This chapter is dedicated to my baby sis HappyAkpan she called me on the phone on Saturday demanding an update and a dedication😂... Enjoy😘

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I couldn't stay still, no matter how hard I tried. I'd refused to even eat the food downstairs because I knew Debby would see right through me. I was in my room, locked up in my own space. It wasn't six yet, so it was possible to call Mrs. Emma and ask if she could give the phone to Seidi. Why would she make the rules of sending each other mail on Mondays and Fridays? It was meant to be every day. 

I looked at the assignment on my reading table. It was just the centre page of a higher education note, knowing I had an essay to write. An essay that was meant to be nothing less than two-fifty words was meant to be submitted before the morning assembly. I couldn't concentrate; I just couldn't. Krystian filled my head and was stopping me from doing anything resourceful. I couldn't believe I could have this many cold feet. Was this how I was going to get my sister's killer? By getting scared all the time?

I pushed my chair backwards as I couldn't take it any longer and moved to the bed to grab my phone so I could dial Mrs. Emma's number. She'd answered in one go, making me give out a small smile. I'd missed her and my previous school. Nothing in my new school could be compared with that of my previous school.

"Delphine, it's great to see your call," Mrs. Emma chirped over the phone. "How are you, and how is Lagos?"

"Very fine, ma," I answered. "I miss you so much." That was the truth.

"How's your new school?" She asked, I'd always seen her as a motherly figure, and that wasn't going to change no matter the distance. "I hope it isn't that stressful."

"It isn't, ma." That wasn't the truth. "I've learned to adapt."

"That's so great to hear. I was really worried about how you're going to do in your new school and all of that."

"You don't have to worry, ma," I reassured her. "I'm fine." There was a small pause before I dared to continue. "Mrs. Emma, I've been wanting to speak to Seidi. I miss her so much."

"Ah, your best friend," she said, not surprised at my request. "I'll send someone to go find her; I'm sure she'd be happy to speak to you as well. But you'll have to end the call, and I'll get to you once she comes to the office."

"Thank you very much, ma!" I exclaimed, then ended the call. I sat at the edge of my bed with my phone beside me while looking at the screen every second, hoping to see Mrs. Emma's call in a flash. It was going to be difficult to talk about this in front of Mrs. Emma, but I was so sure Seidi would figure something out. She was smart.

Buzz~Buzz

I jumped and reached for my phone in seconds. "Hello, Mrs. Emma."

"Hello Delphine, Seidi's here to say hi." I heard some ruffling from their end before Seidi's voice filled my ear.

"Delphine, oh my God, how are you doing?!" I missed my best friend, and just hearing her voice was enough proof. 

"Fine, how's everything with you and school?" I asked her.

"Same old, same old. I mostly hang out with Davidson." I couldn't find myself feeling bad about her hanging out with Davidson, given how distressed I was.

"Seidi," I called out slowly. 

"Mhm?"

I gulped, then sighed to release some tension within me. "Is the phone on loudspeaker?"

Seidi paused, then cleared her throat. "No, why?"

"Because I need to tell you something," she said nothing, urging me to continue. "I think I'm in trouble."

"What do you mean?" she questioned, omitting the 'trouble' part, probably to avoid getting Mrs. Emma to suspect that something was off.

"Krystian," as much as I hated to admit it, I felt my heart pounding dangerously hard in my chest. "It's about Krystian."

"What about him?" Seidi's soft voice filled my ears. She was worried, and I could tell. I let out a shaky breath and blinked my eyes a couple of times in an attempt to calm myself down, but it wasn't working. 

"He knows," she said nothing. "He knows who I am."

"How?"

"I don't know," I began, pacing back and forth in my room. "I wish someone could answer that question for me. Anyone at all, and I'd be grateful."

"Delphine," Seidi called, then whispered, "you need to calm down."

"That's hard, Seidi." She wasn't in my shoes. "Easier said than done. You're not in this place with me; I'm terrified. I think he was stalking me Friday night. I think he followed me home after that party."

"Are you sure you're not overthinking?"

"How am I overthinking? What other possible explanation is there? How could he have known?" I sat on my bed, but my feet kept tapping the tiled floor anxiously.

"Mrs. Emma, the reception is bad; can I go outside?" I bit my lips as I heard Seidi's excuse. She sounded more independent than when I was in school with her. I just wish I could have my carefree teen life back, with Danielle very much alive. 

"Don't go too far." I heard the door to Mrs. Emma's office open and then close.

"Delphine, calm down. Think? Have you met him somewhere?" Her voice was back to normal as she was in a place where she wouldn't be questioned on whatever came out of her mouth when speaking to me.

"At Danielle's funeral . . ."

"That's it—"

"But my outfit was something that covered my appearance; none of them could've recognised me," I said, cutting her off. "The others didn't, so why would he be an exception?" 

"How about you just talk to him? Ask him what he wants." There was a small interruption before her voice came in again. "I need to go, Delphine; they've warned Mrs. Emma about low airtime."

"Okay, please respond to my email ASAP. Scrap that Monday and Friday stuff, please."

"Yes, ma," Seidi teased, making me smile a bit. "Every weekday, I'll be checking the computer room just in case there's an email from you."

"Thank you." I was grateful to her.

"I have to go, Delphine, before Mrs. Emma has my head." I nodded, though she couldn't see that. 

"No problem; take care of yourself."

"You too," and the call ended at that.

Talk to him. I couldn't help but think about Seidi's words. Krystian of all people? Would he want to be in the same room with me to hold a conversation? Would he try to be civil? And even if he happened not to be bratty when I demanded for us to talk, how sure was I that this would be a good idea? Krystian was a suspect; he'd done nothing to clear his name. Talking to him and trying to be on the same page with him would either put me in trouble or put my life in danger. Either way, I was going to be in the lion's den. 

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The next day, I sat in my seat, refusing to talk to Kim. She also wasn't talking to me, so there wasn't any part of me feeling guilty. I was still worried about Romeo, though, and the fact that he was into the sale of hard drugs. Not worried because he was a friend, but worried because it was bad and his future would be ruined by it if he wasn't careful.

My eyes were on Krystian, who had his bandaged legs stretched out while having a chat with his friends. Someone watching me without knowing the context would think I liked him or something, with the way I couldn't stop staring at him. Talk to him. That was an impossible task. I kept straining my hearing, trying to catch him saying anything along the lines of 'Danielle's sister' or 'Delphine Udeme', but there was nothing. 

"Delphine," Krystian, was blocked out of my line of vision as a boy in our complete uniform stood in front of me. "You promised to speak to me later."

I looked up to see that it was Femi. This wasn't the time. I noticed Kim trying not to look at us, and I ignored her completely. I had nothing to say to her and wished for her to mind her business when it came to my issues. "Let's go outside."

To get rid of Femi, I'd have to listen to what he had to say, whether I liked it or not. We both walked towards the classroom door. I noticed a pair of eyes following me. I was hoping it belonged to Krystian. I wanted him to be as curious about me as I was about him. But when I looked in his direction, I noticed he was paying me no attention whatsoever, and the owner of those eyes happened to be Ore. Good riddance.

Femi led the way out of the classroom, and we both rested against the wall. I said nothing, hoping he'd do the talking.

"You called, Femi," I said with a sigh when I noticed he wasn't going to be the starter of this conversation. 

That got Femi moving. He turned to me with an expected look, and I was surprised at how close he was. I moved to pace away from him, creating distance between us. What he did at his birthday party was unacceptable, and I wasn't going to let him cause another scene here in the lobby. 

"I like your gift." He sounded stiff and confused, and I creased my brows at his unexpected words. Was that it? 

I turned so my back could be against the walk and said, "You're welcome."

"Why—" Femi caught himself short, and I swayed my head to the side in time to see he still had his confused look on. "Why did you get me a gift?" 

I looked around, and now I was the one confused. "Cause that's a normal thing to give someone on their birthdays."

Femi looked hesitant. "You're the first."

"I'm the first?"

He nodded. "Not my parents, not my friends, but you, a new girl."

Now I felt awkward. "You're welcome?" 

"I . . . well . . . thank you. It was the best gift I've ever received." A golden watch from an aboki was the best gift he'd ever received. That was a lie. I mean, he was the senator's son. They let him throw a party without adult supervision just to make him feel good about himself. 

I let out a small smile because I couldn't help it. "Not the big party your parents let you throw?" 

Femi shook his head. "I prefer to have a small dinner with them than a big party with my friends." I squinted my eyes at him. 

"Yes, I know; I don't look the part." He waved his hands, and I laughed. 

"Yeah, you don't." I gave him a genuine smile. 

"I'm still trying to woo you o," he winked with a playful smirk, and I rolled my eyes. Way to ruin the atmosphere. "But friends? Since we're like . . ." he dragged, waving his hands at the both of us, "classmates."

I couldn't call him a friend yet. The door opened, startling the both of us, and out came a limping Krystian. He stared at Femi and me, then minded his business by walking ahead. 

"I need to go," I said to Femi, and I didn't waste time listening to his response as I turned to tail after Krystian. Knowing Krystian was limping, it was easier to catch up with him. 

"I need to talk to you." I placed a hand on his shoulder and was ready to spin him around when he got hold of my hand and pulled me to his front. 

"Just because I let you manhandle me a couple of times doesn't mean I'd let you continue." He let go of my wrist, and I massaged the place he'd wrapped his fingers. "What do you want, Delphine Udeme?" 

"Can you stop?" I reached forward to cover his mouth with both my hands. It wasn't like he was using his inside voice when he called my name. Anyone could've heard him. 

"Get your hands off my mouth, na, what is this?" Krystian pulled my hands away, glaring at me. "What do you want?" 

I cleared my throat and composed myself. "I need to know how you knew. I'm not a fraud, okay? Peter's also my name."

Krystian scoffed, sidestepped me, and continued limping down the hall. "Krystian!" 

"What is it?" He grumbled, turning to me. "I won't have peace again because I know your identity or what? I don't care who you are or what you are planning on doing," he said, pointing at me. "So stop being on my face two-four-seven."

"You know you're such a rude and arrogant person, right?" I stopped him from turning around. 

"And who are you to judge me? It's not like you're perfect." He scoffed at me. "Here you are, condemning everyone because you feel they have a hand in your sister's death. What are you? The police force?" 

"Then prove it." I stepped forward, matching his gaze. Daring him silently, daring him to lie. 

"Answer this one question," I said slowly. "What were you doing in the press club during the time of Danielle's death?" 

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Will Krystian come clean? Will he not? Find out in the next chapter.

What do you think about this chapter in general? Do you think Delphine is being too hard on Kim?

A reader said Romeo is a bully. Do you agree with that?

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I'll try really hard to update on Friday. Sorry for the late update 😙