*in SpongeBob* 11 DAYS LATER
me after realizing we're just one chapter away from Chapter 40. no cause i haven't ever come this far with a book.😭❤️ A perfect jubilee to all Redeemites :)

039| Secret, Secret... ft. Paramedics.

~H A N N I E L~

The seminar had finally ended, after what seemed to be like an eternity in purgatory. Which actually sucks.

As we all stood up, the Economics teacher raised a hand to stop us from leaving the Hall. Beside me, Ameenah hissed in anger, snarkily muttering some profanities under her breath while Komisola just held her novel to herself. I noticed Ibrahim glancing at her every now and then, either with a curious look or smile on his face.

"Principal Matthews is coming to address all of you," the Economics teacher informed. "Please be on your best behavior, just like the way you were when I was teaching you. SS3 will also be joining you in few minutes."

With that he stepped down from the podium and left the Hall.

I don't think I can ever get used to the SS1-3 education system ranking over here.

Soon the SS3 students entered, following behind Principal Matthews and it was hard not to notice how they looked like disciplined students. These were the same students that I had seen breaking rules. They changed their uniforms one way or the other. The females made their skirts shorter and the males who dyed their hair, wore earrings and everything...

Where did all the changes suddenly disappear to? This was impossible, to be very honest.

"Ooh, good to see Principal Matthews definitely has that effect on all classes." Ameenah remarked beside me, and when I looked at her, she was smirking smugly at our seniors. "Thank God they have other uniforms, lmao."

The SS3 students took their seats quietly and meekly.

The Principal arrived at the podium, with the prefects of the school standing on either of his sides. We all stood up to acknowledge him and he gestured for us to sit down and began conveying his speech.

"As you all know, you only have a few days left till the International Jacqueline Hennessey conference..."

The authority this man commanded with every said action of his. It amazed me.

"Only a few students in SS2 will be accompanying to make sure we have enough members in each Sports team. Selected students will receive a letter requesting for permission which you are to give to your parents. You are to come back with their approved signatures which must not be forged no matter what. We shall also make calls to your parents-"

"Wow, I'm getting the chills. This is so going to be exciting." I heard someone whisper, loud shivering following. The voice sounded vaguely accustomed to my ears.

"Shut up Dabirah," Ameenah chided suddenly and my eyebrows shot up. Dabirah was here?

Well, of course she was.

I leaned back and saw her sitting next to Ameenah, followed by Hassan. Well for two people who always made their presence known, especially Dabirah, they were being extremely quiet.

I'd forgotten how talkative Dabirah was.

"...the conference isn't for play. No, it's not." I channeled all my concentration back to what the Principal was saying. "We should emerge as the best among four schools, making CH as an academic institution very proud. Asides from that," the Principal paused.

"Sounds like so much pressure to me," Ameenah commented with an eye roll.

"Not to forget, the Students award of this term."

Students award?

"First we have Oyindamola Faleye and Mirza Abdelnour who have represented our school with a good reputable image and appearance, featuring on Vogue magazine and Áurea magazine and an interview with Jacqueline Hennessey herself."

Loud, thunderous clapping with hoots and praises could be heard resounding through the Hall immediately, threatening to pierce my ears with uproarious noise.

Thereafter, the clapping died down and the Principal went on with his speech, "I also want to congratulate Ameenah Ahmed for winning a gold medal for our country in a poorly recognized sport, which is fencing. By doing so, she has been named Student of the month and will have her portrait on the wall of fame."

The Wall of Fame?

Amidst the reoccurring clapping, hoots and praises, I was stunned to pay any attention. Ameenah had told me people who had their portraits hung on the wall of fame contributed greatly to the school or represented the school. According to her, it was very hard to achieve something like that. And here she was, having her portrait hung on the wall of fame.

The two teenage models already had their portraits on the wall of fame.

You could say, the wall of fame was the school's way of showing off. An exaggerated platform medium with a more exaggerated title.

"That'll be all for now. Be on your best behavior, Crestview students."

"Thank you, Sir!"

~

~K O M I S O L A~

After a goodbye wave, I walked out of the Hall, breathing out in freedom. It was hard to keep up conversation with Ibrahim. I mean, he wasn't annoying. But I definitely didn't fancy making conversation with anybody.

This one human being begged to differ though; Hanniel.

He was walking beside me and I could feel his gaze on me throughout while I looked straight ahead.

"Aren't you going to miss me?"

That question came so unexpectedly, my sneakers screeched on the tiles as I stopped dead in my tracks.

"What do you mean?"

This idiot named Hanniel who got his surname from a website, apparently, stepped forward and began grinning like a Cheshire cat. "You're going to miss me, right? I'll be gone for a whole week."

Miss... why would I miss him?

I blinked at his stupidity, feeling absolutely amazed and baffled.

"Why would I miss you?" I asked. I was very curious as to why this golden boy was thinking I would miss him.

Just like that, Hanniel's smile completely melted and his lips were brought forward in a pout, "I thought we were friends."

I almost smiled. A sarcastic smile.

I decided to ignore him and continued walking. "You know this wouldn't have happened if you hadn't forfeited the competition."

I stopped walking again and turned around to look at him. He continued, "I wanted you to be there with me."

The air suddenly felt hot and I was tongue-tied. The atmosphere was thick with tension and I kept staring at Hanniel, not knowing what to say.

This feeling... it was strange.

It made my stomach warm and bubble, and just staring at Hanniel made me inhale sharply. Why did his words affect me this way?

The way he said them had an heavy effect.

I don't like this.

"It... it's just a competition."

I realized how stupid I sounded after saying that.

"I've become so fond of you that I don't think I'd manage at the competition." Hanniel smiled, unaware of how his words affected me.

I mean, if you put it like that... why was he being honest?

"Let's just go to class."

"You could sign up for a spot in the paramedics," he suggested, punctuating his idea with a shrug.

"Paramedics, why on earth would I do that?" I replied. That meant treating anyone would got injured. I didn't want to do that.

I can't ever imagine myself treating sick or injured people.

Imagine if Ameenah wounded her ankle, I'd have to treat her with first aid.

I'd probably end up pouring the whole bottle of methylated spirit on her injury.

Allow me to be that wicked for once.

"I mean, it'd be fun-"

"Being a medic is fun?" I interrupted Hanniel from speaking. "Attending to people's wounds and injuries is fun, Hanniel Cardin?"

"Stop calling me that," Hanniel stopped forward and shushed me by placing his hand over my mouth. His eyes squinched in panic and worry. I slapped his hand away from my mouth.

"If you can threaten to reveal my secret in front of everyone, why can't I call you by your real surname in public?" I questioned, causing Hanniel to frown.

"When did I do that- oh."

I nodded, "Yes."

He took a while before speaking again. He did not though. All he did was sigh and pocket his hands into his trousers. "Let's go to class."

~

~H A N N I E L~

"Turns out Biology mistress is on maternity leave, so we'll have this period to ourselves." Ameenah was saying. For the first time in a while, Dabirah turned her chair around and Hassan had brought his chair closer.

Since our big disagreement we weren't on the best of terms. And it seemed like they weren't free around Ameenah because she was always with me.

Maybe they didn't care at this point.

"Doesn't that mean we will get a substitute teacher immediately?" Dabirah raised a brow. I zoned out their conversation and plugged in my air pods.

I scrolled down my music playlist, searching for a song to listen to. Unfortunately, the amount of Korean songs Ameenah sent to me had outnumbered the amount of Christian songs I had. That wasn't okay with me. It was a matter of time before I started a deleting spree on my phone.

My eyes settled on one.

Waste It On Me by Steve Aoki featuring BTS.

I had seen so many BTS songs on my phone, they were surely going to be the first thing that came to my mind if I heard anything Korea-ish.

I opted for it, tapping the play icon and peacefully listened to the rhythm of the song.

It was nice.

I closed my eyes and relaxed in my seat. Ameenah had good taste in music, I must say.

Just then, I felt the volume of the song lower, reducing on its own control. My left ear also felt empty compared to when my air pod was in.

"Ooh, look who is listening to BTS." I sat straight, turning to face Ameenah who had a mischievous look on her face.

"Give my air pod back. You recommended them, right? Then, let me listen." I stretched out my hand to collect my air pod.

"Have you listened to Cheers by Seventeen?" Ameenah asked.

"What is this? A kpop karaoke? You might as well recommend Australian music to me." I feigned a smile.

"As your best friend,"

Best friend? Since when?

"I would love to but I don't know any Australian artists, sadly. But Lee Felix of Stray Kids is an Australian if that helps," she told me with a wink.

I didn't answer because I was too busy registering what Ameenah just said.

Best friends?

She thought we were best friends? She thought I was her best friend?

I'd have a best friend and it wouldn't be that one person I was obsessed with?

I wasn't sure of how to react to that.

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

Guilt ate her insides up and made her stomach churn. She didn't want to feel this way. The deal was receiving money, doing what she was asked and keeping her mouth shut... according to what the popular fencer said.

But right now, she wasn't herself.

However, she thought to herself... she really did need the money. That huge amount of money slapped unto her desk was irresistible. She wished it could have been under acceptable circumstances, but unfortunately with that wad of cash came a lot of damages.

She was coming from the Hall, all by herself in the hallway since she had no friends. All she had at the moment was cash she had received which she was going to use to help herself.

She looked up just as she was about to come out from a corner, not surprised to see the contrasting pair of the school together in the silent hallway.

The golden boy of the school who had everything and the outcast of the school. Hanniel was really something, befriending someone like Komisola.

She chose to stay back and listen in on their conversation, maybe she could get something for Ameenah in return for cash.

"Being a medic is fun?" Komisola said, confusing her. What were they talking about?

"Attending to people's wounds and injuries is fun, Hanniel Cardin?"

She envied how someone like Komisola spoke so freely with Hanniel. Maybe they were indeed friends. Addressing him by his full name and speaking to him harshly...

It struck her. A truck load of realization hit her and her eyes widened on impulse.

Cardin?

Wasn't Hanniel's surname supposed to be Alonge? Where did Cardin emerge from?

Did that mean... Hanniel had been lying about his last name?

This was definitely going to get her some cash from Ameenah.

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a/n: it has happened.🧸 Hanniel's secret is out :( do you think it's Komisola's fault?
and Ameenah thinks she's Hanniel's bestie😂 you people should tell her there's a caught😭
btw, please engage in my book :)
it's not about voting only, please comment. Commenting goes a long way and it really encourages too. It makes an author really happy and at least I know you're truly interacting :) thank you.🤍