The Girl Who Watched First
915 Words
Third term came in with heat.
No more rain. Just dust, sweat, and noise.
WAEC was close. SSS3 students were already acting like they owned the school.
For Ether, nothing looked different from outside.
He still came to school early.
Still played football before class.
Still wore that same calm face in prefect meetings.
But inside, he was carrying three different weights.
Home. Still the same house. Still the plates. Still the "we're keeping your Oke Mosan money for you."
Aminat. Final year. Gone from school to face. But not gone from his head.
And now... Memunat.
She had been watching since day one.
Since he walked into SSS2 Art in week 8.
Since he defended Aminat.
Since he answered a call in assembly and didn’t get expelled.
But she only got courage to talk on that day by the gate.
"I noticed you since your first day in school."
After that, she didn’t stop.
"Ether, you didn’t come to class early today o."
"Ether, who won the match yesterday?"
"Ether, wait for me after close."
She never complained about football.
Never said "why are you always on the field."
She would just stand under the tree with other girls and watch.
Clap when he scored.
Roll her eyes when he missed.
And wait for him after.
At first, Ether liked it.
Someone was paying attention. Someone who wasn’t asking him to wash plates or carry files.
Someone who made him laugh.
But Memunat had two sides.
One side was soft. Sweet.
She would gist with him for hours under the mango tree.
The other side... was fire.
She could be laughing one minute, and frowning the next.
She could get jealous over nothing.
"Who was that girl you were talking to?"
"That’s Sekinat. Prefect duty."
"Oh. Duty." _face turns_
One Thursday, she came to school looking happy. Braided hair, new sandals.
By second period, she was quiet.
By break, she was crying under the tree.
Ether found her there.
"Memunat? What happened?"
"Nothing!" she snapped. "Just leave me!"
He tried to cheer her up. Told jokes. Bought her Fanta.
She took the Fanta, drank it, then shouted,
"You think money will solve everything?!"
And walked away.
Students looked.
Ether just sighed and walked to the field.
He didn’t like scenes.
He had enough drama at home.
He liked peace. The field gave him peace. Football gave him peace.
Memunat... Memunat gave him attention, but also confusion.
Still, he didn’t push her away.
Because deep down, he remembered what it felt like to be noticed when nobody else was looking.
Aminat rarely came to school now.
Final year exams were in two months.
When she did come, it was to submit something to teachers or to see the Principal.
But she always looked for him.
One day she came during break. Plain dress. No uniform. Books in her hand.
She walked straight to the field where Ether was playing.
The game stopped.
"Head Prefect dey come."
Ether wiped sweat from his face.
"Aminat."
She smiled a little. Tired, but real.
"I just came to greet you."
"How’s reading?"
"Stressful," she laughed. "But I’m managing."
There was a pause.
Students were watching from a distance.
Aminat looked at him. Really looked.
"Don’t change, Ether. Stay the way you are."
Then she turned and left.
Ether watched her go.
His chest felt heavy.
He liked her. He really did. Since that first "Hey" in the corridor.
But she was in SSS3. He was in SSS2.
And his life was too scattered to give anyone promises.
So he started withdrawing.
Short answers. Less eye contact.
"I can’t give her expectations I can’t meet," he told himself.
At school, nobody would know anything was wrong.
He would still shout during assembly.
"SS1! Form two lines!"
Still play ball like his life depended on it.
Still laugh with Prosper and Mechy under the tree.
But at night, back in that big house, it was the same.
"Wash plates!"
"Where is the money?"
"Sweep the whole house"
Cooking, moping and more.
He would go to his corner, wear his earpiece, and think.
Of the field.
Of Aminat’s tired smile.
Of Memunat’s mood swings.
Of his mum’s hospital bills three years ago.
Sometimes he wondered if peace was even possible for him.
One Friday, Memunat waited for him after close.
She looked calm today.
"Ether, can we talk?"
He nodded.
They walked to the empty classroom.
"I know I’m a lot," she said suddenly.
Ether didn’t answer.
"Sometimes I just... I overthink. And I get scared you’ll leave me like everyone else."
Her voice broke a little.
Ether looked at her.
He didn’t like scenes.
But he also didn’t like seeing people hurt.
He sighed.
"Memunat, I’m not going anywhere. But I can’t do shouting and fighting every time. I have too much already."
She nodded quickly, wiping her eyes.
"I’ll try. I promise."
For a moment, it felt like maybe it could work.
Attention without complaint.
Closeness without pressure.
But as they walked out, Ether saw Aminat’s car leaving the school gate.
And he felt that old pull again.
Two girls.
Two different kinds of attention.
And a boy who was still trying to figure out if he deserved any of it.
The bell had rung for the last time that week.
Football on Monday.
WAEC for Aminat soon.
And at home, the chores were still waiting.
Ether put his hands in his pockets and walked home.
Calm face.
Heavy heart
- Writer
