My first love

Chapter Four Project deadline

Sharon didn't sleep. How can you sleep when a boy hugs you like you are oxygen and his mother just told you best friends don't get pregnant in the same day?

Mama Nkechi didn't ask questions when she entered. She just looked at Sharon's red eyes, looked at the window where Desmond's car was parked outside, and said, "Lock the door. Mosquitoes go enter."

That was Mama's way of saying, "I saw everything but I will talk tomorrow."

Tomorrow came too fast.

6 AM, Sharon was already at her small mirror. She packed her hair into a ponytail. Her eyes were swollen. She used cold water to press it, the way Mama taught her.

Her phone was still off from last night. She switched it on.

48 messages.

*Desmond: Sharon please are you awake?*

*Desmond: I couldn't sleep.*

Desmond: I told my mom you are my best friend and she must respect you.

*Desmond: See me at the gate before your 8am lecture. I bought akara.*

Sharon sighed. This boy doesn't know what "space" means.

At the UNIZIK gate by 6:45 AM, she met the usual morning rush. Okada men shouting, students buying bread. And there he was.

Desmond. In his NYSC crested vest and khaki trousers. Sitting on HER bench. With two nylon bags.

When he saw her, he stood up fast. Like a student who saw his lecturer.

"You came," he said.

"Desmond, what are you doing in khaki? You're supposed to be at your PPA."

"My principal said I can come late. I told him my best friend's mental health is more important than Economics." He smiled, but his eyes were searching hers. "Did you sleep?"

Sharon tried to be strong. She arranged her puff-puff tray, louder than necessary.

"Desmond, what we did last night... the hug. Best friends don't do that."

"Which kind best friends?" he said, sitting down again, closer. "Sharon, let's not lie to ourselves. Since SS2 when you beat that girl that tore my assignment, we were never just best friends. I liked you since you were wearing oversized uniform and carrying two pigtails."

Sharon wanted to laugh, but she held it.

"Desmond, your mom is right. You have Lagos job. 800k. You will see fine girls that know how to use fork and knife. I am here frying puff-puff. My final year project supervisor is already giving me problem because I missed one meeting. If people see us..."

"Let them see!" Desmond said, too loud. A 100-level girl buying zobo turned to look.

He lowered his voice. "Sharon, do you think I went to Canada and forgot you? Do you know how many Canadian girls toast me? Blonde hair, blue eyes. I said no. Because my heart is here. In Awka. At this gate. Selling puff-puff and shouting 'buy cold zobo' with cracked voice."

Sharon's eyes filled again. This boy and sweet mouth.

"Desmond, we agreed. Best friends."

"Okay," he said, raising his hands. "Best friends. So as your best friend, can I help you carry your cooler to your department? Because best friends help."

She rolled her eyes. "You and this best friend thing."

He carried her cooler. And her bag. And followed her like a personal bodyguard all the way to Economics Department. Students were whispering.

"Sharon get boyfriend o!"

"Na that corper wey dey always buy her market!"

In the department, trouble was waiting.

Chiamaka, Her course mate. The one who always borrowed Sharon's notes and never returned. Chiamaka was standing with Dr. Okoro, Sharon's project supervisor.

"Sharon! Finally," Dr. Okoro said, adjusting his glasses. "Where is your Chapter One? You were supposed to submit since Monday. Now it's Thursday. And you didn't come for our meeting yesterday."

Sharon's heart sank. Yesterday... yesterday she was in Ngozika Estate being told best friends don't get pregnant.

"Sorry sir, I had... family issue."

Chiamaka smirked. "Sharon, I told Dr. Okoro you are now doing business more than school. See, you even came with your customer."

Desmond frowned.

Dr. Okoro looked at Desmond's NYSC uniform. "Who are you?"

"I'm her... I'm her best friend, sir. Desmond Adeyemi. NYSC corper at Community Secondary."

Dr. Okoro hissed. "Best friend? This is why you final year students fail. Boyfriend here, boyfriend there. Sharon, if you don't submit Chapter One by 12pm today, I will give your topic to Chiamaka. I have warned you."

He walked away.

Sharon wanted the ground to open.

Chiamaka whispered as she passed, "Puff-puff seller with corper boyfriend. We will see who will graduate."

Tears dropped before Sharon could stop them.

Desmond kept quiet until Chiamaka left. Then he put the cooler down.

"That girl na witch," he said. "Give me your project."

"What?"

"Your project topic. What is it?"

"The effect of street hawking on academic performance of female students in Anambra State," Sharon mumbled.

Desmond laughed. "Ah. So you are doing project on yourself?"

Even in her anger, Sharon laughed small.

"Give me your flash drive. I will type it for you. I have laptop in my car. I finished First Class, remember? I can write Chapter One before 12pm."

Sharon looked at him. "You will do that?"

"As your best friend? Of course. Best friends type projects."

By 11:30 AM, they were in Desmond's car. AC on. Laptop on his lap. Sharon was dictating, Desmond was typing fast, correcting her grammar, adding references from Canada that Dr. Okoro had never even heard of.

"Sharon Okoro, female, 21, hawking puff-puff to support education while maintaining 3.8 GPA..." he read out loud.

"Desmond! Don't write that!"

"Why? It's true. You're strong."

At 11:58 AM, they ran to Dr. Okoro's office. Printed.

Dr. Okoro read the first page, adjusted his glasses, looked up surprised.

"This... this is actually good. Well referenced. Did you write this yourself, Sharon?"

Sharon looked at Desmond standing at the door, sweating in his khaki.

"Yes sir. With... with help from my best friend."

Dr. Okoro nodded. "Keep it up. And submit Chapter Two by next week. No more boyfriend... I mean best friend excuses."

Outside the office, Sharon jumped. She actually jumped and hugged Desmond.

"We did it!"

Desmond held her waist. "We did it."

For 2 seconds, they forgot about best friends.

Students passing were staring. Sharon quickly let go.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Best friends don't say thank you," he said. "They buy best friends cold zobo."

They walked back to the gate, laughing. But at the gate, a car was waiting.

The same white car from Ngozika Estate.

Mrs. Adeyemi's driver. He was standing beside Sharon's puff-puff table, holding her tray. Mama Nkechi was arguing with him.

Sharon's smile disappeared.

Desmond's face changed.

"Mama," the driver said when he saw Desmond. "Your mother said I should bring the girl's things to the house. She said the girl shouldn't sell again. She said it's embarrassing."

The whole gate went quiet. Students stopped.

Sharon's puff-puff. Her cooler. Her zobo. Being carried into a rich woman's car like charity.

Mama Nkechi shouted, "Who send you? Who say we no want sell again? Leave our market!"

Desmond stepped forward. His jaw tight.

"Take your hands off her things."

The driver stammered, "But madam said..."

"I said take your hands off her things!" Desmond shouted. For the first time, his voice wasn't sweet.

He turned to Sharon. His eyes were angry, but not at her.

"Sharon, I'm sorry. My mother... she thinks she can buy everything."

Sharon looked at her puff-puff, at the students watching, at Mama Nkechi breathing hard.

And for the first time, she didn't feel small. She felt tired.

"Desmond," she said quietly, "maybe your mom is right. Maybe best friends shouldn't be seen together."

She carried her tray and walked away from both of them, into the school compound.

Leaving Desmond standing between his mother's car and her puff-puff stand.

*To be continued...*

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