Been around
Like hella propellers,
Wanna know who you with...
--
"Does table fifteen have tea?"
A kitchen staff carrying a tea dispenser asked. Same time, Chimdi and her friends made it to their table.
They nodded and she wheeled the mini cart carrying tea dispensers away.
The girls exchanged pleasantries with Jiki, while Chimdi made for his ears, giving them a squeeze, causing the boy to yelp.
"What the hell! What was that for?" He shouted, hands covering his ear. They felt dysfunctional.
"What did you do this time?" Nene asked him, grabbing a slice of bread, while Lara waved them off.
"Why did you give TJ my number!" Chimdi asked as she made for a plastic cup, which seemed to be stuck with other ones.
Jiki's laughter filled the air, earning him a jab from Chimdi who scowled further. "What's so funny oga?"Â She pouted, finally setting free the cursed cup.
"Why? It's just your number, and he's your friend now baa?" The fair boy teased, casting her a mocking glance.
She filled her teacup in rage, a dash of the hot liquid substance made for her finger.
She cursed. "That's not the point! You should have given me a heads up first. Guy! I felt like faking my death and moving the Cuba. I didn't know how to reply." She pouted, taking a sip of the tasteless liquid.
Her face scrunched up in disgust as the horrible liquid hit her taste bud.
Jiki cracked up, earning a strange look from Nene and Lara.
"Are you for real? Faking death and moving to Cuba?" He shook his head, while she gave him a glare. "That's the most unserious suicide threat I've heard."
"I'm serious." She muttered, disappointed that her plan on murdering Jiki wasn't working. He always found a way to escape her wrath.
"Does that death faking thingy sound real sef?" There, he successfully stirred the conversation to another direction.
Chimdi shrugged, rage and plot for revenge totally forgotten, as she spread a bread spread on a white loaf. "Maybe. I don't know, but it's rumoured that most celebrities fake their death just to have quality times at Cuba."
Jiki thought about it for a while, amidst shoving a buttered up bread into his mouth. "Imagine living in a house full of missing celebrities."
She followed his action, taking a bite from her bread as well. "With Juice wrld as the landlord."
Jiki rolled his eyes. "Juice Wrld can't be landlord, he recently joined them."
"Say Tupac then?"
"Na, that dude died for real."
Chimdi chuckled, finishing off her first two slices of bread, before looking around the big table. She noticed something was off. "Where is Elo and TJ?" She asked no one in particular.
"So you noticed." Lara casted them a mocking gaze. "Are you two done with gossiping?"
Nene let out a dramatic sigh. "No leave her. Madam, is that how to murder somebody in your village?" Nene asked, referring to her early morning rambling. Chimdi sent them a sheepish grin before smacking Jiki on the head.
"They have things to do- ah, speak of the devil." Elo and TJ made their way to them, both bearing neutral looks.
Elo made a weak attempt at greeting, which was unlike him, while TJ gave them a sad smile and forced chirpy greetings.
"What is wrong with him?" Chimdi whispered to Jiki, gesturing towards Elo.
Jiki hesitated for a moment, before pulling out him cell phone, few taps here and there and he produced a photo.
Not an ordinary photo, it was one posted on Instagram, on Jet Ike's page.
Actually photos. The first was of Jet and Nene, smiling widely at the camera while the other of Nene, on a white Chiffon top, donut in hand, smiling at a camera.
The caption read 'Babes' with various heart emoticons and a padlock.
Huh?
"I think it might have something to do with this." Jiki said, shoving the phone back into his pocket.
Why did I predict this?
She glanced at Lara and saw a frown marring the girl's face, staring intently at her cell phone.
You thinking what I'm thinking?
The shorter girl stood up, dragging Nene up with her and the same time, gestured towards the door to Chimdi.
Chimdi got the message, she stood up and made for the exit too.
"Why did you interrupt my peaceful breakfast session!" Nene snapped, freeing her arm from Lara's grip.
"Is there something you're not telling us?" Lara stood, face switched to interrogative mode.
"What, is that why you called me out?" The darker girl hissed, making for the door, but Lara caught her wrist.
Chimdi rolled her eyes at dramatics.
"Girl, what is it!" The darker girl hissed again.
"You and Jet Ike. Really?" Chimdi blurted out, tired of the drama.
Nene doubled up in laughter. "Are the two of you for real? Why- no, what made you think we're dating?" She asked, after having a good laugh.
They looked at her like she'd lost it, before Lara shoved her device to Nene's face.
The darker girl gasped, taking the phone from her hand.
"This guy was serious?" She muttered, scrolling through the phone.
She sighed, handing the device back to Lara.
"It was just a silly dare that sprung up while we were chatting last night, I didn't know he was actually going to go through with it."
Chimdi nodded. That explains last night's mystery call.
"But are you guys anything more?" She wanted to know the truth, a video call with a cackling Nene didn't seem normal with her.
"How- we are just friends abeg. And he is helping me grow my account." Then she hissed. "Was that why you two dragged me out of the hall? Now I've lost the little appetite left for that coloured water!" She snapped.
"Y'all did not notice that Elo isn't himself! Since you've decided to play detectives. We should be helping him, he might be sick or something and you're here playing detectives." The darker girl rambled on, causing Chimdi and Lara to share knowing looks.
With a huff, she left them there and stormed inside.
Chimdi let out a sigh, one of relief.
The duo started laughing, glad for unsaid reasons. Jiki and TJ joined them. "What did she say?"Jiki asked, referring to Nene.
"They're not doing anything." Lara replied, making him sigh.
"How's Elo?" Chimdi asked, avoiding TJ's gaze.
"Still claiming that he doesn't care. I swear the two of them have more issues than all those crabby foreign magazines."
"It's nothing new." TJ divulged with a shrug. "They're right on the semi final stage. It won't take long for them to figure out what's really going on between them."
Lara and Chimdi stared in confusion. "Stage?" Utterly confused, Chimdi voiced.
"What stage are we talking about?" Lara asked.
"Repression." He shrugged again. "It's like the second to the last stage of whatever shit going on with them."
"Who are you?" Chimdi asked shaking her head in disbelief. "Oshey inspirational speaker. Doctor Phil?"
"I see myself as Oprah instead." He gave a mock bow.
Chimdi scoffed, muttering something about him obviously choosing a female role model. While Jiki laughed at their childish exchange.
"Tell me, what are the stages?" An eager Lara pressed on.
"Denial's the first. Then there is Anger, Bargaining, Repression, and lastly, Acceptance. The last part won't take long though." TJ mused, staring directly at Chimdi.
Lara nodded, mind drifting far.
Jiki checked his wrist and muttered curses before excusing himself, Lara followed suit, leaving Chimdi and TJ together.
"So... you left me on read last night." TJ began, taking the bull by the horn.
Sometimes, she was so unpredictable.
Chimdi cleared her throat, avoiding his intense gaze on her. She felt like her deep dark secrets were being seen as he stared at her.
For some strange reasons, she liked it, which led to being bothered. Everything about him bothered her, right from the moment she let him follow her to the agency.
He was slowly letting himself into her business which she didn't like. The strange ways she felt in his presence added to the long list of things she didn't like.
"Did you hear me?" He asked, stepping close, causing her heart to pick up speed. She recoiled, cross at herself for feeling that way.
"Are you okay?" He made for her chin, tilting her face to meet his, she couldn't look him in the eye. Plethora of strange feelings she couldn't comprehend filled her.
It was too much.
She couldn't hold it anymore.
"Stop touching me please!" She gritted out, trying to contain her rage. Why she felt angry was beyond her understanding.
"Are you okay?" TJ asked again, paying a deaf ear to her aforesaid command.
"No I'm not okay!" She bursted out, tired of holding back. "You are my problem! don't you get it, I don't want to be near you, I don't want to see you, just- go away!!" Frustrated tears came trickling down.
He ran the pad of his thumb along her jawline, just the way Vladimir did, and surprisingly, his felt soothing. He wiped the thin teardrops off.
"You can't- You can't just say things like that." He tilted her face to meet his. "It hurts."
His voice was sad. Overwhelmed with the silly idea to console him, the rage took over again.
She pushed him off, causing him to stumble a bit. "Stay away. Please." Her voice was weak, brain, fogged.
TJ recoiled, slightly shocked. He strapped his backpack close to himself and tucked his hands into his pockets.
Dipping his head before his shoulder, he gave her a sad smile, before walking off.
--
If TJ Kodiri respected one thing in life, it was a person's decision. No matter how loopy their reasons may be, he respected them.
The same reason that made him stay away from Chimdi.
It had been two days since her sudden outburst. He couldn't place a finger on where he had gone wrong. They'd avoided each other like the plague. Thankfully, nobody noticed, all attention were directed at Nene and Elo's complicated situation.
He looked around the noisy class and heaved a sigh, realizing the difference between being a noise manufacturer and being at the receiving end of the migraine igniting sound.
High school to the students of Pacesetter was a free world. There were students who dedicated their time and attention to studying because, that was actually the reason for ditching life's sailing luxury ship.
Learning was of uttermost importance.
For those who took school as another means of having a free time, for those it meant nothing to, sold their pathetic souls to loud wireless music devices and cell phones. And he was just inbetween.
He'd prepared for the next class, and was waiting for the Teacher to grace them with her presence.
TJ's eyes caught sight of Chimdi, head on the desk, probably sleeping. He suddenly felt worried, hoping that she was okay as it seemed that the action was a rare one.
He willed himself to not care.
Remember, she asked you to stay away from her. His subconscious mind, the sly bastard cautioned.
He gave in, but to his honest excuse, he actually did care.
He spared one more glance at where she sat, but her chair was suddenly empty.
Where is she?
His eyes wandered around the class, still she was absent.
"She went to ease herself." A familiar voice said from behind, TJ whipped his head around and caught Jiki staring at him.
"Who?" He feigned ignorance, bringing out his cell phone.
"You know who."
TJ scoffed, avoiding the fairer boy's gaze. He couldn't get the guilty feeling gnawing at his chest, obviously something was going on between the two and he felt like a betrayer, having such pull to his best friend's love interest.
He felt like he was committing treachery.
"A dollar for your thought." Jiki flashed him a smile, alongside a thousand naira note.
TJ rolled his eyes at him. "That's not even a dollar."
"I'm improvising, hey." Jiki tucked the Naira note into his pocket.
"Wassup?" The fairer boy asked, shifting forward.
"Nothing."
"Trouble in Paradise?" Jiki gave him a knowing look, which he returned with a snort.
"Ahh, I see. You two are biffing again. Seriously, what's the difference between you two and Elo and Nene's drama?"
"What are you talking about?" TJ shifted, uncomfortable, hating where the conversation was heading. He was bound to face it anyway.
"You like Chimdi."Jiki blurted, causing TJ to choke on his own spittle.
"What?"
"Come on Man, you are not so discreet with the stares and smiles. But hey, your secret is safe with me." Jiki sent him a wink. But he only stared, confusion filling him.
"Hold on, you are not angry?" He managed to utter.
"Angry? why?" The fairer boy asked, confused as well, before understanding. He suddenly burst out laughing.
"What's funny" TJ was drawn into a more confusing state.
The fairer boy wiped his teary cheeks, still trying to contain his laughter.
"Oga wait oo. You think I'm doing something with Dee?"
TJ nodded and the fairer boy cracked up again, patting TJ's back.
"This is the funniest shit I've heard since this week."
He calmed himself, after noticing TJ's confused state. "Oya, let me put you out of your misery. Hell no!"
He shuddered in mock disgust. "Dee is like my baby sister, imagine me asking her out. That tiny toad? No thanks." Jiki blurted out, shaking his head at TJ.
The revelation left TJ relieved and tongue tied. He tried to utter at least, something reasonable, but ended up looking like an overfed fish.
Jiki patted his back, zipping up his mouth and throwing out an imaginary Key.
TJ rolled his eyes and was forced to throw a witty retort before the literature Teacher walked in.
Everyone scrambled to their various seats, once the impeccably dressed woman cleared her throat, dangling her car keys.
Ms. Toti commanded respect and attention in the school.
The students sang out their greeting and she nodded, acknowledging their action.
"You know the deal. We are to conclude with a book before switching to our next book."
The student's nodded.
"So, please can someone read out the remaining questions on Native Son?"
A plump girl with circular, thick rimmed glasses stood up, taking her exercise book with her. " Number Nine. Justify this, does Bigger Thomas deserve the Verdict passed to him?" She read out, and immediately, hands shot to the air, the teacher in turn, let them share their opinion.
"-Of course he does." Opeyemi, an unusual class talker spoke up. "Forget that he mistakenly smothered Mary, but Raping Bessie and Killing her was uncalled for, so I say he deserves it and more. No girl deserves that!" She got the support of females in her class, causing the males to groan in frustration.
"-If Bigger stopped at Mary, it would have been excusable. I think he deserved it, even the bible isn't in support of his actions." Daniel, the Chapel prefect chipped in and everyone nodded in affirmation.
TJ watched his classmates take turns in crucifying the fictional character. Doing no justice to the question.
They were comfortable in their skin and their land, having no one to call them animals or proclaim them rapists without getting to know them, they had no right to just skim the surface and not delve in.
His hands balled up in a fist, he'd never felt pissed up so much in his life. His hands on their own accord banged on the table, causing attention to be directed his way.
A brow raised, "Kodiri, do you have anything to say?" The stern literature teacher inquired.
TJ suddenly felt shy, he was used to attention but not one of forty-something annoyed students on him.
"Speak up. We are waiting."
"Ms. Toti, I'm not trying to defend Bigger's action." He began, staring at the empty white board. "But I feel Bigger is being judged by us without solid facts."
"Spurred by his emotional and psychological state, Bigger is no different from the average black man, who is ruled by fear in his everyday life."
The class was suddenly dead silent. He'd never been one to participate in class activities.
"Fear has the most psychological effects on humans, especially the black man, living in a country where he is not acknowledged as an equal to it's habitant. Fear is the mastermind of most crimes, like the bogeyman, handing a knife to a troubled soul." He closed his eyes, the memories getting vivid.
The class was dead silent, but he cared less, his mind was on his late bestfriend and other blacks out there, getting verdicts without being heard.
"I'm not saying that Bigger was right by raping and Killing Bessie, but y'all should understand that every crime has a reason as to which it was committed, I'll bet you a hundred bucks that he wasn't controlling his actions while he went through with what he did."
"Mr Wright already sent a clear message, he showed the African-American society to the world, and if we paid attention to his descriptions and not on how wrong Bigger was, we would see hints. My point, yes he violently took away the life of Bessie and mistakenly took Mary's, but we all should acknowledge the fact that nobody wanted to hear him out in the damned court, every attention was focused on bringing justice for the white girl and by so doing, they exploited Bessie's death. No one cared for her and the prosecutor's were hell bent on getting rid of him. I don't know if this makes sense, but if we are hell bent on passing verdict or judging him, we should actually know what led him to act the way he did. The essence of class discussions are not for the purpose of taking turns to crucify a character, but to dabble in several ideologies until we've made no room for a common ground." He breathed out, suddenly feeling heavy in the heart sat down.
Ms. Toti, short of words too, made to address the mulling class, but the bell rang, signaling the end of lectures.
TJ made his way out of the class.
--