Unto say :Bios Logos

I'm trembling as i stand up very slowly.

"Let's go with you". Can says, standing too.

I shake my head.

"Don't worry. " I mutter before walking out quickly.

I can't think of anything else as I walk away.

"Guy. You didn't even ask me where he is. "Charity chuckles.

I pause.

"Admin block corridor. "

I headed there. My legs feeling heavy as lead.

(How heavy is lead actually? Cos my pegs feel waxy heavier that what lead would weigh. If i were blind at this point,  I'd think that my legs are swollen or something. Like one of thos3 disgistin, oversized legs of people who stepped on charms in Nigerian movies).

What now? Is it because I didn't come home for midterms? God I'm screwed.

I climb up the small steps leading up into the building.

And there he is. In a pair of jeans and a blue polo.

I gulp anxiously.

"Good afternoon Sir. " I greet in a weird high pitched voice.

He gives me a smile.

"Good afternoon dear. Your mother and i want to talk to you and your brothers. It will be short. Don't bother with packing anything. "

I follow him like a ghost as he talks briefly with the VP( Vice principal) boarding. Before we leave.

The car ride is quiet. As expected.

He doesn't make a single comment till we get home.

At least Kunle and Wale will be there.

Our gateman, Madu, pulls the gate open.

I gulp as I get down from the car.

"Madam good afternoon. " Madu greets, the skin around his eyes crinkling as he smiles.

I give an awkward smile, feeling a bit weird at him calling me madam. Like I'm disrespectful or something.

I take a deep breath before walking into our house.

I notice the new chandelier immediately.

Beautiful. Really.

I step into the visitor's living room and face the wide stairs which leads upstairs, weirdly feeling taller. Like I'm seeing the beige and gold patterned living room from a higher angle.

Mum is coming down slowly.

I smile.

"Good afternoon mummy." I mutter.

She gives me a quick side hug when she gets to the bottom.

"Where's Kunle and Wale? " I ask.

"They stepped out. They went to buy something. " She replies in her usual whisper.

Dad walks in slowly.

Mum takes my hand and we both settle in one of the white and gold couches.

Dad sits opposite us.

"Where are Adekunle and Adewale? " Dad asks.

Mum replies telling him they went out to buy something.

"Temi. Call me Bukola". He says to mum.

Like magic, our house help Bukola appeared at the doorway.

She softly padded in.

Her plump face was sweaty and she has neat cornrows on her rather small head.

"Sir? "She replied dutifully, waiting for the order to come.

"Go get us all something to drink." He said.

Dad turned to us.

"Anything specific? " He asked.

We both shook our heads.

I watch the round bukola quickly walk away in a funny, wobbly manner. Then sighing, I look up at the colourful lights in the ceiling.

"Okiki. How has err.... School been? " He asks glaring at me.

"I..... It's good. "

"Hope you aren't drawing?"

He asks suddenly, throwing me off balance.

"I.... No. No sir. I'm not. " I stutter.

"Good. " He replies with a smile.

A smile I found very uncomfortable by the way.

It took a while and just as Dad was about to go full on ranting and shouting Junie sauntered in.

"Okiki" he smiled.

I smile and run up to him in excitement.

He takes me in a full bear hug and whispers.

"Did you miss me? "

I nod into his jacket, feeling more secure than ever.

When we disengage, he greets mum and throws dad a hostile look as well as a reluctant mumble to pass for a greeting.

He's the oldest.

Brown skinned (like me) and looks a lot like me too. We both resemble our mother a lot.

You could call him handsome, he's tall, and very responsible. Almost too responsible.

And we all share our resentment for our father. But I'm not sure we hate him as much as Wale.

"This house is fucking quiet! " I hear.

Wale

"Did any of you guys miss my presence? He laughs as he walks in.

He spots me and gives me a hug, lifting me off the ground and twirling me around.

"Ah ahh. So nobody missed me? Mum?

Father? "

Dad looses like he was about to pop.

His light skin was red as he stares at Wale's hair which is in dreads stopping around his ears framing his face and falling down his neck.

I knew he is about to explode.

Wales the second oldest. Light skinned, very handsome, very stubborn and rebellious.

Note how I say you can call Kunle hansome but i also clearly state Wale is handsome?

Yeah. He is my brother but I'll say it.

Unfortunately, He is a bit of a psycho.

He gets it from my dad just like he got his physical appearance.

"Are you mad Adewale?! " Dad thunders, rising.

"Sorry sir. " Wale says with a smirk.

"What is that on your head boy? "

"Hair. Obviously. " Wale mutters.

"Darling calm down. Your blood pressure. " mum says walking to him.

He calmed down eventually and as bukola set our juice down dad began to speak.

"I'm running to become a pastor by God's grace.

I choke on the first sip of my pineapple juice.

Kunle rubs my back as I cough loudly.

'Pastor? Where did that come from? '

"Wow. Reverend Alakija. I always thought you were a traditionalist father."

He says 'father' with a disrespectful sneer every time. Obviously aiming to piss dad off.

He's usually rude but this time he's coming on very strong.

"Shut up. " dad says firmly.

Wale uses his thumb and forefinger to hold his lips shut in response.

My coughing subsides as dad proceeds to announce that his church has been built already.

"That's. Quick. " Kunle comments with a fake smile.

"The major reason i called all of you here is to talk. I haven't seen you all in a while. "

What the....

"How's school going Kunle? "

Kunle shrugs, staring into his glass of juice as he swirls it around.

"I graduated a year ago dad. "

Wale snorts loudly.

"Oh. Really? "

"Mh hm."

I know he wants to say a lot more, but is just restraining himself

"How about you Wale?"

"Schools fine. Fun actually. "

"You're studying Medicine. Right? "

"Chemical engineering father. " He curtly replies.

Dad glares at him. Before sighing and proceeding to speak.

"My health is waning with each passing day. So i want to focus on God and my kids more."

"Your health? Do you have cancer or something? " Wale asks.

"Heavens no! Wale watch your mouth. " mum says sternly.

He leans back in his chair nonchalantly.

"Sit upright! " Dad commands.

He does, slowly.

"So during easter, I want us all to go on a family holiday. "

"Hm. I cannot come abeg. I have impo....." Wale starts

"Shut up! You will come whether you like it or not ".

He didn't yell. Hmmmm

"But I.... " Kunle started but again was cut short.

"You will go with us. "

"I Have work."

"Ask for a Leave."

"I Cannot ."

I watched dads face twitch.

'I knew he cannot stay sane for this long.'

"You don't expect him to leave his work right? I mean.... " Wale begun saying.

He missed only by an inch. And everyone jolted at his unexpected action.

The glass cup Dad had thrown was behind the couch now shattered. It's yellow content spreading across the white tiles.

He then smiles.

"We're going to Morocco this easter. And it's not your Choice to make. Nor is it open for your suggestions. " He says before rising and walking away.

"What the fuck was that? " Wale whispers, still surprised.

"Your father is..... Sick. " Mum says.

"So he's going to die? Yes! " Wale whoops.

"Does he realise throwing glasses around won't make me follow him to Morocco? " Kunle asks, rising angrily.

"Joko!" (Sit down: Yoruba) Mum says in a harsh whisper.

Kunle does, reluctantly.

She then looks around before saying.

"I will explain it when he leaves. But we need to follow him. "

Mum looked serious and even a bit.... scared.

Wale, Kunle and I exchange looks.

******

"Is it possible for you to take permission so we can hang out this weekend?" Kunle asks as he drives me back to school.

I'm thrilled at the idea.

"You can tell them it's a family emergency. " I reply eagerly.

"Wale is going back to school soon to take an exam and we both know he won't come back again."

I roll my eyes.

"You know he wants to japa (Escape, runaway : yoruba) right? "

"Everybody wants to runaway. " I say.

"Like, Go abroad. That's what the exam is for. But he wants to wait till he passes before saying anything.

"Oh. " was all I could respond.

"So should I take permission for you? "

"Yeah. Sure. I've been wanting to ditch school sef.

I see his small smile through the mirror.

"How is school anyway? "

"Normal. But a bit interesting lately.

"How? "

I proceed to tell him about the Ss3 and Ss2 fight.

He laughs as I talk.

"Omo. Secondary school children are funny. "

"I wish I watched the fight. But we were talking about the Mission.... "

"Which mission. "

'Shit'

"Mission impossible. " I blurt out.

He makes a confused face.

I laugh awkwardly, as I look outside the window. I recognize the masquerade trees all lined up against a blue wall.

School.

"You will have to meet our Vice principal boarding for the permission.

"OK. You'll take me to the persons office abi? "

"Yeah. "

"Oh. And what's mission impossible? "

*******

Even if the world is crashing down, biology teacher would never not come to school.

"Thank God we dropped it" Fey whispers to me.

"Why did you go home anyways? " She asks as i grab my sketchpad and colour pencils to leave the class.

"Nothing much. "

She peers at me.

"What? "

"That's all? Nothing? "

"Class, take out your Notes." Mrs Obafemi, out biology teacher famous for her funny hand gestures and Manish voice,  says as she opens her lesson note.

Fey and i both rise to leave, but Mrs Obafemi's deep voice stops us in our tracks.

I look up at her wrinkly, bespectacled face and force a smile.

"Good afternoon ma. " Fey says.

"Where do you think you are going?" she asks with a scowl.

'hm. Looks a lot like grandma. '

"We're not biology students. "Fey says.

"Then what are you doing here?"

She then turns to face the class.

"In my last class i made it clear that if you aren't offering biology, leave the class before i enter. Didn't I? "

There were mutters of forced agreement.

Her students don't seem so keen on the lesson as well.

"Go back to your seats."

"But.....  " I start to explain.

"Get back!"

We do,  rather reluctantly.

So here we are. Five minutes later. I'm sketching and Fey is flipping through her song book in the boring class.

And it's double period.

OK.

Maybe it isn't that bad.

At least i know what a virus looks like now.

'What do you think? '

I read from gets book which she slides over to me.

'Sometimes I feel I'm in a time loop,

Can't break out of this cycle,

Of classes, bore and generally high school'

'Nah Doesn't make much sense does it? '

I scribble

She reads and nods thoughtfully. 'Rhymes tho. ' I write.

She nods.

"That's the point" she says.

"I'm thinking probably a tune like this. "

She starts to hum a tune.

I try to sing the lyrics with the tune.

"You're disturbing my class the two of you. "

"Sorry. " I mutter.

"You won't let us leave, you won't let us stay in peace. " Fey mumbles,  irritated.

Mrsobafemi turns to us like she heard what we just said.

Shit

"You can leave the class if you answer a question each from the lesson I'm teaching now. " She says with a mischief laden smirk.

Bitch.

She knows very well that we weren't listening.

I can almost feel Fey's anger as she stiffens beside me.

I hear a loud cough.

Mubina signals to me.

'Wait' I mouth subtly.

"You can't?  I suppose you'll just have to sit back and enjoy the lesson then. " Mrs Obafemi sneers before turning to resume her teaching.

Teachers always whine about disrespect when often times,  they bring it upon themselves.

Like now for instance.

Dont greet.

Disrespect.

'Talk back. (AKA give a simple response to a damn question)

Disrespect.

Ughhhh

"Okiki! " I hear a tiny voice whisper.

I turn toward the direction of the voice to see Mubina again.

I raise my brows.

She quickly sneaks over. Until she's only two seats away from me.

"Tell her you're ready. If she asks you any questions, I'll try my best to help you. "

"Don't worry. Let's just stay here. " I reply,  already resigned to fate.

Fey hisses beside me and whispers a quick 'Thank you' To Mubina before calling out to Mrs Obafemi.

"Ma! You can ask us some questions now. " She announces.

Mrs Obafemi peers at us, definitely not convinced.

How did Mubina plan to tell us the answers anyways?

'Didn't think of that did you Fey?'

Mrs obafemi throws the first question.

She answers.

The second.

She answers.

Wow.

How's she....?

Then she turns to me.

I look down,  turning slightly to Mubina.

"Protein cells. " I hear her whisper.

"You can't answer it? "

"Protein cells ma. " I whisper.

"Hm. OK o. oya vamoose. "

'You don't need to tell me twice '

We both bolt out of there,  panting and laughing as we do.

"That woman is mad!" I exclaim when we're a safe distance away from the class.

Fey slips a hand around my neck.

"Like for real. " She laughs.

Unfortunately, the VP boarding,  a plump woman hadn't come to school.

Great.

So Kunle wasn't able to meet her.

But Kunle had promised me he'll work something out.

"Let's go to the library. " I suggest.

"Good idea. Oh and why did you go home again?"

I sigh as we walk out of the block.

I don't want to tell her about it sooo,  I lie.

"My brothers came home. So, dad wanted me to see them."

'That's half truth right? '

"That's weirdly affectionate. "

She's right though isn't she?

Blood Hound is not close by.

So the coast is clear. No one to yell at us for going to the library during classes.

"Do you think Jonah will stop talking to you because of this Ss2 versus Ss3 war? " I ask.

"He's not that insensitive. He's a very nice guy and mature too. "

I shrug.

"If you say so. When we get there are we going to stay in the library or in the librarians corner? " I ask.

"Is that even a proper question? Librarians corner jor. "

As we climb the wide stairs leading up into the building,  we bump into Jonah.

'Hm. Speak of the devil. '

Fey immediately offers a wore,  cute smile.

"Hi Jojo. "

'Jojo????? '

He smiles in return, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Hi fey. Okiki. "

She's been crushing on him since she was in Juniors. And they actually started talking properly when, briefly,  she joined the Jets (Science) Club in her Ss1 before deciding that she wants to be a lawyer.

He's always pretty  nice to her. But recently,  I've been picking up some sparks between the two.

That, Fey hasn't noticed yet.

"Hi. " I reply.

"I suppose we can't talk much cos of ermm.... "

"Nah that's just bullshit for real. I can't stop talking to you cos of that. "

Fey smiles.

"Erm. Is it OK if i talk to you later. Like,  just the two of us? "

Fey squeezes my arm.

"Yeah. Sure!  When? "

Jonah shrugs.

"This evening probably. At the physics lab. "

Fey nods And smiles as we proceed to walk away.

"Fey. "

We both turn.

"You're looking pretty today. " He says with a shy smile.

"Thank you. "

"Did you see that?  It was as if he was flirting with me!" Fey squealed beside me as I unlocked the door to my hideout.

"He likes you. " I say, walking in.

"Dey play. He was probably just being nice. " She Says.

"I'm serious."

"Are you sure?  You really think so? " She asks eagerly.

I nod.

"What do we even do now? " I ask.

She shrugs.

"Sleep. "

*********

"Kisser girl how far? " Lucy sneers.

I ignore her and roughly push past her.

"Are you now blind? " She rudely calls out.

"She's going to meet her boyfriend. Leave her alone. " I hear someone joke behind me.

My face burns.

'Dumb idiots'

I left Fey asleep with a note that I'd be back soon, Before rushing away.

'Where am I going sef? '

"Aje bota."

'Oh great. '

"What?" I say curtly,  before turning to fave the idiot.

He raises both his hands.

"Whoa! Chill! " He laughs.

"You're not supposed to talk to me till next week. "

He smiles.

'Damn he's good looking! '

"Aggressive much? " He asks with a brow raised.

"Why are you talking to me? "

"Cos i want to. "

"Why? "

He sighs.

"Fine. I was..... Lonely. "

I frown while looking up at his handsome face.

"Differences aside,  you seem like an interesting person."

"You made it clear that you don't like me."

He shrugs.

"True. But. I'm Willi g to change things. "

How long is this going to go?  The senseless bickering and all. We've nedlver even had a proper conversation before. Hell I don't know the dudes last name!

I rub my temple with my eyes closed.

"OK. fine. Cool. "

"I know we're not supposed to be talking about the.... "

He pauses and looks around.

"Mission. But we have an update. "

"Can't it wait?"

"It.... It can wait. Sorry for bothering you. I admit there's no update. I just wanted to talk to you. "

I push him and storm away.

And they say women are complicated.