Chapter 15
1019 Words
"Tomorrow is your eighteenth birthday," Tolani says grinning from ear to ear. Meanwhile, Kehinde couldn't help but frown.
"What's wrong?" Tolani, who was quick to notice her cousin's reaction asks.
"I don't acknowledge that," Kehinde responds absent-minded.
"Why?" Tolani, couldn't help but asks.
"The only person I celebrate that day with is no more, how do you expect me to celebrate without my brother?"
Kehinde says completely allowing the tears to flow freely.
"Jaz, the dead and living have nothing in common, you just have to let it go," Tolani says.
"But I can't, he was my only sibling. You don't know how it feels, like you don't know what grief is, "Kehinde sobs.
"I know, I have no idea of how grief feels but don't deny yourself happiness too!"
"He didn't only die on that day you know, my whole family died with him," Kehinde mutters finally letting the tears flow down freely.
Meanwhile, Tolani who had nothing to say just stares at her.
★ ★ ★ ★
"As-Salaam - Alaikum!"
"Wa - Alaikum - Salami!"
"Why are you sitting all by yourself?" Ahmed who just walked into Ayomide who was sitting on the pavement asks.
"Just need fresh air, "Ayomide says in a calm tone.
"I understand, it's not easy staying with this family. They are something else," Ahmed says making Ayomide smile weakly.
"You know, I have been tolerating it. Most times I feel like I'm losing it, if it's not Iya Fatiah and Iya Ibeji, its Fatiah or Tolani, Like I'm damn tired," Ayomide confesses.
"Like thinking of leaving this place, can you imagine the other day which was the only time I had to rest, I found Tolani and the other fair girl beating Fatiah up. Like the girl was seriously choking her," Ahmed says with a serious look.
"Kehinde?" Ayomide asks.
"I don't really know her name, that was the first time I saw her, she is very lean, busty and.....,"
"It's Kehinde!" Ayomide interrupts.
"Maybe, just heard she is Tolani's cousin, they also behave alike, Birds of the same feathers most surely flock together," Ahmed says like a woman who is gossiping meanwhile Ayomide couldn't help but smile.
★ ★ ★
Kehinde lets out a scream meanwhile Tobi shouts "Happy Tobi!" She couldn't help but glance from Tobi back to Tolani. She couldn't shout at him, cause he meant well. She silently wondered why Tolani, was such a blabbermouth. Now she had to endure endless buckets of water.
She lets out a sign while she squeezed her gown. Meanwhile, Fatiah who had rushed out a few minutes back cause of the way she screamed, hisses, and walks back into the girl's room, with the other girl who she guessed was Aisha following her like a puppy.
She pretends not to hear them hiss and continues squeezing her, but lets out another scream when a bucket of water is thrown on her.
"Happy birthday!" Biliki says cheerfully.
"Thank you," Kehinde responds with her million-dollar smile, also self-conscious. She dashes into the room immediately she noticed Omolola had started acting funny.
She didn't fail to notice Ayomides' presence, it seems her scream also affected him too she thought while she ran.
"Omolola, Omolola. Please stop!" Kehinde, says while panting. Meanwhile Fatiah glares at them.
"Okay, I give up. We will still meet outside," Omolola says before storming out of the room unfulfilled.
Meanwhile, Kehinde turns to the bed, only to see Tolani holding her ears with both hands, she just glares at her.
"Jaz, I'm sorry," Tolani please meanwhile Kehinde keeps deaf ears.
"Jaz, just wanted it to be worth it, I'm sorry," Tolani pleads.
"Fine!" Kehinde says. Clearly avoiding eye contact, with her cousin who just laughs and hugs her from behind.
"It's okay, You are clearly choking me," She says still smiling.
"Okay, I'm taking you out!" Tolani announces, with a smile plastered on her face.
"Am not going," Kehinde says while raising her hands in surrender, meanwhile, Tolani couldn't help but laugh.
"Calm down ma, we aren't fighting. but why?" Tolani asks Kehinde whose phone rings at the moment, clearly hindering their conversation.
Kehinde retrieves her phone to receive the call, she checks the caller ID which boldly had Tosin on it. She just smiles out while she receives the call.
"Happy Birthday Candy!" Tosin shouts at the top of her voice. Kehinde could imagine how her best friend was dancing around, the girl was really a drama queen.
"Fool, do you want to damage my ear? Thanks, darling," She adds meanwhile, Tolani couldn't help but smile too.
"Mrs. Oyo, you forgot me na," Tosin says mischievously meanwhile Kehinde couldn't help but smile.
"Between the both of us, who forgot each other?" She asks.
"You know, you have started seeing those sumuol sumuol boys na," Tosin says. Kehinde was so sure she giggled.
"Fool!" Kehinde blurts out and laughs.
"Fool, you love!" Tosin replies.
"You are not serious," Kehinde blurts out.
"Got to go, make sure you send my cakes down here, I miss you," Tosin says.
"Not just cake but cakes, keep dreaming, how is school?"
"School is great, how about yourself?"
"I'm Okay, my regards to everyone,"
"Okay, take care!" Tosin yells
"Must you yell?"Kehinde frown.
"I love you too," Tosin says sarcastically
"Love you," Kehinde says meanwhile, Tosin couldn't help but smile.
"Silly you," Kehinde says to Tolani after ending the call. "It's my best friend, she called to wish me,"
"Aww, That's so nice of her," Tolani says meanwhile Kehinde couldn't help but hit her laps playfully.
"Silly you,"
"What about your parents?" Tolani asks, suddenly noticing her cousin's pale face and feeling bad for uttering a word.
"THEY WILL NEVER CALL!"
★ ★ ★
Kehinde wonders around in the dark, she could sight someone sitting on the pavement but had no idea of who It was, she just wanted to get some fresh air. Seeing someone sitted on her favorite spot discouraged her, she let's out a sigh and attempts to walk away, but halts When she hears her name.
She turns around and walks towards the person who calls out to her again, recognizing the voice she let's out a smile.
"Hey!" She says
- Writer
