A Loner's Journey Through Lemonade Making

Chapter 36|

Body contact between myself and Joju was limited to hugs and holding hands. Sometimes, he kissed my forehead, but never my lips. He knew my stand on PDA and he respected it. Also, we weren't in a relationship so I didn't see the need to do things people like Kari and Banji did.

I had once thought Joju was playing me. How he could be with me, telling me how much he liked me then let other girls claim to be his girlfriend had made me think that. Whenever I remembered I had once thought that, I became disgusted with myself. Bad enough that I had trust issues, his actions made it ten times harder to trust him.

But one certain thing was that he cared about me. It showed in the little things he did, like carrying my bag for me after a long day, warning me about potential danger during sports, bringing my food to wherever I was whenever I was too busy to get it myself, asking how I was whenever he saw me and so on. It was probably as clear as day that I liked him a lot too, but he had never addressed it. Perhaps he was waiting for me to tell him without feeling pressured to.

The week had gone by quickly. It was Thursday and the last class of the day had just ended.

In senior school, there were more than three arms of each grade. One was placed in a class depending on their future ambition. The Arts department had classes for students who wanted to study Law, Mass Communication and Theatre Arts. I was in the one for Mass Communication. The same was for the other two departments. That, according to the management, helped us focus on the exact thing we wanted to study in University.

I suddenly got the feeling that someone was watching me. I dropped the rest of my books on my desk and turned towards the left.

At the window, Joju stood, resting his arms on the window frames. He was looking directly at me, and his lips were stretched into a sweet smile. 

God dey create.

"Toni." He called.

"Joju, one second."

"Come, please."

I wanted to protest, but held back when I remembered Joju never backed down when he wanted something.

I sighed in defeat and went to meet him.

Outside, students were walking about with their bags on their shoulders or in their hands. The yellow, lime green and orange walls with our grey and orange uniforms was a surprisingly good combination.

When I felt my hands being raised and the warmth of another's hands, I looked back at Joju.

"Toni."

"Joju."

"How are you?"

I smiled at how consistent he was in asking that question. "I'm okay. How are you?"

"Alive."

"Obviously."

He smiled, suppressing his laughter. "We haven't really talked this week, you know?"

I looked down guiltily. "Sorry. I've been really really busy."
Being the Media Prefect and head editor of the school magazine and blog was a lot to handle. That and my academics took all my time, leaving almost none left to spend with my friends. Although Joju was equally busy as the Head Boy, he always created time for us to talk. But I never did.

"Can I have your Saturday?"

I went through my mental schedule for Saturday. "You can."

"Thank you."

"I'm coming." I slipped my hands out of his and went to complete my packing.

"JJ!" Kari called.

"K.C Undercover!"