Immediately he walks into the classroom, he stops. He was expecting it to be empty due to the fact, break wasn't over yet.

But the sight he met, makes him turn to his seat direction immediately, but it's too late, because she had looked his way, that moment, and their eyes locked. He didn't miss the fact, she hair loosed her hair, the hair he always found himself staring at.

He didn't miss the anger in her eyes, her face dull, she wasn't smiling at all. There was now time, there was any excitement on her face, or her face been bright, whenever they looked each other's way. But today was very different. He read meaning to it, fully aware, she hadn't forgotten what he did.

It was just part of him, something he found himself doing, if he wasn't in the mood, don't bother him, because he would never respond to whatever you say. His previous classmates wouldn't have read any meaning to this, because it was an old news, they were used to him already.

But the student here weren't. And unfortunately she turned out to be the first person who he pulled that stunt on.

Besides she didn't seem like she had anything reasonable to say. Tapping him twice and just calling his name, he wouldn't deny the fact her face, triggered his actions, immediately he saw she was the one, he placed his head on the desk.

He noticed she didn't utter another word, the next thing he heard was Ekanem's laughter, then some footsteps.

________________________🖊️

With the pains she was feeling in her stomach, coupled with the anger In her, seeing his face only made it worse, more like she was hearing the echoes of Ekanem's laughter.

If he had snubbed her, when they where alone, it wouldn't have made her feel bad, but in front of people, not just people Ekanem.

And the fact Ekanem graced the act with her non-stop laughter made it worse. She always acted tough. But this things got to her.

She hated been body shamed, now this. Not like she came for anything, she was sent by Mr John, thinking of the manner in which he looked at her, and placed his head on the desk, the anger she felt.

Fully aware if she spent another minute there, she would bash his head against something, it made her walk away, out of the class.

She had skipped the last lesson, she only came back, when the bell was rung for break. With the unending cramps, she had to stay back, but not after been pestered by Jewel, and also talking about getting her lunch. Although, she wasn't going to be able to eat anything.

Seeing his face again, she felt insulted. No one had ever done such to her, it felt very insulting. And the fact he looked calm, innocent and harmless, more like he didn't know what he was doing, but she knew, he did.

What did I ever do to him?

He is the one, who always glared at me, or look at me with venom, like we have ever crossed paths before.

She didnt read meaning to this at first, but now she had to. The manner he snubbed her, meant he had ill-feeling towards her.

The only thing she could remember doing was yelling at him when they bumped heads and eyeing him.

Could it be, he still had that in mind?

If he did, to her, he was heartless and mean.

Trying to rest her head on the desk, since they where currently the only ones in the class, only to get distracted by a loud noise, making her look towards the door on impulse.

She takes her head down immediately, everything was just irritating, she hated this period, because she always had mood swing, and even the slightest thing could provoke her. She wasn't good with handling anger too.

Xavier's loud laughter fills the classroom, more like that was itching her.

Why must he be so loud?

She hisses, feeling uncomfortable she tries to adjust. But feels a hand on her back, then her neck. It felt warm and soft, been fully aware it was Nengi, she doesn't take her head up, she lets the contact with her neck continue, it was warm and she liked the feeling.

"Are you sick?" She recognised the voice immediately, on impulse, she raises her head. Her eyes coming in contact with his tight trousers, she takes her eyes straight to his face, it settled on his perfectly combed afro, before making eye contact.

"Why did you touch me?" That was the first thing, she could think of, and rolled out of her mouth without hesitation.

She didnt miss the sight of his left jaw, twitching and turning into a smile.

Oh God!

Jason had suddenly become a pest, and she was trying hard to figure out his motive. They were never friends, he was always body-shaming her, that was the only thing, she could remember him doing.

All of a sudden he starts trying to talk to her, she wasn't comfortable with it.
And her defence mechanism, whenever she was confused, that was what she was using.

"Act confident."

"You loosed your hair!" He says seating on the desk, directly on Jewel's desk.

Geraldine doesn't make reference to it, she knew Jewel, and also knew she hated this sight, someone sitting on her desk. But since it was her brother, she doesn't emphasize it.

"Shey, it would last forever ni!" She responds, pulling a notebook closer to her.

"You didnt come out for break!" Jason says, making her, look him, directly to his face. She wasn't comfortable with him acting all nice, and now, he was jumping from topics.

"Yes." She responds, not giving him any vital or reasonable reply.

Meanwhile, she turns to his direction again, but he was staring directly on the board. More like he was calculating, while she watched him.

Looking away, immediately he tried turning to her direction.

"You are acting odd." He says calmly, meanwhile Geraldine hesitates a little, before responding.

She lets out a small chuckle. There was no excitement in it.

"Jason, you aren't a friend, also you don't expect me to act comfortable with you of all people, "
"You of all people." She repeats. "I don't even know why you suddenly decided to start talking to..., "

"You are my sister's friend..., "

"I have been her friend since junior class." Geraldine retorts.

"Girls!" He chuckles, making Geraldine turn to him. "You always think there is a motive. Can't a boy decide to talk to a girl, without her thinking he wants to get into her panti..., "

"And who is talking about panties here?" Geraldine says keeping a disgusted face. "Boys with there dirty minds, am only talking about you having an ill feeling towards me, or planning any thing against me, since the only thing you ever do is insult me." Geraldine says her voice dropping. "Not what you are thinking. Besides, is it not when I let you see my panties, you would think of getting into it." She sassed.

Jason pauses, more like he was trying to process her last statement.

"Like, you are my type." Jason chuckles.

Meanwhile, Geraldine turns to him. A frown suddenly appearing on her face. Jason smiles at this, his face reveals satisfaction.

"Oh, but you indirectly told me the same thing, am I frowning?" He asks with a funny look on his face.

"Go to your seat." Geraldine who was suddenly feeling energetic says. More like the pains she felt had subsidised. If not she wouldn't be pulling Jason out of the desk, the way she was.

Jason who didnt seem like he was going to let her have her way anytime soon, chuckles.

"Please leave here!" Jewel's voice is heard, at the same time, she drops a package on the desk, not after giving Geraldine a weird look, down to Jason, who she was clearly referring to.

________________________ 🖊️

She had to look twice, not after blinking her eyes, because the sight she met was confusing.

Jason and Geraldine talking?

No!

Suddenly seeing Geraldine get off her seat, and walk down to him, now pushing him off her seat.

That was what she had expected. Almost bumping into someone, she moves back. She didnt miss the surprised look on his face, she could tell why he acted that way, reason being, he was expecting her to tell, but didnt.

Not like she wasn't pissed, he was the least of her problems right now. She had plans of lashing out on Nengi for ignoring her during lunch. Not like she would have cared before now. Normally she ignored his entire existence.

But seeing they had company. The fact he didnt even act like she existed annoyed her. Coupled with the fact, he and Munachi had been talking and acting like long lost friends. It was biting her, she won't deny it.

"Please leave here!" She says immediately she gets to her seat. On a normal day, she wouldn't have done the talking, but pushed him off roughly. But it was Jason. And knowing him, he was capable of giving her a hot slap in class.

"Your lunch!" She says to Geraldine. Giving her a weird but calm look. "How are you feeling now!" She says to Geraldine who was now seated on her seat.

"Better than before. Where is Nengi and Munachi?" Geraldine asks, meanwhile, Jewel takes her seat, those were names, she didnt want to give account for.

"Somewhere, anywhere!" She responds, her eyes meeting with Jason. "Why are you looking at me?" She asks, eyes landing on the sausage roll and the mischievous look on his face, she is suddenly charged.

"Jason, why can't you just mind yourself, that is Gidi not you." She says, looking from the scattered package which she had brought for Geraldine, down to his face.

Geraldine on the other hand gets up, immediately her name is called. Turning around, Jewel could see Mr John from the window.

Without thinking she places her head on the desk, although Jason made it difficult because he occupied part of her desk.

Suddenly feeling a tap on her back. She groans, raising her head slowly.

"Jason, What is..., " Shocked by the person in front of her. "You!" More like she had lost her voice. Jason was no longer in that position.

It was Nathan, who stood across her desk, one hand in his pocket, the other which he used to tap her, on the desk.

She blinks twice, this was the first time, he was actually talking to her.

Was she dreaming?

"Sorry, If I am disturbing!" He began.

She felt like, her heart was going to jump out of her chest at any moment.

Nathan was talking to her. Freaking Nathan. She couldn't describe what he felt that moment.

"Was wondering if you could lend me your physics notebook." He says in a calm tone.

"M.. My physics no.. Notebook." She stutters, feeling embarrassed.

Attempting to pick her bag pack, she meets Leo gaze, wondering when he got to the seat, because she hadn't noticed him. With how relaxed he was, it seemed like it had been a while.

She doesn't miss the strand of hair, on his jaw. She quietly brings out her notebook, before turning to Nathan, her eyes roams from his hair, which was weaved down to his face. More like his hair attracted her the more. It was one of the things, she liked about him.

His muscles fitted his shirt, it wasn't tucked in, but he had his blazers on, which was a miracle, because he barely wore it. She observed these little things, this occurs when you got to watch your crush for almost two years, from afar.

"Here!" Jewel says handing her note over to Nathan, who stretches his right hand to receive it. Letting
out a small smile, which made Jewel's heart almost skip a beat.

"Thanks!" He smiles. "Will bring it back later. I promise, " With that, he walks away. Meanwhile Jewel who was almost drooling, watches him advance away, but gets interrupted by Leo's voice.

"So, there are actually people you could be nice to? Especially the ones you spend the whole day staring at. When they finally notice you." The last statement pricked Jewel's interest, plus the fact it offended her, turning to Leo's direction, she blinks twice. It
sounded like, he was mocking her
or something.

And the fact he looked very calm, like he hadn't said anything wrong, did annoy her.

"What do you mean, by when they finally notice you?" Jewel fires, in-rage. "Was that suppose to be..., "

"Just trying to say, you should calm down, it's becoming obvious. You don't throw yourself on guys,
neither do you make it known, you like them, especially with people like Nathan. Because they won't only use you, but trash you, when they are done." Leo responds, that was when it dawned on Jewel, he always caught her staring.

"Are we friends? No! As far as I can remember, you are only a seatmate, mind your business. I don't tolerate people talking to me, without been invited to." Jewel says, meanwhile Leo looks elsewhere. "And stop staring at me, it's becoming creepy." She says
now facing the board. She knew how many times, she had caught him staring.

Him noticing her behaviour towards Nathan, proved he was always watching her, because she was always careful. If there was something she valued so much, it was a self-respect.

People called her's pride, but she cared less.

She would never make a shot towards Nathan, she couldn't bring herself to do so. Although she liked
him a lot.

There is a sudden silence between them.

_______________________ 🖊️

"Class compliment!" The class prefect says.

"Good afternoon Senior's!" Every student echo, no one was left on there seat's. They weren't that
stupid, to make that mistake with any senior, not to talk about a perfect. In this situation, it was
not just any prefect, but the Senior prefect boy.

As expected, he was there to pass a piece of information, which even though they weren't interested, fully aware it wasn't serious, they
had to pretend to be.

"Today is Friday, you know what to do. The social prefect would be here to brief you all, about tonight's event, because there is going to be one." Ashley says, immediately the students start's clapping there hands. This act seems surprising to him.

Cherish bends down to pick her pen, which had fallen off, during the process, her class mate's where
been unnecessarily dramatic.
What's with the clapping because of social night?

It wasn't something new, wasn't it the regular social night or was there a twist this time?

"Okay, settle down please." Ashley who had a small smile on his face, says trying to calm them down.
Standing erect, Cherish gets a tap from her seatmate, Oyinyechi, making her, turn to her direction.
They weren't really friends, since they where sear partners, they spoke when  necessary.

"You stepped on me," Oyin says, her face blared of emotions.

"I am so..., "

"Both of you, get out!" This voice sent chills into Cherish body. She was suddenly reminded of who was in her classroom. She didn't need tasks, she knew, it was the both of them. She takes her head up slowly, only to meet Ashley gaze.

"Why don't you both come and address the class, I am talking and you are talking!" He says looking grim. An expression he always had whenever he wanted to punish her. Most times she tried to read meaning to that mixed expression.

"Senior, she stepped on.., "

"Get out, you both can enjoy your conversations outside, while you wait for me." He says, meanwhile
Cherish swallows hard, she read meaning to his last statement, more like he was referring to her,
not Oyin.

She had successfully been avoiding him for the past few days, and he also seemed to have forgotten about her, now she had to fall into his trap again. Cussing herself and regretting why she bent down to pick the pen, she should have just left it there.

She walks out of her seat, not after getting a sympathetic look from Zara.

"Out!"

_______________________ 🖊️
"So what would you say about our school?" Nengi suddenly asks. "I mean this school!" He says looking
quite interested in the topic with
Munachi.

Meanwhile, Geraldine who also seemed engrossed in the conversation watches both of them. While Jewel who couldn't keep a smile on her face, seemed more engrossed in her food, but deep down, she was listening to there conversation, and the attention Nengi seemed to be giving Munachi, looked overrated to her.

More like he was trying to wipe off her entire existence, all topics where just centred around the
three off them, excluding her, and as usual she acted like she didn't give a damn.

"Who wouldn't be happy to be here?" Munachi scoffs.

"This is more like a door to my breakthrough, although it came during my final year!" She says
with a grin.

All the while she explained, Jewel watched her quietly. And the fact remained, she wasn't comfortable being in her company. She didn't
know why, she just didn't like her, although she seemed too friendly, with a good vibe.

Excluding the fact she hated it when Geraldine made other friends. She didn't just feel at peace around her.
Her smile, the way she talked, how nice she seemed. Everything seemed fake. Or maybe it was just
her been the usual stuck up brat.

"Honestly, I am glad you are in our
company. I love keeping smart friends." Nengi says.

Jewel could swear, she caught him look her way, but wasn't in the mood for drama. She knew he was
indirectly calling her dumb.

"Says a dumbass!" She finally uttered a word, the three of them stop eating and turn to her direction. Funny enough she starts eating, keeping a serious expression, like she hadn't said anything offending.

_______________________ 🖊️

It's a Saturday morning. Jayden hugs himself while he walks into the waiting room alongside Jason. The weather seemed chilly. And it
was affecting him.

He could see his Mum and Jewel standing a few steps away. The fact their Mum hadn't noticed them yet was evident, if not she would have called there attention.

Jayden doesn't utter a word, until he gets to where his Mum and sister stood engrossed in a conversation.

"Mummy!" It sounded weird coming from him. He would prefer Mum or Momma. But it came out
anyway.

"Mum!" Jason called out. He could see a smile, creep up her face, immediately she turned to there direction. She looked the same, nothing changed. She is putting on a jean trousers, blouse and heels. Looking smart as usual.

"Jayden, Jason!" She smiles, meanwhile Jason hugs her taking her by surprise.

"Be embarrassing yourself, Baby!" Jewel's annoying voice is heard. April who was already used to
their bickerings doesn't bother interfering.

"Jayden, how do you find it here?" April suddenly asks, giving him a calm look.

"Jealousy! Don't die one day" Jason says responding to Jewel's previous statement. Making April give him a stern look.

"Nice," Jayden responds to her statement. Making her give him a calm smile.

"Happy." She pauses. "Was scared you won't be able to cope." She smiles and pauses.

The look on her face, when she paused, showed she had something important to say, and Jayden who
always observed easily stares back at her, knowing his Mum.

"Your Grandma almost had a stroke," April say staring directly at Jayden. Fully aware he was going
to be affected the most. Reason being he was the closest to her mother-in-law.

"What happened to big Mummy?" Jewel asks before anyone, she looked genuinely concerned.

Meanwhile, Jayden and Jason doesn't utter a word.

Jayden looked very confused and scared. why you couldn't tell with Jason's facial expression.

"She is currently at home" April says with folded arms. "She is getting better, by God's grace." She
adds, the relieve on Jayden and Jewel's faces were evident.

"Thank God," Jason says.

"Ivy is also home." Now that name rang a bell. Because Jayden's eyes suddenly grew wide. While Jewel rolls her eyes.

"Blood of Jesus," Jewel mutters under her breath.

"Aunty April." The voice was recognized immediately. April on the other hand pulls Cherish into a brief hug, before releasing the smiling girl.

"How is school," April asks smiling.

"It's fine." Cherish smiles, making eye contact with Jewel, who just stood a few steps from her mother.

"I told Jewel to cal..."

"And I called her," Jewel says trying to defend herself. "Didnt 1?" She says looking at Cherish, who just released an awkward smile.

"Sorry." Cherish responds.

"Senior girl. In her senior uniform." April teases Cherish, who just smiles shyly. " Follow me to the car," April says.

3530 words🌹