She imagined kissing him. At night, she’d place her lips on her pillow, twisting them and tugging on the pillow like she’d seen them do in movies. Then she’d wipe her lips with the back of her hand, disgusted at herself, but still wondering what it will feel like having his lips against hers. His lips were pink and pouty, and whenever he spoke she watched them move.
In the mornings, she’d take her time to line her eyes jet black with three thick coats of liquid eyeliner. After using the curler on own natural eyelashes, she put on fake lashes and despite how dark they were, she applied thick coats of mascara over them. Her lips blood red, she used an eye pencil over the beauty spot beside her nose on the right side of her face to highlight it more. She blew a kiss to her reflection in the mirror. She wore the mask well.
As she passed him, he raised his head. Her scent was familiar; it was citrusy; orange with a bit of rose. She smelt sweet, and it lingered even after she walked past. She was not the prettiest girl in the hall but she had a magnetic quality about her. He had heard rumours about her. That she was a snub, a coded whore who had never been seen with any of the guys in her own lectures. Everyone said she had ‘outside paroles’, that all the guys in the whole of Unilag were too small for her to deal with. He didn’t believe, he saw a glimmer in her eyes that no one else seemed to see.
At the law departments socials the following month, when he saw her sneak off with the Pink Lips, he followed them at safe distance. They went behind the building, underneath the almond tree. He watched as the cool night breeze whispered sweet nothings into their ears. She giggled, he giggled, she screamed in pleasure and shrieked. He turned and walked away, his heart shattering with the noises fading in the background.
The next day, at the lecture hall, she passed him by, her citrusy, orange with a bit of rose scent lingered on. He glanced at her, the glimmer in her eyes that no one else seemed to see had disappeared. He now saw her in the eyes of everyone else.
Kálésánmí 