Hello Nigeria!

Chapter 13: Happy Married Life, Aunty!

December…

"So, have a wonderful holiday and we'll see you all in January." A round of applause erupts in the large auditorium as the principal steps away from the lectern.
 
"Now students, stay put while your class teachers share your report cards," a teacher passes the instruction. There is a sitting arrangement for us in which every class has a special group of chairs for them, making it easy for the teachers to find their students.
 
"I can't believe we are the only ones having to write JAMB and remain in Nigeria," Melody whispers to Lima to the hearing of me and Alice. "While these two get to leave us." I snigger and Alice sticks her tongue out at them.

Regardless of the fact that I am smiling, I don't feel so good on the inside. I will be leaving for New York university next year and that is a little heartbreaking. Alice will be going to Felician university, New Jersey.
 
"Isabella Ene Smith," the teacher finally calls my name. I raise my hand and she passes my card to me. I nervously open it a little and peek inside. The air I have been holding in finally escapes my lips when I see my math result. B. Better than before.
 
"Girl, I thought you said you are bad at math," Melody says, looking at my result.
 
With a smile, I say, "I was. Most of the questions came from the topic Jasper helped me with." Recollection registers on her face and she smiles.
 
"I got a C in agriculture. I hate that subject," Alice mumbles from beside me and we pass her understanding looks.
 
"Well, bottom line is, none of us failed," Lima chips in and we laugh. My phone buzzes and I fish through my bag and take it out. No, I am not a bad student. Phones are allowed on the last days of school after exams. It is a chat from Osita.
 
Osita:
Hey, I'm celebrating my birthday next Saturday by 6p.m. I'll pick you up.

Me:
Where?

Osita:
You'll see.
 
I shake my head when I see his reply. Observing the phone, I look up towards Jasper and remember the night of my birthday in October.
 
~ He leaned in.
 
"Bella! Where on ear- ooh. Am I interrupting something?" I was surprised at the ease with which Jasper pulled back and smirked because I was almost dead from embarrassment.

I was grateful it was night and I had make-up blush on my face because I did not know what my actual face looked like at that point. Hopefully not a tomato.

"Oh my world, is that a phone?" Nes ran to me and snatched it, almost dropping the pack.
 
"You bought this?" she asked, scrunching one part of her face jovially and he winked at her. They fist bumped casually. Nes straightened up as if she just remembered something and a sly smile spread her face.
 
"Let's go back inside," Jasper spoke up before Nes uttered a word. I noticed that an unreadable expression had marred his face and he looked ready to leave quickly.
 
"Yeah, s-sure," I agreed in stutters. When I moved to follow him, Nes pulled me back, a bright smile on her face.
 
"I can't believe I just ruined your almost first kiss," she squealed the last part and my eyes grew wide. She grinned.
 
"We weren't going to kiss," I whisper-yelled and she pouted.
 
"Of course. You were not going to kiss, he was going to kiss you."
 
"What?! That makes no sense. Nothing of the sort was going to happen," I retorted.
 
"That's a lie."
 
"I mean it. He was only taunting me." A confused look registered on her face but before she blurted another nonsense, I walked away.

Later on, I proved to Jasper that I am not a baby by accepting Patrick's invitation in his presence. I finally saw surprise on his face and to say I felt proud would be an understatement.
 
The next Saturday, I almost regretted saying yes to the party when I realised it was at a club but Titi, Ego and Patrick managed to convince me to go in. It turned out better than I expected apart from when Patrick tried to cajole me to taste tequila.~
 
"Do you guys think I should use my wig for the wedding?" Alice asks as we walk out of the rowdy auditorium. The four of us including Nes and her friend Eno were asked by aunt Oya to be part of her bridal train.
 
"I don't think that will be necessary. Since we will use turbans that day," Melody gives.
 
"You could just apply some edge control and that'll be all," I suggest and Lima nods in support.
 
"So, Jasper's family was invited?" Melody asks and I nod.
 
"Yes, they were," Nes says, catching up with us with Eno by her side.
 
"Your aunt is quite social, Bella. The moment she came to Nigeria, she made friends with practically everyone that came her way," Eno comments and we all laugh.
 
"Hey girls," Tola, the artist of our entire class, greets, walking towards us with Ousman by his side.
 
"You," Lima starts. "I called you yesterday but you didn't pick up. Why?"
 
"Sorry. You know my phone is having issues. Now that we are on break, I am definitely getting a new one," he explains.
 
"Hey," Ousman greets me and I smile. "Um, the wedding. I am not sure I will be able to attend. I will be travelling with my father," he explains with an apologetic look on his face. On my birthday, he couldn't come because he was sick so he was the first person to give me a gift. Now he is travelling.
 
I pout and guilt registers on his face. Not wanting to make him feel too bad, I smile and say, "it's fine. Where are you travelling to?"
 
"Frankfurt. My father has to meet a business associate there and he wants me to come with him," he expounds.
 
"Oh." I am short of words. "Safe travels," I wish him and he nods, grateful for my understanding.