A/N:

Hey babies,🤰🏽💞✨
I'm back😔, and let's get on with the next chapter, shall we😔?
You people refused to pray for me ba? No wahala, we'll finish this book in five years time😔.

So, I decided - drum roll, pleaseeeee - to open an IG account for my books🙃✨, so follow me now on IG, @toyo.writes, where I'll post character's aesthetics and teasers🙉.

PS: all my characters have face claims!
Who do you want to see?🙃

How was the last chapter? Like I said I didn't want it to go like that, it was supposed to be longer, but unfortunately...

I hope you enjoyed it tho😔.

So let's move na, shall we👻?
New POV, guess who?😔

~11 - FIRST ENCOUNTER °

——————————†±†——————————
“I just wish things would go smoothly, but I guess I'm destruction itself.”
——————————†±†——————————

~Farhana

"Hey babe?" I greeted her, giving her a side hug before settling down beside her.

"Lami, why are you late to school?" She asked staring at me like she was searching for clues or something. Ode!

"I always come late and you know why," I rolled my eyes bringing out my books from my bag.

"You really don't have to spend two hours on the road na, the mainland is not that far." She rambled on. "If you keep coming late like this you'll not learn anything o."

"Pfft!" I scoffed. "I still do better than a lot of people in the exams." I said casually, punctuating it with a nonchalant shrug but got a slap at the back of my head. "Brie?!"
I shrieked shooting daggers at her.

"You're too proud, abeg." She replied and I stuck my tongue out at her.

"But honestly ehn, you know how Lagos traffic is na, coming from Ikeja to lekki everyday no be beans." I stated, flipping through my government assignment.

"Then take the subways na," she suggested and I waved my hand at her, dismissing it. "You know Umi doesn't want me to. You know how Lagos is na. It's not safe."

"Well then, soothe yourself." She said with a small smile, gathering her things. "Going somewhere?" I queried, brows raised curiously.

"Just the staff room. I want to submit my assignment." She replied. "Oh. Uh, I'll go with you then." I said, gathering my things and picking up my government assignment. "Shall we?" I asked, a small smile playing on my lips. "Sure b," she replied with a low chuckle as we left the class.

"Omoh first tests are around the corner o," we had just left the staffroom, going back to class to settle for the next period, "and these teachers will do everything in their power to kill us, finish us, destroy us, damage our brain cells, condemn our-"

"Brianna shut up, abeg. Destroy us ke? What did Aunty Riri give you to eat this morning?" I asked, chuckling at how absurdly she was behaving.

"Lami, shut up. It's because you know you'll pass without breaking a sweat." I rolled my eyes. Sometimes I wonder how i got a child for a best friend. "I'll continue to tell you this, you are to proud!" I couldn't help the laughter that escaped my lips.

"Don't worry yeah, we will pass the tests." I said smiling and mimicking my expression, she nodded in response.

"Look at her. Yeye hausa witch. What does she think she is seff?"

I froze.

"Lami, don't listen to them." Brie whispered holding on to my arm tightly, as if trying to hold me in place or something.

"You better hold her well o, before she turns into a mad dog again." She said laughing.

"Chidera cut it!" Brie said in a warning tone.

"Brianna abeg rest! What are you doing with this thing," she said, gesturing disgustedly at me and I winced. I could feel anger course through my entire being as I stood livid in the hallways.

"I'd rather not entertain you. Lami let's go." She started pulling me away, but chidera was high on sniper because, she continued blurting nonsense.

"I don't know what this Brianna's problem is gaan. Be acting like bodyguard oshi. But honestly ehn, how much is she paying you to hang around her ass?" She let out a chuckle. "No, seriously. I'm trying to understand why any human being would want to be friends with a dog."

I felt Brie's grip tighten around my arms and I looked at her. Her eyes held so many emotions; embarrassment, anger, resent, pity...

Pity for who abeg? It can't be me.

"Brianna let me go!"

"Lami chillax, they're just doing this for the fun of it. To make you a joke of you, of your state. And you want to entertain their nonsense? Please, you're the bigger person okay?" She said softly and even though she was throwing my trigger words in my face, I was still able to calm my balls. Jeez!

One of the reasons Brianna Tamilore Adedeji remained my best friend; No matter how angry I get, she knows what to say and how to say it to calm me down. Except I don't want to listen sha.
I'm kinda like a psychopath when you pull my trigger, honestly. But, I don't know why people still dare pull my trigger when they know I could easily extinct them and I won't even get punished, not to talk about going to jail.

"Chidera Uba, MHS biggest gossip. That one that acts like she's all that but isn't anything close." I started, making exaggerated hand gestures. " That one that has been humiliated so many times, but doesn't seem to learn, that same very one that was humiliated by that model on the first day of resumption,  that same one that is known for her big, bad, and loud mouth, that same one that I'm willing to tear apart right this instant, "a sly smile spread across my lips as I took dangerous steps towards her, "you know that, right?" I questioned, a smirk dancing on my lips, brows quirked up slightly in an intimidating gesture. " You know I can easily devour you and feed your remains to birds, right?" I asked again, but didn't get a response. I could see her shake uncomfortably as she tried to avoid my gaze and I felt my smile grow wider and my cheeks began to hurt.

Fear. She was scared. Apparently she lost every ounce of confidence she was feigning seconds ago, and I was loving it. Seeing her shudder under my gaze was another level of joy.

"What's going on here?" A firm female voice resonated through the hallways. That was when I realized that the crowd had been silently watching the scene, waiting for me to do something rumour worthy, so they could have my head on a golden tray. Animals!

"Farhana, not another scene today, abeg." The slender tall fair girl spoke as she strode towards me, wearing an invisible crown that screamed 'bow down' on her black mane of hair. Properly dry-cleaned uniform beautifying her mannequin like structure.

Sometimes I get jealous of how she looked effortlessly pretty and all that without even trying at all. Knee-length skirt, unaltered shirts, blazers on, shinny badge attached perfectly to it, knee-length socks, a pair of flats and hair trimmed in a neat low cut. And still looking like she just walked out of a magazine. The head girl of MHS, RITA OGOCHUKWU NWWBUEZE.

And I hated her...

"And not another word to me!" I said, my voice raised a little bit too high, but I didn't give two flying fucks.

"You won't speak to me in that tone of voice, Farhana." She sounded collective, like she was trying to tame the anger brewing from inside of her and my eyes rolled over to the back of my head, almost falling off.

"Or else what?" I dared, folding my arms across my chest, shifting my weight to my left leg.

Oh, and don't be surprised that Brie isn't saying anything. I'm  absolutely sure she also wants me to rip Rita's head off.

"Everybody to class!"

It was that commanding tone of hers that brought us to where we are today. I don't know whether it's her height, ahbi her skin colour, ahbi the yeye badge on her blazer that is deceiving her, but something is definitely deceiving her for sure. Like who the hell does she think she is to talk to me like that? The disrespect that that voice held irked me to the core. God! Hate is an understatement. I resent this girl!

A scoff escaped my lips as I spoke, "why? Why should they leave? So they don't get me beating you lame as to a pulp on camera? You don't want them to see their so called Almighty head girl lying helpless beneath me, begging?" I mocked, and I watched her expression morph into something akin to demise, eyes squinted as she zeroed her gaze on me.

"I don't have time for this nonsense. I was asked to clear the hallway and I'm doing just that. So, get your dumb ass out of here and into your classroom, please!"

Don't be deceived, the please didn't make her sound any less rude. Bitch!

Moving dangerously close towards her, I spat, "don't you ever speak to me like that again, or you'd end up worse than Eghosa did. And trust me, I won't hesitate to tear out your lungs."

And the whispers...

"This girl is mad o. Wetin be this?"

"Worse than Eghosa's case ke? Ment?"

"She should even beat that Rita seff. She thinks she's fine. Nonsense!"

She scoffed.

"Farhana rest abeg, you can't harm me, and we both know that. So if you would get your ass out of here and make my job easier, then, that'll be good. For everyone." I watched in horror she easily debunked all the tension I had caused with just one sentence of her own.

"To class everybody, now!" She continued talking to my classmates, blatantly ignoring my pathetic ass.

"Brianna, please get her out of here," she said waving dismissively at us.

"Wait, what?"

I felt a rush of rage flush through me. Turning on my heels, I left the hallways, furiously.

"Lami, calm down." She called out to me from a distance, and I simply turned a deaf ear.

"We don't want you doing something you'd regret." I continued stomping my feet aggressively on the tiled floors.

"Farhana!" She increased her pace, trying to catch up with me.

"Please just calm down," she called out once more, her voice soothing and feathery, sweet and understanding. I stopped.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice high above an octave. "You also think I'm mad? That I'm crazy? Why don't they get it? Why? I promise, I'm trying. I swear. But they keep stepping in my nerves, they keep pushing me, making it extremely difficult for me to keep my anger intact! I'm trying! Believe me, I-I am." My voice began to break.

"Lami please calm down." She said moving carefully but doubtfully towards me, and I felt a pang in my chest.

"I'm a monster," I whispered.

"Of course you're not,"

"Then why are you scared of me," I asked peering into her eyes, try to read her emotions, but she averted her gaze to the ground. Wow!

"I think I'm done here," I whispered, loud enough for her to hear, before entering one of the empty classes. Shutting the door close, I pressed my forehead against it and sobbed silently, letting it all out.

I breathed heavily as hot tears streamed down my cheeks, prickling my skin causing me to winced audibly.

I fell weakly to the ground, gasping for air, choking on my tears, as I let it all out.

They call me mad dog, tigress, devil, monster and all of that but, it actually never really mattered. I wasn't bothered because Brianna had my back, she understood and she knew. Or, so I thought.

You know when you know  there's only one person in your life that actually cares, that knows you, that understands you, that has been there for you even when you didn't deserve it, and then, that same one person, decides to insinuate that you're no different from what the world calls you?

You probably don't get it but, I feel so empty, like everything that has been holding me in place, all the nuts and bolts and screws holding me together was starting to fall apart, drastically.

"Hey,"

I whipped my head towards the direction of the voice with a deadly speed, that it almost snapped.

My eyes met his black dainty ones, and I felt everything come to a standstill. I was suddenly transfixed on the spot, tongue-tied, eyes blinking continuously as I found it difficult to move.

"Hey," he repeated, casually.

"Uh huh uhm I'm-I I'm sorry. Uh I didn't know you were in here." I stuttered, aggressively wiping my tear stained face with the back of my palm.

A low chuckle from his lips made me look up to meet his gaze again, catching him smiling at me, at my discomfort.

"Stop it," I muttered loud enough for him to hear.

"Stop what?" He asked feigning. ignorance and I fought the urge to slap that sleek smile off his fine face.

"Ebuka, stop pretending abeg,"

He started taking steps towards me, stopping two feet away from me. "It's Emeka," he pointed out, stretching his hands towards me.

"Yeah right, Emeka," I whispered, more to myself, taking his hand as he helped me to my feet.

"Are you alright?" He asked, bobbing his head to the side, staring at me, curiously. "Stop looking at me like that," I said, bluntly.

"Uh, 'kay. Are you okay sha?" He asked again, and I nodding response.

"Farhana," I said out of nowhere, shocking myself immensely.

"Hmmn?" He looked befuddled, confusion written all over his features.

"My name. It's Farhana," again, I found myself saying. Honestly, I didn't know what it was that was pushing me to say these things, it felt like my tongue was moving on its own accord.

"Everybody knows you," he said casually, turning around and walking further into the classroom, settling down on a chair.

"E-ev- everybody does?" I asked, unsure of what I heard him say.

Why am I even talking this guy?

"Yup," he answered after what seemed like a while of uncomfortable silence. "You're the daughter of Umar Lateef Ahmad, right?" He added.

Of course everybody would the daughter of a renowned politician.

"Yeah," I answered in a whisper.

Silence.

Choking silence.

Uncomfortable silence.

Maybe you should leave? My subconscious suggested.

"I—"

"Your—"

We spoke at exact same time.

"Go first," I spoke.

"I was just saying that your alterations are cute, I like it," he finished and went back to tapping the screen of his iPhone aggressively.

What if it breaks?

"My fit is not cute, abeg," I retorted, my voice coming out ruder than I intended for it to.

"It is though," he said, raising his shoulders a bit and letting them fall back down in a shrug.

"But it's supposed to make me look rough and tough," I muttered, crossing my arms under my chest.

"I don't see it sha," he stated, not taking his eyes of his phone for even the briefest second.

"That means it needs more work," I said, checking out my totally altered school uniform.

The skirt was really short, as in extremely short, stopping a few inches below my butt, black lace pantyhose stockings. I literally threw away the school's shirt, so what I was wearing was something entirely different. A see-through lace top, that had my black bra on full display, no blazer, no tie, knee high wedge black boots, my nose, lip and multiple ear piercings, completing the look.

How am I looking cute abeg?

"What are you doing?" I queried, walking towards him.

"COD," he replied, still tapping aggressively on his phone.

"What's a COD?" I asked, utterly confused. "Mobile game?" He replied. His answer sounding like a question, as if to ask me how I don't know what a COD is.

"Oh," I muttered, watching as he continued tapping his phone's screen, muttering things that sounded like 'shoot' and 'fire' to himself.

What are you still doing standing here?

"I think I should—"

The screeching sound of the door opening, cut me off, causing me to turn towards it.

"Babe I've been looking for you—" she stopped.

She stood by the door, looking between Emeka and I,  natural hair in curls, brown almond shaped eyes holding confusion, perfectly glossed lips, cool almond coloured skin glistening under the lights.

She called him babe. My subconscious reminded me, and it was my turn to be confused.

"Emeka, what's going on?" She asked, walking further into the classroom towards the dark skinned boy that had a barely noticeable smile on his face.

But you noticed it.

Shut up

"Hi," he beamed as she got closer to where his was sprawled lazily on a chair.

"Hey," she responded, mimicking his smile.

And I felt stupid just standing here.

"Harna, what's up?" She asked, looking at me, wearing a pretty smile on her face.

"Harna?" I asked confusedly

"That's probably her nickname for you," he replied, turning his attention back to his phone.

"Oh, I'm good," I replied.

Why are you still here?

"I think I should leave," I said, turning around to walk away.

"Sure b, see you around," I could her the smile in her fading voice, as I shut the door close.

What the hell was that?

~Toyo

"Sure b, see you around," I said as she closed the door shut, leaving us alone.

"So where have you been?" I turned to the dark skinned boy who has been so engrossed in the mobile game he's been playing since I got here.

"I've been here na, waiting for you," he replied, still not meeting my gaze.

"I think I should leave, COD is clearly more important than I am," I said jokingly turning around to leave, but he held my arm  preventing me from moving further. I bit on my bottom lip to prevent it from stretching into a wide smile.

"Lemme alone," I said in false anger.

"I'll keep my phone away, I swear." He responded, his voice coming out in a low chuckle. "Why didn't you come earlier?" He asked, "I had to talk to that weird girl for so long," he complained.

"Do you realize that this isn't the classroom we hang in?" I queried, turning around to meet his gaze.

"Oh," he muttered, looking around the classroom. "They all look the same." He countered.

"But they aren't," I debunked, punctuating it with an eye roll.

"Okay, I'm sorry, I was so engrossed in my phone that I didn't notice." He wrapped his arms around my waist, towering over my frame, placing a kiss on my forehead.

"Yeah. You know I'd rather compete with a girl, not COD." I stated jokingly.

"Like Amarachi?" He asked.

"I told you to stop bringing her name into our conversations!" I warned.

"It's no big deal na," he shrugged.

"Really?" I asked, wriggling out of his hold. "Even after the amount of times that I've told you I don't want you bringing her name into our discussions, you still do it and tell me it's no big deal?" I was beyond shocked.

"I thought we were over this?" I asked, rubbing his fingers against his temples.

"And so did I." I responded storming out of the class.

A/N:

Phew!

So yeah, quite lengthy ba? I hope this makes up for the last chapter😔. Anywho, I introduced three new characters😔✨.

How did the beginning make you feel?
What's wrong with Farhana?😔
And Brie?😔.
Farhana meeting Emeka?😔

And who missed my Toyo Baby?😭 I know I did!😔✨We met her boyfriend😔. Do you like him? Do you not like him? I'm curious.

Only the mention of Amarachi's name causing wahala😔. Omoh ehn?

So, that'll be all for now. Pray for me ooo, because the laziness is swallowing me😔, plus I'm a lil extra busy these days😔.

So see you whenever I see you😭❤️🦋
Don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT, AND SHARE!!
Also, follow my Instagram😗✨, @toyo.writes.

Oh, and we almost at 900 reads😭😭❤️, my heart is doing gbim gbim😭😔. *Inserts malnourished screaming dog*😔

Ciao✨❤️