Ummmmmm....... Surprise?🌝♥️

~DABI~

Pathetic, Pathetic Dabeluchi couldn't even keep her eyes off him.

No, seriously.

No matter how much I tried, no matter how much I tried to ignore his presence, I couldn't help, but find myself, glancing back at Marcus Acha from time to time.

I just couldn't help myself.

And damn it, how could a human being look so good?

"Alright, for the new students that just joined in, please do well to arrange yourselves into groups, mingle with your peers and...."

Ms. Antonia's voice had trailed off in a distance, and in my head. Fuck whatever she was saying; it was all background noise.

The Ballers were all in one group, and they were so excited to draw in Marcus and Sean into it, exchanging pleasantries and sharing guy handshakes and hugs with each other, and already buzzing with their own noise amongst themselves as they welcomed both boys into their male-dominated territory.

And why was I still watching?

Marcus hadn't even glanced at me. Not even worse. He didn't even bat an eyelid, guys.

Honestly, it really seemed like he hadn't even realized that I was in the same class with him. It was like I was completely invisible. 

The mini-god was just there, with his peers, a cute smirk on his face - the signature one of his' that absolutely melted me to butter - as he listened to one of the guys who was talking to their group. He laughed softly, his usual cute laugh that always made me laugh a little too. The one that was contagious in the sweetest ways. 

His friend, Sean started saying something to the group, taking over from the first guy, a wide grin on his face and an explosion of laughter that transmitted to the entire group, coming out of him afterward as he slapped the table. The other one who was usually with them, JJ, seemed no where to be found. Last I had seen him was in the midst of Kaniru and his boys, and the guys in question had even long disappeared from the class.

However, my eyes involuntarily discarded Sean and moved to Marcus who was casually now adding into the conversation, smoothly rubbing the top of his lips, and speaking to the whole group of guys who were giving him all ears.

God knows what they were all going on all about as Ms. Antonia was trying to arrange the class into order for the Practical. Whatever it was, Marcus looked divine. And as he talked with that attractive vibrancy that I had registered his entire demeanour with, I just wanted to be out of this class, and be with him already.

Oh, and as usual, our boy was rocking a hoodie.

As usual.

One that even seemed very new, and from some expensive male clothing line brand of some sort. Unlike most of the hoodies I had seen him wear, this one wasn't as loose on his body, and the long white sleeves went a long way to compliment the fine, forming, very impressive muscles of his arm...

I actually laughed a little when I recalled last time we were together, and how he kept talking about how he had lost all his hoodies to his Mum. Lol, he didn't seem to be slacking on hoodies like he made it seem.

He looked really nice though. Like money literally threw up on him, lol.

And also very clean; Very white. What a colour to pick on a School lesson day that we were having Biology Practicals, with all the dirty specimens and shit. He seemed too confident that no one and nothing could stain him, for real. He had to be that confident to show up here so white; Matching white hoodie and shorts, sparkling white shoes, and a sparkling white face cap.

I also noticed how he casually, but obviously kept using gestures as he talked, in a way that flashed his gold wrist watch in a subtle, but not so subtle manner. Some of the girls on my table were whispering to each other, and I heard one of them say something about his wristwatch being really expensive, and another, talking about how 'rich' Marcus Acha was.

It wasn't a lie. Through what I had seen, the boy had cash. A LOT of it. Maybe even too much for his age, really. He threw money away like a bastard. However, that watch....

I hadn't recognized that wristwatch.

I knew it wasn't the same one he had on the last time we were together. That one wasn't gold for one, it was black. And it looked more modest and decent. Unlike this one that looked more bogus and ridiculously costly....

You're not supposed to be staring, Dabeluchi.

This isn't what you both agreed on.

Marcus had easily camouflaged into his group, and was flowing so well with them. Like he virtually did with everyone, really. He had that quality, and the truth was that since he got here, he also seemed to get all the attention - both from boys and girls.

And he hadn't even noticed me.

Not even for a second.

So, I looked away.... A part of me felt disappointed. 

Very disappointed.

However, that exact moment, in my state of sadness and insecurity, my phone vibrated in my hands, jolting with me slightly.

I didn't have to slide open my phone to check, I saw the message as soon as my phone blinked with it, and as well as the sender's ID, and a warm, fuzzy feeling enveloped my insides immediately.

It was from Clyde.

A smile appeared on my lips the moment I read what he had sent;

I see you, Aurora.

Involuntarily, my head went up to Marcus, and I was just in time to catch him casually, but not so casually stuffing his phone into the back pocket of his shorts, pinching the top of his nose there after as he, very low-key, looked to his sides, in an attempt to hide any further suspicion from the Ballers all around him.

I fondled my phone, a part of me feeling somewhat relieved and assured, and I would have laughed out loud, but I had to keep my self control in check.

I couldn't be the one blowing away the cover for both of us.

And wow, so Marcus was acting all along. So, he did see me. Even if I wasn't sure when or how he did, it was clear enough that he did, and just acted the opposite.

So, as much as possible, I put my own acting mask on, and tried to pretend like he wasn't there as well. All the way, there was a warm and ticking sensation inside my chest, one that spread out through out my whole body and threatened to make me start blushing right on this table.

"I see, you all are too busy trying to pair up with your pals and you aren't dividing your groups into equal numbers," Ms. Antonia teased the class, as she looked around at the groups we had all formed. "I will have to do a little reshuffling myself to create more balanced groups."

A rock formed in my throat.

What did this just woman say? She intends to reshuffle the groups? She wants to scatter us all? After Chika had made it so that we all - The Sisters- stayed together in one group?

The whole class was in jeopardy.

"No, naw, ma. But we like our groups!" Aaron was mock sulking out loud, speaking for the entire class.

"Yes, ma! Don't scatter us, Aaron and I want to stay with the Igbo Sisters!" Casper followed suite, sulking as well, as he and his pal, scooted in close to us, attempting to hold us all in a playfully possessive hug.

I moved away from them so I wouldn't be touched. 

"Really, Aaron and Casper," Ms. Antonia had a dainty smile on her face as she retorted back to the boys.

Something about this woman made me feel like she was a nice person. I didn't know much about her since she never took my class in Biology during the normal school days, but she had this quietness around her, like she was very easy going and chill. Nearly even shy, perhaps. And female teachers weren't like her, especially ones like Ms. Owunam who were a different story altogether. Ms. Antonia was calm with a nice melanin glow, short permed black hair, an average height, and a healthy stature.

"For that reason, alone," She was still playing with the boys. "I will make sure I disband the Igbo Sisters from you two." 

Aaron and Casper groaned in mock agony.

Me? Oh, man, I died on the spot.

Replay Ms. Antonia's word; I will make sure I disband the Igbo Sisters from you two.

She was probably joking, right? She wouldn't really scatter us - The Igbo Sisters. Right? I COULD NOT imagine being in a group with ANYONE that wasn't Chika or Soma or the twins. I'd die!

"You. You. You. You. And you!" Ms. Antonia meant business, and in no time, she was picking out students from every group and mixing them up with other groups, swapping and scattering all the friend groups, and creating newer groups.

My heart was beating erratically.

So erratically that it may have been bad to my health.

Please don't scatter us, Ms. Antonia. Please, don't scatter us.

I prayed that prayer with all the energy I could muster up within me.

And after shuffling and reshuffling, Ms. Antonia seemed to smile in something near satisfaction at the new arrangement of the groups.

I was still with the Igbo Sisters.

Thank God.

Thank God.

Thank G-

"I'm not exactly satisfied yet," She hummed, scanned through the entire class, and bat out of hell scared, I hid behind Chika for cover.

Ms. Antonia's eyes finally landed on our group and my heart stooped.

"Aaron Godson!" She called him, and the boy groaned hard. "Oya, quick. Join them!" She tossed the boy into a group that was majorly dominated by some students from Class B, and a few girls from Class A, who were more than delighted to have Aaron joining them.

People like Ziba were already pulling Aaron to herself and naming him her personal partner.

I swallowed hard as the teacher's look refused to leave our group.

"You!" She pointed.

I froze.

I wasn't sure if it was me or the girl on red braids right in front of me, or someone else behind me?

"Me?" The girl in my front touched her chest.

"No," Ms. Antonia tried to gesture for her to move aside as she squinted, "Behind you."

I hid more behind Chika, getting more and more scared, and hoping and praying it was someone behind me that she was talking about.

"Why is she hiding?" The woman narrowed her eyes, confused, in an attempt to look behind Chika who was trying to now get me to just steady myself and act natural, and there were little giggles here and there. "The girl with the dreads. Wearing the bogus green tee shirt."

"Dabeluchi." I heard my name. I wasn't sure if it was in my head or in real life.

"Come forward, you." She said, and I was more than certain she was talking to me.

"It's okay, Dabz," Chika whispered to me. "We're still in the same class, nothing will happen to you, I promise."

I gulped. Several times.

"Is she okay?" Ms. Antonia looked genuinely worried as she watched me.

There were now whispers all around the class, and although I couldn't hear what anyone was saying, the embarrassment that washed over me as I was well aware that Marcus was witnessing this happening, hit like a truck.

"Come." She had motioned softly, and I quietly stepped forward.

The moment I stepped forward into view, it felt like cold water was splashed all over me. It was like I was given a spot light, and the entire class was watching me, scrutinizing me from head to toe, noticing how my legs were twisting as I tried to steady them and walk properly even in my state of turbulence, noticing how skinny my body looked in the huge green shirt I wore, and seeing how skinny my legs looked in those black shorts I wore, noticing how old my sandals looked too, and nearly throwing up at how ugly my hair probably looked, sticking out like that like a horror film.

"Join that group." Ms. Antonia put a bullet in my heart with her instruction.

I swallowed, certain I didn't hear her correctly.

"Ma?" I gulped again. "Which group?"

She gestured towards the table I feared she was talking about.

The table where Marcus Acha was on.

"That one?" I asked again for her to confirm. Gulped once more.

"Yes," She was patiently answering, looking at me in a manner to check if everything was alright. "Please, have a seat, let's begin the Practicals."

My legs felt heavy as I walked there, trying my very best to avoid any eye contact with Marcus Acha or any of the other boys. Meanwhile, all the way, I could see that all of them on that table seemed to be giving me an incredible amount of spotlight that I didn't want.

"Here's a spare seat." One of the boys- I didn't look to find out who- showed me a spare seat by him, as soon as I got to the table that was the Baller's territory.

The same table that Marcus was on.

Strong men cologne slapped me as I mixed myself into the group, and I had not even looked up from the ground yet, because I was nervous of making eye contact with Marcus, and I was also equally terrified to have anyone dare notice the slightest thing between me and him, so as I kept my eyes down, trying to mind my business and get to the seat that I was shown, one of the other guys had further helped me move it towards me in a gentle, kind gesture.

I didn't understand why these boys were being....

Nice to me?

First, it was the day that Aaron and Casper had publicly defended me against Winnie and her clique, and got the entire group of Ballers to join in the defence, and now, it was some other guys amongst them, nicely helping me out with seats.

They genuinely didn't seem so terrible as people, but having that these were the same boys who openly and warm heartedly embraced and hung out with mean girls like Winnie and the others, I didn't even know how to feel about their gestures now.

"Okay, now that we have all settled into our groups..." Ms. Antonia was talking as I was adjusting myself uncomfortably in my 'new group', avoiding looking up to the faces of the other boys on the table, and silently praying the Lord my soul to keep. 

Marcus was sitting right opposite me. I mean, he was literally facing me, and through the corner of my eyes. I could see just how hard the boy was actively avoiding looking my direction, just the same way I was doing too. I kept my eyes hard on the table, the only thing staring back at me was that dead, stiff-looking bird on a plate. The damn specimen.

".....So, each group will pick out two participants from your group to represent the entire group, and do well to call them forward..." Ms. Antonia was going on and on, and chit chats, laughter, and talk was springing up on the table, amongst the boys, fuelling my anxiety more and more by the second.

I swallowed, rubbed the back of my neck in awkwardness and even more nervousness when I noticed that through the corner of my eyes, that Marcus seemed to be occasionally glancing my direction. And for just one second, I had looked up, glanced up, literally just for one second, and the moment I had captured those big brown eyes that were on me that exact moment, my heart stopped, restarted, and skipped a beat.

And did that multiple times in just one second.

I looked away immediately, forced my stare back on the table, staring so hard onto it.

Why was he looking?!

And why did I look back?!

If we both wanted to pull off this not knowing each other thing, we HAD to be more careful!

I could NOT afford the set finding out that we were still so close, I couldn't!

Fortunately, no one on the table noticed.

Or at least that's what I thought for a few seconds.

In as much as the eye contact that went on between me and Marcus was literally a second, and could have been easily unnoticed, one guy on the table had caught us at the nick of time.

Sean Ayomide.

He sat right next to Marcus, and figures, he was the one talking the moment when Marcus had gotten distracted and looked to me.

And even after I had looked way and eye contact was gone, Sean's stare remained on me, boring more and more holes into my skin each time I tried the hardest to ignore it.

Disturbed and utterly creeped out by him, my head involuntarily went up, a somewhat embarrassed and awkward laugh left me as my eyes locked itself in the plainest, most impassive set of eyes that belonged to Marcus' best friend.

Sean Ayomide looked at me stoically.

I looked back at him.

He looked at me.

I looked at him.

He looked at me.

I looked at him.

... And then, like I was breeze, he blinked, totally and completely unbothered, and looked away.

Completely, utterly, and very painfully disregarding me.

 "So, we are all nominating Acha to go for our group, abi guys?" One of the boys on the table had declared and there was a resounding chorus of agreement as the other guys nodded to the idea.

"Why me, though?" Marcus didn't sound like he was fighting it though, and even if I wasn't looking at his face, I could imagine that there was that playful smirk on his face as he looked at his guys.

"Man like Acha!" Sean decided to butter his ego, slapped Marcus on the back and I imagined a large grin on his face. "Even if you say nonsense, Antonia will still be shining teeth with you!" 

"Abi, no be Man like Acha again! After you na you oo!" The other guys were quick to come in, jumping at the opportunity to butter his ego and shower their praises to him.

I didn't look, but all the way, I imagined that smirk dancing on his face, with a little hint of pride glinting with it this time around as I just heard him laugh a little, probably shake his head afterwards at the guys around him who were putting him on a pedestal.

The guys really liked him...

Girls liked him too..

Clearly, Marcus Acha was easily one of the most liked human beings in the set if I was being honest. You know those kind of people who were easily praised for every single thing they did, no matter how irrelevant it may seem; Their good looks, their skills, their well,  escapades as well, and virtually, just for existing. Marcus was one of those people.

I mean, it must feel nice. Not being despised by so many people for the most baseless reasons.

He must be living his best life..

Sadly, right now, he was living it without me. With his guys. And as he stood up, compromising with the boys who were all about him, laughing with them and everything, and not even acting like I was there, I won't lie...

It hurt.

I know we had already planned to do this; to ignore each other in School, but seeing him act in public like I didn't matter to him just made me feel a bit bad.

A lot bad.

"Okay, so which girl is going for us?" Sean had posed the question to the table, and I decided he would have been a bastard if he chose me.

However, instantly, a soft, cordial prim feminine voice was heard at the end of the table.

One that caused heads to turn her direction.

"I volunteer myself to be a participant for the group." She stood tall and upright, a regal air all around her as she made her declaration, and without even much further ado, took action; grabbed the neat Biology text book and gently held in an arm, as she made her way out of the table.

The boys on our table were a whispering, gossiping mess.

I had no idea that boys could gossip, so this shocked me.

It was clear that this girl was eye candy to the boys.

And Kelechi Uwa, as she was called, acted as lowly and proper as ever, paying no heed to the boys on our table who were practically drooling, no, dying over her.

"Omoh, she fine die!"

"Guy, she too fine! Babe looks unreal, I swear!"

"I swear, but this babe is the Ms. Unattainable of our set oo; she no go look anybody two times, we dey dream sha oo!"

"Oya, Man Like Acha, make your move na! Go and present us with Kelechi na!"

I swallowed.

Twice.

Three times.

And couldn't help, but look to Marcus and see what he was going to do. All the way, my heart was beating so fast, so hard. It was like it a sharp electric current was passing round my body, zapping me over and over, and throwing short seconds of continuous shock my heart, ever so painfully as one hell of anxiety gripped me harder and harder, as I anticipated what Marcus would do.

If he would play along with these boys...

To my expense.

Kelechi didn't even look like she was noticing all the fuss all around her and how all the boys on the table were talking about her like she was an angel from  Heaven.

I couldn't help, but wonder if Marcus thought she was was pretty too.

The thought of it made me feel very uncomfortable. Strangely and oddly..

Angry?

If Kelechi was ugly, maybe I would have felt better.

But no..

The girl had to be perfection in human form. She was pretty; Too pretty. Disturbingly pretty. Painfully pretty. She was just so pretty that it actually started to hurt to look at her, I felt so angry. So, so damn angry. And I didn't even understand why.

How can a girl have such perfect features, it was just ridiculous and unreal. Dark skin, very dark and very clear, spotless and flawless; She was literally dripping in melanin. And large afro hair - natural hair that unlike mine had actually grown so full and long- proudly showing itself like the glorious mane of a lion. And with that upright and confident position and tender, co-ordinated walking step, vintage red flowing dress, and an air of regality around her, Kelechi looked like an African Queen.

Or Princess - as she so was.

She wasn't officially crowned the most beautiful girl in our set, but she was definitely in the list. However, she seemed to be the most adored. There was something about how decent and proper she was that made guys want her even more. 

Ironically...

Marcus was clearly avoiding walking on the same line with her.

I thought I wasn't seeing clearly, but after rubbing my eyes and looking once again, I saw it wasn't all in my head. Marcus was really avoiding getting close to Kelechi. He took his time, walking behind her, even though she took nearly forever to get to the front of the Lab where other participants from other groups were standing.

Was she doing it on purpose? Walking that close so he wouldn't have any other option than to come and walk by her side?

Was she doing it on purpose?

I felt she was..

And I was angry.

Very, very angry.

And to make matter worse, this oh-so-glorious Kelechi, did what I least expected.

She tripped, guys.

I mean shit; Kelechi Uwa just tripped, fell backwards, and landed right into Marcus' arms.

Brethren....

The class was a hooting, screaming, mad mess.

"MAD OOO!"

"SEE ZEE WORLD OO!"

"LOVE OO!"

I couldn't believe it.

I couldn't believe this girl right now.

I couldn't believe anything that just happened right now!

The worst part of it was that as the class was going on and on, whispering, making 'love jokes' towards Kelechi and Marcus, the girl was acting so shocked and embarrassed.

I scoffed. 

"Rubbish." I muttered bitterly. Like she didn't mean for it to happen.

Out of no where, another boy from my class, Chido Ihenna, was quickly rushing, literally racing to where Kelechi and Marcus were, and the moment he got there, grabbed a hold of Kelechi, he took her away from Marcus' arms, and walked her to the front of the class himself.

The class was even filled with bigger exclamations and exaggerated remarks.

I couldn't believe the joke I was watching right now.

All the way, I shot daggers at Kelechi, and took all the energy in my body to restrain myself from launching out of the table like a cannon ball and blowing up that melanin goddess into extinction.

Rubbish.

Just because she is so pretty, she thinks she can hit on anyone.

Rubbish.

Rubbish.

Utter Rubbish.

"Alright, class, that's enough..." Ms. Antonia called the class into order, "It's alright, students. That's enough, shall we begin today's exercise?"

It took a minute, but soon after, the class had kicked off properly with the Practicals.

One by one, each group's representatives stepped forward, and gave a brief talk about their specimens, saying something about Classification of Animals - a topic that I had been trying so hard to fully understand, and all the way, in stead of using this as a chance to get the gist of all the Kingdom and Phylum bullshit, I was busy glaring at Kelechi Uwa like a demon.

Painfully, but factual, Kelechi and Marcus looked so good together.

Both of them were gorgeous..... Like a Hollywood movie star celebrity couple.

It irritated me.

"....Okay, and in our group, we got an earthworm," A familiar voice startled me, called my attention to the group that was about to present.

Ebere Onuoha was the one talking, and with Casper Bassey by her side, she walked confidently towards the table where the Igbo Sisters and a few other classmates in their group, occupied.

Two things confused me...

One; I remembered clearly that before I was removed from that group, we did not have an earthworm as a specimen; we had a Lizard.

.....Or was I confused?

And two; Of all the brains in that group, why did they let Ebere represent them?

I mean, Ebere wasn't a dumb student, but she and her twin didn't do as well as Chika, and Chika was an average student.

Soma was the brains of the group, and she since Ss2, she had a new founding love for Biology, as she called it a whole magical kingdom of animals and plants. Clearly, it wasn't her favourite - not when there was a course like Technical drawing; in which she said showed up her artistic accuracy and creativity, Math; in which she claimed made her fall in love with numbers, Physics; which she said intrigued her about the physical balance of the earth, and Chemistry; which she said just fascinated her. But, Soma always had A's in her Biology, nonetheless.

So, why would she let Ebere step up, when she could just do it instead?

I knew Ebere was up to something......

And I was very worried.

"Earthworms, here, belong to the Animalia Kingdom," Ebere surprised me by sounding very confident and certain of what she was saying.

Ms. Antonia nodded her head.

"Yes, that's right," Casper took over, oozing even more confidence as he gestured to the entire class boldly, "And they belong to the Phylum Annelida, which comprises of annelids, which have long and segmented bodies. They have their body covered with a thin cuticle; are triploblastic, coelomate, and bilaterally symmetrical. They also exhibit-"

As Casper literally rapped on his facts, his voice trailed off in my head as I noticed something about Ebere's sudden distant, subtle, yet not so subtle glare.

She was glaring at someone.

Who..?

What was this girl up to?

Without much further ado, I traced her glare down, to the unfortunate individual at the receiving end.

Funmi.

Funmi?

It couldn't have been anyone else.

Ebere was glaring at Funmi as Casper was talking, and it seemed I was the only one noticing her near death stare because the class was still enthralled at what Casper was saying, and Funmi herself, who was in the company of her Winnie and her other stuck up friends, was actively gossiping excitedly with the other girls or occasionally smiling, impressed at how Casper was confidently addressing his points for the group.

Why was Ebere looking at Funmi like that?

Was it because of what Funmi had said about me when she and her friends walked into the Lab earlier.

....It's the way everyone is now suddenly giving her so much relevance because she managed to gather small reps. Nonsense; once a wannabe, always a wannabe. That's what I honestly think of Dabi."

So..

Ebere....

Was still angry at Funmi?

Because of that?

I thought we all had decided to just move past it.

And now, for the more threatening question..

What was Ebere about to do now?

The twin cleared her throat, and indicated for Casper to let her take the microphone again, and the boy had adhered, respectfully let her take the wheel.

"Thank you," She blessed him with a gentle nod before facing the entire class again, "There are various examples  in the Annelida Phylum, and some of these are earthworms, Lugworms, various kinds of worms, and even leeches. Oh, and we can't forget to mention another very nasty creature in this phylum; This one is called Tofunmi Balewa."

"Blood of Jesus!" A random stray voice of a classmate shouted.

Seconds. Seconds was all it took and the class was a laughing mess; people were slamming their hands on the table, falling off their seats, and rolling on the floor at the shade that Ebere just randomly threw at Funmi, out of the blue.

Even Casper looked taken aback.

And from the similar faces I saw on Chika and Soma's faces, It became clear to me that they did not see this coming.

Ebube had the same expression on her face that Ebere wore; Majorly void of emotions, but that sleek, sly smile tugging at the base of their lips.

The entire class was so consumed with laughter, and Winnie's group looked so embarrassed, like the ground should open and swallow them up that instant. Funmi, in particular, looked like she had just seen a ghost.

"Ebere Onuoha, what's that supposed to mean? What's all these in my class?" For the first time ever, Ms. Antonia actually looked visibly annoyed.

Her voice was drowned in all the loud laughter in the class, the poor woman didn't even know how to shout.

I hated to admit it so, I felt just as satisfied as the twins.

Very satisfied.

And for a split moment, in the heat of our hysteric classmates that wouldn't stop laughing Funmi to scorn, I shared eye contact with Ebere Onuoha, and that was when that full smile showed itself on her pretty face. The girl winked at me, blew a kiss - one that sent forth an 'I have your back all the way, biatch!' to me.

At least, now, Funmi knows what it feels like to have everyone laughing at you.

At least, now she knew how it felt- 

"YOU KNOW WHAT? EBERE ONUOHA, I KNOW YOUR TYPE! YOU LIKE TO ACT LIKE YOU'RE SO HIGH UP THERE WHEN IN REALITY, YOU'RE NOT EVEN ALL THAT!"

The class fell silent at Funmi's comeback.

Ebere's smile instantly got wiped off her face like she saw the devil face to face.

I swear, for a split second, there was a look of horror on her face, but immediately, it was gone and masked with something that was akin to anger. Intimidating anger. Scary anger.

Meanwhile, the class was in a state of static shock.

I don't know if you just understand what just happened.....

Funmi had broken the so-infamous invisible rule of Castron High. As the hierarchy had it, a girl in the rank of Tofunmi Balewa should never, and I mean, NEVER talk back to a girl as highly placed as Ebere Onuoha.

The class simply could not believe the audacity.

And a part of me felt at fault...

Low-key, it was all because of me Ebere was doing this. And it was all because of me, me, me  that it started to seem like Ebere was losing her fear in Funmi's eyes.

Ebere looked at Funmi. Hard. Stared at her so hard that I was shocked Funmi was not melting under her gaze.

And then...

Ebere did the creepiest thing.

She graced her face with the fakest smile ever, and her eyes glinted at Funmi.

"Oh, wow, really," Ebere spoke, stared at the lighter skinned girl who seemed to not care about the consequences of her actions. "As a matter of fact, why don't you prove it to the class that I, Ebere Onuoha isn't all the shit?" 

"Ebere Onuoha-"

"Come on, b," Ebere completely ignored Ms. Antonia, kept that inviting smile at Funmi. "Come at me. Stand up, walk over here, and repeat what you just said, one more time to my face...... Just to cross-check if I'm all that or not."

The whole class once again drowned Ms. Antonia's shouts for order, and all that was heard amongst jeering classmates were loud 'MAD OH'S' and louder 'TODAY NA TODAY'S'.

Chika sucked in her teeth in frustration and started to make her way towards Ebere.

"Babe, drop this thing and avoid the trouble, abeg," She reached out to Ebere.

"No, Chi, I won't listen to you this time." Ebere dismissed her. "I haven't snatched off a bitch's weaves in ages; trust me, I need this."

"You're one to talk about weaves!" Funmi was screaming at Ebere as her friends were holding her from jumping towards the twin, pleading with her to just keep quiet and avoid trouble with Ebere. Funmi was relentless, however. She screamed on to Ebere, "You that has been carrying those braids since two weeks! You cannot even make new hair! Poor, church rat-"

Ebere looked unfazed. Completely unbothered by Funmi's words, as she retorted, "Sweetheart, I buy my own hair with my own money, so I get to dictate how to use it. But how can you even relate? You're still begging that your chewing gum boyfriend for small small chops, naw."

That one was strong enough to shut Funmi down.

"Do you know a thing or two about making your own money?" Ebere wasn't even done with her, "How can? When all you do is depend on your boyfriend for all the candy; Sad. See how you embarrass yourself with that good for nothing boyfriend of yours - what's his name again? Gadhafi or whatever. Clinging onto a boy who doesn't even care about you, especially when everyone in the set is clearly aware of the 'inside rumours' that he has been hooking up with Ziba from Class B since damn Ss2. Cling on, bitch. You're really are a leach. No wonder he treats you like the trash that you are."

That hit a spot.

Even if I had no idea what this whole thing was about, I felt Ebere had crossed the line.

She had obliterated the line.

And oh, the poor souls that had to be dragged into this mess as well. Gadhafi, Funmi's supposed boyfriend sat right by my side on the Ballers table, and he had his head down in shame and embarrassment. Ziba, the other unfortunate person mentioned, a girl from Class B looked like the ground should just open and eat her whole.

And I particularly felt bad because even if I rarely talked to Ziba - unlike the Sisters, she was one girl who was always really nice to me. One of the very few people in the set, who had been nothing but nice to me since day one, even through out the course of the rumours.

And Ebere didn't even mind attacking her just to get revenge on Funmi.

Just because of me.

Funmi looked horrified... Like a dozen arrows were shit at her.

The rest of her group was in shambles.

The entire class was shocked.

And Ms. Antonia finally found her voice.

"STOP THIS!" She screamed at the entire class. Fortunately for her, they were too shocked to even utter a word, there after.  "What is the meaning of this? How can you turn my class into a hell house?! What is all these supposed to mean!?" Ebere Onuoha and Tofunmi Balewa leave my class, this instant!"

Both girls adhered, and I was so scared that there would be a fire started if the both of them stepped outside.

However, nothing happened.

Ebere did not do anything to Funmi.

Not a single thing.

And through out the rest of the class, my attention was divided. I was part hoping and praying that a fight wouldn't break out with Ebere and Funmi, and painfully still, right in front of me, in this class, was an even bigger nightmare that I had to face.

Marcus Acha..... Presenting with Kelechi Uwa.

It was the most painful and difficult thing to watch. The two of them were clearly very much academically skilled, so they both of them clicked so well with each other; where one person missed out, the other filled in, where one person stopped, the other continued, and I wasn't sure if it was all in my head, but at intervals, when they both spoke at the same time, they would pause, laugh.... to each other.... And Marcus, as the gentleman he was, would apologise and let her take the mic instead.

The class seemed to be rooting silently for them too; giggling when they giggled together, and made side comments about how good they looked together, low-key even shipping them, and it hurt like a bitch. 

They did look good together.

I hated it.

Painfully, there was nothing I could do about it.

I couldn't act out in anger.

I couldn't tell the class to stop.

I couldn't do anything if I wanted no one to know I was still so close to Marcus Acha.

And it was torture.

This was torture.

After the class, as soon as the Sisters all took me to shield in their wings as usual, as I left the Lab, I felt Marcus Acha, just standing there, staring at me, watching behind me, as I literally just walked past him without saying a word.

It hurt so much.

It was even worse when we got outside, as it was some time around 5pm, and not only was the weather gradually dimming, but the whole path, corridors, nook, and crannies were all filled with my bubbly, vain, competitive, toxic, and divided classmates...

Doing what they usually do..

Basking and feeding themselves off this toxic Social Hierarchy, segregation, and vanity.

And right there, at a corner, was Marcus Acha right in the middle of a bunch of excited female fan-girling classmates....

And I couldn't do a thing.

I couldn't even smile or wave or say hi... Or act like he mattered to me.

And he mattered a whole lot to me. Too much to me.

This was torture.

I knew he felt the exact same way because he would not stop occasionally glancing my way the whole entire time. Occasionally.

And  the moment, we were out of this premises and done with the exhausting day of Saturday Lessons, Marcus didn't even waste a second to call me up to hang out.

I was more than elated.

And so the drill continued, I lied to the Sisters, I lied to my Mum, and about 7pm, I was running to this boy like I had been starving, and he was food.

Literally.

When we saw at the Park where he usually picked me up, I ran to him, and he ran towards me too, and it was like we had been so fucking desperate to finally be in each other's arms again.

We fell into each other in one large, wretched and miserable embrace; holding ourselves in a big hug, squeezing each other so hard and desperately like our whole lives depended on it. I may have weighed a feather, because Marcus literally lifted me up to my feel as he held me so tightly.

"My God! I missed you!" He sounded like he was in anguish, holding me so dearly like he was so scared to even dream of letting go.

"I missed you too so much, this was torture!" I cried back into his chest as the warmth from his body seeped into mine, calming me down, and the sweet scent of that cologne of his' that I was getting familiar with was a healing medicine, healing all the hurt I had to go through today, all in the name of ignoring him for our classmates.

Him, holding me felt like an assurance. It made me feel like Kelechi was not much of a threat anymore... And even if he was surrounded by a dozen female classmates, it didn't mean a thing either. 

"We weren't even together."  I had to remind myself.

Nonetheless, I missed being with him. And today was torture enough, I just wanted to stay here in his arms and get suffocated by the familiar sweet scent of his cologne.

Marcus stood tall, held my hand in his', and with that attractive smirk on his face, and genuinely excited glint in his beautiful big brown eyes, he asked me, "So, what do you have in mind for tonight, Aurora?"

I laughed, giggled as my heart flustered for him.

"Stop," I couldn't even believe how soft my voice sounded. I couldn't believe how shy I was in front of him, "Stop being so sweet. You always ask me what I want? What about what you want?"

A light smile appeared on his handsome face as a soft, cute laugh left him, and found a way - as always - to resonate sweetly through my entire body and make me feel fuzzy. 

"Well, I think I have an idea," He quipped, gently pulled me along to walk with him, wrapping his arms around my waist and tummy in a little hug as he made me walk with him. "Come, come, come, Aurora."

"Wait... Where are we going?" I asked cautiously as I followed him.

He smiled back at me, whispered something into my ears in a sweet low tone, and I laughed at how ticklish I didn't even know I was.

His words were the highlight of the entire night;

"We're going on an adventure."

Wahala for who no dey go on adventure oo.

Wahala for who no get Clyde oo.

Wahala for who no get Aurora oo.

Wahala for who no dey secretly meet up oo.

Wahala for who no dey read TMBT oo.

Wahala for who dey breathe oo.

Lmaaaaao, tell me everything you're thinking, guys! Tell me how this chapter made you feel and what you may have picked up from it!

Next Update; Friday (Tomorrow) at 7-9pm. See ya!