It's in Nairobi's POV. We're not entering Vincent's head anytime soon🌝

***

Even if we were three pairs at our table, it still felt like it was just me and Vincent. Stephen, Alec, Jessica and Dabira were in their own world, talking, laughing and placing bets on who was going to win Mr and Mrs Valentine. The SS1 couples were the ones participating for this. Dabira just kept laughing and talking loudly. The girl blatantly made snide remarks about most people around us.

"See Inyang from Commercial class. Jeez, her gown though. How couldn't her friends tell her she looks like an ostrich in that thing?"

The rest three laughed.

I bit back a groan. I didn't like the girl and I so badly wanted to shut her up. Vincent didn't contribute to their conversation. He just sat beside me sipping wine ever so slowly.

"I've been wondering, why didn't Chioma come?" Jessica asked. Stephens arm was around her neck and she was leaning onto the guy so closely like she wanted to merge with him. I felt slightly mad at her. Chijioke was somewhere in this building having a heartache because of her and she was here cuddling against his very close friend who I was very sure didn't feel anything for her. What maddened me more was that Stephen and Chijioke were still cool.

I shouldn't be surprised. Maybe there was a bro code that said no lady was worth fighting for.

Dabira dulled a bit then shifted in her position on Alec's lap uncomfortably. "Er. . .she's having a headache."

"Again?" Jessica seemed really concerned. It made me remember her headache from the other time.

"Oh. It's not like the others. At least that's what she told me. She said she would just invite Mike over for dinner and they would hang out afterwards." Even Dabira didn't seem sure of her words.

I eventually tore my attention from her and placed it on Vincent. He was just swirling the wine in his glass with his eyes on his phone.

I tapped his wrist.

"Are you still drinking that?" I asked when he looked at me. He looked at the glass in his hand before taking a very small sip.

"Yes. Any problem?"

"No. It's just that you've been drinking that same glass for a while now."

"I'm a very light drinker. I don't want to take chances."

I dragged the wine bottle towards me to study the label. "It has just eight percent alcohol," I said, slightly amused.

"I don't want to embarrass myself."

I chuckled at that. Since there was nothing else to say, Vincent returned back to his phone. I nibbled on my bottom lip as I thought of what to say to keep our conversation going.

"You have been on your phone since." I pointed out.

"I've been chatting with Chijioke actually." Vincent looked at Stephen and Jessica. "Trying to make sure he's not depressed or something on that line."

I shook my head at that. "Chijioke can't be depressed."

I expected Vincent to smile or maybe not smile and tell me 'you're not wrong though.' But he didn't. He just kept typing on his phone and I huffed in disappointment. So much for trying to keep our conversation going.

"Let's go and meet him," Vincent suggested looking up from his phone. I agreed without a second thought, anything to leave the table.

"Where to?" Stephen asked as we stood up together. I wanted to ask him when he became our watchman but Vincent replied him before I could.

"We want to get fresh air."

"Hmm." Dabira looked between me and Vincent like we were hiding something only she had an idea of.

"Let's go." Vincent said to me before walking ahead.

"They definitely want to make out," I heard Dabira giggle.

I only rolled my eyes. Not even in an alternate universe was that going to happen.

"Where exactly is he?" I asked Vincent when we stepped out of the cafeteria.

"Said he's outside, where the stands are." Vincent continued leading the way and I followed.

The sky was already cobalt blue when we stepped out. A full moon and very very few stars lightened it. The sky looked particularly beautiful. A lone bird flew past and I was left to imagine what it felt like to fly. To be able to fly anywhere I wanted in the world without cost. I didn't even have to worry about food or shelter. That was nature's business.

That was freedom. Freedom in its truest form.

That instant I wished I was a bird. Even if it was for one day. Let me just be free from people, pain and worries.

"What are you thinking about?" Vincent's voice brought me back. He was standing in front of me, very close. His dark brown eyes peering down at me through long dark lashes. His lips tilted at the corners slightly, almost unnoticeable. "You stopped walking all of a sudden and started staring at the sky with a smile like you saw your crush there," Vincent said looking up at the sky.

I side stepped him. "Crush bawo." I waited for him to turn and started walking then I fell in step with him.

"I was just thinking about what it would feel like being a bird." I was suddenly craving a paint brush and a palette. I wanted to paint a girl floating through the evening sky like this one, with that lone bird leading her.

"Freedom in its truest form," Vincent said in a sort of wistful tone.

I smiled. "Exactly."

Someone threw an arm over my shoulder. "Looks like my ship is setting sail."

Chijioke had his hands over both me and Vincent's shoulders. He was looking between us grinning like a roasted goat, showing of his thirty two unbelievably white dentition.

And Vincent was saying this boy could be depressed?

Not even in an alternate world.

"Sail on, Sailor," Vincent saluted with a sarcastic smile.

Chijioke only hissed. "Hope you guys are enjoying the event?"

"I wish! This girl, Dab–" I started but Vincent cut me off immediately.

"What are you even up to?"

"Hakeem thought it would be nice to set up a beautiful place for interested couples to take pictures."

Vincent chuckled mockingly. "And what do you know about decoration?"

Chijioke frowned and huffed. "Some kind of friend you are." He pointed towards where some girls and guys where decorating an area with red and white ribbons and flowers. "I have a team FYI." His tone just made me laugh. I stared back at the team of probably junior boys and girls.

A very fancy two sitter, of dominant colour gold, sat on a rug on the concrete tiled ground and behind it was a curtain of colourful artificial flowers, red and white being the most among them. Ribbons decorated the seats while red and white balloons and flowers littered the floor around the seat. It was beautiful.

"What if a group of friends want to take a picture? Can they get this kind of decor background?" Vincent asked.

"We didn't plan for that but it's a great idea!" Chijioke beamed at his friend. "That's actually good. When my team is done with the couple seat, I'll inform them about the new development."  He was already using his hands to picture where the second photo stand would be.

Chijioke wants to tire those guys sha.

"He's just looking for things to keep him busy and keep his mind off you know who," Vincent whispered to me, hands tucked away in his pockets.

"I thought I said that in my head." Vincent shook his head.

"Oh. I wonder why he came for the love fest. Does he have a date?" I asked.

"I don't think so."

"Maybe he thought Jessica would change her mind," I voiced out my thought. I just couldn't think of any other reason why he was there.

Vincent seemed to see reason in what I said. He stared at Chijioke who had gone to talk to his team and said, "This is obsession."

I dared to hope that I was actually
wrong. Chijioke could not be stooping so low for Jessica. I know she was supposed to be my friend and I was supposed to be speaking in her favour but Jessica just saw him as a friend and she had made that painfully clear during Constance birthday. . .

So what exactly is the heck?

Chijioke was easily the sweetest person I've met. Richard didn't hold a candle next to this boy. Chijioke didn't know me unlike Richard but he could easily make me feel better even if he didn't have a inkling on what was dampening my mood. And yes, Jessica was actually equally sweet but I would prefer to get sugar-high on Chijioke if I ever had to choose. Chijioke didn't deserve all this for real.

"Have I told you how ravishing you look tonight, Lady Naya," Chijioke said as he approached me and Vincent .

"CJ why are you here?" Vincent asked him.

Chijioke gave a confused look. "I'm heading the whole decoration thingy. In short, I'm the decor papa." He grinned and I tried to fight the urge to face palm. But the urge won, so I face palmed at this boy's sheer silliness.

"Why did you come for the Love fest when you didn't have a date?" Vincent asked again.

"I. . ." he trailed off a bit. "I-I wanted to help Hakeem take care of some things. I figured he was going with Aliyah and I wanted her to have a blast so I volunteered."

"So you didn't just decide that when you came to here today? This evening?" I probed.

"I-we play football together."

What had that got to do with anything?!

Vincent left my side to stand in front of Chijioke. He placed an arm on his shoulder as he spoke. "Bro, you're becoming infatuated, obsessed to be exact."

Chijioke removed Vincent's hand from his shoulder gently. "I'm not obsessed. I truly like Jessica. She has always been there for me you know."

"I know bro, I know. But CJ she doesn't like you like that. You should stop this behavior, you would end up hurting yourself in the end."

"Fucking Hell!" Chijioke cursed? I must be hearing the wrong thing. But Chijioke proved me wrong by repeating his words and shocking me with an outburst. "Fucking Hell! Vincent you don't know anything about my emotions and feelings so please stop the fu–" Chijioke seemed to have regained his senses. "Stop judging me Vincent. You too Nairobi. You guys don't know what Jessica is to me."

Some kind of pill.

That's what it looked like to me. No matter what Jessica did to him, he was still going back to her like a junkie to his coke.

Vincent wanted to make a retort but it seemed like he changed his mind. "We'll be going inside now. We just came to check up on you."

We who?

Why was he talking for both of us? I wasn't ready to go back into that crowded cafeteria and I definitely did not only come out to see Chijioke. I wanted to get out of that place since because I just wasn't feeling it.

"Going where? Hello, I am the picture man and you two must take a picture." Chijioke was back to his normal self and he was eyeing us playfully.

Vincent couldn't even hold back his small smile. "Who made you cameraman? What do you even know about photography?"

"I know that you press a button to snap the picture duh." Chijioke went on to his. "What a friend! You can't even support my passion?"

Vincent stared at his friend and shook his head muttering 'good lord'. "Since when did photography become your passion?"

Chijioke just ran off and returned seconds later with a camera in his hands. "Since I was handed this beauty about thirty minutes ago. Now smile!"

Before I could even protest I heard the shutter sound.

"Strike another pose!"

"Ro, let's get out of here abeg." Vincent was already pulling me away by my wrist. I could easily hear the smile in his voice.

"On a serious note you guys should have fun. Stop being awkward with each other k?!"

"Shut up!" Vincent replied him.

I looked back at Chijioke who was looking into the camera, studying the picture he just took. He had a big smile as we departed yet, I was worried about him.

When we were about to enter the cafeteria once again, we saw Dabira and co walking towards the exit, all smiles.

"What's up?" Vincent asked his cousin when they reached us.

"Oh, we're going to art class. Most of our mates are there. You should come."

Vincent followed them and I had no choice but to follow too.