Almost Forever

New walls, Old wounds

Part one

Osariemen woke up early as usual. Dad hates late morning waking up, so somehow you are used to . She stares for few seconds at the old white-boarded ceiling with no fan, and glanced at the room again. The rough blue walls. The single window that barely let air into the room. She looked at the other side of the room. Dara was still asleep, holding tight to the pillow. " Not looking bad." Osariemen said to herself.

Osariemen phone buzzed withdrawing her attention from Dara. She unintentionally grabbed it hoping it would be whom she was expecting but it was just a notification from one of your apps.

The smile on Osariemen's face faded gently, then she unlocked the phone and open her chats still expecting message from whom she gave her heart for almost a year.

Goodnight, sleep well. Seen but no reply.

Every conversation looked the same.

Good morning love, how was your night? Hope you slept well?How is your day going?Have you eaten?

Short replies or no reply at all.

You smiled a little and typed

Good morning love, how was your night?

************

Osariemen stood in front of the dressing mirror and stared at herself for while. She recalls how her mates mocked her because of her weight and the unpleasant words of her Dad on her weights.

Osariemen sighed and straightened the collar of her T-shirt shrugging the thought off promising herself not to let it ruin her first day.

Phone rings,

Osariemen stared at her phone on the bed expecting him to call even as she was aware that he won't. But it was Ma.

Hello Ma, good morning

" Omwan," Ma fondly calls you. Omuan ñ ökpökpö is the full name but Ma had rather called her Omuan." Have you eaten?"

" No ma, I'll get something when I get to school."

" Hope you've taken your bath?"

" yes ma"

"eat well o don't mind your father and make sure you don't skip lecture any day. Take care of yourself" Ma said and ended the call.

Osariemen just smiled.

By the time she turned, Dara has already woken up and was staring at her.

"Do you usually dress like a boy?" Dara asked still staring.

Osariemen paused,

The question was unexpected so it made her uncomfortable.

" Why asking?" She replied adjusting her belt.

Dara shrugged " Nothing much, just your dressing." She said laying back on the bed.

Osariemen glanced at herself through the mirror. Her oversized t-shirt, and loosed trousers and face cap which she always put on.

" I just wear what I'm comfortable with." Osariemen replied quietly.

Dara looked at her for a while

" Not bad if you were." She muttered.

Questions like that have a way of making her uncomfortable though unsure if she should find it funny or offensive. She stared at herself for a while. She dressed different from the way other girls would.

" When do you have class?* Dara asked breaking the silence in the room

" Eight." Osariemen replied quietly.

" It's just thirteen minutes past six," Dara said checking her phone " you still have time."

" Yh." Osariemen replied coldly as she picks up her phone and puts it in her sling bag and confirmed if all she would need for that day is complete.

Her phone vibrates

Good morning

She stared at the message for seconds.

After all the patience and six messages she sent, this is all she got. Still, her heart reacted before her brain.

She smiled and typed

Good morning. How was your night?

What are your plans for today?

Thirty seconds passed. Then minutes passed after the message has been delivered Osariemen scrolled for a while then entered few chats while waiting for a reply.

Still no reply

" Sarie is everything okay?" Dara who have been watching for a while showed concern.

" Yh, I'm fine."

Raised her eyebrows. " You sure?"

" Yh." She replied dryly. Dara didn't press further.

" It's almost seven."

Osariemen nodded slightly as she stucked her phone in her bag and leaves.

Dara raised an eyebrow clearly taken aback by Osariemen's cold demeanor. "Cute weirdo."