CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

JAYDEN'S POV

"Let's talk!"

I said to Jada as I walked into our hideout.

She was seated by her desk and immediately she heard my voice she closed one of her journals. The contents of those books are known to her alone and she does a good job hiding them.

"Have you arrived at a conclusion dear brother?"

She asked as she stood up from her seat.

She rested on the table, folded her hands, and watched me intently as she waited for a response.

"Jada think about this. I don't want to do this."

"It worked the last time Jayden. If we are not careful, she will beat you too and what will dad say? Ehn? What will he say? I am not ready to face that emotional trauma again. She has her life fucking easy. Her parents don't care so why do you feel so guilty about this? It is survival of the fittest at the Royals. The strongest and wisest wins. I have also thought hard and long, if you don't want to do this, I have no choice than to announce she is a scholarship student and she will be gone in days."

I watched my sister and that calm, pure soul was almost gone.

I pulled my hair tight but I could not feel the pain.

I don't want to hurt Anike but I don't want to lose my sister more.

Anike has also agreed to it. She told me to save Jada and that is what I would do.

Except I felt so much pain at the thought of Anike finding out I played her. We do the breakup in the harshest way possible days to the exam to make the girl more disorganized and I can't imagine it.

"I will do it so calm down. I will do it. I will date her."

Jada smiled the brightest I have seen in days and she pulled me into a tight hug.

"Thank you, Jay."

"I will handle the breakup myself."

I said almost as a request.

I can explain to Anike.

"Whatever you want. You don't like her, do you? She is not your type, right? She is fat."

I shifted back from the hug, placing my hands in my pocket.

I can't admit to Jada that I might actually like her.

That she makes me smile so easily.

That she makes everything seem better than it is.

She calms me and I like her. More than a friend. Definitely more than a friend.

If she knows all these, she would plan to hurt Anike more.

She won't trust me with the breakup either.

I have to make this lie believable.

"Her? I don't like her. I can't even stand her. Never. She is too fat for my liking and also too slow. These next few weeks would be torture for me because I can't bear her but it is what it is. I have to do it even if it would be a total waste of time."

I said sounding as disgusted as possible to make her believe and she did.

The smile on her face proved that.

"Thank you, Jay. I have to meet Jeff now. See you later."

"Yeah, later."

I watched her pack her stuffs into her bag and walk out before placing my head in my hands.

What have I done?

What am I doing?

I just pray that no matter what, Anike does not find out about this.

**************

I stayed in the empty class during break. I was not hungry and I had no energy to eat.

My head was filled with different thoughts and constant worry.

I can't even bear to look at Anike nowadays and Jada is noticing it already.

I am tired!

So tired.

"Hey."

That soft voice that I have come to like so much called out and I found myself raising my head so fast that I wondered how my neck did not snap.

"Anike, why aren't you at the canteen?"

She shrugged and sat beside me.

"Are you okay? You have been quiet."

She placed her soft beautiful hands on my forehead, checking out my temperature.

"Your temperature is a little high."

I chuckled,

"Human thermometer."

She laughed out too but the worry was evident in her eyes.

"I am serious though. I am worried. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am fine. Thanks."

She glanced at our hands and only then did I realize I was still holding on to her hand but I did not want to let go.

"I have something I am working on. I am holding the bible study at the church this Saturday. Do you want to help?"

I shrugged,

"Sure."

It is not like I am doing anything else.

She made to walk to her table but I was still holding on to her hand.

"Jayden."

She called shyly, pulling her hands away slowly.

I stood up,

"Anike, what do you say about the movie date? Should we have it this evening?"

Sadly, we were not able to watch the Woman King at the sickbay but thankfully, it now served as an excuse to be with her.

"Are you not reading?"

She whispered asked,

"No, I will read at night."

I whispered back.

Why were we whispering in an empty class?

"Uhm, sure."

"Thanks."

I said with a huge smile, hugging her lightly for a few seconds. Okay maybe more than a few seconds. She smells so nice, so good and I just wanted her in my arms. We somehow fit so perfectly.

She looked flustered when I finally pulled back and she struggled with getting her bible out of her bag. She was extra quiet for the rest of the time she was with me except when she needed to get a point from the bible to me.

"Are you a deep Christian?"

I suddenly asked when she was talking away about the happenings in the book of Matthew.

"I want to be. Coming here as made me realize that. You?"

I smiled and if I can get to have her talk so freely, then I want to be one too.

"I am not one at the moment but I can attend these sessions with you from now on."

She grinned!

"Are you serious?"

I nodded.

"That is great! I am so excited! There is this girl at the session that I know. She is so versed in the bible and I kind of want to be like her, you know? I admire her. You should see her, really? It is so fun; I am glad you even want to come. You will really love it. Trust me."

"I hope so."

"I can feel it in me that you would love it."

I chuckled,

"How?"

"There is just that feeling I have. Moments like this makes me glad that my mum dumped me here."

She said those sad words with a huge smile.

"Me too."

She grinned.

"Thanks for helping out, Jay."

I brushed the biscuit crumbs on her face away with a smile.

"Well, you can pay me for my time."

"How?"

"Hmm, I will think about it and let you know."

She laughed out and I found myself joining in without knowing. She just looks so beautiful laughing, smiling, talking, everything.

"Do think about it. I will do anything if it is in my power."

She said with a little smirk.

"You said so yourself."

I replied but she immediately walked to her seat when students started trooping in and I think I have it bad already because I already missed her presence beside me.

I watched Jada walk into the class with Joy beside her. They linked hands and were both laughing so wholeheartedly.

Jada's eyes caught mine and she smirked towards Anike. Joy caught the little action between us and even winked as if she knew about the whole thing.

What is wrong with Jada??

Her friendship with Joy is already so stupid. Yes, she was our childhood friend and shit but can't she see that the girl has grown to be this fake person. Remembering how she hit Anike on the basketball court always makes my blood boil in anger but there she is smiling like we are friends.

I looked away from both of them and faced my Mac book instead.

"Guy!!!!"

Tobi shouted as he sat beside me.

I am not up for anything he has to say.

My head is currently banging.

"What?"

I asked sounding even more annoyed than I intended.

"I just found out that Jeff is dating your sister. They are official. Why did you not tell me about it?"

I looked up from my laptop and at Tobi who seemed excited.

I turned to Jada who was now working on her laptop too and her word started to click.

She had taken care of Jeff.

She had taken care of Jeff.

Is this what she meant?

She knows how bad Jeff has it too. And he likes her sincerely. What is wrong with Jada? What is she trying to achieve with all this bullshit?

"When?"

"They were trying to keep it a secret from everyone. I thought you knew."

"I am just hearing you say it now. They are together?"

Tobi nodded and pointed at Jeff who just walked in and was busy staring at Jada with a smile.

I have never seen Jeff like this. Looking so smitten.

He has always liked her since we were kids and that fact made me feel pity for him and mostly for Jada.

I can't let her do this.

I stood up abruptly shocking everyone in the class with how loud my chair shrieked.

I walked to Jada, pulled her up and dragged her away from the class to our hideout.

"Jayden what is this? What are you doing?"

I rolled my eyes as I dropped her hands.

"I won't be a part of this game you are playing. What the hell are you doing with Jeff? Are you playing him too? He likes you. Sincerely. He was there with you when things went downhill last year. He is my best friend and you know how bad he has it too but you want to betray him like this? Where is your heart? What is wrong with you?"

She rolled her eyes and folded her arms,

"I need to have a backup plan. What if you mess up? I can at least take Jeff's place. He is distracted by me and I just have to use that."

My hands went to my hair,

"Do not do this to Jeff."

"I will."

"Who are you? Where is my sister?"

She rolled her eyes,

"I am right here Jayden. You are just too blinded to see it. If you promise to deal with Anike rightly, I will keep all these a secret from Jeff. There won't even be a need to play him. We will be real couples."

I laughed out loud.

"I pity you. When you lose everyone that ever cared for you, you will realize that you are on the wrong path. And please don't use me as an excuse ever again because I am willing to get scarred for life by our father than to do all these."

She sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Are you backing out now? Ehnn, tell me so I can know how to announce."

It felt like I was talking to a wall. Everything I said was not entering her at all.

Maybe I will have a discussion with dad during the midterm. Something is wrong somewhere. I don't think this is normal.

"Why are you doing all these? Are you sure it is because of grades?"

She rolled her eyes,

"Are you backing out or not?"

I can't let her do this alone. I will alert dad about this in the next two weeks until then, I will play my role in her messed up plan.

"I am not. I am here if you want to talk about anything. Anything."

I said before leaving the class.

Something is wrong somewhere.

She is not well.

I can feel it.

I have to agree with Jayden that Jada is definitely not well.

I just hope Anike never finds out. Hmmm

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Eniola_writes 💕💕