041| TIJHC Power Trip

~K O M I S O L A~

The mansion was silent throughout. I couldn't help but notice the emptiness in the air today despite the fact that life in this mansion had never been busy or raucous.

And no, my parents weren't to blame.

I never really focused on it, but maybe that's how I always perceived the mansion.

This was not how a typical home was meant to be.

All of my ideas were abandoned before they could spiral into a series of absurd what-if scenarios... a chain of impossible what-ifs thoughts.

The mansion was even colder than it was at school.

It wasn't supposed to be this cold in this season. The weather nowadays was always rainy, dark and chilly.

I gripped myself tightly as I ascended the stairs to my room, surprised to find Davies inside, sitting comfortable on my bed.

Well, shit.

Each time I saw Davies, I couldn't help but replay every memory we had in my head... more like scars he had inflicted on me. It baffled me how he seemed like he had his shit together. Davies didn't act like he had any regrets whatsoever, or he was a changed person.

I stood at the door, my body too weak to move and my feet too heavy to carry. I decided to knock on the door, catching Davies' attention who looked up with a smile. "You are here, Komi," he greeted. I looked down at his hands. He was holding a photo frame of a younger me. His filthy hands were touching it.

Anger came like a transient rush. I stomped towards him, snatched my photo frame from his hands and glared at his sitting figure. With clenched teeth, I gritted out, "First of all, don't you ever in your life, call me Komi. Second of all, don't dare come into my room without my permission."

After hearing all I said, my brother's smile stretched and slowly, he stood up to look at me. The anger I felt dissipated and it was replaced by a stronger emotion.

Hatred.

All my life, I grew up fearing Davies. My parents had instilled so much fear in me that I couldn't look into their eyes, or even interrupt in their conversation. I thought I could be free with Davies, but all it took for me to be proven wrong was a slap I received when I called him a fool for not answering a question I had asked correctly.

So whether or not I liked to admit it, there was always this fear and anxiety that crippled me and diminished my confidence whenever I was with my family. Each one of them.

I flinched at the contact of my skin with Davies' cold fingers. "Where was all this anger when you filed a case against me? You were so weak, sitting like the pathetic girl you were in the court. You were even too scared to answer questions," he said, punctuating his words with a maniacal laughter.

When I didn't say anything, he continued, "You have grown so much, Komi. Oh..."

Davies' eyes lit up like he recalled something, and smiled something like a guilty smile. "I've forgotten, you said Komisola, right?"

I hissed and looked away. "You have become quite a teenager now. You know, rebelling, attitude... you've got all that. But you don't got this."

I jumped when his hand moved down to my chest and on reflex, I pushed him so hard, he hit his head on the wall.

"You are sick in the head, Davies!" I spat in his face, my voice thick with venom, disgust and hatred. "You bastard!"

"Come on," Davies winced, letting out a humorless chuckle as he managed to push himself off the wall. "Let's go back to old times, Komi. I missed that. I missed you."

I shook my head and moved back, subconsciously counting my steps in fear as I did so. I was so scared right now because no other person was at home. Only the maids.

"Get out of my room, Davies. Get the fuck out." I muttered.

I sounded pathetic.

"Fine, I'll go." Davies raised his hands in surrender. I looked up at him, with hatred and spite in my eyes. But he had a smile on, one that my insides churn in disgust and anger. "I actually came here to deliver a message. Mum and Dad said you were selected as a paramedic for your school trip... so they've given you permission."

"Is that all? Get out, for real." I pointed towards the door to my room. Davies shook his head at me, pocketing his hands into trousers before leaving my room with casual strides.

The air became suffocated after he left. It was hard to breathe. My chest was getting constricted. I gasped loudly, desperately seeking for air. This pain was all too familiar.

Crumbling to my knees, I blindly ran my hands over my drawer, pushing each one open to search for my drugs. They were probably in my backpack.

It was too difficult for me to move. I dragged myself along the floor, yanking my backpack off the bed and I hastily opened it. My medicine was there, just as I hoped. I aggressively turned it open, throwing an overdose of the pills into my mouth and swallowing them.

Minutes later, my body seemed to calm down. I could breathe properly now. But nothing about me was stable. Especially my mental health.

~H A N N I E L~

School had ended.

Guess who was going to the Jacqueline Hennessey conference? I was.

Somehow, Principal Matthews had managed to get in touch with my parents... Mum, to be specific.

And now, I stared at myself in the mirror, turning and tilting my head as I stared at my reflection. My concentration was on my new hairstyle. Why hadn't I ever considered straightening all my curls?

Oh. I was obsessed with them.

Anyways, I was more than excited to attend this conference. Going on a school trip with actual school friends- even if they were just two in number.

I couldn't wait to see what the conference had in store for us.

~

[The International Jacqueline Hennessey Conference, Arrival Day]

~K O M I S O L A~

For the first time in my life, I wished I had something more distracting to focus on than my usual reading of novels. I had taken my seat in the school bus. We all had our luggages in one car, with our teacher guide, Miss Eva.

Right now, we were all getting seated, ready to start the trip to Abuja. The bus was loud, filled with noisy teenagers who were overhyped and elated because of a trip. Not every one in SS2 would be attending this conference, and that included all class departments. I was probably going to meet people I never knew were in the same class with me today.

The seats were in eight rows, four seats in each row divided into two parts, with enough space in the middle of two seats each in a row.

There was however, one row at the back that wasn't separated. It contained four seats and my guess was the thugs of the class would sit there; Tiamiyu, CK, Jean and the rest...

I looked to my right, down to the empty seat beside me. None of my classmates would seat with me, for sure. They all proved me right as they stepped into the bus, ignoring my existence while some even went far ahead as to shoot me nasty looks.

Let's just say, I received more popularity and attention from CH as a whole ever since Hanniel walked into this school. Not the good kind, if that's what you're thinking.

I used to be hated mostly by my classmates. They were the only ones who bullied me. The others just hated me, shunned me and the sorts...

But Hanniel changed all of that.

For worse.

Speaking of the devil whose appearance penetrated into my vision without warning. My eyes zeroed in on him, widening at his new look. There was something different about him?

He seemed taller, slender as he had always been with this bright grin on his face... what was different?

Something was missing.

Then I noticed it.

His curls were missing.

WHAT ON EARTH DID THIS BOY DO TO HIS HAIR?

My mouth dropped ajar. I was stupefied. I thought he loved his curls? Heck, he loved his curls more than he loved himself.

What went wrong?

To my dismay, this idiot started walking towards me, the same grin from earlier still on his face. He seemed like he was oblivious to the attention he was getting. The bus driver and our classmates were staring at him, mouths agape and wide-eyed, dumbstruck at the new Hanniel who just walked in.

"Is anyone sitting here?" he asked when he got to my seat. For a moment, I considered telling him yes. But that would be an unreasonable lie. Without waiting for my answer, I watched as the half caste human settle down beside me, eyes pointed at me as he studied me. "Tell me you're excited," he said.

My eyebrows pulled together, causing them to wrinkle, "Why would I be excited?"

Hanniel ignored the dry tone in my response and added, "I'm going to reconsider playing basketball all over again after this trip. It's been a while since I used the court at home."

"You stopped playing basketball?"

"Yep," he nodded.

"Why?"

"I don't know..." he shrugged. "I just stopped for a reason. The commitment and all that, I guess I needed a break. Playing it again in Crestview High has made me feel nostalgic whenever I recall the memories."

I didn't say anything in reply. I watched intently, checking out every little detail of Hanniel's face. He had slight freckles on his cheekbones, his brown eyes had this glow whenever he smiled and right now, I was seeing that.

I remembered something he had said. "Hey," I called, "didn't you say that you stayed in Abuja?"

Hanniel pressed his lips together for a second before answering, with a puzzled look on his face, "Yes?"

"What's the name of the school you attended in FCT?"

"Building Stone High," Hanniel answered. "Very tough school."

I wondered if the school he just mentioned would be part of the school attending.

"YOU GUYS! LET'S PLAY TRUTH OR DARE! WHO'S UP?! I mean- IT'S A POWER TRIP!"

I groaned instantly, closing my eyes and sighing as I slumped in my seat. These people really discriminated against the concept of QUIET.

Tiamiyu stood in the center of the bus. Almost everyone had entered, only a few like Ameenah, Sarai and some others weren't around.

Speaking of another devil, Ameenah walked in together with Dabirah.

Hanniel was looking at her with a smile, about to greet her when she walked past him like breeze.

Rendering Hanniel confused by her actions, she walked to the back seats, together with Dabirah and I realized that Hassan has already been sitting there. Our eyes met briefly before I whipped my head to the front.

"What's wrong with Ameenah?" Hanniel muttered. He then shook his head, "By the way, we're best friends now."

Best friends?

When did we become friends?

To be honest, Hanniel was taking things a little bit too far.

I turned around, ready to give him a piece of my mind, "You and I? Best friends?"

"Not you and I."

I paused, freezing as I stared at Hanniel.

Oh.

"I mean, I and Ameenah," he corrected. "I didn't know we were best friends up until now. She mentioned it. I think I'm okay with it though."

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes, folding my arms as I looked up. "Why are you telling me all these? And shouldn't best friends know each other's secrets?"

"What do you mean?" Hanniel shrugged.

"I bet she doesn't know who you truly are, Cardin."

Hanniel's shoulders slumped, his smile immediately dissolving into a dry look. "Stop calling me that in public."

"Can't be me you're telling that to- you can't tell me what to do, bruv."

The half caste boy was about to reply when our attention caught something... or someone.

It was Ibrahim. He was looking at me, a soft gaze and a calm smile while his hand was raised in a wave at me.

"Not this..." I thought I heard Hanniel muttered. I waved back at Ibrahim who took a seat at our front, next to a male classmate I didn't recognize. Hanniel leaned in closer, "Hey, do you like him?"

"Like who?"

He pointed towards Ibrahim. I couldn't help but scoff. "No, why would I like him?"

"Good. I don't want you to like him," Hanniel said, avoiding my gaze and staring straight ahead.

I snorted. I actually snorted. "Are you serious? Why?" I asked.

"Nothing... I just don't want to."

I watched Hanniel, observing him because I couldn't decipher what he just said. Before I could ask him what he meant, Tiamiyu shouted, gathering everyone's attention, "OKAY! EVERYONE'S HERE! ARTS, SCIENCE, BUSINESS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE! TRUTH OR DARE TIME!"

I really hated Tiamiyu. He was just so loud... so razz, uncultured...

He probably hated me too.