"Together we can face any challenges as deep as the ocean and as high as the sky."

Dedicated to Ghene-jay1

I've come back y'all! No, no, I didn't disappear.😎

Enjoy the new chapter.❤️

                                    •BOLU•

As I walked up the stairs that led to the senior block on Monday morning, I couldn't help but hum the tune of Girls Like You. I mean, I've always loved that song but now that Ore and I sang it together, I just felt so attached.

It was like the song was the mantra of our relationship - whatever our relationship was. . .

Anyway, I finally got to the SSS3 block and hadn't walked as far as two feet into it when someone called my name from behind. I turned back so fast but the person steadied me and I found my balance. His grip was strong. Strangely very strong.

"Oh, Ayo." I exhaled and smiled. "Wassup?"

He smiled easily too and let go of my arm and we walked slowly together down the hallway. "I'm great. Good morning."

"Yeah, good morning." I grinned this time.

"Wow, you must be really happy. Your grin is infectious."

"Yeah. . ." I drawled out nervously when I remembered the reason for my happiness was supposed to be secret.

"Okay." We both stopped walking. His face turned serious and he moved closer to me. "Can I ask you a few questions?"

I raised a brow, wondering what he wanted to ask me. "Um. . .sure?"

"Have you noticed anything strange about Nina, lately? Like, does she act weird or has she been acting weird?"

"Hmmmm." I thought about this. Nina didn't seem strange to me. Apart from the fact that she wears the school sweater everyday and suddenly disappears occasionally, she seemed fine to me.

Should that be counted as weird?

I voiced my thoughts out to Ayo and his brows just knitted more. I wondered why he looked so worried. Nina was always fine, why the fuss?

And if he was asking me about her, who was I going to ask? I mean, I'd always counted on the fact that if I didn't know anything about Nina or about where she  was, I'd ask him. But here he was, asking me.

It was now a game of; he who asks shall be asked and he who has asked shall ask.

"Did she tell you anything, like any secret?" He asked further, looking directly into my eyes like he'd get answers from them.

I thought about this again. Nina and I had shared a lot of secrets considering we'd been best friends for a while now but it wasn't any deep secrets. It was just the normal girl gossip type that we promised never to tell anyone.

Like the time she had a crush on one of our teachers. I had laughed hard at her about it. Those were the kind of secrets we kept. Mostly.

Don't tell anybody!

I shook my head and crossed my arms, glaring playfully at him. "Nah. I can't break the girl code, you know?"

Yeah, I don't know what the girl code is, either. It's not only you.

He smiled a little. "Okay, Bolu." He held my arm again, not as firm as before, but I still felt his strong grip. "But be sure to tell me if you, you know, notice anything strange?"

I nodded with uncertainty. "Yeah. . .sure."

His lips formed a thin line before he said, "thank you," and then released my arm from his grip. For a little while, I wondered why his grip was so strong.

We started walking again, slowly, towards our classrooms, talking about basketball - funny how he wasn't shy to talk about it with me and also not shy to talk with me - when those boys, whom the whole school knew and feared, stopped in front of us.

Sukky, Jare and Kome.

I nervously tugged at the straps of my backpack. I avoided looking at them. My mind went back to the time at the basketball court when they'd also come to talk to us. To talk to Ayo. 

It also went back to the time Nina, Joy, Fred and I were walking back to class after practice last Friday. When they'd also stopped in front of us. It didn't feel like much of a coincidence again.

I kept tugging my bag straps and turned to look at Ayo, whose eyes were hardened and several shades darker as he glared at the three boys - men? Men-boys? Whatever.

I wasn't surprised at the identical sinister smirks that graced the faces of the geng in front of us. Rather, I was surprised at how Ayo didn't look like himself. He didn't look like the cool, calm and collected fellow I was talking to a few seconds ago.

And this same expression, which I'd tried to ignore, was the one he'd worn that day at the basketball court when these boys had shown up.

I knew Ayo was, on a normal day, shy, reserved and all. I knew he somewhat had a sense of humor and that he liked food and basketball just like me. I knew all that. But despite those facts, it still kinda shocked me each time he spoke up. Each time he spoke to me. And this, was even more shocking.

God knows how much I didn't want to have anything to do with them - Sukky and His Geng. That's why, ever since I joined RBA, I'd avoided them. But now, it seemed like they were hovering around me. . . or was I just being paranoid?

I kept mute and stiffened as Sukky walked closer to us. Stared at me, smiling coyly and then, smirked at Ayo

"Balogun. Gee, how far na?" Sukky finally spoke. He stretched his arm out towards Ayo for a boy's handshake.

Ayo blatantly ignored it and said, "We're not gees."

"Don't mind him," Sukky said, turning to me, "he's just shy."

I didn't know whether to respond or not so I just stared blankly at the guy. He smiled. "I guess you're shy too."

"What'd you want?" Ayo said, his tone having an edge to it.

"That your babe," Sukky said and winked. "Our babe."

Our babe?

Who is 'our'?

Were they talking about Nina?

What in the name of Baba Dudu was going on here??

Ayo grimaced. "Y'all are disgusting buttheads. Messed up retards."

I was beyond astounded at the words that came out of Ayo's mouth. Where was the gentle boy again? What else was he gonna show me about his character?

"Watch your words, man!" Jare said suddenly, dropping his crossed arms to his sides like he was ready to pounce on someone.

"Don't forget your freaking place!" Kome added. His face twisted in a murderous look.

I flinched twice at the tone of their voices.

"Calm down guys." Sukky's voice was still calm. "Make una chill." He touched Jare's shoulder and gestured with his other hand for Kome to calm down. "Relax."

"I won't talk much Balogun, because you know, your friend," he nodded towards me, "is here. But I'll let you know this: consider our offer and what we've been talking about and we'd let you off the hook and if you don't, well. . ." He shrugged. "You sabi wetin go happen."

Ayo and Sukky locked eyes in a stare down. I found myself wondering who would win between them. It looked like it'd be a draw because none was willing to back down.

Again, Ayo's boldness surprised me.

After what felt like hours of a stare down match, Sukky exhaled and smiled. Ayo's face was still hardened.

"Have a nice day, Balogun. Our main gee."

Then three of them walked past us, intentionally bumping their shoulders with ours, making me hit Ayo. He steadied me again. Asked if I was all right. I nodded.

"What was that about?" I asked him.

He just looked at me, face expressionless. "That was nothing."

I gave him a look. "Really?"

"Yeah, really." His tone signaled that the discussion was over. "I'll see you later, Bolu. Don't forget to tell me if you notice anything about my girlfriend."

I'd barely said "Okay" before he started walking away with quickened steps, to his classroom.

I just stared at his back. Wondered what was really up. Wondered if there was something Ayo was hiding from all of us. I stood there, dazed for a while before I shook my head and shrugged.

Weird things. . .

Weird things. . .

Well, whatever.

I continued humming the tune of Girls Like You as I walked into my class.

                                   •ORE•

I had the best time of my life with Bolu on Sunday night. It was total bliss and ethereal. It felt out of this world. I'd never felt so alive.

So free. So unstoppable. So true to myself. Honestly, for the first time in years, I'd never felt so real. It was like, with Bolu by my side, I could do anything; run the longest mile, fly to the highest heights, break existing records, climb the highest mountain, swim the largest ocean - Pacific ocean. Yes, I felt like I could do all those stuff.

And with the way adreanline and other hormones filled me up each time I was with that girl, all those things could become possible feats.

I recall how she'd appeared that night, looking all shy and flustered. Dressed all gorgeous and hot. She was so beautiful, more than she knew, more than she'd ever admit. I already saw her standing there, at the entrance of WONKER'S. I intentionally did not go to her because I wanted to stare at her and get lost in her beauty for a long, long time.

What? It would not have happened if I'd immediately rushed to her. Insult me all you want. It was my date, not yours!

Unfortunately for me, I couldn't stare longer than five minutes because well, she texted me and once she did, I couldn't keep her waiting.

When we got talking, she'd asked me what I wanted to change about the world and I'd replied her with what I did.

She didn't believe I could ever have evil parents. Didn't believe I had my own problems with my family. I couldn't blame her though. I mean, if you weren't reading my story and you attended RBA, would you believe I had any problems?

You definitely would not!

I remember how she'd smiled when we sang Girls Like You on that stage in the Karaoke club. I sang. She sang and rapped. I remember her moving her body, swaying her hips side to side to the rhythm and beat of the song. I knew she really loved the song because it came easily to her even when I'd caught her severe times, humming it. She had an amazing talent and she didn't even know it. And somehow that song just explained our relationship.

A guy like me definitely loved to run 'round with a girl like her.

To me, she was the star that night. Others might have seen only me but I saw just her. Only her. I'd wanted to just hold her,  kiss her for a long time, right there and then but I held myself because I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable.

And somehow, I wanted her to make the first move. Not me. And she did make the first move at the end of the night. I'd noticed she went shy but I let her stop by herself. I figured Bolu was a girl I shouldn't rush things with. So whatever pace she was going at, I decided to follow.

These and many more were things that made me fall for Boluwaji Jayeola. Things that made me want to be with her and stay with her, without any hinderance. Without any obstacles. She was so different from Chidera. . .

God, Chidera.

How was I gonna tell her? When was I gonna tell her? Would I even grow the balls to tell her?

"Oh, shit," I said out loud.

She was the one that had called the time I'd excused myself. It was her call. I couldn't ignore it so I picked up. She'd gone into full talk mode and told me all about her weekend. How she went to the mall with Ashley, what they did together, what they'd bought together. She'd told me she wished I was with them and that it'd have been more fun.

Part of me had felt guilty. It made me want to leave her and at the same time, not leave her. Taking this step of breaking up with Chidera was gonna be harder than I thought.

"Shit!" I cussed again.

"This one that you're just saying 'shit'. What is shitting oh?" I turned my head to look at the person that spoke. It was Jeremy. All dressed and ready for school. He had an eyebrow raised as he looked at me. "What's up with you?"

We were the only ones in the room so I figured the other boys had either gone down for breakfast or were in the bathroom.

I shook my head and smiled. "It's nothing bruh. I'm all good." I started packing my books in my bag.

"Hmmmm. Are you sure?" He asked again.
" 'Cause you don't look fine."

Always one to see through me.

"Trust me bro," I said, "I'm all good."

He didn't look so convinced but he shrugged. "Okay. Remember what we talked about on Saturday? Please just do the right thing."

I swallowed. He didn't even know I went out with Bolu on Sunday. Honestly, I don't know how he did not already find that out. Maybe the lie I told was believable.

I lied I was gonna see my parents. Somehow, the hostel master and everyone believed me.

And just like that, without calling my parents to confirm, the hostel master let me go.

I certainly didn't know they were gonna buy that lie. Considering the fact that if my parents ever wanted me to come home, they'd send a driver or Aisha to come for me. Still the whole hostel bought the lie.

Was my post as RBA's Head boy and star student that powerful? Did I really have that much control over people?

Another surprising thing was that I was able to get my car. Not really my car, but the one my parents let me drive which was black Lexus saloon car.

I was thinking of actually showing up at home to get it when I remembered I had one of the drivers' number. I was always nice to him and I felt he was going to do me just this one favor. And he did. He brought the car out of the house. Handed me the keys and all. I don't know how he managed to do that but he did.

Thinking back now, all those things were too easy. It made everything look suspicious.

Or was I just overthinking?

"Yeah. Thanks, man." I smiled at Jeremy and just then, my phone dinged. I unlocked it and opened the message. It was from the least person I'd ever expect - Aisha.

Aisha: Hey lil bro. What's up?

I squinted my eyes. Closed them and opened them again to ensure I was seeing well. Aisha just texted me without being annoying?

Pigs have grown wings. They definitely have.

In my whole seventeen - almost eighteen- years of my life, Aisha had never texted me something as simple and as sensible as this. I'm for real. This was the most sensible thing she'd ever texted me.

I furrowed my brows, wondering why she'd even texted. Was it because she  just wanted to say hi, or because they'd found my to-be bride?

What's her name again? Liyah or something? Yeah, Liyah. I still hoped they wouldn't find her. No, no, seriously. It'll just make the whole thing worse and complicated if they found her.

It would mean I was lying to Bolu (which I actually was) and that, I couldn't do. I didn't want to hurt Bolu at all. It'd kill me to see her sad. I texted back:

Me: What?

Aisha: Way to say hi to your older sister. 😒😒

Me: You're being nice. It's weird.

Aisha: Is it bad that I just wanna check up on you?

Me: Oh, really? Really? Really? 😒😒 Is it bad that I don't believe you?

Aisha: Ugh. Don't test me, young man. I'm being sincere right now.

Me: Well, thanks for your sincerity. It's very much needed and appreciated. Apparently.

I texted back sarcastically.

Aisha: Just. . .take care of yourself.

Like she cared.

Me: Yeah, yeah. Whatever.

I rolled my eyes and turned off my phone.

Just being sincere. Yeah, right.

Maybe I was being too harsh. Maybe. But she's done a lot of things to make me dislike her. So don't blame me.

"I'm going down for breakfast. Catch you later bro," Jeremy said and patted my shoulder. For a moment, I almost forgot he was with me in the room.

I nodded in response.

My mind went back to Chidera. To what I was about to tell her. To the fact that I was gonna break her heart.

I sat on my bed and massaged my temples.

I just had to do this. I promised Bolu. Promised Jeremy. Told myself I had it all under control. But did I really?

Did I really?

God, I need help. Seriously.

I took my phone out to text Chidera. I was about to tell her that we should meet up somewhere so I could break the News to her. I opened her dm but didn't find the right words to type so I let my hands hover on the keyboard.

She wasn't online. This was the right time to do it. If she came online, it'd be harder because she always replied my texts immediately. Like she was stalking my page or something.

I sighed and typed 'Hey.'

At that moment, she came online and replied me rapidly.

I groaned.

"Chi, please don't make this any harder for me. Please. . ." I said out loud.

Chidera: Hey boo! How are you? Good morning! Did you sleep well? I miss you. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

When I saw this, my chest hurt with guilt and I found it hard to swallow my own saliva.

Me: Yeah, I'm good. Hope you're good too?

Chidera: Yes, yes. Of course. I'm so happy today. In fact, I have a surprise for you 😉😉

My eyes widened.

Me: Uh. . .you do?

Chidera: Yes I do!

Me: Um. . . okay. I actually have something to uh. . .tell you. It's very important.

Chidera: Really? Awww...so cute. What a coincidence! I can't wait to see you in school boo! Gotta go now. Mom's already yelling. I love you❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😘❤️😘😘😘

She was excited and I was gonna kill that excitement. Break her heart soon. I felt so guilty that I let the lie slip off my fingers into text.

Me: Yeah. Love you too babe ❤️

This was getting out of hand.

I couldn't keep doing this to her.

Somehow, I had to tell Chidera the truth.

And free myself from the mess of  'Three Girls, One Ore.'

Happy New Month guys!

I'm super excited to meet y'all here, hale and hearty! Trust y'all are??!😉

I'm also excited because it's December! And December means two things: Harmattan and Christmas! 🌲🎄⛄🎅

Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! 🎶🎶🎶🎶😂

I'm sorry for the long wait, hope this makes up for it?🥺🥺 I just got caught up in stuffs.

So. . . what'd you think about this chapter?? Getting to the middle of writing it, I kinda got stuck but thank God, I found my way 😁

And I know I left y'all confused in the last chapter😂😂😂😂😂omo, it was so funny. Everybody was confused 😂😂😂 and as the amazing person I am, I did nothing to clear that confusion in this chapter 🌚🌚hehehehehe.

Do you think Ore will go through with telling Chidera?

What's up with Ayo?

And Aisha?

Anyway, lemme know what you guys think, okay?

Spam me with your comments!

I wanna thank you guys for staying with me and reading my book🥺🥺 Fr. Getting to almost 4k reads and over 1k votes in almost one year is a great feat for me. It's all 'cause of you guys!🥺🥺❤️❤️❤️

And I hope before the year runs out, we would have moved to over 4k. I'm sure we can do it!!! Yes, we can!

If you're also supporting my other book, Reviews and Interviews, thank you so much 🥺❤️ it means the world to me!😭🥺🥺

Honestly, I can't thank you guys enough.

I seriously love y'all so much!

God bless you for me!!😭😭🥺❤️

Vote and Share.

~Ife🥺❤️