The Externals Chapter Twenty-Six

 The Clash Of Ideas

As Bene Repo took a few steps out of the house, he turned back with a smile and we finished accessing the list of the students that would follow us for the trip. Of course, I had to include Sukurat's name like Bene wanted because I didn't want to seem selfish and didn't like seeing him unhappy. Jess was wrong when she said I hated the girl because she derived joy in disturbing Bene Repo. I disliked her unruliness and couldn't wait for her to prove my point, so I can boldly tell him, "I told you so" to his face.

Bene and Jess left Omma's place around 4pm so they could go help their moms with preparing dinner while I returned. Omma claimed she was impressed with my achievement so she decided to make me yam pottage for dinner. Then after I've gulped down the last bit of that which was dished on my plate, she told me how she got the ingredients she used in preparing it....from Zach. Can you believe that?

God! I was tempted to bite her for what she did! I don't know how I was able to deal with a friend that solely depends on male figures to survive. Arghhhh!

She was the reason I had to knock on the door of Zach's apartment with a raging mind and trembling hands. She was the one that made me do what I didn't want to do. She was the one who put me in an awkward situation. She was the only devil in my life that could be seen physically!!!!!

"Hey, Lily", Zach tapped me after opening the door to his apartment to get my attention since I already turned my back on it.

"Hi", I got a hold of myself.

"It's so good to see you", He smiled like someone who just won a jackpot.

"Thanks", I used my right hand to clean a non-existent stain on my skirt, due to nervousness.

"How may I help you?" He sounded polite.

"Nothing. I just came to see you because you didn't look okay this morning", I muttered words my lips didn't originally plan to tell him.

"Oh. Thanks so much. I'm so sorry for what happened earlier", He didn't finish a sentence completely before adding the others.

"It's okay", I subconsciously held one of his hands. "Omma also told me you paid for our dinner. Thanks".

"Come on, that's nothing compared to how happy you make me", He blurted out and an awkward silence ensued between us.

"Babe, you're still here ni? Oga oo. I go love oo", Omma's voice killed the silence.

"I have to go now", Both of us pretended not to have heard what Omma said.

"A pretty lady like you shouldn't be left to walk alone in the dark", He got ready to keep me company, despite my hesitation.

On Tuesday, both the club members we chose and didn't choose for the trip came to school since we planned on meeting there to begin our rehearsals. I suggested chasing them away but Bene pleaded to let them be so they can learn one or more things as well. Funnily enough, the Sukurat I didn't take seriously was the one our principal told to open the gate when he arrived because before everyone else and didn't meet anyone except her. She also swept and arranged the class we were to use for our meeting. She really surprised me. I didn't even know how Bene was able to contact her because neither of her family members owned a phone, and her place was far.

With Mr. Yemi on board, we commenced the meeting at 10:30 am with an opening prayer from our principal.  It was a joyous occasion for our club because we were the first school club in our area to be invited for a broadcast and a tour around a radio station. It was so exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Of course, we all know that our subject of discussion has to be catchy", Mr. Yemi moved about the class as he addressed us. It was the finest class in our school with neat walls and new pairs of chairs and tables that made the whole place smell of wood.

"Bullying is perfect", I made my suggestion and added a point to back it up. "It's a major problem that students in different parts of the world deal with".

"That's good, Lily", He commended me and didn't bother waiting for the rest to make their opinions because he was used to them keeping quiet during times like this. They only made loud utterances when jokes are being told or slangs are being yelled.

"What about, "dealing with a crush?" Another feminine voice spoke up and got the kind of attention I couldn't get, though her way of pronouncing words were off. She was none other than Sukurat Salako, the whackiest student in JSS3.

"I concur", Bene shouted in a manner in which he never did before. "Dealing with emotional stuff is more tasking".

"Are you serious about that", I gave him a quizzical look.

"Yeah", He affirmed.

Only two persons supported my idea alongside Mr. Yemi and the total of the students in the room was twenty so that witch of a girl with two short tribal marks on my face defeated me. Yet, I had to pretend to be happy for her, lend her phone to make research about the irritating topic, and write it out for her on a sheet of paper since my writing was the finest of all. Around 11 am, our meeting was adjourned till the next day when Mr. Yemi promised to bring his broadcaster friend who would teach us the basics of broadcasting and everyone returned to their respective homes.

A very annoying scene greeted me as I was about to make an entrance into my grandma's nineties home to have my long-awaited brunch. It was occasionally annoying and nearly fat Aunt shouting effortlessly in her nicely designed Ankara wrapper and white blouse. Near her was my ever-glowing John stood speechless. Without being told, I knew she was displeased that a male classmate came to visit me and I never expected her to handle it in a much better way since I knew the kind of person she was.

There was nothing any man could do to change Aunt Tola's way of life but I could at least apologize to her for what happened so she would calm down and lie that had to deliver an urgent academic message to me, which was actually true and strange. Wishing that he would one day decide to visit me was once like hoping for a camel to go through the eye of a needle....the tiniest of all.

"Oh, my God! I can't believe John is the one standing in front of me!" I said when Aunt Tolani left her alone. If only culture permitted me, I would have hugged the facetious classmate of mine to show how glad I was, thinking he came to check on me because my name was hard to erase from his mind.

"That's why I don't like coming to your house. See how your Aunty was shouting at me like I came to steal something from your house", Bits of crease formed on his forehead.

"Don't be annoyed", I begged him.

"God, if not for your sake, I would have insulted her", He swore.

"It's okay now, bros", I hit his chest playfully.

"Leave me alone jor", He removed my hand."Shey na only her get house for this life".

I knew telling him the true identity of the house's owner will only lead to more insult so what came out of my mouth was, "Otito now! Are they frying chinchin in your head?"

"Ehn ehn...so you too can say slang?" He laughed to his heart's content.

"Guy, I'm tired of standing mehn. Just say what you want to say and gerrara here", My legs started aching me.

"Me that have been standing here since morning nko?" He hissed and turned towards the route that would lead him to his house. He was the easily provoked type

"Oya, sorry, my dear", I called him.

"Better", He came back to my side."Now, let's seal it up with a kiss".

"I should have known John has never been serious in his life", I sighed and proceeded to lock the gate that formed a demarcation between us.

"Come here jare", He pulled me back."Do you think I'm going to die if you don't kiss me? Do you know how many girls that are begging to..."

"John, be fast now", I groaned.

"I want us to go for a Christmas Carol singing contest in my former school", He finally told me his purpose for coming to see me.

"Us? You mean the two of us?" I checked his temperature which turned out to be normal.

"No, ode. The whole class ni!" He floated.

"John, will you stop fooling around!"I growled back, knowing fully well that he was the head of the 'confusionists' in our set.

"I don't know why for f*** sake God decided to bless me with a dumb classmate like you!" He showed me the flyer for the program. I had the intention of insulting him but surprisingly, nothing came out of my mouth. I was too excited about the program.

It was strange John would suddenly pick interest in that sort of event because he was one of the students in my class who were against choral activities. I was even more surprised to find out he used to sing bass for his former school choir, on our way to Halima's house to discuss plans for the carol. And of course, the only reason he did that was to woo a mademoiselle! But anyways, I was happy we had another opportunity to make the most of our final year!!!!

When we got to Halima's home, most of our classmates were already cruising there to kill boredom. Instead of using his mp3 to listen to his favorite radio show, Halima's grandpa allowed Kenny to connect his phone's blue tooth to it and play hip-hop songs with it to entertain everyone. As soon as John and I entered the scene, the music playing changed from "killing dem" by Burna Boy and Zlatan which allowed Khadijat and Zany to display their 'zanku' skills to "Call" by Joeboy. Just then, Kenny removed Halima's hand from the hair she was braiding, ignoring the nasty reaction of the woman she was working  for, to get her full attention and started singing along with Joeboy with his gaze fixed on her.

🎶Yeah, Yeah
Confuse me
Tell me why you dey confuse me..oh baby
Your body is too attractive
And the way I fall for you
E Dey be like magic (oh no)
Na where you dey me I go dey
And I no go fit to come another day (odo)
I go dey call you ma Bebe
Na together we go dey we no go fade away...

Verse 2]
Na so we enter part two
Step inna the place everybody confuses
Everything good
Highlife cruise
Smoke and booze oya make you feel good
Oh nono
Na where you dey me I go dey
And I no go fit to come another day (odo)
I go Dey call you ma Bebe
Na together we go dey we no go fade away

[Chorus]
Why be say na you dey ma mind
Sey you no be option no be lie
Oya make us run away make us fly away (oh no no no)
Why be say na you dey ma mind
Sey you no be option no be lie
Oya make us fly away make us run away
So make you call on me
Call on me
Know sey I go pull up for you
Know sey I go what🎶

Later, John changed the "Call on me" part of the song to "Call on him" and we joined him in chanting it. I initially thought it was 'follow me' and everyone couldn't stop laughing at me when we were done repeating the lyrics of the song for three rounds. It was a happy moment for us all. We all had fun and didn't mind that our chants didn't have any effect on Halima's decision.