Ken

I was scrolling through my former notes,my math notes in particular,I flipped to the end of the page and was about to find a piece to cut out when I noticed a faded handwriting of mine scribbled with black ink at the top of the paper

It was an address and then I remembered.

I wanted badly to dance one time and my friend had told me about some dancing school I could go to and he had told me the address and I scribbled it hurriedly at the back of my math note in Ss1 but I didn't have the opportunity to go cos I had to study throughout the holiday,my dad grounded me.

I had written the address at the back of my maths note and now I suddenly felt the need to find that place. Thankfully it was a Friday so I had a quick bath, wore my tee shirt and picked my mum car keys, she was sleeping, she didn't go anywhere on Fridays .

My dad had seized my car, on the bases I wasn't serious with my life. But I wasn't the only one without a car, Dozie dad said he was too young to own one and no, they weren't just rich, they were super wealthy, like an elite family but his dad was strict.

I rushed downstairs and found my younger brother watching down boring law proceedings.

My brother didn't look like, I was older than him with two years and he was already growing too tall, he looked more like my dad with the dark skin that made him look older than his age and his well shaved hair. Leo acted too mature.

"Are you heading somewhere?" He took his eyes briefly from the television and focused them on me, dark orbs.

I formerly called him agent of darkness when we were younger until my mum heard me one day and knocked my head.

"Obviously" I mumbled in response trying to tie my shoe lace,the shoe lace of my Adidas.

"I like this shirt" He told me gesturing at the black shirt I had on

" Leo, don't even touch it" I warned him in advance. My brother and I now dragged my clothes.

He chuckled in response.

"Did you know why snr Yobanna punished that girl?" He asked, his attention no longer on the television but on me.

Leo acted like Precious sometimes, always looking for gossip. Aproko master.

So Yobanna had lost his cool at the cafeteria and punished an SS 1 student, I was surprised, and I forced myself not to walk to him to look at the problem, In fact Dozie stopped me when I tried standing up.

"Allow him Ken, he can handle it" Dozie assured me softly.

I chatted Yobanna up when I got home and he wasn't online, in fact nobody knew where he went to and when school closed I saw his car, turning around and leaving behind a trail of dust.

"I don't know" I replied.

"You don't know? You are like his best friend, why don't you know?"He was raising his hand frantically now like a girl.

"You can't know everything about your best friend" I told him and paused, thinking of my next words.

"You only know what your best friend allows you to know and you shouldn't push it."

" But his your best friend...."Leo trailed and I shook my head, he was just in Ss 1 that was why he was talking like that.

"There are boundaries Leo, like my friends don't know dad seized my car, l told them it's faulty but they won't judge, I don't just feel like talking about it"

Leo nodded.

He was changing the channel now

"But I felt bad for her, she knelt all through school hours" he murmured.

I chuckled.

" Yobanna would never punish anybody without a reason and your crush is his first offender... "

" She's not my crush o"Leo protested, trying hard not to smile, laugh and frown at the same time

" So why are you na blushing like a mumu? "I asked. I was done tying my shoe lace.

" Black people don't blush" he replied eyeing me wearily.

"Anyways like I said, Yobanna is not that kind of person, his usually cool na, you sef you know" There was a mirror that hang on the wall close to the door,I was looking at my reflection,geez,was I getting thinner or what?

" Just when his with you guys and that time he bought ice cream for me,but my set boys said his too arrogant" He explained,I could imagine his face scrunched up now,he was the kind of person that spoke, showing facial expressions and hand gestures.

" It doesn't matter what they say, you and I know his cool" I wasn't done admiring my new hair style.

" Because his your friend, his always wearing a frown, like there's this way he looks at people, like he doesn't care and then he just appears rude"Leo explained.

" Like have you seen him walking around the school,shoulders high and not even paying attention to everyone especially whenever he comes to the cafeteria"He added.

" You are talking as if am not even worse on people's record" I laughed.

God, the way they viewed Yobanna was so funny. Yobanna was the softest person after Precious,zero issues. Just that his default settings made him to act like he didn't care, actually he didn't unless you were close to him, Yobanna was the last person to give you attention except you were worth it.

"Ahh, you know yourself na, they secretly think you are in some dangerous cult sef"

I couldn't help it, this SS 1 and their childish conclusion,I laughed. Cult again

"Na them sabi,I'm off,tell mum I went to see a friend"

"I hope it's actually a friend?"He asked me in a way, mimicking my mum's voice and posture.

"Na you Sabi" I mumbled and he shouted back at me to bring ice cream for him,this boy was obessed with ice cream.

And so hoping into my mum's car I drove along the busy road, I had turned on my Google map and somehow I found myself in some deserted place. Truth be told, Google maps could land you in another state if you were not careful but I wanted to believe I was still within.

I had asked around to be sure I was truly at the right place,the building was looking quiet.

I thought some loud music was supposed to be playing from the inside.

And then the building itself was painted some fading green color and a woman was roasting corn in front of there,a baby tied behind her.

I took two deep breaths,when my friend had told me about the dance school,I was expecting the building to be some glassy building, music,pop colors and everything but this one was different.

I found a route,a staricase I was scared if I walked too fast I might find myself down,the walls inside was more faded,some parts totally peeled off and lying on the floor.

Somehow I was lost in this building, looking around the many rooms that were empty,and I realized maybe I was in a wrong building.

"Hey,who are you looking for?"

I turned around. It was a young boy like around my age only bulkier,he had a bandana tied around his head,a singlet and baggy trousers. His dread falling to his face and just one ear pierced and he was caramel.

I couldn't tell his expression,he looked confused, probably wondering what I was doing,he didn't look like a street tug, just some vibe I couldn't place my hand on

"I'm looking for a certain dance academy" I replied.

His eyes flickered.

" You are a dancer?"He asked,his accent was something I couldn't place my hand on

I nodded and then he smiled.

"Follow me then" He turned around and led the way,we passed through series of passage ways and dark staircases until I started hearing it. The sound of music.

"Only few people know of this place" The boy snapped me of my thoughts.

"Sir Anthony is a great teacher. My name is Adams by the way"I took his outstretched hands firmly before we got to the door and the glass opened

My jaws literally dropped.

Christ!

Where was this place?

This was the perfect dancing school and everything was so in place, really massive space covered with some wooden floors and bright lights,some students were rehearsing in front of the large mirror that looked like a wall,it stretched from one point to the other.

And then there was another group, a more larger group, loud cheering and more, whistling and claps. Adams was no longer by my side,he had gone to watch whatever it was that was making people hoot like that.

Gbona by Burna boy was playing from the really large speakers that was kept at different positions. The girls I had seen rehearsing earlier on had left the rehearsal and joined others in clapping.

There was this pure energy and joy as Burna boy's voice filled the room,like an unmatchable energy and I felt the surge,the need to move forward and watch them,watch whatever it was at the center.

And then I moved and then it was the first girl who noticed me and tapped her friend and soon a bunch of females were staring.

But I didn't care less,I wanted to see the center of attraction.

And then I found a good spot and then somehow who ever was the DJ changed it to on the low by Burna boy and Christ,the scream and then I saw three girls, moving with incredible dance steps, killing the dance steps.

Guy,I've watched music videos, thousands of them,females and males but there was this raw energy emanating from these girls especially the one at the front with her body,slow dancing to each word, moving her legs and waist to the beat in a way that wasn't even legal.

Christ!

I watched and watched and soon my attention was no longer on the other two,only the girl with her natural hair tied in a bun was dancing to me. For once I was fascinated by someone, someone who wasn't my mum or cousin,a female.

She was wearing a crop top that showed off the abs on her tummy,abs she had gotten as a result of dancing, dancing was enough workout. And then her oversized trouser,like the one Adams wore.

And then somehow the music ended and everyone was hooting and clapping,I watched the light skinned girl laughing and grinning from ear to ear while she hugged Adams and a shorter girl.

"I see someone new here" A baritone voice rang across the room.

And then I saw the one who had spoken,an average height man and at once I knew he was Mr Anthony. He had a look like one who was weighing me, wondering if I could actually dance or not and somehow I wanted to prove to him. He was wearing a ripped trousers with a white shirt that clung on his upper body,his bald head glowing under the light bulbs

"What's your name?" He asked me.

Now everyone's attention was on me.

" Ken" I replied.

"You dance?" He asked. He didn't look like he was more than 25.

" Yes,I do" I replied.

He nodded, stroking his non-existent beards.

"You don't look like you can" He said and I resisted myself from eyeing him. It was funny how he quickly judged me.

"Why don't you try me?" I cocked my brows at me and then he chuckled

"So I'm actually right, you have some ego"

"And you are judgemental" I clamped back, locking his eyeballs with mine

There was pin drop silence, what? I just said the truth.

"Okay then, show us what you gat"

Some fast beats started playing from the speakers and then I started dancing, shutting everyone out,just myself and my music.

And I didn't know how long the music lasted but when it ended, there was a resounding apulse.

"I'm impressed,my name is Anthony, welcome to my dance school, Friday 3:00pm,don't be late"

And like that,he was gone, talking to some group of people at the other edge.

And then a group of teens surrounded me, throwing the welcomes here and there and I smiled while responding.

"Bro,you did really well,never knew you could dance so well"Adams patted me on my back a little too hardly. His hands remaining there

I ignored.

" Hmm,thanks" I responded.

"Gee,you are so good honestly" He kept patting me and then I took his hands off my back quietly

"Your hands..." I trailed off,he understood probably and burst into laughter.

"Sorry my man,I think I've got some painful palm"

He was smiling and I joined him. My eyes swept over the whole place and then I saw her,at some dispenser, filling her water bottle

And then again,I found myself walking towards her.

"Hey" I found myself saying, now I somehow needed Precious help to say the right things.

She slowly took her eyes off

"Hi" She finally said in response, she replaced the lid of her water bottle.

I was suddenly lost of words.

"You danced really well, I was amazed throughout" I finally said

Music was playing,Activate by Stonebwoy and Davido. About 30 people were lining up to a cherography, Anthony at the front dishing out instructions.

She smiled.

This girl was actually beautiful in a dangerous way. Like in a way that consumed you if you aren't careful. She had what many referred to as cat eyes and she just had to have long lashes and brown lips and she was light skinned.

"You did well too" she told me "You are already having fans" She added and I chuckled.

"Are you by chance one of them?" I asked.

She actually rolled her eyes at me. Very hard.

"You wish,you just dance well,like I'd give you a 60% if I graded people"She was serious. I saw it on her face. Wow,some boldness.

60 was a B right?

"You don't mean that"

"I mean it,like I'd grade you just 60%, you are good but you can be better" She sipped from my water bottle, smirking as she watched my face fall.

I didn't like this feeling,like I was trying to impress this chick and she was doing this to me. I felt my ego been bruised.

I wasn't a perfectionist but it was too low.

I chuckled to hide my embarrassment,how did she do it?Stand there after bruising my ego, smirking at me in a teasing way.

"You aren't hurt are you?" She asked.

"No,I mean,yeah I am"I rubbed the nape of my neck, didn't know why,I was suddenly uncomfortable.

She chuckled.

"You aren't used to hearing you aren't good,I understand. You should get used to the fact that you can always improve on whatever you know" her eyes held some gleam to them

I nodded, like a child.

"My name is K.."

"Ken,I know,you attend St Louis,I know,you are in Ss 3 I know,you are a dancer I know,an art student, I know"

I was frozen on my spot,her smile never left her face,like she enjoyed watching me speechless.

"Are you by chance a witch?" I just had to ask, she laughed,she actually laughed at me.

" Yes" she responded seriously and when I took a step backward she laughed again.

Why was she just messing with me?

"St Louis students show themselves on social media too much, too much drama, that's how I knew you" I noticed she was talking slowly now in a calculative way

Have we met before?

"What's your name?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"You know stuffs about me and I barely know your name,it's definitely not fair"

" I..."

" Okay both of you,come here immediatly, you've had us waiting for you both"Anthony's baritone voice rang across the room.

I held her gaze for a while,the words on her lips ceasing. She turned around and left me standing there for a while and I followed suit.

We joined the line,me standing beside her in a pair kind of dance,and soon we were both partners for some kind of beautiful dance.

Anthony taught us for an hour and thirty minutes and I had to give it to him,nigga was fire especially his leg works,when it came to leg works I was sure Poco Lee was no where close to Anthony,even I wasn't that good.

And so we had to coordinate the dance styles,like you know, rehearse everything we've learnt.

The music was still Activate by Stonebwoy and Davido.

There was a part where each partner had to face each other and so I faced Kim and we started dancing our assigned roles but with time it seemed we both lost ourselves in the dance,the music seemed longer and myself and Kim,we moved in sync,like shutting everyone out.

I noticed the pure joy and smiles that came from her while she danced and whined. Like nothing else mattered than her,the music and dance.

She was beautiful

And then the music stopped and we both discovered we were out of breathe but everywhere was quiet, really quiet.

I turned around and noticed the same look on everyone's face,a look of laced with both surprise,I wasn't sure if they were cheering us on or not but their faces and soon they were hooting and smiling.

"Best I've seen in a long while" Anthony said, even him was having a fat smile on his face.

Dance lessons were over and myself and Adams and some other girls chatted as we found ourselves out of the building. They were really chatty especially the short girl called Waje,she had a baby face that I rather found deceptive since she was 17. It was like everyone wore baggy cos that was what she wore. She was occasionally smiling at Adams and I knew she was wiped but the clueless boy kept calling her bestie,that shit hurts,no one should ever do that.

I enjoyed their company and for the first time I found myself saying more than two sentences to people who weren't Precious,Dozie or Yobanna.

It was a good sign right? I bided them goodnight since they weren't following my way.

"Hey"

I turned swiftly to the voice that I had already registered to my brain

She adjusted her backpack, her face serious and some strands of hair leaving her bun, her small towel around her neck.

"The name is Kim" She told me and walked away so quick to catch up with Adams.

***

Kim and Ken
Who knows the links?.
This is the place Kim goes to on Fridays
Kim had known Ken before sef, remember the phone screen and her discussion with Selena?
I took one amazing ice cream like that, guy, you have to taste that ice cream, you'll just be in a good mood plus too much ideas.😫😩💛💛💗💋💓