Chapter 2 BOYFRIEND

CHAPTER TWO BOYFRIEND? I almost choked on the water I was drinking. "Which boys?” “Gen don't befriend any boy oh, only girls, they only bring distractions to your studies", my Mom warned, looking at me sternly.

Actually she meant NO BOYFRIEND, that's just how she says it. It's almost impossible not to have a guy who is your friend. I have also seen girls who have boyfriends but still excel in their studies. Well I think it depends on the kind of boyfriend, the one that has sense or the one that doesn't, if the guy makes you excel more in your studies by helping you and also prioritization, the boys or your studies? Which is more important?. If not, the guy will be a major distraction to your studies like my Mom said. I have also watched a lot of teenage movies where their parents are not bothered or against the boyfriend issue, some even encourage it. I recently watched one titled To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. I'm totally in love with that movie, and my Mom loves it too, despite all the teenage dating involved. Why is it different with some Nigerian parents?? I could totally get one and trust me she wouldn't know.

I vividly remember the day I invited my friend and classmateEmmanuel, a guy from my class, to explain a subject I was having difficulty with. The way my Mom was looking at him, it was like she wanted to eat him alive. He was so scared that he left earlier than expected. Immediately he left, my Mom came into my room saying "You have started having boyfriends abi? If I see any other boy in this house you will know yourself."

She just jumped to conclusions without asking, and I was so pissed. I tried explaining to her but she refused to listen to my explanations. She even threatened to tell my father. If she had done that, that would have been the end. "Penny for your thoughts?" James snapped his fingers at my face, forcing me back to earth. "Huhn.......?" I replied, totally confused. "Don't tell me you're actually considering the idea of having a boyfriend", my Mom looked at me.

"Haba! No oh", I replied with a frown on my face. "Oya abeg make we chop oh, the tension in this room is giving me goosebumps", James said. "So James gist us about Unilag na, how is Architecture treating you?" I asked, digging into the delicious spaghetti and egg. After lunch I went straight up to my room, and a few minutes later my bro came up for a chit-chat. As usual, we mostly talked about school stuff. "James, can I ask you a question?" I looked at him. "Sure Gen, ask away" he replied. "Did you have a girlfriend while in secondary school? Answer me sincerely oh" I asked. "So that's your question", he chuckled. "Well I did oh, it was fun sha", James smiled. "But tell me the reason why", I pressed further. "Well it was out of curiosity, I wanted to understand how it felt to have one and also most of the guys had one, it was kinda cool", he stated. "So do you have one now". I teased. "No oh, I'm not ready abeg, girls and their wahala, let me finish school first", he laughed. "Okay sir", I snorted. "But boys also have wahala." "Tah, girls are the worst, confused set of human beings." "That's a lie", I whined, hitting him lightly on the head. "That's a lie", he said in a small animated voice, mimicking me. "Hey I don't sound like that", I pouted. He grabbed me and began to tickle me. "Get off, let me go." We both started laughing uncontrollably that we couldn't stop, tears streaked from our eyes. My Mom came to check what the excitement was all about. "James, why are you people laughing so hard?", my Mom asked, staring at us. "Nothing", we both said in unison, and started laughing again. My Mom left looking more confused than ever. "Anyway how is that your crazy friend Amaka", James asked. "She's okay, and yes she still has a thing for you so don't bother asking." "Oh God, she's not well o", he laughed. "Anyway I'm a spec so it's understandable." "Spec my foot", I scoffed. "You sef you know, sha send my greetings to her sha." James left my room a few minutes later, I picked up my phone to chat with Amaka who told me something baffling. "Gen do you know that someone new is coming to our school this year, actually to SS3 o, can you imagine? Our final year in school" She said excitedly "Ehen issa lie! How can someone enter SS3 during second term, we're even writing WAEC by April! How is that even possible? Where did you even get that information from sef? I can't believe you on this one oh", I doubted. "I'm serious, when I heard it I was as shocked as you too, I heard he's a science student", she replied. "So it's even a HE, hmm.... If that's true, I want to know how his parents did it because I know that our strict principal won't allow it" "I heard he's parents are rich na, money can do anything" "Young lady, money is not everything" I could almost see her shrugging her shoulders at what I said. "Corruption has eaten into the bones of this country", I continued.

"Na so, anyway that's all for now, is that your handsome brother back from school yet?" Amaka has been crushing on James since forever, always wanting to know how he is, where he is, what he's doing and stuff like that. "I wonder when this crushing will stop, he's back and yes he is doing fine, he even asked about you", I answered. "What! He asked about me?? What did he say? I demand you tell me now!" she said. Chi mo why did I tell her that! "Miss demander, he only asked how you are oh, nothing more, he's even going back tomorrow so don't bother following me to my house tomorrow after school oh", I warned. "I'm sure it's more than that jare", she said, "Anyway, has any family occupied the new building beside yours."

"I don't know and I don't even care whose house that is", I replied nonchalantly. "Of course you do, they'll be your neighbors, and well I wanna see who lives in that beautiful house. I'm 100% sure they are super rich, the house is big", she said. "Genevieve, your daddy is back from work", my Mom called out from downstairs.

"Amaka, I gotta go, my dad is back, bye, we'll talk later", I typed hastily, dropping the phone.

I went downstairs quickly to greet my dad. "Welcome sir, how was work?" I asked as I just stood there awkwardly beside my brother. I know you must wonder why I sounded like that, it's just that I'm not really close to my dad anymore. "Thanks dear, work was fine, how was school?" he said. "It was great", I replied. "James welcome back, how is Architecture treating you?" He focused on James. "It's challenging though, but it's nothing I can't handle", James replied with confidence. "Okay, such a good career you have chosen, unlike some people?" He rolled his eyes at me. My dad has never been a fan of art, he doesn't support me at all, infact I'm sure he wouldn't even be paying my school fees if not for my mum's intervention. He makes sure he reminds me almost everyday of what a useless course and career I have chosen. He wanted me to be a science or commercial student, which is a wise choice according to him. "It's late, so go to bed and do not touch your phone." It was not even 10pm yet, how was that late? AaRrGgHh... I was hoping to chat with Amaka and Aishat before I went to bed. What a way to ruin my plans. "Okay, goodnight daddy", I replied. I went to my room, sent a goodnight message to both of them and went straight to bed because I know Mom will come to my room to check if I'm really sleeping or not.