Munachi Odumba.

When Arthur had pulled me away from my friends, I didn't expect the night to end with him trying to plant a kiss on my lips.

We'd stayed outside talking a bit, Arthur was apologizing about how he'd handled things but then Chiamaka 'caught' us together and almost tried to start something, she called me a slut she had exposed and all manner of nonsense because she felt justified in catching us literally just talking alone—Arthur rudely shut her down.

Then dragged me away with him, while she stayed frozen to the spot.

I also didn't expect my best friends to catch that exact moment from our dorm window- woefully, because their view was blocked by one of the two pillars of our building, the one I was resting on before he'd bend low to kiss me- so now they were annoyed because they thought they'd witnessed me 'hiding to kiss man'

"When exactly did Rooney turn you rotten?" Silvana and Jasmine asked in unison when I walked into the hostel, they didn't even let me walk through properly.

One leg was still literally outside

"Rotten?" I quirked my eyebrows at them.

"Yes rotten. When did Rooney spoil you so much that you now know how to touch guys?" Silvana asked.

"Touch Arthur. " Jasmine added

"I don't know what you're talking about" I replied truthfully, because what are they talking about?

What do they think they saw?

"We saw Arthur move in for a kiss young lady- Jasmine almost alerted everyone, and you know how her voice is... If she had started screaming everyone would've noticed you both, and you know this stupid law they're trying to enforce that they don't want boys hanging around in front of girls hostel at night. Jasmine would've put you both in trouble. " Silvana narrowed her eyes at the culprit.

"Um... My bad. I'm sorry." She looked down.

When I'd turned to enter the hostel, I'd seen Silvana and Jasmine staring down at us through the window, Silvana had her hand around Jasmine's lips and that's how I knew they'd seen us.

I also saw them both disappear so I knew they were running downstairs.

"We ran downstairs and saw your back against the wall and although, you were hidden from our sight-" Silvana was interrupted

"-Stupid pillar" Jasmine cursed.

"Obviously from his reaction you were touching his.. His... His... " Silvana stuttered.

"No! Do not say that word.. Never say that word. And no, he kissed me but I pushed him away. Nothing more. " I said lowly and turned away from the both of them.

I began climbing the stairs that led to our room. They were following closely behind me.

"Munachi Odumba. " Silvana called out my full name and I felt her warm palm wrap around my hand.

I turned to look at her.

"Silvana Ifunaya Obidinm." I grinned cockily at her.

"I want to confess. " Silvana requested weirdly and I nodded slowly, she dropped my hand.

"Nonso asked me out last two months during the holidays, before I travelled, we went to the cinema on a date and he asked me to be his girlfriend while I was shoving down buttered milky popcorn down my throat.

I never experred(expected) it and acted like I didn't hear him due to the loud audio in there while thinking of what to say. He didn't talk about it again.. " She paused to catch her breath.

Then resumed, "Till I got to my home, he was like 'I know you heard me', and I told him I was speechless and I'll think about it. I didn't tell you both any of this because I didn't know how to react. I'm still processing all these. I've never dated anyone, I just loved shopping and talking." She rolled her eyes and popped an imaginary bubblegum then continued.

"I thought he'd forgotten about it self, but then he stood by our door immediately form mistress left and called me then he asked again and I told him I was indecisive, he told me to meet him break time. I completely forgot till I saw you starring out the class during break time... " she looked at me and I nodded.

So this was why she'd rushed out earlier on today.

One minute she was reading her romance novel, the next she was flying across the class.

"He was waiting in front of middle floor's tuck shop, asked what I wanted, he bought then we walked downstairs, asked me again if I was done thinking and before I could answer he kissed me roughly- weirdly his violence excited me, things got heated and I.. I... I." She trailed off but I knew what she didn't finish saying, from experience.

"He raised me up on the wall of one the school buildings. I've never been there before, like a hidden spot behind the school buildings. It was like a secret pathway was made in between two buildings with the roofs from both buildings forming an upside-down V shape, I loved that spot cause it was just loooong and I could just tell it led to the administration office. "

I froze up hearing that... I knew that 'hidden spot' too. In fact, I knew that spot very well.

It was Rooney's spot, he'd discovered it on his first day in school 7th grade, because he'd gotten lost running away from every staff who kept seeing him and asking his number one dreaded question,

"Are you related to Darrel and Darren?"

"... My legs were round his waist and he started pushing himself in between my legs the snacks surprisingly stayed in my hand behind his neck and well long story short, my first kiss graduated into a full blown make out session. I was moaning and I'm not even sure I moaned correctly, I'm sure I sounded like a dying chicken. "Silvana ended with a shy smile and I almost giggled, we were both 16 so that story was very exciting to hear, because I knew it was true.

There was just something so fascinating about hearing taboo things from people my age. Very fascinating.

Jasmine and I both stared at her with wide eyes till I smirked at her.

"Ooh you, naughty you, dirty you. Nonso has spoilt you oh. " I said while chuckling.

"Story of the stairs. " Jasmine muttered with a wide grin, I'm sure the story excited Jasmine more because she had no kissing history or boyfriend history, and for people my age with limited or zero experience, hearing tales like this was like inviting us to experience it.

It felt like privilege. Exciting privilege I participated in without getting my hands dirty in.

Silvana hid her lower face with her hand, giggled and we continued walking.

"Telling that story took some bravery. So I'll be brave too. I'll answer honestly any questions you ask before we reach our dorm. " I told them.

"First question. " Silvana replied me and I wondered why she was walking so slowly, maybe it was because I was in front of her slowing her down.

Silvana normally flew when on the stairs, any stairs.

"I already told you guys, he just kissed me. " I whined.

Why do they not want to believe me?

"Fine, why didn't you tell us any of the things you and Rooney did. "

"I told you guys about my first kiss. " I answered instead.

"Yeah, weeks abi (Or) months after it happened. "Jasmine snickered.

I rolled my eyes.

"I'm Munachi, the same girl from JS1. I'm an introvert who doesn't like talking too much... Especially about my private matters. Now do you get why? "

"No. You were Numb, now you're Muna so spill ah. " Silvana answered, trying to rhyme with my name.

"Fine, I've done a lot of things with Rooney. We've dry humped. " I confessed and walked faster.

I know I liked hearing tales like that, but that doesn't mean I liked saying tales like that.

Silvana gave me a weird stare, so I knew she wanted me to explain.

I sighed and tried to elaborate,

"Dry humping is similar to what you two did today. Doing it with clothes on. Thrusting in without being in."

Her cheeks took on a hint of pale pink as she nodded, then I continued talking, "We've cuddled, laughed, gisted, gossiped, I've stayed at his house for weeks during holidays, he's been sad, he's been happy, I've cried, we've both been there for each other... He's met my dad, I've met his mom, his siblings. His family." I felt my chest begin to tighten up yet I continued, I just had to.

"We've called, bickered and argued... That's why he doesn't deserve to be so easily forgotten cause he's been there for me when no one has, when no one in this school took a second glance, when everyone labelled me Numb ! Most importantly he wanted me when even my mother didn't want me and I.. I.. I just..cheated on him... Kissed his best fr-"

"-You didn't cheat, you guys broke up. You're not dating." I ignored Jasmine.

"I cheated... On the first guy I've ever loved." Where that sudden revelation and outburst just came out from I had no idea.

Maybe, it was the name Numb.

I was beginning to realize that being called Numb had a strong impact on my mood.

"I'll see you guys up in ten. " I walked away from the both of them and turned, I climbed down stairs I'd just climbed up and straight into the windy, dark and lonely courtyard.

••

The temperature was still dropping and I was freezing and yet I loved it.

My finger tips felt Numb, my whole arms were filled with goosebumps and my teeth was involuntarily chattering.

I was sitting on a wooden chair inches outside the Hostel's courtyard- the large space we all hung our clothes on the endless lines that were currently all empty except one at the further end with something that looked like a blanket hanging- the atmosphere had an empty Earth smell, the environment wasn't quiet, every dorm had red lights glittering down, loud laughter and low talks could be heard clearly, but I didn't focus on the background sound.

The dark sky was totally void of any stars... Maybe the sky felt empty too- I felt empty and sad.

Exhausted also, took all the courage in me to finally admit something I've held down for a year now.

Took a trigger to do that.

An emotional trigger made me realize that I loved Rooney... I love Rooney. I love him. He left thinking I didn't. I just.. I thought that I was just too young to know what love was back then.

What makes you think you're older now?

You're still way too young to know what it is.

A wave of nostalgia hit me at the thought of Rooney and I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath allowing the memories flood in.

"You don't love me, do you? " Rooney groaned loudly, he fell flat on his back besides seated me on his bed.

"Nachi?" He added following my minute long silence.

"Ron?" I replied falling besides him.

xx

"Ron? What happened to Ooney?" he smirked at me suddenly flipping so he was now on me.

"Rooney, baby. " I squirmed under him, trying to find a way to escape his hold and continued talking.

"Your mom could walk in here any minute. Amanda or Anabelle could see us. Henry could catc-" he stood up at the mention of his older brother's name.

He lived in a large family, Amanda and Anabelle were twins and the first born (s), Henry was the second and unlike the female twins he wasn't married but he owned a house in another state and visited occasionally, then came Precious she was in her final year of uni.

Favour, 11 months older than the male twins she was at home right now, she was the most beautiful of his siblings and they were all beautiful, she had a face very similar to a black Barbie doll and tall straight toy legs

Darren and Darrel, they graduated last year, their school weren't on vacation but they both were currently at home. 'Brain Fatigue' they said.

And finally came Rooney- The baby of the house and he was locking his door, oh that's good. He's locking the door. Wait?! What?

"Now where were we? " he asked and leaned on me again, spreading my legs with his thighs so he could press his crotch in between them.

I groaned.

"Is Ooney our bedroom nickname? " he smirked and I turned my face away.

Why was he talking about this?

"Is it? " he pressed on and kissed the cheek that faced him.

"Nachi... I'm talking to you, babe. " he kissed my cheek and let his lips trail down to my neck and I let out a moan.

He bit me.

He squeezed my left thigh with his hand, "Reply. Babe. "

I groaned as a reply and he sucked my neck.

"Oooney." I moaned.

And he froze, he shook his head quickly and said, "Oh, so it is our bedroom name. " Then he flipped again and positioned me so I was straddling him.

"You say it like we've done it. " I sucked on my lower lip.

He was wearing a loose short and I doubt he had a boxer on but that didn't make things anymore awkward between us.

"One for starters, we're not having sex until you're 18. I'm 17 now, I'd be 18 when SS1 resumes, I won't be here though and you're 15, 16 in SS1 omo...so that's like two more years for you... But it's fine, when ever I can visit Nigeria you know I would.. I'd come back for you whenever I can." he said with a sadness in his eyes and I felt a responsibility to cheer him up.

"18? " I asked with a fake frown.

"Yes 18... I won't forward it till when I can finally be responsible for the both of us. Ready to pay diaper bills. I'm leaving it at 18 because then I'd be an adult ready to face the real world. " He said with his own fake frown.

"Why do I feel like you're quoting your mother? " I asked and tried to get off him. He didn't let me.

"'Cause I am. Gah. I suffered like mad last night. Momsi called me and started preaching to me in the middle of the night. She was like 'Rooney, wake up. Time for morning prayers' and I don't know the stupid in me that didn't question why and when we started having morning prayers in this house. I just stood up and walked with her, like one moron like that. But I do believe some words spoken. "

"Like?" I asked him and tried to get off him again. And failed again.

"Making love to you would be so much better than fucking you. " I gasped and pushed him away stylishly.

Finally! Wait what?

"She said that?" I asked with wide eyes.

"Naa.. But that's one translation I did. Then she offered to give me condoms if I couldn't wait so I would at least avoid knocking you up. She said, I was seventeen about to clock eighteen and already of legal age to do whatever, is Nigeria legal age of consent really twelve years old??? We googled it last night but basically we're using America's sixteen year old age of consent because twelve is so outrageous... anyways, and she knows kids my age are rather curious so if I can't wait, she can get me a box of condoms. The thing though is at first she thought you were also seventeen but then I told her you're just fifteen so she stared at me for a full minute and I understood what she didn't say.

Anyways, back to what I was saying but then I stopped and imagined how you'll look like pregnant with my child.. Our child. And collected the condom with one thought; Throw this shit out! I definitely wanted to see that. But on my way back to my room which is really close to yours. You know that? Like, we're practically married now since we sleep next to each other. " I smirked at him before he continued.

" I realized that yeah in as much as I want to be with you under the sheets, we're too young for that. You are too young to swim in the waters I've been swimming in, it sticks to you and you're a girl, it ruin girls more than boys if you start premarital sex very early... " He looked away and I knew he was thinking about Chiamaka, because I did too.

"I wasn't ready to become a father at my age, I'm just 17, I'd lost mine at a young age and I didn't want my child to grow up without one..." He blabbered out stupidly because did he just admit he'd leave me if I get pregnant?

I rolled my eyes.

"No, like just in case, the pressure became too much on me. And I left, like I left you and my baby.. But I doubt it cause I'm madly in love with you. " He paused and I knew he was waiting for me to say it back.

"You don't love me do you? " he asked again and I ignored him. He reached out his left hand and grabbed my waist and pulled me down on him, our foreheads hit and I stared at his straight nose still refusing to meet his stare, even when he used his right hand to tilt my head up. I refused.

"Look at me." he said calmly and I obliged. His lashes were long but not my priority, I stared at his dark brown eyes- He was extremely light skinned, so his eyes weren't that black more of a light brown and dark green mixture.. Unlike Precious', his lips were baby pink, his upper lip slightly brown his lips weren't plump but they were not chapped or rough either.

"I love you. Nachi, I love you to the moon and back. I so love you, you don't know how much I do." He muttered while we both stared at each other.

" I don't know how to show you. Sex is definitely out... My mom won't even let me-Apparently she loves you and we both understand that you're not ready for that. I just.... I just need you to believe I've never felt like.. I've never... " he was now stuttering with a broken defeated look. And I tilted my neck to kiss his lips as I whispered.

"I believe you. "

"I believe you Rooney. " I whispered absentmindedly, feeling the choke of nostalgia leave me.

It's been eight months since that day, I'd just turned fifteen months back and he was turning eighteen in a couple of months, it's been eight whole months since that day.

"Muna... " Jasmine suddenly called out my name and I turned to see Silvana on a night robe beside her.

"It's been ten minutes already. Let's go up. It's freezing down here. Ah ah aren't you cold sef(huh?)" Silvana asked.

I smiled, because they were the best...

It was freezing down here but yet here she was, in nothing but a night robe, willing to freeze with me.

Awn.

"Shay(Yes!) but sha(Well), I've... We've been thinking about things and you're right... I've been foolish for pestering you to have a thing with Arthur. I was wrong. " Jasmine said after I stood up.

"And" Silvana drawed out, then continued speaking,

"She's sorry. I'm sorry. We both are. What you and Rooney had was so special and maybe one day you two will meet again. But till then, we're not going to bug you to forget... To forget your first love. Or match you with Arthur anymore. Not like I was trying to, but you get the point. " Silvana said with her face upwards, gazing at the void sky.

"Shut up mumu (fool)" Jasmine fake-eyed Silvana and I giggled.

".. I'll talk with Willy tomorrow and from tomorrow hence forth we'll help you avoid having any unnecessary contact with Arthur so as to avoid being compromised. " Jasmine promised.

Silvana and I turned to look at her and we all burst into a cued laughter.

"What? Can't I use big words again? I just don't want us to be compromised yo." Jasmine's tiny voice perfected everything and my laughter doubled.

••

" Lullaby. Sing me a song. Remind me why I wasn't good enough. "

A/N
Cheers to sisterhood 🍻🥰