˗ˏˋ༻ʚRomeoʼs Povɞ༺ˎˊ˗

The alarm echoed through the classroom just as Mr. Obi was rounding off his period with his usual weekly assignment.

“Kim,” Mr. Obi called. My gaze shifted to her as she stood up promptly. “The assignment should be submitted on my desk tomorrow, before assembly.”

A collective groan rose from the class, making Mr. Obi shake his head with a knowing smile. “When I was your age, this was exactly what my teachers did to me.”

“Then why are you transferring aggression to us?” Femi lifted his hands in exasperation.

“Aggression?” Mr. Obi scoffed, eyeing every one of us. “Discipline—Iʼm disciplining you people.”

Muttering under his breath, Mr. Obi gathered his books and shuffled out of the classroom. The moment he stepped out, the room erupted into a storm of chatter. I lowered my head onto my desk, hoping to steal a moment of peace.

“Romeo.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, drawing in a long breath. Two full periods of Government, yet someone wonʼt let me enjoy this forty-minute free period. “Romeo.”

With a sigh, I lifted my head just enough to see Kim standing beside me. She cleared her throat and stepped back slightly, giving us some space.

“We need to go do that research,” she said, her tone already dragging me out of my quiet escape.

“What?”

“Research,” she repeated. “For the debate.”

I knew I’d made a terrible mistake the moment I agreed to be the second speaker. What was I thinking? If only time had a rewind button. Whoever first coined the phrase “Had I known” must’ve gone through something exactly like this.

“Must we do that now?” I asked, half hoping she’d say no. Kim nodded eagerly, her enthusiasm almost blinding, which earned her a subtle smile.

“Where are we going?” I cleared my throat.

“Maybe the library? Or . . . the greenhouse?” Kim pouted, clearly torn between the two options.

“I’m going to the library,” I said firmly, rising to my feet and slinging my school bag over my shoulder.

Sensing I was serious, Kim scrambled to gather her things. I didn’t wait; I stepped out of the classroom without a second glance, but could already hear her quick footsteps trailing behind me.

˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗

We got to the library and settled at a table far from the librarian’s desk. Kim dropped into the seat beside me, tossing her backpack and a jotter onto the table.

I watched quietly as she rummaged through her bag in search of a pen.

“Let’s begin,” she said, turning to face me with a smile when she finally pulled one out.

Instead of responding, I shifted my gaze to her open notebook.

“Why did you choose this topic?” I asked. The question made her pause. She turned to me again, a bit confused. “Don’t you know it might get you in trouble with Miss. Susan?”

“Iʼm not scared of her—”

“Everyone is.”

Kim pouted at my words, then fully turned to face me. “I just thought the topic was controversial and a little fun,” she said with a shrug. “Don’t worry, I won’t let any of you get in trouble. I’ll take the blame if it comes to that.”

I held her gaze for a moment, then let out a quiet scoff. “Stop talking nonsense.”

She smiled at me; not the usual bright one, but enough to lighten the moment, before shifting her focus back to the jotter.

“So,” she said, “why do you think phones should be allowed in school?”

I didn’t answer right away. My eyes lingered on my phone, lying silently on the table. “Gives students instant access to educational tools like dictionaries, calculators, and e-books?”

I watched Kim as she nodded, jotting my points down. A small smile tugged on my face, as her action gave me some boost to continue.

“Having a phone allows students to quickly contact their parents or guardians in case of emergencies.”

“We are definitely using this,” she chirped.

“Am I the only one coming up with points?” I teased.

Kim stared at me accusingly. “You are not being nice, Romeo. Iʼm going to rearrange your point to make it worthy of being presented in a debate competition. See it as a diamond in a rough coal.”

Was she for real? I couldn’t quite figure her out, as a chuckle slipped from my lips.

“Did you just laugh?” she turned sharply, eyes wide.

“You did; I’m not deaf!” she added, pointing at me like she’d caught me red-handed. I let another laugh escape, more subtle this time.

“I guess you’re funnier than you think,” I said coolly, though deep down, I couldn’t understand how someone could be this effortlessly cute.

Buzz buzz.

My attention drifted from her as I turned to glance at my phone. An unknown number flashed on the screen. Slowly, I picked it up and pressed it against my left ear after answering.

“Hello?”

“Hello, am I speaking to Romeo, Grace’s guardian?”

The moment my sister’s name left the caller’s mouth, unease settled in my chest. I didn’t need a second guess; it had to be the hospital.

“Yes,” I replied quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

“We’ve been trying to reach your father, but his phone has been switched off. Your number was next on Grace’s guardian form, so we decided to contact you.”

Her explanation did little to ease the rising anxiety within me. Kim must’ve noticed the shift in my expression, because she leaned in slightly, eyes filled with concern.

“Is my sister okay?” I asked, trying to mask the tension in my voice.

“She’s doing fine,” came the bright, reassuring voice on the other end; just as I let out the breath I hadn’t realised I’d been holding. “I’m pleased to inform you that Grace was selected as one of the lucky patients chosen for the Better Health Foundation.”

“Better Health?” I asked, gradually gaining my voice back. “Whatʼs that?”

“It’s a new foundation launched within the hospital to support patients battling life-threatening conditions,” she explained.

I blinked, my mind racing. “What exactly does that mean?” I asked, briefly glancing at Kim, who was now watching me closely.

“It means the hospital will fully cover the expenses needed to improve Grace’s condition,” she said gently.

“I don’t understand . . . ”

“You won’t have to worry about the hospital bills anymore; they’re being handled by the foundation,” she clarified, her tone calm and reassuring. “Full treatment and surgery will begin once your father comes in to sign the necessary documents.”

“You . . . you’re not joking with me, right?”

There was a brief silence, like she wanted the moment to settle.

“I’m certainly not lying to you,” she said warmly. “Congratulations, Mr. Romeo.”

I didn’t know what to feel. Shock at the sudden news? Confusion over why this kind of luck had chosen now to show up? Or pure gratitude that, at last, something was going right?

“My father can’t make it . . . he travelled to a different state for contract work,” I managed to say, after pulling myself together.

“That’s not a problem,” the caller replied smoothly. “Your name is also listed as a guardian, so you can come in and sign the documents as soon as possible. Once that’s done, the doctors can begin treatment. Have a wonderful day.”

The line went dead long before I managed to lower the phone back onto the table. I sat there, stunned.

Grace’s treatment ran into the millions. And now the hospital—out of nowhere—was footing the bill through some foundation? It didn’t make sense. Why would they invest that much in someone like us?

“Romeo?” A gentle pat on my shoulder pulled me back, and I turned to see Kim, her brows furrowed with concern.

“What is it?” she asked softly.

“It’s Grace’s hospital.”

The moment my sister’s name left my lips, Kim straightened instantly, her confusion replaced by full alertness. “Is she okay?”

“Even better,” I said, though Kim’s confused look didn’t budge. “The hospital just launched some kind of foundation . . . and Grace; she’s one of the lucky patients selected to be examined and treated for free.”

“Oh my God,” Kim gasped, her eyes widening as both hands flew to her mouth. “It actually worked!”

Worked. . . .

“What do you mean . . . worked?” I watched her look everywhere but at my face. “Kim.”

“I didnʼt mean anything—”

“Kim!”

She flinched, swallowing hard at the sharp edge in my voice. “We . . . Delphine and I . . . we spoke to Krystian and asked him to talk to Senior Damian so he could bring it up with his mum . . . about your sister.”

My chair screeched against the tiled floor as I shoved it back, fury burning through me.

“But it was for a good cause!” she rushed, as if that would somehow calm the storm rising in me.

“Romeo!” she called, but I was already walking away; right as the librarian hushed her sharply for being too loud.

I didn’t know what game they were playing. Was this all some twisted test? A sick little experiment to see how far they could push me before I finally snapped and earned myself an expulsion?

All I could see was red. And all I could think about was how hard I was going to plant my fist in that smug bastard’s face.

I stormed into the classroom, heading straight for Krystian’s seat. Without a word, I yanked him up by the collar and drove my fist hard into his face.

Gasps burst from every corner of the classroom as Krystian crashed to the floor. First came shock on his face, then confusion, then fury.

“What is wrong with you?!”

“I should be the one asking you that!” I barked, pointing a finger at him.

Kim burst into the room seconds later but froze mid-step. She didn’t dare come between us. Instead, she rushed to Delphine’s side like it was the safest place in the room.

“Romeo—”

“Don’t say my name!” I snapped, spinning toward Delphine as she took a hesitant step forward.

Krystian rose slowly, wiping at his uniform. His lower lip was bleeding. It was just a little cut and I didn’t care. That was the least of what he deserved.

His glare locked on mine, eyes blazing. “I’ve had it with you, Romeo!”

“And you think I haven’t?!” I snapped, closing the distance between us and grabbing Krystian’s collar with a clenched fist.

He chuckled; low, careless, infuriating, and that laugh poured fuel on my rage. I drew my fist back, ready to strike again, but before I could land it, he shoved my hands off and slammed his palm into my chest, forcing me to stumble back and hit the ground hard.

“Krystian!”

“Move,” he growled, glaring at Delphine as she stepped into his path. “He wants a fight, doesn’t he?”

“I do!” I shouted, scrambling to my feet and getting back in his face. “Why don’t any of you get it?! Why can’t you all just leave me the hell alone?!”

“Romeo—”

“I told you to stop saying my name!” I turned my glare on Delphine, voice shaking with fury. “You all probably enjoy seeing me like this, right? Some broken charity case for you to fix?”

“Romeo, I’m sorry, but—” Kim’s voice wavered, the rest of her words swallowed by the lump in her throat as she looked down.

I scoffed, then turned to Krystian, eyes burning. “Do you like me feeling indebted to you? Or is it just easier for all of you to look at me like I’m some pathetic project?”

My gaze shifted to Delphine. She was shaking her head slowly, inching closer, but I stepped back.

“Whatever scam that foundation is, tell them to stay the hell away from my sister.”

And with that, I shoved past Krystian and stormed toward the classroom door, not bothering to look back.

“Romeo, wait!”

I shut my eyes and picked up my pace, Kim’s voice trailing behind me like an echo I didn’t ask for.

“Romeo!”

I made a move for the sports complex, heading straight for the football field with only one thought pulsing through me: run.

“Romeo, let me explain!”

She wasn’t giving up. I heard her feet behind me, chasing my shadow as I stepped onto the grass. I wanted to scream at her; to tell her to vanish, to disappear. But honestly, she didn’t even deserve the weight of my anger.

So I ran.

Each step hitting the earth like a hammer, I ran, hoping the wind would whip the thoughts from my head. The image of them sitting together, plotting charity behind my back like I was some broken toy they could fix, burned hotter than the sun above me. That call . . . it had been too good to be true. Nothing like that ever happened to people like me in real life.

“Romeo, I’m sorry!” Kim’s voice came again, breathless this time. She was still chasing me. “Romeo!”

“Leave me alone!” I roared, the words ripped straight from my chest. My legs didn’t stop. If anything, the rage made me faster.

She was one of them; just like the rest. Another person who saw me as a pitiful, hopeless case.

“Romeo . . . I can’t run. . . .” She gasped behind me, but I didn’t slow down. “Just . . . please. . . listen to me.”

“I told you to leave me the hell alone—!”

“Ack!”

The sound hit me like a stone. I froze mid-stride, heart hammering in my ears. Slowly, I turned around. Kim was on the ground, her face twisted in pain, hands clutching her ankle. The anger drained from me in a breath.

I sprinted back and dropped to my knees beside her. Her fingers wrapped tightly around her ankle; it didn’t look swollen or red. That was a good sign.

But still . . .

“I told you to leave me alone,” I muttered, though it came out softer than I intended.

“I—” she started, but the words never finished. Before she could say anything more, I scooped her up gently, carrying her over to the bleachers. I set her down carefully on one of the benches, not meeting her eyes.

“Iʼll go get some ice,”

“Iʼm fine. . . .”

“You need ice before it swells,” I said, turning to leave. But before I could take a full step, Kim’s fingers wrapped around my forearm. Her grip was light; barely there. But somehow, it rooted me to the spot. I stopped. And without meaning to, I turned back to face her.

“Iʼm not hurting much; I only exaggerated so you could . . .” She looked down at the floor. “Stop running.”

“What are you playing at?” I snapped, my glare sharp. “Aren’t you tired of making a fool out of me?”

“Romeo—”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“Romeo!”

I turned to her, jaw tight, but her eyes were pleading. Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth as she gently tugged me down to sit beside her.

“I’m really sorry,” she whispered.

“Sorry for what?” I scoffed, locking eyes with her. She tried to hold my gaze, but the fire in mine made her look away, eyes falling to her lap.

“Sorry for what you did?” I pressed. “Or sorry you just got caught?”

She didn’t answer right away. Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her skirt, twisting and untwisting the fabric. Then, softly but clearly, she responded. “I’m not sorry for what we did.”

“What?”

“I’m not sorry,” Kim said at last, her eyes meeting mine with quiet determination. “The only wrong we did was going behind your back, but it wasn’t out of malice. We genuinely just wanted to help.”

“Did I ask for your help?” I shot back, my voice sharp and cold.

“Romeo . . . ” she breathed, her voice cracking slightly. “I get it. You don’t want to let anyone in because the one person you did trust . . . let you down. Now you think it’ll happen all over again, so you push everyone away before they get the chance.”

“What do you know?” I muttered, frustrated with how weak my voice had suddenly become.

“I know more than you think,” she said softly.

I looked at her, but her eyes were on her lap now.

“I was devastated when my parents divorced,” she began. “But honestly? I wasn’t too sad about leaving the country with my mum and sister. I didn’t have much to stay for. I was the girl who never really fit in, always the easy target. I got bullied a lot for being . . . different.”

“Stop talking, Kim.”

“When I came to Nigeria,” Kim continued, her voice softer now, “I thought it’d be a fresh start. A new country, new people . . . maybe even real friends. I figured people here would be more open; better at connecting.”

She paused, then slowly turned to me. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “But then I got to Greenville High . . . and realised I was wrong.”

She gave a short laugh, hollow and bitter. “People avoided me like I was contagious. Some said I brought COVID with me, like I’d infect them just by existing. No one wanted to sit next to me. No one talked to me.”

Her voice cracked slightly. “You weren’t exactly any better either. You’d come around acting like a pain and calling me Juliet like it was some big joke. Somehow, I just learned to live with it . . . most of the time.”

I opened my mouth, ready to say something; anything, but the words never came. Instead, I sat in silence, letting hers fill the space between us.

“My life wasn’t getting any easier with all the insults thrown my way at school,” Kim said, her voice shaky. “But do you know why I managed to endure it?”

Her tear-filled eyes met mine again, fragile but honest. “Because none of you ever laid a hand on me.”

“Kim, stop . . .”

“But Danielle was different,” she continued, brushing a tear from her cheek before it could fall completely. “When she first started talking to me, I kept pushing her away. I thought she only reached out because she felt sorry for me. And just like you, I didn’t want pity.”

Her lips trembled into a broken smile as more tears escaped. “But even when I pushed her away, she stayed. She stood up for me. Told others off when they mocked me. Defended me like a real friend would.”

Kim sniffled, lowering her head as the tears kept coming, no longer trying to hide them. “That’s when I realised . . . even if she did feel sorry for me, it didn’t come from a place of superiority. It came from love. She wanted to be my friend because she cared.”

Her voice cracked again, softer now. “So please . . . don’t be mad at Delphine and Krystian. Maybe the way they went about it wasn’t perfect, but they weren’t trying to make you feel pitiful. They just . . . genuinely care about you.”

I sat there, silently watching her. Her head was lowered; her hand was constantly wiping at her face, but the tears kept falling like they didn’t need her permission. Without thinking, I reached out and cupped her face gently, lifting it until her eyes met mine.

“I told you to stop talking, didn’t I?” I whispered, my thumbs brushing away the tears clinging to her cheeks. “Why are you crying?”

She shook her head, eyes darting away again. “I . . . I don’t know,” she murmured, her voice barely there.

I placed my hand under her chin and tilted her face up once more. The tears were still there, but the flow had stopped. Her eyes, though tired, met mine; open and vulnerable. I searched them, quietly. Looking for something I wasnʼt sure of.

And maybe it was the way she looked at me. Or the ache of everything we weren’t saying out loud. Or maybe . . . maybe it was just an impulse.

But before I could second-guess it, before I could talk myself out of it . . . I leaned in and kissed her.

˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗

Hey beautiful people, happy new month!

So here's a new month present for all you pretty souls.

Hope you enjoyed it.

What do you think about this chapter?

Update me on who your favourite character is and why.

The next update would probably be this weekend.

Love y'all ❤️