"Dara! Dayo! If you don't hurry up, I'll leave you and tell Mummy you ran off to join a cartoon cult!" ouu my cute little monsters.
I stood by the gate, school bag slung over my shoulder, braids pulled into a lazy ponytail, and the stress of being the middle child hanging over my head like a cheap ceiling fan.
Dimeji, my older brother, had long declared himself exempt from school drop duties since he was now a "big boy" in university. So I was stuck dragging the twins to school every morning, their little legs working double speed while I tried not to lose my mind.
They bickered all the way to their classroom. I dropped them off, flashed a tired smile at their teacher, then headed to my own side of the school compound.
Senior secondary life didn't feel very senior when your socks were off-white and your backpack's zip was held together with a safety pin.
I walked into the open corridor and spotted my girls already waiting in our usual corner beside the dusty mango tree.
"Ella the twin's mama!" Kosi shouted, arms wide like I had just returned from war. I sighed..I missed them a lot..
"Why is your eye looking like you slept inside stress?" Zinny added, sipping her Coke like a housewife judging her neighbor's marriage.
I collapsed beside them on the concrete bench. "Because I did. Stress is now my side hustle."
We laughed. Loudly. Because if we didn't laugh, we'd probably scream. You can call us the sirens..ha ha not funny.
"Okay," Kosi said, eyes lighting up like she had gossip hot enough to fry plantain. "So remember that guy I told you about? James?"
"The one that types like he's trying to seduce you with full stops?" Zinny asked.
"Yes, that James. He told me yesterday that he's celibate for now because he's 'focusing on his spiritual growth."
I choked on air. "Ah! That's his way of saying he's broke or he's cheating. Pick one."
Zinny cackled. "Please, my own said he's traveling to the UK next year and can't be in a serious relationship. Meanwhile, he's still asking for nudes. Is it British immigration that needs the pics?!"
We were messy, yes. But we were honest.
Then Kosi turned to me, smirking. "Ella, what of you? Who's making you blush these days? That fine boy from church?"
My smile twitched. "Michael? He's still forming 'God's keyboardist'. He's not serious."
Zinny raised an eyebrow. "You like him like that?"
I shrugged. "He's… different. Feels like if I touch him, I might actually catch feelings. I'm not ready for that type of warfare."
Kosi whistled. "Ah, lover girl in disguise."
We laughed again, but the topic soon shifted.
"So what are you applying for in uni?" Zinny asked.
I froze for a second. Not because I didn't have an answer. But because I had too many—and none of them felt real.
"I don't know yet," I said honestly. "Maybe something in communications. Or psychology. Or whatever doesn't kill me with math."
Kosi nodded. "I feel you. Me, I just want something that'll pay. Anything. I'm not trying to graduate and still be borrowing data."
Zinny looked serious for once. "Honestly. I'm scared. The future just feels like one big scam."
I didn't say anything.
Because they didn't know the half of it.
Just as I stood to stretch, we heard shouting near the back of the class building.
Two girls were dragging each other's wigs off like it was a sponsored hair sacrifice.
"Is it me you're calling fake? You that was kissing him behind the lab block?!"
"You're mad! He said you were nothing to him. Just a phase!"
Their friends tried to separate them, but they were determined. Desperation and jealousy gave them superpowers. We watched from a safe distance, half-concerned, half-entertained.
"I'm telling you," Zinny muttered, "boys are the devil's most consistent interns." In my mind I added "more of a reason why you shouldn't catch feelings."
Back in class, I was quietly scrolling through my phone when I saw it.
A message.
From Tari.
As in Tari, the boy who sat three rows from the back. Tall. Soft-spoken. Always looking like he was analyzing the meaning of life and quietly judging all of us. He barely spoke, and when he did, It was with this deep, calm voice that could melt steel.
Tari: "Hi. Are you free after school? I want to talk to you."
I blinked. Once. Twice.
Me?
I checked again. It wasn't a dream.
Zinny saw my face and leaned over. "Who texted you?"
I tilted my phone for her to see.
"WHAT?! Tari texted you? What did you do to him? Wear perfume made from jazz?!"
I laughed, but my heart was racing. What did he want? Why now?
Later that evening, I was helping my mom pack up some old clothes for donation when I passed the living room.
My dad had left his phone on the center table.
The screen lit up with a notification.
My eyes flicked over it—and paused.
Credit Alert: NGN 300,000.
My stomach turned.
He hadn't paid Dayo and Dara's school fees. He hadn't dropped anything for food or repairs. Just last week, my mom had to borrow money from her friend for Dara's school shoes.
So where was all this money going?
I stared at the screen.
And then I remembered that random phone call he took outside last night, whispering like a thief in a church.
My throat went dry.
There was a possibility I hadn't wanted to condsider before.
But now… it was screaming in my head.
Does my father have another family?
And if he did… he should leave..he has done enough.. really.
What happens to us? Scratch that I'm less concerned..but it'd break mom.
Ah.