When you're content to be yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone would respect you.

-Unknown

*Unedited*

____________________________________

"Hey" Adaora's calm voice called.

Zarah whose head was bent over her table sat up immediately on hearing her voice.

She handed over to Zarah the bottle of fanta and biscuit she was holding.

"You didn't get anything during break and you haven't eaten anything since then, it's already twelve and I wanted to go get some snacks. So I thought I should get you something too" She smiled sweetly.

Flustered, Zarah stared about confused. It took her a minute to realize what planet she was.

She stared at her hands, she wondered why she was holding the biscuit and fanta. A wave of realization hit her as Adaora words came rushing back to her.

"Oh! Thank you. Although you didn't have to"

Adaora shrugged "You're welcome" With that she slipped into her seat beside Zarah.

Zarah looked at the biscuit and gasped "Isn't this expensive? This costs a hundred and the fanta two hundred. Isn't it too much?" She asked, surprise coloured her tone.

"No no it's not, besides I got more than that" She gestured to the egg roll, fanta and doughnut sitting on her desk.

"Thank you" Zarah repeated sincerely. Normally she felt uncomfortable collecting things from people she didn't know too well but strangely Adaora did not seem like a stranger to her and besides she was really hungry and didn't want to spend the money her mom gave her, it could come in handy later.

"Don't mention"

Zarah ate half of the biscuit and drank half of the fanta. She fastened the bottle cap and threw it inside her desk.

Adaora frowned "You are full already? Or is it that you don't like the biscuit? I wanted to get you an egg roll or doughnut but I figured since you weren't there when I bought it, you'd like something bottled or wrapped"

"Oh no! I like the biscuit, I'm just full" She lied knowing too well the main reason she didn't finish it was because she wanted to give it to Joseph. She couldn't even remember the last time he saw fanta talk less of drinking it.

"Okay..." Adaora drawled out staring at her strangely. It was obvious she didn't believe her but Zarah was thankful she didn't push it.

Zarah shoved her books in her bag quickly and slung it over her shoulders immediately she heard the bell that signalled the end of the day's lesson.

"Are you going home now? Should I wait for you?" She directed at Adaora who was stacking her books neatly in her bag.

"Yes, let me finish arranging my books"

Zarah remembered the half bottle of fanta and biscuit in her desk and was glad she didn't forget it. She picked it up and and put it in her backpack and by the time she was done Adaora was up and ready.

"Let's go"

Justin was already at the gate waiting for her by the time she escaped the bunch of students that cluttered the school compound. For an expensive school it was quite populated although nothing compared to her previous school.

Justin scratched his head in confusion as he stared clueless around the large school.

Zarah let out an amused chuckle, his expression was very funny.

"What?" Adaora asked.

"Nothing, it's just my brother Justin. He's here to pick me up" She gestured towards her brother who was still looking around like a lost sheep.

"Wow! Is that your brother?" Adaora asked in an awestruck voice.

"Yup!"

"He's so cute" She cooed.

"Huh?" Zarah scoffed "Did I hear you say cute? That annoying fowl!"

"It's because he's finer than you that's why you're jealous" She clasped her hand loosely around Zarah's wrist and started pulling her towards him "Come and introduce me to him jorh!"

"Justin!" Zarah called as soon as she got to where he stood.

He turned sharply, his head snapping in her direction.

"Thank God!" He heaved a sigh of relief giving her a side hug.

"Why didn't you ask anyone for directions? You just stood there looking like a goat lost in a herd of sheep"

"I got snubbed the first time I tried to.... Wait!" Something clicked in his head and he gave her a disbelieving stare "Did you just call me a goat?"

"How could I?" She asked innocently throwing her hands in the air dramatically "I only likened your expression to that of a goat, I didn't call you a goat"

"Y-You...You..." He stuttered pointing an accusing finger at her to which she returned with a sweet smile, daring him to go on. "You...Ugh!" He raked a hand through his hair in frustration.

Zarah chuckled,The expression on his face was priceless. There and then she decided that there was nothing more she enjoyed more than annoying her elder brother.

Adaora stepped on her foot to remind her of her existence, that hurtled her back to reality and she let out an "oh!" in realization.

"Sorry, Adaora meet my brother Justin and Justin, my friend Adaora" She face palmed mentally at the lame introduction, she just hoped Justin didn't notice if not he would tease her for eternity for it.

"Nice to meet you" He extended his hand for a handshake with a charming smile. He winked discreetly at Zarah.

Zarah froze.

He noticed!

Adaora shook his hand laughing displaying her enviable dimple. Her beautiful laughter and calm masculine voice sounded like music in his ears.

"Nice to meet you too!" Her eyes twinkled.

Zarah's mouth dropped open in disbelief.

She never laughs with me like that!

Zarah stared at her idiot of a brother suspiciously as he chatted with Adaora. She had to grudgingly admit that he looked looked good in the casual clothes he was putting on, a clean red tee shirt and white baggy shorts.

"How do you cope with my naughty little sister?" He asked mischief glinting in his eyes "Hope she isn't giving you any trouble?"

"I'm not little" She protested weakly "And neither am I naughty!"

They both ignored her.

Zarah huffed and folded her arms childishly "I can see how unimportant I am"

She poked Justin on his arm. The both of them were staring starry eyed at each other with matching grins and she was beginning to feel like a third wheel.

"Huh?" He asked startled.

"Don't you have somewhere to go?"

"No I don't... Ouch!" Zarah stepped on his foot and told him something with her eyes.

"No I do... Y -Yeah... Sorry I do have somewhere to go" Embarrassment swept over him.

"Oh! No problem, my dad is here to pick me already" She gestured towards a black Toyota Camry that just pulled up in the school compound.

"Nice meeting you" She turned to Zarah "And you too, bye"

Zarah wanted to blurt out something like "so it's now you remember me abi?" But she caught herself just in time. "Yeah, me too! bye"

Adaora paused on a second thought "Or what if I tell my dad to drop you guys off?"

"It's okay, don't worry. I don't want to bother you"

"You..." Adaora opened her mouth to talk but Justin cut her short.

"It's really okay, we're not going going home straight"

"Kay, No problem. So Zarah see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, see you tomorrow"

Justin watched her retreating figure with a small smile.

Zarah gave him a smack on the jaw.

"Ow! What the hell was that for?" He whined.

"That was necessary to bring you back to reality, you were staring at her like a love struck puppy"

"I was?"

"No oh! I was" She retorted with an eye roll.

"But seriously oh" She stroked her imaginary beards pretending to think then she brought her voice down to a whisper, her eyes sparkling.

"Do you want me to get you her number?" She asked wiggling her eyebrows teasingly.

"Did I... I didn't... Oh God!" He slapped his forehead. Zarah chuckled enjoying his discomfort, he pointed a finger at her "You... Y...Y-You little brat!"

Zarah giggled and sashayed off.

"Ugh!" He stomped after her.

The putrid smell of goats, sheep and fowls accentuated by the loud boisterous voice of her neighbor was what welcomed them when they neared the compound.

The amusing sight of Mama Destiny wielding a long cane, gesturing wildly and ranting loudly to whoever cared to listen greeted her as they stepped into the compound.

"You dey look me? I know say you dey hear me you this stupid goat... See" She paused holding her ears for emphasis switching to English because she thought that would be more effective.

"If I see you anywhere near the tomatoes and pepper that I plant ehn!... I will so design your body with marks that you would become unrecognizable. Stupid goat! Next time, just try me. Touch anything that belongs to me, you'll see what I'll do to you, You would regret ever meeting me. Idiot!" She hissed scathingly.

The goat bleated weakly in response and Zarah gasped. It was an actual goat! Mama Destiny kicked the goat again at it side and it let out an agonizing scream. Zarah hid her face in her palms unable to look at the scene playing in front of her. The brutality was just too much, The goat lay on the floor weak and helpless and blood trickled out of a cut on it's cheek.

Justin chuckled, shoved his hands into his pockets and strode. leisurely into the compound. Zarah sighed and followed suit.

Screams of Brother and Zarah rented the air as Joseph ran into his brother's embrace.

"Oyoyo!" Justin laughed and pinched his younger brother's cheek fondly.

Zarah scowled "So you did not see me abi?"

He disentangled himself from Justin and ran into Zarah's open arms, his tiny hands clutching unto her legs tightly. Her scowl dissolved into a smile when she remembered her treat for him. She reached into her bag and brought out the fanta and biscuit and handed it over to him.

Joseph's eyes widened and he took it gleefully, grinning from ear to ear like an idiot.

"Thank you"

She ruffled his hair in reply. Justin shook his head and loped into their house.

___________________________________

A/N

Sorry for the short chapter 😊 I'll try to make it longer but for now this was all I could write.

Which cover photo do you thinks is better? The one in the media or the one I'm currently using.

😎 *Me feeling like jagaban* This is the second update I'm giving you this week, I no try?

😂😂 Anyway for those who did not understand Nigerian pidgin English, here you go

Like I said before oyoyo is something like welcome

🤔 Jorh is just an exclamation (😬 Although I'm not sure)

And "You dey look me? I know say you dey hear me you this stupid goat" - Are you looking at me? I know you understand what I'm saying...

😅 Yh I think that's all
If there's anything I left out please remind me.

Corrections, suggestions and constructive criticism are welcomed.

Special thanks goes to
divinecho222
efefrancis
AkanniGloria
anne_rulez
Johnexcel56

Thanks for giving this book a shot. I really appreciate it

Don't forget to vote and comment 😆

And b4 I forget I got you something different this time 🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬
😜 Enjoy!

Hugs and kisses 😘💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 💗💗💗💗💗💝💝💝💝💝💝💟❤❤❤❤❤❤

Signing out

Love
😇
Favvy_Jay