"What do you mean Joe?" Maria asked bewildered.
"You heard me,Maria" John replied anger seeping into his veins.
"That's way too familiar" Maria said.
"I know right" John muttered.
"Why couldn't you guys just ask her?" Maria asked.
"Maria,is there something wrong with your sense? Okay, imagine walking up to Semiloore and asking her "You and Professor Joseph once dated before right?" "He is an ex-boyfriend abi?" Girl, If I were her I would at least slap the asker of such dumb questions and if anybody is to even dare and ask such questions,it shouldn't be us" John replied harshly.
"But they such have a past" Maria said.
"That's certain" John added.
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Semiloore gave Nathaniel a small smile as the latter handed her a bottle of coke.
"You good?" He asked softly still editing the pictures.
"I think so" came Semiloore short reply.
"Okay" Nathaniel replied as he tried not to glance at her. Her puffy eyes were hidden behind the sunglasses.
They pulled into Osun State Water Corporation which was their next destination and the bus stopped while the students came down.
Mr Williams and the other two teachers walked into the buildings while the students chatted away.
"Semiloore?" Peter called softly.
"Huh?"Semiloore asked.
"Did you cry?" He asked.
"No" Semiloore replied.
"You are wearing sunglasses when there is no sun. How many times do I have to remind you,you suck that much at lying?" Peter asked.
Semiloore smiled softly the glasses still hiding her eyes, "Nothing is going to change either ways"
"What's your relationship with Professor Joseph?" Peter asked.
"What do you think?" Semiloore asked with a smile.
"Semiloore! I'm serious right now" Peter bellowed.
"I'm asking you what you think!" Semiloore shot back.
"I don't know!" Peter replied.
"Then forget about it" Semiloore said.
"Semiloore,why are you being difficult? Why won't you let me share your burden?!" Peter asked with concern written all over his face.
Semiloore turned to him "You don't want to share my burden,you are just curious" she replied.
Peter swallowed her saliva "Semiloore...." He started.
"Let her be" Christian curtly interrupted and Peter frowned immediately.
"This isn't any of business Christian" he said.
"Semiloore is my friend okay? And the way you are just asking her questions is making her uncomfortable! And if anyone should even ask such questions,it shouldn't be you"Christian replied as Peter's frown increased as he folded his arms,
"Really?" He asked.
Christian eyes changed to a lighter shade "Don't get all worked up,just let her be okay?"
Semiloore leaned against Joshua who just glanced briefly at her and continued playing his game.
Mr Williams and the other teachers came back after a while.
"We got here quite late,its past 4pm already so they already closed and the person who is supposed to take us for the tour has gone home" he said as the students started murmuring.
"So now,we already booked a restaurant inside the city, we'll eat first then find somewhere to sleep" Mr Williams said.
"Okay sir"
"Let's get going then"
The students milled into the bus and Semiloore found out her seat had being taken by John again. He gave her a small smile as he turned his face outside.Semiloore's heart clenched at such a gesture.
Where on earth did she find such friends?
She walked briskly to the back and sat beside Nathaniel.
"Can I see your laptop?" She asked and Nathaniel nodded as she picked it from his laps. She opened it and found out she needed a password to open it.
"What's the password?" She asked.
"Idiot"
"Huh?"
"Idiot" Nathaniel replied not looking at her.
Semiloore appeared puzzled for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Hehe,are you serious?"
"Try it"
Semiloore fingers ran on the keyboard and the desktop opened.
"It really is"
"Hey guys,please if your laptop or phone has a password abeg signify" Semiloore said and everyone raised their hands up.
"Forgive me but answer me, whats your password?"
"My name nah,Bolatito"
"Its dry joor" Semiloore said and everybody burst into laughter.
"Neymar junior"
"Eeeeeee,make sense jare"
The students continued saying their passwords until it got to a guy. He seemed nervous and didn't want to talk. His name was Thompson.
"Thompson,are you okay?"
"Ye....ah"
"Cmon say your password"
"Beans"
"Huh?"
"Beans"
The whole bus roared with laughter as everyone clutched their stomachs.
"The hell! Your password is actually beans"
"Maddd ooo"
"Nigga I hail thee"
Thompson blushed a little at Semiloore's teasing.
"Somebody bayi his password is idiot"
"Eh?"
The bus was once again plunged into laughter again and even the bus driver and Mr Williams couldn't help but be infected by their laughter. He smiled from time to time.
"Semiloore abeg music"
Semiloore quickly brought out her phone and connected it and the first song that rang in everyone ears was Kiss Daniel's song "Poko"
The students being big fans of the artiste knew most of the songs and they started singing along.
"These people sha,See their mouths,and the one that sounds like caterpillar and the one that has voice all of them want to sing" Semiloore said as the people around her burst into laughter.
Nathaniel smiled inwardly as he gazed at her. At least her mind was off it for a while. She laughed and even liven up the bus. His thoughts drifted to Professor Joseph.
Who was he? Semiloore had called him by a pet name which showed they were very close and even the way he looked at her was very weird. Did they date? Semiloore didn't look like someone who would date someone almost 25 years older than her. Who the hell is Joyce?
He had noticed that anytime either parties mentioned the name,the look in their eyes was something else.
He sighed as he glanced at her nodding her head alongside others. A smile graced his lips as she turned to the flying road outside.
Darkness had started crawling over the skies as the sun had set. The music changed to "Ijo Ope" by Rahman Jago, Zlatan,Chinko Ekun and Junior Boy.
"Eeeeeeeeeee" everyone in the bus screeched attracting the attention of the citizens of Osun state. While some looked in bewilderment,some looked with admiration in their eyes.
"Towo ba wa gbogbo won ma ra ga bo mi" the students sang loudly as the bus turned into another busy street which surprising for that time of the day was still bustling with activities like it was daytime.
The students loud voices attracted the citizens living in this area and that was when they noticed that other buses also were playing loud music.
The buses pulled in front of a big restaurant and despite it was night time,they were very much busy. The students came down attracting a lot of people. Mr Williams got down and walked into the restaurant.
Few minutes later Mr Williams walked back with a paper.
"You guys write what you want,pass it round"
The students wrote down their orders quickly.
"I'll be back soon"
There was a loud speaker in front of the restaurant and suddenly Naira Marley "Gbese ko te esu mole"
The students screamed wildly as they instantly formed a circle and Joshua jumped into the circle and started dancing.
The students continued hailing him. Although he was funny he was also a very good dancer. The people at the restaurant couldn't help but stare and join them.
The song changed to a song by Maryorkun and Joeboy "Don't call me back". The students started singing again as it was a mad jam. Nathaniel was just looking around making random videos and snapping them. Semiloore was just hailing and shouting with others with a smile.
"Hi"
Semiloore turned to the unfamiliar person standing in front of her.
"Hello" she said with a polite smile.
"You are Semiloore Ajayi right?"