Evelyn
Gigi was just staring at my face when I finished. Except for the small frown on her face, she didn't show much reaction. Ok? Not exactly what I was expecting from her.
"What?" I asked when she still didn't say anything.
"Nothing. It's just that... don't you find her so reaction weird? Like why would you agree for a girl to chase you if you don't like girls? Even her initial reaction was off. You told her you liked her and she didn't act shocked? If a girl confessed to me, I'll be shocked." She said.
I thought about it, I did have a similar feeling yesterday. But that is the least of my worries right now. So what if she's not shocked, maybe it's not the first time a girl would confess to her.
"I think senior Amanda likes you." I heard and my eyes almost bulged out of its sockets
"What?!" I blinked furiously while still looking at her. "What made you say that?"
"I mean.. that night.... I saw her staring at you from their floor."
My heart thumped when she said that. I shook my head "that doesn't mean anything."
She tilted her head and looked at me funny, "Do you want her to like you or not?" She asked with a smile. I just shrugged and grabbed a pillow to lie down.
"Well, she will. Eventually." I said with a grin and she burst out into laughter.
She just shook her head and walked to my fridge. I looked up to see her coming back with snacks and juice. "You know, that's rich. Coming from someone that was literally begging for a chance."
"I didn't be–
"Yeah right." She said giving me a face.
"Fine. I begged. I begged with my entire body and soul. I would've started crying if she didn't accept." The more I talked, the more she laughed. Until I joined her in the laughter.
But it wasn't this funny yesterday though. I'm laughing because the kind of person Gigi is, she just makes everything bearable when you talk to her about it. Na why I dey always run to her with my problems.
The bell rang and we just ignored it and continued talking. Mid term break starts tomorrow, so the day before that is usually lawless in a way. Because everyone is just packing their bags for the mini break. No one definitely has time to be chasing junior students around, even though I should be on duty today.
"How was your test." I heard and my eyes came back to her.
"It was fine. I'm sure I did well, I sure studied way too hard." I scoffed.
"If you started reading on time, you wouldn't have to study so hard." She said making air quotes with her fingers.
"Do you have a problem with me?" I said eyeing her.
"Yes. I do. You know it's funny now, but the past few days haven't been funny at all. Do you know how worried I was. And you told me what the principal said about your post and you still didn't take studies serious until the last minute."
"You know I'm good with last minute." I said and she glared at me.
"That's not the point. This one you're set to be chasing someone around when we come back, you better not drop out of that golden list."
"I'm not going to drop out of any golden list. You should have a little more confidence in me." I said. She just looked at me and shook her head.
"You always talk big."
I shrugged.
"Beggie beggie." She teased and my mouth fell open.
"Eugenia." I warned.
"Please senior Amanda. Give me chance to prove to you–
"Gigi!"
"I'll prove to you that I'm the best thing that ever happened to you. I'll be the best lover–
"Come and be going." I said and she started laughing.
This is why I don't like telling her stuff. Annoying human. She covered herself while I got her with my pillow, mercilessly. But she was still laughing the entire time. And the laughter infuriated me the more. So annoying.
When we finally stopped with the whole thing, we both just lay on our backs and stared at the ceiling. "This your rusty ass fan." She muttered, just the same time that I became aware of the slight noise when it rotated.
"It's still better than your communal living." I muttered.
"Nice one."
Then we fell back into silence.
*************************************
We didn't go for night prep, for obvious reasons and later that night my other friends came to my room as well. We kinda gossiped all night.
"You guys, we're still hanging out on Wednesday right? We'll go see a movie and then we'll go for–
"What?" She still interrupted herself to ask. I turned and saw that Sandra was pursing her lips. I shook my head, these girls.
They always make plans and then cancel. It's easier for JK and Eli to even stick to plans than these two. Just to be clear, we were friends with JK and Eli on one side, and then Didi and Sandra, so it's not the same friendship group.
I wasn't even in the equation. Because I live so far away, they always plan to meet up, the three of them stay here. And all their plans have never worked so far. I've just given up on them. The way Gigi shook her head as well, as if she never expected their hangout to actually make it past the conversations.
"Are you going back to Jos this break?" Didi asked and I shook my head.
"I'm going to my village. My dad has this chieftaincy thingy coming up."
"Abia right? It's not far na. We should definitely link up during the break." Didi said and I just made a face.
"I'm inviting you guys over shaa. Since Abia is not far." I said and Gigi giggled. We all know how strict Didi's parents were as well. Gigi already said she might come, Sandra... I turned to her.
"I'll ask my parents first. We'll see." She said.
"We can have a sleepover and all that." I said actually sounding excited.
"I'll come if you tell us what has been going on with you. Boy problems? Speaking of boy problems, Evelyn, you've never had a boyfriend. At least not that I know of." Didi said.
I eyed her. She always says that every now and then. Like everyone is mandated to have a boyfriend. Gigi is the only one of my friends that know about me. And even at that, it was hard to tell her initially.
I turned away to see Gigi looking at me. We shared a look. I wonder if Didi suspects anything, or if she's just talking. She always asks these kinds of questions whenever we're together. Given, they've all had boyfriends at some point.. but not having a boyfriend in highschool is not a big deal really. I don't know why she's trying to make it seem otherwise.
"My only problem right now is staying on the Golden list. But I guess you all can't relate." I said.
I watched the small look that crossed her face. I know offense when I see it. None of them ever made their way to honors list even, except Gigi once or twice. Because it's really not as easy as it sounds, being in top 20 position in a set.
"Wow." She said. "I heard you were struggling with your tests though. Word around is you've been doing poorly in your tests."
"Yeah. That's why I said it's my major problem right now. It's difficult balancing head girl and studies. But again, you can't relate." I added.
Her face definitely couldn't hide the offense anymore. "Do you have a problem with me?" She said.
"No."
"It sounds like it." She insisted and I sighed.
"It's just that, not everything is about boys Didi." I said. And she actually stood up. We all stared in silence as she packed her things and left the room. I made a face when she banged the door behind her.
Please don't break my door. I thought.
I looked back to see both Gigi and Sandra looking at me. Sandra made a face, Gigi too. "What?" I said.
"You could've just said you don't have any boyfriend." Sandra said.
"But she knows I don't. Yet she keeps bringing it up every single time." I said. "It's gets annoying. We could talk about a thousand and one things. Why is it always about guys."
She didn't say anything after I said that. She just stared at me with her typical disapproval look. Like I cared. "I'll go check on her." She finally said and left the room as well.
It almost felt like the tension in the atmosphere disappeared after they left. Finally I could breathe. I turned to Gigi and she didn't have any particular look on her face. Just her knowing look.
"That was a bit defensive shaa." She finally said and I nodded. True. I sighed and lay back on the bed.
"Do you think it's very obvious?" I asked. It was very soft, I almost didn't hear myself.
"First it was Nosa. Recently Didi keeps bringing up the fact that I don't have a boyfriend. Who said it's mandatory to have a boyfriend even." I said, the frustration I felt earlier creeping back in.
She sighed as well and lay beside me. I felt her gaze on me and turned to lie on my side. "It's not glaring." She said.
I pouted and and looked at her. "It's just subtle. I mean, it's in the fact that...you don't even talk about boys at all. When we discuss hot guys in our class, you don't even contribute. You don't even crush on actors. You've turned down all the boys that have confessed to you. And they're a lot. So while it shouldn't mean anything, people can start asking questions. Do you get?"
"So I should lie about what I find sexy during conversations?" I muttered and she sighed.
"You know what I mean Evelyn." She said and turned to me. "Don't pretend you don't."
"I like tall guys. And then abs...." I said with a high pitch. "Whenever I see abs, I just want to lick them...."
Gigi started laughing before I finished, "Maybe tone that down a little. But yes. Something like that can save you from a lot of scrutiny and suspicion."
"I just......
"I just don't like that fact that I have to hide the person I like. What's wrong in liking her and showing it off."
Gigi was looking at me weird when I finished. "You know, that should remain an inside thought. Don't say it out loud."
"Why shouldn't I say it out loud."
"Evelyn!" She exclaimed looking at me in shock now.
"What? Didi gets to talk about that lousy boyfriend of hers that remains bottom of the class. Why shouldn't I talk about the person I like. Why do I always have to listen to you guys talk about all the nonsense guys in your lives." I said, finally saying my thoughts.
"Oh wow." That was all she said. "Because your crush is so perfect."
"Yes."
"Omo, you're so annoying."
*******************************
Saturday came and it was mid term. And the way my school does it, once it's 9am, they close the gates. And every student is expected to wait in the school stadium until their parents or guardians come to pick them.
They started being strict about it sometime in the past when a student left the school and got lost or something like that. Weird story. Now everyone and their guardian has to sign before they leave the 3rd gate.
I had to go around the hostel to make sure all the doors were locked. After I was done with that, I stood in front of my locked room and stared up at the SS3 floor. I could hear noise from their floor.
They were staying back for their extension classes. I wonder if she was in her room. It's been since Wednesday. I haven't talked with her since Wednesday. I went up and knocked on their door. The same roommate that would open the door did, and she paused when she saw me.
"Amanda is not in. I think she went to class." She said. Huh. Why would she go to class. It's early, it's a Saturday, we just finished quizzes yesterday, people would usually tend to rest.
"Oh. Thanks." I said.
I carried my bag and went to the school block. It was dead quiet. Even when I got to their floor, it was dead quiet. It felt nice. Walking down their hallway and none of those annoying seniors staring down at me.
I stopped in front of her class and looked in. It was empty and she sat at one desk at the back of the class quietly, it wasn't where her desk is. I found myself wondering if she's changed seats. She was staring out the window, so I stood there for a while, looking at her.
After a while, as if she felt my gaze on her, she turned and looked straight at me. We stared at each other for a while. I was just thinking, it was the first time I'd see her after that night.
"Excuse me senior, please may I come in." I raised my hand to say, breaking the silence. It was how I'd normally take permission if all the seniors were around.
She frowned and looked around the class, as if she wanted to confirm if she was alone in the class or not. She looked back at me and I couldn't help but laugh. Then I started walking in...
"I don't remember asking you to come in." She said and I paused in my tracks.
"Oops." I said and walked right over to where she was. I pulled out a chair and placed it opposite hers at her desk and sat. I didn't miss the way she looked at me, a mixture of amusement and annoyance.
"Senior, I wanted to finish the conversation we were having the other night."
"I said yes. What other conversation is there to have?" She said and my heart thumped when I heard that. Mhm... now is not the time to be happy about that.
"Sooo..." I started tracing the edge of the desk with a finger. I peeped at her face, and she was just staring at me. I sighed. This pursuing is not even going to be easy.
"Logically speaking–
"Logically?" She interrupted and then smiled.
My heart did a flip. A fucking flip. I just wanted to be in her head. I wanted to know what she thought that made her smile. When she didn't say anything after that, I just continued, with my heart tingling with a weird feeling.
"So... I was going to propose.... First of all, you know how difficult it is for juniors to casually come across seniors everyday. I'm trying to say it'll be difficult for me to chase you when I never even see you most times." I said.
"So, I'm thinking....you should come to dining hall everyday. You never come. Then–
"So let me get this clear. What you're saying in ernest, is to make myself available for your pursuit." She said.
I had to press my lips together not to laugh. I have a feeling that she might have a dry sense of humor. And I love dry jokes the most. It's not the first time she's saying something funny with a straight face. Maybe this was a thing with her. I wonder what else I'd find out about her.
"It's a blunt way to put it. But yes." I said and cleared my throat. She made a face and then nodded.
"What else were you going to say?" She said.
"So we'll talk in the dinning. For all the meals."
"Are you asking or telling?" She cut in again.
"Requesting." I chimed in immediately. "We wouldn't get to know each other if we don't talk. And.... You'll come to my room every night."
"Every other night." I said when she didn't reply. "Two nights in a week."
"I can't go lower than that." I said and she actually chuckled. I held myself, but I soon found I was smiling. "So every other night then." I said and she looked up with a smile.
She could say anything at that moment and I would nod my head yes. "We'll see." She said and I frowned. Anything but that. That doesn't sound like anything. Anyway, moving on.
"We'll study at my study class every night." I said and she started laughing.
Every other time she chuckled sounded cute. This time it straight up sounded like she was mocking me. So I waited for her to finish laughing. She laughed for a long time. And I sat there, looking stupid, staring at her.
"You might as well ask me to move into your room at this point." She said with a smile. I was carried away by how beautiful her smile looked. You ever looked at someone smile, and then you forget what life is all about.
"I've never had anyone request this much. Just because they want to pursue me." She said, her voice was lined with laughter, like she hadn't heard anything funnier.
"It would've been different if I was in your class. Take senior Nosa for example, he sees you every single day. The only time I can see you freely is dining and you never come. I haven't even seen you since Wednesday. It's not fair. How will I pursue you, if I never see you."
I finally slowed down when I saw she was staring at me. I was actually whining. I thought to myself. Is this how you'll do your chasing? I bit the insides of my cheek and pressed my lips together.
"It's not fair?" I heard and I looked up. It looked like she was talking to herself, more than to me. Then she tilted her head and looked at me. What was she thinking. It just seemed like she was observing me. It was the same was she looked at me the first time too, during that my interview. Thinking about it now, it's the way she always looks at me.
"I'm not coming to your study class with you." She said.
"Okay." I accepted immediately. Because it sounded final. "If I see you in school, I'm permitted to smile and wave. And if you're within walking distance, I can come hug you." I said and she chuckled again.
Chimoo. Please stop laughing na, I'm being serious here. I screamed inwardly. She didn't say anything to that. She didn't counter, nor accept. "I'll take that as yes." I muttered and quickly continued. "Walks on Saturday, during mornin–
"We'll leave that out." I said when she continued looking at me funny. "That's it for now."
She started to say something, but we heard a loud smack on the door and we both turned. It was Mr Ikoni. The Agric teacher. I frowned when he started talking. I don't like when people interrupt Amanda and I. It just annoys the hell out of me.
"You!" He shouted, pointing his cane at me. "Head girl. Every student should be at the stadium by now. Including you. Why are you still here."
I almost rolled my eyes, "Sir we're representing the school badminton tournament. So we're discussing about it."
"And the discussion cannot wait until you're back after the break?" He said, peering at me over the rim of his glasses.
"I'm to buy some gear that we'll need while coming back. So it can't wait." I said, looking straight at him unflinching.
He paused, seemingly musing over what I said. "You have 10 minutes to join the rest. I don't want to come back here and see you."
"Yes sir."
I rolled my eyes after he left and turned to her. She was already looking at me. "You lie well." She said with a nod.
"Thank you." I said and she burst into laughter. I found myself smiling.
"Now that you've said your bit, I'll say mine." She started. She closed the books that were initially open in front of her. "I know that you're normally reckless, but you do know it's against school rules. This.... Liking me."
She frowned when she said this. I nodded.
"So....you'll tone down on staring at me. People tend to pick up on small details." She said and I nodded because it made sense.
She's going to be the sensible and careful one in our relationship it seems. "Why are you smiling?" I heard her say and focused on her again. I just shook my head. This deluded brain of mine.
"And no, we're not hugging outside." She added, I nodded again. "Also, please...don't kiss me."
I was on a nodding spree until I heard that. I didn't agree to that part. "You're not even a good kisser to begin with." She muttered and my mouth fell open.
"I'm not a good kisser?" I stuttered and she nodded.
"You're not."
Oh.
"I–
"Head girl!"
We both turned and it was Mr Ikonyi again. This time he stood there and didn't show any sign of moving away. "To the stadium." He said.
"I–
"Now." He said pointing outside.
I sighed and got up. "I'll see you next week." I said and she nodded.
A/N
This is a horrible chapter, I know. Just consider it a filler chapter 🙃