Twirl

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

After extension classes on Saturday, Tomini, Esther, Zainab and a friend of Zainab – Ginika went to the mall. Zainab had suggested that they unwind before their Mock exams started on Monday. As usual they didn’t have much money but would stroll around the mall, window shop and just have fun being together.

They decided to go to Shoprite first to buy soda and some cheap biscuits.

On their way out, Esther spoke, “This is why I don’t like coming to the mall.”

“What happened?” Ginika asked.
Esther pointed at a boy who was approaching Shoprite. He had a T-shirt and sweatpants on, and was wearing a pair of glasses.

“I know him. God I don’t want him to see me. Can we go back in before he reaches here?”

“Go back kó!” Zainab hissed, and then a grin appeared on her face as if something just dawned on her.

“Isn’t that Joshua, the one that goes to your church?” Zainab asked mischievously.

“Oh! Yeah. It’s him,” Tomini added.

“What? Why don’t you want him to see you?”

A woman coming out of Shoprite pushed past Zainab who stood directly at the exit.  Zainab left the spot she was in and stood by the side with the rest of them.

“Please let’s be going abeg. Should we stop our own lives because madam here doesn’t want to see her crush?”

Zainab said, and started walking ahead of them, obviously annoyed that she had been pushed. They followed suit.

“Chill jare” Ginika said to Zainab. “The guy is smiling at you sef,” she spoke again, this time to Esther. Esther had a straight face on, but Tomini knew she was trying hard not to smile back.

“Hi Esther,” Joshua said when he reached them. He smiled politely at the rest of them and they all smiled back.

“Hi,” Esther replied, not meeting his eyes. Tomini chuckled.

“Won’t you introduce us?” Zainab asked. Esther gave her a mock glare and Ginika and Tomini laughed. Esther introduced them and they all said hi.

“Where are you guys headed?”Joshua asked.

“Nowhere, really...We just plan to stroll around the mall. We don’t have money to do anything,” Zainab answered and laughed at the end. Tomini and Ginika laughed too. Only Esther didn’t find it funny.

“Oh,” he smiled. “I actually plan on buying ice cream cones later. I just wanted to get Shoprite’s bread. Do you guys care for ice-cream?”

“Just go ahead and buy your bread. Don’t worry. We’ll just be on our way,” Esther replied, frowning.

“Abeg o, Esther, don’t come and spoil show for us. Please we care for the ice-cream,” Zainab said.

“Yeah,” Ginika added.

“We can get the ice-cream now. I’ll buy my bread later.”

“Okay,” Zainab and Ginika choroused.

They began walking in the direction of the ice-cream store. Esther was walking beside Joshua who was engaging her in a conversation. Tomini didn’t know what they were discussing as she; Ginika and Zainab were walking behind them. It was Zainab’s idea to let them walk alone.

Tomini laughed.

“What’s doing you?” Zainab asked.

Tomini shrugged. “I don’t know. This whole scenario is just funny.” She burst into laughter again and Ginika joined her.