~Kunmi~
Mayowa went berserk.
I sat on the sofa, eyes fixed on the TV. It was tuned to Africa Magic Yoruba and in the film, they were showing, the husband was beating their maid in front of his wife even though he was having an affair with her. The wife kept begging him to stop but he did not yield to her pleas. I hated films like this but I kept my eyes on it anyways. I pretended to be engrossed in it while Mayowa lashed out all she wanted.
"I can't believe you embarrassed me in front of my friends. I just wanted you to play the piano. For Christ's sake, what's the big deal in that?"
I ignored her.
Mom, who was also in the sitting room was pressing her phone and my younger brother was playing a video game on his tab, tilting it this way and that way.
"I'm talking to you, Kunmi. You won't give me the silent treatment."
I took calming breaths, knowing that I'd have to reply here if I did not want her to keep going on and on.
"You asked me before the dinner and I told you that I wasn't going to play. If what I did embarrass you, you had it coming."
She stopped pacing to stand directly in front of me.
"Really? What's the big deal in playing the piano. You used to love it. You used it play it every morning and night and every single time."
And you used to tell me I was disturbing you with that sound every single time.
"Do you remember how hard you whined to Aunty Moria to buy you that piano? Do you even know how much it costs? And then one day, you returned from school and suddenly decided you were going to stop playing, that you were going to drop music altogether. What on earth is wrong with you?"
I could feel the tears brimming in my eyes and I tilted my head backward to stop them from running down my cheeks. I closed my eyes and I was back at the music studio in my former school. I could hear Tara's voice. I opened my eyes with a start.
"I'm going to bed now. Goodnight." I said, stood up, and walked past Mayowa.
'Is that what I get for everything I just said? Is that the reply I get?'
I ignored her and was about to walk past mom when I heard mom say.
'You should have just played it.'
I paused, heaved a sigh, and turned back to Mayowa.
'I stopped playing the piano. I stopped music altogether. Don't remind me again and please don't return that piano to my room. Throw it out or dash someone.'
My voice rose 10 shades and I had to take calming breaths
But you've picked music again. And you're going to be in the music studio, studying music and playing instruments.
I stopped at that realization and I mentally concluded that I'd ditch Music to study Visual Arts.
I'd rather fail a subject than face this demon.
This particular one.
**********
The first thing I did in school the next day was to go to the Arts department to drop out of music class but I was told I couldn't. That they already processed it and blah blah blah.
I should have never picked it in the first place. What on earth was I thinking? What kind of human does that make me?
A monster.
A demon.
Oh, shut it.
"Ain't you coming out?"
I turned to see one of my classmates staring at me and I briefly glanced around. I had momentarily forgotten that we were in the locker room and that it was time for gym practice.
I should have faked a cramp or something. After all, the gym is a fat girl's worst nightmare.
"Of course, I'm coming. I just need a minute."
The girl nodded and left and it was just me in the locker room. I exhaled as I stared at the workout apparel I was supposed to wear. I don't know if I was supposed to wear this. I don't think I want to wear this. I don't think I want anybody to see me in this. I don't think I want to see myself in this.
"We're waiting for you."
Someone shouted from the gym and I presumed that person to be the gym instructor.
I did not think twice as I started to change.
You can do this.
You can do this.
It's just for 45 minutes. You won't even know when all the time will pass.
I finished wearing the gym apparel and started to walk towards the main gym. There was a mirror on the way and I instinctively close my eyes so I wouldn't see myself in it.
I walked into the gym to see students in various positions, some squatting, some stretching. The instructor that was sitting on a chair stood up when she saw me.
'What took you that long? I'm pardoning you because it's your first time. Try this next time and you'll be out there on the field running laps.'
'Yes, Ma. I'm sorry.'
I ignored the penetrating gazes they were all sending my way.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Think of your favorite things in the world.
Think of red velvet cake with butter icing on it.
'Students, gather around. We're starting with sit-ups today. Pick a partner and get in line.'
The gym instructor said, clapping her hands. The students started to pick partners and they all got in position. Soon enough, it was just me and a boy left.
The boy sitting behind me in class.
Rahmon.
'I guess I'll just watch since I don't have a partner.'
He said and started to walk to the far end of the gym.
I closed my eyes.
'Rahman, come back right now and get in position with her.'
He stopped and turned back but he did not walk to where I stood.
'Ma'am. I don't want to be her partner. I don't...'
'I wasn't asking you, I was telling you.'
I opened my eyes to see the other students glancing at me, then at the instructor, then at him.
'I pay to attend this class so I at least should have a say on how.....'
I just wanted the ground to open and swallow me now.
'And I'm your instructor. You're going to follow whatever instructions I pass across.'
I closed my eyes again. I was the center of attraction now. I should say something. Anything. But I might end up saying something incredibly stupid.
'Ma'am I don't want to disobey you but I just can't...'
'I'll just swap places with you, loser. You've successfully wasted 10 minutes because of your stupidity.'
I opened my eyes to see the girl I recognized to be Aminah standing up from her position.
She was the one who told Rahman to jump from the window the first day in school. She got to me and smiled.
A sincere and genuine smile.
I could feel myself starting to tear up and I tilted my head back to stop them.
Rahman started to walk to the guy that was Aminah's partner but the gym instructor stopped him.
'No, go out and run 16 laps. That's your punishment.'
Then the instructor walked to Aminah's partner and got in position with him. She fitted with us anyway. She could pass for a 15-year-old with her incredibly small stature.
Rahman walked past us and I heard him mutter 'I'd rather do that anyway.'
Aminah got in position and I joined her.
'Don't mind Rahman. He's just a pathetic loser.'
She laid down with her hands beneath her head and I grabbed her knees.
'I'm Aminah by the way.'
'I'm Kunmi.'
'Of course, I know and it's such a pretty name.'
She replied when she came up.
A thousand birds just took flight in my belly.
***********
~Adam~
Trust Aminah to always be the knight in shining armor.
The period after the gym was lunch break and we were all seated at the school's park or garden and whatever it is that you call. They were a lot of benches around we sat on two adjacent ones.
Kunle and Aminah on one.
Sophia and I on the other.
Sophia had her legs outstretched and she was massaging her knees.
'And that was how I had to do sit-ups with Miss Kaffy. Not fair sha. She kept complaining I was doing it the wrong way. Tsk tsk tsk. You should have just ignored Rahmon and the new girl, what's her name again?'
Kunle said with a scowl. I know he was low-key mad at Aminah. The latter only smiled and moved closer to him.
'Her name is Kunmi and I couldn't just ignore them. Rahmon was embarrassing the poor girl and no one was going to say anything I had to rescue her. It was pitiable.'
Sophia stopped massaging her knees and she looked up, arms crossed over her chest.
'So what you're saying now is that you felt she was pitiable and that was why you had to rescue her.'
Sophia said the last part with the air quotation mark and Aminah smiled at her.
'I never said she was pitiable. The whole situation with Rahman was pitiable. That was what I meant.'
'Pretty much the same thing. You said the poor girl, what does that mean?'
The smile on Aminah's face vanished and her face contorted into something like a frown that wasn't exactly a frown.
'I only did what I had to. You were not going to do it. Adam wasn't going to do it. No one else was going to do it. I did what I had to.'
I could tell that Aminah was angry and that's weird because Aminah never gets angry. Kunle patted her back.
'It was a nice gesture. I'm not disputing that but it's the reasons behind that gesture that I'm quest.....'
I did not allow Sophia to finish whatever she was going to say before I grabbed the milkshake beside. That did the trick because she never jokes with her milkshake. She turned to me and snatched it away from me before I could even take a sip.
'You know I don't share my milkshake with anyone.'
I smiled at her.
'It's Adam, I'm not anyone.'
She rolled her eyes but she was smiling. Thank God. We've successfully detonated the tension.
I heard footsteps coming towards us and I looked up, it was Toulouse, Aminah's closest friend.
'Sorry to break up the party but I need to see the queen bee.'
Aminah smiled and followed her. Kunle turned to Sophia once they were out of hearing the shot.
'I don't understand what the whole argument was all about.'
'It wasn't an argument. It was a conversation.'
She replied, sipping her milkshake.
'Conversation indeed. It's like you don't like her.'
Sophia stretched her fingers before she answered him.
'I don't dislike her.'
'Same thing. How can my best friend not like my girlfriend?'
Sophia's lips stretched into a smile.
'Idiot, you can't have a female best friend once you're in a relationship. Do you want to start disrespecting Aminah? She's not my favorite person but I can't allow you to disrespect a lady.'
Kunle stared at her for a minute before bursting into laughter.
'Ode, when, you're not Tacha, Mercy, and Ike. What disrespect? And whether you like it or not, you're my best friend till eternity.'
Sophia picked up a nearby stone and threw it at him. It missed him. I reached for her milkshake again and she slapped my hands away.
'Adam, are you stealing things now?'
She said, wagging a finger in front of my eyes.
'What he has been doing since.'
Kunle replied and we all burst into laughter.
It was just the three of us.
Before Aminah happened.
It's hard to imagine what we were like before her.
But we were having a recap right now.
I wasn't going to update this until next week but abeg, let me just drop it here.
What do you guys think of Aminah?
Do you think Kunmi should have spoken up for herself?
What do you think of the friendship between,n the three (Adam, Kunle, and Sophia)
Kunmi has a reason why she stopped playing altogether and music altogether can you try to guess what the reason could be?
Do you think Mayowa's anger is justified?
And overall, what do you think of this chapter?
😂 😂 😂 It feels like a Q/A series but plea to se, pardon me and reply to them. It means a lot.
See you when I see you.
Don't forget to vote oo.
Love you 💖❤️