Chapter 72

Jadesola Coker

After reading Gori's message, I couldn't stop pondering on it and asking myself series of questions. Should I tell mom? Should I meet up with him first? What am I to

do? I was a bit confused because I wasn't even ready at all. I never even planned for the worse so soon. I knew a day like that would come, but it was too soon. I had trouble trying to sleep because his image kept appearing. His smile, curved lips, and that cute, killing, quiet face.

I scolded myself for having such thoughts, but that pretty look of his was everything. Those smiles were heart warming knowing he doesn't really show it in public. When they met mine for the first time in many years, they expressed something else, and I was questioned with his troubled and inquisitive looks which I saw last when I washed him down with my dirty glare before I drove off.

Those looks kept bothering me, and I couldn't get over the message he sent to me. The more I told myself I had forgotten him, gotten over him, given up on him, and done crushing on him, the more I realize I was deceiving myself. A sudden feeling to know how well he was doing took over me, and I found myself searching for him on Instagram. I didn't have to stress and finish the name when it was brought to me as number one. Adams Goriola Gabriel. Followed by G. Clothing store, and G. Laundry house. Other names came below, but I just clicked on his.

I felt like I was stalking, and checking on a celebrity. Part of me couldn't help but envy him for he was doing really well. I wondered when and when he opened his account to have reached more than one million followers, with pictures that were not more than twenty. He was all over the news he went to Harvard university and already did his masters too. He had a clothing store and many other businesses he was running together along. Jade what do you expect? Yes, that was a reasonable question actually. What was I expecting? He was the President's son after all. He was ever going to keep getting the best, and living his best life. He had no worries. May be he does.

His smiles in his pictures made me smile a little no matter how I thought to myself that it was nothing to smile about. I just couldn't help it anyways. I couldn't deny the fact that his smiles were more than cute, and contagious.

Just like before. Seeing how well he was finally free to have shown his face in some of his pictures impressed me.

But still, there were pictures he wore different dark shades, and a face cap which had always been his favourite colour, black. Always trying to hide his face. While checking his account, I found no pictures of clubbing, drinking or partying with half naked girls like some rich guys I knew behave. Or may be because I was expecting to see such.

Knowing Gori had lived such life at a young age, and also enjoyed such part of life made me wonder if he was still like that, or If he had changed. But somehow, I felt relieved and strangely wonder why I was so happy imaging he was no longer the old Gori I knew. I laughed at how I quickly judged what I had not even confirmed knowing social media never reveals everything about what a person really is. But deep down, I was excited he ended up well like he had always dreamt about.

I carefully left his account so as not to mistakenly click the like button on any picture.

No, I didn't want to embarrass myself seeing I was checking up on him after all. I was only checking because I was curious. Only checking because I was curious. Just because I was curious. 'Yes, nothing more Jade'. I told myself and recited up to many times. The word curious tasted bitter, but there are some bitter drugs, and drinks you take because they are good for your health. You don't like it, but you just have to take it to get better, and better. So I kept repeating it because it was a good pill for my brain. I made myself believed I was really curious. But was I really curious? My brain agreed I was curious, but my heart My heart rejected the pill.

It was saying a different thing entirely!

But thanks to whoever said we shouldn't follow our heart all the time. The person made me try.

And just when I was about to drop my phone, and thought I was saved from my unwelcome thoughts, a message came in destabilizing the whole chance of enjoying the rest of my day. I clicked open, and I felt my heart beat consecutively. I felt my heart communicating to me. I felt it hard, and pushing it aside was harder than I thought

remembering all I went through. Remembering my first chance with him didn't go well. The scary heartbeats weren't just for the message but the sender. And slowly as I read, and read over, and over again, I realized I felt exactly the same way. Just the same way! Oh heavens, I really do not and never wanted to get involve again. But his message opposed my thoughts.

'I miss you Jade. I really do. Seeing you again after many years excites me, but you are really mad at me girl. Let's see anytime you are comfortable, and you know we really need to talk. Please. And I really mean those three words up there. I miss you so much."

Goriola.

Not what I was expecting to see at all. I expected him to have given up since he didn't get any reply from me. With the level of his pride, believe me, Gori struggled to compose that message. I ended up smiling at no reason in

particular as I quickly dropped the phone before getting drown in his message. But reading the line he confessed he missed me. I wondered if that was true anyways. I decided I wasn't going to talk to my mom yet. If Gori and I would ever going to sit, and talk, it was going to be about Arabella.

What was I thinking? I was no match to him at all. The President's son, daughter, including Governor's children they end up marrying billionaires like them. Now I

reason why Gori had so much pride while we were together back then. If not because of the sudden incident he experienced, he would never have found himself at such a crippled school which I knew must have been his thought, or even met me again. Fate! Are you really true like they define you? I wouldn't want to get my

hopes high. Kemi had become my confidant when it comes to matters like this. She was the person that came to my mind.

I packed the rest of my belongings inside the bag. Since I was going to see her after all, I decided not to call her. I didn't know why Kemi invited me to come over to her mom's school and speak to their students. I wanted to ask

what she was thinking to have thought, and included my name among the speakers. Of course, she went about with...

'Jade, you are really an eloquent speaker, and I feel like, you have something to say to them."

But seriously, she knew I had never spoken to large crowd like that. Besides, I didn't even know what to talk about.

My third year second semester exam was in two weeks, but then, I had to do it for Kemi if not for any reason, but for how supportive she had been to me in the past few years. She wasn't just a friend, but now a sister I loved with all my heart. While part of me still haven't erased the thoughts of Gori, and was also thinking about my exams, my life, my Arabella, what was going to happen in my life next, I thought of the only thing meaningful to share with the students....

My story.

•••••

"Oh my God, Jade I'm so happy to see you." Kemi met me half way, hugging me with exciting smiles all over her face. "I thought you wouldn't be able to make it knowing your exam is fast approaching. I love you girl. I've badly wet the floor and boasted about my friend coming. So imagine if you didn't make it."

I couldn't help laughing, watching how anxious her look was, showing another side of her. One thing I realized by having Kemi in my life was, a friend who knows what you've been through, where you are coming from, what you are, who you really are, your failures, your mistakes and still proudly allowed to be seen with you, and go about calling you a friend such friends, are gold. And of course, no one will stay

with a friend who refuses to show any sign of improvement or change despite their mistakes or past failures.

So, if they stayed, let them be proud of you at the end. Make it worth their time and energy. Kemi once said 'I'm proud of you Jade. I stayed because I know you are a

fighter, and you proved me right by getting better and better.

By silencing the busybody friends together, because there is a friend who still gat your back, and that's me!" Expect Kemi to boast over that. I love it when she does that because it was always cute on her.

"Aunty Kemi... Ma! Aunty!" A very small short boy who should be in jss1 or jss2 with his looks rushed down to Kemi's side. "Hm said is your guest not around yet. That you are wasting time."

Ahhhh! Can you believe he just said it like that! Who delivers a message like that?

Kemi gave him a knock on his head. "I will cut your mouth if you dare deliver any message like that again." Trust Kemi, she never changed.

The student looked surprise. "Ahh! Aunty Kemi!"

"Trailer will ahhhhhh and smash that your mouth if you say anything there again. Do you have eye problem that you can't see who is beside me or have you seen her before in this school. Get out of my sight before I throw you inside her bag!" She scared the small boy away, causing a loud laughter erupted out of me.

"Kemi!" I couldn't believe she was still that harsh with words. And seeing that she weighed my bag, I agreed if the boy was thrown inside the bag, he was definitely going to contain it, because it was big. But, sincerely, that was bad of her scolding the small boy like that.

We immediately approached the hall, and just by looking from afar, I saw crowd. I felt disturbed, unsure, anxious, and fear of being mock gripped me. I wondered if I was really able to share my story or just say something else. As we got to the entrance, Kemi whispered. "Girlfriend, you really look hot. Please have mercy on our male teachers,"

she pleaded jokingly. I laughed, and hit her stomach in a playful manner.

"May be I should take the next flight back to Lagos," I whined, and chuckled getting a look of... Sister, is your temperature all right. I'm not sure it is, but I'm just gonna drag you in.

I was immediately introduced, and the energy I got from the students changed my mind. They were beyond ready, smiling, and hitting their hands together to honour me. If Kemi believed I looked hot, I would agree I intentionally wore my red, V-neck jumpsuit. My large chest held it well, showing a little cleavage which I could not help. I walked on the stage with a sudden boldness. And that feeling. That feeling of... I'm ready, let's set this place on fire!

I realized, someone needed to hear a story.