This chapter is an introduction to a special character that will be making frequent appearances from now on.

~you irk me incredibly~

⊱𝙹𝙸𝙳𝙴𝙽𝙽𝙰 𝚃𝚈𝚁𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝙺𝙰𝙻𝚄⊰

~~•~~

"You know V, I can't just let it go." My words earned a scoff from the girl on the other line.

"You can't let a lot of things go."

I was on a call with my best friend, a girl. Which was rare, because I usually don't keep this kind of close relationship with the female gender.

"Put yourself in my shoes V, I'm sure you'd react worse than I did."

I was trying to make her see the reason I had to have my revenge on Jude. I couldn't let it slide.

She groaned over the phone. "I have to go, Ty, it's almost time for my next class."

I sighed. I really didn't want to get off the phone with her, but it wasn't the right time for this discussion.

"We'll see next week, right?"

"Sure. Bye." The call ended. I took out my AirPods from my ears and placed them back into the case.

"You know you shouldn't be making calls within school premises."

I wasn't fazed because I knew who the voice belonged to. I turned back to see Serena standing with folded arms. And what the hell is she doing here when we have a class going on?

Ask yourself that question too.

"You weren't picking up your calls yesterday." She started, taking a few steps towards me, and snaked her arms around my torso.

"And I needed you."

She always needed me. Not that I was complaining, but sometimes she needs to chill. Our parole began after a game of Spin the Bottle back in Ss1. The third term of Ss1 to be precise.

We had our own rules in this game. We didn't play it the usual way. The bottle was spun, and both ends of the bottle stopped at me and Serena. I was given a dare with her or transfer a certain amount of money on the spot. I didn't want to do it, so I sent the money.

The bottle stopped at me two times in a row, and according to our rules, you couldn't turn down a dare if that happens. I was given a dare seven minutes in heaven, or whatever it's called. And with the last person I had a dare with.

So I was locked in the storage room with Serena for seven minutes which we definitely didn't put to waste.

She brought up dating so many times, but I made it clear so many times too that I didn't want that. Just classmates, with benefits.

Every other day, I would have indulged her. But I was feeling a bit off today, so I held her arms and took them off me.

"Serena, I'm not in the mood for this."

She pulled her hands away from mine, clearly offended, then folded them across her chest.

"Can we talk later?" I asked.

That seemed to offend her more because she turned to walk away. I groaned as I remembered she was going to begin with her unnecessary tantrums and attitude later on. And that, I can't deal with. Not today.

I hate to admit it, but I kind of felt bad for telling her off that way. I just had to appease her or something.

"You can come over later today." My words stopped her, and she turned back to me.

Well, that did the trick.

The corners of her mouth quirked up. "Okay. See you after school then." She turned on her heels and began to leave. Purposely swaying her hips as she walked out.

What would I do with this girl?

I shrugged off potential dirty thoughts and began making my way back to class. The hallway was quiet and empty because we the Ss3 students were having a class in one of the visual labs. So it was pretty easy to get caught loitering around.

After taking a detour to the main visual building, I walked past the first few empty and locked labs and stopped when I got to a closed door which had the following engraved on it.

𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗔𝗕 𝗩𝗜

The name visual class/lab should have probably explained it all. I guess just teaching in classes didn't seem enough to the school board, so they had to implement visual classes where the teachers would teach using PowerPoint presentations and clips related to that particular topic

Some days were pretty interesting, other days bored me out of my mind. The subjects had their roles to play in whether the visual class would be interesting or a nap fest.

Economics visual class is an example of a total nap fest, and I was getting way too bored, so I had to text Vanessa, who called, and that was my escape.

I opened the door, gaining the attention of a few classmates and strolled to the back where my seat was located. As expected, I received a reprimanding glare from Hugo, which I ignored. He really needed to stop acting like my guardian.

I took my seat beside Dami, who is unfortunately my partner for today's visual class. Usually, I would have objected, but I didn't want to cause a scene today, so I had to endure my fate.

Dami, on the other hand, had other things in mind. She had moved her stool close to mine. So close that her almost exposed thighs were touching my covered ones. She adjusted herself on the stool again, like she had done so many times during this class.

I didn't ignore her this time. My eyes fell on her exposed thighs, then trailed up to her upper body. She wasn't wearing her blazer, which is strange, because I'd never seen her without it. She always had it on.

She leaned forward on the table, and that was when I noticed that the top two buttons of her shirt were undone, subtly showing a little bit of her cleavage.

Really?

First Serena, and now her.

My eyes went up to her face, and her eyes were solely fixed on the screen. But I knew she wasn't listening to a thing.

I tore out a small piece of paper from my note and scribbled the following words on it.

𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑟𝑒 𝑢 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑜?

I folded the paper and slid it to her. She opened it up and read it, then flipped the paper over, wrote down a reply, and slid it to me without bothering to fold it.

𝐒𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮;-) 𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠?

I raised my head, trying hard not to chuckle out loud. Seduce me? What the hell had gotten into her? I tore the paper into tiny pieces, squeezed them together and put it into my pocket.

I looked at her again. "Do you always throw yourself at any guy you find attractive?"

"Only when it's necessary." Her eyes darted from my eyes to my lips, and back. I watched as she bit on her lower lip, and then slowly let it go.

I scoffed.

"That's really pathetic."

"Jidenna and Damilare. Would you like to share your discussion with the class?" Mrs Adejare's voice caused more than half of the class to look in our direction.

"Sorry ma." Dami apologised and looked down at her note on the table. Mrs Adejare went back to her teaching and immediately Dami pulled down her skirt, covering her exposed thighs and moved her stool away from me, focusing her attention back on the screen.

I let her be for the next few minutes, before moving my stool closer to hers so our arms were touching. She squirmed like she was uncomfortable.

What is up with this girl?

My eyes were fixed on the large screen displaying points from the topic, Asian tigers.

"You know you shouldn't be seen talking to me. Your friends are going to flip."

"My friends don't control me, so I can do whatever the hell I want. Even if it's hanging out with you." She replied almost immediately in a bristled tone, and I nodded with a smirk.

"Quite a bold move." I placed my hand on her thigh, and felt her tense.

Well, this is going to be interesting.

I proceeded to take it higher until her skirt had ridden up fully. She held on to my hand and tried to take it out, but a light squeeze halted her actions. I noticed how her other hand was gripping her pen so hard that it could snap into two any second.

Leaning close to her, I positioned my lips close to her ear, purposely letting my breath tickle her skin.

"I thought you wanted something. Or are you backing out?"

Immediately she got up, and I watched in surprise as she frantically gathered her things from the table and left the lab, ignoring the calls of Mrs Adejare.

I chuckled under my breath.

Wantons. All of them.

~•~•~

Second break, and I, Hugo and Ethan, were seated around our table in the cafeteria, along with Serena who I had requested to sit with me. 

"Jide," Ethan called me. I looked up from the opened meat pie on my plate. Opening up any snack or pastry with fillings became a habit after I had eaten a meat pie halfway, only to discover it had maggots in it.

It's a miracle that I could still eat meat pies or any sort of pastry after that disgusting incident.

"I was thinking, instead of—"

"If it's about Oma, don't ask me." I continued with my snack.

To be honest, I don't really get Ethan's obsession with the girl. And it irked me every time he spoke about her. There were so many other girls he could go after. But it just had to be Oma.

"What did she even tell you yesterday?" I asked, remembering how she had glanced at me before and after whispering to Ethan. Whatever she said to him had to be about me. 

"Nothing you should know." He simply replied, and my guess was confirmed. He wasn't going to tell me.

I laughed. How much more silly could this guy be?

"Are you trying to protect her?" 

His brows furrowed in confusion. "Protect her from what?"

"Me. You know I won't be too pleased with whatever she said, so you don't want to tell me."

Ethan scoffed and rolled his eyes at me, like what I said was bullshit. The fucking guts of this guy. 

"What she told me is none of your business, Jide. And besides, even if I told you, you can't do anything because of her brother."

"And what will Kanye do?"

"This better not turn into an argument, because I will pick up my tray, and join another table," Hugo spoke up and I picked up a serviette from the centre of our table, squeezed it, and playfully tossed it at him.

"Just get over this girl, Ethan. She's not worth it." Serena who had been quiet the whole time, said.

"And why is she here?" Ethan queried, not hiding the slight annoyance and irritation on his face as well as his voice. Just as I didn't like Oma, he didn't like Serena. 

His reason? He says she's too wild and loose.

I ignored him as usual.

"Because I brought her here."

His face suddenly lit up, and his lips curved up into a mischievous smile. The one that meant he was about to do or say something stupid.

"By the way, I saw your little escapade with Dami in visual class today." He wiggled his brows at me. And how the fuck did he know about that. I mean, we were seated right behind him. Behind the entire class.

"I have eyes everywhere, boss." He smirked and winked.

"Didn't know you've gotten that bold to finger a girl in class. Osheyyy boss!" He hailed, drawing the attention of most students in the cafeteria.

Where did I see this boy from for Christ's sake?

I stepped hard on his foot under the table, causing him to yelp. 

"I wasn't doing that. My hands were only on her thigh." I defended. Well, I actually was going to touch her if she hadn't chickened out and left the class.

Wasn't that what she wanted?

It seemed like Ethan had recovered from the pain because he was laughing hard. "And she was acting like you were giving her a fucking orgasm."  

I shook my head at him. Trust Ethan to always exaggerate things.

"Can you guys not talk about sex-related stuff during lunch?" Hugo complained, looking quite disgusted. He got a playful smack on his back from Ethan as a reply to his question. 

"Loosen up a little, Hugo." He urged.

"And if I'm not mistaken, your definition of loosening up is finding a girl to be messing around with?"

"Not necessarily that. Just take Jide and Serena for example." He gestured to me and the girl seated beside me.

"Friends with benefits." I chipped in.

"Yeaaahhh! You get me, bro." He brought his hand forward for a fist bump, which I gave to him.

"That's the same thing I said."

"No, it's not." I countered.

Serena shook her head at us and faced Hugo. 

"How are you friends with these guys?"

The boy shook his head with a look of despair.

"I don't even know."

Our friendship could be tagged as an unlikely one. Even up to date, most people think I bullied, or blackmailed Hugo into being friends with me. Which is a very stupid thing to think.

And if I were to be asked that question, I'd just give one honest and simple answer.

He understands me.

Sometimes I wonder how he puts up with my shit without getting fed up. No matter how bad I mess up, which I barely do, Hugo just sticks. He's there, and always. And I appreciate him for that.

Then there are his jokes about getting me a girlfriend who would "hold me down."

Let's get the facts right. I don't need to be held down when I can be out there exploring and experiencing new and exciting things. When with all of these good stuff I'm blessed with, I could get any girl I want.

There's absolutely no need for any holding down whatsoever.

Suddenly, I felt someone roughly grab my shoulder, and towering over me was an angry Kanye. Furious would be the perfect word, because this guy was actually red.

"If this is how you go around destroying people's things all because you can't keep yourself in check, then you shouldn't be invited anywhere anymore!"

"Woah, Kanye." I raised my hands in surrender. His sudden attack sure took me by surprise, because what the fuck did I do?

"My dad has been nothing but pissed since that night. He lost a lot of money replacing those things you and Jude damaged!"

So this is why he was getting all worked up. Over a couple of damaged properties.

With a sigh, I put my hand down and took his hand off my shoulder.

"That's why you came in here to harrass me?"

"Jidenna." I got the clear warning in Hugo's tone, but I wasn't having it. It seems like I have been too lenient lately, and that gave certain people the guts to walk into the cafeteria and harass me.

"If he plays his cards right, he can gain back whatever he lost. Remember, he's a good businessman. Your words, not mine."

Kanye let out a bitter chuckle.

"You are hopeless. Stay away from me and my sister. Cause you won't find it funny if you do anything or even lay a finger on her. I haven't forgotten Jss3. Just try that again, and I swear to God, Jidenna, I will fuck you up!" And he stormed out of the cafeteria.

One second I was seated on my table gripping the seat hard so I wouldn't lash out on Kanye as he yelled and humiliated me in front of everyone, and the next, I stormed over to where his sister was seated.

"What the fuck did you tell Ethan?" I questioned, and all I got was an unbothered silence as she kept on eating.

My blood boiled. I didn't care about Kanye's empty threats. Omasirichi was going to get it, and she was going to get it bad.

I slammed my hand on the table. "I said, what the fuck did you tell him?!"

Oh, Lord. I really need something to hit right now.

"Please, please, please. You're pouring saliva into my food. If you choose to be a dog, at least don't do it where humans are eating."

Ignore her.

But I couldn't. I just couldn't. Not when she was making it so hard not to. I whipped my head in her direction and glared at her.

"And did I fucking speak to you?"

"See ehn, If you want to be loud and stupid, take it away from here please."

All my restraints snapped instantly. Only a tiny bit remained, and it was hanging on by a thin thread. I stormed over to her, ignoring the calls from Hugo and Ethan. I grabbed her arm roughly and dragged her up.

The look of shock on her face was gone in a second and was replaced with a hard glare. The damn girl wasn't even fazed, and that angered me even more.

I tightened my grip on her arm.

"Repeat yourself, Idera. I dare you."

"LAUREATE JIDENNA KALU AND LAUREATE IDERA ADELEKE, REPORT TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE NOW."

Well fuck.

~•~•~

"So you said she was interfering in your business?"

"Yes sir."

"I wasn't sir." Idera countered, and I balled my fists tight. The good Lord knows if she wasn't a girl, I would have beaten her to a pulp long ago.

"But I wasn't questioning you. Was I?" I asked, not sparing her a glance.

"You were disturbing the peace of the cafeteria, and contaminating my food with your saliva."

"That's enough." Mr Johnson ordered as he took off his glasses and placed them on the table. Intertwining his fingers, his gaze fell on me.

"I have the footage Kalu. What made you storm over to the girls table?"

Was I going to tell him that I was pissed at how Kanye spoke to me and decided to take it out on his sister despite his warning?

Of course not.

"I found out that Oma had told Ethan something bad about me. Probably to dispute our friendship."

Man, that sounded kind of dumb.

"So you lie against people now?" That was Idera again. For Christ's sake, couldn't this girl just fucking shut it?

"Adeleke." Mr Johnson called in a warning tone.

"Sorry sir."

"Whatever happened is none of my business. As long as it doesn't involve drugs, bullying, and immoral sexual activities and relationships, I will not interfere. But what I will not have is turning the school's cafeteria upside down, and almost beating up a fellow classmate-"

"-you destroyed a cafeteria tray, Kalu. School property, and is that right?"

My God! I truly was being awfully lenient. I don't know what kept my butt glued to this seat, because I know should have walked out of this office long ago.

"No sir. But it wasn't my fault. If she had just kept her mouth shut, I wouldn't have done anything."

"Or you could have been mature enough to ignore me, and that wouldn't have happened."

Anger shot through me.

The way and rate at which Idera always got on my nerves made her seem like she existed for the sole purpose of pissing me off so bad. I had done a good job holding back so far, and that mouth of hers had also done a good job of pushing me.

Getting up abruptly from the chair, I glared down at her as I clenched and unclenched my hands continuously.

I was going to break this girl. Hard.

"Well then, maybe instead of running your mouth, your dumb self should work on trying to get at least a moderate score in a simple test, then maybe you wouldn't have to even graduate on probation."

Then I felt it. And it stung so bad.

I slowly turned my head back to her. Her eyes glistened with tears, and I could see she was fighting so hard to hold them back.

Idera just slapped me, and the only thing I felt was a strange feeling of satisfaction. Not anger, not a burning need to retaliate.

"What is this nonsense?" The principal roared, reminding me that we were still in his office.

"Both of you leave my office! And I want to see you two first thing tomorrow morning, with your parents!"

───────•••───────

Can someone please tell Qhupid_247 to please continue beyond the reef????😩😩

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