Wild West of the Heart
TWENTY-EIGHT

There's a part in our brain that's wired to tell the truth. The cingulate cortex, this lobe that signals other regions of the brain to share information so it can move on to more important functions. But when we hold in that information, we stress.

It's the thing about secrets, we not only hurt the people around us, we hurt ourselves. Someone once said the best way to keep a secret is to never have it in the first place.

Ola never understood the concept of secrecy.

He never understood and to be honest, he didn't want to. Because for as long as he could think, it was always secrets that hurt him.

He couldn't see past how it was hardwork, not only in the sense that you have to watch what you say, or be careful each second, not only the fact that you have to hide it, but that you also have to live with it. Whatever secret, that is. However, what he didn't know was keeping secrets wasn't always bad or hurtful there was the good kind like planning a surprise party. Or maybe secrecy to protect ourselves and others.

There's also the fact that keeping secrets sometimes gives us some sense of safety. Some sense of control and privacy.

"Even when we are not hiding them, it still sticks with us. And can still hurt us" He said, to Obi as he sipped out of his smoothie. Obi didn't have a response to this rant about his parents. He just leaned against the railings and nodded. They made eye contact before Ola looked away. Maybe assessing for a second how crazy he sounded.

"The world will be a much better place without secrets. That's all i'm trying to say" His voice went low as the sound of the bell overshadowed it.

"I guess we'll never find out" Obi said, sucking his tongue and grabbing his bag in his arm. The bell signaled the end of lunch and they had to head downstairs. "And i never want to" He muttered.

-

As they walked out of the door and headed towards class for the eighth period, Obi searched the corridors for Abdul while holding his phone in his hands. Ola approached their lockers, pulling open the door while staring at Obi's peering eyes. "Who are you looking for?"

He'd noticed some times that Obi went distant minded, staring at nothing in particular. Or maybe when he was just looking for something. Someone.

And sometimes like when they were up on the roof, he'd have his head buried in his phone. And a sly smile will light across the face. He knew something was up, or someone. But if Obi wasn't willing to tell him, if it was yet another secret- it was fine. He was fine with the boundaries.

"No one" Obi replied, turning back at him. His cheeks were flustered as he kept his bags in his lockers and slowly typed back his key. And then all of a sudden, Abdul walked past Ola.

"Hey" He waved sheepishly, walking over to his locker. "Hey" Ola said back, realizing they had some sort of friendship. Obi retained a side gaze before his padlock fell out of his hands nervously.

It hit the foot of the locker and rolled a little bit forward but as he was about to reach for it, someone else bent down. And it was Abdul. He stood immediately, dusting off his trousers and clearing his throat. "Here" Abdul said.

And while Obi reached for it, he tried his best not to make eye contact. "Sorry" He muttered, their hands brushing a little bit. He pulled away instantly and Ola watched like it was a low budget screenplay going on before him.

He smirked, realizing that Obi might have taken a liking to Abdul. It was dead obvious in that moment to anyone that was watching. The way he nervously dodged staring at his face. Or the constant clearing of his throat as if he was ill. He was not. However, he was just lovestruck.

Ola leaned against his lockers, waiting for him to be done with his embarrassing episode. "Hey" Abdul said again, as he was about to turn away.

"I'm sorry for that day in the bathroom. It was just bad timing" He scoffed and Obi just nodded.

"Yeah, it's no problem"

"No, i'm actually never like that"

"I can't exactly blame you" Obi replied, before their eyes simultaneously darted towards the door, through which Ayo walked in with the rest of the football guys. Like similar sides of a magnet, they repelled away from each other, turning away. And Obi clung to Ola'a side, while Abdul just scrambled away. "I saw that" Ola whispered as the boys walked in front of them. There was a moment where Ayo flashed a death glance at him.

But he made it more than clear that he wasn't fazed at the slightest. Instead he turned to Obi, his lips morphing in a smirk. If delving into Obi's boy problems would make him forget about his own, he was willing to take that chance. "You didn't tell me" He accused. "You didn't tell me of your little boy crush or the fact that you're " It was yet another secret, and Ola rolled his eyes. "Shut the fuck up" Obi finally managed to close his locker as he pointed in Ola's face. "If anyone hears that shit from your mouth, you'll have yourself to blame" He threatened, softly poking him before pulling away. And Ola just smirked, walking the opposite way to his biology class while Obi went with Abdul to Literature. It had been a few days since he had heard his parent's conversation about how there was no plan for him. And this came from his mother, who was literally a woman who made plans.

And over the course of those few days, he'd tried his best to get it out of his mind. Maybe focus on some of the positive things, not his encounter with Collins who he could still feel breathing down his neck. Or the fact that October wasn't just his month. He was thankful however, that it was one of those months that went by fast. And soon, it was two weeks in, and still nothing positive.

"Hollow Fest is literally going to be the highlight of my year" Someone yelled, almost bumping into him as he made his way to class. The hallway was still puking frustrated students left right and center and he had to mingle through those sweaty bodies. "My mum won't allow me" Another said as Ola came to a halt, waiting for the road to clear.

He shut his eyes, bouncing in an impatient gait before he opened them. "Sneak out. You're a pussy" The conversation beside him seemed to catch his attention the most over the noisy halls.

And he just stood, looking at Femi, this five foot boy with the mouth of a giant. He tried his best not to laugh, as he stuck up a middle finger. His guess was that he was in ss2, the year before his.

"You can't miss the party of the year. Don't be a pussy" He yabbed his friend, high-fiving the other.

"He's such a Jazzlyn" The third of the toxic trio remarked and Ola finally arched his brows. "Isn't that that faggot that people keep talking about?"

"My dad says he was insane" Femi said, finally bumping into Ola. He turned around to him, as Ola's fists balled up. "Right?" He chuckled, unable to read his emotions. And it took all the self control in the world to prevent Ola from getting yet another fight with one of these jerks.

He just heaved a deep breath, brushing past his shoulders. He couldn't fathom the fact that Jazzlyn was now a term used as an insult. A human, and it said alot about society's for women.

He shook his head, stamping against the party flyer on the ground as he approached his class.

"Teenagers are horrible people" He muttered and there was a metal click in his head. Cheers to that.

To be continued...