Hey, guysssss🥺🥺♥️

Omooo, I just keep getting busier and busier.😩 I was supposed to update yesterday but, here it is now.✨

Dive in.

_____________𖧷_____________

"𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑎 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑑
𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑒."

_______________𖧷_____________

        ~𝙺𝙷𝙰𝙻𝙸𝙻 𝙾𝙻𝙰𝙼𝙸𝙻𝙴𝙺𝙰𝙽 𝙼𝙰𝙻𝙸𝙺~

My solid fist collided with the punching bag for the umpteenth time. It sent the stuffed object flying backwards, and I feared it was going to come off from its position. Sweat trickled off my face, down to the hollow of my neck. I was glaring so hard at the punching bag, using it as an object to vent.

I wouldn't be surprised if my knuckles were starting to turn bloody beneath these hand gloves. I have been sending hard punches across to the punching bag.

Non-stop!

SLAM!

I punched, again, not losing count.

"Fifteen."

The hard impact of my punches kept sending the bag backwards. I wasn't ready to stop. 

"Sixteen."

I punched. Hard.

"Seventeen!"

A loud grunt tore through my mouth.

"Eighteen!" 

"Nineteen!"

I groaned, not satisfied that I wasn't getting this anger out of my system. I wanted it gone. I hated staying angry for a long time. I raised my fist in the air, wanting to jam my knuckles on the bag__

"Khalil!"

Kam yelled. He sounded so infuriated and nearly out of breath. I didn't spare so much as a glance in his direction. I kept my eyes trained on the punching bag, glaring at it.

"WHAT!" 

I fired at him, filled with irritation. Wheezing breaths escaped me now and then, my entire body soaked in my sweats. I tore the gloves off my hands and walked past the light-skinned boy.

"You could have let me finish!" I growled at him, displeased. Heck, I sounded like a werewolf on a full moon. I was so pissed and the last thing I needed right now was Kamsi bugging me.

I marched towards the treadmill, getting on it.

"You looked like you were about to murder someone. Guy, you should have seen the veins popping out of your neck." He hissed. I paid no heed to him and kept on working on the treadmill.

She'll go away.

She'll go away.

She'll___

Fuck this.

"Bruh, what's got you all worked up?" Kamsi, who sounded like he couldn't keep his questions to himself for one more second, blurted out, his tone filled with concern.

I turned in the direction of the light-skinned boy who kept himself busy with the barbells in his arms, raising them up and down, while he waited for my response. Patiently, if I might add.

I exhaled, flashing him a stiff smile.

Well, I couldn't exactly tell him that I have not been able to get an ounce of sleep for the past few days, occasionally haunted by a pair of teary hazel orbs whenever I closed my eyes. Fuck! I couldn't tell my best friend that.

"I'm okay, man." I waved him off dismissively, in the gentlest way I could, wanting to evade his questions ever-so-subtly. Kam wasn't a fool. Heck, as weird as it may sound, he was one of the smartest people I knew. 

The model scoffed, he shrugged his shoulders casually, a look of disbelief plastered on his face as he took me in. I knew what was coming next.

"For your mind, like that," Kam paused, chuckling.

"Wait, Khalil, come, who dey dash you this audacity wey you get? Reason me, my guy." Kamsi had dropped the barbells in his hands, his arms were now folded across his chest with a frown etched on his face.

"You open your mouth, look me finish con dey lie to my face! Knowing full well that I know, wait, that we both know you are lying." He scoffed, the tiny sound accompanied by an eye roll.

I stared at him and said nothing. I dipped my hand into the pocket of my shorts, easing out my phone. I glanced at the time and sighed before tucking the phone back in, my eyes meeting Ola's slouched frame.

His eyes were thoroughly fixed on his phone, eye bags adorning them. He looked like shit. No cap.

"You look like a zombie," I said to his hearing. His eyes left the screen of his phone and they dropped to my frame. The corner of his lips twitched in a smirk.

"We both look like shit." That was his response and I guffawed, loudly. I threw him a soft smile, then reverted my gaze to Kam, who had one of his brows arched at me in a questioning manner.

I exhaled.

"I'm okay, bruh." I was still lying to Kam. I didn't know why, but I was still lying to him. 

"I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier." I apologized, keeping my voice as soft as I could. Kam didn't say a word. He turned on his heels, moving farther away from me.

He was pissed.

He knew I was still lying to him.

I am pissed. I am so mad at myself. It didn't even help that I knew the reason I was this mad at myself. Instead, it only aggravated the whole thing and left me more restless than I was.

All my life, there's only ever been one girl. One girl that was capable of evoking emotions in me, one girl that had me wrapped around her pinkie. That one girl I'd move mountains for without batting an eyelid, who knew very well how to push my buttons. The good and bad ones. 

That girl was my sister. Niniola.

She has been my number one weakness for as long as I can remember and now, I can't shake off this tiny, infuriating feeling, rousing in me and subtly reminded that everything was about to change.

A certain hazel-eyed girl, the small-framed girl I have suddenly found so hard to get out of my mind. I didn't understand how she thinks she could just waltz into my thoughts like she owned the place, taking over every bit of concentration I had left, striping me of it.

I didn't know this girl and I couldn't for the life of me comprehend why I wasn't able to get myself to stop thinking about her. It was as though the more I resisted, the harder it got.

I probably should have just hung out with the guys for a little while before leaving. Maybe, just maybe, our paths wouldn't have crossed.

You should have just minded your business.

Exactly!

I wasn't the type to easily lose my cool. I hated it. I always tried my best to stay in control and to stay in touch with my emotions. To control them. But, all she had to do was throw a few degrading words in my face and I blew up like a volcano!

I shouldn't have said anything.

I should have been the bigger person.

I wasn't even any better. I stooped to her level. Heck, the wave of guilt that overwhelmed me that day was unmatched. It swallowed me whole and I was drowning in it. The look in her eyes made me feel so guilty. The guilt ate at me so much and I hated it.

I just knew I had to find her. I had to make things right. I wanted to apologize to her.

Oga, no dey lie, just say you want to see her!

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

There was only one person that knew nearly the entire population of the students in Whitburn if not all. The social butterfly. Whitburn's golden boy. Kam.

I had to ask Kam.

The thought of talking to Kam about a girl I barely knew had sweat trickling down my face. I shifted on my foot, my eyes straying to the large sofa where Ola was sleeping.

Why did this guy even come to the gym?

Kam had this adorable grin on his face as he scooted over to Ola's corner. He was going to pester him. Well, Ola should have thought about it twice before he decided to take a nap at the School's gym.

"Kam," I called, interrupting what he had going on. He reverted his gaze from the sleeping boy and turned to me, quirking a brow at me. I exhaled, waving him over.

He rolled his eyes and got off the sofa, sauntering over to meet me.

"If this is not important, you owe me lunch." He threatened, wagging his finger at me. He uncapped the water bottle in his hands and chugged the content down his throat, non-stop. 

He arched his brow at me, indicating that I should get on with it.

"I'm looking for someone," I told him.

"As per na me be Google shey?" He shot back at me, with a frown etched on his forehead. I palmed myself and sighed. Of course, he was going to play this game.

"KAM!" I called sharply. I was starting to grow impatient. He raised his hands in the air in mock surrender, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

"Fine, fine. Who are you looking for?" 

"Is she in this school?"

Those five words rendered me speechless. My mouth went wide at his question and my jaw was almost dropping to the floor. I was appalled to the core. He waved his hands in my face, dismissing my shock like it meant nothing.

"Don't look at me like that, Khalil. You are an open book." That was his response. I snapped my mouth shut and nodded, still dazed.

"I don't know her name but I can tell you what she looks like," I told him and he urged me to go on.

"She's about five feet three or so. She's light-skinned and has a lot of piercings. Oh and yes! She rides a bike." I supplied. I watched as Kam's face lit up with surprise. His lips soon stretched into a wide grin, amusement swirling in his eyes.

"Yeah, I'd bet my Porsche on it. It's Dunmade. There's only one girl in the whole of Whitburn that rides a bike. Pretty dope, if you ask me." He was grinning from ear to ear.

He had something akin to fascination in his eyes. It took a while for me to piece it together, my eyes widening in realization. He took a step backwards and raised his hands in surrender, shaking his head.

"No, no, no, no. Don't get me wrong. Yes, she's hot, but please o, I'm a soft boy. I don't have the balls to go near her. Guy, have you seen that girl?!" Kam squinted his eyes at me, disbelief marrying his features.

A wave of relief washed over me.

"Ugh, you are so scary!" He whined like a little boy, stomping his foot on the ground. I chuckled at his childishness.

"What department is she in?" I asked him.

"Linguistics," He responded with the corner of his lower lip twitching in a smirk. I nodded, smiling at him. I picked up my backpack from the sofa and glanced at Ola. He was asleep. He looked so exhausted.

Wetin do this guy?

I made a mental note to find out what was wrong with him later.

"Oh," Kam's voice had me halting in my tracks. I looked over my shoulder, staring at him.

"Good luck, brother. You are going to need it." He smirked at me and I flipped him off. I grabbed my backpack and headed for the showers. I smelled like sweat. I can't show up looking like this. She'll probably just haul her helmet to my head.

I took a quick shower and got dressed in fresh clothes. Then, I left the gym with one mission in mind. Find Dunmade and apologize.

                                        •••••

I pulled over at the parking lot of the Linguistics department, over five minutes ago and yet, I couldn't bring myself to step out of my car. I tapped my fingers nervously on the steering wheel, my eyes wandering around the surroundings through the windshield of my car.

I sighed.

What did I get myself into?

I couldn't comprehend why I was glued to the seat of this car and unable to step out. It was just an apology. I mean, how hard can that be? I'll just find her and apologize.

"She's not all that scary, Khalil." I tried to convince myself. No, I convinced myself but, omo, this convincing wasn't convincing. This was a girl that looked like she was going to shred me to pieces when I tried to help her. 

Oh, and let's not forget. You insulted her.

Fuck me.

The urge to start this engine and drive out of the lot, forgetting she ever existed was irresistible. That way, I wouldn't have to deal with her sharp mouth anymore.

You have survived Niniola's wrath. You can survive this.

I nodded my head. And with that, I got out of my car and locked the doors.

I took in the sight of the students trooping in and out of the entrance that led to the innermost part of every lecture room in the department. I let my gaze travel around as I searched for a friendly face I could approach for directions.

I soon spotted a tall girl with a dark red weave on her head. She had a vibrant smile on her face, her phone raised slightly in the air. I wasn't able to decipher if she was making a video or was on a call with someone. But then, she looked friendly enough to approach for directions.

"Hey," I called, gaining her attention. She paused and whipped her head in my direction, her eyes zeroing in on my frame. She gave me a once-over and turned to her phone.

Ouch!

"I'll talk to you later." She said to the person on the other end of the call and hung up. Her eyes flickered over to my frame and she smiled softly at me.

"Hey, how can I help you?" She asked, the radiant smile on her face never faltering.

"Are you familiar with anyone called Dunmade in this department?" I asked, desperately hoping she knew her because, at this point, I wasn't ready to start walking around, looking for people to point me in her direction.

I didn't come this far, only to get disappointed.

"Sure, the creepy girl. What's wrong?" She queried. I didn't like how inquisitive her tone was getting.

"I__"

She cut me off, nudging her head forward.

"There she is," She told me. I twirled on my heels, and my gaze travelled across the surroundings before it dropped to her small frame that was fixing her helmet. I turned to the tall girl and flashed her an appreciative smile, then skidded off to meet her.

I swallowed the spit that was starting to build up in my mouth, tucking my hands into the pocket of my jeans. The terrible frown on her face as she tried to fix whatever it was she was fixing in her helmet, should have been enough to throw me off but I stood my ground.

What was I even going to say to her? "Hey, I am so sorry about the other day. Please, forgive me and let's be friends."

Nah, that sounds dumb.

"Hey," I called out to her.

She halted, her helmet still in her clutch. She moved her gaze from the helmet and it settled on me. Her face automatically contorted in a deep frown, the contempt she abhorred against me evident in them. 

I swallowed, my eyes subtly taking in her appearance, against my will. Just like the last time I saw her, she was wearing a wig. A mass of curly wine-coloured weave, dropping on her shoulders. Heck, I couldn't even see her ears due to how full it was.

The milk-coloured body con top she wore pressed firmly against her skin and she paired it with ripped jeans shorts and leather boots. She sure had a knack for those.

She was irritated at the sight of me and she wasn't even trying to hide it. She wanted me to see it. She wanted me to know how she felt about me. And well, I kinda deserved it. I went all you-are-not-my-type on her. Girls hate to hear that. So much.

It wasn't my fault. She started it.

"Are you going to say something or are you just going to stand there gawking at me?" She uttered with displeasure, her voice filled with mockery. Her facial expression stayed impassive.

The hostility her voice held was chilling. Sure, she hated Kiitan, but it felt like this upgraded part of her coldness was reserved just for me. It honestly felt like she hated me more than she hated the guy.

"You are not deaf now, or are you?" She eyed beneath her lashes. I was amused at the thickness they held.

I didn't miss the "wouldn't be surprised if you were '' that followed, accompanied by a subtle eye roll.

"I'm trying to have a decent conversation with you. Just, don't make it harder than it is for me." I told her, my tone matching the harshness her tone held.

Oh, you mean the conversation where you have been staring at her like a creep?

Sureeee.

What was it about this girl that riled me up like this? That makes me want to throw my self-control out the window and stoop so low to her level, exchanging words with her. I wasn't a child, for goodness sake.

A humourless chuckle escaped her lips.

"Well, I don't want to. Now, get out of my sight before I run you over with my bike." She told me, her blank hazel eyes remaining fixated on mine. Then, she scoffed.

She continued.

"And trust me when I say that I'll break every breakable bone in your body. I just got the tires. You don't want to mess with me, Malik." A cold smile graced her lips, she stared at me as though she wanted her words to sink in. Like she wanted me to feel the weight of her threats.

And on G, I wasn't fazed. Heck, I didn't even bat an eyelash. I couldn't help it, a soft smile crept onto my face. I was thoroughly amused by her threats. She stared at me as if I had just grown two heads, her eyes blinking now and then.

"Are you insane?" She whisper-yelled at me, her eyes darting around.

"It's Khalil," I uttered softly, my smile not faltering.

"Well, I didn't ask. Just fucking leave!" She snapped, taking a step closer as she jabbed me in the chest with her helmet, a deep frown etched on her face.

"Why are you so angry? I'm trying to apologize!" I threw my hands up in the air, frustrated at how obstinate she was acting. Sure, I knew it was going to be hard but, not this hard.

She squinted her eyes at me like she didn't believe the crap that just left my mouth. She arched one of her brows at what I just said and scoffed aloud.

"Really?"

"You have the nerve to stand in front of me and ask me why I'm so angry?" She chuckled, palming her forehead.

"Oh, that's pretty convenient coming from the same asshole that said I disgusted him. The same jerk that said I was foul-mouthed, rude, self-absorbed, an ingrate with loose screws in the head, yelling like a Banshee!" She fired at me, her voice heavy with sarcasm. She wasn't even done.

My mouth went agape, forming an O shape.

"Remember?"

"I asked if it fucking rings a bell!" 

"What do you want from me now? You have come to tell me how I'm topping the list of world self-absorbed girls?" She inquired, her voice thick with contempt.

"Like, Guy, just leave, abeg." She dismissed me and I felt my mouth snap shut on its own accord. My shoulders slumped in defeat as a sigh escaped my lips.

"You remember everything I said?" The words rolled out of my mouth. It wasn't until I said that I realized how dumb that sounded. But, before I could open my mouth to speak, she beat me to it.

"Of course I do, Genius!" She shot at me.

"I was trying to help and you were being rude! I had to defend myself." I countered, defensively and my face contorted in a frown.

I didn't miss the look of disbelief that crossed her face.

Was she being for real right now? God, I should have known. This was a mistake. I should never have come looking for her in the first place.

"I didn't need your help!" She shunned me.

"I was doing very fine on my own. I had it all under control, beamer boy, saviour of the world, Guardian of the galaxy, the defender of the universe! You could have chosen to walk away!" She was shouting at me now. She didn't even look like she gave a flying flapdoodle, right now. She could care less if she was being stared at.

Yeah, you could have walked away.

Admit it, Khalil. She intrigues you.

I exhaled and nodded in agreement. I didn't have any strength left in me to keep up with her childish banters. She looked like she could stand here and yell at me all night. I didn't have that kinda strength.

She was glaring intently at me.

"I'm sorry, Dunmade." That seemed to do the trick. I watched as her tensed features slackened. Her facial expression remained impassive.

"Dunmade—"

Well, I guess I spoke too soon.

"Stop saying my name!" She bellowed.

Omooo.

I didn't allow that to deter me from the one goal I had in mind.

"I'm sorry about the awful things I said to you. Listen, if you want me to say it all day, I would. Let me make it up to you with lunch, please," I paused, examining her features. She watched me patiently, waiting for me to finish what I wanted to say.

Real smooth, Khalil. Real smooth.

She still had a light glare on her face, but that didn't stop me from taking a cautious step forward. I watched as her expression faltered, her hazel eyes strayed away from mine and she tucked her weave behind her ear.

"Take a step back. You are all in my face. I don't like it." She mumbled. Her tone was much softer now.

A smirk crawled up to my lips.

"Thanks. But no, thanks. I can buy myself lunch, if I am hungry. I don't want anything from you." She frowned, folding her arms across her chest. The tight frown on her face made her look so adorable, I couldn't resist chuckling.

"Please…" I pleaded.

"No!" She snapped at me.

"Please," I pressed on stubbornly.

"I said, no!" She said through gritted teeth.

"Dun__"

"Geez, you are so insisting." She rolled her eyes at me.

"Fine, I'll have lunch with you, if you promise to leave me alone after that. Will you?" She arched her brow at me. I stared at her for a moment before nodding.

"Sure," I lied smoothly.

I had to lie to her. I had no choice.

"That'll be tomorrow. I have somewhere to be right now." She rolled her eyes and got on her bike, fixing her helmet on her head.

"I'll meet you here tomorrow by 1 pm." That was the last thing I said to her before she rode off.

My lips curved in a smile.

I was definitely going to win the award for best in lying, because, deep down, I knew there was no way I was going to stay away from her. I could never.

A/N

*Gulps down a bottle of cold water, all- at-once*

😂😂😂😂

With all the big big grammar wey Dunmade dey speak, so she later agreed to have lunch with Khalil. Fear men!!😂😂🤝

In everything you do in this life, be assertive.🌚 Khalil left the gym in the hopes of apologizing to Dunmade and then, he'll leave. My guy got there and asked her out to eat lunch.😌😌

I think we can all agree that the only thing Ola is thinking about rn is how much his coffin is going to cost.💀💀

Anyways! Y'all should leave your thoughts in the comments section. I'll be waiting. As always. And, do not forget to vote, comment and share.✨

Adios✨

Love, Didi.♥️