(019 - Bitch, Be Humble)

(ANOTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION. PLEASE READ.)

First of all, thank y'all for getting this book so far; 22k+ views and 4k+ votes and we are barely at the middle of the book. Med o! Family Members, you guys rock❤️.

So I'm going to be talking on the same thing I said about Hilary and Simi in the last chapter, but this time, for Dawn and TK's back story. I have addressed this particular one before but I think I need to address it again because of "some readers".

I understand that you want to know what happened between them and that's why I have been dropping hints, both to hype you up for the reveal and for you to make speculations and drop theories. Now you already know that he badly hurt her, but you don't know how.

What I don't like is readers dropping comments like; "Tell us what happened with Dawn and TK. You are leaving us in suspense" or "Why haven't you told us their back story yet, stop leaving us in suspense".

Number one, that's the entire idea... to "keep" you in suspense. Secondly, I find those kind of comments quite rude. It's like you are giving me an "order" and I find that quite insulting, especially if I've told you to be patient before but you keep spamming me with that kind of comment over and over again. It's not ideal 💔.

Don't get me wrong, there are some comments that ask about Dawn and TK's back story but in a very polite and nice manner. Eg; "What did TK do 🥺?" Or "What happened between them?". I don't mind replying those ones at all. If anything, I'm happy to reply them. But I don't like being "ordered", so if I've told you to be patient, ejo be patient.

Like I said, this book is following a Sequence and if I rush anything, it will destroy the whole plot. I keep dropping hints every now and that's for you guys to hold on to. So, take it easy, trust me and trust the process.

Are we still on the same page?

Good, let's dive in 😊❤️.

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆

𝐉𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐍𝐀
(Jidenna Leo Okojie)

Well Damn,

That was the only thing I could think of as my eyes followed Hilary and the girls as they walked, all the way from the door till they got their seats. And I wasn't the only one staring at them.

It seemed like the party stopped for that moment just so that everyone could see them make an entrance. Even the DJ changed the song when the door flew open, giving the entrance a much more diva-cious feel.

Hilary looked gorgeous... Beautiful and that entrance definitely made a statement. It kept playing in slow motion in my head.

I also wasn't the only one that saw the not-so-subtle diss thrown at me from her. It was in the twinkling of an eye. It could have actually gone unnoticed, but the fact that everyone had stopped everything they were doing just to watch them walk in, they must have noticed it. I didn't miss the glances people threw my way.

"Act like you don't care," Tekena whispered, tapping my arm slightly and I looked away from where Hilary was seated, not too fast though, making sure to act as Tekena had said.

Unbothered.

I leisurely sipped my drink from my red cup and slowly took my eyes away from the trio seated a good distance away from us. By this time, the party was already back on track, and everywhere was buzzing again, the moment from a few seconds ago hopefully forgotten.

But, I couldn't forget the fact that Hilary looked extremely beautiful tonight. Drop-Dead Gorgeous even.

I knew I was never going to have her again. Not after everything. Hilary was the most forgiven person I knew, but I doubt she'd be as forgiven in this case. I was terrible to her.

"Take your mind off Hilary," I heard Tekena speak again like he knew what was going on in my head. Turning to him, I raised my eyebrow in question and he scoffed slightly.

"I know you more than you know yourself guy, and I know that look in your eyes." He continued, placing his hand on my shoulder. "She looks hot tonight. Me sef I can see it. But you have to forget about Hilary for good." He stated without blinking, looking me right in the eyes. I exhaled.

This wasn't just about Hilary any more. This also included Dawn, Semeeha, and Kizito. Everything that has been happening these past few weeks happened so fast and so quickly that I lost all my friends in a heartbeat. I know I complicated things, I complicated everything but I didn't know it would lead to this. I just wanted the guilt to go away. I wanted it all to go away.

And now? Is the guilt gone? A small voice at the back of my mind asked me and I shook my head involuntarily.

It's not gone. If anything, it has multiplied. Especially, after everything Adela dumped on me.

I know I have to apologize to Hilary, but I have no idea how to. She hates me. She hates my guts. I was sure she hated my very existence.

"Listen to me," Tekena was still talking. I don't know how long he has been talking and I had no idea how long I trailed off for.

"I get the fact that you guys go way back, but it's all gone now." He said and I looked at him. "What matters is Now. This is the year you have to define your entire high school year and if you keep sulking over your ex, you will damage everything you have worked so hard to build.-

You are Jidenna Okojie. You shouldn't feel bad about any decision you make, so far it benefits you and only you. I keep telling you, You come first. You and Only You. No one else. Stop sulking and enjoy this fucking party, man!" He patted my back repeatedly, grinning with excitement I couldn't reciprocate, even though I tried to force a smile.

I just couldn't reciprocate. Not with the way I'm feeling.

"There are so many chicks here for you, at your beck and call, guy. You are better off without Hilary." He said calmly, soothingly like he was trying to convince me. I let out a deep breath.

I think it's the other way, Tekena. I mused. Hilary was better off without me. She deserves way better.

"Think about other things," Tekena concluded, sipping out of the red cup in his hand.

Ah, other things. I thought to myself sarcastically.

Other things like what happened early that night after the Paragon game.

Other things like the man I had no choice but to call my father and how he just finds a way to diminish all my efforts till they disappear into the dust like they never existed.

Other things like how he would keep victimizing me for as long as I live.

"He wants to see you," Tola repeated when I didn't speak, confirming what was on my mind. I swallowed, nodding. He turned around and began to walk and I took that has a cue to follow him, walking behind him with my fingers shaking and my heartbeat accelerating.

We walked out of the stadium, away from the celebration, and came to the rowdy car park, situated beside the American Football Stadium. I saw the mass amount of bodyguards standing around and figured that his car was close by. My anxiety level tripled.

Jidenna, Calm down. I told myself, but I wasn't getting any calm.

Tola threw me a pitiful glance just as we got to a familiar Grande Cherokee. He went ahead of me and opened the door, gesturing for me to enter. I took a deep breath and entered the car, Tola shutting the door behind me. Now, I was in the same space with my Father.

An enclosed space.

It took all the strength in me not to hyperventilate.

Silence.

I couldn't look at him but I was aware of the presence beside me. His Presence. It made chills run down my spine multiple times. He had not yet spoken but I could feel him breathing down my neck. That alone terrified me to the core. I wasn't sure why he wanted to speak to me, but it can't be anything good.

It is never anything good.

"Why didn't you win any points for your team?" His deep, strident voice tore through the uncomfortable silence like a knife. My racing heart increased in tempo and I was sure he could hear it beating against my ribcage.

I prayed silently that I wouldn't stutter as I opened my mouth to speak.

"W-We h-had..." I was stuttering like a lunatic.

Fuck!

"Speak to me like you have brains, boy!" He thundered and I jerked in my sit out of fear.

"We had a formation, sir. I was just meant to defend and serve as a diversion for the other team." I rapped out, fisting my hand so tightly, I felt my nails dig into my palms and drew blood.

He didn't speak for a minute or two.

Then he chuckled.

A chuckle that sent shivers running down my spine.

"Defense and Diversion." He repeated, then let an animalistic laugh that made me cringe. "Is that how useless you are that they only gave you defense and diversion when your mates are scoring touchdowns for the team!" He yelled again and I flinched, tears welling up in my eyes automatically

I forced it back down.

I pushed it back down.

"You are just as useless and worthless as I thought." He growled, turning to look at me. I felt his angry gaze burning to the side of my face and I cowered in fear, still not meeting his eyes.

I wouldn't dare meet his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Sir," I whispered.

He didn't say anything to that. He only heaved heavily and then, silence filled the car again. I kept swallowing the lump that wouldn't stop rising in my throat, clasping both my hands together as I waited for him to speak. I just wanted him to talk and get all these over with so I can get out of this suffocating space.

I was literally counting down seconds.

"I'm traveling to the United Kingdom tonight." He stated like he had not just finished killing me with his words. "I'd be there for two months." He added and my ears perked in excitement.

It didn't last for long.

"Don't think you can act as you like while I'm gone." He continued and I glanced at him. "If I hear anything terrible about you from your brother or anyone else..." He cackled, a tone that sent a shiver running through my veins again.

"You know what I'm capable of." He simply said, but that statement had a thousand meanings.

A few minutes later, I watched his car and his entourage drive out of the parking lot. And even as he was going, the fear he instilled in me was still very potent. Even from that distance, he was choking me.

And for the two months that he would be gone, he'd still find a way to keep sucking the life out of me.

"What's with you and trailing off today?" Tekena's house pierced through my mind trip again and I jerked out of my reverie to look at him. " You are acting weird and I am concerned." He added, his brows furrowed in confusion as he peered at me intently. He knew something was up with me and he wanted to find out what.

But I couldn't tell him.

So instead, I turned the entire thing around.

"I am acting weird?" I raised my eyebrow mockingly and he shrugged.

" You are the one that kept talking about Chima in a way I don't understand earlier tonight. You even got me extremely confused when you mentioned something about a girl and how she waved at him after your basketball game. How she was smiling at him and you looked very angry while talking about it."

His expression changed as soon as I uttered that. It was like he had completely forgotten what happened back in the locker room and the fact that I remembered was shocking to him. But all the same, it didn't stop me from asking further. I needed to clear my confusion about his behavior a few hours ago.

"What was that about?" I asked him and he just kept staring at me blankly like he didn't know what I was talking about. "Who is the girl you were talking and what does she have to do with you and Chima's beef?" I prodded further, expatiating just in case I wasn't clear enough.

Tekena didn't answer me immediately. He just stared back at me like he didn't understand a word I had said. His face was void of any expression and that the "staring contest" was a bit creepy. I was going to shake him, to get at least a little bit of reaction from him.

Only for him in burst into fits of laughter, dumping me into a bigger heap of confusion.

What...

"Mehn, you should have seen your face!" He blabbered in between laughter, tapping my shoulder with his hand continuously as he tried to control the burst of laughter that kept leaving his lips. I just stood there and stared back at him, immensely confused, asking myself what was funny.

WTF is funny?

"Jidenna, you are too serious though." He continued after his laughter had subsided. "You should have seen the look on your face when I acted oblivious to what you were saying. I was just pulling your legs na." He chuckled again and I exhaled, feeling a little bit of relief wash over me.

So he understood what I was saying. That's good. I thought to myself.

"Okay, you have had your laugh." I rolled my eyes, a small smile quirked at the corner of my lips. Tekena was teasing me. It only meant all these was nothing serious.

"And as for what I was saying in the locker room that time, just ignore it. Trust me, I was saying nonsense." He clarified and I nodded. "Not the part about what I feel about Chima, I still hate the dude. He even has the guts to show up at my party." The distaste in Tekena's voice was evident as he nodded towards a direction. I followed his gaze and my eyes met with the subject of discussion.

Sochima was here alright.

He was standing with a band of guys that I recognized from the basketball team who were also our classmates. Just like every other person in the room, he was holding a red cup, chatting away with the guys ardently, gesticulating so casually with a grin stretch across his lips. They were probably talking about their win during the basketball game.

I knew what was going on in Tekena's mind. He was the one that was meant to be there, carrying the entire team that way. But instead, it was his rival.

Our Rival.

"Ignore him." I surprised myself by saying that. On a normal day, I'd have indulged. Tekena and I would have probably spent the entire night dragging the dude to the mud. But I honestly wasn't in the mood.

"Way ahead of you," Tekena murmured, sipping from his cup, tearing his eyes away from Sochima and the guys to look at me, the glare on his face quickly replaced with a sly look.

"So, as I was saying." He continued. "What happened in the locker room isn't something important, trust me. I think I was even buzzed. Me uttering so much nonsense was probably a result of too much weed." He winked at me when my face formed in a grimace.

I should have guessed he was high at the point. He was just uttering nonsense.

"You should reduce your weed intake, Tekena," I stated point-blank and now it was his turn to roll his eyes at me. But I was only worried about him. Lately, he has been getting extra high. I wouldn't be surprised if what he was drinking was equally spiked.

"I'm serious, TK." I maintained, making my voice as stern as possible.

"I'm fine, Jidenna." He drawled, a bored undertone to his voice. "You are just getting worried for no reason, honestly. Stop being such a mum." He scoffed out a short laugh at his own lame joke. I exhaled, running my hand through my hair.

Tekena will never listen.

Well, I guess he knows what he is doing.

"Shoot! It's almost time!" Tekena yelled, glancing at his wristwatch before walking towards the DJ's booth. I didn't have to be told twice what He had meant before I got to work as well.

Yes, work.

The Dance team was coming up in about five minutes and Tekena wanted the entire thing recorded so that he can post it on our Instagram page. The Crestview Dance Team was a big deal. Most schools around these parts of Lagos knew how much of a big deal the Dance team was, so the hype that would come after posting the video on Instagram would be huge.

And that's what Tekena wanted. More traffic on the page.

I offered to record the video because, well, I loved anything that had to do with cinematography, no matter how little it was. Not just cinematography, photography in general. Tekena said I had a good eye and I knew just the right angles to take a picture or shoot a video from that would make it come out perfectly.

As I said, he was the one that made me discover my love for photography.

Now, I was setting up my phone on the tripod standing just a few meters away from the "stage where the dancers were going to perform on. I didn't have a camera... yet, but an iPhone X pro max would do the job almost as effectively as a Nikon DSLR camera, and with the right editing, the video will come out very well.

When I was done setting up, I gave Tekena the signal and he tapped the DJ who lowered the volume of the song that was playing at that moment and picked up the microphone, alerting everyone.

"IS EVERYONE HAVING A GOOD TIME?!"

An ear-piercing scream of excitement from the crowd followed the question, shaking the mansion to its foundation. I smiled and glanced around the room to see that the large room was already jam-packed, indicating that the crowd from outside had already started coming in.

Tekena's house was big, just as big as mine. The living room was very spacious, wide enough to contain at least five hundred people especially after we had removed all the chairs and everything from it. But now, with the number of people inside, it felt too small. Some people had to go up the stairs to stand on the balcony so has to get a better view of everything.

"THIS IS THE MOMENT WE HAVE ALL THE WAITING FOR. AN EXCLUSIVE PERFORMANCE FROM THE CRESTVIEW DANCE TEAM!"

Another screamed followed and I winced, wondering how much of that my eardrums can take. I couldn't deny the fact that the enthusiasm from the crowd was very contagious, the low chuckle that escaped my lips attested to that fact.

But the smile on my lips wiped off when I heard a very familiar cheery laugh a distance to my right. I turned in that direction and saw Hilary laughing at something Semeeha had whispered to her. A burst of loud, genuine laughter. I have never seen her in such a good mood ever since... well, everything, and yes, I take notice of all her actions in class, all her reactions, her moods.

This is the first time in a month I'd see her like this... like herself. A real self. The Hilary I used to know before I messed up.

She really was better off without me.

As if she knew someone was looking at her, she turned her head towards my direction but I was quick to look away. She knew I was the one looking at her because I felt her gaze burning to the side of my head. I kept my eyes ahead, tried to busy myself, and act naturally even though within me, I was fidgeting. I was too ashamed to meet her eyes.

Too Ashamed.

"FOR THEIR FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE SESSION, LET'S WELCOME, THE CRESTVIEW DANCE TEAM!"

The DJ's voice alerted me back, followed by the insanely loud cheer. I tapped on the camera app just as Tekena made his way to me.

"You ready?" He asked me, placing his hand on my shoulder. I mustered a small smile and gave him a thumbs up. The lights went off, but I could see the movements on the stage so, from that point, I started recording.

There was complete silence for a moment.

Then, Kendrick Lamar's Humble started.

♪♪ Nobody pray for me
It's been that day for me
Waaaaay (yeah, yeah!) ♪♪

That intro was followed by a very clean and synchronized dance move from the dancers. Not just that, the way the lights flashed and flowed with the moves, giving their black outfits everything look... Med! The screams of excitement mixed with hypes I wasn't the only one who thought that.

"Wow..." Tekena muttered, obviously thinking the same thing I was and I smiled.

Wow is right.

♪♪ Ayy, I remember syrup sandwiches and crime allowances
Finesse a nigga with some counterfeits, but now I'm countin' this ♪♪

I recognized the guy at the forefront, in between two girls. Collins was in the science class with me and we were in the same class for most of JSS, so I pretty much knew him and knew how much of a badass dancer he was. He was controlling the crowd. His swag, his demeanor, his vigor... everything he did seemed to make the crowd hype even louder and louder.

♪♪ A.M. to the P.M., P.M. to the A.M., funk
Piss out your per diem, you just gotta hate 'em, funk ♪♪

At this part of the song, two guys and a girl came out from the side, two guys and a girl that wasn't on the floor before but were also part of the dancers, doing a harmonized trio dance, just the three of them while the rest went to stand behind. I couldn't recognize them so I knew they weren't in my set. But they were good.

They were really good.

The entire dance team came up again and started dancing, and the crowd didn't go quiet. If anything, they became even louder.

♪♪ Bitch, be humble (hol' up, bitch)
Sit down (hol' up, lil', hol' up, lil' bitch)
Be humble (hol' up, bitch)
Sit down (hol' up, sit down, lil', sit down, lil' bitch) ♪♪

The chorus began and it seemed like the dancers were doing a new formation. Collins was leaving the middle, getting replaced by a girl at his left. I knew her immediately. Her energy gave her away... her energy and her look. It seemed like every other person in the room knew her because the hype just tripled up, and so did her Energy.

Dawn.

She has always had a passion for dancing. I knew that because I'm her friend, or... was her friend. But, this was the first time I'd be seeing her taking her a lead in any dance performance the dance team had done. The entire second verse of the song was all hers and she was killing it. This would also be the first time I'd be getting to really appreciate her moves.

♪♪Who dat nigga thinkin' that he frontin' on Man-Man?
Get the fuck off my stage, I'm the Sandman (Sandman)
Get the fuck off my dick, that ain't right
I make a play fucking up your whole life ♪♪

She was killing it.

Her vigor and energy were out of this world and I never really knew she had it in her to dance this... GOOD. Not to mention, her swag, something I had no idea she possessed, and the way she seemed to just connect with the rest of her team. It was like she was calling the shots, adding a bit of style and ajasa to her own moves for it to seem like she was soloing the dance, with a big grin stretched across her lips that said "I know what I'm doing."

♪♪ I'm so fuckin' sick and tired of the Photoshop
Show me somethin' natural like afro on Richard Pryor
Show me somethin' natural like ass with some stretch marks
Still will take you down right on your mama's couch in Polo socks ♪♪

I've never really been able to wrap my head around how someone with a body like Dawn's would be able to dance, but now? I don't even know how to explain how much of an amazing dancer she was, 'cos boy... SHE CAN DANCE!

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

(Imagine this as the Crestview Dance Team. I couldn't see any video with Females inside🤣, but their entire dance was based on this video.)

"God damn..." I heard Tekena mutter again, his voice coming out deep and raspy. This time, I fully turned to look at him. His mouth was opened as he stared at the dancers in complete awe, in complete adoration. His gaze stayed on the dancers... no, on one dancer.

His gaze was on Dawn. Just on Dawn.

His ex.

It was shocking to me. It was... strange. I couldn't decipher why he was looking at her like that.

He had broken up with her. He had told me he was tired of her which was why he had broken up with her, a breakup that had broken Dawn. Everything that had happened to Dawn afterward didn't seem to faze him one bit. He had moved on quite fast, being the usual playboy that he was. I had even resigned to the thought that he probably never felt anything for her in the first place.

If that was the case, then why was he looking at her the way he was looking at her... right now?

It confused me.

The dance ended, with Dawn in the middle, shooting an imaginary gun to the crowd who wouldn't stop cheering and screaming in excitement. The smile on Dawn's lips told me affirmed to me that she enjoyed what she was doing, she enjoyed it very much. I could hear Hilary's and most especially, Semeeha's hypes louder than the rest.

I wouldn't fault them. Dawn was AMAZING.

She UNDERSTOOD the assignment and she delivered.

And it seemed like Tekena still agreed because he was still staring at the spot the dancers were on the web after they left and the DJ was talking again.

"Guy," I tapped him and he jerked out of whatever reverie he was in. He looked at me, blinking like he was trying to remember where he was.

"You good?" I asked, scrutinizing him. He blinked one more time, then shook his head, his previous forlorn and distant look gone and replaced with a more stoic expression. His usual look.

"Sure, I'm fine." He answered and I frowned. Tekena looked convincing but his tone wasn't and his next question confirmed it. "Uhm... D-Did you r-record it?"

He was stuttering.

Tekena Tamuno never stutters.

"Of course I recorded it," I answered, handing him my phone, but still peered at him, concerned at his sudden change of demeanor and behavior. "Are you sure you are good? You seem off." I told him.

"I'm fine." He breathed out and I nodded, willing myself to believe him. "Can I watch this?" He asked, holding up the phone and I nodded again.

"Sure," I answered, dismantling the tripod. "I need to use the bathroom sef," I said and he nodded, his attention on the phone now. I furrowed my brows at him for a moment before shaking my head and walking towards the staircase.

He said he is fine. Then he is fine.

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I spritzed out liquid soap from the bottle to my left palm before turning on the faucet, washing my hand into the basin. When I was satisfied, I used the electric drier to dry my hand before making my way out of the bathroom and into the room.

Instead of going all the way upstairs to where Tekena's room was located to use the restroom, I decided to take of the many rooms downstairs, knowing that upstairs was majorly crowded and the majority of the rooms were most definitely occupied by horny teenagers.

It was almost midnight. The party was already getting to its apex.

As I walked out of the room, I bumped into someone.

No, someone bumped into me, intentionally. In a blink of an eye, I was legit pinned against the wall with a feminine body pressing against mine. I looked and my eyes came in contact with Beauty Idoma's. I wasn't surprised she was the one that had bumped into me.

Not after all the messages earlier tonight.

"Jide boo," She cooed, pressing herself against me even more while biting a side of her bottom lip, trying to look seductive. I sighed, trying my best to gently push her away but she wouldn't budge at all. She was almost choking me, even.

"Uhm, Beauty... a little space please?" I placed my hand on either of her shoulders and pushed gently. This time, she budged and I could finally breathe better. Her conc perfume was cutting all airwaves to my lungs.

When I realized she had stepped away from me, I started to walk, trying my best to get away from her as fast as possible. But Beauty was stubborn.

"I messaged you earlier tonight," She started, her voice stopping me right in my tracks. I exhaled, turning around to look at her. She was standing just a few feet away, hands akimbo on her waist and a smirk playing on her lips.

"I didn't see it." I simply replied and she chuckled, starting to walk over to where I stood.

"Or did you now," She drawled, sizing me up with her eyes, taking me in like a predator to her prey while taking her sweet time to catwalk over to me, putting an extra sway to her hips. My eyes, having a mind of their own, gave her a once-over.

Beauty was one of the most endowed girls in the entire set and as long as I have known her, she loved to show it off... like right now. She was dressed rather provocatively, wearing a black crop leather t-shirt with an alarmingly low neckline, revealing a large amount of her cleavage and a pair of bum shorts.

I wonder how comfortable it was for her to come to a place like this, dressed in clothes like that, but I shouldn't be surprised because Beauty revealing skin was something everyone knew about. She wasn't, by any standard, the most beautiful girl in the set. Beauty was okay, but that was it. She wasn't even by any chance intelligent.

And I mean that in the nicest way possible.

Then why exactly did you sleep with her? My subconscious queried, reminding me of the history Beauty and I have. It's not exactly a history per se, especially since it happened just a month and a few weeks ago.

I slept with her while I was still in a relationship with Hilary. I slept with someone else, while my girl - ex-girlfriend was grieving the death of her brother.

Real Asshole move.

"Seems like you missed me, with the way you can't stop eating me up with your eyes," Beauty's low, but rather alluring voice jerked me back to reality. It was then I felt that her arms were already wrapped around my middle, her voluptuous bosom pressing against my tummy.

Jesus Christ.

Lead us not into temptation. I prayed within myself, looking around the hallway and glad that no one was here, witnessing this.

"Look Beauty," I started, holding her hands that were around me and pried them off my body. "I've told you before. What happened between us that night was a one-time thing. Nothing more. I mean, I cheated on my girlfriend!"

"A girlfriend you already broke things off with because you found out she also cheated on you, isn't it?" She clapped back, folding her hand across her chest with a slight frown marred across her features. I exhaled again, not knowing what else to say.

Everyone still believed that lie about Hilary.

"Why are you still worried about her," The way she said "her" with so much disgust actually irritated me because I know she was talking about Hilary. But she was still talking, "When you can easily have any girl in Crestview, especially me. You literally have all the girls at your beck and call but you need someone that matches your spec. Hilary is not worthy of you!"

"And you are?"

The words flew right out of my mouth before I could stop them. Beauty looked very shocked, the widening of her eyes and the opening of her mouth said that mouth. When her arms began to loosen from my midriff, I knew my words struck a nerve.

But that wasn't even important.

It was the sound of the opening and closing of the door to the room next to us that alerted Beauty and I. Immediately I saw who was walking out of the room, looking at us with a mocking smirk on her lips that indicated that she had heard our conversation, I cussed.

I cussed out loud.

"Fuck."

It was Adela.

"Ouch!" She said, her smirk spreading into a knowing grin as she looked between Beauty and me before her gaze settled on Beauty. "That must have stung badly. Didn't it Beauty?" She asked, her grin wide in sarcasm. My mouth hung open in... awe?

What is this girl?

But Beauty scoffed, completely releasing herself from me.

"Fuck you, Adela!" She spat back at the girl who didn't seem at all fazed by her outburst, before turning to me and eyeing me sardonically. "Fuck you too, Jidenna." And with that, she left, leaving Adela and me in the same hallway.

Adela that heard everything Beauty and I talked about.

Adela that now knows that I was the one who cheated on Hilary.

Jidenna, you are screwed.

My eyes met her rather impassive ones. The petite girl looked at me for a moment, shook her head, and began to walk away, towards the direction of the party. Not knowing what else to do, I ran after her and jumped to her front, stopping her from going any further. She stopped short, looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Excuse me. You are in my way." She simply said, ever so casually with the usual nonchalant and placid expression marrying her face. I honestly wonder how she easily remains poker-faced when she's talking to me. No expression, nothing at all.

But I wasn't going to let that deter me. I needed to make sure she doesn't tell anyone what she heard.

"You heard everything Beauty and I talked about," I stated, knowing for a fact that she heard. She looked back at me, still, completely poker-faced.

"And what exactly did you guys talk about?" She asked in sarcasm, feigning ignorance. It was fucking frustrating.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Adela!" My voice rose, echoing through the empty hallway and this babe didn't as much as flinch at the sound of my voice. She just stared right back at me as I breathed heavily.

It really got under my skin how unflinching and dauntless she remained.

"Oh, you mean the truth." Her voice was calm but strong, her expression remaining the same. "I knew Hilary didn't cheat on you. It was pretty obvious, just in case you want to ask me how I found out."

I actually wanted to ask her.

"But I honestly never expected that it was the other way around." She scoffed out a sarcastic laugh, shaking her head.

"I'm pretty much very good at reading signs and figuring people out, especially if they are easy to read... but I didn't see that one coming." She looked at me, a small smile of something akin to amusement tugged at the corner of her lips.

I wasn't sure whether it was faux or real. I didn't care, not when she has me all figured out.

"It not what you thin..." I started to say.

"It's exactly what I think, Jidenna Okojie." She cut me off. Harshly. Her tone was hard, her expression comparable to that of anger and annoyance. She looked at me hard in the eye and I flinched.

If she tells anyone, I'm in trouble.

"You can't tell anyone... please." I pleaded with her. She scoffed, looking at me like I had grown horns on my head all of a sudden.

"It's quite pathetic that you think everyone is like you and your friend." She stated shrewdly, folding her hand across her chest. I knew she meant Tekena when she was talking about my friend, but I didn't know what she meant by the whole statement.

I understood when she continued.

"Apart from the fact that whatever you do with your life is certainly none of my business, I don't leverage on my... enemies," She gave air quotes to enemies, "weakness or secrets for my own personal gain. I wouldn't do that to someone, no matter how much of an IDIOT they are."

I was the IDIOT.

"You are going on a wrong path, Jidenna Okojie." She said calmly, her voice and expression devoid of malice and hate, now replaced with... pity.

"I kinda pity you because... " She paused, sighing deeply then shook her before looking at me again "I feel it's not completely your fault."

That statement alerted every bit of my senses. The fact that she didn't bat an eyelid as she spoke gave the words have so much weight. It travel through my body, circulated my heart, and entered into the deepest, most sensitive part of my mind, causing goosebumps to sprout all over my skin.

But before I could think of what to say, Adela was gone, leaving my mind in turmoil than she had met it. I couldn't help but ask myself.

How can this girl read me so well?

𝐀/𝐍

Adela actually means Jidenna specially. As per, to everyone else, she can be super sweet and nice, but to Jidenna and Jidenna alone, her mouth just turns to a blackhole that spits fire and brimstones at Jidenna, who obviously doesn't have the mind to take it.

Hard Guy, Hard Guy Isonu🤣💔.

Fun Fact; She's also the only one that can read him perfectly.

Now y'all know who sent the text to Jidenna during the Paragon and now, you know a little detail of how Jidenna cheated and who he cheated with💀. There is still more drama, trust me.

Tekena is very subtle by the way and Jidenna is clearly very observant (note the sarcasm). If you know you know.

That's it for this week. Don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT AND SHARE. I'll see you when I see you 😘