Happy Birthday fellow wifey Don_chizzy🥳❤️✨ It's coming a day late because I decided to update today.😂

Lora and Jude's new face claim in the media above.😗 The next media is what I imagine the LIC choir presentation to be like, but with the exception and replacement of a few things there.

Credit of the images below go to their respective owners.

Enjoy!

⊱𝙾𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚑𝚒⊰

Cars. A lot of them.

Various colours, sizes, and models filled the school's premises, along with elegantly dressed guests, exchanging words and gestures of greetings with one another and walking into the multipurpose hall. The hall was reserved for events like this.

The Charity dinner was sort of like a fundraiser event for different Charity organizations in the country, and it always had local and international guests in attendance every year.

In the words of the school founder, he wanted to establish good morals and societal values in us the students, so he made it a mandatory event for all of us. Honestly speaking, a lot of us didn't give two shits about the purpose of the Charity dinner. All that mattered were the outfits we got to wear, the glam that the rich spoilt brats got to showcase, and the after-party.

Adam finally found a free space on the school premises to park the car and Kanye got down immediately.

Be calming down sha.

I took my sweet time to put on my heels and like I had been doing throughout the entire ride to school, took one last quick look at my face in the little mirror I kept in the car before opening the door and stepping out.

I didn't even have the time to take in my surrounding as I suddenly heard excited screams and squeals.

Turning to the direction of the noise, I saw Idera and Dami rush towards me, while Zina and Lora walked hand in hand with wide grins on each of their faces.

Their excitement was contagious and before I knew it, I was walking to meet them halfway sporting a wide grin.

"You made it!" Idera squealed and threw her arms around me in a hug, then pulled away for the rest of the girls to do the same.

"Kanye later insisted we come," I told them.

"Aww! Thank you, Kanye." They chorused which had me looking behind to see Kanye, who I thought had hurriedly left to the hall standing with his hands in his pockets and a smile on his face.

"You're always welcome. You girls look really good by the way."

Stunning was the word. And he e wasn't kidding or mincing words.

Damilare was serving us legs in a green/cyan high-neck ribbed sleeveless gown that brought out her curves and sat snuggly at the middle of her thighs.

(Mummy Dami🔥)

Idera was in a dress that teetered between outright mouthwatering and classically charming. Either way, the black slit thin strapped dress with white tassels dangling above the exposed side cuts was enough to turn heads.

(Mummy Idera🔥)

Kanye's red carpet co-host was ready for the red carpet with a dazzling deep v-neck sleeveless gown that had a high slit tulle ruffle that flowed and pooled below her gracefully.

(Lora❤️✨)

Even baby Zina looked simple and pretty in a light blue one-sleeved off-shoulder top with brilliant peach grey and black flowers splashed about. A slit ran up to the middle of her thigh giving an adorable view of skin as the nude-colored lace blended lovingly to her upper chest.

(Baby Zee☺️😊)

It was safe to say, we all looked fabulous tonight.

"Dami," Kanye stared at her with a smile before holding his arm out to her.

"Shall we?"

Flipping her large curls, she looped her arm in his and they walked to the red carpet entrance together. Just as they left, Hugo made his appearance.

"Wahala! Did you girls come for Charity dinner or you came to pepper us badly??"

"See who is talking. You that is already confusing half of the female population here."

Hugo's outfit was quite simple and casual, yet sure enough to turn heads with him in it. He was all white for tonight.

(Daddy Hugo❤️)

""Stop whining me, Idera. It's just an ordinary old suit." He brushed it off, casually, throwing a dismissive wave in the air.

Yeah, that you look this good in.

If I had to choose between modesty and Hugo not knowing how good-looking he is, I would go for the latter. Because most times he seemed so clueless about these things. So clueless about the littlest attention he got, whenever he walks into a place, and how effortlessly he turns heads.

"But for real though," I patted him on his cheek with a smile. "You look super good tonight."

The very faint shade of red that appeared on his cheeks immediately had me wondering if my brain was conjuring images, or if Hugo was blushing. And I think I was the only one who noticed because of how close I stood next to him.

"Thank you, Oma." He smiled and quickly turned to his date for the evening. "Well, I'm here for Zina."

Lora patted Zina's shoulder and earned an eye roll from the smaller girl. "She's all yours, my guy."

Being the gentleman he is, he extended his hand which she took and they walked away leaving me, Lora, and Idera outside.

"Where's Lawal? And Leo?" I asked Idera and Lora respectively about their dates for tonight.

"They're both stuck in traffic. And I just hope they make it before the red carpet or the main event starts."

"Don't worry, they'll come."

I said, assuring myself more than them because Umar too hadn't come and I was beginning to think he wasn't going to make it at all. He hated traffic jams more than anything and would rather stay back home than get stuck in them.

I sighed as that thought suddenly made me feel downcast.

All this for nothing.

"Let's go inside. It's almost time for the red carpet and I have to prep," Lora said, but I didn't want to yet. I wanted to wait out a bit because of him so I told them I needed to call Adaora for something and thankfully, they bought my lie and walked off.

I was starting to get rather anxious as my eyes roamed the premises for any sign of Umar, his car, guys, or anything. But twenty minutes passed, and no car drove through the school gates, and also no sign of Umar.

Fuck this.

Grabbing my purse from the car, I finally let the driver go. I wasn't going to let Umar's absence ruin my night. He's going to be a total ass for leaving his date hanging because of an ordinary traffic jam.

Rubbish!

I checked my phone for the hundredth time to still see zero replies to the texts I had sent him. And I could see the online icon under his freaking profile picture!

A scoff escaped me. "Asshole."

At least a message to let me know if he's still coming or not would do.

Men are truly scum.

"I almost had a heart attack when Lora told me you and Kanye weren't going to make it."

My head turned back first at the sound of that voice, and then the rest of my body followed,  and then...nothing.

Nothing was what my brain came up with as Umar Bello was now standing in front of me. Right in front of me.

And I unabashedly stared, unable to say a word to him as he spoke to me. The more of him I took in, the less my brain was able to comprehend his words and come up with simple, common, ordinary words of my own.

It was just a simple plain blue suit and a white shirt underneath with the two top buttons undone, revealing a little bit of his hard chiselled chest. But him donning it perfectly, was enough to render me speechless and senseless.

(DADDY Umar🥵🔥❤️)

(Imagine the suit in a blue color 😭)

My thoughts went haywire. I thought of things, things that if said out loud would have my Dad think I've been possessed and mum flog the hell out of me, disown me, bundle me and ship me off to a convent to become a nun or a Reverend sister.

And I could feel the response my body was giving to those dirty dirty thoughts.

God, abeg…

"You look beautiful." His deep voice brought me out of my lustful reverie and I managed to get myself in order.

"T-Thanks." I breathed.

Finally! I could say something.

His lips stretched into a little smile as I felt him hold my hand. An action that had my heart thumping even more in my chest.

"God knows I would have stayed back home if you two didn't come." He said as we approached the little queue building up at the entrance of the hall.

"Why?"

"Our class girls and those other girls. I can't stand them. Not your friends though, they're cool."

I chuckled at his irritation. Umar wasn't a fan of the majority of our class girls and other girls in our school. Mostly because they used every opportunity they got to throw themselves at him.

But who would blame them though? Just take a good look at the hunk of a boy, or should I say the hunk of a man?  If not for self-dignity, I too would have jumped him a long time ago. A few minutes ago even.

"Well, there's Lora, Dami, Idera, and Zina."

"They all have dates. And you're like the first and only person that popped into my head."

The first and only person, and that's something...right?

Yeah. If that something means you're his best friend's sister and his close friend.

And the mini excitement vanished as soon as it came.

I forced a little smile. "I am very flattered."

He didn't say it and he didn't need to because it was obvious. His friendship with Kanye and the close relationship he has with our family is the only reason. What other reason would he even have for taking me as a date?

Charity dinner, Oma.

Right. And my last one at that, so I wasn't going to allow these thoughts to intrude and ruin my mood and my night. At least I got him as a date and those other hogwash girls couldn't.

A smirk made its way to my face.

Petty much?

Yes, please.

"Red Carpet?" I looked up at him excitedly.

He shook his head. "Too much attention, Oma."

"Well, It's already too late for that." I dragged him with me to the front of the many cameras flashing and capturing the red carpet moments. We smiled and posed for the cameras as a lot of pictures were taken. The girls joined in and pushed Umar aside so we could get pictures together.

I made sure to take a few pictures with my brother before he returned to his red carpet-duties. Umar and I got a little interview from Lora and that was it for our red carpet session.

"You seemed to have enjoyed all of that."

I grinned at him. "A lot."

Everywhere got quieter as we approached the main entrance of the hall. We were given dinner brochures and ushered to our table by the ushers. A table exclusively for the SS3 students. Just a few of our classmates were seated because the rest were still out on the red carpet. Students, guests, and dignitaries were already seated, waiting for the dinner to begin.

A few minutes later, the red carpet event was wrapped up and the main event kicked off with our school founder's son coming up to give a speech on the reason and purpose for the charity dinner. The boring long-ass speech was followed by the introduction of a few dignitaries with the inclusion of Jidenna and Dami's fathers.

That was when Sophia and Layo decided to gush over and share their sugar daddy/sugar baby fantasies about people's fathers on the class group chat.

The comeback we expected from Jidenna and Dami wasn't forthcoming, even with the aggressive tagging, none of them sent even a single letter.

Okay?

I decided to send a text to me and the girls' group chat.

Umar nudged me, giving me a look that had me showing him the chats and he too had to hold in his laughter.

The night was going well. We didn't exchange many words and communicated mostly through chats, but it didn't change how happy I was being here with him.

He noticed me, he complimented me.

He told me I look beautiful.

And that meant a whole lot to me.

Who knows? Maybe he's starting to feel something. Even if it's just a little.

Yeah right. And you don't belong in the circus.

Shut up!

The keynote speaker was invited next to give his lecture and that was when almost the entire student population zoned out.

Some left the hall, while the rest of us on the table busied ourselves with the food served, chitchatting with each other, sharing memes in the group chat, and making fun of some of our teachers' outfits.

Hours of boredom later, the lecture ended. A huge relief for every one of us still in the hall.

"I almost died." Umar shook his head with a relieved sigh making me chuckle. He even looked tired already.

"And it's not even as if anyone cares about the dumb lecture oh."

"As in ehn. This is Nigeria. They'll still leave the less privileged people fucked up and use the money for themselves."

I hummed in response just as the school choir was introduced to give their rendition of Michael Jackson's we are the world.

The song started with a Junior student singing his part of the first verse. Then selected students along with my brother gave their vocals on the remaining parts of the verse.

The chorus wasn't taken by anyone, but the original chorus sung by Micheal Jackson was played, which must be a tribute to the late pop star.

The rest of the song continued with others taking their parts in the other verses and the entire choir singing the chorus in sweet harmony.

It was beautiful.

When Kanye told me a few days back that there was going to be a huge surprise in the song, what I had in mind was kind of close to it, but I still didn't expect who I saw to step out.

No one did.

All we heard next was, "But you knew that."

No freaking way!!

The hall legit scattered.

The entire school erupted in insane screams that were enough to render one deaf. No one even cared that we had dignitaries and outside guests. Everyone went crazy!

Quad, a group of three boys and a girl who are known in LIC for their really good rapping skills, stepped out with Mavins' own Ladipoe.

And they rapped. They freaking rapped!

The excitement was just too much to contain. Phones were up in the air recording the moment because who the hell would want to forget it??

We all need somebody that we can lean on.

When you wake up look around and see that your dream's gone.

When the earth quakes we'll help you make it through the storm.

When the floor breaks a magic carpet to stand on.

We are the world united by love so strong.

When the radio isn't on you can hear the songs.

A guided light on the dark road you're walking on.

A signpost to find the dreams you thought was gone.

Someone to help you move the obstacles you stumbled on.

Someone to help you rebuild after the rubble's gone.

We are the world connected by a common bond.

Love, the whole planet's singing along.

The chorus came up again with the choir holding hands and soon every single one of us in the hall followed suit, singing along with them.

One big beautiful harmony.

The song ended with cheers and applause filling the hall.

And with that, the dinner was over and it was time for the after-party. Once the guests and dignitaries left, the whole school was turned upside down with screams of students and loud music blasting from the speakers.

It was a different atmosphere entirely. Some students had even gone to change into a second outfit for the party.

I still stayed with Umar, taking pictures and making videos with him until the girls came to drag me away for a round of pictures.

Pictures led to TikTok videos, which led to finding ourselves lost in the crowd of students dancing to the DJ's mix.

And then the highlight of the night. Surprise performances by Fireboy, Buju BXN, and Ayra Starr.

We danced, sang, and screamed our voices out.

Dami got so lucky and got called up to the stage by Fireboy and Buju, her two favorite Nigerian artists during each of their performances. My girl almost ran mad from excitement. Add Davido to the list and she would have completely lost it.

Zina shocked us with the way she sang her heart out to all of Ayra Starr's songs performed. We all knew Zina's fav was Ayra Starr, but we didn't know she was this big of a fan.

Someone should just bring Chris Brown or Rema and I will forget Umar Bello exists in a heartbeat.

After a long time, 4 or 5 hours at most, the performances ended and I squeezed myself out of the crowd to get a drink for my exhausted self.

I didn't bother looking for Umar because he found me in the crowd earlier and told me he was going to chill a bit in his car with Kanye. Dami, Lora, and Idera stayed back to dance, while I sat with Zina at a table close to the second entrance of the hall where the music wasn't too loud.

"You said you didn't want to get drunk tonight." Zina brought up my statement from earlier, just right before the party began. But I shrugged and took a sip. The alcohol in this was minimal after all.

"You're on your fourth drink now, Oma."

I placed the half-empty plastic cup on the table before leaning back into the chair and stretching my tired feet.

"There's less alcohol in this one."

"It's still the same thing. If you go back for more, there's no escaping that drunkenness tonight."

"I'll be fine, Z." I flashed her a smile and sat upright again. "You're worrying too much, I thought that's supposed to be Lora's thing."

"Lora isn't here, so it's my thing now."

I chuckled.

"Yes, mum. And speaking of mums, what about yours? Isn't she going to flip if she finds out you're at a party?"

"Who's going to tell her?"

I arched a brow at her reply and faced her.

"Your curfew is?"

All I got was a shrug in response.

Well, aren't you full of surprises tonight dear Zina?

This girl didn't seem to care that her mum could find out about her being here, shut this whole party down and drag her home.

And I like it!

I never expected Zina to stay behind for this after-party. Even when she told us she was going to, we just thought she was bluffing. And then Lora decided to give her the benefit of a doubt which led to us making a bet that Zina was going to be out of this school even before the party starts.

So I guess Lora is 15 thousand naira richer.

"Why did you even stay for the party anyways? I thought you don't like parties."

Zee made it clear that any kind of party isn't her thing. Small parties, huge ones, even our class parties, she never attends any. The ones she does are just little class parties that we had to drag her to, and then the general school parties to wrap up a session.

So why did she choose to attend this one? Or could it be...

A grin stretched across my face.

"Is there a boy?"

Zina stared at me like I was speaking to her in a foreign language before giving me an eye roll.

"There is no boy, Oma. I just wanted to." She let out a sigh and leaned back into her chair. "The house was becoming suffocating with my mum making me bury my entire self into my books because of exams."

"It can be quite tiring, you know. Reading school books all day, not having time to relax and do other things. That's why my Dad had to smuggle in a laptop for me specifically for anything that doesn't have to do with studying or school."

I watched as the corner of her lips curved up into a little smile.

"He loves to balance and has told my mum to let me, but she doesn't want to. She believes I don't know how to."

Wow.

My parents won't let I and Kanye read past three hours. And I can't even read for that long and not be distracted. An hour and 40 minutes is the longest I can go reading, two hours if I'm so invested in whatever subject I'm reading and that's it.

"Well, your mum is something else."

"She really is."

"So you'll be leaving early?"

"Maybe, I don't know. I feel like rebelling a little." She winked.

"Zina!" I laughed, very amused at her reply. "It's not us that taught you bad thing oh."

She grinned widely before taking a sip of her drink. It was nice seeing Zina this way. All loosened up and not bothered about her Mum and her curfew.

Let her learn to flex and live a little.

My eyes roamed the sea of bodies until something caught them. Someone.

He was seating at the bar with what I'm sure would be a shot of vodka, his second favorite drink after water. I was about to get up to join him when I noticed something... someone.

He wasn't alone.

My face contorted into a frown as I realized who that was.

A girl. He was with a girl. A light-skinned, half-naked girl who I recognize to be in Ss2. He was talking, but I could bet my last dime that she wasn't even listening to whatever words were coming out of his mouth because she was busy shamelessly ogling him. Eye fucking him on the spot!

My blood boiled.

I watched as she threw her head back, laughing at whatever he said before getting up and moving to stand in between his open legs. The next thing she did was take his hands, place them on both sides of her waist, and proceeded to place hers on his shoulders and caress his face with them.

Umar didn't even object or refuse. He just let her do whatever. And I still watched.

She didn't stop there. Oh no she didn't. She went ahead to make the most out of their compromising position by pulling herself closer to him. So close that her breasts were practically in his face.

You can go ahead and shove his face in between them. F*cking slut!

I wanted to get up and walk out, but my eyes were still glued to Umar and the girl. And the longer I watched, the harder it was to look away and the more it hurt. I expected him to push her away or something, but he didn't. Instead, he responded by getting up, properly wrapping his hands around her waist, and pulling her more into himself.

That was the last straw.

I tore my eyes away from them, slammed the plastic cup on the table, spilling most of the liquid in it, and got up.

This is the same boy, the same idiot who said he couldn't stand those fucking girls!

My lungs felt like they would close up anytime soon as I forced my way through the little crowd gathered at the door and out into the open arms of the chilly night air.

I tried taking deep breaths, but it wasn't just working. Nothing still felt better. I gripped the railing of the small stairs at the entrance so hard that my hands started to ache

Omasirichi, get your shit together. You did this to yourself.

How foolish am I to fall for someone who doesn't even see me that way? Everyone knows it. Umar Bello doesn't do that shit. Love, feelings, relationships and I know that full well. So how and why in the world did he have to be the one?

Why??

It hurts...like hell, but I stupidly keep hoping that something would magically happen. I just keep being fucking delusional.

I can't stay here...

I rushed down the stairs, ignoring the complaints of those seated on it and doing whatever. I just wanted to go home.

"Oma! Are you okay??"

I turned at the sound of Zina's voice, and from my tear-blurred vision, I could see her coming to me. But I didn't wait, I couldn't. So I turned back and walked away, ignoring Zina's calls and not stopping until I was outside the school. I flagged down the nearest cab I could see, and gave him the directions home.

"You're so stupid Oma, really stupid," I murmured to myself as I rested my head on the window, trying not to let the brimming tears escape from my eyes.

Did I think dressing all sexy would make him like me?? What kind of super naive thought was that?? How could I have thought that all that would make Umar Bello open his mouth and tell me he likes me??

I kicked off my heels.

Never have I ever felt this stupid and silly and foolish in my entire life.

I shut my eyes and all I could see was him. Him allowing her to touch him, him touching her all over and it made my insides turn. It made me want to pull my hair out and scream till my voice was gone.

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

A loud honk made me jerk in my seat and I looked at the driver who was looking back at me strangely.

What's doing this one?

"We've arrived at your destination miss."

And that was when I noticed the familiar large palm trees in front of the cab.

"How much is-"

"Don't bother. It's a free ride for the night."

"Oh...Thank you." I got down from the car and walked into the house barefooted with my shoes in my hand.

From the absence of Dad's car in the compound, my parents still hadn't come back from their dinner.

A plus for me because I won't get queried about where Kanye was, why I left the party, and why I came back home alone.

The doors were locked, so I reached into the flower bed nearby for the key, unlocked the door, and walked into the dark living room.

My hand found the light switch, turning on the lights. The entire house was quiet, which meant Adaora was either in her studio working or sleeping in her room already.

I let my heels fall to the floor as I walked in further and dropped on the couch.

What a night.

What a miserable night.

Wanting to check the time, I looked down for my phone in my hand, but it was empty.

Shit!

My purse too was nowhere to be found.

A groan left my lips as I realized...

I left them at the party.

It's like this girl doesn't know the shege she's in for.💀

I didn't make the change of Jude's face claim official and I don't even know why😂
If you check the last aesthetics I posted, you'll see the new face claim for him. It's just two chapters before this one. Tenks and Goblez 😗

Mistakes? please point them out.

Merry Christmas.🎄❤️