There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few that we can solve by ourselves.

Lyndon B. Johnson

This chapter is dedicated to vickyraee Oluwavicky.😂😂😗 Because she's a gee and an awesome writer!😩😩🔥 My boss. Check out her book; Tints And Shadows. You'll be madly blown away!😩😩🔥🔥🔥

Okay, let's read! Hehe.

•AYO•

I had the match under control. No, for real, like some of the things in my life, I had this match under control.

Bolu and I were no enemies, but I wanted to win this game. Looking at how much she perspired, I was so sure she was ready to give up. When she started bouncing the ball, no cap, at first she did catch me off guard.

But I smiled and knew exactly what she was doing.

It wasn't really a basketball skill, but I guess nobody, at that moment, decided to care. They were engrossed in the game, wondering what was going on, wondering who the heck was going to win.

I watched her, very closely. Technically speaking, as skilled and talented as Bolu was at basketball, I was actually better. And that's not bragging. It's just facts.

She was bouncing, sweating, determination etched on her face. Moving the ball swiftly from hand to hand. To be honest, she was fast.

I kept blocking her moves, waiting for her to give up, but I didn't keep that up. The little thing, little mistake that made Bolu get away from me and score against the White House team, was that I got distracted. And somehow, I knew she'd been waiting for that opportunity.

I wasn't just disappointed that I was distracted. I was most disappointed at what — or who — distracted me. I was disappointed that I'd let them distract and cost me this win.

As much as I hated to admit it, they did know how to get to me. And as I much as I tried not to let it get to me, it still did. It still freaking did.

Honestly, they just had to wear that orange shirt. All three of them. They just had to walk into the basketball court and make their presence known — with people clearing the way for them as they made their way to the bleachers — at that particular time. They just had to.

They just had to wear the orange shirt that brought back memories I'd tried so hard, for a few years, to keep in and shut down.

It was like they knew that I remembered every single thing that happened that day. They knew I would never forget any detail. They knew. And that's why they had to wear that orange shirt.

Just to get to me. Just to get me angry— they loved getting me angry. Because I didn't give them what they wanted. Because I didn't agree to whatever they wanted. As I stood rooted on my spot, watching — in a blur — Bolu score with a slam dunk, image flashes of what had happened that day, invaded my mind.

They'd once again succeeded in reminding me of that dreaded day.

Of course, the first thing that appeared was the orange shirt. And then suddenly, me in a dark room...

Staring at the orange—

Argh!

It was too painful to remember.

I held my head in my hands as my heart beat increased its pace. My breathing became heavy. Sweat began forming in my palms, my body began shaking. I was losing control.

And nobody seemed to notice what was happening to me.

The blaring sound of the time hitting zero-point-zero seconds, brought me back to the present. I almost dropped to my knees as they went weak.  But I had myself in control once more, so I didn't fall. I exhaled and massaged my temples.

Sukky and his geng really meant me today. Again, I'll repeat, they got me. When I could see clearly again, my eyes searched around for them. They were gone.

Dang it!

They'd done what they came to do— send me a message, make me lose focus, get me angry and leave.

White House lost. And it was all because of me.

The celebration with the noise and singing felt and looked all blurry as I tried not to feel too bad about it. Because Bolu was my friend and it wasn't even her fault. She, just like me, had wanted to win. It wasn't a life or death situation, it was just the school's interhouseports competition.

So, I sobered up as best as I could, suppressed the second bout of  fury already building inside of me, making my head go all hot; and put on a smile as I joined the celebration. I also got clapped on the back by my house's coach and many of my teammates who told me I did well, and that scoring with a three-pointer was legendary. Especially at RBA.

I even went to where Bolu was and smiled at her. With the way she responded, I wasn't sure she recognized me. She looked so out of it, probably because she was really exhausted. Man, I didn't even drip so much as two drops of sweat during the game. I felt a little bit of body pains, but that was it. I still had strength to play another game.

I cheered up more when the place cleared up a little and Nina planted a full kiss on my lips. Of course, I kissed her back.

"You did great, Ay," she told me and I couldn't help but smile. Then she tucked her arm in mine.

They felt thinner. And lighter. I mean, it wasn't like Nina was fat before, or very bodied, but she wasn't thin. Wasn't this thin. And I was worried. I wondered if she'd been eating at all.

In the last couple of days, specifically on the day I'd asked Bolu if she'd noticed anything weird about Nina, I had noticed how thin she'd gotten.

I decided I was going to ask her about it after. Deep down, though, I knew she was going to tell me not to worry. And that she was fine. As always.

But I knew she wasn't fine.

Her eyes were looking even more stressed behind those gold-rimmed glasses. Like Bolu told me, Nina hadn't stopped wearing the school's sweater. She'd lost a lot of weight. The first time I did ask her about it, she had told me something about how she and her aunt trying a new diet, and how reading for WAEC and all other exams to come was affecting her. And that she would be fine.

Still, I knew she was lying.

I had to find out why she was lying. I mean, since I got to know her, she had never lied to me.  That meant, if she just started, there's gotta be a reason.

I'd mentioned before that I was going to find out. I did take a step, I'd asked her best friend. Best friends were supposed to know each other well, right?

Even though it was just that day I'd asked Bolu about Nina, she didn't seem to have noticed anything different. She didn't seem to know so much. Didn't have much of the information I needed. Although, she promised she would tell me if she saw anything. She hadn't done that yet.

And it's either she was really blind — no offence — for a bestfriend or she was going to tell me sooner or later. I decided to go with the latter, though. Maybe she'd found out something and wasn't very comfortable with telling me yet.

Nina's arm still tucked in mine, we walked away from where Bolu was — after Nina had made sure Boku was okay without her — to the place some of the other athletes were. It was supposed to be the boys' locker room, but apparently, no one seemed to care at the moment.

I sat down on a bench while Nina went to get us water and glucose.

Turning to my right, I saw Ore Jumai, looking as wazzed and fagged out as ever. He looked like he'd just been chased by  a lion. When all he did was run a long-distance race of one-thousand-five-hundred metres — which, in all fairness, wasn't his usual thing. His girlfriend, Chidera, was right beside him. She was using her phone, her hand tucked in his.

I nudged Ore a little and he turned, nodded at me in acknowledgement, before slapping me one of those bro handshakes.

"Guy, you be boss oh," he said to me, a small smile on his lips.

My eyes widened. "Um...me? How?" I chuckled.

"The guys told me about what you today na. Scoring with a freaking three-pointer."

"Yeah," I scratched my neck, "but it still wasn't enough. Bolu beat me. I mean, White House lost, Blue House won."

His expression changed at the sound of Bolu's name. He looked uneasy, his hand went to his neck and massaged it. Chidera didn't seem to notice. She was still using her phone.

At the same time, my brain went back to what had happened on Monday. To the anniversary thingie Chidera had set up that day.

Without anyone telling me, I knew there was some sort of entanglement between Ore, Bolu and Chidera. Before Monday, I'd had my suspicions. But what happened on Monday just confirmed the whole thing. Plus, it was really obvious, from my side, that Ore didn't really like Chidera. It was Bolu he liked.

I'd watched him that day. From where I'd stood, I saw the uncertainty, the shock and surprise in his eyes. And that's why when all of it was done, I patted his shoulder.

I understood him though. He was under a lot of pressure. Trying to always keep up with people's expectations of him.  Still, it wasn't an excuse. Also, it wasn't really any of my business, so I didn't tell him any of these.

"She's really good, huh? Funny how it's a girl that kicked your butt," he said and nudged me. The expression on his face was gone.

His words stung but I brushed it off. "Better don't start sounding sexist here oh."

He just laughed. "But you're still a boss sha."

"You too."

"Obviously," Chidera purred, looking up from her phone and at us, "my boyfriend is always a boss."

I just smiled at her, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. She smiled back and went to her phone. Ore and I shared a look, a sorta understanding passed between both of us. And then he shrugged.

Nina returned. And she didn't come with just glucose and water. She also came with towels. Joan, the female labour prefect, was with her. Other people joined us, focusing most of their attention on Ore. Because he was the Starboy.

MJ was part of the people that just walked in, and I knew this because, as usual, he was yelling.

Nothing new there.

Joan and Nina passed the bottles of water and towels around. They handed each of us a sachet of glucose. Chidera made sure to do everything for Ore by herself.

"MF!!!" MJ yelled as he clapped me on my back. He tried to shake me but I was remained rigid. "My guyyyy!" He proceeded to pull my chin.

I smacked his hand away, poker-faced. "Can't you just be normal for once in your life?"

"Never!" He yelled again, grinning at me.

I blocked my ears. Honestly, I would never get used to his shouting. He was too loud. And he got louder everyday.

"Normal is actually overrated," Nina said as she sat down beside me.

"Listen to your girlfriend, bruv." MJ sat on another of the benches and wiggled his brows.

I just shook my head.

"Can I have another one of those towels?" Ore asked.

"Sure, boo," Chidera said and grabbed one from Joan, who was holding it. She was about to hand it to Ore when she jerked suddenly, dropping the towel on the floor. "Omo! I gotta go!"

Forgetting the towel on the floor which one of the other guys picked and handed to Ore, Chidera kissed her boyfriend goodbye and was out of the locker room.

I shook my head. She was a very unstable human being. Apart from being attention-seeking and uncertain about her identity, I think.

But who was I to judge? It's not like I was any better.

Ore, on the other hand, looked more than relieved that she left.

A couple of seconds after, everyone started conversing. Talking mostly about today's activities and the football match for tomorrow. I kept quiet for most of it, as usual. Only making comments when I was called. Comments that people seemed to find funny.

But in the midst of all these, I was watching Nina. She was laughing and talking along but she seemed nervous. She didn't know it but I could feel the reaction as held on to me.

"Catch y'all later, guys," Ore said to all of us and stood up. Winked at all the girls around us and gave the boys bro handshakes. Little by little, people started leaving.

"I think it's time I left, too," Nina said stretching. "Come escort me, Ay."

"Of course, baby." I smiled, still studying her.

"Nawa oh. Who will escort me bayii?" MJ sob-yelled. Yes, that was exactly how it sounded.

"Shut up!" I told him. "And be normal!"

"Nina said and I quote, 'normal is overrated'!" He grinned. I rolled my eyes.

Nina just laughed as she picked up her backpack and tucked her arm in mine. She was silent as we walked together, probably already lost in thoughts.

"You know," I started as we walked past the garden behind the junior block, "if anything is bothering you, you can tell me. I'm always ready to listen."

She jolted out of her reverie and stared up at me. "What?"

"I said," I stopped walking and faced her, holding her shoulders, "if anything is bothering you, you can tell me."

She chuckled. Reached up to pinch my nose. "You're so sweet. But I'm fine, really."

Knew she was going to say this.

"Nina. Honestly, you don't look like—"

Her phone dinged, cutting me short. Just what was it with phones and cutting us short?

She stared at it. The expression on her face was akin to horror.  Just like that time at the cafe.

"What's that? Who is it?" I asked, still holding her shoulders.

"I uh...I gotta go now. Thanks for escorting me," she said quickly, evading my question and turned to leave.

I grabbed her hand before she could move a step further. "Are you sure?" I asked, skepticism echoed in my voice.

"Believe me, Ay. I'm very fine. As usual." She smiled. And once again, it threw me off balance. I wanted to believe her.

She brought her arms around my neck and kissed me goodbye. "I'll text you later, okay?"

Dumbstruck, I nodded in response. She waved at me and picked up her pace. Before she went far, the wind blew up her flared uniform skirt, revealing the back of her thigh that wasn't covered in her long socks.

She held it down but it was too late. I'd seen it already.

I wasn't supposed to be looking but it wasn't my fault.

I'd seen the big, long mark that was spread just across the back of her thigh.

Okayyy, yoooo!!

Here's another chapter for you, my babies.🌚

Please don't bite me!😭😭😭😭🤲🏽🤲🏽🤲🏽 I'll do my best to be updating fast fast.😭😭🤲🏽🤲🏽🤲🏽😂😂

I've just been seeing threats upandan.🥲🥲🥲

Don't threaten me again.😭😭😂😂😂🤲🏽

Anyway, shout out to StarrisMichelle 😂😂🤩 Y'all had better thank her very well oh. And Don_chizzytoo. 😂❤️ They're the reason this chapter is up this early.🌚😢😂

All right, what did you guys think of this chapter?🌚🌚 It was hard to write.🥲🥲 But I hope I tried?

Hehehe. Hehehehe. 😂😂😂😂 What do you think is happening?

Tell me, tell me.

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I'm crying now oh. Abi you want us to fight?🌚🔪

Comment very well here oh!

I also hope you paid attention to everything in this chapter. 🌚 You did? Very goooooooood!!🌚🔪

Okay, I'm talking too much now.🥲😂😭

See you guys when next I update.😗🙂🙂🙂

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Till next time, fam.

~Ife.😗❣️