𝐈𝐧 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬

CHAPTER EIGHT

EIGHT

MAINA

Cause I'd walk a million miles
Just to know your name
I know you said you left love before
But this ain't the same
And I can't let you go
Cause this feels like forever,
Feels like forever tonight.

    Iris and I walked into the Arena just as a camp official mounted the stage, to address us, I presumed. Taking one swift look around the hall, I found empty seats on the left side of the hall, towards the back. Pointing out the seats to Iris, we walked ahead to where the empty seats were and got seated, as the official started. From there, we had a clear view of everything in the hall, the stage, the entrance, the exit, the others.

"Good morning campers," he paused, probably to ensure everyone was properly seated and paying attention. I took a glance at the girl next to me and did a double take, my heart skipping a beat. She was staring straight ahead, although it didn't seem like she was present here. I wondered what was going on in her mind, whether it was her boyfriend, or, maybe... me. But who was I?

I just watched her, in complete and utter awe and amazement at the goddess which I beheld. I noticed how she blinked at least twice at once, and how her body rose and fell as she breathed. She was merely just breathing, yet she managed to make it look so amazing like it was something she'd just invented.

Noticing I was staring at her, she turned and her gaze landed right on me. She was looking me straight in my eyes. At that point I didn't even care about what the official on stage was talking about again, I just looked at this girl who had completely enthralled me. She was way out of my league, but I didn't mind. I wanted her, and I hoped that I got the chance to give this girl the love she deserved. The love of an Hausa boy.

*Insert smirking emoji*

"Maina, they're calling you," Iris spoke after a while with a laugh, and that's when I turned away from her and noticed Miss Usmani staring at me with amusement written clearly on her face.

"Ya ku yara," she laughed, and handed me a booklet with HISC written boldly. "Here you go," she said, handing Iris hers before walking away, chuckling.

"What's this?" I asked Iris and she laughed. It was the way her eyes lit up and her lips spread, exposing her gums while she laughed for me. She basically glowed while she laughed. But she was laughing at me. And I was confused as to what was so funny.

"You've been to busy ogling me to pay attention" she said, a sly smirk gracing her dark face. Propping one elbow on the arm of my chair, she rested her face on her fist and stared up at me.

God, whenever she looked up at me.

"Who says I was ogling you, Iris?" I asked, my voice coming out a lot lower and huskier than I expected.

"Pft" she scoffed and turned, staring at the now empty stage. "Lie lie"

I burst out laughing at the sound of that. Everyone on this side of the hall was probably staring at Iris and I now like we were crazy, no, like I was crazy, and they had no idea why she was with me.

"Shut up," Iris chided, successfully masking the amusement I knew all too well she was feeling. "Have you gone mad, Maina?"

"Mad over you, I think" I smirked, and she seemed to flush a bit before regaining composure.

"So, what sector of this Workshop are you going for? You're a boy, so lemme guess, DIY or maybe coding" she asked, right about the same time people started trooping out of the hall.

"Ehn?" I stared at her, and she replied my question with a rather incredulous look.

"You really weren't paying attention" she stated and flipped her bone straight wig which I'd failed to notice up until now over her shoulders. "Well that'll teach you to stop staring at girls" she finished with a laugh then got up, blew me a kiss and left the hall. Along with the other campers.

If only she knew all the things she did to me.

So, because of Iris Ziora Barlowe, I was stranded. I was confused, and I had no idea where to go to. So, I just remained glued to my seat, until I saw Miss Usmani. Getting up in a flash, I jogged over to her front, and flashed the most charming smile I could muster.

"Zan iya taimaka muku?" (Can I help you?) She asked, a slight frown on her face. Honestly, I'd also begun to feel like I was disturbing her, but hey, I had no other choice at this point.

"Hey, I'm sorry to bother you," I laughed awkwardly, my left hand subconsciously going up to rub the bare of my neck while the woman just stared at me, obviously waiting for me to get to the point. "What's going on?"

She frowned as if to say "I should be asking you".

"I mean, why did everyone leave the hall. What's workshop? Where should I go?" I asked rapidly and the woman in front of me laughed like I had poo poo on my clothes. I honestly didn't like to think of myself as a comedian, so why was she laughing so much?

"Can you tell me please?" I asked in a pleading tone, tired of why everyone was laughing at me today. When I'd said nothing funny.

Everyone is just Iris and Miss Usmani shey?

"Okay," she was back to business now. "When you exit this building, move to the right, and you will see a block of classrooms. The activities going on are clearly specified on the door of each classroom. So you pick which skill you want to learn. The classroom will be your venue"

That's what Iris couldn't tell me. Scoff.

"Thanks. Thank you very much ma" I bowed exaggeratedly in front of her, so as to remove every form of potential dislike she had for me particularly. It didn't seem like it, but one just had to be careful.

"Go," she nodded, a smile playing on her lips. "You're already late.

The only thing left was to decide which craft to learn. And as I walked out towards the block of classes, my eyes landed on the label of the first door. Crocheting. I passed, then did a double take.

This was it.

And fortunately, as I walked closer to the door, I recognized someone in the classroom.

Alriiighhtttt!

So, this is a pretty short chapter ik, and I apologize. It was originally meant to be part of the previous one, but I didn't want it to be too long, so, luckily we got to see our boy Maina again.

Why do you think he went for "Crocheting", and who do you think was the familiar person he recognized inside the class???

Well, ig we'll just have to read to find out.

Also, don't forget to vote please 🥺

Tenks😚