song for this chapter (for those that listen to k-pop): Christmas Tree by V, on repeat...
that's acc what I listened to while writing this chapter. w some distractions from my mother :)/ don't miss the author's note at the end of the chapt. pleaseee...

025| "𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐆𝐨 𝐓𝐨 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬."

~H A N N I E L~

It hurt me to see her cry. Hurt me to see her this way.

All I wanted to do was hug her, comfort her, make her believe everything was going to be fine even though I wasn't sure how...

I don't think I ever really clarified what drew me to Grey eyes.

But no matter what, I'd never want that feeling to leave me.

"I'm haphephobic," she confessed. Exposed herself in front of me after I'd comforted her with a Bible verse and words that came from the deepest part of my heart.

I know you're haphephobic. I wanted to say.

But I was too dumbfounded. Everything in my head was just a replay of today's events. I was probably wrong for attacking my seniors but they were jerks. Assholes even.

And the way, this varsity jacket guy had helped me in fighting them, taking on the tall idiot that had scissored Komisola's clothes like they had some bad blood between them. I almost pitied the tall guy. Almost.

The short girl, who was contrast in height to the varsity jacket guy-they were probably my seniors-hugged Komisola like that was the best thing she needed, gave her hoodie with the big yellow smiley face on it.

I thanked her, not with words but in my head. She didn't know how much she had helped me.

"There's nothing wrong with being haphephobic." I told Komisola, pushing the urge to reach out to hold her hand behind. I stared at them for as long as I could before I focused on her grey eyes.

"There is." She objected with a sardonic scoff. "Everything is wrong with haphephobic."

I was transported back to our first meetings absentmindedly.

When I sleepily bumped into her at the class corridor, when I saw her under the rain inhaling all its glory, her exposing my true self in the natatorium, her having a panic attack just because I held her, that tiny smile she gave me when I called us both weirdos...

It was safest to say, I really really liked Komisola Queen Adedire. And she had no idea.

"Be my friend,"

It sounded like an offer, but I was desperate. My insides were a mess. A pathetic, pleading mess.

Komisola shot me a weird look and I couldn't stop the laughter that fell from my lips. Her reaction was meme worthy.

"I'm starting to think you're more fucked up than I am." She said, stated plainly without any clue to the fact that she had just said the truth.

Instead, I decided to reply with, "who's not fucked up?"

"I'm your friend, Hanniel. As much as I hate to say it, but I am. I owe you one."

God knows I was so happy to hear that. So happy. But my excitement died soon as it came because of her last sentence.

I owe you one.

She was being my friend because she thought she owed me.

I could almost sniff the reluctancy in her voice and actions.

But I shot her a smile and stood up. "Then, friend, let's go to class."

She also stood up and as much as I wanted to hold her hand, I couldn't. I didn't want her getting scared or paranoid because of me.

"I want to do it so bad," I said to myself, forcing myself not to look her way.

"What's that?" Komisola asked, lifeless grey eyes staring at me in curiosity.

"If I tell you... it's... never mind." I let out a frustrated huff and ran my hand through my curls. They felt really disheveled but I couldn't care less. As much as I loved my baby curls, they weren't the matter at hand.

"Can I try something?"

Seems like the devil wants to use you...

If you... If you try it, Hanniel!

"Try what?" Komisola looked confused.

I considered my options for a moment and shook my head. "Nah, never mind."

"My novel,"

Komisola searched her body, including the varsity jacket like what she was looking for was on her body.

Honestly speaking, as grateful as I was to Senior Amir for giving his jacket to Komisola to wear, the whole thing angered me and I couldn't help the jealousy I felt.

Stupid jealousy.

"Which novel?" I asked, feeling amused at the way she searched nowhere and everywhere in this empty hallway for her novel.

"It's Unrequited Love... a limited edition- shit! It's in the Leisure Room!"

You say what now, fam?

"Leisure... Leisure room?" I repeated, not believing my ears.

What the heck?

♧■♧

So you're not going to take it?

I subtly slipped the paper unto her table, even while feeling someone's eyes on me.

She gave me a glare before quickly scribbling something in the paper in less than a second and squeezing it onto my table.

No.

I smiled at her handwriting, rushed and packed together. It was really ugly.

"Hanniel and Komisola, may I have an idea what you two are passing to each other?"

I paled. The room went cold all of a sudden.

The one teacher that totally creeped me out had caught me being distracted in class.

Mr Jarah.

"The paper, hand it over," he stretched his hand out to receive our little paper as soon as he walked over to our seats.

Reluctantly with embarrassment, I handed it over to him and he thoroughly read each line.

Out.

"Is he gifting her something?" A very annoying girl, even more annoying than Dabirah, called Yusrah snickered from her seat. She had tried to hit on me once, asking for my number while running her hands down my shirt to my nether region but I politely turned her down.

Just mind your business.

"What's the meaning of this?" Mr Jarah frowned at us.

"Sir, I didn't realize my textbook was on the floor. He was asking me to pick it up." Komisola said, smooth lies flowing out her tongue.

Fantastic.

"She speaks? Wonderful," Hassan chirped with sarcasm. Not cool, dude. I shot Hassan a look which he ignored.

Just voice out your thoughts, Hanniel, my subconscious urged.

Komisola held her English textbook in her hand and shot a brief, forced smile at the teacher. I could almost smell the uneasiness oozing off her.

"What's English textbook doing in my class?"

"I haven't had time to arrange my books, English was the subject we had before this-"

"Are you-" I placed my hand over Ameenah's mouth before she could complete her sentence, making sure Mr Jarah would not hear her speak.

She bit my palm and I removed it instantly.

Mr Jarah squeezed the paper in his hand and placed it in his pocket. "Sir, the paper," Komisola started.

I gave her a weird look. What did she need the paper for? We had already been caught.

"See me in my office after the bell goes off, Adedire." That was all Mr Jarah said as he left the class. On cue, the automatic bell rang at the same time.

"Stupid clouds."

I could've almost not heard Komisola say those two words.

Almost.

"Problem for who is an incest breeder."

Tiami said that, throwing a lazy smirk to Komisola as she passed his front and biting his lower lip not so subtly while staring at her behind.

Idiot.

~
I just created a new account for writing on instagram: @theangelydk
please follow :)
and this chapter is dedicated to Iyanuoluwa-Temi for tagging me in Project Pen.❤️
almost at 500 reads!