~Kunmi~

I took a deep breath as I entered the supposed art gallery and contrary to the resolution I already made that I won't be surprised by anything in this school again, I just couldn't help but to open my mouth in a small surprised O as I took in the Art Gallery. I've only been to one Art Gallery and it doesn't even hold a candle to this place. The room was huge that I get I should probably call it a hall self. Framed portraits were hung on the walls. The room was divided into sections, just like a library except that it wasn't shelves dividing them, it was walled that had artworks hung on them too.

God. This school deserves some accolades.

I felt the movement of a palm in the front of my eyes and that brought me of my trance. I blinked once, then twice to see Adams smiling.

'Everybody get this same expression you had just now their first time of coming here. I'm used to it but it's still kinda intriguing to see you all dazed like that.'

I blinked twice, no, thrice as if they would make it sure I heard him correctly.

Intriguing? And why is he talking to me like we're close friends?

Well, aren't you friends?

No way.

He waved his hands in front of my eyes again and that snapped me out of my reverie.

Now, he must think you're weird; zoning out twice in less than 3 minutes.

I swallowed and met his eyes. I looked away immediately because I'm not a fan of making and maintaining eye contact and I don't think I can handle the intensity of his gaze.

Does he do that on purpose or is that just how his eyes are?

Ask him.

No way.

'Wow. I thought I was the pro at zoning out but I have a boss. Your thoughts keep straying off.'

I swallowed and blinked because I did not know what to say. I don't know how to make conversations with people. I smiled before walking to the first artwork. It was an aesthetic drawing of some set of students.

'Cresent High first set and that's over 15 years ago.'

Oh wow.

The artworks were nice and I was starting to think there must be a professional artist that was drawing all of them and they were just passing it off as their students but I remembered I saw a gold medal in a visual art competition in the Principal's office.

'Wow. They're all really good. I wonder how it feels like to be so good at something. I can't even draw a straight line successfully.'

He burst into laughter and I momentarily paused about what I had said to make him laugh and how an ordinary sound can roll off so perfectly and beautifully that I imagined it to be some sort of soothing music.

Too bad he stopped laughing as soon as he started.

'Oh come on, you can't be that bad and besides, we all have one or two things we do best.'

I shrugged even though he's right but some of us have a thousand and one demons pinning that one thing down.

We continued to around the gallery with him explaining some things about the drawings to me. I got to know they have different themes they work on in a week and that explained all these numerous artwork. I'm pretty sure if they should put some of the paintings up for auction, they'd make huge money.

'Our school does sell some of the paintings to raise funds for an NGO dedicated to SDG 4.'

He stated and I momentarily glanced at him. I did not even say that out. I paused when I got to the next drawing. It was more like a sketch but it stood out. It was a picture of a lone girl in the corner of her room with various demonic hands reaching for her from the ceiling. I paused again.

'It's scary and disturbing.' I stated before looking away. The next picture was that of a girl drowning in a pool of her tears. The drawings hit a nerve and I suddenly did not feel like looking around anymore.

'You drew them?'

I muttered when I saw his name on the right side of the drawing.

'Yeah and most of the drawings you saw earlier.'

He replied and I did miss the tiny Winny pride his voice was laced with. I rolled my eyes and started to tell him not to feel himself but I stopped when I realized we weren't in a relationship where we'd make jokes like that.

Giving

That was the bell and I instinctively turned towards the direction of the door.

'We should return to class now. We English language now.'

"You look like you're so eager to get out of here."

He replied and without waiting for a reply, started to walk out towards the door. I followed him. It was all awkward and yet refreshing; the whole idea of him showing him the gallery. I thought he wouldn't want anyone to disturb him while he was drawing.

'Thank you for...'

I stopped and gestured towards the room, moving my right hand in a sort of semi-circle.

'I like showing people artworks. There are other sections you've not been to so any other time you're free, I'd be more than glad to show you around.

What?

He opened the door at the same time someone opened it from outside. It was Sophia.

"Adam, did you not hear the bell or do you......"

Her voice trailed off when she realized he wasn't alone and her eyes zeroed on me. She stared at me blankly before returning her gaze to Adam. Her face was asking the question;

What's she doing here? And what are you guys doing together?

"We were just about to leave."

Sophia's eyes met mine again at his reply and her eyes conveyed the question We?

She moved back so we'd step out of the gallery and Adams looked at the door.

"You guys should wait for me. I'll just put something in place in the studio so we'd go to class together."

He did not wait for our reply before he broke into a mini-sprint and entered the room he was before. I felt Sophia's eyes on me and she was staring at me in an odd walk before she walked past me to enter the room Adam entered.

What was that?

I did not think twice before I walked out of the Art building and towards the academic block.

I don't think I'm a fan of Sophia.

                                ******
                              ~Adam~

I entered the studio with a small smile tugging on my lips and I did not even know why I was smiling. I was arranging the brush in its case when someone opened the door. I turned back and it was Sophia. She looked at me strangely before leaning back on the door.

'Where is Kunmi?'

'She must have left.'

She replied with a nonchalant tone and I felt my eyebrows raised at that. I finished arranging the brushes in the case and I turned back. I fell into step with her and we started walking towards the academic block.

'I thought you said you had to finish what you were drawing today.'

That was an excuse I told you about her and Kunle so they wouldn't disturb me and that was the exact reason why I was initially annoyed when Kunmi and Aminah came to the studio except it did not turn out bad as I had thought.

'Yeah.'

"Yeah? But you left the drawing to...." She trailed as turned to look at me with her eyebrows raised. I ignored her expression as I stared straight ahead. "What were you doing in the gallery with Kunmi anyway?"

"I was showing her around of course. What else would we be doing there?"

"I don't know." She stretched out her hands in a dramatic way and I shook my head at her. "I just want you to know that I'm watching you and you'll be held accountable for everything."

She pointed two of her fingers to her eyes before pointing them at me and I faked a shudder all the while muttering ode.

"Idiot."

We got to class then and our English teacher, a very short man who always says words we don't understand glared at us.

"Look at you people doing lovey-dovey all over the school and then walking into my class."

We muttered We're sorry sir before we took our seats. The whole class had their head buried in their New Oxford English textbook and I glanced at the board. SUMMARY was carefully written in Bold letters and the page was underneath it. I opened my textbook to the page to begin the ordeal of minimizing words.

I don't know why my head jerked up to seek Kunmi out. Her head was buried in her textbook and her pen was moving furtively against her note.

I smiled.

Then stopped.

Because I had absolutely no reason to be smiling.

At her.

*******

It was lunch break and we were in the cafeteria. Our table was quiet except for the occasional chatters and laughter of Aminah and Kunle. I've come to realize that they really look good together and that there's probably no harm in indulging her. Quiet Sophia was back and I had to attribute her quietness to Aminah. Judging from what Gabriella had said the other time in the Arts Studio, I knew the both of them had something going on. Something Sophia did not tell either Kunle or me. And that was a first because Sophia hardly keep things away from us.

Or so.

'Kunle, can you please take a picture of me? I need a random picture of eating in a school....'

Sophia said, stretching her phone towards Kunle. Aminah who was sitting beside Kunle was quick in collecting the phone with a huge smile on her face.

'I'll just snap you.'

Kunle exchanged a glance with Sophia and he shrugged.

"At least, Aminah would be able to get the angles right. You always complain that I don't have an angle sensor."

Sophia glared at me before she went back to eating while Aminah snapped at her. Sophia was a natural when it comes to pictures and Kunle had always borne the brunt of it. He was always snapping at her.

"That's enough. Thank you."

She stretched out her hand to collect the phone but Aminah was oblivious to that as she kept scrolling and scrolling.

"Oh wow. You have nice pictures. Must be one of the perks of being a model, all these good locations."

Sophia's face remained stoic as she semi leaped up and semi snatched the phone from Aminah.

"Thank you."

She muttered and quietly returned to eating. Kunle and Aminah exchanged glances while Kunmi remained quiet. She's always so quiet and I couldn't help but wonder what's going on in her head.

"Why do you have a problem with someone looking through your phone?"

Kunle asked and I glanced at him. He should know better than to pursue this issue.

"Maybe she has the picture of one fine boy she did not want us to see."

Aminah answered and I could hear the sound of Sophia swallowing an imaginary lump.

"Hmmm, come to think of it, Is that it, Sophia? You have the picture of a fine boy you don't want us to see on your phone?"

I said nothing as I continued to eat. The Sophia I knew would snap any time soon and Kunle should know better than to go on with a silly joke.

"Actually yes."

Sophia finally replied with her voice full of excitement and a smile plastered on her face. I frowned and Kunle's expression mirrored mine.

"But it's not even one, they're like 20. I work with a lot of fine fine boys, you know?"

Her eyes were on Aminah when she said and I did not even know what to make out of the both of them. The latter only smiled.

"You see, being a model comes with lots of goodies. Fine boys everywhere and every day."

Sophia widened her smile.

"As in. You'd be surprised self."

I looked at the duo with surprise written all over my face. Maybe Sophia was finally coming around.

But I knew better.

**********
~Kunmi~

Oh, God. I paused for a while on the stairs, my hands on my knees. I was panting. When I looked up, Aminah was looking at me with a smile on her face.

"Sorry. Don't mind Cresent High. They shout have considered other factors before building three e-story buildings without a lift."

I smiled as we rounded up the stairs. I was exhausted from climbing the stairs. I've climbed the stairs more than 3 times today. O ti Sumi.

"It's already too much of a hassle for a slim person to climb these stairs."

She said as we entered the class. We were already doing revisions and we were meant to revise by ourselves for this period but my classmates were in twos and threes, talking in loud whispers but the major topic of discussion was Aminah's party which was in two days.

I was still terrified of attending the party but I knew I had to. I shouldn't stand Aminah up twice. I sat down on my seat and the first thing I did was to drink from my bottled water. I almost drank everything and when I brought the bottle down to see Aminah smiling at me.

"Pele. Ko easy."

"At all."

I replied and she smiled. She was sitting on the empty chair in front of me. She did that every time we had a free period and we've become closer over the weeks. I now know she has two older brothers who were in the universities. Her parents are business moguls who are always traveling around the world. Most times, she was home alone with the numerous maids and her nanny. And that she liked to dance. Dancing is her absolute favorite thing to do.

"Happy birthday in advance."

She smiled and put her right hand to her mouth.

"Thank you. You're the second person to wish me after Kunle."

Sophia who was reading a self-help book, that I could make out the title to be How to be a better version of yourself turned to us. I fleetingly wondered why someone like Sophia would need to read a book like that.

Sophia's face was opened; opened as it wasn't closed off like her face was always whenever Aminah was around. From the day they had that mini conversation about fine boys at the cafeteria, Sophia had sort of changed towards Aminah. Looking back now, their conversation was bizarre. It was as if they were passing an unknown message that only both of them know.

"So, is there a dress code for your party?"

She asked, her voice unusually full of excitement.

Aminah turned towards Sophia with a surprised smile on her face.

"There's no dress code."

Sophia nodded and turned towards her book again.

"So you're coming? It's unbelievable."

Sophia shrugged and turned towards Aminah again

"Of course, I'm coming to your party this time around. There won't be an impromptu photo shoot. photo shortlisted, smiling and Aminah's face mirrored her expression. I watched the both of them, not quite believing my eyes. Sophia and Aminah smiling at each other. Kunle would be happy to see his best friend bonding with his girlfriend like this. Too bad he and Adam weren't in class.

Aminah looked away from Sophia when someone called her name. Sophia looked away too but not too quickly that I noticed her smile dissolve into a scowl and something that sounded so much like bitch rolled off her lips.

I frowned, wondering what the hell she was up to.

Ghen ghen ghen. What's Sophia up to now? She's a very strange one. I don't think Kunmi is ready to be drawn into Aminah's and Sophia's wahala.

We have the party coming up next and I hope you guys have gotten your gowns and shoes ready?

Do you have friends who are always asking you to take their pictures? I have a lot and mehn 😂😂💔💔

And who else has to climb annoying stairs? My faculty is a four-story building and whenever I had to go to the fourth floor, it'd be like I got a death sentence ni. 💔💔😂😂😭😭

I know what you guys want. Just chill, we still have a very long way to go.

Lemme go and prepare for the party. See you on Monday.

Don't forget to vote oo.