In West Africa in the southern part of Nigeria, is a teenage girl. Not your average thirteen year old kiddo
"it's going to be so obvious I'm thirteen "(Ife )
But the tiny skinny type who thinks like an adult
"Are you always this serious...
"Ife, Ife now, please now, please now, Ife.. "Fej repeatedly pleaded in my ear, literally in my ears 'cause he was leaning over my head and talking directly into my ears. I finally decided to end the torture so I sat up.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat??" I asked in super bored tone.
"Let's play a game " I stared at him with a look of annoyance
Seriously, I disturbed my inner peace for a game?
"I think I'm fine!"
"Fine as in?"
"Its like...it's the same thing as,(short hiss) It's like saying no thank you "
"Then why didn't you just say no thank you? "
Sigh. "No thank you "
"I think I'm fine "
"Huh? "
"It's the same thing as.. hahaha " he was saying but burst into laughter mid sentence.
Of Fej, if you become more stupid I'll sell the world to buy you a brain cell
"I just shadowed your statement, hahaha "he said and laughed some more till a baby belch intruded
Ewwwwwww
"Sorry " he said and cleared his throat. I tried to retire and rest once more but he quickly passed a sheet of paper to me.
"What? "
"Game "
"Why? "
"Fun"
"And? "
"Please "
"No" I said ending our now monosyllabic dialogue. His countenance changed to a sad one.
"Fine" I gave in besides, its just a game."What game are we playing?" I asked trying not to sound bored
"Kisses"
I choked on my breathe If that's even possible.
******************************
I must have gulped alot of air into my voice box. As the cough died down i I looked at Fej who had a confused expression.
"What kind of game is kisses? " I asked confused, annoyed and irritated.
"Oh, it's like this"he said dragging the sheet of paper and drawing ash tags. "We make use of two letters 'X' and 'O' ,and on person represents a letter which means I can be X and you O. We will place our letters at different positions on the net(ash tag) and find possible ways of getting three of letters either diagonally, vertically or horizontally, if done you win,.We could also block each other from winning by placing our letters in the way of umm...our letters, you understand right?
I stared at him biting the inside of my lower lip like someone enraged.
"You do understand right? " he repeated
"Why did you call it kisses? "
"Well because it's X's and O's and xoxo means kisses" he explained and smiled
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I looked at the paper where he illustrated the game and 'xoxo' thing, then I looked at him once more shaking my head.
"It's called TIC, TAC, TOE" I said pronouncing each syllable of the game independently.
He shrugged "Never heard of that one "
"That's the name"
"No one calls it that, in fact, people call it X and O"
"What people? "
He shrugged again "My mum"
"Right, good, just very good " I said sarcastically
"Ehen! How is your hot momma "
I looked away from him towards the class entrance "Don't call her my mother I hate her"
"Ouch, Ife, for the fact that she carried you for nine months you should.... "
"She's not my mother! " I yelled this time facing him. He was silent."..she's my father's girlfriend " I said in a whisper loud enough for him to hear. I faced the class entrance again because I, well, I don't know why.
"I'm sorry "
"For? "
"bringing up the topic "
"Hmmmm" There was silence, well only between us because the entire class room was a market place. I allowed my ears pick up discussion from different groups, some people were discussing a Philippine soap opera,some were singing, laughing at someone dancing in front of the class, some where even discussing about footballer's salary.
Jobless people, discussing other peoples success
I looked to the back of the class, there were some other groups, some had their heads bowed to the desk most likely operating a phone or phones, there was also a guy and a girl having an awkward conversation, wait.... What is he...
"And here I was thinking you're dad is nice" he said interrupting my investigation.
"There's alot you don't know "
A whole lot, too much even
"Class stand greet" the class monitor yelled as the teacher enter the class to begin his lecture
