than inside a jollof rice pot. Sweat had started collecting on my back, but

ool sig

ve College – Knowledge,

ed, "God abeg. Let th

ed her wrapper, grabbed the regist

ept staring at Ugoeze like she was a Nollywood actress. Henrietta and I walked behi

fice, but she wasn't around yet, so

ehn? It was like a wa

wentieth time, I stood by the railings, scanning the compound. Students everywhere - la

olourful, chao

looked at my reflection in the window glass, then stole Mummy's phon

heard footste

pal - walked towards us. Her smile was polite but sharp

ng, ma," Mu

woman replied. "Are

d like goats for sacrifice. "Ugoeze, Je

ing ma," w

ed. "Com

oks stacked. Framed photos of academic awards, cultural day, and one wher

was pretending to listen to the princi

oor o

life

ked in - car

ean random bo

O

broad-shouldered, an

e othe

r skin that glowed like he drank only coconut water. White school shirt

ious-fine-boy energy that makes you want to

ered, our e

hat w

? It bet

lms suddenly felt like th

e wors

s drumsti

wn to pick it, my

e... the angle of his head... Di

ake the

away immediately and pretended to be deep

dging Panties Boy who muttered, "Good mor

f keys and informed her they were

o ahead," s

e that, they

? I wa

voice became b

r her?" Mummy snapped, c

et that," I replied, blinking rapi

nd if you're offering both science and art subjects," Mummy

e stood to leave. "What could possibly be so important that you forget

nts, you just nod or shake your head gently

the following week, so we

adn't left

bout "life and future and sense,"

t b

t l

t he looked at me... not

accid

delib

I jus

ar Ugoeze behind me humming a suspiciou

oth

th fe

eone - had entered

the beginning of what I knew could only be