The weekend flew by like a shooting star, so busy that they'd both woken up late on monday morning, her mother had taken her out on a spending spree the day before, from the hair dressers, the spa, to the shopping mall and then to the movies, ending the day by returning her seized cell phone back to her.

They'd both yelled simultaneously from their rooms as they checked the clocks by their bed side, and rushed to dress up, in spite of everything, her mother still managed to make a sandwich for the two of them as she impatiently ushered her into the car, dropped her just in time at her school, and wheeled off without a backward glance.

Her friends were already there to escort her in as they laughed and shared weekend stories, shrieking with glee at the return of her confiscated phone, but instead of leading her through the school gate straight to classes like they did in first day, they led her instead through the school’s main corridor to the old admin block where a group of girls stood waiting, with a sign from a tall girl called Florence, she led them, about six girls down to the buildings lowest floor, into a room dusty with disuse where they all changed into mufti outfits they must have kept hidden the week before, giddy with nervous excitement, Omotola followed the others through a hole in the wall they had kept hidden with a trophy cabinet from the school authorities into the street outside.

“Where are we going? She asked as they moved away from the school, the other girls laughed at this, they seem to find everything quite funny.

“Really Omotola, like seriously?’’ Florence looked backed at her, “to the boys government college of course, you planned this trip last week.’’ Looking like a total idiot, Omotola kept her mouth shut as they continued their trek.

“What if we got caught’’ she whispered to Bisola as she walked faster in order to catch up with her.

“No we wouldn’t’’ she stared at Omotola with a concerned look on her face, “the change of clothes will see to that, the uniforms might attract attention, “are you okay Omo? You don’t sound like you today.’’

“I’m fine, just having quite a day is all,” she replied truthfully.

Bisola shrugged, offered her a pack of gum and turned to chat with another girl, not wanting to bring unwanted attention to her person; Omotola turned her attention instead to enjoying the city sights. she had heard some girl earlier called the city Lagos; Eko in Yoruba; is the most populous city in Nigeria, the second fastest growing city in Africa and the seventh most populous in the world according to Wikipedia, she chanted without thinking, the professors at the institute had been really thorough with their studies, she frowned; where did the memory of professors and institute come from, she then stiffened as she saw Valerie noticed her muttering to herself.

“Hey guys’’, she yelled, Omotola couldn’t wait to be in her boo’s arms she’s busy reciting the love poems she composed.’’

They all bent over with laughter, Omotola stared baffled at them, and getting laughed at without getting the joke was beginning to bore her.

“Can you please explain the joke so I can at least laugh at my own expense?’’ she said the edge beginning to show on her voice.

Valerie paused long enough to wipe an imaginary tear from her heavily mascaraed eye.

“you know it’s been days since you last saw him, hopefully you let go of his sumptuous lips soon so we can go to this cool place he promised to take us with his cute friends.’’

“Wait what!! I have a boyfriend?’’ Omotola exclaimed, they all squealed with laughter.

“Look babe, you’ve always found a new way to get ahead of yourself but today girlfriend, you’ve taken it to a whole new level, Ayuba seem to think that's adorable.”

She winked and guffawed so hard Omotola felt like slapping the thick makeup off her face but she pursed her lips instead and ignored their shrill laughter the rest of the way.

The government college building was much larger and unruly than the girl’s college they had slipped from, the premises was noisy and chaotic as college boys rushed from classrooms and scattered like ants, some made for the football fields, some to the mess hall, a small group of seniors broke away and headed for the school gates towards the girls, laughing out loud and pushing themselves.

They grinned and exchange jokes as soon as they saw them and appears to be poking fun at the boy in the middle, he simply smiled as his eyes held Omotola’s own, her heart raced. The boy was cute and looked uncomfortably like Shettima, now who in the heavens was Shettima; she pray she wouldn't need to see a doctor as soon as possible. What he did next was unexpected as he drew her into an embrace and a kiss that had her toes curling up in her sandals; he held the kiss for what seems like years till the playful whoop from his friend had her open the eyes that she never realize was closed, blushing quite furiously.

“Sup treasure’’ he whispered as he held her, she regrettably pushed away from him murmuring inaudible words in reply, being the center of attention was so uncomfortable she tried her best to ignore the girls as their giggle intensifies.

“So Ayuba bobo, where are we going this time around,’’ one of the girls teased.

“To the city mall,’’ he answered taking his attention off Omotola for a moment so she could finally breathe again.

She stole a glance at him as he exchanged jokes with the others, he was the shortest of the boys but his posture was so confident there was no doubt about who the top dog was amidst them. Lean and dark skinned, with a mop of curly dark hair that glistened in the sun. After much grunts and curses as they all stuffed themselves like sardines into one of the boy’s jalopy ride, they headed out towards the city’s capital.

Losing herself in the moment as they explored the whole length and breadth of the mall building; they had to drag off Valerie from the boutiques windows as they then moved off to the cinemas in time to watch a movie, Ayuba all the while held her hand and made small talks, with her trying to keep up and look less like an interloper.

She laughed at his jokes and was lost in his eyes, a gnawing headache made her winced as strange memories weakly tried to invade in to her head, pushing it away she resolved in telling her mother as soon as she gets home later that day. he asked her if she was alright, she smiled to calm his worry and sat back to enjoy being a normal teen with a loving parent and friends and doing all the silly things girls her age does.