"Put your hand together for Ebunoluwa Jimoh, for bringing honor to the school's name," our administrator announced during the general assembly the next morning.

I chuckled to myself. I don't know what they might have told the school, to make them thinking it was a win worth celebrating. To be honest, I was slightly embarrassed by the win. It wasn't something to be proud of, and I really hoped they shut down that game plan during the suite vacation.

Tosin gave me a little push, pulling me out of my thought, to realize the entire school was waiting for me to climb the stage. I let my lips spread into a fake smile at the realization, then made my way up. The students, not knowing how I had brought honor to the school's name, had wide smiles on their faces, clapping as we had been taught. I stood by the administrator, when I got to the stage. From where I stood, I could perceive his expensive perfume, as he turned to me with a smile. "You have done well," he said with a smile, stretching his left hand for a shake, which I took with my right.

After that, I was made to stand there, while assembly was rounded off. Standing there, like a status of honor. But, it didn't take long for the assembly to be over, and with that, all SSS3 students were allowed to go home. Most guardians and parents had begun to arrive.

"You did well, my child," the administrator said again, taking my hands again, making me bow in respect. "You can go now," he dismissed me with a smile.

I nodded, then walked away. Most people had begun to leave. When I got to the parking lot at the health bay, I saw our car parked – my family car. Tomike and Timini were probably inside and listening to music or doing something, so I took that as an opportunity to quickly get my load. When I got to the hostel, it was as good as empty. My friends weren't there any longer, so I grabbed my bad and made my way out. It wasn't until I was about to knock on the door of the car, that Timini realized that I was done and ready. "Got a cheque for an award you won," he said in a calm tone, when he got out of the car, approaching me to collect my bag. "It is nice cash."

I nodded.

"You don't seem happy about it," he said, as he put my bag into the boot of the car, and locked it. "Get in, tell me, what's up?"

I nodded and got into the car. "Nothing really." 2face African Queen, was playing out loud, not too loud but loud.

He shook his head. "No, I can clearly see that all isn't well, so tell me what's up?" he reduced the music, Tomike looked up from her phone.

I sighed.

"What's the competition even about?" Tomike asked me, making me a little glad that someone had finally been concerned about how I got what I got and not what I got alone.

I sighed again. "It is a long story."

She shrugged. "We've got time." she turned to Timini. "Don't we?"

He nodded. "All the time in the world for you."

I smiled. "Let's home first, and I promise to tell from the beginning."

"No going back," Timini asked, but it came out more in a statement way, than question.

I nodded with a smile. "No going back."

"Alright."

With that, he started the car and drove away, while Tomike went back to her phone pressing. I looked at both of them, and my heart gladdened. I hadn't told them about the Joseph situation, and there was a lingering shame, that made me never able to tell them. I couldn't bring myself to.

We got home late in the evening, and my mom wasn't back from work by then. They both didn't let me freshen up, before they sat me down immediately after our arrival prayer. I couldn't help but smile. "You guys ehn."

"We care," Tomike had replied with a shrug, causing Timini to nod in agreement and my smile to wide.

"Okay, okay. I'll begin." They nodded and took their seats. I skipped all of Joseph's part, and simply began from where I couldn't have a long lasting feeling.

"You're scared to get hurt," Timini said when I was done. "Like someone had hurt you, and now you are scared to get hurt so you stop yourself before you can get in too deep." He narrowed his eyes. "Who hurt you?"

I smiled and shook my head, ignoring my beating heart. "No one."

"I don't-"

"I think it is a psychological problem," Tomike cut in.

Timini frowned at her. "Isn't that what I just said?"

Tomike shook her head. "No, not your own theory. Maybe, just maybe, she has a perfect in her head and hasn't been able to find that perfect. So, when her brain or heart comes to the realization that it isn't her perfect, it backs off."

"Hmm," I replied, while nodding. She was making sense.

"See a therapist," she suggested.

Timini looked at her with a little frown. "She can't without mommy's consent. She don't have that much money."

"What about the award?" she asked.

Instead of answering her question, brows squeezed as he said, "That is true. How does this correlate to the award?"

I sighed, then frowned. "We had to be in a relationship with someone, and not fall for the person."

They both frowned.

"Yeah, silly right. But, mine wasn't intentional. My situation, turned on the person I had chosen, and I accidentally worn. That is why I'm not really glad or pleased about it."

"That is actually really wrong," Tomike commented with a frown. "Messing with peoples' feelings, because of money?"

"That's messed up and silly," Timini commented with a frown.

I nodded. "I know."

With that, we dissolved into our day to day life, while Tomike and Timini still kept on complaining about the game every now and then.

After some days, I was taken by Juwon to go get a phone of my choice. I ended up buying the latest Samsung make, hoping that whenever I looked at my phone, I didn't feel bad about how I got it.

I hoped I got past whatever I was going through, so I wouldn't have to hurt people anymore. I swore off relationships, till I got myself fixed.