Dear Diary

Chapter 8

Song of the chapter- Whispers by Passenger

Thursday
Dear Diary,
So I'm home alone today. Mummy and daddy have gone to work and later to our school cuz of Speech and Prize. Aunty Chioma too has gone to work. She works in a bank. NEPA has taken light.And the house is so boring🙄. I've been texting Precious and Marho on whatsapp. Marho is keeping us updated on what's happening at HRC.
I have big news btw. I HUNG OUT WITH JOSIAH today😆. Well not really hung out shaa . See what happened. I went to buy cheese balls from Usman's shop. As I was walking, I heard someone calling my name. Saying "Kambili wait." or something like that. I turned and it was Josiah running up to me.
He was like, "How far." I said I'm good. Like yunno, really cool and stuff.
"Shey you're walking down?" he pointed.
"Yeah."
"Umm okay. My house is that side. I saw you going that way, I didn't want to walk alone. Hope you don't mind?"
Ok, WAIT WHAT! He wants to WALK WITH MEEEE?!
"Ok, no p."
It was actually nice walking with him but I didn't know what to say. I don't HANG OUT with guys much less the FRESH COOL ONES.
And my mind was just like This is the perfect time to get info for Precious. But I didn't feel like.
"What does your name mean?"
"Huh?"
"Your name, what does it mean?"
"Ohh. It means let me live."
"Oh wow. That's nice."
"Why do you ask?"
"I like it."
"Serious?" I scoffed
"Yeah. It's a nice name. Kambili. Kambili." He rolled it off his tongue.
"Thanks shaa."
"No problem. And since you don't want to talk to me... " he shrugged
OMG! Is that what he thought?
My feelings must have showed on my face because he burst into laughter.
"I'm joking oh." I hissed.
"So you can hiss?"
No, I'm waiting for you to teach me."
I replied sarcastically
"See, you can talk. Why don't you talk in the bus?"
"You, do you talk?"
"Hmm. OK. Touche."
"What does that even mean?"
"Check your dictionary."
"Ah. OK na." He started laughing
"You're so funny."
"So funny I forgot to laugh." I retort lamely. He laughed harder.
I hissed and started walking away. I had been walking slowly because of him.
"Wait first. Ah ah. This girl you can vex ohh."
I folded my arms.
"OK. Sorry. I'm sorry for laughing at you."
I eyed him. "Much better."
He looked like he was holding back laughter.

"So, where did you even move from?" I was curious about him walahi.
"Abuja."
"That's nice."
"Yeah, it was. Still is."
"Why did you leave?"
"My dad was transferred." he shrugged "It also came with a promotion I guess he couldn't refuse. And my mom didn't mind. She's a graphic designer. She can work anywhere. So here I am." He spread out his hands as he said the last part.
"You miss it." It wasn't a question.
"Yeah, I guess I do. I mean I grew up there. And I left my friends behind."
"You have friends?"
He looked at me sharply and I burst into laughter.
"Ehen. You're doing your own back abi?" Soon he joined me.
"That was really harsh yunno?"
And the laughter started again.
Normaly I wouldn't have been so bold, but talking with him felt nice.
"See the person yabbing me that I don't have friends. You do you have friends?"
"Of course. Marho and Precious."
"Do I know them?"
"No. Ehen, the girl that greeted you yesterday." He looked blank.
"In the bus. That YOU snubbed. Bankole and Chudi were now saying rubbish."
"Oooohhhhh! That girl. She's fair right?" "Yes." I replied saucily.
"Eh I did not know she's your friend na. Why are you giving me bad eye? That shit is fucking scary abeg."
"OK, maybe I don't have friends. But then I just moved here. I don't know anybody yet. Soooooo?"
I wanted to tell him he didn't know people but people knew him. A lot of people.
"What about Timi dem?"
"Well, they're okay. See I even have more friends than you sef."
I rolled my eyes.
"Where are you even going?"
"Usman's shop."
"Hmm. Let me guess. Cheese balls or Jack and Jill?"
"What!"
"Water ni. Isn't that what you always buy?"
"Nawa oh. Well done. Stalker oshi."
"See your mouth. Oya let's be going."
We got up. We had been sitting on one of the benches in the estate garden.
We walked in silence. But it felt nice.
"So I'll see you around na."
"Yeah, sure. No p."
"Okay. That's my house. He pointed to it.
"Oh, okay. Bye see you tomorrow." I went inside Usman's shop.
I heard him say bye Kambili.