One major problem on earth is that some people just don't understand the concept of being human. Some people thought they were robots or something like that.

That was the only explanation for someone who didn't know that as a human being, you're going to cry when it got too much. As a human being, sometimes you're going to breakdown. As a human being, you are bound to wake up some days feeling like shit.

If only we could understand that, then we would treat others with respect and with more empathy.

No one was emotionally bulletproof. No matter how strong we were, there were still things that pierced our hard skin.

◈ ━━━━━━━ ⸙ - ⸙ ━━━━━━━ ◈

Just like any other thing the Disemi triplets did together, packing overnight bags for the Nero Sports Olympics was rowdy and noisy. Tamara didn't pack much so she didn't join Timi and Tari in arguing on who should make use of the extra and only bag left in packing their remaining things.

Tamara didn't feel like going. In fact, she did not want to go. There was no use and sharing space with her noisy classmates. And it was obvious she wasn't going to be helping the school win more medals either.

"Okay!" Tari called the attention of her siblings as she sashayed into Timi's room holding up two different outfits in both hands. "Which of these says 'hey, Shade Onam, I'm your biggest fan and worthy to be your stylist?'"

Tamara and Timi exchanged bored looks before turning back to Tari who was still standing at the door, grinning from ear to ear.

Timi breathed out. "Tari, we don't know if Shade Onam is going to be there," he said as slow as possible for the words to sink into his sister's head.

"Of course, she will. She goes to Castron High, and it's her set that's coming for the competition," Tari countered, walking over to drop the clothes next to Tamara on Timi's bed.

"And you think one of the most popular teenage models in the continent is going to leave every single thing she has going on in Lagos and come to Abuja for some stupid sports competition," Timi stated as-a-matter-factly.

"Timi has a point," Tamara felt the need to add.

Tari turned to her sister. She had taken a position as the edge of the bed. "Hey, I thought you were the mother of faith? Have some faith!" Tari told Tamara.

Tamara raised her eyebrows at her sister.

"Anyway," Tari was now focused on her phone, "I need fashion advice and since the both of you have decided to be nothing but kill joys this morning, I'll just send pictures to Ahmed and ask him which one is better."

Tamara turned to exchange quizzical looks with Timi once again. Did she just say what they heard her say?

"Did you just say Ahmed?" Timi finally asked Tari, laying emphasis on the name.

"Uh..." Tari trailed, eyes still glued to her phone. "Sorry, I meant Amira. I don't know what's wrong with me." She chuckled awkwardly.

"Besides, why can't you just take both outfits and decide there?" asked Tamara.

"Because my bag is full and now, I have to share the extra bag with this fool-" she glanced up to glared at Timi, "-and there's limited space for me."

Asides the light chuckle from Timi, silence took over as Tamara went back to memorizing her debate points, Timi kept adjusting and readjusting his tie in front of the mirror and Tari took a thousand pictures of her clothes which she had spread out on one side of the bed.

"I heard aunt Monica and her husband are finally about to finalize their divorce," Timi said all of a sudden and if that got Tari's attention, she didn't act like it. Her eyes were still glued to her phone.

"Already?" Tamara asked.

"Yeah." Timi was still facing his mirror. "Aunt Monica is a lawyer afterall so that must've made things easier."

Tamara sighed before turning back to the notebook in her hands. "That family needs Jesus in their lives."

Timi didn't say anything at first. It seemed he was looking for the right response. "You know that marriages end sometimes, right? And after everything they've been through..." he trailed off.

"Hey, guys..." Tari called, eyes still on her phone.

"I believe that if they had Jesus, they would've been able to push through. Jesus is the way, the truth and the light; that's a fact," Tamara countered.

Tari's voice came again, "you need to see this."

Timi finally turned to face Tamara. "I'm not saying that Jesus isn't the way but I want you to understand that even Christian homes break up sometimes. Sometimes life just throws certain things at you and you realize that-"

"Can you both just shut up and check your phones?!" Tari yelled, cutting Timi off mid sentence. "There's something in the class group chat...just check it."

Tamara and Timi fished out their phones at once and notification sounds filled the room as soon as they'd turned on internet connection. Tamara headed for her WhatsApp and the class group chat.

"What's the meaning of this?" Timi took a seat at once as he kept on scrolling.

Tamara still hadn't gotten to reading the messages but she discovered that whatever their classmates had been talking out that morning to accumulate nearly three thousand messages and also make her phone hang, it involved her. How did she know? They had mentioned her. They were still me mentioning not just her name but also tagging her to make sure she saw the messages.

The conversation seemed to have started off with plans for the sports olympics and the joy of lodging in a hotel but then someone had brought up something about Tamara sleeping with Enock and everything went downhill from there.

"Don't look at her like that, you know it's not true!" Timi yelled at Tari who had been looking at Tamara for some explanation. Tamara hadn't even noticed the stare.

"They're lying!" Tamara exclaimed. "You both were here and my door was wide open- God! This was exactly what I was trying to avoid!"

"So, why are they saying this?" Tari asked, raising her phone.

"Who even started that rumor?" asked Timi.

"Well..." Tari looked down at her phone again, "it's not like I saved her number or anything but I'm pretty sure this is Olusola Fadiya-that she-devil."

"I thought she was dating Enock, why would she-"

"Well, as you can see, she called Tamara a bitch for trying to steal her boyfriend and...I'd rather not say these things out loud, you have it there on your phone, Timi."

All the while, Tamara didn't even know what to say. Hell, she didn't even know what to feel. Where in God's name had Sola gotten the idea that she would try sleeping with Enock? She would never do such a thing! Was this Enock simply lying against her?

She knew Enock coming to her house was a bad idea.

Why were they dragging her name in the mud like this?

"What's going on here?" Mrs. Disemi's voice pulled Tamara out of her thoughts, "won't you go to school today?" she was standing at the door, looking tired and worn out.

"We will. We're coming," Tari replied.

"Be coming until I change my mind about dropping you off and you'll leg it." Their mother was already out of the room and Tari and Timi began standing to feet and gathering their things knowing that their mother was definitely serious about them walking to school with all the bags they had packed.

"Tamara," Timi called out, "don't mind them, they just want gossip." He forced a smile that didn't do anything in helping Tamara feel at ease.

Soon, their mother could be heard threatening to go back to sleep if they wasted one more second of her time while they struggled to get their things down the staircase. Tari complained that she couldn't find her power bank.

All the while, Tamara's mind wasn't at ease. It might've just been rumours or gossip but she didn't like it. She didn't like it at all.

• • •

The ride to school was filled with their mother's voice giving them instructions on the dos and don'ts during through out the competition. They had been expecting it but the way the woman listed them out so effortlessly as though she had been memorizing them all night still marveled them.

1. Call me as soon as the bus leaves the school.

2. Call me as soon as you get to the hotel.

3. Pray once you get to the hotel.

4. Tamara and Tari, make sure you're staying in the same room.

5. Make sure no boy enters your room.

6. Don't go to a boy's room.

7. Make sure you're putting on underwear at all times. Boys of nowadays are unpredictable.

8. Timi, make sure you have your glasses with you at all times.

9. Don't go to a girl's room for any reason whatsoever.

10. Make sure you're sharing the room with a mentally stable person, if not, please call a teacher. Or better still, call me.

11. Make sure you pray before you sleep. If you don't pray, I'll know.

12. Once it's 6 PM, don't leave your room for any reason. I don't want anybody calling me for ransom.

Tari rolled her eyes at the last rule. "Mummy, it's a hotel, not CHIBOK."

Mrs. Disemi sent a glare to Tari through the rearview mirror. "I've finish telling you my own oh." She was about to turn up her gospel song when she noticed that Tamara who was sitting next to her on the passenger seat was simply staring out the window and hadn't said anything since. "Tamara, are you okay? You're very quiet."

"I'm fine," Tamara replied. Her mother shrugged and focused on the road.

• • •

There was no parking space anymore in Newland Secondary since it seemed everyone had their parents drop them off. Students could be seen offloading bags from boots and one would wonder if they were moving out of their homes or simply going for a few days competition.

"Remember, call me once you're about to leave!" Mrs. Disemi yelled at her kids as they got their things out of the boot.

"Yes, ma!" Timi was the one to yell back before slamming the boot to the Venza shut and watching their mum slowly drive away.

"Is that...Kasy's dad?" Tari suddenly asked, looking towards the G-guard parked not far away as Kenneth Kanayo helped his daughter with her things.

"I guess," Timi replied.

"He's so young and...muscular."

"Tari, don't crush on someone's father," said Timi as he began walking away.

Tari followed him. "I'm just saying, the man looks like a model."

Tamara sighed before trailing after her siblings.

People had the option of dropping their things in the school bus which was already open or carrying it to class. Those who wanted to secure a particular seat headed for the grey painted bus. Tari had advised against it because whether they liked it or not, thieves like CJ Ikem still existed.

The SS 2 floor was rowdier than the shopping mall on Christmas. Students stood outside conversing loudly and laughing even louder while flashing their phones and other gadgets in the air. On a normal day, phones were prohibited but since they were allowed to go on the trip with it, students were bound to misuse that privilege.

Tamara couldn't help but notice how heads turned and conversations seized as soon as she walked by. Murmurs and whispers replaced loud voices but their mocking laughter still remained.

Tamara wanted to simply disappear.

But at the same time, she wanted to know why Enock would tell his girlfriend that he had slept with her.

• • •

Enock never knew silence could be misinterpreted until Ahmed had asked him if he had 'sealed the deal' with Tamara and he simply didn't say anything.

Maybe he had smirked a little but that didn't mean anything, did it?

He had wanted to speak up, he had wanted to say something but Dele bragging and telling stories of how he'd accomplished his own mission didn't help matters.

They'd been chilling at Dele's house the previous day just like they did every other Sunday when Ahmed had brought up the whole thing, as usual. Sure, it was so easy for Ahmed to always bring it up because he wasn't in their shoes. Did he think sleeping with a girl for the fun of it was that easy?

But then again, considering what Ahmed had done to that girl in the backyard that day... Maybe he was capable of sleeping with a girl for the fun of it and even more.

Surprisingly, Dele who usually was never in the mood to talk about the bet they'd made immediately took the mic from Ahmed and began narrating how he'd fucked Kasy.

He had been drunk-and was still drinking-as he told the story but that didn't make it any less true.

And what would Enock have done at that moment? Tell them that he had not only failed to do what was expected of him but he'd also ended discussing the bible with her her?

So when Ahmed had turned to him, asking about his own conquest, Enock just shook his head and smirked before taking a swing from the bottle in his hands.

And that was how Ahmed began hailing him and coming up with ridiculous assumptions on how he must've 'shown Tamara who's boss'. Ahmed had even gone as far as placing a bet with a drunk Dele that Tamara wouldn't be able to walk properly the following day.

And sure enough, Ahmed had been the first to announce the false, made-up news to Sola who smiled a little when she joined the boys that evening. And when she had tried talking to Enock, he simply walked out and went home.

His phone blowing up with messages from classmates that morning, wanting him to confirm the rumour, was never part of the plan. He never thought Sola would act so fast. He hadn't even gotten the chance to tell her that it wasn't true.

The only good thing that had come of the mess was the disappointed look on Ahmed's face that Monday morning when they watched Tamara walking properly into the SS 2 floor. But even that wasn't really a good thing. He felt miserable.

Enock couldn't even stand seeing her. Hell, he couldn't stand seeing anyone. And he hated himself more for not telling all the guys coming to hail him on his 'accomplishment' that it wasn't true. He could only imagine the kind of embarrassment she was facing all because of a stupid agenda.

Sola had been trying to talk to him all morning but he'd been avoiding her. He was avoiding everyone. Suddenly, even the thought of the sports competition wasn't so enticing anymore.

"It's not true! Stop saying something you know nothing about!"

The hallway suddenly went drop-pin quiet after Tamara had exploded at a group of girls who had approached her. She looked enraged and at the verge of tears and the snickers and whispers that followed didn't help matters.

"Aunty, stop pretending! You don they collect dick, no dey form!" a male disembodied voice rose above others and that gave others the boldness they needed to start attacking the girl.

"Virgin Mary don dey collect dick."

"She didn't see someone else that's not someone's boyfriend, after she'll be pretending."

"Dah one na ashawo wey dey go church, abeg."

Tamara stormed out and ran towards the stairs in tears but that still didn't seem to make her classmates shut up.

Enock didn't know how to feel. Anger and guilt consumed him all at once and he just stood rooted to the ground, not knowing what to do or say and that made his blood boil more.

"Hey, I've been trying to talk you," Sola pushed one side of his shoulder to get his attention, "look at me."

"What?!" he snapped at her.

"Why are you shouting at me?" she glared at him.

"Hey, guy," someone else was touching his other shoulder to get his attention. It was a boy he didn't know well but the idiot had an amused look on his face for some reason. "I just wanted to ask oh... How the hell did you fuck that fat pussy?"

The boy laughed on, probably expecting Enock to join him and also make another joke in response but unknowing to him, his 'joke' was all that was needed to unfasten the remaining screws in Enock's head.

Those standing nearby gasped and made way as Enock grabbed the other boy's collar after landing a punch in the middle of his face. A few classmates immediately rushed to the duo and tried their best to separate them.

Sola also tried getting her boyfriend to leave the other boy alone but there was only so little she could do.

Fortunately for his victim, Enock wasn't able to land another blow before they got him off. Everyone wanted to know what had happened and how the fight had started but Enock walked out without uttering a word in response.

• • •

It was going to be difficult for anyone to concentrate on the day's classes while they thought of the sports competition they would leaving for that afternoon. Most didn't see the point in holding classes that day at all when the rest of week would be class-free but maybe that was the whole point.

In as much as the students were excited, Ms. Isong was not. The Vice Principal had just informed her, that very morning, that's her would be going on the trip with the students-something she hadn't planned for. His excuse being that the female students would need a female guardian on their part of the hotel where they'd be lodging.

If the man wasn't her boss, she might've told him to go and fuck himself but of course, she still needed her job.

She was still trying to decide if Kendrick Kanayo being the only other teacher that was going with students was a good thing or not.

"Good morning, everyone," she greeted the students who had long settled down but wouldn't keep their mouth shut. "We're going to make today's debate quick because I have somewhere to be." In other words, she needed to go back home and get her clothes and other necessities for the unexpected four days trip.

"Today's topic is 'Premarital sex is necessary.' I would like the group debating on this topic to please step out."

Tamara's heart threatened to jump out of her chest as she stood to her feet and walked to the front of the class. Sure enough, there were a lot of side comments here and there and it only got worse as she came into the view of the entire class.

"Kasy, where's your partner?" Ms. Isong asked a dejected looking Kasy. Tamara didn't know Kasy well but she could tell the girl looked worse than she herself. She wasn't herself.

"Uh..." She looked around as if she was just noticing that Dele wasn't by her side. "I don't know, I haven't seen him today."

Whispers immediately filled the room as everyone suddenly realized that Dele Akindele was actually not in school. Surely, he wouldn't miss out on the sports competition, would he?

Enock's mind immediately flashed back to the image of a drunk Dele the previous evening. His legs shook slightly as he stood a good distance away from Tamara in front of the class.

From Kasy's pallid attitude to Tamara's shamefaced demeanor and Enock's distant and bland expression, it wasn't looking like any of them was ready for the debate.

"Okay, carry on," the English teacher commanded, giving the first speaker the go ahead.

Tamara took a couple of steps forward and took in a deep breath. "Good morning everyone, my name is Tamara Praise Disemi and I'm here to propose the motion 'Premarital sex is necessary,'" she tried as hard as possible to speak over the snickers and side comments but it was becoming more and more difficult to ignore the things he's classmates were saying to her especially when she had to stand in front of them.

"Why you no go propose before? You don chop cucumber na!"

"See the way she's saying it with boldness sef,"

"Ashawo go sit down joor!"

"Could you all shut up and let her speak?!" Ms. Isong thundered and the class was quiet once more. She hadn't particularly heard what the students had been saying but she knew they'd been disrupting the class.

Tamara took in another deep breath. "First of all, premarital sex is necessary because... It's necessary for experience." A few snickers and chuckles went up in the air and even Tamara felt stupid for saying something like that.

What happened to confidence and audibility? She asked herself. She was the one was suddenly lacking them at that moment. Her legs were becoming weak and she was sweating more than ever.

"Being familiar with sexual intercourse before marriage would eradicate the tension and awkwardness of virgins having sex after they're married."

Most of the class were laughing at that moment and that was it for Tamara. She couldn't do this.

The whole was torture for Enock to watch.

Once again, everyone watched Tamara storm out of the class only, this time around, she ran out.

Those who weren't laughing before were now rolling on the ground, with the exception of some people who were just confused and couldn't find anything funny.

"I'm not feeling well," Kasy suddenly announced to the English while the woman was still trying to find out what was wrong with Tamara. "I need to go to the toilet." And just like that, Kasy left the class as well.

Enock was the only one standing in front of the class and he only seemed to be aware of what had happened when Ms. Isong turned to him for some sort of direction on the way forward. He only stared back at her for awhile.

Enock stepped up and faced his classmates. He opened his mouth and closed it, looking for the right words to make things right. He raised his hands slightly and let them fall to his side once more.

"It's not true," he simply said. "It's a lie. Nothing happened between me and Tamara. It's just a rumor, so just let it go and mind your business."

And with that, he left the stunned looks on everyone's faces and took his seat. He didn't bother saying anything to Ahmed and Sola who stared at him like he had just turned to a pillar of salt. They didn't bother saying anything to him either.

Ms. Isong sighed, obviously exhausted and stressed out. "I guess that's a zero for everyone in the group, then. Unless they decide later on to do the debate..."

No doubt, something was going on with these kids. They were going through things and Ms. Isong wanted to help, if only they would let her.

• • •

On a normal day, Tamara would rather not step foot in the female toilet not because it was too unhygienic or anything but because she just didn't like the idea of sharing toilets with other people. But today wasn't a normal day, in fact, it was that worse. She needed somewhere to cry her out and the toilet seemed like the only place.

She just couldn't understand what she had done to deserve the sudden spotlight her classmates had put her under. Why is it that she was never good enough for them? Why were always finding everything she did irritating? Why did they find her irritating?

Her body. Her belief. Her values. They were all nonsense to everyone else.

She had always believed suicide was sin and yes, the bible had said so but... Tamara couldn't deny the fact that she finally understood went through people's heads after they decided to take their life.

If only it could just be her and her God. Human beings were just temptations and a headache.

Tamara had been crying silently in one of the bathroom stalls so when she heard a loud screeching scream from outside her stall, she nearly jumped out of her skin.

Who could be screaming like that?

And like that wasn't enough, whoever it was went in to full on crying and wheezing. Whoever it was sounded even more depressed and downcast than Tamara.

Tamara found herself rushing out of the stall she'd been hiding in only to find Kasy on the floor close to the door.

Asides the fact that what she'd been doing was very unhygienic, Tamara had never seen Kasy that way. She was just there, on the floor, crying her eyes out.

Tamara immediately wiped her own tears. "Kasy, Kasy...what's wrong?" she asked as she slowly approached the girl. "Stand up." She pulled her up and helped her to her feet.

"Talk to me, what's the matter?" Tamara tried wiping her tears as Kasy shook and sniffed.

"I made a mistake and now..." Kasy was speaking which was something she did when she cried. "I don't know what's wrong with me! He's not even replying my messages anymore!"

"Kasy, calm down, what are you talking about? Who's not replying your messages?"

"C-Casper... He's not responding and...my mum, she's back! And Dele...Dele..."

Kasy obviously wasn't saying anything that made sense to Tamara. Who was Casper? Why was Kasy not happy about her mother's return? And what did Dele have to do with anything?

"See, Kasy, just calm down. Take a deep breath!"

Surprisingly, Kasy adhered and inhaled and exhaled a few times before wiping her face with the hand of her blazer.

"Kasy, what's the matter?" Tamara asked again since she had calmed down enough to give a reasonable response.

Kasy shook her head vehemently. "No, no, don't worry. It's okay. Don't mind me," she was still speaking rapidly and she didn't even seemed aware of what she was saying.

"Bu-"

Before Tamara could say anything else, Kasy was already walking out in a haste like she had somewhere to be.

It was then that Tamara understood that everyone had their own problems and maybe she wasn't the only one who the world was crashing down on.

But what could possibly have made Kasy that way?

• • •

3:30 PM and the SS2 were all outside, some carrying bags and others taking pictures or rushing into the school buses.

Tamara sat on the steps leading up into the Senior block and watched as everyone else except her filed into the buses. Her bag sat next to her and her phone which she'd just used in calling her mum was in her hands.

"Are you really sure you don't want to go?" Tari asked for the umpteenth time, as she and Timi stood in front of her. "You don't have to miss out on this lifetime opportunity just because of stupid gossip."

"Yes, Tari, I'm sure. I never even wanted to go in there first place, there's no use."

"You'll be home alone till Friday," Timi added.

"With mummy," Tamara countered. "I've called her, she's on her way."

Timi sighed, adjusted his glasses and looked towards Tari who shrugged.

"Let's go before the two buses will get filled up," Tari nudged her brother. They both said their last goodbyes to Tamara before joining the rest of their classmates in getting into the bus.

"Hey," Tamara heard a stoic, deep voice behind her and when she turned, raising her head, it was Enock. He was carrying his bag on one shoulder and he was wearing a yellow hoodie which he wasn't wearing before.

Tamara turned away, not wanting to speak to him at that moment or ever again.

"I'm sorry for everything that happened today, it wasn't..." Enock was going to say it wasn't his intention but deep down, he knew his intentions were actually worse than what had happened. But that was all before he got to know her. He still didn't know her well—and he might never get the chance to now—but she was a good person. Misunderstood, maybe, but she was a good person.

"I know you're angry, but I'm sorry. I'm very sorry."

Since they both knew Tamara wasn't going to say anything to him, he walked away and headed towards the bus.

Tamara didn't have time to process anything or decide how she felt because at that moment, she watched her mother's brand new Venza drive into the premises and she stood up and grabbed her bag.

"I knew you weren't feeling alright this morning." That was the first thing Mrs. Disemi said after Tamara got into the front seat. "Everything will be fine, my dear. God is in control." She caressed Tamara's cheek with a warm smile.

Mrs. Disemi was only assuming her daughter was sick or something but her words had gone a long way in assuring Tamara that her actual situation would blow over.

Her mother drove off while the school buses were still loading and just like magnet, her eyes met Enock's as he sat at the back of one of the buses, looking out the window next to him. She brought up her hand to wave a little and he returned the gesture immediately.

Maybe she wasn't as angry as Enock had thought. Or maybe she was just generally a forgiving person. However, Enock didn't have time to think much of it when his phone buzzed in his hoodie pocket.

A text message from Dele. He wasn't feeling well and would find his way to the hotel later that evening.

Enock shoved the phone back into his pocket, not bothering to send a reply.

He rested the side of his head on the window and watched as Uncle Kendrick shut the door of the bus after it was full.

It didn't take long for someone turn on a music player and by the time the bus got moving, Bloody Samaritan by Ayra Starr came on and everyone on the bus began chanting the lyrics like their lives solely depended on it.

I'm feelin' vibes on vibes
I'm a tickin' dynamite
I'll blow your candle light
You know I'm just that type
No, dem fit kill my vibe (no, no)
Dem no fit kill my vibe
Dem fit no fit kill
Dem fit no fit kill
Dem no fit kill my

A wise man said "follow the stars"
There you shall find a piece of advice
If you hate your enemies, enemies shine
If you're not a friend of me, enter the light
'Cause you can never kill my vibe
Got here with no sacrifices
Everythin' once takеn, still had to make it
Vibe killer, mе I no go take shit (ayy)
Vibe killer, bloody Samaritan...

Enock and Tamara put up one hell of a show, didn't they? Anyway their chapters end here!

Lemme just say it now, get ready to literally run mad in the Kasy and Dele chapters. I'm not joking. Just go and check yourself into a mental hospital before you start reading their chapters because... Oh, God. I'm talking to much sha. You already got a glimpse in this chapter.

SO WHO'S READY TO MEET CASTRON HIGH?!! THE LONG AWAITED CROSSOVER IS LITERALLY LIKE TWO CHAPTERS AWAY AND IF YOU STILL HAVENT READ TOO MANY BROKEN THINGS BY lovetori_xo THEN YOU NEED AHMED TO FLOG YOU WELLA... PLEASE READ IT TO GET FAMILIAR WITH THE CHARACTERS!

God, I'm sooo excited!!!