Nine

Just like that, one week had past and not even a single letter did Femi say to Toyin. Everyone soon noticed and teased Femi in the end but he treated them like they were non-existent.

Toyin was immensely grateful for the space Femi gave her. Yet, each time she saw him, her heart gave her a bad premonition. And Emmanuel had been acting extra nice to her which made her weary. Something told her something was up.

Nobody except Toyin knew she missed Femi disturbing her. As much as she appreciated not being the cause of laughter in the class, she missed Femi’s perfume invading her nose, she missed his voice which always reverberated in her ears. She missed the sneaky close up glances she gave him while he insulted her.

Toyin raised her up and sighed inwardly as soon as she saw Emmanuel.

‘What’s up?” Toyin asked.

“Come on, I need to tell you something” Emmanuel said with a smile.

“Me?” Toyin asked as Emmanuel nodded and walked out of the classroom.

Toyin sighed and followed him outside. She couldn’t guess what he wanted to say.

“What’s up? What do you want to say?” Toyin asked.

Toyin froze as Emmanuel grabbed one of her hands and smiled at her.

“Toyin, let’s date. I like you” Emmanuel said and Toyin felt the world come to a standstill at that moment.

He wanted to date her?

Toyin slowly removed her hand from Emmanuel’s grasp before talking, “Is that why you’ve been extra nice to be this past week?” Toyin asked as Emmanuel scratched his hair and Toyin laughed at herself in ridicule. Everything finally made sense. Since they had not spoken before and he wanted to date her, he needed to show his nice parts to her first then ask her to date him, for girls who of course weren’t like her, saying yes was confirmed already but at last, Toyin wasn’t other girls. She felt irritated immediately

“I’m sorry but I don’t share the same feelings with you, I can’t date you” Toyin replied before turning walking back into the class.

Emmanuel stood there dazed and his face was full of unbelief that Toyin had turned him down. Remembering his deal with Femi, Emmanuel hurried after Toyin.

“Toyin wait” Emmanuel said attracting the attention of everyone in the class.

“I mean it. I really do like you” Emmanuel said as some people in the class gasped. Some looked in horror, some looked in shock while a larger population looked in surprise.

Toyin laughed as she turned to her classmates, “Guys, don’t you think this will fit in as the joke of the century? All of a sudden, you became nice to me because you wanted me to be your girlfriend? Really Emmanuel?” Toyin asked as her classmates started talking in hushed tones.

“That’s total crap mehn” a girl said frowning.

“What’s does he take her for?” another girl asked in displeasure.

“You have to listen to me okay? If you date me, Femi will never approach you again; for life” Emmanuel revealed as the whole class went into shock.