This chapter is dedicated to Opurum_
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Been asking for this chapter for the past three days💜

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"You all should retire for the day. We should be at the airport as early as possible." Mr John addresses them. You could tell he wasn't in a happy mood by just looking at his face.

Geraldine on the other hand, keeps a distance. She hadn't been able to look Mr John or anyone in the eye, since they left the bouquet hall. She had been feeling chills on her body, like every hair on her body, were rising up.

Currently, the only people absent were Leo and Rianat. You could also see Royal Crest Academy students jubilating around.

Geraldine swallows hard, imagining how this was supposed to be them if she hadn't blown the opportunity. Even though Mr John, didn't blame her, in his defence, everyone makes mistakes. She knew most of her classmates were already looking at her with judgy eyes, especially Ekanem who didn't bother hiding it.

"In a competition, one person is meant to win and another loose. You don't get two winners. Although we took second place. I commend you all for coming this far." Mr John says. If Geraldine said she wasn't shocked. She was lying, she didn't expect this reaction from him.

She expected him to yell and mention how disappointed he was. Deep down she knew it was all because of her foolishness.

One glance at Jayden, her anger or would she call it the feeling of being miserable doubled.

"We had the opportunity, " Ekanem suddenly says, alarming Geraldine at that moment. She won't deny the fact, she knew this moment would arise. Where Ekanem would try to point fingers, reasons not just because of the failed competition, but because she was Geraldine Johnsons. "Someone just had to blow it up. Not like it was a rush or something. Also, the best students were picked to represent the school. I can see the result." The last statement she made was laced with mockery. Also, you could tell she was angry, by her voice. Not only that also holding a grudge.

Geraldine knew Ekanem was angry, right from the moment, Mr John picked her instead. Everyone knew Ekanem was smarter. But according to Mr John, he knew all his students and there weaknesses. He picked Munachi instead of Ekanem, both had the same capacity. Picked Leo instead of Jayden, but asked Jayden to take Leo's place due to him not being fit. Then picked Geraldine randomly.

"Ekanem Edet!" Mr John calls out sternly.

"With all due respects sir...., "

"Ekanem if you have something to say to me, why don't you do it directly. Than beat around the bush. Because that's so childish." Geraldine cuts Ekanem off, without batting an eyelid.

The fact, Ekanem didn't only paused but gave her an irritating look, made Geraldine cringe from inwards. The look she had just received, was more like she was just a piece of shit or something. It was offensive, and it did get her on the edge.

"I never mentioned anyone's name," Ekanem says, very fast and steady.

"No, you didn't?" Geraldine says with a raised eyebrow. "Who blew away the opportunity or..., "

"Rianat got some questions wrong, Jayden too, Favour also. Even!"Ekanem narrow her eyes towards Munachi's direction. "Her!" She looks away. Although the last word was laced with mock and venom. "Also, you did. I don't know why you decided to pick an offence because I could have been referring to any..., guilt..., "

"We both know you were referring to me." Geraldine blurts out boldly.

"What if I was? Am I lying. You blew our one opportunity. It's on you. It's a competition against schools, not time, neither does your ego contribute to it." Ekanem says looking Geraldine straight in the eyes. Which Geraldine breaks immediately.

She attempts to respond to Ekanem, but no word seemed to be coming out.

"Or you want to jump on me and scratch my face? Certain issues can't be handled that way. Doing that doesn't stop the fact, or make everyone from thinking or saying, we lost because of your incompetence." Ekanem says slowly, muttering her words carefully.

"Ekanem, I don't want to hear anything referring to this issue till we leave this hotel. Now retire to bed." Mr John says giving Ekanem a stern look, turning to Geraldine. She couldn't explain the look he gave her, it wasn't of anger neither compassion. He doesn't walk away, without giving everyone one of them, one last glance.

Geraldine who tried hard to hide how dejected and hurt she was, stands rooted at a spot. She knew everyone was blaming her, even though they didn't utter it.

"Good night." With that, he walks away. In no time every one of them starts retiring to there lodge. Leaving Geraldine, Ekanem and Munachi all to themselves. Ekanem and Munachi having a staring contest.

"Gidi, let's go," Geraldine says, slowly, meanwhile Ekanem breaks eye contact with Munachi and turns in her direction.

"Just go. I need to breathe!" Geraldine says, trying her best to avoid her voice from breaking. Because that moment, the only thing she felt like doing, was going somewhere to cry her eyes out.

"Gidi!" Munachi calls out slowly.

"I will be fine." Geraldine says, trying to keep up with a straight face and a smile.

She slowly turns to Ekanem after Munachi reluctantly walked away.

"What are you still staring at?" Geraldine barks, immediately she turns to Ekanem, who didn't flinch a bit, more like she expected the act.

"Trying to see if you could actually look miserable at least. We deserve that, don't we? For throwing away our hard work..., "

"Ekanem, we both know this isn't about the competition. Your hatred for me, or your response to this isn't about this competition. You have always hated me, and I won't let the speech of haters like you have any effect on me. I tried my best." Geraldine says trying hard to keep a straight face. She wasn't going to give Ekanem the benefit of seeing her hurt.

"Like you believe your last statement yourself. Geraldine if no one noticed what went down there, I did. Were you competing with R.C.A or was it Jayden? Because that was what the final round seemed more like to me and..., "

"Ekanem Edet." Mr Johns voice is heard. This makes Geraldine still. "To your lodge." Geraldine stares ahead, while she Ekanem grudgingly gives her a look, before walking away.

"Geraldine Johnsons. We have a long day tomorrow, get some rest." That was the last statement, Mr John said before storming away.

Meanwhile, Geraldine uses the medium to look around, noticing some strangers trolling for things she had no idea of, which wasn't her business either.

In a bid to be alone, because her eyes were arching. She understood what it meant. But she wasn't weak and would never be. She kept assuring herself that, while she walked out of the reception area, heading to God knows where.

Ekanem isnt worth it

Ekanem isnt worth it

I won't shed any tear

Ekanem isn't worth it

She keeps repeating these words to herself, while she continues moving ahead. Finally settling at the pool area, she stares directly into the water. She could feel someone watching her. Feeling very uncomfortable, she finally turns around, only to meet his heated grace.

Those eyes

Those creepy eyes

Which always crept her.

"Stop staring at me!" She blurts out without thinking. "If you also have something to say to me too. If you don't, look away, and stop acting like a freak." Geraldine says boldly, not blinking.

Funny enough Jayden doesn't think too, neither does he utter a word or look away.

On getting no response from him, she hisses, and looks away, concentrating on the water. In a split second, she turns to him again. This time around feeling some sort of annoyance from within.

He just snubbed her again.

What kind of person was he?

Provoked, she turns to him immediately.

"Do you know, you are very stupid and also abnormal?" Geraldine asks.

"That theory seems to fit you better." He responds shocking her. His face displaying no emotion.

Firstly, she had heard him talk during the competition, that was answering questions, but this was the first time he was actually replying to her, not to exclude he had also just insulted her.

One look at him, she wonders if he was the one who actually made that statement.

"Freak." That was the only comeback she could think of. With that, she attempts to walk away but slips at the same time land on her butt.

What she felt this time was out of the word, be it embarrassment, anger or whatever. She couldn't take her eyes up. She stays on the floor for a while, funny enough he walked towards her, when he got so close, he stopped. Geraldine was expecting the usual thing. Burst into laughter. Instead, she gets no sound. After taking like forever, she slowly takes her face up. Only to meet him with a straight yet amusing look on his face.

She noticed his hand stretched forward to her but doesn't use it. She hisses while she gets up on her own, and starts cleaning her body.

"We were ought to compete against the other school, not with ourselves. That was what you were doing." Jayden says.

Making Geraldine give him a look. The fact this was the first time he was actually making a statement to her wasn't the only issue, but her butt hurting. And how she had been struggling to stop herself from shedding tears since they left the hall. Low key she felt, it was all her fault. She could handle failure, but this one which concerns everyone and the fact even though they didn't say, they all blamed her, she barely left the hall, without shedding tears. She held unto it with the talk with Ekanem and here she was facing another person, who was out to blame her.

She moves her mouth to speak but gets caught off.

"I notice little things." He says slowly, also not breaking an eye contact. This sent chills into her body.

"Yes, show off!" Geraldine says determined not to look soft but bold. "Like you weren't trying to show that you are better than me or..., "

"Come what's your problem with me?" Jayden suddenly cuts her off. Rendering her speechless. "Glaring and me, giving me stink eyes, rolling your..., "

"You are just too full of yourself, rude, and annoying fellow..., "

"You don't know me!" He caught her off.

"I know enough to tell you are all these I have mentioned. "One more thing, my dislike for you began the very first day you snubbed me, also bumped into me so hard and refused to apologise, I am sure your memory is very much intact. Learn to mind yourself, your business, stop giving me that creepy look, like I stole something from you, because I am not comfortable with it. Also don't come at me, with the I was competing with you shit, because I wasn't. " With that she walks away, leaving Jayden speechless and shocked.

She didn't get to see the look on his face, while she headed to nowhere in particular. On getting to a quiet but bright part of the hotel. She stands staring at the seats, she could see the court from afar. She hugs herself, while she finally let the tears drop.

She knew they were all right to blame her, Ekanem and Jayden were also bought right. She couldn't tell what got into her that moment. Anger and hatred was a really bad thing, it could lead to jealousy too.

She wouldn't say she hated Jayden because it was a strong word. But she didn't like him at all. His presence made her uncomfortable and very insecure. And this hard to happen during a competition? How tragic!

She hated been ignored, Jayden doing that that say did hurt her. Because she had no ill-feeling towards him beforehand, only to get that reaction. Not just that, bumping into her that way, she knew the pains she felt, and he didn't even batter an eyelid or act like he did something wrong or she existed. Not just that, always glaring and giving her stink eyes. What kind of human being was he?

She sniffs in tears, also cleaning her face immediately, she felt a third party.

"I know it must seem like I'm the enemy right now." The voice felt like something she had heard before, but she couldn't make out who he was, she turns around slowly. Only to come face to face, with the dark girl, whose lips seemed very attractive, with the gloss she had on.

Trying to recall who she was. It clicked immediately. The girl who had answered the bonus question, that made her school win.

Geraldine tries to clean her face, with the handkerchief, probably embarrassed because she had been caught in her worst state.

"I kind of saw what happened, between you and your classmates." She pauses. "I just feel the need to say this though. I was actually scared of you, because of how sure and serious you were. If nobody can see that, I can. You are a very smart person."

Geraldine didn't know why she was telling her this, she also couldn't tell what was going on in her mind by just looking at her face. But this statement did warm her heart. It actually did bring a smile to her face.

"Just because something turned out sad, doesn't mean it's the end of the world." She says slowly. Her voice calm. She looked like she really meant every word. "See teenager will always talk, the best thing you can do is ignore them, be indifferent to it." She finally stops talking, they both share an awkward silence.

"One more thing. There is only suppose to be one winner, not two, and there is always a next time." She says and chuckles. Geraldine lets out a small smile too.

The last statement cracked her up, and she was sure the statement was made on purpose.

"I am in Ss3!" Geraldine smiles.

"It's obvious. I said that on purpose. There is always a next time for your school, that's if my school lets them off the hook though."

"This has being happening. Someone would think it's jazz, " Geraldine says, feeling lightened up. "Gidi!" She finally says, remembering they hadn't introduced themselves.

"G...., "

"Grace. I know, I got the name of the girl who broke my heart, stuck in my brain, " Geraldine says trying to joke around.

"Grace." A third party calls out. Making Geraldine pause also both turning to the direction it came from.

"I have been looking for you, was asked to call you." Geraldine kept her eyes transfixed on the guy, who just stood there, his eyes specifically on Grace. She slowly looks from the boy who looked weirdly cute to her, before turning to Grace, who just looked normal. Although she could feel the tension between them.

Immediately, Grace turned to Geraldine, she let out a small smile.

"See you around."

___________________ 🖊️

He had been trying so hard to recall when he actually snubbed her, as she claimed. But could remember him bumping into her. Which he didn't think she would pick offence and also keep grudges this long.

He wondered how someone could actually stay that long, holding a grudge.

Immediately their eyes met, he noticed her attempt to leave, but thinking twice, like he had already seen her or something, she walks in boldly. He knew this was going to be a really long night because he hadn't winked a bit. Mr John was probably in bed, after instructing them to all retire, which everyone disobeyed. The fact that loss reduced some kind of joy.

On a normal scale, he wouldn't blame the girl seating just a little distance away from her, but thinking about it, deep down he knew she was aware of what she had done.

If only she had waited to think it through, or a minute for him to speak, not just jump in to prove herself, maybe they wouldn't have to be in this situation. Or maybe even if he did, maybe the next question would have made them lose since the other team got their answers right. In other words, they had no idea what would have really happened.

He slowly turns to her direction, only to meet her staring ahead. The silence between them was awkward. Since they were the only once sitting there.

"Competition is about wining and loss you know!" Jayden blurts out without thinking, he felt the need to say something. He could swear she spared him a glance.

"And I didn't snub you on purpose. I can't even remember doing that." It came and slow and steady. "Also, I don't have any grudges, neither do I blame you for the loss. If I came off as a rude and snobbish person, sorry about that."

He didn't miss the shocked look on her face when he made this statement, neither did he believe he could actually make such a statement.

There is a sudden silence, none of them utters a word to another.

"Jayd." Jayden looks ahead immediately, only to meet Leo staring back at him, looking better than earlier.

Immediately he start walking in, Geraldine gets up at the same time and walks away, leaving him speechless, wondering if he provoked her the more or what?

"I can see, you have made a new friend," Leo says now smiling. Jayden knew that was meant to be a joke, but he wasn't going to give him the benefit of smiling.

"What was that stuff you injected into your system." Jayden came out straight, not beating around the bush. He noticed his facial expression change and turn back to normal.

A small smile appearing on Leo's face.

"Leo!" Jayden calls out slowly.

"Chill, it's nothing." Leo smiles.

"Nothing, that almost turned you into a corpse?" Jayden asks without stopping to breathe.

"It's nothing," Leo says now bringing out stuffs from his hoodie.

"Jesus, we are in public!" Jayden exclaims immediately he sights the cigarette and lighter.

"No one is here. Don't be such a baby." Leo smiles.

"Leo!" Jayden calls out with a stern look and a raised eyebrow.

"Fine, sorry." Leo laughs sending the stuffs back to his pocket. "Everyone is just in a bad mood, even Ekanem just yelled at me." He says, looking very calm, also like an innocent child.

"She has been acting out. Since the competition." Jayden says.

"You guys!"

Jayden paused, now the phrase "Talking about the devil" came in handy. He watched her walk in slowly, wondering how she knew where to find them.

"I am just in a bad mood. I can't even sleep." She complains oblivious of the look they were giving her, before joining them.

"What?" She asks, looking at both boys.

"Nothing," Leo responds, while Jayden kept silent.

"Sorry for yelling at you!" She says directly to Leo.

"No, no! I deserved every bit of it." Leo says giving her the puppy eye look.

"Jesus. Leo stop it. Don't give me the look. I know you were offended." She says. "You know, even if I don't have control of my own body. I just wish there could be something I could have control..., " She pauses immediately she noticed Leo bringing out something from his pocket.

"Don't tell me you brought that here?" She says with a raised eyebrow.

3247 words🌹

So what are your thoughts on this chapter.

Awwn, we got to meet Grace from NIB. Who can guess the name of the guy who called her?

Lol, Jayden and Gidi finally talked😂

Oya oh lets rant about there talks😂 what do you have to say?

Also, do you think Geraldine was the cause of the failed competition? I need everyones view here

Leo sha😂

THE BETRAYAL SER🌹ES