Esse - Episode 10

 

Reconciling with Joseph was easier than I thought it would be. After getting his handle from clueless Dammy, I messaged him. He didn't give a fuss about the matter, and didn't ask me what happened again. It took him sometime to forgive me though, but he later did. We spent last night prep, chatting. He was excited about the seminar and said he wanted to sit next to me in the bus . I agreed.

"Oya nah, let's go oh. Me, I want window seat oh." Ebun pulled me by my right hand, as she dragged me to the white coaster bus that was taking us to the seminar. She and Dumebi were chosen for their class. I sighed internally, I couldn't tell her Joseph had said he would seat next to me in the bus, so I followed her. She's being acting like she didn't tell me anything suspicious and uncomfortable yesterday.

She pulled me to the last chair in the bus and quickly sat close to the right window, pulling me to sit next to her. She was happy, too happy. I dunno why.

"Greenland is going to be there," she said excitedly.

I looked at her, totally confused. "Greenland?" I questioned.

She smiled at me, but didn't say anything and looked out the window. Just then someone sat next me

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. I turned reflectively, only to be met with Joseph. He smiled at me and whispered, "Morning."

I smiled back at him. "Morning," I replied with a really wide smile as Dumebi took his seat next to, waving to me. I waved back.

"How was your night?" Joseph asked, smiling.

"Fine, yours?"

"Beautiful."

"Ohh...we would be late for this thing oh. It's starting by seven thirty, it's eight fifteen and we're still here," Matilda from technology class complained.

"Oh, you didn't know going late to events are the best," Joseph said with a smirk. "So that when you enter, all eyes would be on you."

Matilda huffed. "Tah! Which kin, Abegi where's the driver nah!" She looked out of the window to search for him. "No wonder, he's doing his only hobbie and priority, eating. Mtchew!" She said immediately she saw him eating meat pie in a corner, making all of us burst into laughter.

I turned to look at Ebun, she was laughing also, and Miss KnowAll was the first thing that popped up in my mind. Wait! That very day that news came out, Iseoluwa said something like Esther was a disgrace, and those words came out in the article. Iseoluwa is the one? She reflected her expression in the article, she was angry at Esther's behaviour. "Ebun," I said, catching her attention. "I think I might know who Miss KnowAll is."

Her expression changed from happy to serious, immediately. "Who? Why? And how did you know?"

"I'm not sure oh, but I think it's Iseoluwa." She looked at me shocked for few seconds, before bursting into laughter. I frowned. "I'm serious oh, the day that article came out, she described Esther's display to me as a disgrace. And that was the same way she described it in the article. And if you can remember clearly, she walked into the class few seconds after Dammy walked in, smiling at both of us."

Ebun nodded slowly. "Hmm...you have a point oh." She squint her eyes, looking up at nothing in particular. "We'd tell Tochi to ask. Tochi is her best friend, and she doesn't hide anything from Tochi," she said looking at me, frowning.

I nodded.

Mr. Jonathan walked in that instant. Immediately he entered, we prayed and the bus started moving.

Immediately the bus started moving, I became curious about something. Instead of allowing the curiosity to kill me, I decided to ask. "Ebun," I called her again. She looked at me again, hmming me. "Why did you and Joseph break up?" I asked in my lowest and calmest voice.

Her expression changed from happy and friendly, to the exact expression of yesterday when I confessed to her, but this time around it was mixed with anger. "The way you don't like people asking you the reason you cry or overthink, is the same way I want you to never ask me that question again." She didn't bother to check if I was emotionally hurt or not. She sunk into her chair and closed her eyes.

I looked at her for few minutes, with pain-filled eyes and heart. She was right, why was I trying to be nosy, when I don't like people doing it to me. I looked away, in hurt.

"Hey," Joseph said, getting my attention. And that was how we started talking, we spoke until we got to the venue. It was a really wide hall, a super super large hall. Ebun didn't open her eyes throughout the trip, I guess she slept of. At least I found out how Jospeh knows how to play almost all instruments, he told me his mom owns a school, and it's through the music teacher in her school he learnt it.

When we got there, all school were seated. And like Joseph said, all eyes were on us. I felt so uncomfortable, I felt my walking step change. We were led to the front seats, that was the place allocated to Rare Gems, which made it more awkward.

I sat down between Ebun and Joseph. The seminar was mostly about schools, colleges, and universities. Some scholarships were also advertised. Joseph and I talked a lot during the seminar. Ebun didn't still speak to me, she didn't speak to anyone. Her head was bent throughout.

After the long hours of the seminar, we were allowed to go around and check out the stands; collect flyers, numbers, slips, and find out more about then.

Ebun and I walked together. We didn't chit-chat, we chatted instead. She didn't sound as lively as she usually do, she sounded a little sad and down. "Hey," someone said as they brushed their shoulders with mine. I turned angrily, and to my surprise Toyosi was standing beside me.

"Toyosi!" Ebun shouted as she hugged her tightly. Wow! She's back to her happy self? I never knew they were close. Wait! Do all exes get close?

I pouted at her, and said in a baby voice. "You left without even telling me." I folded my hands across my chest as she smiled warmly at me, not answering. "Which school are you now in?"

"I'm coming, lemme go and quickly check that stand," Ebun excused herself.

"Greenland," Toyosi replied immediately Ebun left. Greenland? I've heard that name. Where? Where? Where? Oh...Ebun, this morning. Oh, no wonder, she was excited this morning because she knew she'd see Toyosi. Wow! Strange.

"Ah ahn, Toyosi see how you just left us ehn. Why sef?"

And then, her expression changed from smiley, to the exact same expression Ebun had whenever I mention Joseph's name. "That's why I came to talk to you. Number one, don't call me Toyosi again, I'm now Ella. Number two, are you and Joseph together or something."

"No, we're just friends oh," I said in the 'I'm innocent' voice.

"If that's so, then keep it friends. Never accept his request to be his girlfriend oh."

I looked at her confused. "Why?"

She looked behind me, before quickly saying, "He's the reason I left Rare Gems." With that she walked away.

"Esse," I heard Joseph call behind me.