A Loner's Journey Through Lemonade Making

Chapter 32|

I had once read that endings were simply new beginnings, and although it was sad to admit, it was true.

The end of something always signified the beginning of another, like our exams. In approximately two months, another session would begin, just not with the same people.

I would miss Tekena. We hadn't spoken properly in about a month. Whenever we found time to talk, it was either I had my writing class to catch up with or he had only a few minutes to spare. I would shorten my speech, thereby leaving out the other things I wanted to tell him. Our conversations always ended abruptly.

I would miss his classmates too. Their energy was different. They had an aura that would make you nervous until you realised they were as friendly as they were intimidating.

Graduation was the following day, therefore school was bustling. In the car parks, parents' cars were lined up with their boots open, waiting to load their children's luggage in. The SS3 classes were messy— I had noticed that when I went to look for TK, hoping to talk to him before he went home. Books were scattered everywhere. They had signed under their desks and chairs. But they dared not sign on the walls because Mrs Adelana loathed defaced walls. However, they signed in the admin block. There was a room where graduands signed and wrote their nicknames and social media handles on the walls. That among other things was RPSS tradition for final year students.

Another person's leave who pained me was Safia's.

She was not returning in September, as her family was relocating to Niger State. Her dad had been posted there and he wanted his family with him.

She had told us a week earlier in the garden. Silence had ensued after she said it. That was when I understood her reason for not saying anything when I told them I would be leaving. She probably didn't want to crucify me like the others because she was guilty of the same thing. And it hurt that she was leaving. I had finally understood why my friends hadn't taken it well initially. Knowing someone you were close to was leaving you was painful. It was different because she wasn't graduating. She wouldn't be there for our hugs, joint classes, parties and graduation. Her picture wouldn't be in yearbooks anymore.

It was possible for her to be a resident student. She could stay in school during the term and travel home during holidays. But her father wasn't in support of it, so that wasn't happening. My friends had learnt from the last time, so they only told her it was okay and pulled her into a hug. It was sad to know the Salil(the ship name Joju and I had given she and Khalil) ship sank before it even sailed.

Those were the only things that weighed me down. Yes, I would miss them, but change is constant and I couldn't expect everything to go how I wanted.

As the day of my essay competition drew closer, my nervousness multiplied. My birthday was also approaching.

I huffed, returning my attention to the girls I sat in a circle with, Kari, Ibidun, Safia, Munachi, Leilah, Kike and Jemima. In the centre of the circle we had formed was a half empty Smoov Chapman bottle. We were playing Kiss, Marry or Kill, a game that had been initiated by Safia.

As the initiator, Safia spun the bottle first. Both ends pointed at Leilah and Munachi.

Munachi put her Purple Hibiscus novel aside. "Jomiloju, Lolu and Banji."

Leilah patted her cornrows down as she processed her thoughts. She twirled the ends around her index finger and smiled. "Okay. I'd kiss Joju." when she saw the look everyone wore, she knew she had to give an explanation. "I'd kiss him because he's my bro, I can't marry or kill him. I'd marry Lolu. Have you heard that boy's accent? It's audio honey! Then I'd kill Banji. I don't hate him oh, I just fancy Lolu more."