. “Dem no get sense na,” she replied, facepalming. “Apart from a guy's money and looks, common sense is something I actually cherish so much. But, so far, as I see it, I think I'm just unlucky. My beauty is a gift and a curse.”

Idara's facial expression turned grim. “"A gift and a curse?"” She quoted, confused. “How exactly?”

Anastasia sighed again. “I'm talking about the kind of guys that usually approach me, my dear,” she explained with plain irritation plastered on her face. “Random senseless boys every blessed time. I'm getting sick and tired of putting up with them, for real.”

“Well, you know what they say, buddy.” Idara waved a hand dismissively, as though to end the discussion. “Birds of a feather flock together.”

It took exactly five seconds for Anastasia to understand Idara's final sentence. “Wait a minute,” she frowned. “Are you indirectly saying that I'm stupid? As in, like, I tend to attract senseless guys because I'm equally dumb, aye?”

Idara laughed out loud, trying her best to avoid eye contact with her rather upset friend. “Abeg no be me talk am o. No be for my mouth you go hear sey crayfish bend.”

Anastasia couldn't help but laugh too. “You be legit mumu. Ode!” She pinched Idara's earlobe amid laughter. “Bloody fool!”

As Idara was about to retaliate, something started vibrating in her trouser pocket, which was soon followed by a nice ringtone. Without hesitation, she dug into the tight pocket and smiled sheepishly on seeing the caller ID on her phone's screen.

“Sorry, I've got to take this.” She announced softly. “It's Yomi.”

Anastasia smiled too. “Okay na. Put it on speaker sha.”

“Sure. As Your Lordship pleases.”

That said, Idara accepted the incoming call and opened her mouth to speak, but was quickly interrupted by a comical masculine voice from the other end.

“Mumu. I thought you wouldn't pick up the call.” Yomi teased in the suavest voice ever heard by mankind. “How far, where you dey?”

“Good morning to you, too, sir.” Idara rolled her eyes, absently drumming with her fingers on the base of Anastasia's guitar.

“Save your greetings.” Yomi hissed. “I'm standing outside of your hostel now, but I can't seem to find you anywhere around here. I first checked the Sports Center on my way, but you weren't at your regular spot either. Where exactly are you?”

“Wait o, what are you even doing in school sef?”

“Ah. Nawa o.” Yomi groaned in frustration. “Typical Nigerian behavior. Always answering direct questions with more bloody questions. I'm not surprised.”

Idara and Anastasia burst into laughter at once.

“Sorry jor.” Idara apologized amid laughter. “I'm currently at Lagoon Front, chilling with Asia.”

“No wonder. I could've sworn I just heard someone else laughing in the background.” Yomi heaved a sigh of relief. “Asia, how far na?”

“I dey okay o, Daddy Yo.” Anastasia greeted back, all smiles and bubbly. “What's good na? Are you coming over?”

“Sure thing. I'm on my way.”

“Thank God.” Idara chipped in happily. “Don't come here empty-handed o. We are hungry. Buy something for us.”

“You hear?” Anastasia emphasized loudly. “Don't forget o!”

Yomi laughed calmly. “Don't worry, I won't. I got y'all covered,” he assured them both. “Make una just chill. I dey come.”

“All right, then. We are waiting for you.” Idara's smile had turned into a full-blown blush without her knowledge. “Bye-bye!”

“Goodbye, mumu. End the call.”

Giggling, Idara terminated the call as instructed, and then she put her phone back in her pocket.

“I swear to God, that guy is the liveliest guy I've ever seen in this dry school.” Anastasia confessed in admiration, smiling. “And he has sense like mad. Plus, he's so damn fine. A clean, handsome, young fella with the sauce. He would've been a complete package for me if only he wasn't a light-skinned half-caste, though. I don't like fair guys. I prefer them purely African and dark.”

“So why are you telling me this?” Idara raised a questioning brow, both arms akimbo. “Your problem. Not mine.”

“Ode.” Anastasia laughed. “I'm just telling you not to think that I'm interested in him sha, because, clearly, you are really into that guy, so I won't cross my boundaries,” she explained coolly. “The fact that you are his childhood best friend even serves as a major advantage for you. How hard could it be to tell him how you feel about him sef? Stop being a bloody chicken already!”

Idara sighed softly. “Asia, you don't really understand.” She glanced away. “Yomi sees me as the elder sister he never had. If it was as easy as you're making it seem, believe me I would've done that a long time ago, because he's the definition of my everything. I want to tell him so many things, but how do I even start? We've both known each other since, like, forever, and he already takes me as his legit family. He doesn't see me as someone he could have a romantic affair with. To him, we are just best friends. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“What makes you think so?” Anastasia frowned. “If I were you I'd stop making unnecessary assumptions and give it a shot someday.”

Idara looked at her confident roommate with glazed eyes. “And risk losing my long-term friendship with him by doing so?”

Anastasia shook her head in pure disappointment. “Dara, the problem with you is fear,” she complained, still frowning. “You too dey do like fowl. You no get mind at all, and it's really annoying. That's why I trust myself. I no kuku get time nitemi. As for me if I like someone, I'll shoot my shot straight up and leave the rest to fate. It's not that hard na.”

“Personalities differ, you know?” Idara picked a pebble from the pavement and tossed it into the water. “Please stop the comparison already. I am not you and I will never be.”

“Okay na. Stay there dey dull yourself until another sharp babe go thief am for your eye.” Anastasia hissed aloud, clapping her hands mockingly. “After all, you're not the only girl in campus. I have desperate friends who are crushing on him, too. It's only a matter of time before you lose him forever.”

Idara was about to respond when Anastasia's phone started ringing out loud. Quickly, Anastasia took it out of her Fendi purse and excused herself before picking up.

After a short discussion between she and her caller, Anastasia ended the call and said to Idara, “That was Tayo, my brother. He's somewhere around the main gate, waiting for me. I've got to go.”

Idara was somewhat confused. “Why the sudden rush, though?”

Anastasia turned around and stood up from the pavement. “Remember that apartment stuff I told you about last week?”

Idara nodded. “Yeah, I do. What about it?”

“Well, good news!” Anastasia smiled cheekily. “Tayo just found one crib that is close to the school, which he thinks I would like. So I wanna go check it out ASAP.”

“All right, then. Good luck.” Idara made the thumbs-up gesture and smiled back at her friend. “Send my warm regards to him.”

“I sure will, honey.”

Barely had Anastasia taken six steps forward when she stopped in her tracks, turned around, and then hurried back to Idara with a grimace. “Mehn, I almost forgot about this guitar sha. Here!” She removed the strap from her shoulder and handed the guitar to Idara. “Keep it for me. I no wan hear story o!”

Idara chuckled. “No reason am. It's in safe hands.”

“Good. Reserve my snacks too o!”

“I don hear you, ma. Start going na.”

Anastasia giggled heartily, turning around to leave, but then she suddenly stopped moving after taking two steps forward. “Let's make a deal,” she said softly, looking over her shoulder at Idara's face. “A legit deal.”

“What deal?” Idara was curious. “I'm listening.”

“Valentine's Day is in two weeks time.”

“So?”

“So, you basically have two weeks to make your intentions known to Yomi.” Anastasia's lips glittered like diamonds as the edges curved up into a sly smile. “Or else I might just change my mind and snatch him from you, baby.”

Idara burst out laughing. “Asia, you won't even dare.”

“Try me.” Anastasia laughed too, extending a hand to Idara. “What do you say we seal the deal with a friendly handshake, right here and now?”

Still laughing, Idara clasped her opponent's hand and nodded confidently. “Challenge accepted,” she said, winking sweetly. “The battle line has been drawn!”