(033 - E Shock You?)

I forgot to add this in the last author's note. Now we know what happened to Jidenna's mum because a lot of people have been asking where she is. Don't forget that simple detail about Jidenna's life, as well as the detail of how his brothers left.

If you understand, you understand.

The beginning of this chapter will be pretty interactive, so please hear your opinions and views. Also, don't skip anything biko. Some readers just used to scheme through the chapters which isn't good. So, biko...

Enjoy❤️✨

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𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐘
(Hilary Idara Eghosa)

CHILD ABUSE

Our Civic teacher, Mr. Adebiyi wrote boldly on the whiteboard with his red marker, before turning around to look at the class. I uncapped my pen and wrote down the topic in my notebook, noticing that it was quite familiar.

"Haven't we done this topic before?" Semeeha asked, whispering to me. I shrugged, looking back at the man that was waiting for everyone to finish writing. Seems like I'm not the only one that noticed the familiar topic.

"I know what some of you are thinking," Mr. Adebiyi began, catching all of our attention. "Many of you are quite familiar with this topic because you have done it sometime in SS1." He stated and there was a murmur of agreement from the class.

I knew it.

"Today is going to be very interactive." The young teacher continued, looking around the class. "Your external exams will soon begin so consider this as a way of refreshing your mind." He stated. I dropped my pen on the table and leaned back.

If the class is going to be interactive, I doubt we'd be writing a lot of notes.

"First of all, what is Child Abuse?" He asked, and immediately several hands went up, indicating that they want to answer the question. "Collins," Mr. Adebiyi pointed to the boy at the back.

Everyone automatically turned around on their seat to look at him.

"Child abuse is when a child is being physically abused by a parent or anyone in general." His definition was simple and the teacher nodded.

"Not exactly but good try. Can I get a broader definition of the term?" He looked back at the class, scanning around for anyone before his eyes landed on me. "Hilary, give us a broader definition."

Weeks ago, I'd have been too embarrassed to bet up on my feet to answer the question, not wanting the attention to be on me. But now, I was getting over it gradually. My name was dying on everyone's lips and that was all I've ever wanted.

So, I sat up, getting ready to answer the question.

"Child abuse is not just the physical violence directed to a child but also the emotional and psychological abuse and neglect. It's also when a child is being maltreated in every way." I explained. Mr. Adebiyi nodded, a small smile stretching across his lips.

"Very good. I like that definition." He stated and I smiled, leaning back against my chair proudly. Semeeha gave me a look, rolled her eyes coming, and made a comment about how I was too proud.

I stopped myself from laughing out loud, listening to the teacher that was still speaking.

"When a child is being abused outside the house, it's called abuse, but when a child is being abused at home, it's called domestic violence. Are you following me?"

"Yes sir." Everyone answered

"Excuse me, sir?" Someone called from behind.

"Yes, Susan? You have a question?" Mr. Adebiyi called out to the girl sitting at the back. We all turned to look at her.

"Yes sir. So, by Hilary's definition, it means a parent or someone does not have to beat or hit a child before the child is being abused?" She asked, and that sparked some sort of uproar around the class. I hummed, watching the teacher smile before looking around the class.

"Can someone help me answer her question?" He called out and a few hands went up. I didn't raise my hand because the class was meant to be interactive, so everyone should have a chance to speak.

"Yes, Godwin?" Mr. Adebiyi picked the boy that sat at my right-hand side.

"Hilary's definition is pretty accurate." He began, throwing me a side glance when he called my name. "A child does not necessarily have to be beaten up before the child is being abused.-

Some children are being sexually abused without the perpetrator having to be violent. All they need to do is convince the child that what's happening is normal, whereas it isn't." He explained and I nodded, completely agreeing.

"Very good. Another contribution?" The teacher looked around the class.

"To buttress Godwin's point, Sexual abuse can happen because of a parent's lack of attention and neglect to the child, which by the way, is also an abuse." Modupe, the girls sitting behind me started, and everyone turned to listen to her, including me.

"Go on, Modupe." Mr. Adebiyi urged.

"The neglect of a child can make the child emotionally and psychologically vulnerable for anyone to prey on. The perpetrators of Sexual abuse use this as leverage capitalizing on the weakness of the child. They will show the child the care he or she has been lacking, win the trust of the child, and then... strike." She concluded with her explanation.

"Very good!" Mr. Adebiyi was proud, a big smile playing on his lips. "If this was a debate, you'd have made a very solid point against your opponent." He chipped and everyone laughed.

The class was buzzing and in a frenzy. This kind of discussion is what makes school less boring. But then, topics like this only appear in Civic education and sometimes English language. We don't get to do debates in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physicals, and Biology.

"So," Mr. Adebiyi began, calling all our attention back to him. "We know what physical abuse entails because it's the most common type of child abuse, and we have expressly spoken about sexual abuse. What about emotional abuse?" He asked.

Immediately, he threw the question the class, everywhere stopped buzzing and went dead silent, even me. I have quite an idea of what emotional abuse was. I know what it is when I see it, but I wasn't sure how to put it in words that would perfectly define it.

The silence dragged for a moment, no one was sure of what to say. For some people, I was sure this was probably the first time they'd be hearing about the term emotional abuse.

"Jidenna Okojie," Mr. Adebiyi spoke, staring right past me to look at Jidenna. While everyone turned to look at him, I kept my eyes focused ahead even though I was tempted to look at him like everyone else. Even Semeeha turned around to look at him.

"Sir?" He answered.

I noticed a slight quiver in his voice. So slight, it was almost as if I had imagined it. It almost made me want to turn around to look at him. But I stood my ground and kept my eyes trained on the teacher in front.

"Your mind isn't here." The teacher stated matter-of-factly, bobbing his head to the side as he kept staring at Jidenna. I looked at the man in front, noticing that his tone didn't hold any form of anger, and neither did his expression. He just stared at Jidenna.

Jidenna didn't respond to what the man had said, meaning the teacher was right that he wasn't paying attention. Again, I was tempted to turn my head and just glance at him, see his expression but I took a hold of myself before I could.

Mr. Adebiyi continued.

"Would you like to explain to us what emotional abuse is?" He asked Jidenna.

"U-Uhm..." Jidenna began, stuttering. I heard his voice quivering again and my face contorted into a slight frown. I could tell that he wasn't himself.

"We are waiting for you, head boy." Mr. Adebiyi drawled.

Instantly, I felt a little bit of pressure contract in my chest. I wasn't sure why, wasn't even the one the man was talking to, but that simple phrase head boy, was one filled with so much pressure. I interpreted what the teacher had said to mean that everyone was looking up to him.

Such responsibility and pressure even in the most irrelevant of things.

But still, I didn't turn to look at him.

"I-I have an idea of what it is but I don't know how to put it in w-words, sir," Jidenna answered, his voice low and having an undertone of embarrassment in it.

"That's alright," Mr. Adebiyi shrugged and turned to look at the rest of the class. "Can someone help with a well-detailed definition or explanation?" He asked.

"Emotional Abuse is any act including confinement, isolation, verbal assault, humiliation, intimidation, infantilization, or any other treatment which may diminish the sense of identity, dignity, and self-worth." Collins dragged out in one breath from the back.

Mr. Adebiyi smirked.

"Yeah Collins. Thank you for reading the entire Wikipedia page from your phone." He said and everyone laughed, turning to Collins who proudly held out his phone as a way of indicating that he actually had to google the definition.

While all this was going on, I finally allowed myself to turn and look at Jidenna.

I was just going to glance at him and look away. I'd promised myself severally that I would never look at him again, but there was something about his demeanor that stopped me from looking away. Even though I willed myself to, I couldn't.

His shoulder was sagging and droopy, his expression crestfallen and his eyes staring ahead into nothingness. Physically, he was present in class and anyone that glanced at him would think he was looking at the teacher and paying. But he wasn't. I could tell, his mind was far away.

Very far away.

Something was off about him and I couldn't place my finger on it.

Since we resumed back to school after the midterm break, I've noticed it. It's pretty hard to ignore your ex-boyfriend when he's the head boy and also in your class. I've tried to act as if I haven't noticed that something about him had changed. And no, it wasn't a good type of change.

Jidenna looked like a shadow of his former self.

But then again, I'm not sure if I knew his former self.

I shook my head and willed myself to look away from him before he'd catch me staring at him, reminding myself that I wasn't supposed to care about him anymore, reminding myself that he was supposed to mean absolutely nothing to me.

Does he really? Chidera's voice from our last session suddenly appeared in my mind, and I could sense it teasing me.

Where did that come from?

"But Collin's definition is quite correct," Mr. Adebiyi's voice alerted me back to the present and I quickly looked up, telling myself to pay attention. "Emotional abuse is a real thing and it's more rampant between a parent and a child.-

A parent does not have to hit a child before emotionally and psychologically damaging the child. A degrading and disparaging word fired towards the child is enough to destroy the self-esteem of the child." He explained.

"I agree sir," Someone from the far corner agreed. "Some parents don't know how to talk. The word coming from their mouth can destroy their child's life. Funny how they still use the excuse of they just want to help their child to justify their actions." She said, and everyone murmured in agreement.

"Some parents even do both physical and emotional abuse on a child, all in the name of wanting their kids to be a better version of themselves. They don't know their words are doing more damage than good." Another person contributed and I nodded.

Everyone had valid points.

"I don't agree." Semeeha suddenly spoke up, plunging the class into silence.

She said what?

My eyes widened slightly as I turned to look at her. She didn't look fazed by the reaction she got from the class, tapping her pen again on the table like she was prepared to argue.

"Why don't you agree, Ms. Malik?" Mr. Adebiyi asked, looking quite interested in whatever Semeeha had to say. The entire class, including me, was interested too. I wanted to know she'd justify emotional abuse.

"Well, I don't agree because I don't think it's fair to call a parent wanting the best for their kid emotional abuse." She stated matter-of-factly, leaning back against her chair. Still, the class was pin-drop silence.

"Expatiate please," the teacher urged on. I watched Semeeha's lips quirk in a smirk as she leaned forward again, placing both hands on her desk and clasping it together in a business-like manner.

"Parents know what's best for their children and going through whatever means to achieve that best is the most important thing. You can't say a parent scolding a child for not being the best in class, or bringing home a good result is an emotional abuse.-

Some children are hard-headed and they need to be spoken to in the harshest way possible. Soft words won't do justice to a child like that. When a parent isn't satisfied with how their child is turning out, they have every right to want to fix it.-

And if using degrading words would help screw back the loose screw in the child's head, then so be it!" She concluded with a proud smile stretched at the corners of her lips.

My eyes widened in shock. I didn't look at every other person's face to know that their expression mirrored mine. Even Mr. Adebiyi was utterly speechless. The class was completely silent and everyone was staring at Semeeha, who seemed proud of the bomb she just dropped.

I can't believe she's trying to justify emotional abuse by a parent to a kid. And no one was even trying to counter her claim, not even me.

But I guess I spoke too soon, because...

"Now that's a huge load of BS." A familiar deep and forlorn voice tore through the silence and tension like a knife.

The smile immediately wiped off Semeeha's lips just as everyone turned to the direction the voice came from, including me. My face automatically lit up as soon as my eyes fell on him, leaned back lazily against his seat like always, tapping the bottom of his pen on his desk with his eyes trained on the novel in front of him.

If he was reading the novel, how did he know what we were talking about? I couldn't help but ask myself.

Of course, I didn't get an answer. Just like I don't have answers to the many questions based on many fascinating things I have noticed about him.

"What did you say?" Semeeha's voice pierced through my thoughts. She sounded like she had been insulted.

"You heard me." Was his simple reply to her, his eyes not leaving the novel in front of him. That definitely sparked murmurs through the class.

Oh wow. I had to stop my mouth from dropping open at that point.

"Mr. Jordan, are you countering Ms. Malik's point?" Mr. Adebiyi spoke, finally collecting himself from the shock of earlier.

Simi finally looked up, closing his novel. He looked quite taken aback when he realized that the attention of the entire class was on him, but he collected himself, looking at the teacher who had asked him a question.

"Of course." He replied, with a shrug. "Excuse my french sir but as I said earlier, everything she uttered is complete and total BULLSHIT." He said with the straightest face ever.

My eyes went huge.

"Jesus Christ!" Someone whispered, but loud enough because of the quiet class, and that caused low fits of laughter to spring out from corners of the class.

Semeeha looked livid.

"Quiet," Mr. Adebiyi calmly ordered and the class became silent again. He then turned to face Simi. "Alright then. Explain why your think everything she said is... well, in your words, Bullshit."

"Because there is nothing that can be used to justify emotional abuse, either by a parent to their kid, a teacher to a student, or husband to a wife, even friends to friends. It is inexcusable." He answered calmly

I sat upright and kept my attention solely on him.

"Go on," the teacher urged on. At this point, everyone had their eyes on Simi, listening to him.

"I'm not going to generalize this and say every parent because not all parents want what's best for their kid, but I'm sure most parents do. But no matter how good your intentions are towards your kid, never subject them to any form of verbal insult and ridicule..."

"It's their kid!" Semeeha retorted and everyone turned to her. "They have every right to use whatever means to bring out the best in their kid!" She snapped

"So, they should subject their kid to degradation and belittling, to the extent that the kid is questioning their self-worth, just because they want to bring out the best from the child? Is that what you are saying?-

Because according to you, if they have to use demeaning words to screw back the loose screw in their kid's head, then so be it." Simi retorted back, quoting what she had said earlier. Unlike Semeeha, he was still keeping his cool, his voice calm and expression void.

Semeeha didn't answer, but with the way her fist was clenched on the table, I knew she was angry.

"I completely get it." He continued, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Kids can be difficult sometimes and they need to be spoken to but insulting them and making them feel less of themselves won't do the work.-

There is a difference between being firm and when you are verbally assaulting a child. There is also a difference between encouragement and just plain slandering, so let's get our facts right." He paused, catching his breath.

Wow...

He had me completely hooked on every word he was saying and he wasn't even finished. Simi turned to Semeeha, looking at her square in the eyes.

"Okay, your argument is about kids that are not doing well in class, or bringing home good results, yeah?" He asked her, and though Semeeha didn't respond, he continued like she had. "What about the kids that are actually doing well in class, better than average in fact, but their parents are still not satisfied?"

That struck a chord because the class erupted in mumbles and murmurs. Mr. Adebiyi held up his hand to quiet down the class.

"What about kids that bring home really amazing results, but their parents throw it back in their face, saying that it's not good enough, telling their kid that they are not good enough or will never be good enough?" He asked her.

"It's because the result isn't up to the parent's standard." Semeeha tried to argue, but Simi cut her off by scoffing out a peal of laughter.

"Not up to their standard?" He asked incredulously. "Okay, agreed that it's not up to their standard, why not encourage the child? Tell him that there is still room for improvement Why insult the kid by telling the kid he is not good enough and he'll never be good enough all because he doesn't meet up to your standard?"

Semeeha scoffed.

"You are just bringing random examples based on nothing. Talk to me when you are ready to be practical!" She spat out.

I watched as Simi's lips quirked in a smirk.

"Fine, let's be practical. Let's even leave the parent/child relationship, and let's go to a teacher/student one since we are in school." He said, rubbing his palm together like he was ready for this.

And like they were being hypnotized, everyone sat up on their seat. Even Mr. Adebiyi had found a chair to sit down on, all of them wanting to listen to Simi speak.

I couldn't stop the small smile of pride that tugged at the corner of my lips, settling comfortably in my seat to listen to him too.

"One of the job descriptions of a teacher is to maintain a safe and respectful classroom environment that would optimize the students' capabilities and develop their love of learning.-

I can easily interpret this to mean that, if a student doesn't get anything in class, it's your job as a teacher to help them understand. Come down to their level and explain it in a way that they would get it. Please, correct me if I'm wrong sir," He gestured to Mr. Adebiyi who quickly shook his head.

"You are totally correct." He agreed with Simi.

"Right. But then, a lot of teachers are not doing anything close to that for students in class. Most teachers emotionally and psychologically abuse kids that don't seem to understand what they are being taught, forgetting that every child has a different learning technique."

Different learning techniques.

That simple phrase seemed to stick in my mind.

"Take me for example," I heard him say and my eyes widened slightly.

He wants to use himself as an example? Wouldn't that be weird?

I obviously wasn't the only one that was thinking that way because I noticed a few of my classmates passing glances at each other. If Simi noticed, it didn't faze him. He still had a rather void expression on his face.

"I'm sure there is no one in this school that doesn't know I'm not supposed to be in this class. I know I'm not supposed to be in this class. My presence right here is enough reminder that I'm not supposed to be in this class. Definitely, the last thing I need is a teacher reminding me constantly of the reason why I'm in this class,"

He paused when there was a slight crack in his voice. I wasn't sure if the entire class noticed it or if it was just me because I was paying close attention to him.

Simi cleared his throat and continued.

"Then, just because I cannot answer a supposedly simple question on the board, or I didn't get the questions in my test right, a teacher decides to call me a failure, olodo, dullard... sometimes, even dunce, completely writing me off because I've repeated twice."

It was the way he shrugged nonchalantly, even though I knew for a fact that talking about this was breaking him on the inside. My heart picked up a beat in that effect, scared that his emotions would take a better part of him and he'd break down.

But he didn't. If anything, his expression hardened.

"I know that I'm not the only one facing that. I know I'm not the only one having trouble with their academics, and I'm not the only one teachers say awful things like that too."

I looked around the class and could pick, from several expressions, that Simi was right about not being the only one in such a position.

How did I not know about this?

"So, If emotional abuse isn't being constantly reminded that you are not good enough, or you'll never amount to anything, then I don't know what is," Simi finished with a shrug.

Solid point right there. Very solid point. I wanted to start clapping, but a scoff-like laugh from Semeeha made me pause.

"Is that your real argument?" She asked him, rolling her eyes. "Please, spare me. You are trying to get pity for yourself and justify the fact that you are failing your classes."

What the fuck?

Audible gasps resonated around the class just as my eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, all of us shocked at the words that had escaped Semeeha's mouth. Hurtful words that bounced on the walls and around the four corners of the class and landed right on Simi's lap.

"Semeeha!"

I chided and she looked at me with a nonchalant expression, clearly not seeing the wrong in what she has just said.

"What!"

She fired at me, before rolling her eyes again and kissing her teeth, muttering something that sounded like next time he won't have the audacity to argue with me, meaning she saw the wrong in what she said.

She said it on purpose.

I was expecting Mr. Adebiyi to put Semeeha in order but the man just sat still and stared right at Simi, as if expecting him to say something back to her. I quickly looked at Simi, checking his expression.

He still had the void look on his face, staring right at Semeeha. But looking closely, I saw the look falter just in the slightest like he was having a little conflict within himself. I was able to see, under the void mask, an expression mixed with anger, hurt, and sadness.

My heart went out to him immediately.

As if he knew I was looking at him, Simi's eyes shifted and locked with mine. His expression might still hold that void look, but his eyes held volumes of emotions. My hand immediately went to my chest, and I palmed down on it.

"I'm sorry," I mouthed to him. He shook his head, a lone smile tugged against his lips before looking away from me and back at Semeeha. Then, I realized one thing.

This wasn't finished yet.

"You made it seem like this topic is about me, but it isn't.

Simi started speaking again, his voice bringing the entire class back into silence. Watching Semeeha from my peripheral vision, I saw that she was surprised that he could still speak after the deadly blow targeted at him.

I looked at Mr. Adebiyi, who had a proud smile playing on his lips as he watched Simi.

"It's about everyone that is going through, or has gone through emotional abuse and I just happen to be one of them, just like a number of us in the class. Funny how, you might even be one of us, you just don't want to admit it. But well, what do I know?" He chuckled to himself, shrugging to punctuate his words.

Semeeha was speechless.

"You think I'm trying to gain sympathy and excuse myself for failing?" He scoffed out a burst of humorless laughter and continued. "There is no excuse for failing my classes and I won't, for any reason, try to justify why I am.-

But I stand by what I said. It doesn't give any teacher or anybody in general, the right to make me feel like I'll never make it in life just because I've repeated twice. That right there is emotional abuse and no one should have to go through that."

He stated pointedly, even getting echoes of Yes, Ride on, Preach it from our classmates. I had to bite my lower lip to stop myself from smiling so hard, feeling a sense of pride flow through me.

Simi continued like he couldn't hear the hoots and hypes of our classmates.

"Abuse isn't just about someone hitting another person violently, abuse is way broader and deeper than that. Emotional abuse is actually the worst kind of abuse if you check your stats. It's the bedrock of any other form of abuse and it can seriously mess with your mental health.-

The earlier you begin to expand your mindset about delicate issues like this, the better. If not, someone will capitalize on your ignorance and emotional abuse you, and you'll think it's completely normal for you to feel like you are not good enough, whereas it's not." He concluded.

I wasn't sure who started clapping. Didn't know if it was me, or Collins, or maybe Susan. Someone just started clapping and soon, the entire class was roaring with thundering claps, screams, and catcalls. This time, I didn't even stop my lips from stretching in that wide smile that has been wanting to break out since.

I felt so proud!

Simi looked like he had just descended from his high, looking quite shocked that he had said all of that and sinking back into his seat in awkwardness. I was sure the entire class was shocked as well. I mean, he has never spoken in class, and all of a sudden, he's dropping mad bars about Emotional Abuse, knocking the breath right out of us.

Like, this was a clear case of E shock you?

If I didn't know any better, I'd have just been shocked liked the entire class. I was just glad the entire class finally got to see how intelligent Simisola Jordan was, regardless of his academic performance. He was a prodigy on his own.

"Wow!" Mr. Adebiyi breathed out when the applause reduced. He looked quite shocked himself, eyes widened like a deer caught in a headlight. "That was amazing, Simi. You are such an intelligent young man." He sounded very impressed.

My smile widened as if I was the one he was speaking to, my eyes darting to where Simi sat, looking like he had gone back into his shell of quietness and solitude. He looked pretty embarrassed that all the attention was on him, stylishly shielding his face with his hands.

That of course didn't deter the teacher.

"You should speak in class more often." He continued, "In fact, I'll make sure you join the debate club. You speak with so much knowledge and eloquence. Do you read?" He asked and Simi nodded.

"Yes, sir." He answered, his voice low and barely audible, but the quietness of the class made it clear enough for everyone to hear. Mr. Adebiyi nodded, that expression of pride still on his face.

"I can see that. I can also hear it in the way you speak. I'm very amazed. Well done!" Simi responded with a slight respective bow, but said nothing else, sinking back into his chair.

The bell for change of period went off that instant and Mr. Adebiyi left class, though we had a free period next. I was still looking at Simi who suddenly looked uneasy when I heard Semeeha scoff loudly, then followed it with a loud hiss before muttering some incoherent words to herself.

"He thinks because the entire class clapped for him, he feels smart now, abi?" She murmured, talking more to herself than to me but I heard her loud and clear. Automatically, a deep frown formed across my face.

"He is smart, Semeeha," I told her, my voice coming out harsher than I intended. Semeeha turned to look at me, quite surprised that I had spoken to her that way. "Don't measure his intelligence based on his academic records," I added, my voice softer now.

Semeeha let out a humorless laugh, clapping her hands together like a typically African woman.

"Not only did you clap for him after he embarrassed me, but now you are taking his side? Seriously, Hilary? Is he now your best friend abi?" She sounded genuinely hurt and angry at the same time. I sighed, almost facepalming.

Was she seriously trying to turn this on me? Turn this on Simi? After insulting him the way she did?

I decided not to answer her. Besides, I wasn't even sure what to say. Knowing the kind of person Semeeha was, she'd probably things out of proportion and make me apologize at the end of the day even though I did nothing wrong.

Glancing back at Simi's seat, I saw that he was no longer there, and when I looked around the class, he wasn't in class either, meaning he must have slipped out when I was speaking to Semeeha. I hissed under my breath, standing up from my chair to go outside and catch up to him. Hopefully, he hasn't gone far and I'd be able to trace him.

Someone needs to apologize for Semeeha's big mouth.

I walked out of the class despite Semeeha asking me where I was going and why I didn't answer her before. When I got to the busy hallway, I tried to see if I could sight Simi anywhere, but I didn't. Normally, I'd have just gone back to class and waited till he gets back but...

I don't know...

Something was compelling me to go and look for him. There's no way he could have gone far.

Taking the turn to my right, I began to walk down the hallway, brushing past my classmates. I didn't stop walking till I got to the corner that led to the corridor which linked our block to our section of the library. Unlike the rest of the hallway, this place was quite deserted. Nobody was going towards the library and no one was coming out.

Still, there was something that made me go down that part, and I did. And in a matter of seconds, I knew why I had a feeling to go down that corridor.

Simi was there.

I stopped short in my tracks, not wanting to alert him, and just watched him for a moment. He was sitting on the short steps that led down to the library, back turned to me so he had no idea that I was standing behind him. It looked like his face was buried in his palm but I couldn't see what he was doing.

So I moved closer, and that was when I got a glimpse.

Simi's shoulders were quivering... shaking. Not violently, but visible enough for me to know. And this could only mean one thing.

Oh no.

I ran to him without thinking twice. My feet hitting the floor must have alerted him because he glanced back, meeting my eyes for a brief moment before he looked away. But it was enough for me to see his tear-stained face and slightly bloodshot eyes. My heart picked up the beat.

Oh, Simi. I sighed.

"I had a feeling you'd come to look for me," He spoke when I got to him, his face still buried in his hands. His wasn't groggy like I had expected, still clear and deep like always.

I didn't say anything, just stood in front of him for a moment before crouching low, moving close to him. He knew I was in front of him, but he didn't move a muscle, still covering his face with his palm.

Consciously, I brought my hand up and held onto his wrist, slowly pulling his hands away from his face so I could look at him. Simi didn't protest. He let me remove his hands, allowing me to see his face. And I did.

There were trails of tears on his cheeks, his amber eyes glistening with unshed tears. I held his gaze and he held mine. He didn't look away from me like he did the first time I had seen him cry. He didn't seem embarrassed like he was back then.

A slight smile appeared on his lips as he bobbed his head to the side.

"Stop looking at me like that," He whispered, chuckling lightly right after. I let go of his hand, peering at him quizzically.

"You are crying," I stated delicately, trying to pick my words carefully. He nodded slowly, looking away from me for a bit before looking back at me. He didn't attempt to clean his face and I didn't make him.

Somehow, I liked that he was this way with me.

This... Bare.

"I'm fine." He answered, his voice still in a whisper. "I'm just..." He trailed off when his voice quivered a bit, looking away from me. I moved closer to him, carefully placing my hand on either of his knees.

"Is it about what happened in class?" I asked him and he nodded slowly again, meeting my eyes again.

"Kinda." He answered, mustering a small smile.

I sighed ahead, knowing for a fact that it was because of Semeeha's insult. I saw the look in Simi's eyes when she made that statement. I wasn't even the one she said it to, but I felt so hurt on his behalf. I can't begin to imagine how he must have felt.

"I'm so sorry about Semeeha..." I started but Simi shook his head.

"I couldn't care less about her." He stated and I paused. "She was obviously just pained that she didn't have enough points to back up her opinion." He added with a nonchalant shrug. His statement made me quite confused.

So, if he isn't bothered about Semeeha, what then is the problem? I asked myself.

"Then what's going on?" I asked, urging him to tell me. He exhaled deeply, hanging his head low and shaking it slowly like he was second thinking opening up to me. But, I wanted him to open up to me, to feel more comfortable with me.

"Simi," I whispered his name softly, persuasively. He looked up to meet my eyes again, his eyes glistening with more unshed tears. My heart almost burst out of my ribcage with the way it was beating rapidly.

What's going on?

"Hilary," He called me, his voice cracking a bit and I answered him, shifting closer to him if that was even possible because I was already so close to him. "Mr. Adebiyi is the first teacher... the first one ever, to call me intelligent."

Oh my God. That's why... Oh my God.

An involuntary gasp escaped my lips.

"Simi..." I breathed out, not knowing what else to say. For some reason, tears began to well up in my eyes too. Maybe it was because he also had tears in his eyes, me being able to feel his emotions flow through me like they were mine.

Or maybe it was the deep realization of what he just said. No teacher has ever called him intelligent. This was a first.

A good first.

My heart swelled further in my chest when I saw the tears in his eyes overflowed and just by a slight blink, they began to cascade down his eyes to his cheeks in beads. He quickly wiped his hands over his face to clean them but it didn't stop the tears from coming down.

I had to fight the urge to take my hands to his face and clean them myself.

Simi looked at me, a big smile stretched across his lips even with the tears still coming down his eyes. A smile so beautiful and contagious, my lips automatically stretched in a smile too.

"Does it always feel this good when teachers say good things about you in front of the whole class?" He asked me, and my heart clenched for him.

He has never experienced that feeling. That feeling of teachers singing your praises in front of your classmates, telling you how brilliant and smart you are. Simi has never felt that overwhelming sense of pride when teachers completely adore you. He hasn't had that feeling.

Till today.

He was happy. Simi was happy. And I was happy for him... excited for him.

"It felt good, didn't it?" I asked and he nodded vigorously, a soft laugh escaping his lips.

"It felt so good. Really good." He said between laughter and tears. I laughed with him, tears falling from my eyes too.

"Come here." I couldn't help myself, I had to hug him.

Simi didn't protest, his head falling right to the hollow of my neck as I wrapped my hands around his neck, pulling him to me, hugging him. He hugged me back immediately and urgently, like he wanted it... needed it. His hands wrapped around my middle, holding me close to him, crying in the hollow of my neck.

He cried and cried, his tears wetting my uniform but I didn't care. I just wanted to hold him. Somehow, I felt like I was hugging him for myself, and not for him. This was the first time we'd be hugging, me holding him close to me and him letting me hold him.

It's been a while since I hugged someone like this, and it felt nice. Really nice.

Simi removed his head from my shoulder and I pulled back slightly so I could look at him better. He sniffed, not meeting my eyes with his tear-stained ones. Giving in to my urge, I unwrapped my hands from his neck and brought them to his face, raising his head so he could look at me, his beautiful Amber orbs settling on me.

"You are smart, Simi," I told him, reminding him as I tentatively cleaned his face with my thumb. He let me.

"You are very intelligent," I continued, keeping my eyes on him as I used my knuckles to clean the tears from his cheeks. "And you have a brilliant mind."

"Do you think so?" He sounded so unsure, so vulnerable. It made me wonder how much this boy doubted himself and his abilities. Made me angry at all the teachers that made him this way.

"After what happened in class, I'd be a fool not to think so," I answered reassuringly. A small smile stretched over his lips as he looked away. It almost looked like he was blushing and it made my smile stretch even further.

Simi was so tender and precious... It made me want to hug him again. And Again. And maybe just one last time... which will probably not be the last.

"I'm just glad everyone in class got to see this side of you," I told him and he sighed. "This side that should never be hidden. Everyone needs to know how intelligent you are, Simi. How amazing you are, just the way I do." I said to him. He took in a deep breath like he was digesting everything I said.

"Don't hide anymore," I whispered finally and he looked at me, before nodding slowly.

We settled in comfortable silence, my hands still on his face and his still around my waist. I liked that we were somewhere secluded, somewhere no one would think to pass, somewhere that it was just two of us. I wasn't sure what to make of this little moment, but I relished it.

Relished all of it.

"This is the second time you'll see me cry." His deep voice broke the silence, an amused undertone in his voice. I chuckled, throwing my head back slightly. "Are we even now?" He asked, referring to all the times I've cried or broken down in front of him

"Cry a third and a fourth time, then we'd call it even," I answered and he laughed. Heart-filled laughter that sounded so beautiful in my ears. He needs to laugh more often, and right then, I promised myself that I'd make sure he does.

Simi removed his hands from my waist and took them to mine that still held his face. He wrapped both of his around my wrists, bringing them away from his face. But he didn't let them go. Instead, he trailed his hands down my wrist and clasped them in mine, allowing me to hold his hands in mine.

His thumbs rubbed soothing circles to the back of my palm and I felt goosebumps sprout on my skin, suddenly feeling quite chilly.

And no, definitely not the bad kind of chilly.

"Thank you for always coming after me." He whispered, looking away from where his eyes were settled on our joined hand to look at me. An involuntarily sigh escaped my lips.

"Of course," I answered, my voice coming out more hushed than I expected... more breathless even.

"I promise, I'm going to repay you, Hilary."

"You don't have to." I shook my head. He doesn't have to.

"But I want to. And I'm going to." He assured me. I couldn't say anything to that because he seemed so determined. So, I nodded.

The bell for break went off and it occurred to me that we had spent our entire free period here, a whole forty minutes. I wasn't sure how the time flew but spending it with Simi was worth it. Totally worth it.

We stood up from the staircase and went back to class together, passing through the busy hallway of our block. I felt people were looking at us as we walked by together, but I didn't look around to confirm. Plus, I wasn't exactly bothered by it.

I wasn't ashamed of my friendship with Simi. In fact, I found it a privilege that someone like him decided to be friends with me.

The class was scanty when we got in, but I saw that Semeeha was still in class, but this time with Dawn. I watched Simi walk back to his seat before I decided to go to mine.

"You went after him, didn't you?" Semeeha immediately fired at me as soon as I got to them, cutting whatever discussion she was having with Dawn off. The latter looked between us, quite confused. Then she followed Semeeha's pointed finger to Simi's side. Still, she was confused.

I just rolled my eyes and settled back in my seat.

"What's going on?" Dawn asked us. I flashed her a smile.

"Nothing you need to worry yourself about," I told her, then glanced at Semeeha. "Semeeha just couldn't handle the fact that Simi's sold his own opinion better." I chipped, and the darker girl scoffed, while Dawn looked quite interested.

"Like an argument?" She was surprised and I smiled, shrugging. I won't really call what happened in class an argument. It was majorly a clash of opinions.

"Argument my ass!" Semeeha spat out. "Boy knew the only way he could win the favor of the entire class was to gather their pity." She retorted and I frowned.

"You really need to stop with that narrative because it is very demeaning and hurtful," I retorted back, keeping my voice as controlled as I could. "He clearly had more points than you and he sold them factually. Just because you couldn't sell yours didn't give you the right to throw his academic issues in his face!" I almost snapped.

Dawn let out a sound of awe, looking even more interested while Semeeha let out a mock gasp.

"Wow! You are still defending him." She sounded rather hurt, but honestly, she has no right to be hurt. She wasn't the one at the end of the ridicule. Simi was.

"I'm not defending anyone, Semeeha. I'm purely stating the truth, and as your best friend, I'm going to tell you the truth. What you said to Simi was low and uncalled for, and you should apologize." I stated pointedly.

But Semeeha hissed. A loud disdainful hiss followed by a deadly stink eye aimed at me.

"Over my dead body." She spat out, picked up her phone from the table, and walked out of the class. I watched her leave the class, quite taken aback and wondering how everything just took a whole different turn.

"What's up with her?" Dawn had to ask, looking just as surprised as I was. I sighed, shrugging as I took my seat.

Her aggression mostly was surprising. Semeeha might be stubborn, thick-skinned, and nonchalant about how her words hurt other people, but she's never this aggressive about it. It was almost like she had something personal against Simi, and I couldn't think of what because she has never had anything to do with him before.

Or did it have to do with the fact that I wasn't taking her side? I was just being a good friend by telling her the truth.

"I don't know if you have noticed but Semeeha has been acting out a lot lately." Dawn stated and I nodded, looking at her.

"I have noticed," I answered. "Kizito told me she has been giving him the silent treatment for almost two weeks now. When I asked her about it, she said she just needed space away from him."

Dawn looked shocked.

"Space away from Kizito? Since when?" She sounded just as shocked as she looked. I shrugged again.

"I was just as surprised as you are when she told me. And the way she said it was so dismissive, I know better than to pry. She might just take offense like that." I stated and Dawn hummed.

"Nawa o." She muttered. "But what really happened in class that made her flare up like that? Was it that big of a deal?" She inquired. I shook my head.

"Trust me, it wasn't a big deal," I answered, then recounted everything that had gone down in class for Dawn, not leaving even one detail out.

"She said that to him? In front of the entire class?" Dawn asked, completely mortified when I told her what Semeeha had said to Simi. I nodded. "No naw. That was uncalled. Truth be told, her entire view on emotional abuse is even one kind."

"Exactly what the class thought," I said. "But you know Semeeha. She must not lose an argument." I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"She owes him more than an apology. But knowing the kind of friend we have, she would never apologize to Simi." Dawn stated shrewdly and I shook my head.

No, she won't.

"Though," Dawn continued, and I looked up at her. She had a teasing smile playing on her lips as she looked at me, then threw a glance at Simi's side. "Did you really go after Simi?" She asked. I chuckled lightly, wondering what the big deal was.

"Of course I did," I answered, watching as Dawn's smile stretched even further across her glossed lips. I rolled my eyes. "Dawn, I wanted to make sure he was okay, especially after Semeeha's insult."

"You care about him." She said pointedly.

"I care about all my friends, Dawn," I answered her and she laughed.

"But you pay special attention to Simi." She said again then quickly added. "Not that I'm against any of that, of course. I kinda like it." She wiggled her well-carved brows at me teasingly and I sighed, shaking my head.

This girl.

"Whatever you are thinking, stop thinking it," I told her. She laughed again, throwing her head back.

"Who says I'm thinking anything." She asked and I squinted at her but didn't answer. I didn't even know how to answer her, not sure of what to say.

"Simi is my friend, Dawn, and I'm his tutor. Remember that." I reminded her. It kinda almost sounded like I was also reminding myself.

My curvy friend chuckled again, glancing away from me for a bit before looking back at me, a knowing smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Then why is he staring at you like that?" She asked. My brows furrowed in confusion as I looked at her in question. She nodded towards behind me and I followed, turning my head to glance over my shoulder. My eyes immediately landed on Simi.

He was staring at me, quite alright. But not the usual way he used to. This one was different, very different, holding me transfixed in his stare.

Simi didn't look away when he saw that I was looking at him. Instead, he held my gaze, his amber orbs boring right into mine. He wasn't smiling, he was just staring like he was studying me newly for the first time. His look did something to me, something I don't think I've ever felt. My heart suddenly picked up a beat, and a shaky breath escaped my lips.

Oh my God...

When he finally looked away, I was able to breathe properly but still wasn't able to look away from him. And he noticed this because he glanced back at me again, but this time looking at me from beneath his thick lashes... in the most attractive way ever.

My heart skipped a beat.

What was that? My eyes widened.

Dawn giggled and that was when I knew I had said that out loud.

𝐀/𝐍

The way I went "Hehehe 🌚" several times when I was writing this particular chapter ehn. Should we start shipping? I think it's safe to start shipping, because 😩🔥❤️. Some people have already started shipping since sef. All onboard?! Your captain aff come.

So what do we call the name of this particular ship?

I'm not sure Hilary knows what she's feeling though because she obviously still doubts her attraction for our beautiful boy. Simi's own ehn, he knows he's really attracted to her, and you'll probably see it in his POV (not sure if that's what will start the next chapter or end it. We'll see how it goes.)

Semeeha tho. I know now that y'all kinda understand what she's going through, it will make you sympathize with her. But trust me, she's going to infuriate you to bits.

I miss writing Kizito dialogues. Don't worry, you'll see him in the next chapter, I think. I don't have it all figured out yet, lemme nur lie. But in the next few chapters, we'd be diving into Simi's Dyslexia diagnosis. He might even find out about it. How? You'll see 🌚.

So, this is it. Till the next update, you know the drill. See you when I see you ✨❤️.

P. S. Emotional Abuse is real 💔