Because This is my Convocation Week and Yesterday was my convocation, I have decided to bless you with an update🌚🌚. I'm very sure you really love me now, don't you? Don't worry, I love you too. PS. That's me in the media. B. A History and International Studies in the bag.

Now,

Let's dive deep

↭Jamal↭

"I swear, those models are actually very nice. Immediately I got to the site for the shoot, I blended in immediately with them, especially with Sophia and Kosi. Mehn, those girls are vibes." Skye chattered none stop about the photoshoot she had gone to last week. Yes, that one at the House of Tara.

We were seated in love garden, taking a break from sport rehearsals. Everyone had their paying full attention on Skye, especially Mateo who seemed so fascinated by everything coming out of her mouth. That's how smitten he was. I on the other hand barely had my mind in one place. My mind was all over the place, it has been since my visit to Faizal.

"The strangest thing about the shoot was that I met Irene's boyfriend and he looked so much like Mateo. It was so strange." Skye continued to chatter and I half listened to what they were saying. She even showed them the said guy's picture and everyone was in utter shock. I only glanced at the picture briefly before I looked away to stare ahead.

"How is that possible?" Somadina expressed his shock, his eyes going huge beneath his glasses.

"Mateo, are you sure you are not a twin?" Elyon asked and Mateo rolled his eyes playfully.

"This is fucking witch craft. Forget, this guy looks like you mehn." Vanessa said crudely.

"I met the dude." Mateo began to clarify. "We are not twins. He's the son of the former governor, loaded dude. Very cool too but we are certainly nothing alike. I am very much certain we are not twins. We just have those kind of resemblance." Mateo explained then went back to munching on his doritos.

"Also," Skye started with a smirk. "Haven't you heard of the saying, 'meji meji ni olorun da'yan'?" Skye asked. Somadina scrunched up his face because he had no idea what that meant. I almost chuckled at his priceless expression.

Almost .

"What the hell does that even mean?" He asked and everyone chuckled.

"It means God created people in twos. So, you have a look alike that isn't exactly your twin. Shey, you understand now?" Vanessa explained. She was Yoruba-Edo, so it was not strange that she knew the meaning of that statement.

"The bottom line is that you enjoyed yourself at the shoot, abi?" Elyon asked and Skye nodded.

"Yup! Especially the special one I had with Shade Onam!" Skye gushed.

"The director of the shoot saw that we both have green eyes so we did a special one together, just the two of us. They termed it Vanilla and Chocolate." She continued, bubbly excitement oozing from her. Her energy was almost contagious, but it didn't reach my side.

I wasn't in the mood.

"Oh! As per your complexions abi? Because I know Shade Onam has a dark and shine kind of skin. Beautiful by the way." Elyon chipped and everyone nodded.

"My own is just that the pictures should come out fast. I need to see how hot my girlfriend looks." Mateo looked at Skye, his tongue darting out to lick his lips as he stared at her like he was starving and he was the only meal on the table.

Gross! I quickly picked out of his doritos and chugged them at him.

"Guys na! Aw far you!" He snapped at me.

"Stop staring at my sister like she's a piece of meat on the slaughter slab." I told him. I tried to let my voice sound teasing but my moody state didn't let me.

"I am not complaining." Skye drawled, leaning into Mateo who in turn smirked at me. The others snickered as I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever." I spotted out, going right back into my shell. I felt a hand rest on mine and the jolt of energy currents through my veins told me exactly who it was. I turned to look at her and saw her eyes intently trained on me.

"Are you okay?" She asked me, her voice low so that only I could hear. I forced a smile, raising my eyebrows.

"I'm fine, babe. Why wouldn't I be?" I asked her, feigning ignorance. She cocked her head properly, obviously not buying my small act.

"Well, you have been awfully quiet and you have bee staring off into space." She stated, her eyes still on me and I sighed. "Are you sure you are okay?" She asked again.

"I'm alright Elyon. Trust me. I'll be okay." I picked her hand and pressed feathery kisses to her finger tips. She smiled at me nodding, even tho I knew for a fact that she didn't believe me. She didn't need to.

I just needed her by my side all the way.

We began talking again, this time I tried to engage myself a little more in their conversations so that I won't arouse suspicion. I began to get into the conversation, enjoying myself, forgetting my scattered mind. It seemed like I'd be fine. At least for that moment.

But seemed like the devil just wanted to play mind games with me. I don't know why I looked towards that direction, but I looked.

And he was there. My expression immediately turned sour.

He wasn't looking at my direction. I doubt he even knows that someone was watching him. He was with some guys from the commercial class, talking about something and occasionally laughing. He had that signature smirk on his lips. That smirk that I have gotten so familiar with.

And definitely not in a good way.

Goosebumps began to appear on my skin and I paled, my breath hitched. My eyes were still trained on his as everything Faizal and I discussed over the weekend came rushing back to my head.

Flash back.

"Jamal, I need you to calm down and stop pacing." Faizal told me for the umpteenth time but I didn't listen to him. My mind was in disarray and I wasn't thinking well at all.

"I can't calm down! You expression said it all, this is a big deal!" I lamented, frustrated and utterly clueless on what to do.

"Yes, it is a big deal but we have to tackle this with wisdom. So, please sit down. Your pacing is making dizzy and it's giving me a headache." He rubbed his temple to that effect. I sighed and settled down, but my legs began to vibrate. I certainly wasn't settled.

"Why exactly is he back? Your parents shouldn't have let him back after what he did." Faizal started, looking at me but I looked away. He would see right through me if I maintained eye contact.

"Khalil is family." Was my simple reply.

"You didn't tell them, did you?" And there it was. The question. He saw right through me and fished that out in just a few seconds. "Jamal, answer me. Did you or did you not tell your parents about the incident?" He asked again, his voice going a notch higher.

"I couldn't." Was my simple reply.

"Goddammit, Jamal!!" He snapped, hitting his table and that riled me up even more!

"I had no fucking choice!" I snapped back.

"You had a choice!" He countered, shutting me up immediately. "Your health, your life is enough for you to think about this, to tell your parents what he did to you and here you are, still protecting him, all for what?!"

"Khalil is family!" I countered back, standing up to my feet again. "If I had told my parents about the things he did then it would have put a strain between our families, especially my mum and her sister and that is the last thing I want. I don't want to destroy our family bond."

"That is not your decision to make, Jamal! They would put your health before any other thing! They won't think twice before severing any form of relationship needed to be severed because you are their priority, not Khalil!"

"It's also not your decision to tell me what to do, Faizal! You are not my dad." I snapped and there was a pin drop silence for a moment. Faizal scoffed out a humorless laughter, breaking the silence.

"Then why exactly are you here?" He asked me, his voice calm. I couldn't reply, my head hanging low and my breath laboured.

"Jamal, I can't keep telling you what you want to hear." He started again, after a while. "I am your therapist, so I'll tell you the truth. You are unbearably naive and it's painful, it's hurtful, in fact it's annoying. Yes, family is important, but what about your life? What will you say when that family tried to_"

"Don't say it." I stopped him, not wanting to hear more word, not wanting a reminder. "Please don't say it." I pleaded. Faizal sighed and leaned his hand on the table.

"You have to tell them, Jamal." He repeated but I shook my head because in my mind, telling my parents at this time wasn't even an option. At least not yet.

Do you want to wait till your life is threatened again?! Be wise this guy! My subconscious snapped at me.

"I can't. At least not yet." I told him and he shook his head. "And you can't tell them either, Faizal. Please." I pleaded.

"Have you at least told Skye?" He asked but I shook my head.

"No. She has her suspicions but I just leave her to her speculations." I replied.

"Jamal, to be very honest with you, I am not liking this one bit. I am agreeing not to tell your parents because it's not in my place and I am not your doctor, just your therapist so basically everything you tell me is confidential and between both of us. But_

You need to know what you are doing. Khalil is back and he is older and wiser. That can be a good thing and a bad thing because that wisdom he now has can be used for bad. So, the only thing you can do now is to pray and hope him being back won't cause any more damage to you. I'm still here so whenever you need me, I'm available. But_

Watch your back, Jamal. For your sake." He concluded, leaving my mind in a more confused and perplexed state.

End of Flashback.

"Jamal!" Skye's pitched voice tore through my trance and jerked my mind back to reality. I looked and saw that they all had their eyes on me, I didn't miss the worried look on their faces, especially on Skye's.

"What?" I asked them, clearly confused and disoriented.

"The bell went off." Somadina chipped in, eyeing me skeptically. "We need to get back to field for continuous practice, you know." He added.

"Oh, right. Sure, let's go." I gave them a small reassuring smile, trying to dissuade their thought off any form of worry or concern towards me. Somadina shrugged, going off with Vanessa.

"Hey dude, you good?" Mateo asked me and I nodded. He gave me a small smile before patting my shoulder and leaving with Skye. Elyon looked me.

"I don't believe you are okay." She deadpan, her face in her frown. "But I won't ask you anything until you are ready to tell me." She added and I flashed her a small smile.

"Thank you." I whispered.

"We should go." She said instead.

"You go ahead. I need to use the toilet first. I'd be right there." I told her and she nodded, walking towards the stadium while I walked in the opposite direction.

↭↭↭↭

I finished in the toilet, walking out only to meet Tolani standing just by the side of the door. She turned at the sound of the door and faced me, her lips bearing a smile while my face was scrunched up in a frown. I stepped out completely, my eyes still trained on hers.

What is she doing here?

"I was wondering why you were taking so long in there." She started, pulling herself off the wall.

"Did you follow me here?" I asked her, my hands folded across my chest.

"You make it sound so creepy." She replied, a smile still playing on her lips and I almost rolled my eyes. "No, I didn't follow you here, I was going to the field when I saw you come in here so I just decided to wait so I could see you." She stated and I rose my eyes brows.

"That doesn't make it sound any less creepy." I told her and she laughed. She actually laughed like I had said something extremely funny. I maintained a straight face, looking at her.

"You don't have to be so uptight." Tolani said and I cocked my head at her but didn't reply anything. When she realized that she wasn't going to get any reply from me, she sighed.

"I sent you are message some time last week. I don't think you saw it because you didn't reply." She said and I shrugged.

"I saw it. I just didn't see the need to reply the message. You already thanked me back at your house, there was really no need to thank me again." I replied calmly with another shrug. Tolani pouted, her face holding an expression I couldn't decipher. Something between remorse and pity.

"I know and I honestly don't want to take it for granted because what you did back at my place helped me a great deal. I haven't opened to anyone about what is going on and you basically offered to listen to me." Her voice was soft, gentle. Nothing like the Tolani I was involved with and more like the Tolani I first knew. So I relaxed, just a little bit.

"Like I said, it's all good." I started. "No one should be going through what you are going through. I can't say I understand how it feels but then I know you'd be alright. You are a strong girl, Tolani." I gave her a small smile.

"I'm not as strong as you think I am, but thanks. Your words made me feel better." She said, a smile spreading across her lips and I nodded. Suddenly, she lunged herself at me and wrapped her hand around my middle. I was in shock, my hands flying up to the air as I didn't know what to do.

"What are you_" a throat clearing behind me interrupted me and I looked back to Elyon standing just a few feet away, hands crossed across her shoulder and an expressionless look on her face.

Shit.

"I was wondering what was keeping you waiting." Was what she said, looking at Tolani who had stepped away from me. My breath was caught in my throat and I didn't speak. I looked at Tolani a frown evident on my face.

"I'm sorry. I just got a little excited." She said, letting out an uneasy chuckle.

Excited about what?!!

"I should go." She added briefly and skipped away, leaving Elyon and I alone in the hall way. I looked at Elyon and saw her watching me, her eye brows raised as she walked towards me.

"Elyon, look. I can ex_" I began but was cut short when Elyon tiptoed and smacked a quick kiss on my lips before stepping away from me. Shocked and definitely not expecting that, I looked at her in confusion.

What just happened?

"Track rehearsals are about to start. You will miss the fun." She said and I even grew more confused.

What?

"You are not pissed at me?" I asked her and she let out a laugh.

"Oh I'm furious." She told me and I veered back immediately. "But not at you. At her." She nodded towards the direction Tolani had gone off to. Still not following, I cocked my eye brows in question.

"If that was her attempt to make us argue or stuff then she is mistaken. She saw me coming, that's why she hugged you." She explained with a roll of her eyed and it made more sense.

"Oldest trick in the book." Elyon scoffed out and took my hand, pulling me along towards the direction of the stadium. I smiled, proud of her.

God, I love this girl.

↭↭↭↭

The Olympia Arrival Day

The Day every SS3 student of Limelight Academy has been anticipating for the past three weeks. Using the two Coaster Buses of the school, we were convened to the State House, where the Competition would be holding. Being a week's event, provision had already been made for all schools at one of the best hotels very close to the state house. At the moment, we were at the registration table with the other schools, getting our tags and brochure.

"Damn, this is going to very huge. I can't wait for this to start." I heard Khalil say from beside me and I looked at him, like really looked at me.

For the entire week, he has been extra excited about this competition than Somadina was excited about kicking some butts at the Academic section. I didn't know why before until dinner last night when mum was talking to him about basket ball. It was like they both knew something that no one else did and it got me extra curious. Mum had told him something yesterday and for the first time, I saw Khalil smile.

An actual Genuine Smile.

"You seem really excited about this than everyone else." I chipped in, mustering a small smile of my own, hoping that he doesn't shun me or something. Surprisingly, his smile increased even more.

"Are you kidding?! Of course I'm excited! Are you not?" He asked me, nudging me a bit. I chuckled slightly.

"I am but your own is really on the high side. It's a good thing." I said and he laughed, he actually laughed. My smile increased.

"Hey, I heard that scouts would be coming. Sport scouts I mean, to watch the sports competition." He inquired and I nodded.

"Yeah. Two of our runners got signed last year and also two of our basket ballers." I told him and his eyes went huge.

"Wow!" He muttered and I chuckled.

"Don't worry. They can't see you and look away. Between me and you, you are the best basket baller that the school has got. They will definitely look at you." I assured him and he looked a me for a while before he smile, a small sad smile.

"If only it was that easy, coz." He muttered but I heard him. I frowned, wondering what he had meant by that statement. I didn't get to ask him because Mr Ayoola called everyone to come together so he could talk to us.

"Seems like you and Khalil are getting along." Elyon said with a smirk when I got to her. I shrugged, giving a small smile.

"Well, more or less." I replied, stealing a look at Khalil who was standing just a few feet away from us. It was refreshing, having a real conversation with Khalil, without feeling any sort of fear or anything. I wanted to have that relationship with my cousin.

Is that even possible.

"Oh my God, is that Crescent High!" Someone screamed, catching the attention of all of us.

"Oluwa o! See Bus!" Another person spoke.

Everyone looked and watched as a Bus rolled into the compound, literally catching the attention of everyone. Their school bus was literally a BRT bus. Some med stuffs. Everyone was chattering, whispering as the students made their way out of of the bus in groups, walking with some sort of air around them.

"Gosh, their boys are fine." Vanessa said and I looked to see that the guys were beside Elyon and I. I didn't even know when they joined us.

"And their girls too. Damn" I didn't miss the voice with a sultry undertone at all. Khalil's. I chuckled as I obviously wasn't expecting any thing less for him. He had eyes for sweet things.

"Is that Sophia fucking Williams?!" Someone whispered harshly, everyone following her gaze as the last group came out of the bus.

"Sophia Williams is a student of Crescent High?" Elyon whispered-yelled at me and I nodded. Skye had told me that.

"Jackpot." That was Khalil's voice again.

This was no other group like the ones that had come out of the bus earlier. This was definitely the hit clique of the set. It was so obvious with the way they carried themselves, the way they walked. Sophia Williams was there alright. I could sight my guys, Kunle and Adam walking right beside her with four other people I didn't recognize. Honestly, it was like slow motion in my eyes and I was sure it was that way with every other person.

Chai! See swag!

"Mehn! This their entrance gan is enough to win competition." Mateo lamented and I laughed, looking back at the group as they made their way to the registration table. Crescent High was a dope school, with dope and friendly people that I have met and become friends with personally. But for this week,

We were Rivals.

A/N

Yo! Yo! Yo!

I was supposed to drop this update yesterday as per a gift to you all for congratulating me on my convocation but I was too tired yesterday that's why I couldn't do it.

Jamal annoys me at times. Like the way he put people's feelings over is own even when it's detrimental to him is annoying and I feel like slapping him because I have spoken to him several times but it's like he doesn't want to listen. So whatever he does, it's not on me o, it's on him.

Khalil... Hmmmn. I won't say anything else.

The Olympia has finally started, more or less and our favourites from "Perfectly Imperfect" made quite an entrance into my book oo. Who felt that? 🤣🤣🤣. Riri didn't know about this at all.

Who is excited for the next update? I don't know when that will be sha.

Don't forget to vote and comment and also share. I'll see you when I see you. ❤️❤️❤️