UNWRITTEN LESSONS

My friends were at it again. My name is Olivia. I’m fifteen years old, I attend Greenville Academy, and I’m the only one in my circle who has never had a boyfriend.” “Maybe she wants to be the second Mother Mary,” Blessing joked, and they all burst into laughter. I was with my friends under the mango tree in our school and as usual they were discussing why I am still single. I laughed too—not because it was funny, but because I didn’t want to look bothered. Still, the truth sat heavy in my chest. I felt left out. There was Precious, bold and carefree, who had a sugar daddy outside school—someone who bought her new phones and took her to fancy restaurants. Then Gift, always glued to her phone, giggling at late-night messages. And Blessing, loud, confident, and always ready to comment on my “perfect” little life. They were my friends, and I loved them. But I was different. Or at least, I was trying to be. I lived in a quiet part of Abuja with my family—Mum, Dad, my elder sister Joy who was already in university, and my younger brother Jonathan. We were close. Church every Sunday. Homework before dinner. Evening prayers led by Dad. I used to love those routines. I still did. My parents were strict but loving. They believed in God, discipline, and education. And I was their golden child—first in class from JSS1 to JSS3, polite, obedient, always doing the “right thing.” But sometimes, being the good girl gets lonely. Especially when your friends are living like the main characters in stories you’re only allowed to read. It was during this period I thought about saying yes to Adam. Adam had been a familiar face since I was in JSS1, he was a class ahead of me, he had asked me to be his girlfriend when I was in JSS2 he was in JSS3 then but I had said no. My friends laughed at me and called me a baby, I felt hurt but acted like I didn't care. After closing hours, I waited for my brother to finish packing his bag so we could go home together, then I saw Adam coming towards where I was, he asked me how my day went and I replied then he brought up the topic of me being his girlfriend again, this time around I surprised myself by saying yes. It wasn't that hard after all. He was happy, very happy he bought ice cream for my brother and walked us home. When we got to my house, he asked for my contact number and I gave it to him, he bade me goodbye and left.