song for the chapter is Gondry by Primary, OHHYUK & LIM KIM. it's a recent favorite.

055| Worst Enemy

~K O M I S O L A~

The night of the dinner~

Miss Olivia had somehow managed to make Hanniel give me a tour around the house. They didn't want us to listen in on their conversation and it was weird going up to Hanniel's room.

However, the tour around the house cleared up whatever anxiety I'd felt or awkwardness that dangled in the air between me and Hanniel as he showed me around. I was deep in awe, admiring every intricate detail of every corner of this masterpiece building. From the indoor swimming pool, to the theater room, Hanniel even had a special arcade room for himself which he rarely used.

The luxury.

"I think we've done enough showing around. There's nothing much left, Komisola," Hanniel said, looking exhausted from all the walking. So lazy. "I just gave myself a tour too," he added.

I looked at him. "You don't know every nook and cranny of your house?"

"I have spent only a few months here. I'm as new as you are to the house, mate. I know just my room, the kitchen, Mum's room, the swimming pool and the theater room. Didn't even know there was an arcade room."

There's rich, and there's RICH.

Hanniel was definitely a RICH kid.

I didn't respond to what he'd just said, rather roaming my eyes, studying every part of the house like I didn't use to live like this. Father was RICH, but in terms of taste? Hanniel's mother definitely took the cake.

I felt Hanniel's eyes heavy on me and when I turned around, slowly and cautiously like I'd be shocked if I wasn't careful. "What?" I asked, my voice barely audible because of how hooked I was under his gaze. He was shamelessly staring at me, not even stopping even after I'd caught him in the act.

"You look very good tonight, Komisola."

Oh...

I wasn't warned about the swarm of feelings that arose in my insides as I heard those words.

I think I liked Hanniel.

Scratch that, I did.

This was the most random ass moment to admit it to myself, but him being all up in my space right now, I couldn't even think properly.

Was this an aftereffect of hanging out with him too much?

I expected this... getting pulled into his orbit involuntarily.

But what I didn't expect was what he said next. Legit dropped a bombshell on me.

"And I think I might be leaving for a while..."

~

mid-term after resumption~

When Hanniel said he might be leaving for a while, I didn't think he meant months.

It's been three months since he went back to Australia. Really, I hope he was doing fine. It was everywhere all over the news; Felix Cardin suffering from a serious illness. Hanniel told me he'd been bedridden for months. What the illness was exactly, Hanniel never told me.

His dad's wish was for his only child to stay with him.

It was serious, as even Hanniel's mum flew back and in from Australia almost every two weeks. Every time she'd call Mother and tell her she was in Nigeria, going back the next moment and it was literally a repetition. Juggling business and family was no easy feat to pull off.

But life without Hanniel once again was different. Different in a way that I was meant to be used to this, but it felt like Hanniel had made this mark in my life.

I felt so solemn.

But remembering how we'd said our goodbyes to each other didn't make feel me so solemn after all.

"My dad... he's sick. And he wants me to stay with him, comes with being the only child. He thinks he won't make it because of how serious it is."

"Shit," I muttered, having no idea what to say. Hanniel looked like the last thing he needed was sympathy. He hated it. "What's the sickness?"

Hanniel stared at me for seconds that felt like an eternity, and when I realized he wasn't going to answer that question any time soon, I didn't bother with an answer.

"I'm sorry," was really all I could say.

Hanniel shrugged, mustering a small smile and then stepping forward. I was flustered, taken by suprise with his actions. He looked at my forehead, and asked the question, "Can I?"

It took me a while to understand what he meant. And when I did, my eyes widened on their own, and I became so foolishly awkward. I managed to make Hanniel chuckle to himself, obviously amused by current state.

However I nodded, and as I waited patiently, released a sharp breath when soft lips pressed so delicately unto my forehead.

Hanniel kissed my forehead.

I'm crying, I never expected that.

I did not realize I was smiling to myself on the bleachers until a particular someone's voice sliced through my thoughts like a knife. "Who has you smiling like that?"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

Would have been better if it was Ibrahim here.

Ameenah of all people, no.

"What do you want, star student?"

I finally looked up and watched a smug smile play out on Ameenah's lips. "Star student? With a little spite? What, you're jealous?"

I scoffed. I couldn't hold it in. A loud ass scoff that mocked the ridiculousness her words carried.

One thing Hanniel did for me, was make me realize I actually did not have to give into anyone's bullshit. Now that he wasn't here, it didn't mean I was going to be the victim again. If Ameenah Ahmed thought I could be bothered, then she was really playing.

"You know I can't be jealous, Ameenah." I stood up. "You've forgotten? Months ago? Or weren't you the one who asked me to forfeit a race because you knew I'd beat you?"

I'd never seen the look on her face switch so instantly. It felt like I'd triggered something explosive.

That's me, if I actually cared.

"Who is actually jealous?" I continued. "Should be you."

I did not expect Ameenah's response. "You're right. I am jealous. You're such an ungrateful person, to be honest, Komisola. Just because your brother sexually abused you, you think you're the only one who's had it bad?"

Just because your brother sexually abused you... she said those words so nonchalantly, dismissing the weight they carried like they were as light as a feather.

What I'd never understand was why Ameenah hated me. Really, I'd done nothing to her. I never crossed her paths, but she never failed in making me feel like I was of no use.

"I like the way you are without Hanniel, sha. You've seem to become his shadow."

"What's your point of talking to me, Ameenah?" I snapped. All I wanted was to be alone. I liked being alone without having someone as frustrating as Ameenah making me want to strangle her throat.

"I'm leaving you alone."

Question mark... ?

"I'm dating Ibrahim. And he complained about how my friends, Dabirah and Hassan treated you, including me. So, I'm here to make false amends for the sake of making up."

She sounded sick.

"Get off your high horse, Adedire." She scowled. "You're not all that, and we're graduating soon."

I fought the urge to laugh at how amusing the sight in front of me. Ameenah was a perfect example of beauty without brains.

"Are you really doing this for Ibrahim?" I questioned. I wasn't a fool, unlike Ibrahim who had somehow managed to date Ameenah out of all people.

"What are you insinuating?" Ameenah equally responded with another question.

I shrugged innocently. "You shouldn't ask me that. I know you like Hanniel, Ameenah. I see the way you stare at him when he isn't looking and how you've practically waged war against my ass for something this unreasonable..." I paused and took a deep breath to continue.

What if I get petty?

Maybe coming down to Ameenah's level was the only way to set her straight.

"But you boost my ego, Ameenah. I mean, you're insecure that I'm a runner better than you, and very funny too, the boy you like happens to like me."

Ameenah could combust at any moment. It felt like I set a timer on a bomb.

"We're both like inseparable, and you don't like that? It's not my fault, Ameenah. And it's also not my fault that you could die with jealousy because I apparently seem to run faster..." I scoffed, surprised by my own words, "it's not even that deep. You have everything, Ameenah. So focus on not losing what you have. Don't go after what is not yours."

Ameenah was heaving. Her palms were tightly fisted and her jaw was clenched. "You're not worth my attention, Komisola. I did this only because of Ibrahim, but na me fuck up. Be careful though."

The hatred in her eyes before she walked away almost had me reeling back.

I was definitely Ameenah's worst enemy.

a/n: hii readers
today makes it a month since I announced my writing break, and I'm back ig? and also today is my birthday lmao
happy birthday to me?😭 anyway, COG is really coming to an end, and I want to see how it ends fr.
has Ameenah acc left Komisola alone? don't say I'm the writer abeg, me sef no sabi.
but apologies for this chapter, it was a bit rushed, i'd promised myself to make an update on my birthday, but I've been so packed with exams to write anything omo.

anyways, i don't have much to say anymore, so bye guyss <3