(041c - Repressing The Past)

This chapter is going to make you so mad😠 at first, but it will make you coo with so much adoration at the end🥺❤️. So I guess that will make you for the anger in the beginning because trust, y'all will vex just like I vexed while writing it.💀

But I hope I delivered well sha because I kinda rushed it.

E go be 🤧.

• • • •

The loud ringtone of my phone shot me awake from my sleep, bringing me out of the dreamland. I groaned into my pillow in annoyance at the interruption, tossing and turning on the bed before I hoisted my head up slightly to glance at the digital clock on my bedside table, sitting right beside my ringing phone.

7:00 am

Shoot, I should be up right now. I said to myself. By this time, my phone had stopped ringing.

School was meant to begin by 7:30 am even though assembly started by 8:00 am and I was still asleep by 7:00 am. The last thing I wanted was to be late to school on a Monday morning, just a week to exam. It wasn't even ideal for an aspiring prefect like me. The school authority was watching

It's such a shocker that mum isn't yelling the entire house down. I thought to myself, running my hand over my face.

As if she heard my thoughts, a loud bang came to my door, jolting the remaining sleep from my eyes in an instant.

"Lève-toi, Dawn! You'll be late for school." She yelled and I groaned again, rolling the soft, cool sheets of my bed one last time before begrudgingly moving up to a sitting position.

"Dawn!" She yelled again, followed by an even louder bang against my door.

This woman. I glared at the closed door

"I'm up! I'm up!" I yelled back, so that should just stop banging on my door. She muttered a string of incoherent words in Spanish before I heard her retreating steps. I sighed, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand when I remembered that I had not woken up to my alarm, but my phone ringing.

Wondering who was calling me this early Monday morning, I picked up my phone from the table to check, tapping my phone screen to view the caller.

Hilary. 15 misses calls.

What?

My brows furrowed in confusion, wondering why Hilary had called me fifteen times this morning. Most importantly, how come I didn't wake up the first fourteen times she called.

Just as I was about to dial her number again, she called me back and I picked up immediately.

"Hilary, what's-"

"Dawn, are you online?" She cut my greeting off, her voice panicky and frantic. If there was still any trace of sleep in my eyes, it vanished at the intensity of Hilary's voice. She sounded extremely scared and it made me worry.

Did something happen?

"Online?" I repeated in question. "I'm not online. I've not gone online today. It was your call that woke me up." I told her. I heard her heave a sigh on her head, sounding relieved that I haven't gone online.

"Good," She said. "Don't come online, Dawn. Please don't go to the group chat. In fact, don't even put on your data." She said - no - begged me. That put me on edge, made me more worried and confused than I already was.

What's going on? I shifted uncomfortably on my bed.

"Hilary, what is going on?" I asked, voicing out my thoughts. "What happened?"

"Just don't come online," She maintained and I swallowed "And once you get to school, call me immediately and wait for me in the garden. Don't enter the school block, Dawn. I'm begging you. Please, do not enter the school block." She ordered me, but also sounded like she was desperately pleading with me.

That only plunged me deeper and deeper into confusion and worry.

"Okay," I didn't know what else to say, I just answered her like that.

None of us said anything for a moment but I stayed on the call, hearing Hilary's heavy breathing indicating that she was agitated. My heart began to beat rapidly against my chest, feeling unease wash over me in waves.

What was all this about? Did something happen to Hilary? or Semeeha? or Kizito?

Or was this about me?

My heartbeat accelerated at that simple thought and a cold chill ran down my spine. Something was wrong.

Something was terribly wrong.

"Dawn," Hilary called softly as if to know if I was still on the phone call with her.

"Yes," I answered, urging her to speak.

"You are going to be okay, I promise," She whispered.

Ahh, Wahala!

I was now beyond terrified. This was definitely about me.

What is all this for God's sake?

"Hilary, what-" The line went beep in my ear, signaling that she had hung up.

I took the phone away from my ear and stared at it like it just pooped on me, my chest rising and falling from heavy breathing. I had to stop myself from putting on my data and finding out myself. Hilary said I shouldn't come online, I won't go online.

But it still didn't dissipate the worry and slight fear that ravaged my being.

God abeg. God abeg.

That's what I kept saying as I entered the bathroom to shower. When I was dressing up in my school uniform, I was still chanting it like an incantation. Even when I was done dressing up and came down from my room to the dining to meet my family having breakfast, I was still chanting it.

God abeg. God abeg.

I didn't eat.

Even when mum tried to persuade me to have something in my stomach, I still insisted that wasn't eating. The unease and fear had filled me up completely and swallowed me whole that I wasn't hungry one bit. I haven't yet found out what was happening and I was like this.

What then will happen when I find out?

We got to school in no time and I was about to dash out of the car to race to the garden where my friends were already waiting for me.

"Dawn," Mum called to me softly, stopping me from making a move out of the car. Dean had gotten down already so it was just me and her.

"Yes, mum?" I answered, slightly impatience sipping into my tone. She peered at me quietly, watching me intently with her eyes heavily trained on me. She was trying to read me, trying to know what was going on with me.

"What's going on?" She asked and I sighed, tapping my feet against the floor of the car. "It's so unlike you not to eat before going to school. Is something wrong?" She asked, concern in her tone and worry marred across her face.

I wish I knew, Mum. I honestly wish I did.

"Nothing is wrong," I told her instead, forcing a small smile on my lips to reassure her.

She didn't look too convinced but she nodded. I smiled at her again before dashing out of the car, through the parking lot, and towards the school garden. There were not many students in the lot, and the noise coming from the school block told me that majority of the students were already in school.

I got to the garden situated at the far side of the senior's block and sighted two figures just a distance away from me. Needed no one to tell me those were Hilary and Semeeha. And they are pacing.

That was certainly not a good sign.

"Guys," I called to them when I got closer. They both halted at the same time and turned towards me. As soon as I saw their faces, I veered back in fear at the indescribable, yet horrifying expression on their faces.

Something was certainly wrong.

Both of them rushed to me without saying a word, pulling me to sit down on one of the ceramic tables. When I did, they stood in front of me, forming some sort of protective shield around me. I looked at both of them, watching them stare down at me with massive worry hitched at the corners of their faces.

No, Hilary was the worried one. Semeeha, on the other hand, looked livid, to say the least.

And neither of them said anything to me.

"Guys," I called them again, desperately. "What's going on? Why are your faces like this?" I asked them.

"Did you go online?" Hilary asked and I shook my head, watching an expression of relief flash across her face for only a moment. She was the one that asked me not to go online, so I tried to suppress my curiosity and stay off as she said.

She asked me not to go to the class group chat. Was there something there she didn't want me to see?

I saw Semeeha and Hilary exchange a very suspicious glance. It pushed me to ask.

"Is there something online that you don't want me to see?"

I prodded, watching as they stopped looking at each other and turned to me. Then they turned to look at each other again, and I could tell that they were communicating with their eyes, Asif they were both trying to decide which one of them would tell me what was up.

While Semeeha had a more composed expression, Hilary's lips were trembling nervously, turning me into an anxious mess.

How bad is this?

I sat up when Hilary turned to me.

"Dawn, whatever happens... whatever we are going to tell you right now, we need you to be calm, okay?" She encouraged me. Her voice was calm and soothing, trying to assure me but her eyes and body language were saying the complete opposite.

She wasn't even calm and she was expecting me to be calm. Ko le werk.

"Hilary, just tell me what's going on, please," I begged her, hating the feeling of suspense that filled the atmosphere.

Hilary sighed, glancing at Semeeha who has been watching the both of us silently, but I could still see the anger in her features. Hilary looked back at me and I could tell she was struggling to say what she had to say.

"D-Dawn, d-did..." She was stuttering.

"Did you have sex with TK?" Semeeha blurted in one breath, keeping her eyes trained squarely on me.

That question hit me like a slap on my cheek.

What!

"Semeeha!" Hilary chided.

"You were taking time!" Semeeha defended, raising her hands in mock surrender and Hilary started chiding her, telling her that a question like that required delicacy and calmness.

All the while they were arguing, I sat still, trying to register the question Semeeha just asked me again, trying to understand where it was coming from.

The girls and I have never spoken deeply about my relationship with Tekena Tamuno. I mean, they knew that I was in a relationship with him but they had no idea about the things we have done, the sexual things. Anytime they teased me about it, I'd brush it off and still not tell them. Not just because I was shy, but also because I was... ashamed. I didn't want them to start seeing me differently.

But now, why was Semeeha asking me if I've had sex with him? Coincidentally just days after I told TK that I wasn't going to get that far with him.

I got concerned.

"Why did you ask?" I suddenly asked, shutting their banter off and causing them to turn to me.

"Why did you ask me that question, Semeeha?" I repeated my question when they didn't answer the first time, trying to keep my composure as my eyes switched between Hilary and Semeeha.

"Just answer the question," Semeeha said, an edge in her tone. "Did you have sex with TK?"

The absurdity of that question still baffled me.

"No!" I immediately answered, wanting to debunk any kind of thought they might be thinking in that direction. "Tekena and I have never had sex," I added for emphasis.

I saw another flash of relief cross Hilary's face, followed by an exhale and it made me wonder even more what was going on.

Tekena and I have never had sex. He asked for it but I told him no. It was literally the main reason we weren't on talking terms right now. So what, or who exactly gave my friends the idea that I have been having sex with Tekena?

"Son of a Bitch," I heard Semeeha mutter and looked at her in time to see her slap her hand over her forehead, a sign of anger on her face as she and Hilary stared at each other, sharing a knowing look.

What's going on?

"He's the one spreading the rumors," Semeeha continued, speaking more to Hilary than to me but my ears perked up at the mention of rumors. "That fucking bitch is the one spreading the rumors. It has to be him." She said.

What rumors? Which son of a bitch? I was confused and most of all, I was terrified.

"Semeeha, let's not jump-" Hilary began.

"What rumors?" I asked, cutting her off. The both of them turned to look at me again. This time, Semeeha's expression has softened and now looked like something akin to... pity. Hilary's was soft, reassuring but I could see the cloud of fear in her eyes.

Are people spreading rumors about me and Tekena?

"What rumors, guys?" I repeated impatiently as I stared right at the both of them, trying not to make my voice tremble. Semeeha and Hilary exchanged glances again and I swear I wanted to scream out in frustration.

They should just tell me what's going on!

"A rumor about you and Tekena has been going viral on the class group chat since last night, Dawn," Hilary spoke, her voice calm and gentle but it didn't dissipate the weight of what she said on me.

I swallowed.

"What kind of rumor?"

"A terrible one," Semeeha pipped in now and I looked at her. "They are saying you are having sex with TK," She continued and my heart skipped, my mouth hanging open slightly in shock. "And it's not just a speculation like I think Dawn and TK are having sex," She mimicked. "It's like a certainty, and it's not even good on your side at all. They are dragging you like mad, Dawn." She finished and my eyes widened in shock.

Jesus Christ!

Jesus Christ!

What is this?

"What!" I whispered-yelled, shocked beyond comprehension. "I swear, Tekena and I have never had sex! I've never had sex with Him!" I yelled.

"We know, we believe you," Hilary whispered soothingly, trying to calm me down. But I can't be calm! I can't calm down when someone was out there, spreading dirty rumors about me.

Has Tekena seen them? What was he doing about it? Was he debunking them?

"Show me the chats," I told Hilary. She looked at me with uncertainty.

"Dawn, I don't think that's good-"

"Show Me!" I screamed, stretching my hand out for her phone. She sighed, bringing out her phone from the pocket of her school's skirt, tapped some buttons, and gave it to me.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what I was about to see. But I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready at all for everything I was seeing.

+2349036778235
I said it! Someone like Dawn cannot handle a man like Tekena Tamuno. She's such a small, innocent girl😒.

+2348078973768
Better don't be deceived💀. It's all the so-called innocent girls that are the wildest. Forget the innocent face, babe can definitely take a d*ck!🤣.

+2349124589765
As in! Look at those curves na🥵🔥🤤. That girl is not innocent anything! Awon low key seductress🤣. I can bet anything that Tekena isn't the first guy to tap that.

+2348155978494
Abi, let's ask her. @Triple D💖♥️ Awfar na? How many guys have gotten into the promise land?🌚 Shey we should link up, let me taste small too na.

+2348057745593
Afi promise land 🤣💔. @Triple D💖♥️ what position do you prefer? Missionary bah? Sisters in the Lord like you always prefer missionary 🌚.

+2348078973768
I bet she prefers Doggy 🤣. I can legit imagine her big ass vibrating as TK is pounding into her. Mehn! TK is a lucky man!

+2348156214410.
@Triple D💖♥️ Whore!

Jesus!

My breath caught in my throat, my heart beating in acceleration against my ribcage, my chest contracting as emotions washed over me like a tsunami. I could hear their voices in my head, their words resounding in my mind. I could also hear them laugh at me, mocking me, ridiculing and scorning me.

Whore!

What position do you prefer? Missionary bah?

I bet she prefers Doggy.

I dropped the phone like it burned me, throwing my hands around me, suddenly feeling chilly and naked. I couldn't stop the tears that started pouring down my eyes in a torrent, my breath coming out in heavy and uncomfortable pants.

Semeeha quickly grabbed the phone from beside me as if to stop any attempt of me picking it up again to read through, while Hilary came up to me and sat down beside me.

I didn't move.

I couldn't move.

I was dumbfounded. Utterly stupified.

Who was doing this to me?

Hilary began to speak but I couldn't hear her, couldn't listen to her. Even with the turmoil going on in my mind, all I could think about was the fact that Tekena hadn't said anything on the group chat. He had not said anything to debunk the rumors, the accusations against me, the nasty comments hurled at me.

Didn't he see them?

Did he see them and ignore them?

Without thinking twice, I darted off the ceramic table and dashed out of the garden, running towards the school building. I could hear the screams of protest from my friends as they followed behind me but I didn't stop, I kept running with one aim in mind.

To find Tekena.

He's the only one that can end this. He is the only one that can end all of this!

I maneuvered my way in the school building till I lost both Hilary and Semeeha, knowing they'd only try to talk me out of doing this. But I had to. I needed to.

For my own sanity.

I ignored all the whispers, the pointing of fingers, and the stink eyes my classmates fired at me as soon as I got to our block, walking towards the Tekena's commercial class. It was mostly the commercial students that were outside and it was only about five people out of about fifty of them in the entire SS2 that had common sense.

Male and female alike, all of them were just... abnormal.

And from what I saw on Hilary's phone, they were majorly the ones carrying the rumors.

I didn't allow anything to deter me from what I wanted to do. All these will end when Tekena puts a stop to it and debunks all these ridiculous rumors.

He has to.

When I entered the class, he was right there, seated with Kasali Saheed and other guys in their class, laughing at something on their phones. I swallowed a big lump down my throat.

Hope it wasn't the rumors they were laughing at?

No. It can't be. It must not be.

Before I could call for his attention, Kasali Saheed that was seated beside him noticed me and called his attention. Tekena looked at him, before looking in my direction, met my eyes, and held my gaze.

I was expecting him to come to me because I was sure he knew what was going on. If he hasn't opened the group chat this morning, the rumors were flying around the entire school, every corner of this block echoing with it. There was no way he could have missed them, I was certain.

Yet, he just sat there and stared at me blankly, his face void of any emotion whatsoever. It shook me to my feet, but I kept my composure.

All I need from him is to debunk these rumors. I don't care about anything else.

"Tekena," I called him, trying not to let my voice quiver. He just stared back at me and said nothing. His guys were watching the exchange, and from my peripheral vision, I could see some of our classmates outside, watching through the window, anticipating drama.

Still, Tekena stared at me like... like I was a fly. Pestering and Irrelevant.

I took a deep, controlling breath and called again.

"Tekena, I'm calling you and-"

"Did I say I was deaf?" He cut me off rudely, his voice emotionless and that was even what made it more painful to my ears. "If you want to talk, talk and stop wasting my time. I have something better to do, abeg." He rapped dismissively in one breath, shocking me

Wow! I stared at him in disbelief.

I stood still and stared at the person I called my boyfriend in complete incredulity. And he didn't look or act remorse, just went back to showing his guys something on his phone, and again, they laughed about it.

Why is he acting this way?

"Why are you acting like this?" I asked, not bothering to cover up the shock and disappointment in my tone this time. "Someone is out there, spreading rumors about us and you are not even moved by it."

"Point of correction," He spoke, his voice again devoid of any emotion. "They are spreading rumors about you, not me." He corrected, sarcasm dripping from his voice, surprising me yet again.

"And that doesn't seem to bother you?" I asked incredulously and he responded with a chuckle that sounded like he was mocking me.

"Is it supposed to bother me?" He asked me. No... He actually had the guts to ask me that. I was being humiliated on the group chat and at every corner of this school and he didn't care about it?

I heard the mild snickers from the guy but I decided not to pay any mind to them. I kept my eyes on Tekena, watching him with utmost unbelief. He was acting strange. So strange and I didn't like it one bit.

Was he acting this way because I said no to his request for sex? I thought he'd have been over this!

But I'll think about all that later. Right now, all I needed for him was to kill these rumors. I needed him to kill these rumors.

"Tekena, please debunk the rumors." I simply requested, hoping to get at least a reaction from him. But all he did was glance at me before going back to tapping away on his phone, completely ignoring me.

Wow.

He didn't flinch.

"Tekena, please tell everyone the truth," I pleaded desperately now, clasping my hands in front of him to beg him. "We never had sex, you and I know that. Just kill these rumors, please." I begged.

Tekena didn't say anything back again.

Instead, he hissed loudly, muttering some incoherent words to himself before standing up from where he was seating and started walking toward me. Before I could even hope for anything positive out of that, he just brushed past me, dismissing me like a fly, and continued till he was out of the classroom, his guys following behind him.

I stopped there, awestruck, my eyes brimming with unshed tears.

What?!

He completely ignored me. Acted like I didn't stand right here and beg him to help kill the rumors. He was the only one who could do it, yet he preferred not to. No, he didn't want to. Why?

Before I could hold myself back, I turned and ran out of the classroom, running right into the rowdy Hallway as my eyes Searched for Tekena. I found him just a distance away, still in the hallway.

I can't live with myself knowing that my classmates think of me as a slut. I can't deal with it. He has to kill these rumors. He must kill them!

"TEKENA PLEASE!"

I cried out in plea, shutting down everyone that was talking and plunging the entire hallway into perfect silence. Tekena stopped walking but didn't turn around, but him stopping was enough for me to know that he heard me. People were watching us now. I know I was causing quite a stir.

But Tekena just has to debunk these rumors for me. It might not be affecting him but it was affecting me, badly. Exams were just around the corner. This is certainly not what I need right now.

"Please, just tell them the truth," I begged again, my voice lower this time but still audible for everyone to hear. I closed my eyes, the tears in my eyes dropping in beads on my cheeks and my hands clasped together in a gesture of plea.

I could hear the whispers, but I didn't pay attention to them. I just stayed on my spot, eyes closed and hands intertwined together in a desperate plea. And just as I was pleading with him, I was also begging God to just have mercy.

God abeg.

Approaching footsteps began to echo in my mind, indicating that TK was walking up to me. I kept my eyes closed till I felt a hand on my chin, lifting my face so I could look at him.

I opened my eyes, my gaze meeting his surprisingly soft ones. He was smiling down at me, a sweet, magnetic smile, one of the things I loved about him and he knew I loved. His smile. I couldn't stop myself from smiling back, and as if someone had doused me with cold water amid flames and heat, I felt myself relax.

He was going to tell them the truth.

"I'm going to tell them the truth," He whispered calmly, confirming my thoughts. I nodded, heaving a deep breath to calm my racing heart.

Yes, tell them.

"I'm going to tell everyone the truth," He announced, his voice echoing through the silent hallway, catching the attention of everyone on the SS2 block. I sighed in relief, standing right there beside him.

Yes, please. Tell them.

"I'm going to tell everyone the truth about how Dawn Damipe Dayo is such an amazing cocksucker!"

He suddenly dropped, his words earning a loud shout from everyone, followed by strings of boisterous laughter from every corner of the hallway. My eyes widened in shock as my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach.

He did not just do that!

I looked at him, unable to contain my shock, my mouth hanging open like someone about to catch a fly.

"Tekena!" I screamed, my eyes clouding again in tears. The boy didn't seem fazed one bit. Instead, he turned to me, a sardonic and sinister smirk playing on his lips.

"What?" He fired at me, making me flinch. "You told me to tell them the truth and that's what I'm doing." He didn't waste any time looking away from me and facing the excited crowd that seemed hell-bent on hearing my dirty laundry.

My heartfelt heavy in my chest, a loud sob escaping my lips.

"I mean," He continued speaking, and everyone listened. They all listened. "It's such a wonder how someone seemingly innocent can be such a vixen in bed!" That caused another round of uproar. "Dawn can take dick like mad! Ahn Ahn! Literally a walking hole!"

The boys, his boys double up with laughter like Tekena had said the funniest thing in the entire world, while I stood there, unable to move my legs even when I tried, the breath being knocked right out of me over and over again as all of TK's words played over and over again in my head.

I pressed my hand to my chest, gasping for breath as tears flowed like a torrent from my eyes.

Why is he doing this to me?

"Stop...please," I forced out breathlessly, almost inaudibly.

But of course, he didn't stop. Tekena didn't stop.

"And Gawd!" He groaned out, his voice drawling a bit. "So sweet on the middle," Even with my blurry vision, I could see him sweep his tongue over his lips as he looked at me. "Body like a masterpiece of seductive. Literally a walking temptation," He hollered and his guys hollered with him, hailing him while I kept bawling my eyes out.

"Stop It!" I screamed, trying to shut him up. Trying to shut all of them up. But they only found it funny, laughing at my discomfort. Tekena was looking down at me, his lips graced with a smirk of satisfaction.

Satisfaction.

He was doing this on purpose.

He was hurting me on purpose, embarrassing and humiliating me in front of the entire class. And He was happy as he did.

But why? Why would he hurt me like this?

"W-What did I e-ever d-do to y-you?" I stuttered out between sobs, my voice quivering as I stared right at Tekena, watching the kind of emotions that flashed in his eyes.

Malice, strife, sardonicsm, all things sinister. Aimed right at me, his supposed girlfriend. All because of what? Because I didn't give him sex? Or was it something more?

He was the one that started the rumors, wasn't he? He was the son of a bitch Semeeha had referred to.

"Why would you hurt me like this, Tekena?" I asked again, unable to stop the tears from overflowing now. "You told me you loved me and you are doing this to me? Why?"

A scoff escaped TK's lips, his face contorting into a deep frown as he peered down at me with a hint of disgust in his eyes. That glare made me wrap my hands around myself in sudden self-consciousness.

"Is it that you are daft or something?" He brought his index to the side of his head, a gesture that translated into are you okay?. That earned a reaction from the crowd.

I, on the other hand, veered backed sharply like I had been punched in the gut. Hard.

I couldn't breath

"You honestly think you are all that, right?" Tekena asked me, his eyes running up and down my frame with a disgusted expression now visible across his face. "You are feeling yourself too much because I gave you small attention abi?" He went on asking me, asking me questions that just brought more years to my eyes.

And he wasn't even yet done.

"Or, is it my d*ck that is hungrying you, YOU SLUT?"

Jesus Christ. I gasped, the breath being knocked right out of me so suddenly, that I choked on air.

"Yehh!"

"Mehn! TK really mean this babe o!"

"Jesus Christ! This one choke like mad! I felt it."

"Dawn should just go and commit suicide. She's finished already."

Those were just one-third of comments from everyone around us, everyone that was standing right there, watching and listening to Tekena Tamuno humiliate, embarrass, sexualize, objectify, ridicule, and drag me to the mud.

He was dragging me to the mud and stomping on me repeatedly.

My vision started getting blurry and my body started getting weak. My chest suddenly began to grow heavy and my breath began to come out in labored pants. I was hyperventilating. I couldn't breathe.

I was having a panic attack, right there in front of Tekena Tamuno and he just kept talking.

"See, let me tell you the truth," He went on, sounding as nonchalant as ever. Even with my struggles and difficulty in breathing, I could still hear him loud and clear.

"Take it from me. If any guy comes to you and tells you he loves you for something other than your body, that guy is FULL OF SHIT!" He spat out, enunciating his words so they would have more effect. And they did.

My breathing got more labored.

Then, He moved closer till he was literally in my air space, grabbed my face in his hand, and held it up so that I'd be forced to look at him. No one dared to stop him. Not even me. I couldn't fight against him. I was too weak too, gasping, trying to catch my breath while he watched with no iota of remorse.

"READ MY LIPS!" He ordered, jerking my face painfully in his grasp. "THERE IS NOTHING SPECIAL OR SPECTACULAR ABOUT YOU OTHER THAN YOUR BODY, DAWN DAMIPE DAYO! KNOW THAT AND KNOW PEACE!"

...THERE IS NOTHING SPECIAL OR SPECTACULAR ABOUT YOU...

His voice played in my head over and over again like a broken record, tears spilling from my eyes as the words ingrained themselves in my brain. I was weak, I didn't know what to do but cry.

My body was already shutting down.

"TEKENA TAMUNO!" Came a familiar loud, animalistic growl before I felt Tekena's hand leave my face, leaving my body to slump on the cold tiles.

I could feel the floor vibrating at the heavy steps of the person, charging toward us like a bull. Even with my blurred vision, I was able to get a glimpse of Tekena being knocked down by something like looked like a truck, followed by what sounded like punches that elicited screams from our classmates.

At that same moment, I felt myself being lifted from the floor. Even if I couldn't see them, I didn't need anyone to tell me who and who was holding me.

"It's okay, Dawn," Hilary whispered. "We are here," She added. Semeeha didn't say anything, but I felt her hand on my face, cleaning my tears away. I didn't even know I was still crying.

Suddenly, everything washed over me, the realization of what just happened dawned on me and I burst into another round of fresh tears, burying my face down in shame as they took me away.

I wept like a baby.

I kept weeping and didn't stop.

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆

𝐃𝐀𝐖𝐍
(Dawn Damipe Dayo)

Chima was quiet.

The entire room was silent, the only thing that could be heard was the soft sobs that escaped my lips.

It's been five good minutes since I finished the story, and Chima has been quiet since then. He had not said anything throughout the story, just kept quiet, staring at me with an expression I couldn't read. But now, he wasn't staring at me anymore, his head hanging low between his propped legs with his hands resting on his knee.

He was so quiet, didn't move a muscle. And it worried me.

I sniffed, using the back of my hand to clean the never-ending tears that kept pouring down my eyes like a waterfall, dragging the sleeve of my shirt to clean my running nose as well. I waited. I waited for Chima to say something. anything.

And he did.

Chima finally rose his head up and allowed his eyes to meet mine. I didn't look away, holding his gaze just as he held mine. I could see all the emotions flashing through his eyes, his face, thousands of them, but I could only pinpoint a few. Anger, Sadness, Disgust... More anger... Something akin to Regret. I saw all of them and watched them flash through his features again and again.

Emotions I knew for a fact weren't aimed at me.

"He said all that to you," His voice came out heavy, husky, and raspy with all the emotions that he was feeling. But most especially, I could hear the anger in them. I took a deep, shaky breath and nodded slowly, answering his more or less rhetorical question.

"He said all of that to you in front of the entire class." He repeated as if to really confirm what I was saying, dragging out his words even more. A short laugh escaped my lips amid my tears as I nodded again.

"He humiliated me," I was shocked at how controlled my voice was even with everything I was feeling, the emotions coursing through, an effect of having to relive that awful moment again.

"He subjected me to the biggest kind of ridicule a girl like me could ever face," I continued nonetheless, still holding Chima's gaze with mine. "Objectified and Reduced me solely to an object of pleasure and nothing more," I chuckled humorlessly, a chuckle that transcended to fits of sobs, escaping my lips before I could stop them.

The anger on Chima's face dissipated immediately, melting away completely. His shoulders slumped, and a shattered expression marred his face like he could feel my pain.

"Dawn..." He called softly, moving away from where he was and started shifting towards me.

"He said there was nothing special about me, except for my body..." I trailed off, crossing my hands around my body, my palms rubbing down my arms in a self-soothing motion, feeling naked.

"No..." Chima shook his head vigorously, getting me to. He pulled my hands away from my body to hold them, but I struggled against him, completely overwhelmed by my emotions.

"I've never felt so humiliated in my life, Chima!" I cried out, uncontrollable tears pouring down my eyes. "I wanted to die!" I screamed,

"Come here,"

He gathered me in his arms, pulled me against his body, and hugged me. I stopped struggling, collapsed into his arms, and quaked against him as sobs ravaged my entire being and shattered me. Chima held me in a deadlock hug, letting me cry, his hold on me silently urging me to let it all out.

"I'm sorry, Dawn" He whispered softly, his face pressed against the top of my head. "I'm so sorry he did that to you. You didn't deserve it. You didn't deserve any of it. You didn't deserve to go through all that. And I'm so sorry I wasn't there. I should have been there," His voice was shaking, and I was crying, both of us wrapped up in each other's arms.

"I-I should h-have known b-better," I mumbled, stuttering into against his chest, crying even more. "I-I should have known he wasn't capable of any e-emotion," I sobbed, fisting Chima's shirt. "I knew his track record and still dived headfirst into a s-shipwreck," My voice cracked.

"Baby," He whispered, pulling me even more into his body, one of his hands on my head, cradling my face into his chest.

"I let him break me, Chima," I sounded weak now, exhausted. I was weak and exhausted. "He broke me, shattered me completely and I let him."

"It wasn't your fault, baby," He whispered against my head. "It wasn't your fault. Do not blame yourself."

But there was no one else to blame but me. I was the one that fell for him. I gave him the liberty to do this to me and he did.

"I was so stupid. I still feel so stupid. So much regret!" I choked out between nerve-racking sobs.

"Hey, Look at me,"

Chima moved my head away from his chest so that he'd be able to look at me. He cupped my face in his hand and used his thumb to clean the tears on my face daintily, then used the hem of his sleeves to clean my nose which had mucus running from them.

All the while, he had a small, yet beautiful smile playing on his lips. Even with my slightly blurry vision, I just couldn't miss it.

"My Baby," He cooed lovingly. His was so soft, hypnotic, like a breath of fresh air flowing through my body. Like someone under a spell, I relaxed, sighing, and leaned into his touch.

"You are anything, but stupid," He stated matter-of-factly. "You made a mistake, Dawn. The best of us have made mistakes. That's what makes us human." He told me, looking at me right in the eyes as he said every word.

And I listened. I listened and digested everything.

"But you know what makes you so different, so unique from just anyone?" He asked rhetorically and I blinked my tears away, wanting to see his face as I listened to him. "It's the fact that you are so Strong."

I am?

"God, You are so strong to have taken all of that." He continued, and my heart swelled in my chest at the adoration in his voice. Adoration for me. "You are so strong and that's what makes you beautiful, Dawn, not your body.

It's Your strength, Your talents, Your love, Your heart... that very tender heart you have. A heart that is filled with so much love and care for everything good. Those are the things that make you so beautiful. Those are the things that made me fall in love with you in the first place."

His words elevated my whole being, making me feel so light-headed.

"C-Chima..." I trailed off, my voice quivering.

"TK is a liar," He told me bluntly and I chuckled between tears, nodding. "And it's his loss that he never really knew you," He continued. "He didn't even try to know you. Didn't get to meet that tender and pure girl. That girl that I fell in love with since my first day in this school-"

What? My eyes widened in shock.

He loved me since his first day in this school?

"-The only person that was kind enough to show me the way to the principal's office," He went on with his confession, prophecying how long he had loved me, shocking me to the core. "Welcoming me to Crestview with such a beautiful and radiant smile that has been ingrained in my mind ever since."

He smiled at me, a brighter, more beautiful smile as he caressed my cheeks with his thumbs. I couldn't stop the smile of my own that stretched across my lips despite my tears. I was really crying now, but not because I was sad, or embarrassed about my past.

I was crying because Chima's words held me spellbound, filling my mind and my heart up and taking the place of every negative thought, taking the place of my past.

And he wasn't yet done.

"I fell in love with that girl. A girl with such a kind and lovable spirit, a girl that loves her family despite their craziness, a girl that has the backs of her friends no matter what, a girl strong enough not to let the last define her, strong to fight against anything negative and come out blooming like a flower."

He brought my face close to his and touched his forehead to mine, his soft breath fanning my face so sweetly.

"Your friends are so lucky to have you, Dawn," Chima whispered. "I am lucky to have you here in my arms and I am proud of you. God, I'm so proud of you. So proud of how strong you are," He said, nuzzling my nose with his and I sighed, resting in his touch.

"And I Love You," He told me, holding my gaze in his piercing ones as he enunciated those words that did wonders to my body. Words I'll never get tired of hearing him say.

"I love you beyond anything. I love you with every bone in my body. I love you with every fiber of my being. I love you, no capping."

That made me laugh as I leaned into him, the words settling in my subconscious mind.

"But most of all," He said when my laughter subsided. "I love that you love yourself enough to fight through all that happened and come out more beautiful than ever. I love that you love yourself enough to be strong."

It didn't take me another second before I leaped up, threw my hands around Chima, and hugged him.

He didn't hesitate to wrap his hands around me and hug me back, cradling me against him like a delicate object he didn't want to break. I buried my face in the hollow of his neck, holding him tightly against me because there was absolutely no way I was going to let this boy go.

God Forbid I let this perfect human being go.

He made me feel so whole again, so complete. He held me up in high esteem, his feelings for me not dissipating even with everything I told him about my past. If anything, it seemed he loved me even more and this gesture broke me and remolded me again.

I Love Sochima Ansel Johnson. I Love Him with all my heart.

"I love you so much," I voiced out my thoughts, mumbling the words into his neck. He pulled back so he could look at me, a big smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Say that again," He urged me in a serene whisper and I mimicked his big smile.

"I love you, Sochima Ansel Johnson," I repeated, unable to stop my smile from widening even more. "No capping," I added, copying him.

He laughed heartily, throwing his head back.

"That should be our thing. Our own thing." He said and I nodded immediately in agreement.

"I love it. I love it so much," I told him and he smiled, leaning in to press a lingering kiss against my forehead. My eyes fluttered close and I sighed in satisfaction.

"And I love you," I heard Chima whisper against my head. "No capping." He finished and I smiled, resting my face back in his chest, nuzzling close to him in utmost satisfaction.

My Safe Haven.

Sochima Ansel Johnson is my Safe Haven and I wouldn't want it any other way.

"Dawn!" Hilary's frantic voice tore through the quietness, causing my eyes to fly open and my head to leave Chima's chest. I had not even registered my voice completely before I heard another.

"Dawn!" Another voice called, sounding just like Kizito. I looked at Chima and he nodded, before the both of us stood up from where we sat and made our way out from under the bleachers.

Hilary and Kizito were standing in the middle of the court. And when we got out, they sighted us.

"Hey!" Hilary squealed, rushed over to me immediately, and threw her hands around me in a bear hug. I sighed, hugging her back.

"Are you okay?" She asked when she pulled away from me, eyes searching mine with concern written all over her face. I smiled, nodding at her.

"I'm okay."

I was more than okay. I felt perfect.

"Dawn," Kizito cooed softly, moved away from Chima, and drew me into a bone-crushing hug. I chuckled, burying my face in his hard belly. I heard Hilary thanking Chima for coming after me and I smiled even more.

"Hilary told me everything," Kizito said to me as we pulled away from each other and I knew he was talking about what happened with Semeeha.

"I'm so sorry about Semeeha." He added like he heard my thoughts. I shook my head, a light chuckle escaping my lips.

"You don't have to be," I told him. "Semeeha is never going to change and I have accepted that. But, I don't want to keep dealing with her and accomodating her bad attitudes." I told Kizito matter-of-factly.

"I'm going to talk to her," Kizito said, but I only scoffed. "She's going to apologize to you, I'll make sure of it." He sounded so certain, it made me laugh.

Kizito knew Semeeha more than any of us. He should know by now that nothing can make that girl apologize if she doesn't want. And it seems like she doesn't want to.

"You and I know she won't," I told him and he sighed in dejection. I shrugged. "But I'm fine with that. I don't need an apology from her, especially if it's going to be a fake one like the last time." I stated shrewdly.

Kizito hummed. I knew he wasn't too comfortable with my decision but he didn't argue with me. He respected my choice. He respected all our choices.

"But are you going to be okay though?" He asked, slight worry still sipping into his tone. I chuckled, looking around. Hilary and Chima were still talking, but as if he knew I was looking at him, he looked in my direction.

Then he winked, and my lips stretched even further into a smile, feeling my whole body relax and refreshed like the last two hours had never happened.

I felt alive.

"I'm more than okay, Kizito,"

I told him and he smiled down at me, throwing his hands around my shoulder to pull me into a side hug. I took a deep, calming breath, grinning from ear to ear while watching the three people around me. The three people that meant the world to me asides from my family.

Why again won't I be okay?

I had everything I needed right here, and it was enough.

It was more than enough.

𝐀/𝐍

🥺✨So much love and friendship here. Chima issa celestial being. There is no way that boy can actually be a living, breathing human being. Such a hard lover with a big heart! God when 😫❤️.

Now you guys have finally gotten the full story of the Dawn and TK fiasco. And I am so certain that the hate on this guy has increased my tenfold💀.

But really, who the fuck does that that someone they supposedly love? I don't know what entered me as I was writing that part because God, TK is so cruel! If Dawn had actually sent her nudes to this fucker, he'd have added it on top of this matter, and honestly... Dawn might have committed suicide 💔.

Thank God for the people in her life, cos heaven knows I won't have been able to deal if I was in her shoes.

We still have one final Dawn and Chima chapter before the real drama starts, but it's not coming now. The next chapter will be in Semeeha's POV. I'm sure y'all are dying to know what going on with the babe. Sha know, I'm not sure I'm gonna update, I wanna rest😫.

So till the next update, you know the drill. Kisses 😘✨.