chapter is dedicated to myself bc this is the first time I'll ever reach chapter 40 in a book. 😂❤️ enjoyyy

040| Unexpected Expectations

~H A N N I E L~

I should have relished the last moments of Mum being a full time mother.

Right now, she was just the Olivia Aderinoye that I hardly got to see.

It was unwelcoming to step into this big mansion, accommodating only me and the house helps. The amazingly large, 325-inch television was switched off and I found myself staring sideways at the dark blankness that had a mysterious depth to it.

Just as I passed the indoor pool in the hallway decorated with purple lights, Salewa stepped into presence, slightly startling me. "How are you, sir?"

I raised a brow in reflex. How are you?

When did we start having conversations?

"Do you want anything?" I asked.

"Nothing," Salewa shook her head. "Madam said I should make sure to check up on you every five minutes and it's been five minutes since you entered." She rapped out slowly.

Every five minutes?

I found that idea unappealing.

"Thank you very much, but I don't want that." I waved in refusal.

Salewa looked like she was about to protest, and just as she was about to open her mouth to say something, I cut her off, "You can go, Salewa."

I definitely noticed what happened after that.

The slight frown on her face, causing her eyebrows to crease and her cheeks to squeeze-not a slight frown-just because I said her name before she walked away...

Was it my pronunciation?

I sighed and went upstairs, loosening my tie in the process. The first thing I did as soon as I opened the door was fling myself and my backpack unto the bed and I released another exhausted sigh.

I looked at my right, my black backpack laying right beside me. I sat up and unzipped it, pulling the white envelope I had received from Mr Jarah right before school hours ended.

The envelope contained a letter Mum had to sign. But right now, I didn't think Mum was coming back home any time soon.

I think we are back to that era.

I flinched when the door to my room was slowly opened, revealing a shy looking Salewa.

Don't tell me she was serious...

"Sir, I have been knocking at your door for sometime now. Do you need anything?"

I didn't know what to say.

"Has it been five... what do you want?" My words came out in a disarray, a result of my inarticulate thinking since Salewa walked in.

Salewa nodded, "Yes. It's been five minutes."

"Salewa," I started, sighing for the third time in a row, "You really don't need to come every five minutes. What sort of stress is that?"

Salewa looked like she was about to say something and I caught that subtle frown again when I pronounced her name.

Maybe I should avoid saying her name for now...

Salewa lowered her head, not saying anything. I rubbed my forehead and asked, "When is Mum coming back?"

"Next week."

Oh wow.

Salewa continued, "She went to Abuja."

"For business?" I asked.

"Yes," Salewa replied. "She won't be coming till next week."

I think I heard you correctly the first time, Salewa.

But if Mum wasn't around to sign this, who would help me sign the envelope?

I brought out my phone from my backpack and started to dial Dad's contact, ignoring the anxiety I felt because I was calling him after a long time.

The call began to ring. Something sparked in me, like a bright ray of hope that twisted my mentality for a moment, deceiving me into believing something else when the truth was in its pure form...

Dad wouldn't ever pick up.

I wasn't surprised when the call was abruptly cut off. It took so much in me not to smile to myself.

"Do you need anything, sir? I should help you bring it?"

I looked up at Salewa, regarding her for a moment. "Please bring me a fruit juice and a glass cup."

"The one you always drink? From your father's company?"

What's this...?

"I said to bring me a fruit juice." I said, my words coming out harshly just as I intended. "Did I ask for an InFoodCo?"

Salewa noticed the sudden change of mood and moved back, bowing her head in apology. "I'm sorry, sir. I'll bring what you asked for now." She turned around and quietly left.

~

2 days before TJHIC

Entering the Principal's office when he wasn't the one summoning made nervousness creep up my bones. We only had two days before the conference and I still hadn't gotten signatures from my parents.

Talk about when you need them the most...

The transparent glass door with dandelion stickers at its bottom showcased a filmy see-through behind its border. I knocked three times in monotony, waiting for the Principal to answer.

"Come in,"

I inhaled and exhaled as I opened the door, entering at a slow pace. Something about the Principal made me scared... well, not exactly. I didn't know if he was aware, but anytime I was near him, he made me cautious of every movement or action I made.

He had an intimidating aura. Just one look at you directly from him made you reconsider everything you were doing or about to do, because you didn't want to be judged or criticized by him.

"G'day sir," I greeted, stepping forward and maintaining eye contact with him. The Principal seemed to recognize me instantly and he removed his glasses, his eyes lighting up as he acknowledged my presence.

"Cardin, how are you?" He smiled at me.

Well, he isn't so harsh.

Not waiting for my response, he added, "Mr and Mrs Cardin, too? How are they?"

The urge to correct him that my mother was no longer a Cardin filled my senses but I stopped myself from doing so. Instead, I smiled at him before answering, "They're good, sir."

"Okay. What brings you to my office?" Principal Matthews asked, still smiling at me.

I hesitated before speaking. I really wanted to attend the conference but unfortunately that had come with some terms and conditions I was unable to agree with, not even on my own will. "The Jacqueline Hennessey Conference, sir... I have been selected as a player for the basketball team but unfortunately, I couldn't get my parents to sign this letter of permission." I raised the envelope which I brought with me.

The Principal's smile slowly transformed into a disturbed frown. "Your parents couldn't sign it?"

"Yes sir," I said. "I was wondering if there is any other way I could..."

"Unfortunately, I don't think so, Cardin."

Why was he so fancied with my surname?

"The letter isn't just a letter. If anything happens to you in the conference, we are willing to take responsibility but we don't want a case whereby there shall be trouble. That is what the letter is for," he told me.

I sighed, not knowing what to say. I couldn't believe after all the practice and skipping of classes, I wouldn't end up going.

"Should I call your parents and ask them?"

I threw my head up to look at the Principal. He had a look of consideration on his face. "You seem to really want to be present there." He continued, referring to the conference.

I nodded vigorously, "Yes, sir. You can call them. They didn't pick my call but maybe they can pick yours."

I wasn't lying. I had called Mum several times after that and Dad a little more.

"Okay, you can go then. If there is a conclusion to everything, I'll let you know by the end of school hours."

"Thank you sir." I bowed my head. "G'day, sir."

~

I was met with a lot of ruckus in class. For a department like mine, we weren't supposed to be this noisy but we were. Every chance we got.

I stepped into class and saw some of my classmates dancing to a loud playing song in front of a phone on a tripod at the front of the class. How was the school allowing this?

And how did I not hear all this noise in the hallway...?

Oh.

The doors were soundproof.

The song sounded foreign which I recognized as a Korean song because Ameenah and Dabirah were the ones leading the dance. Others just busied themselves with a lot of things; studying, chatting or messing around.

I watched as Ameenah and Dabirah with several others danced along to the song, recording themselves with big smiles and switching facial expressions on their faces.

Quietly, I avoided them and went to my seat. The seat by my right was empty. I wondered where she had gone.

I thought she stopped going to the Leisure Room.

I pulled out my phone. Today was the day I would be straightening my hair, and I was more than happy to. I looked forward to it.

Few minutes later, they had stopped making videos and Ameenah came to her seat, eyes focused on her phone while I watched her.

"Why have you been recording videos?" I asked her.

Maybe I shouldn't have, because a full rant came on.

Ameenah beamed at me, "It's for my Tiktok page. You know how I make those videos with Dabirah, I've always wanted to make one with our classmates. We even recorded one that had to do with flashlights surrounding one person. Not gonna lie, making dancing videos are bae."

I nodded, "Okay. Do you know where Komisola might be?"

I think I shouldn't have asked that too.

I watched as Ameenah's smile visibly dropped, "And how am I supposed to know? Are we friends?"

I immediately apologized, "I'm sorry. I didn't know who to ask."

Ameenah regarded me for a moment before shaking her head in dismissal and turning to her phone. I stood up, ready to go to the Leisure Room in search of my friend but I guess I didn't have to.

She was already walking in. And two people followed behind her.

The Head girl and someone I didn't really know. She looked familiar though.

"LET ME FAINT."

I turned to Ameenah who had just spoken, shooting her a weird look.

Normally, people would've comported themselves at the sight of the Head girl according to what I had seen, but right now, they were more focused on the person beside her.

The stares, whispers and murmurs proved it.

"Who is this?" I asked Komisola who was already on her seat.

"Oyindamola Faleye, a.k.a Queen Bee." Was Komisola's curt answer. She sounded annoyed and distressed.

"Are you okay?" I had to ask.

"They made me a paramedic. Senior Inaya recommended me."

She just made my day.

~c h a p t e r b r e a k~

She groaned at the books she had to drop in the staff room. She hated being a class captain in junior class. It was worse than she imagined. She had to bear burdens and perform duties. A lot of responsibilities.

She remembered the argument she had with her sister few days ago. She was very close to her but due to their situation, they both had to pretend that they weren't related in school. Because while she was on top of it in the food chain in the junior class, her sister was at the bottom of the food chain in the senior class.

Relating with her sister in school was equal to committing social suicide.

She walked past the Principal office, glancing at the glass door before she walked back again. She could see the blurry image of her crush.

She recognized him.

She was obsessed with him.

His curls, his height, his complexion, his hair, his physique... she knew everything about him. But she wasn't petty like the girls who gave him packages and gifts.

She decided to listen in on the conversation, wondering why her crush was in the Principal's office. She hoped he wasn't in trouble. Maybe those stupid girls had put him in trouble.

Or did he fight with someone?

She shook her head, trying to arrange her thoughts and calm her head.

She was shocked to hear the next words.

"Unfortunately, I don't think so, Cardin."

The books slipped from her hands, almost falling unto the floor but she was quick to hold them tighter.

His sister was right. Her sister was right.

"His surname isn't Alonge, I'm telling you. Even the outcast knows." Her sister had told her but she refused to believe. That was the reason for her argument. She couldn't stand her sister accusing her crush.

The only words she could say, as she was at a loss for words, unable to register what she just heard and all what she just realized, were, "HE'S BEEN LYING."

a/n:

who do you think this person is from the chapter break?

And Hanniel's secret is finally out. Omo, I don't know what to say at this point. Things won't be easy though, bc CH is for the strong hearted🙂. Pray for him.

On a side note, he finally got what he wanted; Komisola attending the conference. The question now is: Will he be able to attend?

annyeong my luvs, saranghaeyo <3333 [bye, love you]❤️