---
OyinWura High School
The final bell echoed through the halls of OyinWura High, its sharp ring! ring! scattering students like startled birds.
Leke stretched his tall frame and let out a satisfied groan. "Finally. I thought today would never end. Got any plans, Tolu?"
Tolu was busy shoving books into his worn backpack. Without looking up, he muttered, "Nope. Just heading home. Same old, same old."
"You should come with me," Leke said, his grin already betraying mischief.
Tolu raised an eyebrow. "Come where?"
"Ade's throwing a party tonight at his parents' lake house," Leke said, lowering his voice like it was classified information. "Practically the whole class is going."
"Not me," Tolu replied firmly, zipping his bag. "Even if I wanted to, my mom won't let me."
Leke chuckled and slid in front of the door, blocking Tolu's path. "That excuse again? Come on, we're teenagers. Breaking a curfew or two is basically our job description."
Tolu gave him a flat stare, but Leke wasn't backing down.
"You're like a turtle, always hiding in your shell," he pressed. "But tonight—tonight you should come out and catch some sunlight." Then, with a sly smile, he added, "Besides… Ore's going to be there."
At that name, Tolu's composure slipped. His eyes flicked—just once—toward the door. Ore stood there, laughing with her friends, her brown skin glowing in the fading light. Her braids shimmered as they swung down her back, and Tolu felt something stir in his chest.
Leke caught the look and smirked. "Didn't think so."
Tolu sighed, adjusting the strap of his bag. "Fine. I'll try."
"That's the spirit!" Leke clapped him on the back, triumphant.
The two friends headed into the crowded corridor, their laughter mixing with the fading buzz of the school day. And though Tolu tried to act casual, he couldn't help stealing one last glance at Ore—already wondering what the night might bring.
Tolu's home
Tolu pushed open the front door and stepped inside. The house was quiet, the late afternoon light spilling through the curtains. He dropped his bag by the wall, kicked off his shoes, and headed straight to his room.
He pulled off his uniform shirt and trousers, folding them loosely before tossing them onto the chair in the corner. A clean t-shirt and shorts replaced them.
In the kitchen, he measured some rice left over from the morning and warmed it on the stove. The smell filled the small space as he fetched a plate. He ate slowly, scrolling through his phone between bites, the clatter of his spoon the only sound in the room.
When the plate was empty, he rinsed it and set it in the rack. A quick sweep of the sitting room followed, then gathering laundry from the line outside before the evening dew set in.
Back in his room, Tolu spread his notebooks on the table. He bent over the first page, pencil scratching as he worked through the assignments one by one. The quiet was steady, broken only by the sound of his own movements, and he kept glancing at the clock, knowing his mother would be home soon.
Tolu's phone buzzed on the table. A message from Leke lit up the screen:
Leke: So, have you decided? You coming tonight or not?
Tolu picked up the phone, thumb hovering over the keypad as he thought of what to reply. Before he could type, the front door clicked open.
He set the phone down and walked quickly to the living room.
"Welcome, Mum," he said, stepping forward to take the shopping bag from her hands.
She smiled tiredly, slipping off her shoes. "Thank you, Tolu. How was school today?"
"Fine," he answered, carrying the bag toward the kitchen.
She followed slowly, stretching her back as she sat on the edge of the couch. "Did you eat?"
"Yes, I warmed the rice."
"Good," she nodded, glancing at the notebooks spread on the table. "And you've started your assignments too. That's how it should be."
Tolu only nodded, already unpacking the groceries. The quiet rhythm of home settled back around them, the faint hum of the fridge filling the silence.
Once the groceries were put away and his mum settled into her room, Tolu returned to his desk. He opened his notebook again, but his eyes kept drifting to the phone beside it.
He picked it up and typed:
Tolu: I don't think my mum will allow me. But maybe… I can sneak out later.
The reply came almost immediately.
Leke: That's the spirit. Don't worry, I'll cover for you if anything happens.
Tolu smirked slightly, then typed:
Tolu: Anyway, what about you? You still chasing after Amaka?
Leke: Of course. Tonight's the night, I've got a plan.
Tolu: A plan?
Leke: Yeah. Just wait and see. She won't know what hit her.
Tolu shook his head, amused.
Tolu: You and your plans. Don't go embarrassing yourself.
Leke: Relax, I've got this. Just make sure you show up.
Tolu glanced at his open notebook, then at the clock on the wall. With a quiet sigh, he slid his phone aside and bent back over his assignment, though his mind was no longer fully on the work.
Tolu finished the last page of his assignment and set his pen down. He stretched, then lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind wandered to the party—music spilling out of the lake house, Ore somewhere in the crowd, maybe even laughing at one of Leke's jokes. He turned over, restless.
A while later his mum's voice came from the kitchen.
"Tolu, food is ready."
He joined her at the table. They ate quietly, trading a few words about school and work. When the plates were cleared, Tolu rubbed his eyes and said, "I'm tired, Mum. I think I'll turn in early."
"Alright. Sleep well," she replied, gathering the dishes.
Back in his room, Tolu changed into a black shirt and loose blue jeans. He fastened a silver chain around his neck and slipped on his bracelet. His heart beat faster as he arranged two pillows under the blanket to make it look like he was asleep. With the light switched off, the room looked convincingly quiet.
He lay on the bed in the dark, listening. After what felt like forever, he heard the faint creak of his mum's door closing. That was his signal.
Moving carefully, he padded into the living room and reached for the front door. His hand touched the knob—
The lights flicked on.
Tolu froze. On the sofa sat his mother, glasses perched on her nose, a Bible open in her hands. She looked up, calm but sharp-eyed.
Tolu's hand stiffened on the knob.
His mum adjusted her glasses, eyes flicking up at him only for a second before lowering back to the open Bible in her lap. Her voice was even, but firm.
"Where do you think you're going, young man?"
The question hung in the room, heavier than the silence that followed.
Tolu swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry.