Rooney Edwin.

What's wyd?
Nachi💓

My phone vibrated as the message came in, notifications streamed down my Instagram app and with a stupid smile I tapped reply on her message.

What're you doing.
R.E👌🏾

Still with the stupid smile plastered on my face, I sent it to her and continued scrolling down on my Instagram.

Every picture I saw had at least one member of my school in it, everybody I knew was updating their Instagram life today and it was utterly suffocating, most of them had meaningless captions and it was now beyond tiring to see the same thing over and over again...

Sure, they all had good picture quality... IPhone users surpassed Android users in my school, but they lacked something to me... they all lacked sense.

Like, who cares if you're back from a boarding school?

Oh, I'm messaging you on whatsapp.
Nachi💓

My phone vibrated again and my eyes quickly scanned the number of messages I'd left pending as the WhatsApp notifications streamed down on my screen, over a thousand messages from five hundred and fifty two chats.

Yet only one person's chat felt important enough to respond to.

We're chatting, not messaging.
R.E👌🏾

Correcting her didn't feel wrong, it didn't feel strange either, I'd been doing that all morning, even teaching her new abbreviation words. But not giving her my full attention currently, now that.. That felt wrong. So I closed my Instagram and opened my WhatsApp and at that same second her reply came in.

Lol.
Nachi💓

Scowling at her short reply, I decided to wait for a second message from her so I didn't open our chat thread yet, instead, I scrolled down and searched for a group that only my guys were in.

I found it quickly and sighed at the number of unread messages that was displayed.

Why did boys text this much?

Why did that thought sound so wrong?

Correction: why did my friends chat so much?

A hundred and ten messages were unread and I swiped downwards, barely glancing over them before I moved to the last message.

They probably weren't discussing anything important, either football... which I hate, some girl's round ass, most girls in our school... Who's cute and who's not, who's bangable and who's not, who has shared nudes to one of us and those who haven't or they were probably discussing a new stupid bet or how strange it feels to be back in our various homes... That's the shit they did, every fucking holiday.

A minute later and I was reading the last message that'd been sent in our group chat... It came in seconds ago;

Guy, he's online now... Ask am.
Nonso👑

Ask who?

Ask who?
R.E👌🏾

Barely two minutes after sending that message Kenelum started typing.

You. Guy wetin we hear so. Na true
King K👑

I had no idea why I hadn't changed his name yet.

Watin una hear?
R.E👌🏾

He started typing again and a second later Kenneth was typing too, so their names kept switching on the group's header.

Guy you give Numb your iPhone 8?
Ken👑

Kenneth beat Kenelum to it and he stopped typing for a minute.

Yes, watin sup?
R.E👌🏾

I hit send and my phone vibrated again, it was a message from Munachi so I tapped on it and our thread opened.

....
Nachi💓

With a deep sigh and a smug smirk, I was quick to type;

Video call?
R.E👌🏾

The tick on my message turned blue instantly, but yet her 'online' didn't change to 'typing'...

What's she doing?

Where's she?

Is she alone?
Of course she is... I doubt her father would be sitting right next to her, helping her chat with her crush.

Was I even her crush?

Well, she was mine...

And I'm sure she shares at least some feelings with me.

Yeah right and she's snubbing you.
Guy, think.

Three messages popped up quickly on my phone in a second, halting me from thinking further and I groaned.

Guy, you guys are disturbing me.

Guy. Wetin dey work you.
King K👑

You dey okay so?
Ken👑

You don dey craze abi!
Dummyniq👑

How did it even concern you guys?

Just get off my back, I gave her because I wanted to and last time I checked it was mine.... Y'all should stop fucking with me.

Don forget say Segun ask you first?
Thor👑👑

Way to choose their side Arthur. I tapped on our group's name and highlighted Arthur's message.

👹SAVAGES👹

Guy, I no forget. I no even plan give her the phone, she no get phone... That's why I gave her.
R.E👌🏾

Their replies violently vibrated my phone and I groaned even louder...

How did they all type that quickly? Why did they send their messages simultaneously?

Which kain talk be that one.
King K👑

Say you be her mama?
Ken👑

Guy, you don dey craze small small.
Dummyniq👑

Baba, you fall my hand.
Nonso👑

Nawa.
Thor👑👑

Segun suddenly started typing and a message came in from Munachi.

How do I video call?
Nachi💓

I was about to tap on our message and snub these guys when Segun's reply suddenly came in.

That wan no concern me again oh, if me see that phone na to collect am from am be next action oh.
Sheggs👑

Like, guy I dare you... you don't even know where she lives.

No even talk that kain thing near me.. Na try and die be watin you wan attempt o. No be ordinary IPhone, I go make am up to you. Guy, you no even know her crib so watin you dey talk?
R.E👌🏾

After sending that message, I opened Munachi and I's chat thread and tapped on the microphone icon for thirty seconds straight while explaining how she could do it before I removed my finger.

The voice note sent immediately.

More messages also came in at the same time from the group.

See u. True true I dey see her house nw nw. As we dey talk. Guy, we even be neighbours sef. Watin u dey talk?
Sheggs👑

Naso. Guy which kain mumu dream you evun dey dream dey type seff?
King K👑

Me too self. I even dey her house self dey lie on him bed dey type.
Nonso👑

Sha, e dey possible. Segun shay una be one pack from una house one time?
Dummyniq👑

Where your house dey Segun?
Thor👑👑

Segun started typing... Probably a reply to Arthur, I already knew where he lived... Well,I knew where he formerly lived.. Port Harcourt, maybe he was still in PH and Munachi lived in PH too?

I'd gotten an answer now to the question I'd first wondered when I opened my WhatsApp and saw their number of unread messages: this was how my friends could leave so many messages in just an hour.

Well, that's no longer my p. I had an incoming video call to answer.

•○•

Ten minutes later and I opened the group chat again, there were only sixty seven messages this time. I started scrolling down quickly again and continued reading from a message that'd caught my attention.

Serious serious guy. Una really be neighbours o.
Nonso👑

You no fit enter her house snap am?
King K👑

Guy, snap what again? The picture no clear for your eyes? Na Munachi be that oh,as she dey read outside.
Dummyniq👑

Guy, visit am na. Give am watin Rooney no fit give am. Shay she dey home alone right now?
Ken👑

No let the guy catch you oh @Ken👑
Hand no dey.
Thor 👑👑

Catch fia. Nnaeh person wey no evun dey online
King K👑

Imagine oh. So the guy go offline as we dey talk.
Sheggs👑

The guy already don useless for Numb's case oh.
Ken👑

I swear small thing e go turn mugu wey woman go dey control. See as e give am phone wey e don reserve for Segun since last term sharperly sharperly.
King K👑

Our guy's in love
Nonso👑

Love fia. Love no dey exist. Espciaully for Nigeria. Na fuck he one fuck am.
King K👑

She no go gree jor and he don already know am. The guy don fall he don fall, no be sex matter again.
Dummyniq👑

I got tired of reading their messages and searched for the picture they were chatting about, I grinned when I saw that it hadn't been deleted.

Knowing this guys they'd also probably discussed deleting the picture just to spite me, somewhere in the unread messages I hadn't read.

Wawu. Segun was really her neighbour?

It was a clear picture of Munachi sitting down in her garden, wearing a white top and black shorts her legs were crossed together and she had a textbook on her laps.

The picture was an aerial shot so the phone was displayed perfectly in the middle of her textbook, she wasn't hiding the phone per say... but she made it seem like she was reading, meanwhile I can swear she was chatting with me on WhatsApp when the shot was taken...

Segun must have taken this from his bedroom window... I still didn't know how to react to the fact that they were really next door neighbours.

Like, guy could stalk her and see her naked.

But, Segun wouldn't do that...

He wasn't stupid.

None of my friends were.

Her house looked nice, it had that natural sense to it, or maybe it was just because she was in her garden, a hammock was behind her and I wondered why she didn't just lay there instead and hide her phone.

I'm sure it was a huge one because the gate behind her was way too big to be guarding a small house, in fact it seemed majestic and literally had what looked like a lion's head at the center.

Odumba was rolling in his own bags wasn't he?

I swiped right on the picture and replied;

My baby looks cute. Greet her for me.
R.E👌🏾

Five minutes later after I'd replied more people and reduced the number of unread chats I had on my WhatsApp, a message came in from...

👹Savages👹

You try.
King K 👑

Guy, I no teh you may you delete the picture @Sheggs👑? No how no how, Rooney no go talk.
Dummyniq👑

I knew it, they'd talked about deleting this picture somewhere.

I knew my friends.

I chuckled and dropped my phone, threw my legs over my bed, opened my bedroom door and walked downstairs.

I was famished.

"Guy, who were you talking to in your room? Who's inside?" Darren's voice was muffled and he sounded like he was eating.

Ever heard of a thing called technology? That thing that develops communication and enables you to talk to someone... Outside your room?!

His question was beyond stupid so I ignored him and passed the second living room pausing a second to look inside.

I loved this room more than I loved my own bedroom, like... Who wouldn't love a room that had cool colorful beanbag chairs- okay I wouldn't go gaga for it but, the pool table, the PlayStations loitering everywhere, a foosball table, a slot machine, cotton candy machine, a fridge stocked up with ice cream and chocolates, a pinball machine and a piano? I haven't even gotten started about the gigantic plasma TV yet.

Like guy, here was almost perfect.
I just didn't dig the wallpaper mum had used here.

My skulls design would've totally fit here instead of the wooden-logcabin accent she'd used.

Darren's back was hunched over on one of the bean bags as he gripped the PlayStation pad with his two hands, I glanced at the TV and rolled my eyes when I saw a football game on the screen.

"Guy! FIFA's useless abeg. See, how you're just scoring me anyhow. Guy it's fucked up!" Darrel yelled loudly and I scowled.

Of course it's useless when you're loosing.

I slapped my tongue against my upper teeth loudly and Darren shouted.

"Guy, no be you I dey talk to? Who you-"

"-dey talk to for inside your room? " Darrel completed Darren's sentence-they did that a lot at home, completed each other's sentence... Which was plain stupid.

They think they're a robotic pair, a bunch of fools is what they are instead.

I entered the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, a frown tugged my lips down when I noticed that my yogurt was gone.

"Guy! Who's that useless mofo that took my yogurt! " I screamed loudly so the two of them could hear me over the loud commentary voices from the TV and also because I wanted everyone in the house to hear my question...

Couldn't just suspect those two fools only..

Favor, my older sister... Eleven months older than those two fools yelling profanities at the TV, also lived here and that black witch had no chills when it came to food, ever since I got home, every time I saw her eat I always remembered the day I fed Nachi, remembered how quickly she tore open the ice cream carton with her teeth... Favor always ate that way, with this unexplainable huge appetite.

So she taking my yoghurt was very much possible.

"Me!? Me mofo?! Me Rooney? Me a mofo? You.are.mad!" She raised her voice,I rolled my eyes and slammed the refrigerator door shut,

Years ago, I would've never done that... Years ago I would've tried to close the door slowly, in an attempt to find out if the light bulb in there went off or stayed on...

Many stupid years ago.

"Can't wait till the day you finally get sense. " I muttered, she was in front of me now...

Her dark skin glowed under the bright light of the kitchen.

She was the only dark skinned person in our house... She was the strange one.

When I was also much younger I used to tease her that she was adopted..

I still did that, but now it always came out directed as an insult...

I wanted to hurt her.

Like, why was she the only one with Dad's unadulterated complexion? Like my mom's genes didn't even try at all, no brown eyes, no light skin, no same face. Favor was my dad's physical carbon copy and it was not fair.

She spent some years with him unlike me and yet only her had a reminder of him.

"For yoghurt again? Something that's abundant in this house? Just open the freezer and put another one inside the fridge, don't know why you're insulting me? Ahan!" She sounded hurt, but right now I didn't care.

It wasn't just the yoghurt again, it was her complexion...

Like she was right, shit was abundant... But I couldn't just miss a chance to hurl an insult at her.

Her dark skin was so flawless and dark and it repulsed me, why did she get dad's skin and I didn't?!

She already had his entire face, she took his complexion too?!

How dare her.

"Just shut up, why didn't you do that then? You could've avoided everything by not touching my stuff." I growled at her and walked out of the kitchen making sure I slammed my body against hers, she groaned when her face hit the wall.

"Rooney! Why do you hate me so much? I'm your sister! Blood sist-"

"-BS! I sure as hell can't be related to a walking oracle." I hissed and walked past the living room again.

Darrel called out my name but I ignored him.

As I was about to shut my door, a small hand pushed it backwards, almost shoved me backwards.

"Rooney, why do you always insult me? What did I do to you? Since we were kids all you ever do is insult me... Why wh-why do you hate me so much?!" She looked hurt.

She was hurt.

I didn't want to hurt her.

"See, I didn't choose to be born this black okay? I don't know why you hate dark skinned girls but stop it okay... You're not perfect just because you're fair. " Now her eyes were glittering with tears.

Of course she didn't understand, no one would. I did not think I was perfect because I was light skin and I did not hate dark skinned girls.

Guy, you're stupid... You're making her cry.

You're going to get tears on her dark cheek.

"I love my dark skin okay? Because it reminds me of dad... " She whispered and my head snapped in her direction.

That's her business, she could cry for all I care, just don't get tears on my floor.

"Are you even listening to me? "

"I don't hate you! Now shut up and get ou-" My phone's loud ringing tone interrupted me and I instantly turned.

If I was correct and if Munachi actually listened to me... She was the one calling.

She'd ended the video call because her dad came back... Early from work and I told her to call me when she was less busy and alone.

I ignored my sister and picked up my phone and a grin formed on my lips.

It was her.

"Who's it? Who's making my baby brother smile like that eh? " Favor's tone had changed completely, I raised my eyes up and quirked my eyebrows when I realised her whole countenance had changed too.

How does she keep doing this?
How does she change moods so quickly?

While I remained a sulking teenager all my life?

"None of your business... Now get out. "

"No jare! I want to see who's making you smile so stupidly like that! " She announced, clapped her hands together and walked to me.

In a second she'd grabbed my phone and was smiling down at my phone.

"Nachi. Who's Nachi eh? You na even save her name with heart oh. This is serious, odikwa see-ree-yos o" Favor met my gaze and smirked smugly at me,

Her accent changed when she switched to Igbo... She always nailed our language perfectly.

Maybe that was one thing dad also nailed perfectly?

Why is she so much like him?! And I'm not?

My smile changed to a grimace and I yanked my phone away from her.

"Fine, don't get out. I will. " I told her and tapped answer on my phone then walked out, she of course in her annoying manner and full blown natural personality, followed me.

"Hey." I spoke smoothly with the phone near by ear, I was holding my phone with my right hand stretched upwards, right besides my face and Favor giggled loudly behind me.

"Chai, he's now using his toasting-woman voice, said is 'Hey' Chai!"

I rolled my eyes and resisted the urge to smile when she perfectly mimicked my voice.

"I'm free now. "

I couldn't hold it in anymore, her voice sounded beautiful over the phone.

Like I was speaking to Ariana! Clearing my throat and licking my lower lips, I spoke.

"Yeah. I see. So you're sure your dad's totally cool with you being with my pho-"

"-Hewo! You even gave her your phone! I'm sure it's your IPhone! Since you're using the infinix now, Rooney... Not fair oh! I wanted your ITunes cards now!" The black witch screamed loudly and I groaned.

"Favor shut up! "

"Who's Favor? "

She was giggling while she spoke.

"My idiotic black oracle of a sister." I replied and I felt Favor's aura die out... I turned to look at her sad face and felt bad again.

I'm sorry I have to insult you to make me feel better about myself.

She smiled at me almost like she'd heard my unspoken words and then laughed.

"He's just jealous I'm finer than him! I'm not an oracle oh, I'm a walking temptation! " Favor screamed and I rolled my eyes, still wondering how she could change moods quickly.

"Walking temptation my ass!" Darrel and Darren said simultaneously as they walked by, I looked up and saw them leaning at the staircase.

They looked like they were going up to their room, that was clear enough, what I didn't understand was why they didn't continue climbing up the stairs but instead they stopped at my floor's landing.

I already had one stupid person to deal with, don't add yourselves you fools.

Favor stuck out her tongue at them, she seemed distracted now so I contemplated with quickly returning back to my room to lock the door but that plan was flawed, she could also quickly follow me.

Or running down stairs and to the pool area... They could also follow me.

Damn! I'm trapped!

Joys of living in a fucking large home!

"Rooney, are you there?"

Munachi's voice sounded strained and I realized that this wasn't the first time she'd repeated that sentence.

And this stupid loud squabble I hadn't realized my siblings were involved in, was the major and only reason why I hadn't heard her the first time.

"Is that Chiamaka baby? You guys have gotten back together again?" Darren sounded too happy for my liking.

We were never even together in the first place. I glared at him and hoped Munachi didn't hear that.

"Nachi. I'm sorry, can I call you back late-"

"-No oh! Don't hang up! I want to talk to her! " Favor's loud shouting interrupted me and I rolled my eyes waiting for Munachi to give me a reply.

"Talk to her to do what?" Darrel and Darren said together, I groaned.

Stop doing that!
It's creepy!

"None of your business, I'm older than you two identical dweebs so I have no reason to answer to you!" Favor yelled and I tried to stylishly backtrack to my room, my back touched my older sister's chest...

Eew.. Why was she so soft and mushy?

"Injure me oh! Injure me!" Favor screamed at me with a glare, her face softened as a smirk creepily formed on her lips then she suddenly grabbed my phone and ran down the stairs.

What's doing this one na?!

"Favor!" I called out to her and followed her, Darrel and Darren did the same.

Come on, not you two!

"So who's she na? You change women every session, bad guy" Darrel asked me, I whipped my head back wards and eyed him.

"Answer na. What's doing you self?  Amaka deserved better than you, you know? You're an ass. " Darren hissed.

"Blame him? Just be hating on everyone in this house, very useless guy. Just don't fuck this one up the way you fucked Chiamaka up. You might hate us for whatever fucking reason you justify it with, but at least we leave girls the way we met them. You fuck up women who fall for you. "Darrel scowled at me.

I did... didn't I? I felt my body slow down as I remembered hearing Chiamaka apologize to me after I'd hurt her.

They were right, weren't they?

Darren suddenly stopped running and I turned back to look at him speak, "You ruined Amaka, in less than a year look at what you turned her into. Don't touch this one. I won't let you hurt her. " Darrel stopped too.

They were right.

I do corrupt women.

There is something in me that rottens everyone I touch.

But still, I ignored their words because no matter how true it felt, I would never hurt Munachi and I'd rather cut off my fingers than change her.

I've learnt already, I won't ruin her.

I recognize where I've made huge mistakes in the past, I won't repeat these same mistakes.

With a new surge of energy, I shortened the distance between me and Favor.

Favor was now in front of me, with my phone dangling carelessly from her hand next to her ear while she giggled and threw glances at me.

I just hate my family.

Except mum.

Now what was that fool telling Munachi?

(∩'﹏'∩)