Runnin', runnin'
away from it
You can strip down
without showing skin.
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The extremely bold scent could be perceived anywhere and so was her annoying tactics spotted.
"TJ!" Abike sang out, as she took a sit beside him, while throwing a barely there acknowledging nod at Chimdi who internally bared her teeth at the intruder.
"I've been bored like," Abike began, dramatically flaring her hands. "Everyone has gone missing can you believe? I'm lucky I found you."
Ever since the birthday party at 12,O'Club, Abike had personally taken up the role of designated third party to Chimdi and TJ. She stuck to them like a sore thumb, unavoidable and a real gut clenching pain in the rare.
She was at their lunch table, mango shade, classroom during free periods and even at Chimdi's room claiming to check up on her twin's girl.
So surreal, Elo finally grew the balls to speak to Nene, thus their union. Everyone had thought it was going to be an epic show of how to break a boy's heart. Surprisingly, Nene had broken into the widest grin known to man.
Aside the excess PDA and googly eyed stares, they were still plain ol' Elo and Nene. The bickering never settled for a silent retirement and so were Nene's constant reprimands.
"Join us then." TJ told her, with an easy smile on his face.
Too late, she was already seated beside him, hands getting busy as she explored the text books strewn on the table.
Chimdi tried not to reach for her hand and give it a good twist as her hand picked up Castle of Otranto, giving it a confused look.
"Why the hell do you art students read these suicide pamphlets?" Abike asked, waving the rectangular book at TJ, who let out a slow chuckle like she'd said the funniest of words known to man.
Chimdi tried hard to block out the other girl's annoying voice as she put her attention solely on her exercise book.
"Suicide pamphlets, really?" TJ laughed, the sound goading Chimdi to utter a word. "What's so suicidal about the books we read?"
"Everything. I mean, I'm yet to see a recommended literary work without a tragic end. And I'd bet they are all works of Shakespeare!" Abike's hands flared to add dramatical effects. "Seriously, that guy must have had a lot of emotional traumas."
Chimdi rolled her eyes at the girl's attempt to get TJ's attention, which worked much to her dismay, as she watched TJ, totally get amused by the gibberish the girl was spouting. She couldn't help feel irked.
"This one has a tragic end right?" The slender girl asked TJ, who, still amused, nodded while waiting for her to continue, totally enjoying where the conversation was heading.
"That's not Shakespeare's work." Chimdi told Abike, while holding herself from snatching her book away from the darker girl's grip.
Chill girl, she's not eating it.
"Oh, my bad." Abike said, reaching for another work. "But still, this one ended tragically too right?"
"Yep." Answered TJ.
Abike placed the strewn textbooks on the table, arranging them in a not-so-neat pile.
"I bet every single work here is totally tragedy."
TJ took in the laid out novels. "Not really."
"How many?" Abike asked him.
Chimdi rolled her eyes hard.
Really?
"I think two. Honest opinion though, just because we read loads of books with tragic endings doesn't make it suicidal Aby." He told her, plopping his hand on the desk.
"Still, don't you think it's unhealthy to read all these without a little bit of romance. I mean, y'all say your dearest literature is the society's mirror. I don't see people die everyday."
Chimdi took a hit, fighting the urge to scoff. "The world's not a bed of roses with non-existent thorns Abike."
"And neither is it bathed with thorns Gentry. All I'm trying to say is that y'all should add a little bit of romance. And I'm not talking about that shit Romeo and Juliet pulled, don't you think TJ?"
"She stoops to conquer has filled in the romance slot babe."
"Abeg," Abike groaned with an eyeroll. "I'm talking Mills and boons here not some medieval bullshit. Trust me, I'll zap to arts class if you guys start reading one of those freaky harlequin novels."
TJ bursted out in fits. "You're kidding right?" He asked, staring at the girl with a new found interest. Aside being snarky and quite touchy, he figured she was one hell of an engaging conversationalist.
"Not kidding here." The fatter girl said smugly. Pleased that she'd finally gotten his full attention. "Imagine reading all these Shakespeare's didest thous and getting compensated with one of Melanie Milburne's baby daddy saga." TJ stared at her in total disbelief. "Now that's the perfect blend of literature."
Chimdi scoffed, audible enough to catch Abike's attention.
Abike glared at her, annoyed that the girl was interrupting her moment with TJ. "Did you say something Gentry?"
"Quit building aircastles Abike. Melanie Milburne's works aren't classics and so are your harlequin dearests."
The slender girl shrugged. "Come on Gentry, shove out the negative thoughts and just envision what I'm getting on at."
"I'm being realistic here. Harlequin works are strictly for entertainment. They can't offer anything to the Academia and you know it."
"Where's the lie though," Supported TJ, who'd been long lost in thought. "There's nothing out of the ordinary to learn, unless you'll love to point out what you think we're missing out on."
"Love and patience, duh!" Abike emphasized with an eyeroll. "Besides, I blame African writers for the lack of light literatures. We don't have enough classics to last us. If we had, y'all wont be reading books toxic enough to cause y'all mental exertions."
"Now that is where you got it wrong. Africa has enough classics to last them a lifetime Aby." Interjected TJ lightly.
Abike scoffed. "Oh please, if you're going to mention Achebe's works then please, save your buccal cords the stress."
TJ's smile was easy. "I didn't think of Achebe while making that statement though. Sure, Achebe was one great literary icon, but there are hundreds of African writers whose works has combed Earth's nook."
The slender girl mimed a bored yawn."Tell me you ain't talking about that prickly feminist writer, whose priority is to lead females astray."
"Adichie has done more good than harm! Could you please drop your myopic thoughts for one fucking second." Chimdi snapped, already tired of the girl's gibberish.
Abike let out an annoying cackle, clapping with mock enthusiasm. "Hurray! We have a lucky guesser!!"
"What's your deal with her anyway?" Chimdi asked, giving her a once over.
"Nothing much. We all are entitled to like whoever we want to right? By the way, more good than harm my fat rare! You mean by feeding the female population philosophical poison? Urging them to wage war against men when she's happily married. Isn't that cruelty at it's peak?"
Chimdi stared at her in disbelief, ignoring TJ's gaze signalling her to ignore the slender girl. But she'd had enough, Abike had a knack for thinking with her derriere.
"That's because, they chose to twist her ideas. Because of women like her, the female population hasn't taken to being baby making machines and rag dolls. And, for crying out loud! Feminism isn't about Men, cos for one fucking second, the world doesn't revolve around them! Feminism it's an eye-opener, a source of enlightenment to the female population."
"Your mum not being a glorified housewife, sitting all day long, knitting mittens is all praises to feminism. You, studying your ass off in an elite school with your twin instead of sitting pretty and being groomed on the best way to please your future husband, who, by the way might be a walking STD, wallowing in a sea full of fishes, is all thanks to feminism. Feminism urges women to push each other forward, to build each other up and to stand by each other through life's temperamental sessions. It's that Savior we all feed off from while continuously crucifying."
"Women don't build each other up Gentry," Chimdi could sense the pain behind the words Abike uttered. It didn't help that the girl's gaze were fixed on her.
"And you know damn well what I'm talking about, you of all people know what I'm talking about! Instead they tear each other apart and watch them crumble to nothing. So don't come around, preaching feminine strength and shit when it's all a bloody front!" The darker girl's voice filled with dripping venom, laced with bitterness and vengeance which seemed to be aimed at Chimdi, scared Chimdi shitless.
Glassy eyes, clenching jaws glared accusingly at Chimdi, while a totally clueless TJ was trying to decipher what went wrong.
To him, it was too fun a conversation that turned into something dark. It didn't help that the girls' gaze were locked in a stare off. His hands made to Chimdi's shoulders protectively, a smile to ease the tension as he stared at the slender girl.
Yet he was greeted by the glassy eyed stare, one that left him shaken to the marrow. The tears hell bent on breaking free, but she bit them back, she wasn't going to let anyone see her crack, definitely not before them.
"Aby, you okay?" TJ asked with evident concern.
She paid him no heed, gaze fixated on Chimdi, like she was conveying a message.
Chimdi stared back, thought, a web of tangled mess. Accusing gaze that said so much held hers, making the doubts sink in.
She opened her mouth to utter a word, but the words were stuck. Air made it's way out instead.
"Babe c'mon I'm sorry okay!" Cut short the tension filled atmosphere, as Elo trailed after an enraged Nene.
TJ groaned, as if the drama happening before him wasn't enough.
"Don't fucking Babe me El," The darker girl snarled. "Go ahead, go and meet the attention seeking bitch. I'm sure she will gladly receive you."
Elo groaned, settling down on a spot beside his twin. "I was just helping out, she had a lot to handle!"
"Help my kill you! Does having her bloated ass wrapped around your arms count as help El? If you were hell bent on testing your chivalrous streak, you should have come to me for help. Cos I also have a lot to handle too!" She shoved the piled up textbooks in his face.
Elo's hands made to his temple, massaging frustrating knots building up. "It was a mistake. Promise my intention was to help and nothing more."
"Then go help her! I'm sure she's having trouble keeping her hands to her goddamn self!!"
TJ ran his hands through his hair, he could feel a migraine building up. "The fuck happened between you two?"
Elo casted another glance his girlfriend's way, she paid him no heed, acting like his presence could be equated to an empty chair.
"Aisha Lawal." He said, in a tired voice that would have gone unheard, if they weren't listening with rapt attention.
They stared back at him in shock, like he grew another head.
Everyone at Pacesetters knew Aisha Lawal as a certified boy backpack, alleged walking STD and an attention seeking whore.
He rolled his eyes at the stupefying looks gracing their faces. "Jeez at least, y'all should hear me out before crucifying me."
"Take your time El, find the most convincing of lies. When you're ready, dish it out and we all are gonna eat it up!" Nene snapped.
Catching her boyfriend of two weeks in a compromising position with the school's award-winning womanwhore had that sort of effect.
"Babe, told you it was all a misunderstanding. I got my eyes only on you."
The darker girl made a gagging sound, face contoured into a mirror of disgust. "Nice one El, save that corny shit for some dumb ass bitch!"
The rest stared on, confusion multiplying in growing seconds.
Elo groaned, totally unaware of the implications he put himself into. "Fine, was walking out of class," he began, but got cut short again by the one and only actress starring in his nightmare.
Nene glared earthquakes and turbulence at the endowed girl with glistening envy worthy skin, cherubic face of a mask that reminded her of the cute cherubs drawn on her onesie and shining perfect dentals which she wished were dilapidated.
Aisha's white school shirt hugged her perfect body, making her fronts look enticing enough for even, the most unwilling of eyes. Grey plaid skirt revealing chocolate cream skin.
"Elo," Aisha Lawal drawled out in her purr-like voice, causing Nene to dig her nails into her palm, holding herself back from killing a bitch.
"You forgot this." She pouted, handing a ballpenned keyholder to Elo, who smiled in nothing but a friendly way. He quickly sobered up when he saw the terrifying look on his girlfriend's face.
"I- Um- thanks Aisha." He stuttered.
Aisha rewarded him with a flirty smile.
"No thanks El," She said, causing Nene to snort. "Your help was really, really, appreciated El. If you need help, I'm available okay." She purred, sound, seductive. One that got Nene's wheels turning.
"Time's up bitch face!" Snapped Nene, and for a second Chimdi saw Aisha's mask come off. "He doesn't need your help."
"Calm down fireball, no need to fret your insecure ass." The curvy girl shot back. "I'll see you around El."
"Take even a peek at him and I'll haul your ass to the North Pole bitch!" Snarled Nene. Aisha waved her threat off, walking out of the garden.
Elo's grin was way too wild for his lips as he watched his girlfriend glare daggers at Aisha. With mind at ease, he relaxed on his seat, while the rest shook their heads disbelievingly at them.
"You'd kick an ass for me babe?" He asked, shit eating grin still on his face.
Nene's glower had him sitting straight. "Don't even think I'm letting you off easily."
And... Elo once again, took the scorching spotlight.
The odds were surely in his favour when Lara hurried in, a bottle of Sprite in one hand, while her face mirrored a worried, almost scared look.
"Why's your face like shit Larabear?" Chimdi asked.
Lara ignored her instead, making way to a vacant space where she chunked down half of her carbonated drink at one go. She looked around the table before casting a displeased glance at Abike, who looked anything but bothered.
"Jiki's dad is here." She let the words out slowly, making the intensity of her words hit them like a punch in the face.
The last time human rights lawyer, sacred toed politician and the country's senior advocate, El-rufai Sheikh had been to Pacesetters had left quite a big effect on them. One that had caused more ruckus than peace.
"Where is he?" Chimdi managed to ask, voice fog bound.
Lara respired, trying to look calm. "Guardian and counselor's office - with Jiki."
And hell was finally let loose.
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