Kemi's secret birthday plan

Two days has past and Kemi still hasn't told me anything. He has to speak up today because it's just three more days to our birthday.

He walked up to me today during a free period and took a seat besides me.

"What's up Tega, have you read for your test tomorrow?" He asked.

"Of course, no matter how stressed I get I never forget to study for a test". It's true, sometimes I never even have to study because I already read those topics a long time ago.

The only subject I still have problems with is Igbo language. I'm a bit better than I was in my JSS 1 because of my private lessons but I still need more practice.

"So Kemi, it's just three more days before our birthday, you have to speak up. Please" I pleaded. He sighed, tilting his head backwards and open his mouth to speak.

"The reason I don't want to celebrate my birthday is because I stopped celebrating my birthday a long time ago...." He said.

"Whoa! Your reason's gotta be big". I blabbed, then covered my mouth. "Sorry"

"Yeah it's ok". He said. "My Dad hates me, and he divorced my mum because of me. I still don't get it. He wanted a daughter and he got a daughter and then when I was born he just hated me, I don't know why , though, because my mum refused to tell me".

"Then who was the woman I saw you call mum at your house?" I asked, feeling confused.

"She's my stepmum, my dad forced Tami and I to call her mum and treat her like one but I only call her mum in the presence of my Dad" He explained.

"My Dad doesn't like me celebrating my birthday because he said it reminds him of the day I came into existence. And the times I did celebrate my birthday, he treated me like a slave, one time he locked me up in the store room for three days without food or water, luckily there were some water left in the store room. So I stopped celebrating my birthday when I was 6, when my female friends heard that, they started avoiding me and began spreading rumors that my parents hated me because I was cursed. They only came to me for free stuff and if I didn't give it to them they often told my Dad on me. That's why I hate girls. All the girls I have ever met only befriended me for free stuff, money or because I'm cute or whatever, they were all selfish, mean, violent, saucy and talkative... except you of course" He said.

Wow! His story was even worse than mine, at least MY parents still loved mine. He never saw his mum who was the only person that loved him apart from his sister.

I totally get the girls; His Dad's rich and he's really cute, I'm never going to admit that to him though.

I still feel sorry for him, but I was curious to know one thing.

"If you hate girls so much, why did you decide to be friends with me?" I asked.

"I don't know. You seemed more calm and nicer than the other girls I've met, and I know that because I spent a whole week observing you and I became curious to know even more about you, you were also really shy towards me when we first met which made me kinda happy considering the fact that you weren't all over me or blabbed about stuff non-stop. Then I found out you were into song writing and stuff like that. You're really fun and comfortable to be with." He said, smiling at me.

"Awwww, so cute". I said, smiling back at him. We smiled at each other for sometime and it made me uncomfortable. So then I laughed out loud, punching him in the arm.

"Ouch! Is that what I get for complementing you". He said playfully.

"I just saved us from an akward moment, silly". I said, laughing.

"Akward? Yeah whatever". He said, laughing too.

"Kemi, I have an AWESOME idea" I said after a long pause, feeling excited again.

"Please tell me it's not about my—"

"BIRTHDAY OUTING AT MY PLACE!!!' I yelled, jumping happily not minding the other students who fell silent and watched me. OMG! I can't believe I'm going to be a teenager by Sunday.

"Umm, What?!" He exclaimed.

"Yeah, you heard me. Since your Dad hates you celebrating your birthday you'll do it with me. You can spend a weekend at my place and on Sunday we'll go to ShopRite. If we meet your Dad there I'll just tell him we came to buy some stuff". I explained.

Kemi rubbed his chin and looked at no one in particular. He was probably thinking of what I said.

"Please say yes". I pleaded.

"Tega, It's a good idea but what if something goes wrong. I really don't want my Dad to know I was celebrating my birthday".

"Uuuuh! You're too pessimistic".

"I don't want to get into trouble with my Dad. That's all". He fumed, folding his arms and turning away.

"So it's a yes".

"Umm, I di—".

"It's not a no either, is it"

"Well...".

"Then it's settled. We're celebrating our 13th birthday together and you're spending a weekend at my place!" I said with a big grin.

"Wait, I didn't—"

"BIRTHDAY!!!" I shouted skipping joyfully to the back of the class. Kemi's going to have fun. I'll make sure of it.