THE BOYS AROUND US.

chapter 3 Lets go shopping.

EVENING.

BASEMENT.

Morse and Rex walked in together and stood trying to locate where Bliss and Jonah were seated.

Bliss and Jonah were seated at the front, close the a wall socket and the a fan. Rex and Morse sighted them and went to join them. Jonah wore a large black shirt with a dark blue trouser that could easily be seen as black itself, a grey jacket; the same shade as his beats by Dre headset which now sat on his neck. He stared calmly out of his pitch black eyes at Bliss. Jonah possessed full lips and a well sculpted face which revealed pronounced side bones when he smiled; which he hardly ever did, and large eyeballs with a straight nose with narrow bridge.

After dropping his black hp bag on the chair he stopped himself up on to the desk, before stretching his legs out between his bag and Bliss. Bliss who was already seated lifted her head as if she wanted to say something but knew better than to talk to Jonah when he had his headset on. Only Keffy embarked on such stressful tasks, and only she ever succeeded. Morse and Rex joined the at their table; Rex perched on the edge of the table while Morse sat on the chair in front of theirs.

" Hey guys." Morse and Rex called simultaneously.

"Welcome." Bliss replied while Jonah shook hands with them by the way of greeting.

" Where's Keffy?"Morse staring at Bliss.

" Wow! Two days from school and you become a celebrity. She's sick and at home."

" Oh, wow! We should go visit her." Morse suggested.

"But why? She'll be in school tomorrow."

" Do you ladies do stuff in homes that are illegal?" Jonah cut in.

" Why?" Bliss asked obviously confused.

" Night class; our house, visiting; our house. Never yours or keffys."

"Mmm. Girl stuff."

" Eww." The three guys echoed simultaneously.

"Typical guys." Bliss sighed.

"Always." Rex said with a smug smile.

" Yes! Jonah, Rex and Bliss what are you guys doing on Valentine's day?" Morse quickly cut in eagerly.

"Who the heck cares about valentine, so much as to celebrate it?" Rex asked, his voice laced with disgust and confusion.

" People with actual social life and love." Morse replied cheerily.

" Unfortunately I see none of the people in that category seated here, nor am I one of them." Rex drawled on.

" That's because you are old school." Bliss Said.

" Yes, I am. But still..." Rex stopped as he heard a female voice behind him.

" Keffy." They all called out including Jonah.

" What are we doing?" Keffy asked as Morse walked up to her and hugged her tightly, making his furry sweater to poke her face where it tested on his chest. Jonah followed suit and then Bliss but Rex just stared dumbfounded. Keffy wore a baby pink sweatshirt on a dark blue jean skirt that stopped right above her knees, the camo-green backpack she wore was the same as her sneakers. Keffy tucked the strands of hair poking out of her brown face cap back under the cap because they tickled her and stuck to her neck due to light perspiration.

"Color rioter." Rex teased when he gained his voice back.

"Is that how to greet a recovery patient?" Keffy demanded.

"Gosh, Keffy we we're worried sick." Morse said pretentiously.

" No, we weren't." Rex countered.

"Do you even have a heart before?" Keffy asked teasingly.

" Yes. But it belongs to Jesus." Rex placed a hand in his chest and tried to look sincere or holy... Not too sure.

"So help us God, we comment our reserve."

" Go to school I wouldn't not. Be demolishing English language there oo."

" When you were my English teacher what do you expect?" Keffy asked innocently.

" Last I checked it was English I taught you oo, not the Greek you are speaking."

" That's just how your ancestors will deny you when you get to the other side."

All this while, Morse, Jonah and Bliss just sat staring at the two of them at their usual banter. Until Bliss cut in.

"Oya, Rex it's enough. Leave Keffy for us, baby come and sit down jare, ignore this chicken."

" Awwn. Thanks." Keffy said and went to sit beside Bliss.

" How is that one 'awwn' deserving again?" Rex frowned.

"See oga don't put sansan in my garri, abeg! Dey you lane." Keffy scolded.

(Don't put sansan in my garri: don't spoil my luck.

Dey your lane: don't interrupt.)

" Kpele!" Rex said in a resigned manner.

( Kpele:sorry; in a sarcastic manner. )

" Okay, so back to business. Keffy we we're deciding on valentine plans." Morse interrupted. Rex and keffy stared briefly at each other before looking away.

" I don't know we could do a picnic with games." Keffy suggested.

" Dope idea. But where?" Morse asked.

" Rex' house!" Keffy exclaimed joyfully.

" Why not yours or bliss'?" Jonah demanded.

" Hmm... Girl stuff."

" Is that particular phrase like imprinted in you ladies DNA or something?" Jonah continued curiously.

" Why? Keffy asked, confused because she hadn't been there when Bliss had said it.

" Nevermind." Jonah said and continued fiddling with his phone.

"Ok so what kind of games?" Morse confused inued, genuinely interested in the planning.

" I don't know...Spin the bottle I guess?" Keffy suggested , not too sure.

Rex gulped audibly.

"Or online mini-militia?" Rex suggested in objection.

" You and who wants to do that one?" Keffy demanded.

" Eww." Bliss called out at the same time.

" Wait first. What is your objection to truth and dare." Jonah cut in again.

" Nothing. You guys should play whatever game you want to play I might not even be there." Rex said.

" Dude it's your house. Where else would you be?" Keffy asked testily.

" Oh, s**t! Yeah whatever." Rex said in a resigned tone.

" Wait oo do you have one evil secret you'd rather we didn't know?" Jonah said now fully in the conversation.

" Ha! Jonah. Big, haha!" Rex drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

" All for truth and dare say 'ai'." Morse suggested.

" Ai." Morse, Bliss, Keffy and Jonah said. Rex stared at all of them with an irritated look.

" Just say 'ai' you've already lost." Keffy suggested pitifully.

" Whatever." Rex spat obviously annoyed.

" Yay! Okay so how do we divide the cooking... Rex I hope you have a picnic mat in your house, because we are going to be needing it. One with heart's and flowers if you don't mind." Keffy listed out cheerfully.

" I don't oo. " Rex complained. The shade of green Rex turned on hearing heart's and flowers was epic. Keffy couldn't help but laugh.

" Go and buy." Keffy ordered.

" Whatever." Rex said again.

" Bliss and I would wear pretty pink gowns and you guys have to somehow pull off wearing pink and white without looking gay." Keffy said and everyone smiled. Except Jonah who had resumed fiddling with his phone and headset.

" Can we bring dates?" Rex asked in a bid to make Keffy jealous.

" Oga it's a picnic oo,not prom." Keffy teased.

" Haha." Rex replied

" So ladies how do we handle the food?" Morse continued.

" Err... Well we could order from O-foods." Keffy suggested.

" When we have ladies?" Morse asked, sincerely confused.

" We don't have ladies. I can't remember any transaction being made between either one of you and my parents. At least I can't remember being sold or purchased." Keffy rebuked.

" Don't mind Keffy. She'll cook." Bliss assured.

" See me see wahala oo. Yes mummy."

( See me see wahala: just look at the trouble I'm facing.)

" Okay daughter. See I trained a reasonable daughter, I trust her." Bliss played along.

" C'mon leave here. Fine I'll cook but you have to assist."

" Sure. As long as it's you cooking."

" Now may we read?" Rex cut in.

" So this one oo. Do you read?" Bliss teased.

" No. I have a photographic memory so I don't need to. I'm just saying so for the good of all you dummies." Rex answered.

" Yay! Blue eyed boy save the world." Keffy teased, rolling her eyes.

" Yeah, yeah that's me."

" Bliss do you have a pink gown or do we need to go shopping?" Keffy asked ignoring Rex.

" I have but I want another one." Bliss said finally.

" Good. Because I know where to get something fancy. Let's go shopping baby." Keffy said enthusiastically.

" Are you buying?" Bliss asked Keffy.

" Of course."

" So now may we read?" Rex repeated.

" We may." Keffy agreed.

By seven, Jonah and Morse left when they had finished all they had to read. Rex was done but he stayed behind from fiddling with his phone to pass the time. Bliss and keffy kept reading till Bliss got a call and ran off with hasty goodbyes.

" So we are the last again." Keffy said to Rex.

" I guess so." He replied blandly.

" Are you ready to go?"

" Yes but I'm waiting for you." Rex answered, daring her to complain.

" Oh, okay. Let's go then." Keffy said and they both got up, took their bags and strolled out.

" You haven't been in school for two days." Rex started calmly.

" Gee! you noticed." Keffy exclaimed sarcastically. "

" No I didn't."

" Didn't expect you to." Keffy expression fell. And her shoulders dropped as she released a deflated sigh under her breath.

" Keffy, uhm... I was wondering if I said something wrong last time we walked to back together." Rex asked scratching his head nervously.

" Bliss didn't tell you I was sick?"

" Well I mean... She did, but..." Rex continusled scratching his head as Keffy interrupted him.

" No buts. I was sick." Keffy said evenly, in an authoritative tone.

" Ok then. So what are you doing on Valentine's day?"

" Picnic Rex. Our picnic." Keffy drawled.

" I know, I mean apart from that?"

" Err... Nothing, I guess." Keffy said as she dug around in her brain for any possible plans and came up with none.

" would you like to hang out?" Rex asked cautiously

"Oh, my God! Where are my cotton buds? I think my ears are blocked." Keffy replied sarcastically, frantically trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach.

" Look I don't exactly mean a date. But like something casual, I mean we can like hangout...just you and I, you know?" Rex stuttered, as if anyone actually believed that.

" Now just why on Earth would you just want to hangout with me?" Keffy asked, disbelief lacing her voice.

" Because...because we are friends and we hardly know anything about each other."

" Ahh... Okay well, it could actually be fun."

" It could be, so is that a yes?"

" It's a maybe."

" English keffy, please." Rex groaned.

" Just kidding. It's a yes." Keffy had the most absurd grin plastered on her face, and she couldn't seem to stop herself.

" Nice.Okay so, uhm... Do we do it at my place or do we go out?"

" We go out."

Women. " Why?"

" Because your house has a bed and I think we should avoid beds for now. Because we are friends and I don't want to spoil that."

" Okay let's see how long you stand by that."

" What?"

" Nothing."

" Dweeb."Keffy said and poked him in the shoulder.

" What?"

" Nothing?"

" Yeah. And, uhm by the way you look nice."

" Save it for Valentine's day."

Rex laughed.

" Thanks anyway."

" You are welcome." Rex said bowing slightly.

Keffy took a bus and went home, while Rex crossed the road to the other side and took a bus from there.

MORNING, UBTH.

FOUR DAYS TO VALENTINE.

Bliss and Keffy are strolling to class very early.

" If we order from jumia would we get it in time for the picnic?" Keffy thought aloud.

" Hmm?" Bliss asked distracted.

" The gowns. Do you think they will be delivered on time for the picnic if we decided to order them?" Keffy repeated.

" I sincerely don't think so." Bliss said absentmindedly.

" Okay so are you ready to go shopping today then?"

" Hmm?"

" Hey, are you with me? What are you day dreaming about anyways?" Keffy asked waving a hand in front of Bliss' face.

" Hmm? Hmm? Oh, was just thinking of how good Rex would look in Red and white...or was it pink?" All the color drained out of keffys face. Bliss was into Rex? Oh, God no! Now that was a competition she wasnt too sure she could win.

Keffy wiped her damp hands on her grey jean trouser. The white turtle neck shirt she wore seemed to be strangling her and squeezing her wrists where the wrists stopped. Her foot suddenly felt wet in the leather sandals she wore; the sandals we're peach, almost baby pink in color with stones on the strap attached to the buckleakung it look like she was wearing an anklet.

Bliss wore a pretty black gown, which stopped right above her knee with a shiny silver belt on her stomach. Bliss who was pixie-haired tied on a dark blue silk bandana and was waltzing about in black wedge boots. Bliss had a blissful body as Keffy would always say, the right amount of flesh in the right places. Keffy on the other hand was of a slender build, a bit skinny though with small breasts but a very big round butt and of course a captivating face. As Rex had always described her.

" Yeah so heels, slippers or sandals?" Keffy asked as she regained her composure.

" Heels baby, we are trying... Rather I'm trying to seduce Rex, okay?" Bliss rephrased.

" Okay." Keffy agreed blandly.

" You know this six inch stilleto's with invisible straps and a pink gown that reveals much cleavage." Bliss asked trying hard to paint a picture in keffys mind.

" Boy. You definitely have a plan, don't you?" Keffy whistled.

" Oh! Little do you know. Wait uhm...you're not into Rex are you?" Bliss paused for a second as she waited for keffys reply.

"Hmm? What? Why would you think that?" Keffy stuttered.

" Okay, very good. Just checking." Bliss said and clicked her tongue.

After school Bliss and Keffy went to do their shopping. Keffy bought the items of clothing she wanted to wear, after which she bought ingredients for the food she wanted to cook that night, before heading home.