My first love

Chapter Two

Best Friends

7:30 AM, The Next Morning, Sharon woke up to the sound of her alarm and the smell of akara frying downstairs. Her phone was under her pillow. She log into her w******p and saw 1 new message from Desmond Good morning, best friend. How was your night.

She stared at the message for 10 seconds before smiling and throwing her phone away. “Best friend my foot," she muttered, but her cheeks were hot.

"Sharon! Come and eat before you go!" Her mom shouted from the kitchen.

Sharon rolled out of bed. The mattress creaked. Her room was small. Posters from SS3 still on the wall. One of them had "University of Lagos" written on it. She never got there.

Downstairs, her mom was already setting up the table. Beans, akara, and pap.

"How was yesterday?" Mama asked casually, stirring pap. "I saw one fine boy that dropped you yesterday ."

Sharon choked on water. "Mama! It was nobody. Just... an old school mate."

"Mmhm," Mama said, eyes sharp. "The one that left for Canada? The Desmond boy?"

Sharon dropped her spoon. "How did you….”

"I’m not blind, my daughter. Mama Nkechi told me. He bought your whole tray." Mama sat down. "Is he back to disturb you?"

"No," Sharon said too quickly. "He’s just... we’re just talking. As friends."

"Friends," Mama repeated. She reached over and touched Sharon’s hand. "Sharon, I know you loved that boy. But don’t let anyone come and break you again when you’re just trying to stand. Understand?"

Sharon nodded. But her chest felt tight.

She had lectures by 9am. Then sales by 2pm.

2:15 pm, UNIZIK Gate,the sun was already punishing. Sharon adjusted her tray. Puff-puff, meat pie, “Puff-puff! Cold zobo! 200 naira!"

Her classmates walked past. Some greeted. Some pretended not to see her. Final year was like that. Everyone was fighting their own war.

At 3:00pm, a black Mercedes pulled up again.

Her heart jumped before she could stop it.

Desmond stepped out. This time he wore a navy polo and jeans. He looked like he didn’t belong in this heat.

"You again," Sharon said, trying to sound annoyed.

"Me again," Desmond grinned. That dimple. "I came to buy my best friend’s puff-puff. Business is business."

He bought 10 pieces. And zobo. And meat pie.

"Don’t you get tired of my food?" Sharon asked, packing it.

"Never," he said. Then lowered his voice. "I also came to ask if you will be free around 5pm let us go to Roban stores again”

Sharon hesitated. Mama’s words were in her head. Don’t let anyone break you again.

"Fine," she said. "But just 30 minutes. I have reading."

"30 minutes," Desmond agreed, and winked. "Deal, best friend."

5:05 PM, at Roban Stores, This time Sharon came early. She told herself it was to not keep him waiting. Not because she was excited.

Desmond was already there. Two cups of zobo. Shawarma this time.

"You remembered I like extra pepper," Sharon said, surprised.

"I remember everything about you," Desmond said simply.

They talked. For real this time. Not about the past. About now.

Sharon told him about her final year project. "It’s on micro-economics of street hawking in Awka.

Desmond laughed. "You’re going to be Dr. Sharon. I can see it."

He told her about Canada. About how cold it was. How he studied Computer Science. How lonely the dorms were.

"I called you so many times," he admitted. "Deleted the number 20 times."

Sharon looked away. "Don’t."

"Okay," Desmond said. "New rule. No past. Only forward. As... friends."

The word felt heavy and light at the same time.

At 5:35pm, Sharon stood up. "I have to go. Night class."

"I’ll drop you," Desmond said.

"No car today. Let’s walk. It’s not far."

So they walked. Side by side. Awka road was busy. Okadas, kekes, students.

Desmond told a joke about his NYSC clearance. Sharon laughed so hard she snorted.

"Don’t laugh like that," Desmond said. "You’ll make me fall in love again."

Sharon stopped walking. "Desmond."

"I’m joking," he said quickly. "Best friends joke like that, right?"

"Right," Sharon said, but her voice was small.

They got to her street.

"Thanks for the walk," Sharon said.

"Thanks for the company," Desmond replied.

They stood there for a second too long.

"Goodnight, Sharon."

"Goodnight, Desmond."

She went inside. And leaned against the gate for 1 minute before going in.

11:47 PM, That Night

Her phone buzzed.

*Desmond: Did you read? Or were you thinking about me ?*

*Sharon: I was reading. And thinking about my test tomorrow. Don’t flatter yourself.*

*Desmond: Liar. I can feel it. Best friends have a connection.*

*Desmond: Also... your puff-puff is really the best. I told my NYSC copper friends. They want to buy.*

*Sharon: Tell them 200 naira. No corper discount.*

*Desmond: Deal. Sleep well, Sharon.*

*Sharon: You too.*

She put her phone down and stared at the ceiling.

Best friends, Why did it sound like a promise and a wall at the same time?

*3 Days Later*

Its became a pattern.

Morning: Desmond’s "Good morning" text.

Afternoon: He’d appear at UNIZIK gate. Buy everything. Walk her to class.

Evening: Roban stores they drink Zobo andd Talk.

Night: Text until one of them fell asleep.

His NYSC friends started buying from Sharon too. "Desmond’s girlfriend’s puff-puff," they called it.

"We’re not…..”Sharon would start.

"Best friends," Desmond would finish, grinning. But it was getting harder to pretend.

One evening, it rained. Heavy. Awka rain that floods everything.

Sharon was stuck at school. No umbrella. Her books were getting wet.

Her phone rang. Unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Sharon? It’s me. I’m outside your faculty. In the car. Come."

She ran. Desmond opened the door for her, dripping. He had two umbrellas and a jacket.

"You didn’t have to….”

"I did," Desmond said. He turned on the heater. "You looked cold."

Silence in the car. Only rain.

"Why are you doing this?" Sharon asked quietly.

"Doing what?"

"Following me. Buying my food. Waiting for me."

Desmond gripped the steering. "Because I want to. Because when I’m not with you, I feel like I left something unfinished."

Sharon’s throat closed. "We said friends."

"I know," Desmond whispered. "But my heart didn’t sign that contract."

Sharon didn’t answer. She watched the rain slide down the window.

He dropped her home.

"Goodnight," she said.

"Goodnight," he replied.

She closed the door and ran inside before she could cry.

On Sunday Sharon went to church. She didn’t expect to see him there. But there he was. In a white shirt, sitting at the back of St. Paul’s Catholic.

After service, he was waiting outside.

"Going to hell for lying in church?" Sharon teased.

"I didn’t lie," Desmond said. "I said Amen to everything. And I prayed for you."

"For me?"

"That God should give you everything you’re working for. And maybe... give me another chance."

Sharon’s chest hurt. "Desmond, I’m scared."

"Of me?"

"Of us. Of hoping again."

Desmond stepped closer. People were watching. He didn’t care. "Then let’s be scared together. As best friends who are maybe a little more than that."

Sharon laughed through tears she refused to shed. "You’re annoying."

"And you love it," Desmond said.

That Night, Sharon couldn’t sleep. She opened her notes app and typed:

He came back.

Not with flowers.

Not with sorry.

With zobo.

With rain.

With "I noticed everything about you."

And I don’t know if I’m ready.

But God... I miss who we were.

Her phone buzzed.

*Desmond: Can’t sleep. Thinking of you. Is that allowed for best friends?*

*Sharon: No. But do it anyway.*

*Desmond: alright *

*The Next Morning*

Sharon woke up to a new message. Not from Desmond.

*Unknown: Is this Sharon? This is Desmond’s mom. Can we talk?*

Sharon sat up in bed. Her heart was pounding. What did Desmond’s mom want? Why was she calling?

And why did a part of Sharon feel like this was the beginning of wahala?