CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Everyone on the dance floor thought Cleo and I have gone cuckoo because our dancing style was hilarious, but I had the time of my life with him.

"Good evening, ma'am", Cleo and I went to greet his mom at the parfait stand after our dance session ended.

" Hi, dear", She smiled broadly at me."Hope you had a wonderful time?"

"Of course! Cleo brought her here with the Benz he's been hiding for long, leaving me at home. He didn't care if I'll eventually get a ride, or trek down here", Michelle prevented me from talking.

"If you're jealous, go get yourself a boyfriend", Mrs. Martins laughed and made me some well-enriched parfait.

"Mom, I'm sorry. We have to go now" Cleo told his mom as he kept looking at his wristwatch.

"Why the rush?" She packaged some parfait for me to take hone as well.

"Tomorrow is Sunday", He reminded us.

"Oh, yeah", She confirmed."You're not a church latecomer like your sister and me".

"It's okay", I looked into his eyes with deep concern."You don't have to drop me at home."

"I don't think I can do that," He said, looking unsecured.

"Don't worry. Doctor Show will drop Bola and me at home", I said to put his mind at peace.

"Yh", He gave me a prolonged hug."Make sure you take good care of yourself, eat well, sleep well, and read well cause work restarts on Monday".

"Yes, sir!" I saluted him.

"Cleo, you have to wait for me so we can go home together", Michelle shrugged.

"Thank God you know how to drive and where your mama's car was parked", Cleo smiled and turned his back on her after waving at me finally.

"You're the reason why my brother has been very mean to me! I hate you!" Michelle gave me a cold stare.

"My children's acting skills will not give me hypertension", Her mom made fun of her.

"Mom, this is not funny!"Michelle removed her apron and moved fast to catch up with Cleo who was walking like a soldier.

The party became boring to me after Cleo's departure. If I had my way, I would have ordered Uber or Opay home but Aunt Bola wouldn't allow me to do so. Yet, she neither stopped rocking the dance floor with her future husband nor urged her daughter to round up her turntable session with DJ Freaki.

Then, I wished I had just let Cleo drop me home as he suggested.

"Hi, Nifemi", Ayo came to have a conversation with me at my table.

"Hi. It's so nice to see you again", I smiled and we shook hands.

"Thanks for everything", she sat beside me.

"Oh come on. That was nothing", I told her.

"I hope you don't mind if I introduce you to my parents", she asked for my permission.

" No", I responded, and she took my hand to lead me to their table but Aunt Simi stopped us.

"Nifemi, where are you going?" She asked."It's time to go home. We're late".

"No. We're just getting started", I winked at her.

On Monday, my lids opened as early as possible to view the huge portrait of Cleo and me, which I begged Uncle B to help me hang above my headrest the previous day. I couldn't help staring at it because it gave me the inspiration to start the new day.

When I finally got out of bed, I did my exercise routine in my bedroom, before heading to the bathroom to brush my teeth and had a fifteen minutes shower while singing along to my favorite songs of Travis Greene.

If Bola had her way, she would have set up her very own fashion house because she never showed any interest in studying. She slept before everyone else the previous night but we still had to wait for her to be fully prepared for school at 7:30 am!

She made me feel bad for not having a personal car like some of my classmates or even a bicycle that can convey me to Marie's high anytime I want.

But, I was still scared of being behind the steering wheels at that point in time. I just couldn't comprehend how my peers in school go about it without getting involved in any form of accident.

"Bolatito! What's your problem for God's sake", It was grandma's turn to be angry at her because her share of the plantain pudding that was served for breakfast had gotten cold.

Grandma hated seeing people eat cold food even if it's not entering her belly.

"I'm through...Let's roll!", She joined us in the living room wearing rumpled uniforms, then tied her shoelace, and ate part of her food before we finally head out.

As soon as we entered the gates of Marie's high, the disciplinary prefect punished Bola for her appearance since she wouldn't listen to her sad tale and I was very sure her actions will soon be live on the school's blog with the hashtag, "rumpledfashionicon".

I wanted Bola to learn her lesson so I didn't apologize on her behalf. Thankfully, we still made it in time for Assembly, else she would have soiled my reputation as well.

The principal who loved talking like he won't get a chance to do so anymore only said a few words and the choristers didn't make their praise and worship session enormous so we didn't spend much time in the assembly hall. With a huge amount of free time left before our classes started, everyone chose a friend to discuss the events that happened during their vacation.

Well, I wasn't short of personalities to talk to about my vacation trip either but I preferred going to say hi to Cleo so I left my homeroom for his. Still, I ended up pacing outside his and pretending to be the lookout for someone else because I was shy to go meet him till Hawau saw me.

"Hey there, Senior Nife", She hugged me and gave me kisses on my forehead as well."I've missed you so much".

"Same here", I said to her, savoring the pungent smell of her strawberry perfume.

"I know I haven't been nice to you before the vacation trip. I'm so sorry", She apologized and gave me a gift box.

"Oh, come on. I've forgiven you", I returned the gift back to her.

"I won't believe you've truly forgiven me if you reject the gift", she pushed it back.

"Alright", I smiled, then opened the box containing different colors and designs of hair ties." Oh, it's very beautiful. I love it. Thank you very much".

"I'm glad you like it", She blushed" My mom owns a company that manufactures these, and they send me loads of it every day. I can have them delivered to you often if you don't mind"

"Yh", I nodded, and we took several selfie shots, upon her request.

"Now, there's one last thing I want you to do for me", She said and gave me a box of chocolate. "Visiting a loved one without a gift makes no sense. You should give this to Cleo".

"Are you kidding.... ", Before I could finish my statement, she pushed me into the classroom filled with students who are older and more experienced than me.

These people didn't pay me any attention though there wasn't any important lesson being thought in their class. They were only whiling away time by playing games on their laptop and listening to loud rock music with their headphones. They didn't care to know why I came into their classroom in the first place.

"Hey, Nifemi. What're you doing here?"Cleo came in contact with me as I turned to go back. He had his nerd glasses on and didn't leave his tie unknotted like the other guys in his class.

"I brought you these...They're..", I presented Hawau's gift to him and the whole class exclaimed.

They suddenly got interested in knowing why I came to their class.

"That's so thoughtful of you", He accepted the gift then the class gave us a loud ovation which made cringe.

"Guys, I hope y'all brought your graphs today cause we're gonna be plotting our asses out", Their mathematics teacher said as he entered the class, and they answered him individually.

Yh. A teacher in Marie's high really said that!

Rather than just leave secretly, Cleo made me greet him politely before heading back to my class. As expected, the video of me visiting Cleo in his classroom went viral, and only then did Michelle make me realize he's allergic to chocolates.

So Hawau pulled a prank on me! That girl didn't change one bit! She just got softer!

Nevertheless, I sent Cleo several texts on his social media accounts to show how sorry I was, but he didn't respond to any of them. I didn't have to courage to go to his classroom and tell him what truly happened so I stayed back to nurse the great pain his love caused me. It didn't make me sleep well at night, or concentrate fully while studying in the library.

Aunt Simi was right after all. It was high time I stopped myself from falling deeper into his love pit and learn how to live without him. Each passing of the day signified that he'll soon be out of reach in Marie's high.

"Government can also be defined as an institution of a state through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed and realized", I gave my final response to Timmy and Shola's question on Friday while we were revising during our free period.

"Oh my Goodness", Timmy exclaimed, "How can you know the three definitions of government while I'm struggling to memorize one".

"She's quite the genius, isn't she?" Shola said and I tried so hard not to let her words get into my head.

"Hello there, you must be Nifemi Adeoye", A lady walked up to me in a cold stone creamery official outfit, fixing her eyes on my name tag. It was our free order day when students are free to order anything they want outside of school, and have them delivered to their respective classrooms but I never thought anyone was capable of ordering something for me.

" Yes", I replied, feeling awkward. Grandma was particular about letting strangers know our name, but how could I have hidden it from her when it was boldly written on my tag?

Still, I couldn't help but feel scared that the lady might just put a bomb in our midst, and blow up the whole place!

Oh my God! Seriously, Nifemi? You didn't think she could have brought an ordered Ferrari for you. Well, her outfit said otherwise.

"I was told to give you these", She started placing different flavors of ice cream on my desk. Even Timmy who was sitting on it earlier stood up, so there'll be enough room to accommodate them all.

"Who sent these?"I was very curious to know.

"I'm not in the position to tell you", She replied with a smile and left.

"You better confess your sins now", Shola teased me."Have you been seeing anyone secretly in Marie's high?"

"Why would I ask the lady if I knew who the person was?" I rolled my eyes.

"This is nice!" Shola forgot about what we were discussing and started inspecting the orders."Pick one flavor so we can begin to dig in. I'm ready not to eat again today".

"No! What if it has been poisoned?" I whispered to her ears.

"Oh, come on!"Shola laughed.

"Oh my goodness! I've been craving for this", Rose saw her favorite flavor and took it without seeking my permission.

Some people just can't change their personality!

"I was already eyeing that Rosy! Shola spat out.

"You really are always so lucky when it comes to guys, though you come from the slums", Rose placed her empty cup of ice cream on my desk.

"Why does it always have to be a guy?",I felt sick cause I wasn't ready to deal with another guy after the several experiences I've had."Can it not be a girl this time?"

"What!" Everyone in the class chorused, then I realized my voice's been louder than a microphone.

I still had to eat that ice cream so everyone else who ate it wouldn't I had intentions of poisoning them. More also, Shola found a clue in the carrier bag that could link me to my secret admirer.

As soon as I got home, I started making plans to visit the address she gave me although it didn't feel safe to do that. Luckily for me, grandma was also going to visit one of our close relations who just had a kid so I could go wherever I wanted without being questioned. To perform motherly duties on behalf of the woman's late mom who was her sister, she had to stay there for several weeks.

"What's wrong? You look troubled", Bola showed concern for me as we made some boiled spaghetti and fish stew in the kitchen.

Grandma has been scanning her wardrobe for what to wear, and what not to wear for her trip, before we returned from school, so she didn't have time to cook lunch for us.

I couldn't understand how an old woman could be that fashion-conscious when a young lady like me didn't care that much.

" Yes but...", I explained the situation of things to her.

"You should go to clear your head", She agreed with me." But you have to be smart about it Don't go anywhere hidden", She warned me.

"Yes, ma. Thank you very much", I smiled at her.

"You're welcome. I'll kukuma be doing my own for God though you neglected me on Monday", She sighed.

"Oh my God! You're still angry about that!" I laughed."I warned you several times to set your alarm then, didn't I?"

"Kids, I'm ready to go oo", Grandma called our attention.

"Yes, ma", Bola, and I joined her in the living room."We wish you a safe journey.

"Eshe eyin omo mi", she hugged us one at a time, then Segun who was the last person to hug her refused to let go of her.

" Grandma....", he cried."Can't I go with you?"

"No, my boy", She smiled.", Remember you once left grandma alone. Now, it's time for grandma to leave also".

"I'm sorry", he sniffed, "I promise not to leave you alone again. Please, don't go anywhere".

"Shut up jor", Tominwa attempted to spank him but grandma stopped him from doing so.

"Grandma now, this boy is not a baby again", he told her angrily.

"You're just jealous of him", Grandma laughed and rocked Segun to sleep.

"He will cry a lot when he wakes up and finds out you're gone", Bola said as she took Segun from grandma gently, and took him to his bedroom.

"Nifemi, make sure you take good care of your siblings okay?" Grandma turned to me.

"I will", I promised her.

Even after grandma left, I waited for the kids to have lunch, then gave them a comprehension passage from their English textbook to read in order to keep them busy before embarking on my journey. They wouldn't dare to ignore my instruction because they knew I will ask them questions when I get back and anyone that gets two wrong will not be allowed to use the washing machine for a week.

After contacting my anonymous admirer to know if he/she was going to be available, the person sent a Uber Driver to pick me up. As much as I would have loved to give long replies to the questions he asked me, I was more curious to know how my destination was going to look like.

I wanted it to be a fancy seafood restaurant or beach house.  A Frat house or clubhouse was out of my list because I didn't want the same thing that happened at our welcome party to reoccur.

"Hi, you must be Nifemi Adeoye", A pretty young woman wearing stiletto heels smiled at me, as I got down from the Sedan Car that brought me to my supposed destination.

"Yes", I smiled back at her, then my eyes traveled to the name of the office building in front of me which seemed very familiar.

"Nice meeting you", She offered me her right hand which I shook a little. "I'm Sarah Obafunwa, the General Manager of this company. You're a pretty young lady, I must admit".

" Thanks", I blushed."But I'm not a lady yet. I'm a teenager"

Was I supposed to feel bad for not looking my age or embrace it? Or was she the one at fault here, for not being able to differentiate between a teenage girl and a young woman.

"Oh, my bad. I'm sorry", She apologized.

Sarah led me through the nooks and crannies of the company she worked for, whereas I was forced to greet any staff that came my way and get used to their weird stares. Each time I tried to ask her what this is all about, she found an excuse to prevent her from answering my question.

Eventually, we arrived at an office that was tagged as the CEO's. It had the portrait of a woman I was very familiar with, and a case filled with different colors of my favorite ballpoint brand.

A/N; I would like to dedicate this chapter to parfait lovers😍😁like myself and my big sis @ Opeoluwa Shonowo.

If you want to guess who the secret admirer is, you can do that in the comment section. You can also share the experiences you had while taking care of your siblings when your parents weren't home.

Thanks for reading😍😁 and don't forget to vote!

Yours teenfictionly,
Eniola Oluwamuyiwa