Adenike Ekon ✔

10. Spending time with Rokibat

When Rokibat said her mom overdid some things, she wasn’t kidding.

As the doorbell rang, she hugged the life out of Adenike.

They were truly, like mother-like daughter.

 She wore a black veil, which covered her whole. She reminded Ade of the Arabs during Hajj. She had on a little makeup.  

“Good afternoon ma,” she greeted. Mrs. Abdullahi squeezed her even more.

Why do these people care too much about hugs? she wondered.

Rokibat's house was modern. Simple but modern.

“Mama, I am going to my room!” she yelled in the direction of the kitchen where her mom was probably cooking. She had both her hands clasped at Ade’s shoulder too eager to show off her room, that or she was saving her from her mom’s hug.

“Okay,” Ade heard her say, “You girls have fun.”

Unlike Adenike's home, Rokibats house had only a floor.

“Let's go.” She tugged Adenike forward.

When they arrived in front of a door, she opened her school bag and retrieved a key.

She inserted the key into the keyhole.

Adenike stood outside, she had never been invited to someone’s house, except   Precious's.

She had no idea whether to walk in or just stay behind the door.

She was hoping that Rokibat would just invite her in so she doesn’t need to stay awkward.

“Come in,” she called. Adenike went inside. Grateful that she was the one who suggested she did so.

“This is my room!” she exclaimed. Adenike took her shoes off, and kept her bag on the floor, just beside the door.

“Nice,” she complimented. What else was she supposed to say?

Rokibat's room was designed fashionably. Adenike observed not too fashionable. Just simple.

She had Disney stickers all over the wall, her bed was neatly made. She had a desk too.

Rokibat had no laptop so Adenike brought hers.

She took out the device from her bag and placed it on the bed.

Rokibat went into the bathroom, and a few minutes later emerged dressed in a gown and a veil.

The pink and yellow were a perfect match.

“Today is Thursday.” She chewed the edge of her pen and gazed at Rokibat intently. “So we have three days left.”

“Yeah.” Rokibat nodded. “So that means we have to work very hard.”

“What work?” she asked. When Rokibat went to Adenike's house to discuss the project, she was too occupied to do so.

“Remember you said you’re not the reading type,” she reminded her.

Realization dawned on her face, she sat on the bed gazing at her.

It was the first time Adenike caught her off-guard.

“Well.” She held her hands up toward the ceiling, “I want to help, now.”

Adenike turned on the laptop. “Sure!” she replied.

It was a thing spending time with Rokibat at school, it was another thing—dilemma—spending the whole day.

Adenike had worked hard on the project, she only wished she got the marks for it. If she didn’t, then she would accept the fact that she had put her effort into writing that.