Ife was supposed to be returning today, right about evening time to be precise— five p.m on the dot, she was one who stuck to time no matter what.

The sizzling from the warm afternoon breeze grazed past my exposed arms and sunk into the parts of my body covered by my clothes.

What made my mood sour the most was when my lifeless slippers tried to cut for the second time today.

The first was when I had crossed over to the other side of our street to get some personal items, nothing too much and the rubber material nearly snapped out of the hole it was tucked into.

Using Amir's weight to counter mine, who was by the way, more absorbed in talking about how his head ached him so much, he barely read for up to an hour and here he was giving me an earful.

Focusing on my footwear than Amir's irritating groans I prayed my footwear won't snap off while we where on the road and I promised that I would repair it the moment I sight a cobbler.

Damn those people for never being around when you need them, three days back I walked past five and today,
I haven't gotten the chance to lay eyes on any single one.

I felt his elbow poke my side, "Are you even listening?" Hissing, I turn my face elsewhere, "No"

He lets out a thoughtful sigh, "you need to be more focused Kesi" he adds, placing his arm ontop my shoulder and pulling me closer to himself.

The familiar pine wood scent wafts off him, we take deliberate steps to somehow delay our stroll back, because once we do get back, I'll be confined to my room and not even move an inch outside.

It was all Amir's idea to go the library and study, meanwhile here he was complaining like that's the only thing his mouth is good for.

"Hey..." the louder footsteps, drown into the noise of cars feeling the environment, standing at the same height as Amir, the stranger stopped infront of him once he had overtaken us.

There was no look of recognition on my friend's face, thus when said stranger acknowledged my presence a full blown smile claimed his lips like he was signed up for an eat all you want beaufar.

Don't mind me, I'm just thinking about the juicy chicken thighs I fried and is waiting for me to sink my teeth through it.

Now I see it, the darker shade of brown to his eyes, I hardly forget faces. Asides from the fact that it was night time and the only source of light were the bulbs around my intuition had never failed me once.

And his skin, it still has that glow, the warm caramel kind that would melt you away at just a glance, what was his name again, Ai... It was, "Kesi how have you been?"

I could feel Amir's stare bore questions into the the side of my face, the friendly gesture he offered Airen was long gone and replaced by a colder one.

In other words, protective mode activate. "Have you two met before?" Amir openly ignored Airen and looked at me to confirm for himself, he wanted to be sure he wasn't a bother.

Or one of those catcallers or boys pursuing girls for the fun of it.

The frail stench of orange still lingered at the back of my mind, "he is the one that spilled his drink on me that night" I pat Amir's shoulder and give Airen a cold glare, maybe he lived around or something, didn't he get the memo that my intention was to snub him.

It's funny how he thinks so highly of himself, scratching the back of his neck clearly embarrassed he fakes a cough, "you still remember that don't you" "clear as it was," patting Amir, I let him know it's okay and he should look less scary and more approachable.

"Fine, I'll go over to Mrs Abike's store to wait for you then" he sends one final glare at Airen and leaves, going to the direction of the best food station.

Taking in a breathe, I never really knew I'll be seeing him anytime soon, funny how he didn't send a text or call either, well it's not like I'm upset he didn't, I'm just glad he didn't even try to.

He clears his throat and glances forth Amir's intense gaze and me, "he is a tough one, hope he won't mind us talking" my gaze settles on Amir who doesn't look pleased one bit, Airen was wrong.

Facing Amir's victim, I toss out every intention to lighten the mood I hope he suffocates and backs out before Amir gets the chance to knock his teeth off, "you wanted us to talk" I raise a thin brow of mine keeping my arms folded.

"That's if it isn't of any bother to you" is this guy serious, is he stopping me just to blabber rubbish. I won't dismiss the fact of his concern on my take on this.

Ugh.. who am I kidding that's all a bunch of bullcrap.

"It's depends," seeing this wasn't taking either of us anywhere, I stepped in and took the liberty to prolong this discussion, maybe to squeeze out information from him and find out if he lives on this street, "do you live around?"

He seems to ease up a bit, revealing he is only spending some time at his cousin's which could be another lie, trust doesn't come easy, he spilt his drink once who says he won't spill again.

"Let's perch on that bench for few minutes more, Kesi " my eyes go back to Amir and uncover he himself is occupied with Bisola, Mrs Abike's youngest daughter, she's showing him one of her drawings again.

The stick like scribbling that would have you wondering what really goes on in children's brains.

Nodding I follow his footsteps, "just for a few minutes" he nods accepting what I had concluded, he waits for me to settle onto the thick metal like bench before he does.

"I was preoccupied—" he lets the word slip and it's like he is blaming himself for the reason we haven't had any proper conversations, "it's fine Airen"

"What's one thing you hate then?" Appealed I hold in a breath, "what are you doing?" That boyish grin resurfaces,  "trying to know more about you" he lets on before he pokes a finger in Amir's direction placing the side of his hand to cover his mouth, "well, I'm not sure he'll be comfortable with that"

"So are we are playing twenty questions now?" A light chuckle elucidated from his lips, "not entirely, I do want to know you more, that's a fact" the grin on his face sort of lightened the sour mood I tried to create.

Curse him for smiling like everything's okay with the world

"Out of all the things I hate, my surname is the first " joking around like I normally would, I see he is keen on hearing what I have to say, "can you believe I had to seat right infront of the invigilators during my waec exams because my name starts with an A" he bursts out into fits of laughter, which told me I had succeeded in making him laugh.

Who knows if his smile is all pretense, besides a little laugh never hurt anyone.

"You've got to be kidding me, so wait you didn't clear your papers?" "Oh I did,  so do you go here or have I been indoors for too long to not notice you on campus?" He lets that boyish smile play on, on his lips which intensified my curiosity.

What ever is his true motive?

"Nah, I'm schooling in St Jerome's college, studying economics presently" he says and I wonder what exactly brought him to this side of the city, St Jerome's University, was for rich kids. Asin the politicians and the offsprings of those swimming in wealth kind of school.

"What year?" I decide to act cool, there's no way I'll let him see how surprised I am, come on it's not everyday you see someone attending SJU.

He relaxes into the bench understanding he has to keep some distance between the both of us, "my final year" the alarm bells screaming my head were warning me to run away as far as possible, if he was almost done with his undergrate studies that means he has big plans ahead of him and is looking for someone he could derail from there on path to soothe his pent up fantasies.

This is part where I run.

"How about you? From the looks of things you look like an engineering student" now I regret telling him my name I would have gone with Faustina or Grace, no Bisola would fit me more.

Was I to accept his assumption or tell him the truth, I haven't grown that comfortable with him yet to let him know the course I'm spending six years on, well it won't hurt will it, "actually, you aren't that good at guessing, don't feel bad I won't have guessed you to be studying economics either" I shrug, going ahead to tell him the truth, what was the use of lying anyway, I was too proud of my course to just deny it.

"I'm a dental student, in my third year to be precise" astonishment claims his facial features, something tells me he is going for the lamest joke in the book, "wow, so you're going to fix my teeth then" bingo! If I was paid for the number of times I heard this, I would be a fat billionaire.

Come on, my mum made it sound so common to my ears I rolled my eyes internally anytime she said it to her siblings or to me, but sometimes it just cracks me up.

Stealing the space he created, I visibly catch his Adam's apple bob, "I don't know, your teeth looks perfect" his peering down at me and then I realise my hand is ontop his and my clothed knee is brushing against his exposed one, you've got to be kidding me.

I could literally feel the warmth of his smile, course through his skin and radiate off him, he was like wishing for sunshine without the scorching sun.

Like a perfect harmattan morning, you go over to the clothes you spread a few minutes ago to see them all dried up, the air less humid and even if the atmosphere promised cracked lips, dry skin and injuries days away from drying, the thrill of the season was still persistent.

"Thank you for the compliment," he looks away, clearing his throat which I'm sure wasn't clogged seconds ago, them I notice his slightly full arched brows, it's fatter than my thin ones.

He has a small scar close to his chin and a that nose of his, gracious heavens even his ears were smaller in comparison.

None the less he was handsome, I bet he'll look too appeasing in a black three piece suit or better if he was clad in a tracksuit.

Deciding it was time I head back, perhaps Ife would have returned and I won't be left to sleep alone this night, I tug my bag strap higher, "I think I'll call it a night" the skies were filled with orange hues, contrasting with the warm violet color souring through the clouds.

"Yeah, me too" he gets on his feet and reaches his hand out to me, accepting it to avoid being rude, I snatch my hands away when I'm on my feet.

He felt way too warm for my liking.

"Let me cross you over first" he glimpses at his phone before stuffing it back into his shorts pocket, I scoff theatrically, "do I look like a baby to you?" "Do you know a good percentage of adults such as yourself gets involved in road accidents?" He counters, raising a brow, while I cross my arm against the other.

"Wow, are you sure you didn't miss your calling, you would have been a good news caster instead no wait a journalist would suit you better" I chuckle, putting up a sassy stance, I just hope he isn't serious

"You really do have an answer for everything don't you" he rubs his beard free chin, shaking his head mid whispering, he was trying to resist the quirk threatening to form on his lips.

"Do I?" Squaring my shoulders to his, I smirk, till the horning of cars pull me out from my head, "anyways, I've got to go now so bye.."

Sighting the free road, I run across it and get to the free centre where newspapers are held down with stones, "I'll text you" he hollers loud enough for me to you, and maybe not so loud for the passers-by who have something better to do than to listen to two adults flirting on the road.

Would this even be considered flirting.

"Don't, I'll obviously snub you" I scrunch my nose a bit to prevent the thick smoke from the trailer from filling my lungs as I turn back to him, "I know you won't" he grins, while I shake my head instead and cross over to meet, Amir who's already on his feet waiting for me.

"So, who is this you're flirting with Kesi are you cheating on me right before my very eyes" he teases, bumping my shoulder lightly, "shut it, Amir" we only burst out laughing as we stroll back to our lodge.

Reaching my door, I notice the light switch on, Ife has certainly returned, my phone buzzes in my bag, choosing to soak in the cool evening breeze, I take it out, ahha speak of the devil.

Airen
I think I'm in need of dentist
She's dark skinned too and
fun to hang out with,

Can I perhaps take her out on
Lunch sometime?

I was on the brink of effacing him from my mind, and the first step was to delete his message so why then did my big thumb mistakenly open his message.

Kesi
You'll need to give her sometime she'll let you know when she's up for it.