A different person

I was helped into the house by the two major maids of the Adeola home.

"Miss Tilda, I thought you'd be returning home today," Mrs Bimbo inquired as soon as they let me into the living room.

"The driver is already on his way to your place with your things," Mrs Amina added.

"I'll leave once I'm done. I need to speak with Kiki," I told them as I hurried towards the stairs.

"Ah small Madam, I don't think she's in a good mood. Wetin happen?" Amina proceeded.

"I don't know yet," was the last thing I said before venturing up the stairs.

I brought my fist against the door and gently knocked.

There was no response.

Again, I knocked. Still, no response.

"Kiki," I called yet, nothing came forth.

Now, worry coursed through my veins as I reached for the door knob next.

Who knows what Kiki might have done?

Luckily for me, the door was not locked.

I opened it and quickly walked in, shutting the door after me.

There she lay on her bed, facing the ceiling with a lost expression on her face. She looked like someone who had lost their way and was confused as to how they would return to where they had come from.

"Kiki," I called once again and hurried to sit beside her.

It was then I noticed the traces of dried tears that covered her face.

She slowly moved her head to look at me. It was almost as if she had barely any form of life inside of her.

"Kiki what's up?" I held her hand that weakly succumbed to my touch.

"Ehn? What's happening?" I pressed on after hearing not even a whisper from her.

"Why are you here?" She suddenly asked, still looking at me with those weak eyes.

The eyes that once gleamed with hope and joy had reduced to nothing but shards of emptiness.

"Kiki answer me. Wetin dey worry you nau?" I tugged at her arm.

It seemed like after a little more effort, my pesterings got to her and she sat up on the bed. However, her gaze was straight ahead neither did she sit while facing me.

"Tilda," She called my name.

"Yes?" I lightly squeezed her hand with my concerned eyes searching her face for answers.

"Tilda, don't you sometimes think that I do too much?" I could see tears well up in her eyes. "Like I sometimes over do things."

She paused and sighed.

"Maybe na because of my oversabi. How wish say I nor do too much maybe e for nor pain me like this. Tilda, this pain is just too much."

She continued.

"Nor be say e get the time wey we date or anything o but this rejection alone dey pain. Imagine if we actually dated and broke up."

I listened silently as she poured out all that heavied her heart.

"What exactly did he say?" I finally asked, patting her back in the process.

"He said he likes someone else," She drew her nose and blinked her eyes before wiping the tears with the back of her palm.

I went silent again.

Was this the right time to tell her that, that "someone else" was me?

It wasn't that I wanted to leave her in the dark forever. I was just scared of what the outcome would be.

"So I thought you were my friend all these while and na today, you dey tell me say na you Tobi like. You like him too, right? And that's why you didn't tell me?! Maybe if you had, I wouldn't have been so delusional about someone that doesn't even give even the tiniest f*ck about my existence nor my feelings. You know what, to hell with the two of you!"

I couldn't even bring myself to imagine more of the words that would fly out of her mouth if I told her.

"Don't cry, Kiki. You'll find someone that truly likes you," I consoled her.

"But...but it's really painful," She buried her face in my chest and teared up on the neck area of my dress.

"You, you will get over it. Don't worry, I'm here for you. I'll stay with you tonight, ok?" I patted her back.

"I hear you," She sniffed and sobbed.

"Nor dey cry again nau. You will get a headache o," I moved to cup her face in my palms and lifted her from my hug.

Her eyes were red and her brown face had tinges of red here and there.

"See as you con wowo," I hissed and proceeded to wipe her tears with the back of my palm. "Don't cry, you hear?"

"Yes," She cried even more.

*.*.*.

~ KIKI'S POV ~

Honestly, I didn't want to go to school today but I knew my parents.

School was their number one priority for me and I never missed a day of school except on the basis that I was sick.

I couldn't just go up to them and say I wouldn't be going to school today because I was scared to face a guy who rejected my feelings for him.

I opened the door of the passenger seat and stepped out of the black SUV.

"Take care, small Madam," The driver sent me greetings of farewell.

"I will," I managed a weak smile.

I huffed a load of air and held onto the straps of my school bag as I walked into the school building.

With braids tied in a bun, and light makeup of eyeliners and lipgloss on my face, I attracted stares as always.

Now that I had become the social perfect, I received greetings from many students than I usually did.

"Good morning senior."

"Good morning senior."

"Senior, you look beautiful as always."

"Senior I love your hair. Where did you make it?"

"Wow, I have the same lipgloss!"

All I could do in response was send weak smiles. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone and maybe a handful of them were quick to notice.

I stepped into SS3A with a low level of confidence and a racing heart. I don't know why but my eyes went in search of him in the classroom and I spotted him with other boys, playing mobile games and laughing loudly.

I twisted my lips and headed straight for my seat. Tilda and our other seatmate were yet to come - very much unlike them.

Since it was still pretty early, the classroom was quite empty with a few students scattered around.

I took out my phone and soon got bored. With a sigh, I got up from my seat and made my way to the school park.

I couldn't endure staying in a class that choked and suffocated me because I couldn't stop staring at Tobi and reminiscing the things that took place on Saturday night.

The park had multiple iron benches aligned for people to sit. Seperating each and every bench from one another, was a beautiful trimmed tree.

I sat on a bench and simply appreciated the beautiful things nature had to offer, from the birds in skies to the green grasses and shrubs that decorated the park.

The gentle breeze made me feel at ease and almost made me forget the burden I carried in my heart.

Just as I was enjoying my peace, I heard familiar voices - one louder than the other.

It was Annabelle and Aaron. They both stood a fairly long distance away from me, facing each other.

"Why didn't you tell me before you left? We could have been together but you decided to go ahead with your friends! That's all I've been trying to address yet, you know that you're the one who's wrong here!" Annabelle shouted while pointing her finger at her boyfriend.

"I've told you several times that the guys called me out already and I couldn't just send them off. They've been planning this for long now," Aaron stressed. If I was being honest, that was the longest sentence I had ever heard from him.

"And me? What about me, An?" Annabelle retaliated, calling him by his pet name. "Haven't I made plans all these while? Guy, you too dey f*ck up. I nor go lie you."

She pushed him by the chest before marching towards and past my direction in anger.

I watched on as Aaron sighed and punched the air before moving also to my direction. However, he didn't walk past but sat down at the other end of the bench I sat on. He held his head and stared into the distance ahead, obviously frustrated.

"How do you date someone like her?" I scoffed, pretending to be swiping through my phone. "I'd rather get rejected by someone with the best personality than settle for someone who accepts me yet has dirty character."

He lifted his head and stared at me.

"Tobi rejected you already?" He raised an eyebrow. The sun somehow soaked into his light skin, making him look he had just delivered a sick burn.

I glared at him, almost speechless as to how to defend myself.

"Wh-what do you mean?" I eyed him.

"Almost everyone knows how much you like Tobi except him, of course. It was that obvious," He shrugged.