C9 NINE

Ibukun woven herself in between the students and walked towards Tolu with a smile. Tolu had resumed for about three weeks so Ibukun had missed her greatly.

She rushed into Tolu’s arms and hugged her. Tolu hugged her back laughing. Ibukun broke the hug as she stared at Tolu.

“God saved you that mommy wasn’t the one who came. You used pink attachment” Ibukun said with a snicker and Tolu laughed.

“You are pretty anyways” Ibukun said as he handed over the bag to Tolu.

“Thank you jare. See you face, you are finer too” Tolu said and Ibukun gave her weird look.

“Fine when tests are coming. I’m reading my head off” Ibukun replied.

“Tolu who is this?” A guy asked and Tolu smiled.

“Ohh, this is my younger sister, Ibk. Ibk, this is Kunle” Tolu said and Ibk waved to Kunle and gave a polite smile.

“Hello pretty” Kunle said and Tolu elbowed him immediately.

‘Don’t play around with my sister” Tolu said with a smile and Kunle laughed.

“What do you mean? Isn’t she actually pretty?” Kunle asked and Ibk laughed.

“You have nice friends as well” Ibk said and Tolu shrugged. Ibk started looking around and Tolu watched her with a smile as Ibk started stretching her neck around.

Tolu shook her head as she turned and told Kunle to tap Lashe. Lashe turned towards Tolu and watched as she beckoned to him to walk over. He quickly excused himself from the people he was talking to and walked towards Tolu.

“What is it?” he asked and Tolu smiled and pointed at Ibukun who was still looking around.

‘Who’s she?” Lashe asked and Tolu laughed a little seeing the crestfallen look on Ibk’s face.

“My younger sister” Tolu whispered and Lashe’s mouth formed an ‘o’.

Ibukun turned to Tolu after searching the whole hall and didn’t see a single trace of Lashe in the hall. She sighed as she turned to Tolu.

“I thought you said Lashe was…….” Ibukun stopped talking when she saw the lean figure beside Tolu. Tolu burst into laughter immediately.

“Yeah, we are in the same department” Tolu said as Lashe waved to Ibukun.

“Hello” Lashe said with a smile.

Ibk blinked her eyes rapidly as she stared at Lashe. Did he just talk to her? Ibk sighed as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she slowly opened it and Lashe was still standing there with a smile.

Lashe watched as Ibukun stared at him. Her eyes reflected her disbelief. He wanted to laugh seeing how she closed her eyes and opened them to be sure he was the one. It had to admit that it was one of the dramatic responses he had received in his whole career.

“I won’t disappear” Lashe said and Ibukun nodded.

“Okay. I know. It’s really you” Ibukun breathed and Lashe nodded as he smiled.

“Yeah, I’m real okay” He said and Ibukun tried not to shout. She was seeing Lashe face to face. If she took one more step, she would be standing directly in front of him.

“Hello, my name is Ibukunoluwa and I am your fan” Ibukun said.

“Nice to meet you Ibukun” Lashe said.

“How are you?” he asked further and Ibukun nodded.

“I feel refreshed. Seeing you is, let me say a dream come true. A dream coming true is refreshing” Ibukun replied and Lashe laughed heartily.

“I feel refreshed as well. Hearing a fan say seeing me was a dream come true really makes me happy” Lashe said as Ibukun played with her fingers. How the hell did she run out of words to say?

“Law is tedious bah?” Ibukun asked and Lashe smiled a little.

“Not really. The lecturers take it easy with us; so it’s kinda bearable” Lashe replied.

“Ohh” Ibukun said as Lashe smiled.

“Nimi has been very helpful as well” Lashe added and Ibukun raised her eyebrow.

“Nimi? You call Tolu Nimi?” Ibukun asked and Lashe nodded.

“That’s thanks to you. When we met, she told me her full name so I thought her name was Nimi. She told me it was Tolu but because you like me so much, she’ll allow me to call her Nimi” Lashe said and Ibukun felt her cheeks redden.

“Ohh” Ibukun said pursing her lips and Lashe laughed.

“I have to go Ibk bah?” Lashe asked and Ibukun nodded.

“Which ever works for you” Ibk replied and Lashe nodded.

“Hope to see you again. Get home safely” Lashe said and Ibk gave a nod and a polite smile as she watched Lashe walk away.

“Will you go home now?” Tolu asked and Ibukun released the breath she didn’t even realize she was holding.

“I saw Lashe. We had a conversation. Oh my god! This is unbelievable” Ibukun breathed and Tolu laughed.

“Mom just called. It’s getting late. You need to start going home” Tolu said as she waved goodbye to her friends and she and Ibukun started walking down the stairs out of the lecture hall.

“How’s DUL?” Ibukun asked as they walked.

“It’s actually fun and okay. I have nice roommates too” Tolu replied and Ibk nodded.

“It’s nice to know you are doing just fine” Ibk said and Tolu laughed.

“Did you think I wouldn’t do just fine?” Tolu asked and Ibk laughed and shook her head.

“I really miss you. it’s so lonely at home” Ibk said and Tolu chuckled.

“Come by when you have time” Tolu said and Ibk nodded.

“I will. Not for you though” Ibk said and they both laughed.

“I can’t still believe I spoke to Lashe though” Ibukun said again and Tolu laughed.

“Girl, come off it already” Tolu said as Ibukun snickered at her.

“Don’t make your uni life as boring as your sec school life okay?” Ibk said and Tolu wore a small smile.

“What do you mean?” Tolu asked.

“Get a boyfriend abeg” Ibk said and Tolu burst into laughter.

“What do you think of Lashe?” Tolu asked and Ibk stopped laughing.

“Don’t even think about it” Ibukun said and Tolu burst into laughter as she stopped a taxi.

“Time to go. Don’t worry I won’t touch him” Tolu said as she hugged Ibk and watched as she got into the car.