Unto say : We beSeniors

Where do they know each other from?" Cam whispers to me as we watch Wilmer talk in low tones with Cam's dad.

"Is this fine?" Timi asks as he raises up a flower pattern he'd just cut out."

"Yeah. It is." I reply, not bothering to look.

My phone begins  to ring.

I pick the call.

"Hello?"

"Okiki?"

I recognize mum's small voice from the other end.

"Your father just travelled for a business trip. And he won't be back for a week. Maybe you can come home?"

Her voice always has this low tone whenever she speaks Yoruba. And I could hear the pleading in them.

"I'm not sure."

"Oh. Ok. Bye. I love you."

I sigh.

"I love you too. I might still come back ok?"

"Ok dear."

"Hey. I thought Wilmer said you should leave." I say to timi, who is now cross legged on the ground, cutting away at a piece of paper.

He shrugs.

We all look at Wilmer who walks back to us.

"Timi. Let's go. Mr Angelo is dropping us off. Bye cam. Aje bota."

The three walk out the door.

"What just happened?" I ask.

"I'm as confused as you are."

                          ******

"Shouldn't we just have stayed home?" I ask cam

"Loosen up! I thought you liked parties."

"I do but. I'm not in the mood."

"Whatevs. I'm going to join Fey. Quit being a killjoy 'kay?"

With that, she sashays off to the dance floor where fey is now twerking with reckless abandon.

I smile to myself.

The music is quite good. Drake is one of my favorites.

"Why aren't you dancing?" I hear a familiar voice say.

I roll my eyes before turning.

"Aren't you meant to be busy with detective work?"

Wilmer gives me a toothy grin.

"Nah. The serious work is for the adults."

He sips my drink.

"Get your own. In fact, just keep it."

"Thanks."

"Orioda." I mutter under my breath.

"Hey. That's rude." He laughs.

I watch him sip my virgin mojito.

"Hey. Um.... How do you know Cam's dad?"

"He used to be friends with my dad."

"Used to?"

"Yeah. My dad's dead."

Okikioluwa why are you so fucking stupid?

A wave of shame washes over me.

"I'm sorry."

"No probs."

An awkward silence follows.

"Has it been long he..."

"Yeah. Five years now."

So fucking awkward.

"Im so sorry for bringing it up." I mumble.

"It's ok. Jeez." He says with a smile.

"You look like a squashed mango."

"What do squashed mangoes look  like?" I joke.

He makes a hideous face.

"Oh my God."

He blue lights gleam against his teeth as he laughs again.

Nice dentition. And adorable cheeks.

It's so easy for him to laugh...

"Wow! Fejiro had mooves." He says, his eyes trailing a half drunk fey on the dance floor.

Isn't she tired?

"Nobody calls her that."

"I'm not nobody."

"Could you be any less annoying?"

"No." He replies, his eyes never leaving fey.

He just had to break the brief friendliness streak we were having.

"Don't get any other ideas. And stop ogling at her like that".

"Why?"

"Cos she's my friend that's why. And the last thing I want is a nitwit like you taking advantage of her."

I realize how stupid that sounds coming from me. Taking advantage of Fey is literally impossible.

"So I can't fuck her then?"

This sonofabitch.

I pour the his drink,my  drink, in his face and walk away.

Who the hell does he think he is? To think I was pitying the idiot.

I bump into someone. I look up.

God are you angry with me or something? Cos what the actual fuck?!

"Senior kiki hi."

"Oh. Seyi."

Wait.

"You're in SS1. Why are you doing here. If my set mates catch you here you're dead."

"Calm na. I know someone here."

"Oh. Ok. In that case. Who is it?"

"That new senior. I think his name is Wilfred."

"Are you.....? He's not even the one hosting the party. Come on let's go somewhere else."

I find myself taking his hand and we rush of.

"I dunno why I'm helping you honestly."

"Cos you're a good person?" He says with a smile.

We are now at the balcony of the big beautiful house.

"I'm not even meant to be seen with you."

"Why? Cos people are saying we made out?"

I don't reply and stare blankly at the pool below.

"Do you realize be seen together a lot from now on cos of the art competition?"

"I know."

"Don't think about all that stuff ok?" He says , patting my head.

I give him a death stare.

"Sorry senior." He says with a chuckle.

"Don't forget that we're not friends."

"Ok senior."

"Well get there one day right?"

"Don't have hopes unnecessarily. You could get hurt".

"You're funny." He laughs.

I give him a look.

"Sorry."

"You know what? I'm going to have a drink. Word of advice, find your way out of here."

"Bye senior!"

I don't bother to turn.

"Also, drop the 'seniors'"

"Ok senior" he calls out.

I turn.

"Sorry!"

I ignore him and walk away.

"Give me anything that's strong and sweet." I say to the bartender.

I spot fey talking with a guy I soon recognized as senior Deji.

He's been after her since last term.

Cam is sipping her drink and talking to a random guy.

And I'm sitting here, watching the bartender fix me a drink.

I wish I was pretty.

I downed the drink and after texting cam, left the party.

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

"He's a proud flirt." I say to fey.

We're all sitting in the common room at school. I'd spent the rest of a blissful mid term break with cam at her place. And we are back to school now.

He's a very nice guy. I dunno why you don't like him." Fey says as she puts her glasses on.

I sputter in disbelief.

"He's not! Cam, help me out here."

Cam shrugs as she writes in her purple binder.

"He's ok."

"Seriously? He literally told me he wants to fuck you."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Well I won't let him don't worry." She says calmly.

"He's not bad. See now."she turns to Lateef. Who is at one end of the room, engrossed in his book.

"Hey. Lats. How is that new boy? He's in your class right?" Fey asks

Lateef looks up

"Yeah. He's funny sha. Nice guy. Everyone likes him."

"See? Cut the guy some slack. He's only been here like five days."

"But....."

"Calms ok? Let's just finish our past questions. Should I turn on some music?"

"Do what you want." I mumble.

She turn she music on. And soon, the room is engulfed in cool piano sounds.

"I heard Beethoven is good for memorizing." Cam explains.

I don't reply, and open my study Bible.

The spots where I highlights are prominent, and makes the pages colourful.

I start to read with reference to my textbook in places.

"Hosea's marriage was messed up." I mumble.

"Ehn?"

"No. Like prophet Hosea.

Fey nods. Shen she sighs and closes her book.

"It's true . Okiki. Did you hear Wilmer is your assistant in library prefect now?"

"Since when?"

"I think since we resumed."

I let out a tired groan.

The library is one of my favorite places in this school. And now that idiot will be contaminating it with his presence.

"Don't you like having an assistant?"

"No!"

The door opens just then.

Speak of the devil.

He's laughing with my friend Alex.

Alex waves at me.

"Bae how far na"

I give him a smile.

"Your babe?" Wilmer asks him.

"My wife correction."

I laugh.

"Do you want me to get STDs?" I joke.

"No nah. I told you I've changed. I'm no longer going after those women

Ehn, queen Charlotte mi." He jokes

I roll my eyes and chuckle.

We've been playing this stupid game since Ss1. When he ate some of the food I'd cooked in my catering practicals.

"Rest abeg"

"Ok o. I'll make it up to you this night." He says with a flirtatious wink.

If I didn't know any better, I'd have swooned. He has that effect on many girls.

"Are you playing tennis on inter house sports day?" Cam asks

"Probably."

"Even me."

"You're horrible at tennis fey."

She shrugs and laughs.

"The uniform is sexy."

"No cap." Bebe adds from the other end of the room.

"Olosho." Alex teases.

"Whatever. Not like you're so holy. You're literally a manslut." she replies, rolling her eyes.

He gasps in mock outrage and steps back.

"See how the prefects of our noble college are dodging assembly.".Alex laughs.

"What of you?" Bebe snaps.

"Ah. I'm postless na. I'm not a leader."

He says, raising his hands in surrender.

"I'm even surprised BH hasn't come to talk nonsense."

"BH spouting BS." Cam says.

"Hey. That was a good one"

Wilmer laughs.

She gives a mock bow.

Asshole.

I lean back and try to focus on CRS.

Hosea's story is quite intriguing....

"Aje bota"

I don't reply. If he thinks I'll forget last night, then he's dumber than I thought.

"Who are you calling that?" Alex asks

"Oh. Okiki."

"Leave my wife and her accent for me ."

"You guys should quiet down. You're disturbing me." I say.

"Oh. I am truly sorry thy highness. Might I leave?" He mocks in a British accent.

"Yes. And do me a favor and jump off the class block." I mutter

"Ok madam. And I hope they highness hasn't forgotten our meeting this evening."

"What appointment?" Alex asks.

"She knows what I'm talking about."

I hate the way he says that so smugly.

And I hate that we actually do have an appointment.

The door flings open.

"Principal Haze is looking for the missing functionaries. Everyone scatter!" Angel screams.