It was unusually noisy that Friday morning as the students shuffled around, trying to get their assignments completed before it was time for the assembly. Mitchel, who was among the few people that had already done their assignment and was not part of the struggle, rested on his desk with his head down.

"Mitchel," a soft, feminine voice called out and for some stupid reason, he thought it was Jazz calling him so he whipped his head up immediately only to regret doing so on sighting Ella.

"Oh no, no no no," he muttered as he contemplated running for his dear life.

Ella briskly walked towards him, a bright smile on her face, like she was about to receive a prize or something. As she got closer, he groaned so that she could know that he wasn't in the mood and say whatever she wanted to say quickly and leave him alone.

"Good morning," she greeted him with a smile as she eyed him. Mitchel rolled his eyes and forced a smile.

"Good morning, Ella."

Her face became serious as she put a hand on his shoulder. "I need to tell you something," she informed him.

Mitchel furrowed his brows. This was the first time she was coming to talk to him about something other than her love for him. It worried him. "Hope all is well?"

"Absolutely not. I know that you like Jazz a lot, I mean, everyone in our class knows that. And I know that you all think she likes you too but I'm afraid she doesn't, she doesn't like you at all." When Ella was done speaking, Mitchel frowned deeply.

"What are you talking about? It's too early in the morning, Ella, please."

"I'm telling you the truth, I heard her say it herself," Ella supplied and Mitchel pushed her hand away from his shoulder.

"And you expect me to believe you?" Mitchel asked mockingly.

"Oh come on, I'm telling you I heard it from the horse's mouth and you're still doubting me. I overheard her talking to her friends about it and they were even warning her to stop it but being the sly fox she is, she justs thinks it's fun to play with someone's emotions. Can't you see, she's been playing you all this time. I think you need to stay away from that girl, this thing that you have with her is not healthy for you."

Mitchel looked like he was deep in thought for a few moments before looking back at Ella.

"I'm sorry, but I can't believe what you're saying to me, I just can't. I love and trust Jazz too much to just believe any nonsense that someone says about her, especially if that someone is you, Ella. I know how much you hate her, but it's the opposite for me and nothing can change that," Mitchel replied and rested his head on his arms that were folded on his desk.

"Mitchel you have to believe me, I'm not lying, I would never lie to you. You know how much I love you, I only want the best for you," Ella pleaded but Mitchel ignored her.

The assembly bell rang and some students that weren't done with their assignment groaned while Mitchel got up from his seat.

"Mitchel please listen to me," Ella continued to beg.

"I'm just going to pretend we didn't have this conversation, okay," Mitchel said to her and left the class.

* * *

It was the first period after assembly and the science students happily waited in their seats for the teacher to arrive. Some had formed chat groups and started gisting among themselves. Ronke busied herself with staring at Divine who was seated at the front of the class. Divine always sat at the back of the class and because she wanted to talk to him as Jazz advised, she went to sit at the back but Divine had picked up his books and went straight to the front.

Ronke could sense that something wasn't right, she just couldn't put her finger on it. She thought hard on what she could have possibly done wrong to upset him but there was nothing. They had been on hugging terms before they left for the mid-term break. Osas noticed Ronke staring at Divine and called her attention.

"You miss him?" he asked.

"What?" Ronke asked, confused. "What do you mean by that?"

"I shouldn't have asked that question, of course you do. I mean, you two were so good together I thought you were going to get married after school." Osas chuckled and Ronke just glared at him.

"What are you even talking about this boy, I don't have your time this morning," she snapped.

"Calm down babe, don't take your anger out on me. I admit that he did you wrong by leaving you like that but it's not my fault, if any—"

Ronke's brows almost pressed together as she continued to glare at Osas. "What are you talking about, who is leaving me?"

"Wait, Divine hasn't told you yet?" Osas asked surprisedly.

"Told me what?"

"Oh my god, that guy, wetin be him problem!" Osas muttered angrily, ignoring her question. (What is his problem?)

"What is he supposed to tell me?" Ronke asked impatiently.

Osas looked at her sympathetically but didn't say anything.

"Is he sick or something? Is that why he's avoiding me? He doesn't want me to get infected? Answer me na," Ronke pleaded. She feared the worst.

Osas shook his head slowly and spoke, "Him don find himself another babe."
(He's found himself another girl.)

"What?" Ronke asked incredulously.

"They got together during the mid-term break. According to him, she used to chase after him when he was dating you but he recently realized how beautiful she had gotten and decided to accept her."

"No!" Ronke was almost out of breath.

"When he told me about it I was mad, like, how could he do you like that. I tried to talk him out of it but he told me to mind my damn business and that's what I did," Osas said and shrugged. "He told me he was going to break up with you when we resume and I thought he had done that when I saw how he was avoiding you."

"Thanks for the info." Ronke marched up to Divine and he stared at her, surprised.

"Ronke—" he started but she dragged him up to his feet by the collar.

"What do you take me for? You think you're real smooth huh?" Ronke slapped him across the face and the class suddenly went quiet, everyone carefully watching the drama unfolding in front of them.

"Why did you do that?" Divine asked, his hand cupping the cheek that had been slapped.

"Want me to do it again? Cause I will gladly do so. How dare you get with another girl and instead of telling me about it, you avoid me like I'm a plague. Do you have any idea how worried I was? I thought something bad had happened to you! But here you are, being a player and trying to mess with me. I won't let you. From now on, I don't bloody care about you anymore. I'm done with this rubbish we called a relationship! You can go and have fun with your new girlfriend for all I care."

"I'm sorry we have to end this way. I have needs and I made them known to you, but you always give excuses, you just want to get married and live happily ever after. Let's be realistic here. I needed someone who could meet those needs and when she was ready to give me everything I wanted, I had to pick her over you. I'm sorry," Divine spoke softly so that only Ronke could hear him.

"You still have the mouth to talk you shameless—" Ronke made towards Divine but Mitchel held her back.

"Not right now, please, a teacher might walk in any moment," he said to her before letting her go. "And as for you, I never expected this from you. I know you're my friend but I hope your new girl treats you the way you treated Ronke."

Divine's expression remained expressionless as he took his seat.

Mitchel hugged Ronke and she immediately started sobbing on his chest as he rubbed her back soothingly, trying to console her.

"It's okay, it's better you found out the truth about him before it got too late," he said.

"How could he do this to me? I thought he loved me like he always said! I should've listened to Kel," Ronke cried.

Mitchel gently pulled away from their embrace and brought out a handkerchief from his pocket to clean her tearstained face. "Now, cheer up, it's not the end of the world, you've already cried out your pain so let it go. You have a lot to live for, I mean, you're going to marry an amazing husband and you're not even going to remember any of this then. Come on, give me a smile, a real one!" Mitchel said and Ronke couldn't help but chuckle.

"You're a real sweetheart, Mitch. Thank you." she hugged him again and went to her seat at the front. Sneering at Divine who was in her seat, she pushed him off the chair and he landed with a thud on the ground. When he got up he looked really pissed and glared daggers at Ronke who didn't spare him a glance as she took her seat.

"I'm only tolerating you because you're a girl but if you continue to test me, I won't take it lightly anymore," Divine said and felt a hand on his shoulder.

"If you dare lay your hands on her, even by mistake, you will regret it, gravely," Mitchel warned him and he glanced at Osas who was standing behind Mitchel.

"Don't look at me bro, you brought this upon yourself." Osas folded his arms and looked away.

"Go to your seat," Mitchel ordered and Divine did as he was told even though it bruised his ego. He knew better than to mess with Mitchel.

Ronke and Mitchel shared a knowing smirk before the teacher hurried into the classroom. "Sorry for the delay class, I had to attend to something," he apologized briefly before writing 'Geography' on the board and asking the students to quickly open their textbooks so they could start the lesson.

* * *

During lunch, Ronke narrated her break up with Divine to Jazz and Kelechi. They were shocked to say the least, they didn't expect things to go so wrong so soon.

"I can't believe that he-goat dared to hurt you like this," Kelechi fumed as she hugged Ronke tightly. "Oh my poor baby, I'm sorry this had to happen to you, but it's for the best, at least now you're rid of the fool. And it's good that Mitchel gave him a warning so he would think twice before coming anywhere near you ever again."

"I just regret not listening to you earlier, turns out you were right about him after all," Ronke replied.

"Hey, want me to take him on a trip to Eat My Fist Land?" Jazz asked dryly, a sinister smirk playing on her lips as she rolled up her sleeves.

"No need for that, I don't want this matter to escalate. He could report you if you touch him and I don't want you to get in trouble because of me."

"Trust me, when I'm done with him, he won't be able to report anything ever again."

"I think we should just leave him alone, Karma is going to deal with him on my behalf," Ronke dismissed the idea of Jazz beating him up.

"Ugh, you're no fun anymore, you're slowly turning into her," Jazz whined and pointed her spoon at Kelechi, making them both laugh.

"What happened today is exactly why I always advise against having relationships at this age. We're too young for it and it'll only lead to heartbreak in the end. When you're older, the right man for you will gravitate. I'm sure you've learnt your lesson, Ronke, and you, Jazz, I know you don't listen to advice but—"

By the time Kelechi turned to Jazz, she was already making her way to Mitchel who was eating with his friends.

* * *

"Hey, can we talk?"

Mitchel looked up to be faced with Jazz who had a faint smile on her face. He had never seen her smile this way, she always had a full, confident smile on.

"Sure, but why not after lunch, my food is going to get cold," Mitchel jokingly replied and Jazz slightly tugged at his arm.

"Forget about the food and come with me, please," she pleaded.

"Mmm, you better go with her now that she's asking, you may never get this chance again," Osas told Mitchel with a wink. Mitchel playfully slapped him at the back of his head.

"Must you always have dirty thoughts, you this boy, you simply refuse to change," Mitchel said, shaking his head.

"I'm still waiting," Jazz announced.

"The lady is getting impatient, if you make her wait any longer you might not get it anymore," Osas continued.

"Shut up for once guy." Mitchel chuckled and stood up.

He walked alongside Jazz as she made her way outside the school building and to a mango tree. She sat under the ltree and Mitchel sat beside her, not knowing what else to do. They sat in silence for about two minutes before Mitchel finally spoke up.

"You said you wanted to talk to me."

"Yes." Jazz turned to face him. "It's just that I don't know how to begin."

"Is everything alright?" Mitchel asked worriedly. He could sense the fear in her eyes and in her voice. Jazz, scared? He never thought the day would ever come.

"Nothing is, Mitchel, nothing is. I'm sure Ella must've told you already."

"Told me what?" he tried to act dumb.

"That I was pretending to like you?" Jazz said and quickly looked away.

"What?" he asked and when Jazz didn't say anything, he stood up. "Please don't tell me that Ella wasn't lying, please."

"It depends on what she told you. If she told you that I was only pretending to like you to make her mad then she was right but I'm sure she didn't tell you about the part where I fell for you in the process and now I feel bad about toying with your feelings the way I did, it was very wrong and selfish of me. Are you listening?" Jazz stood up when she noticed how quiet Mitchel was.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" she asked.

"Because I already knew, even before Ella told me."

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Sooo that's a wrap for now hehe 😁

Hope you enjoyed reading? Do let me know how much you liked reading and what you think of this chapter!

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Hugs & kizzez,
Kemas ❤️