Unto say: Changes

Kunle picked me up  from school the day before. For a 'Family emergency. '

I stare blankly at the roof of my room. At the intricate patterns engraved on the white ceiling.

"So by next week we'll start the mission thing" .tI mumble to myself.

The room is very cold.

Due to the fact that my Air-con, recently serviced, had been on full blast all night.

'So what do I tell Mrs okafor that i want in return for joining in the whole spy shit?

Cash?

Nah. I already have enough.

But a few extra won't hurt right?

But i already rejected it.

But what if all this is a big scam? And there are no rewards?

But cam's brother was in an accident. And Cam's dad know Wilmer.

This enough proof right? '

I let out a frustrated hiss, lazily turning over to my side.

A full day hanging out with my big bros. It'll surely be nice.

Dad took off again so the house is devoid of the uncomfortable tension usually contained in the aura around him.

And mum travelled too. To her sister's place.

She usually does that when it feels like the depression is about to pull her into it's dark,  murky depths.

She travels. Anywhere and everywhere.

Using her spending as a cover up for her mess of a marriage.

She wasn't always like this. But that was before The dark years came.

I like to call it the dark years.

The worst years of my life.

The years I'd lost my childhood.....

Knock knock!

I sit up,  startled.

"Come in!" I call out.

The door opens and one of our Three maids walks in.

"Madam Good morning. What would you like for breakfast.?" The woman asks.

"Good morning. And its fine. I'll make it myself. " I reply.

"Are you sure Madam? " She asks looking up.

She can't be younger that fourty.

Clad in the beige maids uniform,  her hair neatly braided and rectangular glasses perched on her wide nose.

She's probably new. As I'd never seen her here before.

"Yes I'm sure. " I reply shyly.

She nods and turns to go.

"What's your name?" I ask.

"You can call me Patience. " She replies with a smile.

I don't know why, but I like her.

I slip out from under the crisp sheets and onto the cold tiles.

I make my bed quickly and take a shower before heading downstairs for breakfast.

It's still eight thirty.

Which is considered by my brothers as too early to wake up.

I make myself some toast, blend up some juice and eat before going back to bed.

*******

"Omo. Okiki. How did you survive during your midterms? "Wale laughs.

"I went to Cam's house. I didn't want to bump into dad at home. "

"Cam. Is it that you thick best friend?"

I shake my head as I spoon my ice cream

"The biracial one. Do you know her? "  I ask.

"Yeah. She's smallish. "

I nod, swallowing.

"That your thick best friend. Seriously? "

I say.

"Isn't she thick? She is na. Unlike you.... "

"Shut up "I protest.

I notice Kunle looking at a pretty girl walking past.

I kick him under our table.

"You like her? "

"Mind your business okiki. "

I smile.

"Do you have Girlfriend?" I ask.

"Why do you want to know?" he asks defensively,  pulling out his phone and beginning to type on it.

"Cos I know a few of my classmates that are interested. "

He bursts out laughing.

"Tell them I'll be interested in the next five years. "

I roll my eyes and laugh,  taking in the beautiful scenery around us.

We're  currently in a beach side restaurant. The sea breeze is amazing and the beach is only half full.

"Well they'll be disappointed. " I comment.

"You're still talking like that? " Wale asks suddenly

"Like how? "

"That your accent. It's been ages you know. Don't your classmates ask you why you talk like that? "

I swallow.

"It stuck. " I mumble.

"Does he still.....? "  He asks, looking very concerned.

I shake my head.

"No. "

You remember when I said that I chose to talk with an accent cos everyone at my last school talked with one?

That was only half truth.

Yes I did live in London for the first three years of my life.

Yes I went to a posh primary school where talking with an accent was glorified.

It should have faded by now. Shouldn't it?

Did you ever wonder why it didn't ?

My eyes stray over to the sea and i absentmindedly watch a little boy run around with another little girl,  presumably his sister,  shrieking in glee.

It's no big deal.  You might say.

People choose to talk with accents.

I didn't choose to.

That's the difference.

"Do you guys want cocktails?" Kunle asks. Obviously in a bid to break the silence and shift the uncomfortable topic aside.

I nod.

I look at the menu without really processing anything on it.

"How about a Pina Colada ?" I ask.

"Doesn't that have alcohol?" Kunle quickly interjects.

"Allow her have some alcohol. Stop being so uptight. "

"Alcohol stunts growth. Don't you want to have boobs? "

"Kunle!" I whine in protest.

"What?  It's not like I'm lying. "

My hand moved to my collarbone and i subtly used my elbow to feel my chest.

'I actually thought my chest was....  Adequate. Am i really that flat? '

The little boy is now throwing sand at his sister with reckless abandon, laughing as he does.

"See now Kunle. She's thinking about her chest. Don't worry. You're not flat. You hear?" Wale says rather loudly.

I Kick him under the table.

He lets me have the Pińa Colada at the end as an apology for calling me flat.

Something Wale won't do.

He enjoys teasing me if you haven't already noticed.

I get Wale and Kunle to play with me on the beach.

We run around like little kids, spashing water on each other and when we tie out we sit on the sand.

Now,  the beach is emptying out.

The breeze is seriously cold and Kunle being the best big bro ever,  gives me my jacket he's brought cos he knew I'd get cold eventually.

"You guys are coming with me to church tomorrow. " Kunle says out of the blue.

Wale bursts into loud laughter.

"Sorry broski but count me out of that. " He says.

"When last did you go to church? " Kunle asks.

"Let's see. When did we have that Thanksgiving for aunty Nike's baby? "

I nudge him roughly.

"Bro that's like, three years ago. " I say.

"Abeg Leave me be. I don't want to spend 600 years all in the name of one service."

Wale added.

"It's mass actually. And its just an hour." Kunle corrected.

"Mass? " I ask.

"Yeah. I'm Catholic now. "

"Oh. " was all I could reply.

"Hmm. In that case... I'm still not coming. "

"Wale please. It's just one mass. " I plead.

After a few seconds of thoughtful silence,  he says.

"I guess I'll think about it.

When I get home,  I inspect  my chest in my bedroom mirror.

I  stare at my b cups in the mirror.

'Are they really that small? '

I never really think about my boob size I've always been comfy with it. I mean,  Fey with all her ass and curves wears an  A cup. And she whines about it all the time.

A knock interrupts my boob inspection.

"Yeah? " I call out quickly pulling my top down and walking to the door.

I gently pull it open.

It's Wale.

"We have new neighbours come meet their kids. " He announces drily.

"Now? "

He nods.

I hiss lightly in annoyance before stepping out of my room.

"The parents aren't around. Just the kids. There are three of them."

"Aren't you coming to meet the? " I ask.

"Already did! " He calls out before disappearing into his room.

I walk out into the corridor and down the main Wide stairs leading to our guest living room

I see two boys and a girl on the couch.

The girl looked about my age, the First boy looks about ten,  and the second looks my age. Or a bit older. And very familiar....

"Hi " I greet when i get to them.

The girl rises.

"Hi. Nice to meet you. We're the new neighbours. We moved in two days ago.

Our parents aren't around so we decided to introduce ourselves. " she chirps.

Her wide smile is friendly and attractive.

I take her hand in a handshake.

"I'm Kiki. "

"Lola. These are my brothers , Harry and  Timi. "

'Eureka!  That's where I know him from! '

Timi and Harry walk over. Harry smiles at me cutely.

"How are you? " He asks.

"I'm cool. You? "

He only nods.

"He's shy. " Lola explains.

"You looked familiar. Okiki. Right?  I met you through Wilmer? "

"Yeah. That's me. "

He smiles.

"You guys know each other?" Lola asks in awe.

I nod.

"We met through my friend. Will. Remember him Lola? "

"Duhh  I don't forget handsome faces easily. " she laughs.

**********

I watch incense smoke from the altar slowly curl into an elegant, wavy shape as it floats upwards and eventually disappears.

The bell being rung is loud in the Silent church. And the priest slowly sets down the circular, eager looking communion down.

Beside me on the left,  Kunle's head is down and his eyes are closed while to my right,  Wale is fast asleep.

I nudge him as a prayer begins.

Kunle joins in while I cluelessly  look around. Until my eyes fall on the projectors where the prayer is on display.

They finish before I can join in.

I hear a nasal voice drone.

'The holy communion is for baptised and practising Catholics who are in the state of grace.

If you aren't a catholic or if you aren't in the state of grace,  kindly remain in your seats... '

I nudge Wale again.

"Is it time to go? " He asks,  looking around confusedly.

I roll my eyes at him.

********

"What inspired you to... Become catholic?" I ask as me and Kunle are preparing macaroni for dinner.

(He has a special recipe he told me the maids won't get and he just feels like cooking).

He opens the pot of simmering chicken stock and tastes it before asking if I want to have a taste too.

I chew on a piece of the soft chicken he hands me after I agree.

He's probably not going to tell me.

"Her name was Freya. " he Says suddenly.

"Who? "

"My inspiration to become catholic."

"Oh..... Was? "

"Is. Her name is Freya."

I silently slice some tomatoes.

"So you and her are..... Dating or something? "

"No. She moved abroad. Hey pass me the salt. "

I do

"I met her in my fourth year. The end of fourth year actually. She was quite churchy,  but she didn't rub it in people's faces though. Just subtly churchy. And has like,  this modest dressing thing going on,  but she still managed to always look beautiful. "

This is the first time he's telling me anything remotely related to his love life. And as he talks about her, he has this dreamy expression on his face.

"I met her through a friend. And we started talking from there."

He pauses and smiles.

"She was really funny and she dragged me to church and to her society meetings. "

"What are those? " I ask.

"Just some prayer group type of things dedicated to some saints. "

I nod,  though not fully understanding.

"We started dating and I became catholic then. But about a month after my graduation,  she told me she was going abroad. "

He pauses stirring the stew for the macaroni.

He sighs.

"Then she left. "

'Oh. That's..... Sad. '

"Do you still talk? "

He nods, placing the cover of the pot on the counter top as he sprinkles in a generous amount of seasoning.

"Will you.... Will you wait for her? " I ask.

He looks at me.

"Yes. Two years isn't so long is it? " he says with a smile.

"I suppose not. " I say.

I silently watch him make the stew.

"Do you love her?"

He chuckles.

"If I didn't I won't wait for her will I? "

"I suppose not. " I repeat.

"I love her very much.... Wait. Did you use Juju on me? Why am I telling you all this sef? "

He says feigning anger.

I laugh loudly.

"It's called the baby sister effect. " I said with a wife smile.

"Ode. (Fool: Yoruba) "

"Are you happy at your school? " He asks out of the blue.

"Yeah. I am."

"With your life in general? "

I nod.

'Why's he asking me all this all of a sudden? '

"You know,  this is the stage in your life that you are prone to anxiety and stuff.

Plus our shitty parents... "

I give no reply.

"You're happy. Right? "

He turns to look at me with a concerned expression.

"I am. Yeah. "

He nods

"Good to know.

"Oh and err..  I love you. Me and Wale do. Even though he'll never say it out loud. "

I chuckle.

"I love you both too. "

*******

"Your father! " Tayo yells.

"My father is richer than yours?  Yes. Yes he is. "

"What was that comeback? " Cam days to me.

I laugh.

Tayo and Chinedu,  just got into a heated arguement all because of a book.

An I kinda have a hand in it.

But admitting that now would be like shooting myself in the leg.

So get this.

Our New government teacher dropped by earlier. A plump,  jolly man who had a friendly smile. He introduced himself as Mr Odinaka and talked a little before giving Tayo his Lesson note to go through and copy a particular topic on the board.

So here's the thing.

Few people were in class when that happened. And Tayo is quite careless.

So he left the note on his locker as he was talking with someone.

I passed by and picked up the book and was going though it when can called me to come see something outside and i left the book in Chinedu's locker before hurrying out.

As expected,  Tayo began to look for the book and when he discovered Chinedu was with the book,  he accused him of taking the book just so he can be ahead of everyone in every thing. He calmed him selfish,  and a whole lot of other stuff

Chinedu was offended . Naturally.

Hence the exchange of words.

"Selfish son of a bitch. You think you're better than everyone because you managed to be brilliant. Book no be everything these days o. Respect yourself abeg!" Tayo shouts.

"I didn't take the book. So I don't understand this exchange of words. And stop calling me selfish. " Chinedu replies calmly.

"Everybody knows you're selfish." Tayo says.

"But I take things seriously. If I were the one given that book I won't have let it get out of my sight for even a second. " Chinedu retorts, his voice getting louder.

"These people should fight jor. " Cheryl giggles.

'Should i tell them or...? '

"Of course you won't. You're always willing to suck ass for praise. That's why I made one mistake and you're blabbing about how responsible you are. " Tayo fumes.

"You attacked me first. " Chinedu reminds him.

"It's not like I was lying. "

"Abeg abi you've found the book?  Let it lie. " Chinedu concludes,  sitting and huffily opening his textbook.

Tayo hisses and sits too.

Cheryl,  Shola and chichi all have a look of disgust on their faces.

"Ordinary fight then no fit fight." Shola hisses.

I let out a small sigh of relief.

'Thank God they didn't fight. '

It's Monday now and the teachers are back to school. Both the new ones and the old ones.

But who I'm actually eager to see is the photography lady.

The one everyone says is hot.

She was absent at assembly and everyone seems to find her absence cool or whatever.

Mrs Okon walks into our class and my brain reminds me that its now time for CRS class.

I pull out my notebook,  bible and blue highlighter.

As she begins teaching,  my mind strays over to the mission.

'I wonder if Jagger came to school. Poor guy. '

Halfway through the lesson,  Fey taps me.

I turn.

She's holding something covered in a blur handkerchief. Then she peels a little of the handkerchief back to reveal something black and shiny.

A phone!

I

quickly look back down at my books.

"How the hell did you get that? " I whisper,  without looking away from my book.

"Later". She whispers.

When The class is over , I immediately turn to Fey.

"Where did you get that?"  I ask in awe.

"It's a little secret. I'll tell you after lunch."

"Come on,  that's like,  so far away! Just tell me now.... "

"Kiki. Aren't you coming for history class? " AJ asks.

I give Fey a death glare.

"Yeah i am. I reply,  grabbing my note and textbook.

"You're so dead. " I hiss at Fey before following AJ.

We are just four in the whole Ss2 offering history.

Me,  AJ,  Omar and Kamsy. And they're all in my class.

Now, me and AJ are making our way to the art studio where our history classes are always held.

"Did you see Kamsy?" AJ asks

I stop myself from replying that I don't care where her people pleasing ass is, and shrug.

Omar catches up with us.

"You people are wicked o. You didn't even wake me up. " Omar says.

I smile

"How will you know? When you'll be sleeping like a Koala. " AJ replies, sort of rudely.

Is Cheryl's rejection still making him sore? Jeez.

"Don't mind him" I say to Omar and giggle as i spot the mark of the perfectly etched trace of the pen he probably slept on, on his very cute, very light-skinned face, attributed to his one quarter Libyan roots. Also making him one of the most attractive boys in our set. He would have had a girlfriend if he weren't too busy sleeping at any given chance.

There are only four biracial people in our set, which is the most found in just one set, in the whole school.

Can, Omar, Mubina and Ming, the super hot, super popular half Chinese guy dating my friend Ellie.

Nobody seems to get their relationship cos Ming 8s a really attractive guy. And Ellie, we could say she's not considered as, conventionally attractive by the people around us. Though personally I've come to realise, taking opinions about your body from teenage boys will do one more harm than good.

But to me, she's pretty cute.

When we get to the studio, Our history teacher, Mrs Eneja is not there yet.

We sit, waiting for her arrival.

Omar falls asleep again, covering his head with his blue hood, while AJ stares at nothing in particular. I make a mental note not to forget to ask Mrs Eneja for inspiration for the competition.

Just then, Jagger walks into the studio.

Should I go talk to him or...?

He looks normal by all means. His clothes we'll ironed and clean, his face neatly shaven.

But the heart isn't mirrored on the face is it? People's way of handling grief differs, and he's probably raking his well...

I guess??

Just as I'm about to call out to him and walk over, Mrs Eneja walks in. And the first thing i notice is the fairly skinny, tall, green eyed boy beside her