Things We Left Unsaid

It Wasn't Supposed To Matter

I dropped my bag beside the couch and kicked off my shoes before heading towards the kitchen. The smell of fried onions and pepper followed me down the hallway.

" Mum? "

" In here."

I found her standing by the stove, stirring something in a pot while music played quietly from her phone.

" You're back early." she said without turning around.

" Early? Mum, it's almost four."

She laughed. " So now four o' clock is late? "

" I've had a long day."

" You've been in school for a long day."

" Exactly. A very long day."

She turned around and looked at me.

" You look tired."

" I am."

" Go and change.Food will be ready soon."

I leaned against the kitchen counter.

" What are you cooking? "

" You'll know when it's ready."

" Mum."

" Viola."

I smiled.

She always did that whenever she didn't want to answer me.

I picked up a piece of meat from the plate beside her.

" Hey! "

I quickly put it in my mouth.

" You didn't see me."

" I saw you."

" You saw nothing."

She shook her head, laughing.

For a moment, everything felt normal.

Just me and Mum in the kitchen.

No school.

No exam.

No new student.

No complicated thoughts.

Then, somehow my mind went back to Folani.

I frowned at myself.

Why was I thinking about him again?

I'd known him for barely a day.

I didn't even know him.

And yet somehow, I had spent half of the day noticing where he was,what he was doing and who he was talking to.

It was annoying.

Especially because I didn't usually get interested in people that quickly.

I grabbed another piece of meat.

Mum slapped my hand away.

" Go and change."

" Okay. okay."

I left the kitchen, but before I could reached the stairs, she called after me.

" How was school? "

I turned.

" Fine."

" Just fine? "

I shrugged.

" Nothing much happened."

That wasn't entirely true.

A lot had happened.

I had met Folani.

I'd spent half of lunch showing him around.

Dami acted strangely afterward.

And for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about the look on his face when he saw me with Folani.

But I didn't feel like explaining all of that.

Not yet.

" I'm going upstairs. " I said.

" Go and rest."

I nodded.

When I got to my room, I changed into something comfortable and threw myself onto my bed.

My phone was beside me.

I picked it up

No message from Dami.

I frowned.

That was unusual.

He usually sent something random by this room.

I opened our chat and stared at the last message.

I almost typed You good?

Then I stopped.

Why should I be the one checking on him?

He had been acting weird all day.

I locked my phone and tossed it back onto bed.

Five minutes later, I picked it up again.

Still nothing.

Seriously?

I dropped it again.

My thoughts went back to school.

I couldn't understand Dami.

And I definitely couldn't understand myself.

The next morning,I walked into class expecting everything to feel normal.

It didn't.

Dami was already there.

He was sitting in his usual seat, talking to one of his friends.

The moment he saw me, he looked away.

I noticed.

Of course I noticed.

I walked towards him.

" Good morning."

" Morning."

That was it.

I stared at him.

" That's all? "

He looked at me. " What? "

" You're acting weird."

" I'm not."

" You are."

He shook his head.

" I'm fine, Viola."

I didn't believe him.

Before I could say anything else someone called his name from behind us.

" Dami! "

I turned.

A girl was walking towards us.

I recognized her immediately.

Ashley.

She was from art class.

I'd seen her around school plenty times, but we'd never really been friends.

She was one of those people who seemed to know everyone.

Dami expression changed.

It was subtle.

I noticed.

His friend noticed too.

Ashley stopped in front of them.

" Can I talk to you? "

Dami looked at his friend.

" You mind? "

His friend shrugged.

" I'll see you later."

He walked away, leaving Dami and Ashley alone.

I was about to continue to class when Ashley glance at my direction.

I quickly looked away.

It wasn't my business.

At least, that was what I told myself.

I walked into class, dropped my bag beside my seat,but I couldn't help glancing through the open door.

Ashley was still talking to Dami.

I couldn't hear everything, but I could tell from their expression it wasn't a casual conversation.

Ashley looked annoyed.

Dami looked like he wanted it to end.

Finally, I heard her voice.

" Why were you looking at them like that the other day? "

Dami frowned.

" Looking at them like how? "

" Like you wanted to get into a fight with someone."

He rolled his eyes.

" I'm not."

Ashley gave him a look.

" Sure. "

Dami sighed.

" You're imagining things."

" No, I'm not."

I watched them from a distance.

Something about that conversation made me uncomfortable.

I looked away from them.

Whatever they were discussing I didn't want to be involved.

The bell rang before I could ask anything.

Our teacher walked in and everyone quickly settled down.

I opened my books and tried to concentrate.

For the next few hours, I managed to forget everything else.

Almost.

During break I was walking down the

hallway when I heard voices coming from around the corner.

I slowed down when I recognized one of them.

Ashley.

I wasn't trying to listen.

I really wasn't.

But then I heard her mention Dami's name.

I stopped.

" You know what happened. "

Someone else answered her.

" I know what everyone said happened."

" That's not the same thing."

I stayed where I was.

There was a short silence.

Then Ashley spoke again.

" Exactly."

I frowned.

I knew the feud had never eally ended.

But it sounded different.

More serious.

I took a step back before they could notice me.

I didn't want them thinking I was eaves dropping...

When I returned to class, Dami was already sitting at his desk.

He looked up, when I entered.

" You disappeared."

" I went to get something."

He nodded.

Neither of us said anything.

A few minutes later, Folani walked in.

He looked completely unaware of the tension that had been hanging around the school.

He smiled when he saw me.

" Hey."

" Hey."

" How's your day going? "

" Fine."

He pulled out the chair beside mine.

" That's it? "

" What? "

" You'll always say fine."

I laughed.

" Maybe because my day is fine."

" Maybe you're boring."

I looked at him.

" You've known me for two days and you're already calling me boring."

" I'm taking chances."

I shook my head, trying not to smile.

Dami looked over us.

I noticed.

So did Folani.

But neither of them said anything.

The teacher entered a moment later, and the conversation ended.

Still, I could help wondering why Dami was looking at Folani like that.

And why Ashley had been asking him about it.

There was something I was missing.

Something that had nothing to do with Folani.

Something connected to what happened two years ago.