Yobanna

Have it ever happened to you? That moment, that stuff about music, you've actually listened to this song probably a million and one time and somehow one day the lyrics just hit you hard, strike a chord in your heart and you just feel really weak?

That shit was currently happening to me as I listened to Oasis by Sam Smith and Burna Boy, like guy I've listened to this song severally, had it on repeat sometimes, I knew the lyrics by heart but somehow today, Burna Boy's part coupled with his thick voice was messing with my head.

Wait a minute tell me why you looking like that🎶

Na you way I choose but you making it so hard

I give you my heart,you making it so dark

But there's nothing I could do when it comes to you

You taking it for granted🎶

I was this close to taking off my headphones and throwing them across the room,I was tired,weak and exhausted. Was it supposed to hurt this much,this love shit...

"Yobanna" Paris voice broke into my thoughts, halting all the conflicted thoughts and then I realized I was still sitting at the corner of the photo studio, just her holding my hands,her eyes filled with worry.

I took my hands away from her touch. She didn't flinch,like she was expecting it.

She takes her hand through her short hair and then sat on the empty chair beside me.

The photo studio was quiet, it was my private studio, random chairs, pictures I had taken over the years on the wall and the equipment all around.

"You look terrible" She said first,first thing my manager could tell me, though the worry was still there. I noticed how tired she looked,she was folding her hands now over her chest, concealing some alphabets on the shirt that was glimmering from her name spelt out.

"Let's go somewhere, let's talk,you can't continue sitting there and morphing" She suggested and stood up,she had successfully moved her slender body to the glass doors that were opened and then turned around and discovered I wasn't even following her,I was sitting and the music had changed to Send me Away by Nasty C,seemed the universe hated me too.

"I'm not begging Yobanna,pick your ass up,I'm waiting for you in the car"She told me and walked out

And after few minutes of weighing my options,I stood up and followed suit.

Her car was some black G-wagon that stood out always and when I hoped in,I wondered why her car always smelt like peach.

She drove for a while,her mind fixed on the steering and the road,no conversation between us.

I was quiet too, focusing much more on the busy road and people,it was already evening and there much more people than normal on the road.

Paris pulled up in front of our favorite place together,Grooves and I smiled a bit and here's why.

Grooves was ranked first over and over again as the best place for chilling and relaxing in the state and I couldn't agree less

Once we approached the glass doors that slides open by detecting body sensors,we both walked in, definitely in hoodies that she had brought along.

Grooves had a way of emitting this ball of positive energy and warmth,the hall was really large the popcorn stand from the right had a way of messing with your senses,there were about four machines making four different flavors of popcorn; pineapple, strawberry,lemon and the signature milk popcorn

And then to the left was the ice cream section that always broke one's resolve, like even if you weren't so interested, you'd suddenly develop interest

And then this big section for all kinds of pastries and cakes.

There were about four different sections for games, bowling,arcade,tennis and for archery.

The walls were splashed with colors,like something one would call a mistake but it was an intentional act, then the wooden floors that contrasted with the glassy looks,tables and chairs covered in some kind of African print.

There were muffled cheers from each corner, bowlers especially seemed to be the happiest here.

The combination of the sweet scent, cheers mixed with God's plan by Drake blasting from the bass speakers was a total mood

I didn't know who planned Grooves but it was totally lit.

We both found a seat at a corner,there were enough people,30 people at most with the aid of head count.

The table was big enough for two,a copy of Elites by Vanessa Murphy,one of the best books I've read in a while.

"Would you like just ice cream or should I grab doughnut alongside?"She asked me.

"Anything" I mumbled.

She soon left me to my thoughts and I observed a lot of people,the couple cuddled up,the young girls making insta videos, taking pictures, talking in hushed voices and generally being themselves.

I relaxed better on my seat,took the copy of Elites and flipped the pages,the first time I'd read Elites,it had left me in my feelings for some days,the whole story about Jeremiah,Kora,Oma and the rest. If I ever see Vanessa, I'd get an autograph,she was too good

Paris was back with this big tub of ice cream and some doughnuts and grilled chicken and I kept the book aside, helping her with the tray.

"You know I like buying too much things" She chuckled and I just sighed.

Paris liked spending. You would never find Paris with something cheap, you'd never find her buying something small, always over board.

She unwrapped the chicken and moved it to me and a tub for me.

"Eat" she simply told me and I did so, taking little bites while she concentrated on the chicken

"You really do not have to sulk" She told me suddenly and I rolled my eyes at her

"I'm not sulking" I told her. Whenever she started that her big sister roles,it annoyed me.

She left the doughnuts and every other thing and looked at me critically.

"Don't blame her and don't beat yourself up. I know it's probably not the best time for you but gee,your classmates are harsh, I'd keep my distance too if I were her"

" Whose side are you on? "I asked her not understanding if she was trying to make me feel worse

"The Lord's side" She chuckled and I eyed her,she was always joking around and then she stopped chuckling

"Okay but seriously,put yourself in her shoes,I like Selena personally, she's a sweet person, but I read those shits those your brain less school people are tweeting and it's annoying,anyone would recoil and rethink about it,those kind of stuffs affects one's esteem"

"And people react differently to things,you don't expect everyone to be calm and level headed like you all the time"She tapped the table twice.

"Give her time and space"She added and I didn't know if I should get angry,she was making sense no doubt but yet it annoyed me

"But she keeps talking to Zion" I mumbled under my breath

"Zion?, who's that?"Her eyes were twinkling in both curiosity and excitement.

"No body important"

"Wait,that name sounds familiar, wait Zion Ayo,it's him right?"

Of course, she'll know him after all she was a fan of his dad's music.

"Wait,you are jealous" She teased,seriously of all times,was she ever serious with her life

" I'm not jealous"

"Of course you are, never knew a day like this would come" She was acting giddy and it got me riled up.

"Okay yes, I'm jealous,does that make you happy?"I kinda yelled and no,she didn't flinch,just has this smile on her face,gosh, Paris is annoying!

"Easy tiger, didn't know you'd get so defensive, sorry"

I didn't reply,just took two breaths and tried to keep my head sane,the music changed to some Wizkid song I liked and it kinda reminded me of Selena.

"I don't know why,but I'm mad at her and at everyone,I'm mad at her but I still think about her,I can't help it and it's annoying,I'm not supposed to feel like this am I?" My tone was so low right now

She reached for my hand, sighing deeply.

"You'll be fine"

"What's Cynthia saying,I mean she's one of the reason why this whole stuff is all over the place"

" She just apologised that day"

" I've never been a huge fan of her though,just saying"She shrugged and tried to dismiss it.

It couldn't have been Cynthia I tried to convince myself

Paris didn't say a word,she continued eating her doughnuts and scooping ice cream occasionally.

I focused on eating my share of the goodies too.

Paris finished before me and then somehow she found a piece of paper hidden among the books. Her eyes scanned across quickly.

"Wow,this paper says answer 5 questions and win a teddy"

" Paris, seriously?,a teddy?,you can buy hundred and more"I told her in a bored voice

She gave me a pointed look.

"I've never owned a teddy,never in my life and you are one person that reads like a geek,help me na"She told me and I sighed,it's either she doesn't know Dozie very well or she just wanted to see something.

"Let me have a look"

I took the paper,she handed me the pen,there were about three questions,each taken from Best Sellers in the Nigerian Book board.

Every year, different books tops this list, extraordinary books,some had even been turned to turned to movies on Netflix, breaking streams and charts.

I tried to concentrate on the extreme calligraphy on the paper while Paris looked at me with lots of expectation.

1 Family is the greatest gift of all,the best gift in the world,the only people that would stick by you no matter what

"That sounds like a line I know" She tapped her empty head and then gave up

"Susan in Elites by Vanessa Murphy" I mumbled as I wrote down the answer

"Ohhhh,I just knew somehow it was her"

"You don't know Paris,stop pretending"I cut her off and she eyed me.

2 One thing you need to know before continuing with this story is that it starts with death and ends with death,all because of the things we did. No one in this story is innocent

"That sounds like a horror book" She said again,adding the shuddering for extra effect and I shook my head. This girl does not know anything.

"CJ,The Things we do by Donald Prince"

"Oh,the guy that wrote Before Sixteen?"

I nodded, at least her head wasn't totally empty.

3 One day I'll have to tell all our stories to the world, y'all should get ready because even though you are half way across the world, I'll find you. Everyone's perspective will matter"

" God, I know it, I know it, geez, it just escaped my memory"She slapped the already empty head and I tried hard not to laugh. This girl never ceases to amaze me, if Paris was ever my project partner in literature stuffs, I'd let her go without doing any work because she was enough work.

"Everyone knows this book Paris, like it's so popular and it's even a movie, what exactly do you know?"I asked her and she mumbled something that looked like 'i forgot'

"Prissy, Those Little Things by Love Tori"

" I really love that girl to be honest" Paris cooed

Of course you do, note the sarcasm.

4 In what block buster movie did the character of Mitchelle Stephen appear"

" This one is pretty simple,When she came by Yewande Joseph" Paris shocked me by responding

" What? I've read the book version and I've watched the movie too na and it's so cool,I really want a man like Mofe"She had some fake tears she was cleaning now. I just hissed.

5 You are a fool,a bigger fool than I thought,you think you are from an average home?You are my blood and wherever you go, people have their eyes on you...
Who said this in the book Kaftan by Chioma Chris

As I scribbled Mr Sani,I somehow remembered Selena again,this time it felt like Mr Sani were my classmates, trying to draw a class gap between us.

I wrote down the name and handed the paper to her, there was this huge grin on her face as she ran to the counter to get her teddy.

"It's so lovely" She kept mumbling over and over again as she held the huge white fluffy teddy bear.

"Thank you so much, I'd definitely start reading books from now"

"Like I care"I told her and she rolled her eyes at me.

She checked her phone and then grinned at me.

"Guess who is following you on Instagram right now?"

"Alica Keys?"

She shook her head

"Look,just say it okay, I know it's not the Triple J,they followed back last week nor is it Naomi Campbell,just spill"

"Semeeha Iris Malik"

Brah...

Seemeeha had a huge following and she rarely ever followed people and have you seen the girl,she is definitely drop dead gorgeous,not your regular kind of teen and a massive fan base,I respected her a lot and she was one of those female models I've worked with, others being Shade Onam and Sophia Williams.

We met just twice and she definitely didn't hide whatever she felt, Ken's kind of person. I was used to it.

And her following me out of the blues,well, that's cool.

"I'll follow her back" I said in response

We spent few minutes more and then I had to tell her I was going to see Mattew,he had just few days more to spend at the hospital, somehow we had talked things over,he was still family to me and I couldn't give up on him no matter what and then somehow I had told him what my mum had said and he heard her out, now that was definitely a step in redeeming my family

***
Elites by vheenessa is a real book on Wattpad

The things we do is also real Donaldprince

Those Little Things is also real by   lovetori_xoshe owns the character of Shade Onam

Almost Unfixable by Iyanuoluwa-Temi,she owns the character of Semeeha Malik,brah, she's beautiful 😩

When she came by yewandejoseph  you have to see my Mitchelle baby and Mofe

Sophia Williams on Perfectly Imperfect by Rihanna_Adedeji and finally

Mr Sani on Kaftan by me,chiomachris

These people are like my favorite authors on this space ,too lit🔥,brah if you haven't read at least one work I mentioned,you are snoozing on this app

And Grooves is a work of fiction, I imagine owning somewhere like that Sha😂😍

Who agrees with me that Paris hates reading 🤦😂, Mama no like book💔😂

There are no different flavors of popcorn, at least I've not seen yet, totally fictional, don't go and start looking for it o😂