It's been a few days since Aishat started behaving strangely to me, and I didn't understand what was happening. The last time I saw her was on Friday at Jumaat, and unlike before, she just waved from afar.
I had the plan of asking if she was alright, but she disappeared immediately after the prayers, and it was clear that something was either wrong with her or between us.
Our friendship started since Jss2, and it's been three years, so I know her well enough to predict that something wasn't right.
Although we attended different schools, we always leave the house and return back together. We studied together and did numerous things together for the past three good years, but all that stopped in the last few days.
I went to her place twice on Saturday, and before I even asked of her, her siblings told me she wasn't at home and even denied me entrance into the house. Until that day, I used to go in and out of their house as I wished whenever I visited.
I wasn't feeling comfortable about it, and she didn't even give me the chance to get close enough to ask what was wrong.
On Monday morning, I prepared very early and went to wait outside her school gate just to see her.
"Aishat! I called immediately, and she appeared from afar.
The smile on her was more of a shock than the usual excitement, and I walked up to her.
"What's wrong?" I asked immediately, and I got to her.
"Nothing, I am fine. How are you doing?" She replied.
"Nothing, and I haven't seen you?" I asked.
"I wasn't just at home," she replied.
"We will see in the afternoon then," I replied because I was running late already.
"I have a lesson in the afternoon, so we can't see later.
Maybe I will check on you when I come back," Aishat replied.
"Okay, I replied and just watched her walk into her school compound.
I felt cold because she was trying to push me away, and it would have been great to know what I did wrong.
The day ended and there was no sign of Aishat, so I waited for the next, but she didn't show up.
I made up my mind to confront her on Wednesday, which I did.
"It's clear you have been avoiding me, Aishat," I said to her when we met at her school gate.
"No, I am not. I close at lessons very late these days," she replied.
"The last time I checked, you aren't doing any school coaching.
If I offended you, just say it and I will apologize," I replied.
"It looks like your conscience is biting you. Did you do anything wrong?" Aishat asked, and I was shocked.
"Just go straight to the point and stop beating around the bush," I replied.
"Lekan has been sending you letters, yes or no?" Aishat asked.
"I... yes. I was going to tell you but couldn't do it," I replied.
"Lair, I knew you liked him. You are close-mouthed and a pretender," she replied and hissed.
Before I could say anything, she left, and I felt terrible.
Lekan was our friend in the neighborhood, and we all grew up together. Aishat always told me how much she liked Lekan, but he picked so much interest in me.
I had nothing to do with him but couldn't tell Aishat because it would make her say. It pained me that the exact thing I was preventing ended up happening.
Throughout that day in school, I couldn't concentrate because I felt like a betrayal, but that's not the case.
Luckily for me, I saw Aishat at closing and apologized for now telling her about the letter.
"I am not angry he liked you, but hiding it from me made me angry because I would have told you if it was me," she replied.
She forgave me, and we returned to being friends. I was able to see Lekan and beg him not to write me again because I still have a long way to go and wasn't ready for anything that would stand as a hindrance to my future.
He felt bad, but it doesn't matter because I was more concerned about my future than any other things.
