No prologue, so here we go.
First official chapter of Intricacy🎉

~I'm a mess~

𝙸𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙰𝙾𝙻𝚄𝚆𝙰 𝙽𝙾𝙴 𝙰𝙳𝙴𝙻𝙴𝙺𝙴

~~•~~

"Adeleke, please explain to class what the McPherson's constitution is."

Hmm?

What the hell is that?

I shuffled my feet under the table, while trying to stylishly steal a peek from the open page of my note.

A blank open page.

Christ.

To be honest, I hadn't been paying attention from the moment the Government teacher stepped foot into our class. So how I was going to give her an appropriate answer, is a very big mystery to me.

"It's obvious she can't. She's dumb." A voice said from behind me, followed by snickers from around the class.

I'm not dumb.

Getting good grades has just been a minor issue for me. But I am not dumb.

"Kalu," Mrs Phillips tilted her head to the side to get a better look at the boy seated behind me. "Do you wish to help her out?"

"Nope." He popped the P. An annoying thing he always. "Her dumb brain can figure it out."

I felt an instant flash of irritation and whipped my head to the back of the class where he was seated in all his fuckboy glory.

"Or, you're the one with the dumb brain because you can't seem to stop spewing trash out of that hole in your face." I seethed.

He suddenly sat up, both hands on his desk with a little menacing scowl on his face which made little shivers run down my spine. Those dark brown eyes were intently fixed on mine, with that familiar repulsive glare.

"I'm not the one who can't answer a simple question." He leaned back into his chair, and folded his arms as that scowl slowly morphed into a smirk.

"Dunce."

I lost all my sense of reasoning once that word left his mouth. That anger that I had been trying so hard to suppress sprang up and I did nothing to hold it back.

Then I felt someone hold my wrist in a tight grip, stopping me from moving any further. It was Mrs Phillips' loud voice yelling my name that brought me back to reality.

"That's enough!" She yelled again. All I could do was glare at him murderously as I tried to free my wrist from whoever was holding it.

I'll kill this boy! I swear to God, I'll murder him and cut his wretched body to bits!

"I asked a simple question Adeleke, can you answer it or not?"

I looked away from him and down at my hand. My pen which I don't even remember picking up was tight in my grip. I released the poor pen and let it fall to the ground.

"Idera can you answer the question?" The woman asked again.

What was this woman's problem and why did she want to humiliate me more than she already has? Why was she still asking me the stupid question? Couldn't she get the hint?

"Idera."

"No."

Then it started. The side talks and rude remarks, the not so subtle laughter, the sighs of disappointment.

"Jesus Christ! She got a big fat F!" The boy exclaimed, and the class roared with laughter.

Everyone was laughing at me.

Only the light skinned girl beside me didn't utter a single word. Instead she had her eyes closed with her fingers massaging her temples.

Mrs Phillips sighed and told me to meet with her later on and then the bell went to signify the end of her period before the woman could even proceed with her class.

"See you all tomorrow." She packed up her things and left the class.

Knowing what was coming next, I didn't waste a second as I grabbed my bag stormed out of the class immediately. One more word from him, and I'll most definitely lose more than my shit.

I made it out successfully but I hadn't gone far enough to not hear the statement he made right after.

"You're running off already, dumb girl."

"Will you just end this Jide?!" The sudden silence that followed was deafening. And no, that wasn't me.

Thankfully.

I would have done more than just yell.

All I wanted to know was why that girl did what she just did. I could see it all. I pictured the whole scene in my head. How pissed Jidenna would be at her, ready to brutalize her with his words, and how she would try to maintain the bravado act in front of him.

"This is becoming too much already. Can you just stop?" I heard her again, before leaning back on the wall in the hallway. With my eyes screwed shut, I blocked out the mini commotion coming from inside the class while trying to steady my breathing and fight back tears at the same time.

I was tired.

So tired. Exhausted even.

At this point, I could anything to get rid of him and all the madness. Because no matter how much I fought back and faced him, it only seemed to make things even worse than before.

Things didn't use to be as bad as this. It doesn't mean the both of us were ever on good terms, but at least we could talk to each other without one of us wanting to rip out the other's throat. But as time went on, things just spiralled out of control.

He because more and more brutal. And trust me to return the fucking energy.

"What's his deal abeg?"

My eyes flew opened at the sound of Omasirichi's angry voice, and she wasn't alone. Hugo Dike stood beside her with concern etched all over his features.

"You okay?"

It irritated me a great deal that I had to look away from him so I won't give in to the strong urge of slapping that stupid pitiful look off his face.

I only focused on the white wall opposite me and slowly began to block them out. Maybe if I did, they would get the hint and leave me alone.

Or maybe they wouldn't and keep standing in front of me.

"Idera," He called again. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." I replied almost immediately.

LIC's head boy sighed and shoved his hands into the pockets of his neatly ironed trousers which I don't think I've ever seen rumpled before.

I was beginning to think he always carried an iron with him to secretly iron his trousers in school. It'll make more sense if it was actually true.

"I'm sorry about him."

Those four words irked me. So much.

He was doing it again. Apologizing for his damn friend, trying to make him seem like a less vile person. Always giving one excuse or the other as to why Jidenna always acted like a devil and I would be a liar if I said I wasn't tired of it.

Hugo apologizing wasn't still going to change anything, because Jidenna will always be Jidenna. This madness wouldn't stop as long as we remained in LIC.

It only would if he just suddenly dropped dead or changed schools or flew out of the country. And honestly, I was down for any of those three options.

"Look," Oma butted in before I could even reply him. "there's no need to even be sorry since she's okay with letting him walk over her like trash. The idiot will be abusing you, and you will seat there and keep quiet like a complete mumu."

I wasn't ready. I wasn't in the mood for Oma and her unnecessary banter at all. Sensing an incoming headache, I sighed and placed one hand on my forehead.

"Oma I can't." I held on tight to the strap of my school bag with my other hand, ready to walk away if she didn't stop talking.

But she didn't.

And I got another episode of how to put Jidenna Kalu in his fucking place.

Wait, wasn't I doing enough? Aside his friends, and two other boys, I'm the only person and the only girl who could stand up to him in the entire school. Even Sienna his bitch can't do a damn thing other than to just suck his dick all night long.

"And why can't you do that? Since you were so brave enough to defend me and stand up to him!"

Oma could have been fucked up, and we both knew that. Everyone did. The things Jidenna could do to her just because she talked back at him. It was only one thing, or in this case, one person that stopped Jidenna from doing anything to her.

I wished that was my case.

Why did you have to graduate four years ago Iyanu?

"I won't because it's not my fucking beef. I'm not the one who has a problem with him! The way you let that boy talk to you is so sickening, nauseating, it's fucking annoying Idera!"

Why in the world is she...

I opened my mouth to speak, but her chuckle stopped me from saying something rash that I know I would regret later on.

"You know what? Do whatever pleases you. I don't care. After all, it's your life."

And she stormed off.

One second I stood there watching her leave, and the next, I was grabbing a fistful of her precious braids and dragging her back with it.

"What the hell?!" She screeched, trying to loosen my hold from her hair, but I tightened my grip on it.

I heard the distinct call of my name, but i was far too gone in rage to notice. She fought and thrashed in my hold, but I was stronger. Then I did it. I slammed her head against the wall.

I did it again...

And again

And again

"Idera stop!"

No.

"Idera!"

Leave me alone!

"Idera!"

I was violently shaken out of that daze, and I blinked, looked up and saw Hugo's extremely worried face. My breaths were shaky and heavy as I looked around frantically.

How much damage did I do? Where's the blood? Where is it?

"Are you okay?" He asked.

Oma's braids weren't in my grip anymore, meaning that he had dragged me away from her.

But...

But the hallway was awfully quiet. Only the echoing voices of teachers teaching in the classes could be heard.

I looked around me and saw no drop of blood.

Oma wasn't at my mercy anymore.

It was all in my head.

God.

I exhaled in relief that I didn't just murder my best friend, but I had to leave. Get far away from here as soon as possible.

"Idera, talk to me." Hugo shook me again making me drag my eyes back to him.

"I...I'm fine."

I wasn't. Dread washed over me as I realized that I just created a whole scene in my head about hurting my best friend.

And it felt...oddly satisfying.

God no.

"Are you sure? Cause you di-" I didn't wait for him to say another word. I walked out. I couldn't stay here anymore, I needed to get away even if it meant skipping the last two classes of the day.

If she hadn't said those words, if she hadn't tried to play the nagging, overbearing best friend, I wouldn't have been so angry that I imagined hurting her.

I walked as fast as my legs could carry me to the back of the school while being really careful. Getting caught by the patrolling security guard or the guard dog would only mean one thing.

Instant expulsion.

And I'm not signing up for that.

A small rusted gate was situated at the back of the school. I doubt if even the head of school knew this gate existed, talk less of the security guards who paraded the school premises every day.

I found this precious escape out of school a few weeks back, and this would be the second time I'm using it.

Gently opening the gate, careful enough not to make a sound and I stepped out. But as I closed it back, the damn gate remembered it could beat Mariah Carey's whistle note.

Just great.

The shrill sound alerted the guard dogs and they began to bark like maniacs. I quickly jumped into the bushes and squatted to hide myself as I prayed to God to spare me for the last time and promised never to skip school if he did.

My prayers were answered as the dogs stopped barking, but I made sure the coast was clear before I got up and dusted some dead grass off my skirt. Then reached into my school bag and pulled out my huge sweatshirt which I put on so I wouldn't be recognized as a Laureate.

I pulled the hoodie over my head and got out of the bushes into the bush path that led to a deserted street.

As I walked further into the street, I sighted a huge black Range rover and a light skinned girl getting into it. Suddenly, she paused and turned her head to my direction.

Nigerian?

This girl definitely wasn't one. Everything about her gave it away.

She narrowed her eyes at me, but I kept on walking while still maintaining eye contact. I cut it off at a point and focused back on the road.

Then I heard the sound of the car door closing followed by the soft purring of the car engine. I looked back as the car zoomed off.

Creep.

Taking the usual route, I headed to the last place I should be on a school day.

Why?

Well because I can't head home.

That's a reasonable reason right?

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There are going to be extremely slow updates due to school. It depends on everything sha, and I'll try my best to meet up to you guy's expectations.

Your thoughts on the few characters in this chapter😊

This chapter was actually divided into two because it was kind of lengthy. So hope you all enjoyed this first half?😊

The second half will be updated soon✨

Constructive criticisms are welcome.

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