(017b - The Paragon Part 2)

Enjoy! 🤭.

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𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐘
(Hilary Idara Eghosa)

"Are you okay?"

He asked again when I didn't reply the first time. I sighed in complete embarrassment, feeling all the blood rush to my ears.

Every single time. Every single goddamn time, he just happens to be the one who sees me in this position.

How embarrassing.

"Hilary, are you alright?" He asked again when I didn't answer him initially and I sighed, raising my head a little bit to glance at him. When my eyes met his rather worried amber orbs, I quickly looked away. I was too embarrassed to look at him in the eye or face him at least.

"I'm fine," I muttered, taking another breath of fresh air in. "I just need to breathe. I'll be okay." I said, hoping my tone would sound dismissive enough to tell him that I wasn't exactly comfortable with him being here with me, looking at me the way he was looking at me.

Simi has this very inciting yet unnerving way of looking at someone.

Or was it just me?

Just when I expected him to leave me and walk into the building where he was needed, he crouched down instead, bending right in front of me so that he would be in my eye level, his hands settling on either side of me, resting on the bench.

It was like a deja vu, of the first day we met. The day he had seen me in the empty classroom, crying my eyes out after what happened with Jidenna. This was the same position he took, but now he was looking at me in an entirely different way.

This look was more... intense?

I felt goosebumps sprout on my skin, uneasiness washing all over me. I looked at him again, seeing that he was still watching me. My heart began to race at a very unusual pace. Then, when he spoke, he only said one word.

Just one word.

"Breath," He whispered. And just like that, I took in a large gulp of fresh air, allowing it to fill my lungs.

I suddenly felt better.

Way better.

"Is that your drug?" He nodded towards the bottle of pills lying on the bench just beside Dawn's water bottle. I had even forgotten I brought them with me. Before I could answer, he dropped another question. "Have you taken it?" He asked again and I found myself shaking my head in negation.

He did the most unexpected thing by picking up the bottle and opened it.

"How many." He asked.

"Two." I found myself answering again.

He motioned for me to stretch my hand out and like someone hypnotized, I did. He shook two tablets to my opened palm before grabbing the water bottle and handing it over to me. Without saying anything else, I threw the tablets into my mouth and downed it with the water, all the while feeling Simi's eyes on me.

The pills worked. In a matter of seconds, I felt even calmer.

I took in another breath, looking at him, and found him still looking at me, watching me. His intense look made it rather hard to hold his gaze, so I looked away tugging on the sleeves of my sweatshirt nervously as I tried to digest everything that had just happened.

We were barely friends. Only holding a conversation for nothing more than ten minutes and just an awkward wave at each other once. Yet, I can't count the number of times he has seen me in embarrassing situations... and helped me out of all.

It was even the extent to which he went to make sure I was okay. How he easily showed that he was concerned.

"Thank you," I muttered, my voice coming out more hushed than I expected. He nodded, finally blinking.

"Are you feeling better now?" He asked, giving me scrutinizing once over. I nodded, glancing at him again.

I did feel a lot better.

"There you are." Semeeha's high-pitched tone called out, and I looked up to see her walking out of the building and towards me.

I quickly stood up, stepping away from Simi who also stood up from his crouched position, shoving his hands into the pocket of his joggers. Semeeha didn't seem like she noticed the position she met us in, and even if she did, she didn't act like it. Instead, she threw her hands up in gesticulation as she got to me.

"Dawn and I got worried that you were taking time outside so I decided to check up on you. Are you feeling better?" She rapped on, placing her hand on my shoulder and checking me as if I had gotten into an accident and had injuries on my body.

I wasn't sure if she had intentionally disregarded Simi or she was just oblivious that he was there. Or maybe she was keen on making sure that I was okay.

"I'm fine. I just needed..." I started to say but a loud voice cut me off.

It was Jojo Avre, an SS2 girl I recognized immediately because she was also on the swim team, the top five best girls on the team. She came to alert Simi because the competition was about to start and he was needed.

Was she the one swimming for the female category? I asked myself. The possibility had me feeling a pang of jealousy.

Simi didn't spare me a glance before he dashed off into the building, right behind Jojo. It almost seemed like he was happy to leave because of our previous conversation. Or maybe I was just overthinking it.

"What was he doing here before?" She asked immediately he was gone, turning away from the door to look at me.

So, she did notice. I noted to myself, trying to find an answer that's as simple as possible.

"He kinda helped me," I replied, and she looked on, obviously wanting more than that simple answer. I shook my head. "I don't know how to explain it. He just helped me." I said, shrugging.

She glanced back at the door of the building skeptically before turning back to look at me.

"I don't like that he's the one that keeps finding you like this." The displeasure in her voice was very evident. I looked at her, eyebrows raised in both confusion and surprise.

"Don't tell me you are jealous." I teased, smiles tugged at the corners of my lips. Semeeha scoffed, then rolled her eyes comically before disregarding my tease with a wave of her hand.

"Jealous of who? Simisola André Jordan?" She asked rhetorically, a sort of mocking undertone in her voice. "There is nothing he has that can make me jealous of him. I just don't like him." She claimed matter of factly, folding her hand across her chest. I chuckled, shaking my head at her.

"You don't like a lot of people, Semeeha." I pointed out and she rolled her eyes yet again.

"Whatever!" She said dismissively and my chuckle graduated into a full-blown laugh, finding all her actions quite hilarious and amusing. When my laughter subsided, I looked at Semeeha and found her staring at me, a huge grin playing on her lips.

"What?"

"I think I might let him off the hook a bit for making you feel better at least." She stated calmly, throwing her hand around my shoulder. "You are laughing and that's a very good sign. I haven't seen you laugh so carefree like in almost two months and it's quite exhilarating." The cheerfulness in her tone made me smile so wide.

She didn't know that me smiling and laughing like this was all her.

"Well, give yourself some credit too." I nudged her gently. "You are quite a character yourself," I said, the smile unwavering from my lips. Semeeha smirked and flipped her hair with her other hand.

"I Know Right!" She chirped and I laughed again, pulling her in for a hug which she happily allowed, wrapping her other hand around my torso. "Now I can tell Dawn that I also got a hug from you without her." She muttered and I found myself laughing for the third time.

"Petty much?"

"Unapologetically." She retorted and I chuckled, shaking my head before releasing her. "Are you ready to go back in? If you want to sit this one out, Dawn and I will come and join you." She offered but I shook my head.

The excitement of the day would distract me from thinking any negative thoughts. And I knew for a fact that Crestview was winning a majority, if not all of the competition. I didn't want to miss anything at all.

"I think I can handle it. I've taken my drugs, so I'll be fine. There is no way I'm missing my last Paragon in this school." I said and Semeeha grinned, obviously liking the enthusiasm in my voice.

"Now that's my Hilary!" She cheered and I laughed. "Let's go." She looped her hands with mine and together, we walked into the building with me feeling suddenly lightheaded and enthusiastic.

Ignoring all the flaws, Semeeha has always had that effect on us; Dawn, Kizito, and me. If you are feeling down and she wanted to make you feel better, she went all out to do so. Only that sometimes, it seemed like the flaws were outweighing all the good qualities. But then, I only focus on the good.

It was only the good that mattered.

We walked back into the building just around the time the commentators were taking their seats as well, getting ready to begin the competition. Semeeha and I made our back to the bleachers and our seats. I didn't miss the look of concern when I got closer to our seat.

"Are you okay?" She asked immediately, her voice thick with concern and worry. I flashed her a small smile and settled down.

"I'm fine. Don't worry." I assured her. She looked at me for a bit before finally nodding, patting my thigh. The voice of one of the commentators rang out through the speakers, alerting every single one of us.

"Welcome to the inter-school annual Paragon Competition!"

And everyone erupted in cheers, clapping and screaming at the top of their lungs. The energy was so contagious, I began to clap and scream myself wanting nothing more but to enjoy the program of the day. I needed to distract myself from the faint yet lurking feeling of emptiness in my heart.

"I am Karen and this Charles, and we'll be your commentator for this swimming competition." The female commentator introduced, her counterpart waving to the crowd as we clapped.

"Before we go further," Karen started after the cheers had died down a bit. "We'd like to appreciate everyone for being here, the parents, the teachers, and the students alike. We also want to thank the management and board of both schools for making this competition possible," she paused and we all clapped again.

"Now," Charles drawled. "We'd be Introducing the Sports Pros of both schools one after the other. These guys have dedicated so much time and effort and without them as well, we won't be having this competition. So with no further adieu, let's welcome the Eagles of Laurels International College!"

I don't think it was just me that got deaf from the screams that came after that call. The supporters club of LIC screamed like they were never going to scream again and I began to wonder how louder they'd scream when it's time for the basketball game or the football game. That's if they wouldn't have lost their voice by then.

"Jesus, these people can scream!" Dawn lamented, covering her ears, and winced as the screaming had not stopped.

"I think my eardrums have burst," Semeeha mumbled, digging her pinky finger into her ear and wagged it and I chuckled.

"Well Damn! They are fine!" I heard Dawn say, no longer focusing on the supporters club but something else entirely. Semeeha and I followed her gaze and saw what she meant.

Dawn called it. Well Damn, they are FINE.

There were two doors at each end of the stage that led to the locker rooms. The LIC Eagles were coming from the left, every single one of them that were participating in the competition of today. Even the ones that weren't participating as well, but were Sports Pros.

All of them, Male and Female. They walked in.

And mehn, they were not taking it easy on anyone with the way they looked.

It was like they were evolving out of smoke, courtesy of the smoke machine at the corners of the hall. Was it their grey and deep blue tracksuit, or the way they swagged into the hall? Or was it the aura of the guy that was leading them into the hall? Or maybe it was the hypes from their supporters' club and the commentators.

I wasn't sure what it was, but damn, they made quite an entrance.

"I don't like that guy." Dawn started, nodding towards the one that was leading the entire team. I didn't need anyone to tell me he was the Sports prefect of the school. His aura... his look, said it all.

"Do you know him before?" I asked Dawn who shrugged in return, her expression unimpressed.

"Not really, but I know he's an ass." She deadpanned and I threw my head back, bursting into laughter. Dawn wasn't a judgmental person so it was surprising how she said it so directly.

"She's not wrong." Semeeha chipped and I turned to face her. "He jumped into me at last year's Paragon and fell me down. The idiot saw me on the floor, looked at me like I was some sort of dirt beneath his shoes, and walked off. A whole me. It was so embarrassing." She recounted, the grimace on her face evident that she hated reliving that moment. My mouth hung open a bit in surprise.

Where was I when that happened?

Probably somewhere snuggled up with Jidenna. My subconscious reminded me and I grimaced immediately.

Don't remind me.

"I mean, it's written all over him," Dawn stated, gesturing towards him and I looked, turning my attention to him.

He seemed to be in a personally customized version of the general tracksuit of their school, making him stand out from his peers. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbow and I caught a glimpse of the gold watch around his left wrist and the AirPods case in his right fist, his AirPods in both ears. They weren't blinking any blue lights, so it was pretty obvious that he wasn't listening to any song. He just had them on.

Show off much?

Unlike most of the Sports Pros behind him that hyped and jumped with the supporters club, this guy didn't do any of that. He just strutted towards his seat, his right thumb flicking the cover of his AirPods case open and close repeatedly like a memorized action. When he finally sat down, I got to see him.

He is Handsome.

Very Handsome.

But was it possible for a guy to have a resting bitch face? Because there was no other way to describe the poker face he had on.

"Coincidentally, his name is also Jidenna." Semeeha chipped and I bit back a snort that wanted to escape my lips by fire, by force.

Go Figure.

"And now, Introducing the Host school... Let's welcome, the Stallions of Crestview International Academy!"

If the supporters of LIC Eagles were loud, I can't categorically describe the insanely blusterous screeching that rang out from behind me. Crestview International Academy students dominated by screaming their esophagus out like there was no tomorrow.

Even Semeeha and Dawn were on their feet, shouting and cheering alongside every other person. Dawn's reaction wasn't surprising but Semeeha? On a normal day, she'll sit down and complain that everyone is being very uncultured and barbaric. Now, she was being the uncultured and barbaric. I've never seen her this carefree.

I wasn't going to give a standing ovation before, but once our Sports Pros began to troop out, being led by my baby boy Kizito, I jumped on my feet and screamed as loud as I could, clapping and calling his name. Unlike the Jidenna dude, Kizito hyped with us and everyone began to chant his name, some louder than others.

I knew I was supposed to be down there, been cheered on as well, or back in the locker with other swimmers, getting ready for this big competition. But I wasn't, and that sorta stung. The earlier I get rid of the ASD, the better for me.

I should take Dawn's advice and see the therapist.

Till the Sports Pros were all seated, the loud cheering didn't stop for one bit.

"Now it's time to start the swimming competition" Charles began as soon as the commotion died down. "Are the swimmers ready?" He called out, looking at coaches of both schools that stood at the doors of the locker room. Coach Danny gave a signal and nodded at the commentator.

"Let's bring them out!" Karen and Charles chorused and everyone began to clap as the swimmers of both schools began to troop out of the locker room at the same time.

First of all, it was the girls. I sighted Jojo and another girl in SS1 coming out, clad in their blue and grey trunks. I didn't need anyone to tell me they were the ones swimming for the female category. Again, I felt a pang in my chest knowing that It was supposed to be down there not them. But I tried not to dwell on it too much, resolving to cheer the best way I could.

"Their girls are not even all that." I heard Semeeha say, dragging me out of my reverie. I looked at her in confusion and she nodded down to where the LIC swim team were walking to their benches. I looked and saw two girls; one dark, one fair.

I'm not sure what Semeeha means by "they are not all that" because these girls were gorgeous.

"What do you mean? They are pretty. This isn't a beauty pageant." Dawn chipped. Semeeha snorted but didn't say anything in response.

I looked back at the girls. The fairer one seemed like she would rather be anywhere but here, blowing the pink bubble gum in her mouth and seated on the bench with her legs cross, revealing thick fair thighs that I was sure most guys can't keep their off it now, her eyes glued to her phone,

The darker one, however, was the complete opposite of her second. She was grinning from ear to ear and didn't seem like she could stay in one place. She seemed like a ball of energy. From what I could see, she was trying to engage the fairer girl in a conversation but the latter wasn't even giving her the time of the day.

Polar opposite much.

"But their guys are packing!" Dawn mumbled, letting out a low whistle. I focused back on the entrance and saw the guys were already out as well... in trunks.

Did it get hotter in here?

"Now that's Umar!" Semeeha chirped, jumping a little in her seat. I looked back at the guys from LIC and I didn't need to be told which one was Umar. Two guys were standing but I knew who he was immediately I set my eyes on the taller, more muscular dude causing commotion already just by looking like that.

"Well Damn," I muttered.

He was huge, just as huge as Kizito and dare I say it, more muscular, probably even hotter than our Crestview hunk. While Kizito had a more calm feel to his hotness, this Umar dude exuded a more stocky, more rugged feel, his features sharp and chiseled to perfection, especially his face. He had cheekbones so prominent.

And what is his skin! Ivory?

"Okay," Dawn breathed. "You are right about him being hot because the dude is on fire! But he isn't as handsome as Kizito." She said.

"Agreed." I chipped and Semeeha shrugged, smirking her I-told-you-so smirk.

Soon, all the swimmers for both schools were seated and the commentators began to recite the rules and regulations of the competition. I sighted Simi, seated with Isimeme who was going to be swimming with him and I realized I had not even paid that much attention to our team, busy ogling the hunk from LIC.

I blame no one but Semeeha for the distraction.

Unlike Isimeme that was engaging the girls in a conversation, Simi sat at the far edge of the bench, headphones on and staring ahead. I have never been aware of any actions Simi made before now, but now that he was doing it, I realized that this has always been his ritual before any competition.

Seated away from others, headphones on to block everyone out, an akin look of concentration marrying his face.

I've just never paid any attention to him till now.

"We are going to start this swimming competition with the female category. May we begin." Karen called out and all the female swimmers stood up from the bench and walked to their designated starting blocks. The pool had eight slots, but because they were only four, two from LIC and two from Crestview, there was a pool space interval between each of them.

I sat on the edge of my seat, my palms sweaty in both anxiety and anticipation. I wasn't sure how fast the girls from LIC were, but the fairer one seemed rather intimidating. Still, I held my breath and hoped for the best.

"God, I'm so nervous." I heard Dawn say, shaking her hands off like she also had a sweaty palm. Semeeha on the other hand seemed to be a little distracted with her phone.

"On your Mark." The referee called and all of them went down on the starting block. The entire hall was silent, with just a few chatters going around.

"Set," He called out again and they took the position. It seemed the tension in the room doubled.

The buzzer went off and the swimmers dashed into the water and the quietness in the room dissipated, replaced by cheers from both schools and the parents. I kept my eyes on the water, following the movements of everyone and trying to see who was leading the first lap.

It was the darker girl from LIC. She was giving Jojo a very wild gap to cover up.

"Yo! That girl is a fish!" Semeeha finally commented, taking her eyes away from her phone for one minute and I couldn't agree more.

She was unbelievably fast. Too Fast.

"Is it possible for someone to be that fast, Hilary?" Dawn asked me, the shock and awe in her tone very evident. I shook my head slowly, my eyes not leaving the girl.

"I'm just as shocked as you are," I muttered.

By the second and third lap, this girl was still keeping the pace, still leading and I was undoubtedly sure that she was going to win. Jojo probably already knew that she couldn't keep up so she settled for holding her second place. The fairer girl was trying to meet up Jojo still held her own, quickening her pace.

In the end, the dark girl from LIC won, touching the buzzer first. Jojo came in second and the fairer girl from LIC in third. I wasn't even sure if I'd have been able to meet up with the dark girl if I were in Jojo's shoes. The girl was too fast, almost unnaturally fast.

The fairer girl, however, didn't seem too happy with her position in third place, grabbing her stuff from the bench and dashed off into the locker room while everyone else cheered the darker girl on for winning the female category of the competition.

"What's wrong with her?" Semeeha asked, irritation evident in her voice. "She's such a sore loser." She added, punctuating with a roll of her eyes and a snort.

"At least, we are sure the guys have a chance at winning," Dawn said and I shot her a look.

"Don't jinx it." I chided and she quickly zipped her mouth shut.

"Now, for the Male Category of the competition. May we begin." Charles called out.

My eyes, as if having a mind of their own, settled on Simi immediately, watching his every movement. He dropped his headphones and stood up, adjusting his trunks before making his way to his starting block. As soon as he got there, he wore his goggles and from the way his chest rose and fell, I knew he had taken a deep breath.

Then he looked up, towards the direction where all Crestview parents sat down. I didn't have to look to know that he was looking at his mum, but still, I did. The woman had gotten up from the bleachers and was standing just at the other end of the pool. I watched as the woman rose her hands in a small wave at her son, turning to look at Simi just in time to see him wave back.

I've only seen them together for a very short period but I didn't need anyone to tell me that their bond was unbreakable. And I felt my lips twitch in a small smile.

I looked through the other swimmers that stood on the starting block. The other guy from LIC seemed didn't look like he was ready but still tried to comport himself. Isimeme was stretching his limbs, getting prepared. Umar on the other hand just stood and looked on, like he was waiting for the buzzer and he'd just be off in the pool.

His stoic expression gave off an intimidating... or rather, a territorial vibe. Like this was his house. I became extremely skeptical about Simi winning. This was Simi's house as far as I know.

He'll win it. I assured myself, my eyes settling back on Simi.

This win will be a good start for Crestview. If LIC wins both, it means they'd cater away with the gold medal for both categories and that might destabilize the Sports Pros for the other games.

"On your mark."

This time, there was a pin drop silence that came with that call as the guys too position, everyone sitting at the edge of their seats, including me. I felt Dawn clasp my hand in her, squeezing it so hard and cutting the blood circulation to my brain.

But that didn't matter, because my eyes were glued on the one person I felt was going to win this category.

Simi.

"Set."

Silence. More silence.

Hearts beating fast.

Honk!

The buzzer went off and the guys dashed into the water. The cheers began as the guys swam their way to the end of the pool, finishing the first lap and starting the second. I kept my eyes on the water, ignoring the numbness of my hand because of how Dawn held on to it. Semeeha was on her feet, capturing the whole thing with her phone.

Still, my eyes remained on Simi.

It was very hard to tell who was leading. Even the commentators seemed confused too because the gap between Simi and Umar wasn't even much of a gap. It was like a breeze, almost non-existent. They ended the second lap and began the third lap. But this time, it was like Simi pushed himself further.

He began to lead.

My heartbeat increased at an unimaginable speed.

"Seems like Crestview is leading, with LIC right behind to catch up!" Charles screamed into the Microphone and immediately, everyone was on their feet. I looked at the end of the pool, watching as Simi's mum clasped her hand together as if she was praying.

It was a fight. Simi was leading but it seemed like Umar wasn't giving up so easily, increasing his effort to catch up with Simi. At the end of the third lap and the beginning of the final, they were both at the same pace. It almost felt like Simi was getting exhausted.

"Come on." I found myself whispering, even though I knew he couldn't hear me. Not wanting to know how it would end, I closed my eyes, praying that we'd win. I didn't even open it when the buzzer when off.

But I did when screams from all around me pierced through my eardrums, the loudest scream being from Dawn. My eyes immediately flew open.

Did we win?

"We won!" Dawn screamed as she heard my unasked question, throwing her hands around me. I found myself letting out a breath I didn't even know I was holding, along with a laugh of relief, hugging her back.

"We Won!" Semeeha screamed as well, bringing her phone to face us. It was then I realized she has been live-streaming the whole thing. Dawn finally let me go and kept screaming into the camera alongside everyone around us. I breathed out another laugh, turning back to the pool.

Simi was just getting out of the pool, clustered by most of the sports pros who wouldn't stop hyping him. I kept watching him trade high fives with all of them, grinning from ear to ear. For the first time, I finally noticed him in all his elements and realized how much swimming meant to him, how much he would put every other thing on hold just to do it.

But what made my heart swell so much was the way he curved some of the sports pros. Not because he didn't vibe with them or anything, but because his mum came to him. He ignored every other person and walked to her, allowing the smaller woman to gather him in a bear hug.

The respect I never knew I had for him skyrocketed.

Most guys would feel embarrassed to be hugged by their mum in public, but Simi welcomed it without any form of resistance. The way he buried his face in her neck even though he was much taller than she was. The way he held her and she held him. The way she was whispering things I was sure were nothing short of encouraging words to him and he kept nodding...

...or the way she tried to pull back but he wouldn't budge, still holding on to her.

That love, the bond... the relationship was raw. It was pure.

And I just couldn't help but admire Simi.

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"I can't believe we won!" Dawn screamed for the umpteenth time, jumping with so much vigor I wasn't surprised she possessed.

The swimming competition had ended and we had at least an hour and a half break before the Basketball march, so the girls and I decided to just stroll around the sports complex. Most of the students from LIC were walking around too, site seeing.

"Well, we didn't completely win." Semeeha chipped in, shaking her head slowly. "The girls messed up, and that's because you weren't there, Hilary." She said, turning to face me with her hands folded across her chest. I rolled my eyes, tugging at the sleeves of my sweatshirt.

"You saw the way I was before the game started. Dipping a toe in that pool is legit suicide for me." I pointed out and she rose her hands in surrender.

"Hey, that's not how I meant it." She started. "I'm just saying, if you were there, we'd have won because you are the best. I'm not blaming you at all for the loss. You should get all the time you need to recover. You are my friend and I want the best for you." She clarified, mustering a small smile. I nodded, smiling right back.

Dawn on the other hand was looking between both of us, a look of awe on her face.

"You guys are so cute." She cooed and I laughed, nudging her slightly.

Semeeha's phone made a sound and she brought it out of her pocket. Immediately she saw the reason for the sound, she became so engaged with it and started typing furiously. I was going to ask her who she was chatting with but there was a loud curse. It was then I noticed that someone had been just a few feet away from us and Semeeha had bumped her because her face was in her phone.

I quickly recognized the girl she had bumped into as the light-skinned girl that represented LIC in the female category.

"Watch where you're going. You almost tripped me!" She snapped, her voice having an irritant undertone to it. I wouldn't blame her because she almost tripped and fell because of Semeeha's clumsiness.

But Semeeha was not going apologize for bumping into the girl and her next words proved me right.

"Then you shouldn't have been in my way." She fired back, giving the girl disregarding once-over. The girl scoffed and looked at Semeeha in utmost disbelief.

"You were walking with your head buried in your freaking phone. That's a rather stupid thing to do." She retorted.

I had to stop myself from gasping. Dawn, on the other hand, let out a low, yet audible whistle. Semeeha's expression was priceless. She couldn't believe someone had talked back at her like that. She was the queen of comebacks. But someone just clapped back at her.

Oh wow!

"Did you just call me stupid?" She asked the rather unbothered girl incredulously. "Do you know who I am?"

"Am I supposed to?"

Ouch!

Semeeha looked like she wanted to combust from anger. She felt insulted because she was a popular teen model, known well across the continent and the globe. Everyone knew her.

Or so she thought.

I was very much certain the fair-skinned girl knew Semeeha Malik but just wanted to spite her.

And it was working.

Dawn and I saw the literal steam coming from Semeeha's ears and Dawn was quick to step in between the both of them before they blow each other up in flames with the way they were glaring lasers at each other.

"Okay," She drawled, letting out an awkward laugh as she put a bit of distance between the both of them. "Both of you need to chill."

"What's going on?" Another voice came and we all turned to see the dark-skinned girl making her way towards us. The dark-skinned girl that had won the female category for LIC. She got to us and stopped, looking at her friend who seemed rather unbothered at the moment.

"Oma, what did you do?" She queried and the Oma girl shot her dark-skinned friend a look.

"Why do I have to be the one that did something, Dami?" Oma snarled, flipping her long dark hair with her eyes still staring pointedly at her friend. The sleeve of her sweatshirt folded and It was then I noticed the tiny scribbles of tattoos on her lower arm and at the back of her fingers.

LIC allow their students to get tattoos? Or is Oma just a rebel?

Semeeha, meanwhile, seemed to like that the confrontation wasn't on her because I noticed her smirk.

"Because you are Oma," Dami retorted, and Oma rolled her eyes but didn't say anything in return. Dami turned to look at her, her lips stretching into a wide smile.

Too wide.

"I'm sorry about my friend, Oma. Today is not her best day so her mood is pretty off. I'm Dami by the way." She was apologizing on behalf of Oma, even though there was nothing to be sorry for. Semeeha wanted to say something most likely insulting but Dawn quickly nudged her to keep her mouth shut and did the talking.

"I'm Dawn, and this is Semeeha and Hilary." She started and I waved while Semeeha's expression remained stoic. Dawn continued. "And, It's fine. Semeeha is also sorry for bumping into your friend." She answered but Semeeha scoffed.

"I'm not sorry." She muttered and I fought the urge to roll my eyes at her. What I didn't expect was the ear-piercing scream that came from the Dami girl.

"OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD! YOU ARE SEMEEHA MALIK! THE SEMEEHA MALIK! TEEN FASHION MODEL SEMEEHA MALIK!"

I guess we have a fan. Dawn and I exchanged a look but kept our peace.

Everyone walking around us stopped short to stare at Dami for a bit, wondering why she had screamed.

I looked at Semeeha for a reaction, expecting her to act nonchalant or even ignore Dami. But her lips were quirked in a smirk, definitely basking the attention that was coming from Dami. I guess what made Dami different was because Dami wasn't a student of Crestview.

And Semeeha probably wanted to spite Oma back.

"I see you are a fan," Semeeha stated stolidly, but the smirk didn't wipe off from her lips.

"ARE YOU KIDDING! I'M A HUGE FAN! I'M A SUPER FAN!" Dami kept screaming and bouncing with way too much excitement and vigor, I asked myself if she was high on something. Dawn just kept looking at her incredulously, like she was an alien. Oma wouldn't stop looking at her friend strangely.

But Semeeha wasn't at all fazed by her actions. She just kept smirking, and basking in it all.

Well, she's a celebrity. She knows how to handle crazed fans like things.

"Dami, are you okay?" Oma asked, but her dark-skinned friend ignored her, busy fishing out her phone from the pocket of her joggers.

"Can I get a picture please?" She asked Semeeha. Again, I expected Semeeha to decline, and again, I was disappointed.

"Of course," Semeeha replied, butt-pushing Oma out of her way when she wanted to hurdle up to Dami who was now taking several shots of selfies. She even went ahead to do a video, capturing Semeeha who engaged her, a sulking Oma, as well as Dawn and I that were weirded out as hell.

"Be sure to tag me if you post," Semeeha told Dami as she ended the video.

"OF COURSE!" She screamed again and I winced, grinding my teeth together.

"Dami, you are shouting." Oma chided, looking around to see if people were looking at us. I noticed two guys from their school walking by, and I recognized Umar immediately, beside the other guy that had represented them in the swimming competition.

"UMAR! LEO!" Dami was screaming again and I feared, at this rate, her voice will go before the end of today. The two guys stopped and turned at her voice. The Leo guy waved enthusiastically but Umar just gave a mock salute and kept walking. Leo walked faster to catch up with him.

Maybe he's still sulking from losing the competition. I thought to myself. His reaction after he came second wasn't palatable. Just like Oma, he walked away before any of his guys could reach him.

"That Umar guy," Semeeha started and everyone turned to her, everyone except Oma who was still staring at the retreating figure of the guys. "Is he single?" She deadpan.

"Excuse me?" Oma made an abrupt turn to look at Semeeha, her eyes narrowed in slits and her expression contorting into a deep frown. Dawn and I exchanged another look.

Seems like no friendship would be formed today.

"What?" Semeeha shrugged nonchalantly. "Are you his girlfriend?" She asked, sarcasm dripping from her tone. Oma made to clap back but Dami quickly gave her a look.

"Wow, look at the time!" Dami drawled, checking an imaginary watch on her wrist before looking at us and flashing us that rather creepy grin again. "We need to get going. It was nice meeting you guys." She rapped, grabbing onto Oma's hand.

"Like..." Dawn started to say but they were already walking away. "Wise." She completed anyway, looking at Semeeha and me with a very confused expression. I was sure I mirrored her expression.

"Very crazy pair," I muttered and Dawn hummed in agreement, staring at their retreating back.

"I think Dami was a delight." Semeeha countered, shifting her weight to her left leg and crossed her arm over her chest. "The other girl was a bitch though." She added, blowing imaginary dust off her nails.

"You know you could have just apologized for bumping into her," I told Semeeha, who in turn scoffed.

"I don't waste my apology on just anybody. Especially people that are irrelevant." She answered, her tone as monotonous as it could be. Dawn shook her head and sighed, but didn't say anything. We were already used to how Semeeha practically downgraded every other person that wasn't in her life.

Semeeha's phone made a sound like it did the last time and she checked it again. As soon as she saw whatever was on the screen, her eyes went huge. She quickly made an inaudible excuse of how she wanted to take care of something and then, she was off, leaving Dawn and me alone.

"That was weird." Dawn chipped as we stared at Semeeha's retreating figure, jogging out of the sports stadium. It was pretty weird. Semeeha looked a bit disturbed when she saw whatever she saw on her phone.

"It's probably just a modeling thing," I muttered, not thinking too much about it. Dawn hummed and we continued walking and talking, Dawn gisting me about what the dancers have got planned for the party tonight.

After the competition, I had called my mum and told her about the after-party. If there was anything I learned in the last one and a half months, it's that I'd never lie to my parents about anything again. I was able to sugarcoat things and persuade her, telling her that Semeeha's bodyguards would convey us to and from the party and that I'd sleep over at Semeeha and come back to the house in time for my therapy session.

She was pretty skeptical at first but then, she got a change of heart and told me she'd bring an overnight bag for me when she's coming for the American Football match. The last thing she told me was that she's glad I was getting back out there again.

Me too, Mum. Me too.

"Oh my God, why did we come here?" I heard Dawn lament, alerting my senses back to the present.

I looked up and saw that we were now by the soccer pitch. Some guys were running laps around the pitch and I needed no one to tell me that they were the Basketball team. Especially with Sochima Johnson giving instructions. I looked back at Dawn, wondering what she was bothered about.

Then I remembered Tekena Tamuno was also on the team as well.

I was going to ask her if we should leave, my eyes scanning around for Tekena Tamuno. Then I saw that he wasn't training with them. It didn't seem like he was around the field at the moment. I became confused as to why Dawn had exclaimed earlier.

"Now, he's walking towards us." Dawn lamented again, the nervousness in her tone very evident. I followed her gaze to see that Sochima was the one walking towards us. I became even more confused.

"Hey, Hilary," He greeted as soon as he got to us.

"Sochima, what's up." I waved curtly, flashing him a small smile. He nodded, muttering that he was fine, but then I noticed that his gaze was solely on Dawn, who was playing with the hem of her sweatshirt and trying so religiously to avoid his gaze.

It seemed like what happened earlier today when he had come to call Kizito.

"Dawn," He called her, and I swear, it seemed like his voice went an octave lower. It was then Dawn decided to look up, meeting Sochima's gaze.

There was a way she was looking at him, I couldn't explain it. Dawn was nervous, thirling the hem of her sweatshirt between her finger said it all, but at the same time, it kinda looked like she was flirting with her eyes. The way Sochima's had his eyes solely on her was just as intense, if not more.

I had to step back a bit because it suddenly felt like I was third-wheeling.

Well, this is new.

"Chima," She answered back, her lips twitching and tugging on small smiles. Chima crossed his arm over his chest, leaning back a bit as if to have a better too at her. His gaze on her had not reduced in intensity at the slightest.

"You have been avoiding me," He told her, his tone holding a hint of both tease and query.

"I haven't been... avoiding you, Chima." Dawn countered softly and Sochima cocked his head to the side like he wasn't buying it. Even I wasn't. The hesitation in her words said it all. Dawn seemed to notice this and gave an excuse.

"I've just been busy lately." She said, and I almost asked her with what? . Chima chuckled lightly, shaking his head.

"That's supposed to be my line," He teased and Dawn giggled, brushing her hair from her face to the back of her ear. I just stood there and watched the duo, in complete awe.

"Okay, if you are not avoiding me," Sochima continued. "That means I'll see you in the court for the game." It was more of a statement than a question but Dawn nodded anyway.

"Of course. Wouldn't miss it." Dawn replied, then tugged a corner of her lower lip in between her teeth. I had to stop my mouth from dropping open.

Is Dawn flirting with Sochima Johnson? Is that what is going on right now.

"And the party tonight?"

"I'll be there," Dawn answered. I watched as Sochima's lips stretched into a grin before rolling his tongue out against his lower lip, giving Dawn a once-over.

A once-over that could make any girl weak to their knees.

Me sef, I had to catch myself from falling. I couldn't imagine how Dawn was feeling right now.

"Then, I'll see you." He drawled, his voice low... deep and Dawn nodded, still smiling. He began to back away slowly, walking with his back, his eyes still on Dawn.

"Don't run away." He called and Dawn chuckled, shaking her head slowly.

"I won't," Her tone was assuring. Sochima nodded and finally turned around, but didn't fail to look over his shoulder at her once more as he made his way back to his teammates. He already forgot that I was standing there.

At that point, Dawn let out a loud and heavy breath, placing her hand over her heaving chest.

"Well, that was intense," I said, alerting Dawn's attention to me. It seemed she just remembered that I was still there.

"Please don't ask." She pleaded, walking away to the pavilion. I rose my hand in mock surrender, fulfilling her request by not asking her anything about what just happened.

Because I already had an idea of what it was. A very clear idea.

Especially since Dawn wouldn't stop glancing at Sochima who was now training with his TeamMates, a familiar radiant smile playing on her lips.

A smile I haven't seen on her since last session.

And I wasn't sure if I should be excited or worried.

𝐀/𝐍

Hilary has started admiring Simi 🌚. Issorite.

Dawn and Chima though 🥺❤️. So much cuteness right there.

Like I announced a while ago, The Paragon serves as a collab between ALMOST UNFIXABLE and INTRICACY by vilalove09. You can see that I introduced some of the major characters, the likes of Jidenna Kalu (asshole), Omar, Dami, Umar and the likes. Again, I ask you, why are you not reading INTRICACY?😑.

We still have one more Paragon series to go, a whole lot of drama to come 🌚🤭. I'll see you when I see you.