(002 - Day Ones)

This Chapter, just like Chapter 1 - though not as short, will also be shorter than my regular word count. But from Chapter 3, I'm going to be taking my sweet time to write every single thing. This book is not going to be rushed at all, so sit tight and relax. You are going to be meeting Hilary's day ones in this chapter.

Random Question: According to the Aesthetics and Character Introduction video, who do you think they are?

We diving in 3... 2... 1.

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𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐘
(Hilary Idara Eghosa)

The number you have dialed is switched off, please...

I let out a low hiss, cutting the operator off from talking by tapping on the end call icon, making up my mind not to call his number again till I finally get to see him in school tomorrow.

After brawling my eyes out on the floor of my brother's room till there were no more tears or strength left in me, I stood up and left his room, taking his hoodie with me. It was all I had left of him, so I had to.

I came back to my room, settling down on my bed. It was after I checked the time that I realized I had cried for two hours straight. It wasn't really surprising though, I have cried longer. But this time, the aftermath felt different. I felt different. No, it wasn't better.

I felt some sort of emptiness... guilt.

That was why I picked up my phone and tried to call him. I really needed to speak to someone about how I was feeling. But just like every other day since the accident, his number has not been reachable. I was staying off social media, for the time being, so WhatsApp or Instagram wasn't an option. Neither was calling his best friend.

Not like I had that one's number, anyway.

It was extremely strange that his number wasn't going through and it made me so curious, more worried than curious by the way.

What's up with you, Jidenna?

My phone began to ring suddenly and I quickly reached for it, hoping it was Jidenna. Staring at the caller ID, I sighed and with a shake of my head, I picked the call.

"We are skyping you right now, bitch!" That was all she screamed before hanging up on me. I took the phone away from my ear and stared at it like it was an alien. She didn't even allow me to talk.

She was Dawn Damipe Dayo. My best friend.

On cue, my laptop began to make a sound and I reached over to pick it from my bedside table. Propping my pillow against the headboard of my king-sized bed, I relaxed and opened the laptop, tapping on the Skype icon. After a few seconds of loading, Dawn's face appeared on the screen, her lips stretched in her signature grin. Her smile was so contagious, I just had to smile right back.

"Hilary!" She screamed and I winced, blocking my poor ear from her yelling.

"Dawn, I can hear you. You honestly don't have to shout." I told her and she rolled her eyes, grin still stretched across her lips.

"Let's me shout in peace!" She fired back and I laughed, shaking my head at her. "I've missed you so much!" She screamed again and I found myself grinning, telling her I missed her too. After the burial, I haven't been able to really see her.

So, I actually did miss her. I missed everything about her.

Dawn was a very quiet and reserved person, but when she was with people she was comfortable with, she was crazy. Also, being a prefect in Crestview can drive a person crazy and she was the social prefect. Few times, she has to come out of her comfort zone and yell, especially at juniors so that everyone would take her seriously.

No one feared her. Dawn was easily the most lovable person to be around, but no one disrespected her either. At least, not anymore.

"How are you doing?" Her voice tore through my reverie and I let my eyes focus back on her. She had stopped grinning, her lips now in a small smile. I didn't miss the look of concern on her face and it touched my heart, how much this girl cared about me.

"I'm hanging in there." I was honest with her, I trusted her that much. "It's not easy but, I'll be okay," I added and she nodded slowly.

"Are you sure you want to resume tomorrow?" She asked, the uncertainty in her voice was pretty obvious. "The school is still buzzing with the news. You shouldn't even open WhatsApp right now. I don't know how they got to know, but everyone knows you are resuming tomorrow." She told me and I frowned slightly.

How did they know?

"I can handle it, I think?" I wasn't even sure of myself and Dawn noticed, I could see it on her face.

"I've got you, okay." She assured me. "I have your back all the way." She said and I nodded, flashing her a smile of gratitude. Then, I realized something.

"You said we are skyping you now," I mentioned and she hummed in response, nodding. "Who are we?" I asked. Immediately, her mouth went O, as if she had just realized something.

"Sorry. I can't believe I forgot that I put Semeeha and Kizi on hold. Please hang on for me." She said, typing in a button, and in the space of seconds, my screen was divided into four, the face of Semeeha and Kizi appearing.

"You said we should wait for ten seconds, Dawn. It's been ten minutes!" Semeeha snapped as soon as she appeared on screen and I laughed, feeling lightheaded all of a sudden.

Semeeha, the action mamma.

"She probably wanted to give Hilary an exclusive gist that she didn't want the both of us to hear," Kizi stated, munching a sprinkled glazed donut and rolled his eyes comically in a way that had me bursting out in laughter again, bringing all their attention back on me.

"Hilary!" They both screamed, waving their hands vigorously into the camera and I found myself laughing again, waving at them too. I was really happy to see them, just like they were clearly happy to see me. I had seen Semeeha once or twice during the break but she was a very busy person so I didn't get to see her as often as I saw Dawn.

But Kizito? I haven't seen him since we vacated for the last session in July. He was one person that I knew didn't fancy social media at all. Plus, he wasn't around for most of the summer.

But I missed them, all of them.

My Day Ones.

"Hilary! I've missed you so much." Semeeha cooed and I chuckled.

"We were on a video call last Tuesday, Semmy." I reminded her and she rolled her eyes at me.

"That was last week, babe. That was a long time ago." She answered and I made a sound, not wanting to go into any form of argument with Semeeha Malik.

"Baby girl." Kizito's deep voice called me and I turned to look at him, grinning from ear to ear. We didn't say any words, we just stared at each other, our eyes doing the talking. He could read me.

Kizito and I were close, almost as close as I was with my brother. He was more or less my brother too, always protective of me, acting like a shield around me. He looked it, having the physique of a bodyguard and all. He acted like it even, always acting the big brother to me, especially in school even though he was younger by a few months. He wasn't only like that with me. He was also that way with Semeeha and Dawn too.

"Will you get that stupid brush away from my face?" Semeeha's harsh voice broke through the stare Kizito and I was sharing. I looked in her direction and saw that she was yelling at her makeup artist.

Nothing new about that. I exchanged a look with Dawn.

"Can't you see I'm on a video call with my friends? Do you want me to drop my phone?" Semeeha kept ranting even though the woman m, who was obviously much older than she was, began to beg. "Do you know your salary cannot buy this phone? In fact, five times your monthly payment will not be able to buy this phone." She snapped, arrogance and pride dripping from her tone.

"I'm sorry ma." The woman curtsied as she continued to apologize.

"Get away from here before I fire you!" Semeeha ordered, swinging her hand dismissively at the woman who quickly rushed away for the fear of losing and job. I sighed, shaking my head.

Seems like Semeeha Malik hasn't changed. I thought to myself.

"That was too harsh, Semeeha. Don't you think?" Kizito queried calmly, leaning back against the chair he was sitting on and folded his hands across his chest.

"Honestly though," Dawn began to chip in. "That woman is much older than you for you to keep yelling at her like she's a child. She probably has a child almost your age." Dawn stated in a precise manner, not mincing words. Semeeha hissed in response, rolling her eyes again.

"If you don't show these people who is in charge, they'll walk over you because you are young. This is me showing them who is boss." She sassed and I shook my head, no knowing what to say.

"You can show them you are boss without being rude." Dawn maintained but Semeeha waved her away nonchalantly.

"Wait, where are you right now?" I had to ask. If someone was making up for her, then she was probably at another shoot. But today is Sunday. Doesn't she have a break or something?

"Morocco," Semeeha answered in a monotone.

"I thought you said you were in Shanghai." Kizito inquired.

"That was yesterday, Kizi. I flew to Morocco this morning for another shoot. I'll fly back to Nigeria by midnight."

"And you are still going to come to school tomorrow?" Dawn asked, disbelief laced in her tone. Semeeha chuckled, shaking her head.

"Of course not. This girl needs her beauty rest." She answered. Thank God for that.

Semeeha Iris Malik was a full-time teen model, one of the highest-paid teen models in the whole of Africa. She was wanted everywhere, making her mark in different countries of the world. With the way she traveled almost every weekend, I still don't understand how she has been able to keep up with the stress of school. It's funny how she was one of our Academic scholars.

Shocking, I know.

"Guys, we had this video call to check up on Hilary, not talk about ourselves." Dawn reminded them and I smiled. I really didn't mind them talking about themselves. Their lives were more interesting than mine at the moment.

"How are you, baby girl?" That was Kizito, so I focused on him. He would want me to be perfectly honest with them and I knew I had to. I have never really kept anything from my friends. I was the worst liar ever and they knew that.

"I'll be okay, Kizi." Was all I could say, not prepared to go into details of how I had cried on the floor of my late brother's room for two good hours. They will be worried and that was the last thing I wanted.

"Girl, have you even had your bath?!" Semeeha shrieked all of a sudden and I glared at her, just about the same time Kizito and Dawn groaned.

"Semeeha, really?" Dawn queried, not refusing to hide her displeasure at all. Kizito meanwhile, had a stoic expression on his face, staring straight at Semeeha.

"What? If you guys don't tell her, you know I will. Can't you see the way her hair is disheveled and her face is rumpled up? I bet she stinks too." To that, I had to lift my arm to my face and smell my pits.

I smell fine, I think?

"Wow, Semeeha. Thanks." I flashed her a sarcastic smile, suddenly feeling self-conscious even though they weren't physically there with me. One thing everyone absolutely hated about Semeeha Malik was her loose mouth. The girl didn't know how to talk to people.

And she didn't care.

"Hilary, don't mind Semeeha. You look amazing." Kizito stated and I smiled back at him in gratitude. Kizito never lies, so if he said I look amazing, then I look amazing.

"I second that." Dawn chipped and my smile graduated to a chuckle. Semeeha only scoffed.

"You people be lying to her." She muttered, though loud enough for all of us to hear and I shook my head, choosing to ignore that statement.

"I have to go though, duty calls. I'll see all of you on Tuesday." She didn't even wait for a response to what she said. She just blew us kisses and her screen went blank.

"I'm glad she's gone," Kizi said immediately she left and I shot him a look. If he was beside me, I'd have probably given him a slap on his arm. He wouldn't feel it anyway, his biceps are huge.

"Kizi!" I chided and he shrugged, his expression unapologetic.

"Friendship aside, that's girl is a lot of work," Dawn added, obviously agreeing with Kizito.

"Well, we have been her friend for say, four years?" I asked to confirm and they both nodded. "We have been tolerating her for that long, I think we can do more. Plus, she tolerates our own lapses too, especially you Kizito. So, you guys should quit complaining." I told them.

"Yes ma'am. Glad to have you back." Kizi teased with a smirk and I laughed, shaking my head at him. We began to chat, talking about school. I asked them to tell me things that were going on, the ones that weren't related to me or the accident.

Dawn informed me that we had a new Maths teacher, a young and handsome corper that has succeeded in stealing the hearts of the majority of our set girls. Kizito countered Dawn, saying the man wasn't that handsome, a hint of jealousy in his voice that had me laughing out loud. My curiosity was perked even more and I suddenly began to look forward to resuming.

We kept talking about random things and I slowly began to forget my own problems.

"Oluwadamipe!" The voice was coming from a distance from Dawn's side, followed by strings of words in what sounded like french. Dawn groaned, muttering incoherent words to herself that made Kizito and I laugh. We weren't surprised because we knew it was Dawn's mum and we knew how the woman was. She was just as lovable as her daughter, but still very extra.

Being a Nigerian mum and being extra was a follow-come package.

"I have to go," Dawn said and I nodded in understanding. "You know how this woman gets if I don't answer her on time. Yoruba mothers and their wahala." She added.

"Don't worry, we'll see in school tomorrow," I assured her. She blew me a kiss and immediately, her screen went blank.

"When was the last time you spoke with Jidenna?" Kizito's sudden question shocked me. I looked at him, stared at him. His expression was stoic which meant he was very serious and he wanted to know the truth.

But I didn't know how to tell him that I haven't seen or heard from Jidenna, my boyfriend since the night of the accident. So, I tried to lie. Keyword; Tried.

"A few days ago," I answered, trying to allow my voice to sound as nonchalant as possible. Kizito however, saw right through that lie. He was an amazing judge of human character and expressions, always has and always will be.

"Hilary, I think we are way past lying right now." The fact that he didn't call me baby girl this time showed that he wasn't playing. "You have to tell me the truth. When last did you speak to him?" He asked again and I sighed, shaking my head.

"I haven't seen or heard from him since the night of the accident," I confessed to Kizito, whose expression grew harder at the revelation. I continued, "I've tried everything possible to reach him. I've called him, texted him. Nothing is working."

"He didn't come for the burial." It was more of a statement than a question but I nodded anyway, affirming the statement. Kizito let out a humourless laughter, shaking his head.

Kizito had been out of the country for the majority of the summer break, on a football tour with his dad so he wasn't available for the burial and that was why he had no idea that Jidenna didn't come. Not like Dawn and Semeeha hadn't noticed Jidenna's absence as well, but I was able to come up with a good lie which I told them and thankfully, they bought it.

"That fucker," He muttered to himself, though his deep voice made him loud enough for me to hear.

Kizito was justifiably angry. No one knew what exactly happened that night, safe for both of us, and Jidenna. That was exactly why Kizito was seething at the revelation that Jidenna has been no show since the accident. He didn't come to see me when I was in the hospital, neither did he show up at my house or at the burial.

But I wanted to give him a benefit of doubt. Jidenna isn't an insensitive person. There has got to be some sort of explanation for this.

"I'm going to..." Kizito started to say but I quickly stopped him.

"No!" I countered and he looked at me, his eyes blazing with anger. "Jidenna isn't like that. There has got to be some sort of explanation for his behavior. You know him, he's your friend. He's not insensitive." I stated matter-of-factly.

"He's a coward!" Kizito snapped, causing me to involuntarily flinch. "He's is a coward." He repeated in a calmer tone.

Kizito was a nice person but also very temperamental. Most of the time, his anger was always justified but whenever he got angry, there is no stopping him. He was always like a raging bull, ready to charge at anything or anyone. Which was why I didn't want him getting mad at Jidenna. Friendship or not, Kizito would do something drastic to Jidenna and he won't regret it.

"Kizito, I'll handle it," I told him and he looked at me, the uncertainty in his expression unmissed. "I'm coming to school tomorrow. Jidenna and I will talk, we'll iron everything out and it will be okay. I promise." I stated and Kizito shook his head, the uncertainty in his expression not dissipating.

"I really hope you are right." He said and I sighed.

So do I, Kizi.

So do I.

𝐀/𝐍

You have met Hilary's day ones in their different elements. There is Dawn, our sweet sweet baby girl. Then there is Semeeha, our sassy international teen model with a little bit of an attitude. Then Kizito, Our Donut Loving Hunk!

What do you think about all of them? Don't worry, there will still be room to explore all their characters has the book goes on.

Another very character was mentioned. Jidenna. Hilary's boyfriend. Did you see that one coming🌚? I don't think you did.

Don't worry, you'll also meet him very soon and you'll meet him in his element. So everyone that's already crushing and falling for our beautiful boy, you might get disappointed *I've said too much.

I'll be updating again soon. I don't have much of a schedule but I know the days I'm going to be updating next, I know how I'm following the days. But don't worry, the next update will be soon (Tomi and Favour, it's not tomorrow. Don't come and meet🚶🏾‍♀️)

See you guys soon ❤️.