This chapter is dedicated to akdeee36

Enjoy✨

˗ˏˋ༻ʚRomeo's Povɞ༺ˎˊ˗

Last night, I received a text from Deborah notifying me of a client who was ready to get her makeup done. I wasn't delighted, but it wasn't a bummer either; at the very least, I'd be paid rather than being someone's charity case.

I approached the makeup studio, clutching the sling from my school bag. Deborah was there, as evidenced by the lights. I pushed open the door, prompting the bell above to ring. Deborah was putting on a blue Palazzo Jean, a yellow crop top and white sneakers. She also gave a tiny smile when she realised it was me. Not minding that, I entered and surveyed the studio. She was the only person present.

"You didn't go home after school?" She enquired, her gaze fixed on my uniform. I strolled over to the white armchair and placed my bag there.

"Thought you needed me as soon as possible,"

Deborah exhaled, shaking her head disapprovingly. "Still, you should have gone home, freshened up, and eaten. You are still a student; I don't want you to overstress yourself."

I was touched that she was worried about my well-being, but it was unnecessary. Slacking off was not going to cover my sister's medical bills.

I went over to the counter, which was located beneath the enormous rectangular mirror. It held a large makeup box I once mistook for a briefcase. "What do you want me to do before the customer gets here?"

I did not know cosmetics before starting this work. I had no idea that each beauty brush served a specific purpose. Now, I was progressively learning about the makeup industry. I would not call myself a professional, but I was far above average.

"Help separate the makeup brushes," she pointed to her makeup box. I turned to the box and concentrated on the tasks ahead. The bell above the door rang, signifying that we had a customer. I turned and was taken by surprise.

"Stella," Deborah welcomed warmly, moving over to make her feel comfortable. "How are you na?"

"I'm—" she stated, then paused when her gaze travelled over to mine. "Romeo?"

She was equally shocked, seeing me at a place like this, handling makeup products and tools. Who would have predicted that the adamant customer would be Stella? Giving her a second look, I could picture it. She could be quite convincing when she wanted to be.

"Welcome, Stella."

"Aha, no senior attached to that," she giggled to herself as she strolled over to the chair to face the mirror. "I won't blame you though; I'm done with school."

"I almost forgot you went to Greenville High," Deborah commented as she pulled Stella's hair into a ponytail. I went to my bag to fetch my glasses, knowing that I couldn't see properly without them.

"Yeah," Stella smiled broadly. She was far more attractive than she was in school, which was not surprising. Her skin was brighter than I remembered, making the all-black dress she was wearing an excellent choice of colour. Her physique was obvious in comparison to how small she had been in secondary school. I also saw that she had gotten a bit taller compared to how she was in school.

Stella, of course, was a promising actress. She was one of the few who made the school proud whenever the school bodies discussed prior students and their accomplishments. She might not be an A-list artist, but I was sure she was in the C-list category, which made me wonder why she was doing her makeup at Deborah's studio. It wasn't that Deborah wasn't capable of doing a celebrity's makeup, but I knew there were other well-known makeup artists she could have consulted. Who was I to complain, though? I was going to get paid at the end of the day.

"By the way, I'm sorry about your loss." Deborah paused, then offered a small smile. "Everyone loved her."

Again with the lies. I knew Danielle was gone with her soul resting in peace, but what was the reason for lying? Nobody liked Danielle, and they were not afraid to express their dislike for her. Stella was no exception, knowing what had transpired before she'd graduated. Many others had longed for her death or her disappearance to a different state or country. They'd never appreciated her because she had never respected their privacy. But now that she was finally gone, everyone wanted to pretend she was a saint who was universally loved.

Of course, I said nothing. In any case, it was none of my business. I intended to finish my duty and then go home to care for my father.

"It's fine; we are slowly living with that."

"We?" I heard Stella enquire as I scooped up the foundation foam. "You and that your fine boyfriend?"

I ignored Deborah's disgusted grimace as she attempted to focus on Stella's makeup. "Trust and I broke up." Stella was quiet. "I meant me and my little sis, Danielle's twin."

"Danielle has a twin?" Stella voiced out the question I refused to ask. "Since when?"

"Since sixteen years ago," was Deborah's witty response. "You're in Ss3 Arts, right?"

It took me a second to realise that the question was for me. "Yes, I am."

"She's your classmate. Imagine she refusing to use our surname Udeme, because she didn't want anyone to feel sorry for her. I'm glad she's making friends; it only means she has stopped hiding her identity." Deborah gave me the foundation tube, and I had to shake off some of her remarks to concentrate. "There's this boy; what's his name again? . . . Christian? He paid a visit once, and it warmed my heart to see her bring a friend home."

"Regardless of it being a boy?" Stella enquired, oblivious to my current situation.

"Irrespective of it being a boy."

˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗

As I lay in bed with a deep sigh and a wrapper enveloping my body, the lantern dimly illuminated the room. I couldn't help but recall my boss's comments as I glanced at the ceiling.

Did Danielle really have a twin?

Imagine she refusing to use our surname Udeme, because she didn't want anyone to feel sorry for her.

I shuffled and lay on my side, squinting at the damaged wall. I knew everyone in my class, so I'd have known if Danielle had a twin.

There's this boy; what's his name again? . . . Christian?

Krystian. . . .

Deborah's words rang in my ears, causing me to rise from my sleeping position. Everything suddenly made sense.

There was a reason she was so interested in learning about Danielle's death when she came in. It was so evident, but we all dismissed it as some type of random conversation or her inquisitive mind prompting her to ask such questions. I chastised myself for not reading significance into those enquiries or being unduly suspicious of her involvement to Danielle's death. Her queries felt different now, as I could see why she was so adamant and curious: she was her twin. Deborah didn't bother to give a name, but everybody could tell who she was talking about.

Krystian? I made a tiny snort and shook my head, stunned. She was making a bad decision by having someone like him as an ally.

˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗

The class burst into loud cheers as the invigilator left, and I exhaled as I rested on the backrest of my seat, pulling my glasses off my face. The CAT was officially done, and everyone couldn't conceal their relief and pleasure.

"Guy, howfa," a hand rested on my shoulder as a face appeared. It was Femi, smiling sheepishly at me.

"Watin happen," I shrugged his hands off as I placed my glasses in its case.

"We get match with commercial class, abi you don forget?"

"Omo, I don tire," I said, shaking my head slightly. "But without me on that field, una go either die or cook okra soup."

Femi laughed at my comment before giving me a quick handshake. "Catch you on the field, bro."

I watched him go before fetching my bag in my locker. I walked past Delphine's desk without saying a word, despite her eyes trailing after me. I wasn't one to keep malice, but I was one to draw boundaries. I never needed pity and didn't want to be anyone's charity case, yet she wouldn't respect that. That aside, I couldn't stop thinking about her sister's words and what I'd uncovered last night. I might be wrong, but there was a ninety per cent chance of me being right.

It was a fun game. Students from Ss3 and other classes came to cheer us on. It was safe to say that my class won the game because of me, yet they all ran to hug the Golden Boy after he scored the winning goal.

I rolled my eyes and proceeded to where I had left my school bag, only to catch a glimpse of Kim walking somewhere.

"Chai! Romeo, you sure say you no go keep for Nigeria next AFCON?" Nonso appeared ever so suddenly, pulling my gaze away from Kim. "You be eagle? See as you just dey fly for post."

"Make I ask their manager whether spot dey for me," I went on with his joke as I threw my one-handed schoolbag over my shoulder.

"Look at them," he said, nudging his head towards the Ss3 Commercial class players. "They thought they could beat us because their class contained more boys in the football team than ours. They've forgotten we've got you and Krystian."

And that was my signal to leave. Leave it to Krystian to take the spotlight simply by existing. I worked harder than him knowing how many balls I'd stopped before they could hit the net, but here was Krystian, enjoying the limelight.

"Howfa, are you going to Kim's party?" Nonso continued before I could take a step.

"Didn't get an invite,"

"Come on," Nonso nudged me. "She invited the whole class on WhatsApp, which means you're included."

"I'll think about it,"

I heard him sigh at my blunt response. "I seriously don't understand you and that girl's rivalry. I feel bad that her club is going to get dissolved today. So bad that I almost joined."

"Then why didn't you?"

Nonso laughed uncontrollably, making me feel like the world's funniest comedian. "Biko, that one is not for me."

"Nonso!" Christianah, a Ss2 student, called out, gaining our attention.

"Omo this Christianah fine sha," I heard him say, before patting my shoulder. "I dey come."

I didn't intend to wait for him in the first place. I followed him with my eyes as he approached the girl demanding his attention, only to discover Krystian conversing with Delphine. I sighed as I looked at them in bewilderment. This was really my cue to leave.

I didn't feel comfortable seeing her with Krystian. What made her think she could trust him with such a major secret? I knew we weren't on the same page right now, but I couldn't deny my want to keep her safe. My thoughts were scattered when I entered the main school building. For the first time, I was thinking far more than necessary, to the point where I was unaware of my surroundings. I came to a halt in front of a door, forcing me to put my arms beneath my chest while a sigh escaped my lips.

What on earth was I doing in front of the debate club?

I moved away from the door, preparing to go somewhere else when Nonso's words echoed in my thoughts. I turned back to face the door before wrapping my fingers around the handle and finally pushing it open. I didn't anticipate anyone to be in the room, but I wasn't surprised to see Kim there.

Kim had her back to me at first, but when I entered the room, she turned. The table in front of her was filled with brown cartons containing stuff most likely from the debate club.

She was packing up.

"What do you want?" She asked coldly. Although she was trying to disguise her emotions, I could tell by gazing into her eyes that she was heartbroken. I noticed her lips twitching slightly and realised she was about to burst into tears.

"I don't know," I muttered as I moved closer. It wasn't as if I was lying; I wasn't. I wasn't sure how I arrived at this club without thinking.

"I can't hear you, Romeo."

I stared at her before advancing deeper into the room and speaking loudly. "What are you doing?"

"Doing what you've always dreamt of," she spat, then turned to place more items into the carton before her. "Closing my club, I hope you're happy now!"

"And why should I be?" I stepped a bit closer.

"Because . . ." Kim dragged to think, "You'd stopped Delphine from getting more members because of your little conflict with her, something that had nothing to do with my debate club!"

"And who told you it had nothing to do with your debate club?" I stepped even closer, narrowing the small gap between us. I could see the panic in her eyes as she took in the air.

"W-what are you doing?"

I let out a tiny chuckle; she was cute. I took a pen beside the brown box closest to her and scribbled my name on the bottom page of an opened jotter. "Consider it a birthday gift."

Kim blinked and looked to her side, possibly forgetting the jotter she had kept there as she stared at it in confusion.

"You're joining my club?" I leaned away from her. Kim was the most dangerous person I'd ever encountered. She let me do things without thinking twice, which was risky to me. I suppressed the fact that my heart was racing in my chest as I met her eager look. It felt suffocating yet intoxicating.

"Bye, Juliet," I said instead, then turned to the door.

"You can come to my birthday party," Kim came to me before I could reach the door, surprising me with her comment. "That's . . . if you want."

I stared at her for a few seconds before moving over to the door and stepping out. It was official; she was dangerous . . .

. . . at least to me.

˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗

I could not believe I was at Kim's party. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy parties; I did. This wasn't even considered a party because there was no wild dancing, only people sitting and talking as if we were having a freaking hangout, but I was here nonetheless. Maybe it was because Kim invited me directly, or maybe I just wanted to confront Delphine.

I looked around for Kim and saw her talking to our classmates while receiving gifts.  I looked at the little item wrapped in black nylon and compared it to the expensive gifts she was carrying, forcing me to let out a sigh.  When did I begin to doubt myself?  The last time I did this was when . . .

Krystian.

I grimaced when I spotted him seated in a corner with Delphine.  Both had their gaze fixed on me, with Krystian muttering something to Delphine that made her scrunch her nose.  I marched over to Delphine, ignoring the calls of my classmates who had seen me.

Delphine looked up alongside Krystian as I got to their table. "I need to talk to you."

Delphine's brows knitted before a deep frown plastered on her face. "Well, I'm not ready to talk to you. Whatever you want to say, say it here."

I took a deep breath to calm myself down. I wanted us to be respectful so I could hear her side of the story before jumping to conclusions, but she was making even that very difficult to do. "Are you sure?"

"I didn't have water in my mouth, did I?" She was behaving foolishly at the moment, and I was beginning to perceive myself as an idiot for attempting to resolve things so I could understand why she did what she did.

"And are you sure you are not going to regret it?"

"Are you threatening her?" My gaze moved to Krystian, who might as well go to the Oscar officials and demand an award.

"Stay out of it, Golden; no one asked you to jump in." His presence was what irked me the most. Everyone thought he was perfect; hell, even Delphine thought he actually cared. If only they knew how two-faced and pretentious he was.

"Get out if you are not going to say what you came here for," Delphine stood up, glaring at me. "I'm tired of your behaviour already."

Tired of my behaviour? I was tired of hers. First, she acted like she knew everything while throwing me a pity charity party, and as if that wasn't enough, she decided to team up with Krystian. Krystian of all people?

I placed both hands on my waist, staring at her incredulously. I was angry and regretful; I had made a mistake thinking I could steer her in the right direction. But now, I cared less.

"Whatever you say, Delphine Udeme." I turned and stormed out of the building, still ignoring those attempting to attract my attention. What was the word most people used to describe things that weren't worth it? Good riddance.

˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗

That's it for today's chapter lovelies. What do you think about the chapter in general?

Was Delphine too quick to dismiss Romeo or was Romeo approaching her in a wrong way?

What's going on between Romeo and Kim, and what do y'all think about our special guest, Stella?

Comment your thoughts, click on the star, share, and I'll see you when I see you ✨