A Loner's Journey Through Lemonade Making

Chapter 41|

I planned to start playing by new rules once we returned to school. I laid the foundation and steps for this plan out in my head from when we got to AASFG to when we were returning to school.

But the execution of the plan was cut short by something I had been suspecting—I fell sick.

It wasn't the slight fever, runny nose kind of sick. It was the eye ache, rock-music-in-my-head kind of sick. The kind of sick that made me vomit at breakfast on Sunday morning. The kind of sick that made me go home.

That day was Kari's birthday. At least, I had stayed long enough to see her wear the skirt I'd made her.

Home was boring. Aunty Oma wasn't home, so it was Aunty Toyin who took care of me. I didn't go to the hospital for tests; I just got medication from the estate pharmacy. I didn't know what to do with myself at home, so four days later when the rock music had stopped and I could move my eyeballs around, I packed my bag and left.

School was my life. It was where I was free, where I could express myself, where I found joy and laughter. And it would close soon, this chapter of my life, RPSS. I would not be Yewande the Media Prefect anymore. I would not be a member of the most exclusive clique in school anymore. I would not be Joju's-

"Oh Yewande!"

I blinked. Ibidun. As she ran towards me with open arms, I realized I'd not been walking like I thought I had. We moved towards one another, bridging the gap between ourselves.

"IB." I smiled, trying to sound cheery.

She enveloped me in a tight hug, nearly crushing my bones. "How are you? I've missed you so much!"

"I'm better. And I missed you too." I said, genuinely cheerful this time around.

She took my small bag in one hand and my hand in another, although I insisted I was well enough to walk without support. The room was empty when we arrived; the others were at lunch. She turned the fan on and left, promising to be back with my food.

I settled comfortably in bed, having no plans to leave the room until the next day.

☆☆☆☆☆

The days went by so quickly, I hadn't believed when Mr. Obadina announced that exams would start the following Monday.
But that should be week 11.

Oh wait, this is week 10.

Something was happening in and around me. It was as if every one and thing else was moving and evolving and I was stagnant. It was as if as the end of my time at RPSS was drawing nearer, so was the person I had become. I feared that I hadn't actually found myself but had embodied my friends' personalities and become who they were.

I still did not know who Yewande was, after all this time.

My friends had lives that weren't tied to the rest of us, whereas I did not. They existed outside our circle, the very one which my life revolved around.

The hold these thoughts had on me did not let me live. I was disconnected, separated from reality. I hardly spoke these days. I had gone back to being who I truly was: a loner. Needless to say, my friendships were suffering. Whatever I had had with Joju had hit rock bottom long ago. At most, we had spoken thrice since AASFG.

"Stop." He grunted.

She persisted, taking another morsel of amala and soup from his bowl.

"Tiara stop!" He repeated. His hands slamming the table jolted us all.

She finally retreated and reclined in her seat, then stared at her untouched food.

I concentrated on mine, with my spoon in one hand and chin in the other.