(050 - Team Silary)

This chapter is dedicated to Glowree_20, __toyosi, and Temi (I couldn't get her username). They celebrated their birthday on the 20th of this month, just ten days ago. Happy Belated Birthday Girls ❤️✨.

I'm not done with the project I took this small hiatus for, but I rounding up. Don't worry, I won't go away for one month again, but updates will be coming steadily-ish till I'm done.

Mehn, everyone wanted to finish Kizito in the last update. And I get it. I actually get it. Dude is doing like someone they have cooked efo for😂. He might piss you off more in the update sha.

Fighting!

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆

𝐒𝐈𝐌𝐈
(Simisola André Jordan)

There was just one day of the week students of Crestview looked forward to the most. Friday. Not because school closed earlier on that day than every other day of the week, but also because it was the official sports day of the school.

Today was that day, and the whole SS3 block was in a frenzy because of it. I can't count the number of times teachers have come up here, warning us to keep it down because the junior classes were preparing for their first term exam. An exam we weren't participating in because we were in a terminal class and all our exams were external.

That's exactly why we were making a hell of a noise, of course. No exams.

After five or six warnings from teachers and one threat from Sir Isaac himself, the block began to clear out and everyone started moving to the Sports Complex, where their noise will know no bounds.

That's also where I was preparing ready to go.

Unlike most of my classmates that looked forward to Friday because it was the only day of the week they got to wear mufti and show off the latest designer sweatshirt, hoodie, joggers, and kicks, I looked forward to Friday because it was the most eventful day of the week for me. The busiest.

It was the only day of the week I got to take a breather off class, the only day of the week I got to train. Training at home has been easier for me because Dad was hardly around now, but it was still nothing compared to training in school. The pool at home wasn't Olympics standard so I couldn't challenge myself in a pool like that.

Plus, we have no gym at home. Crestview did, and I haven't been to that gym since the paragon. I needed to work out, let go of some steam... busy my mind so that I won't think about Hilary too much, especially now that I was in the same vicinity as she was.

That's why I was getting ready to leave the now empty classroom. This was her class too and she could walk in at any moment. If she does... I'm a goner. I'll probably do what Gigi said last Saturday, stalk her around the entire school like a crazy person.

For real, I'm not even joking. I swear, I will do it.

I've been holding myself from texting her or staring at her too much in class and it was torture. I was tipping over the edge. One more push and I'll jump off the cliff into a sea of craziness.

Mehn, this craze no be for here. Make I kuku tear my cloth na.

Making sure my bag was secure behind my chair, I hung my headphones around my neck and shoved my phone into the pocket of my joggers. I was about to start moving when I realized my kicks were untied.

Sighing, I plopped back down to my seat and bent my upper half low to tie them up.

Twenty seconds, Simi. Twenty seconds.

I timed myself, quickly lacing through the holes of the shoe. When I was done with the first leg I moved to the next, doing the same thing, counting down the seconds I had left before dashing out of the classroom. Hilary must not meet me in this class under any other circumstance.

Not just for me, but for her. I don't want to put her in that spot. I don't want to make her uncomfortable in her own class because of my presence.

Ten. Nine. Eight...

My thoughts trailed off when I felt a presence closing in on me.

No, Three. Three presence.

I could tell by three pairs of feet that came into my line of vision. From the make of their sneakers and the curve of their legs, I could tell they were girls. That got me a little curious. With my brows furrowed, I kept lacing up my shoe, counting down the remaining seconds till I was done.

Then I looked up, slowly.

I allowed my eyes to follow the line of their legs up till I was looking at their faces, meeting their eyes with mine. They were beaming, all three of them, pearly whites bared out at me in a big grin that did nothing to help my confusion and curiosity.

If anything, it heightened those feelings.

They looked rather familiar, and from the mufti they had on, I knew they were in SS3 as well. But, I couldn't for the life of me place their faces or a name to it. I didn't care enough to know though, especially when I don't have the luxury of time to start finding out who they were or what they wanted from me.

I have to leave class, and I have to leave now.

But when I stood up and made to sidestep the girls, they stepped to my front, blocking any free space for me to go through. This made me veer back slightly, my forehead automatically creasing in a small frown. I quirked my brows at them in question, and all they did was grin back.

Okay...

I struggled to muster up a small, strained smile.

"Can I help you with something?" I had to ask, looking between the three of them.

They looked at each other, silently communicating with each other, probably trying to select a spokesperson for this little charade. The one in the middle stepped forward, pretty much entering my personal space bubble. On impulse, I stepped back, creating ample distance between us.

Can't people respect personal space?

"Hi!"

She squeaked so loud, that I almost winced. But I quickly covered it up with a faux smile. In fact, I'm pretty sure what was on my lips wasn't a smile but a deep grimace. In the light of that, I silently hoped these girls would decipher that I wasn't interested in any conversation, and skedaddle.

But of course, I should have know that wouldn't be the case at all. The girl in the middle stepped closer again, and this time, her friends followed. I moved back immediately, but couldn't create enough space between me and them because my back hit the locker.

Great. Just Great.

"Hi, Simisola!" The one in the middle squeaked again, taking the reins and speaking for her friends. I winced this time with the way she butchered my name with the fake accent spewing from her lips.

"So, we came here to let you know that we," She gestured to the other two girls that just stood there and stared with their lips stretched all the way to the ear. "The three dancing ladies of Crestview-"

The three what now?

"-Are here to let you know that we are with you," She drew her lips in a pout, touching her hand to her chest when she said the last phrase. Her friends nodded, mimicking her gesture while I looked on, even more confused.

"Okay? Thank you?" I wasn't even sure what I was thanking them for but I needed to get this over and done with. When I tried to sidestep them again, they blocked my way, indicating they weren't done.

What now? I almost growled at them.

"We understand that a disease like dyscamatia is very deadly-"

Wait, hold up. Dys what? A deadly disease?

Are they talking about my Dyscalculia?

That made me pause.

"We also know that it's very contagious and that's why you have been trying to put some distance between us," The girl at the left went on, undeterred by the look of utmost daze and discombobulation marred across my face.

I wasn't even trying to get away from them anymore. I legit just folded my hands across my chest and stared at them as they kept spurting nonsense from their mouth.

"But we don't care," The one at the right continued for her friend, moving closer to me. "We don't mind contacting it for you. That way, we will know what it's like to be in your shoes and care for you in the best way possible!"

Oh, bloody hell. I fought the urge to facepalm.

"I have an uncle that can help," The one in the middle took the reins again and started talking. I watched in silence as she began fishing in the pocket of her extremely short jeans, then brought out something that looked like a business card.

She stretched it to me, eager eyes begging me to collect it. I did, turning it over to read the inscription on it.

Dr. Stanley Edikan
Dermatologists

It took all of me not to burst into laughter at that very moment.

I swear I wanted to die. No, seriously. Are these girls actually serious or they are kidding? Because I honestly think this has to be a joke. They cannot be this... dense. Nah, it's not possible. It can't be possible.

In this school? Why are you even shocked? My subconscious chipped and I couldn't agree more.

First of all, they didn't even pronounce Dyscalculia correctly, calling it something I was sure didn't even exist in any scientific log. Not only that, they assumed that it was some sort of deadly disease I was suffering from. And as if that wasn't enough, this babe just gave me the business card of her dermatologist uncle. A skin doctor.

SKIN!

What in the world...

Abi dem they whine me ni? Nah, this gats to be whines.

And just when I thought they couldn't burst my brain any further,

"So, how long do you have to live?" The middle girl asked.

That question gave me a direct uppercut that knocked the breath right out of me and sent me into a space. At that point, I couldn't hold back anymore.

With absolutely no barrier or bridge standing between me and every emotion I was feeling right now, I just threw my head back and burst into boisterous laughter. It was loud, thunderous, and I didn't have to look at the three girls in front of me to know that it had plunged them into a sea of confusion. Looking at their faces didn't help at all because their expression was so priceless, the laughter increased.

Kill Me!

I continued laughing, not caring if it attracted anyone still around the block or in the other classes. The sound was loud enough to bounce out of the classroom and most definitely escaped to the hallway. I just had to let it out, I couldn't help myself.

What manner of ignorance is this for heaven's sake?

"Wow!"

Was all I could say when my laughter had subsided a bit, looking back at the three girls that bedazzled-ly stared back at me. They looked at each other silently, as if to telepathically ask each other what was up. The look on their faces made me want to laugh again, but I held myself, stifling it down into soft chuckles.

"Did we say something wrong?"

The middle girl asked innocently, her lips pulled in that pout from earlier as she blinked her eyes rapidly, faux lashes batting with so much energy, I thought it would blow me away. But then her question made me hold back a burst of laughter so forcefully, that I almost choked on my own spit.

This is Clownery. Clownery of the highest, most divine, most supreme, most zenithal order.

There was no other name for it.

Thankfully, I didn't get to give them the honest piece of my mind, because if I did, they'd probably run out of here crying. Before I could do that, someone walked into the class and called my name.

"Simi,"

The familiar male voice called, taking my attention away from the girls in front of me to the voice that came from the direction of the door.

Oh, thank God! I heaved a sigh of relief when my eyes met Collins.

I've never been happier to see a familiar face even though I hardly talk to him.

It was honestly as if God knew I needed help and sent Collins at that very moment because his timing couldn't be anymore impeccable. He honestly chose the perfect time to enter the class. At this moment of desperation, I didn't even want to know what he was calling me for. Even if it was to polish his shoes, I will do it with everything in me.

Anything to get me away from these three girls.

"Yes please?" I answered eagerly, attempting to sidestep away from the girls. This time, they let me pass.

Hallelujah for that.

"Coach Danny said you should see him immediately," He said when I got to him, looking between me and the girls as if to decipher what was going on. "He didn't say why but from his tone it sounded very urgent, so you should follow me. " He added when his eyes finally settled on me.

Exactly what I need.

"Yeah, thanks,"

Thankfully, Collins didn't waste another second of the time as he turned around and left the class, with me following right beside him, wanting to get as far away from those girls as possible. For whatever reason, even if the world was under attack by aliens, I'd rather get abducted by the aliens than spend a second of my time with those three girls.

Because, what the actual fuck?

Collins and I walked through the hallway in silence, making our way to the stairway that led down our block. As we descended the stairs, I wondered why he was still walking with me, thinking he'd have left my side. But he didn't.

This is going to get awkward real fast. I cleared my throat as the silence started becoming uncomfortable.

"Full disclosure," Collins finally spoke, breaking the awkward silence and I looked at him. "Coach Danny isn't actually calling you," He told me, his lips pulled in a smirk.

That revelation made me pause in my steps. He stopped too, and we both stood in the middle of the stairway, looking at each other. My brows quirked in question while he beamed back at me.

"Coach Danny isn't calling me?" I asked him, wanting him to confirm what he just said to me, which he did with a curt nod.

"I was just passing by the class when I saw that you were cornered by those girls," He nodded in the direction of our block. "I figured you were uncomfortable so I just improvised. Sorry, I lied," He said.

Is this dude seriously apologizing right now?

"Why the hell are you apologizing?" I asked him, a short breathy laughter escaping my lips between words. "Guy, you saved my ass back there. I couldn't spend another moment with those girls in my space. Thank you!"

I appreciatively stretched my hand out for a shake and he met me halfway, slapping my hand in an aggressive bro handshake that ended with the usual finger snap.

"Nah, it's no biggie," He responded with a shrug, smiling back at me. "It seems as if your popularity doubled when everyone got to know about the learning disorder. Some people in our class can't help themselves, they just want to be associated with the source of the gist in any way possible,"

I wasn't sure how to respond to what Collins said, so I just nodded and kept mute. But he wasn't wrong in any way. Ever since Hilary let the cat out of the bag about my learning disorder, I haven't exactly heard the end of it. Though, this was the first time I'd get approached about it.

It started with whispers and comments left and right, coupled with pitiful looks. Then my classmates started acting a lot nicer to me. I mean, they got relatively nice after that huge Child Abuse Debate in civics class months ago, but this was a whole new level. It was strange. It was weird. I wasn't comfortable.

They were treating me as if I was handicapped. Or, like I was going to drop dead at any minute.

Just last week, one girl that obviously wasn't from any of the science classes offered to get me snacks during lunch break, with her own money. I declined repeatedly even though she was pretty adamant about getting it for me. I had to start hanging out with Gloria, spending every single time I wasn't having a class with her.

It wasn't a really bad thing, this positive attention I was starting to get from my classmates. It was just unnecessary and annoying and I wish they could channel the energy to something more productive and knowledgeable.

Like, for instance, a proper research on what exactly Dyscalculia was. It's okay to be curious about it... but fücking use the internet.

"I'm sorry," Collins' voice brought me out of my thoughts. "It's probably a touchy subject for you, my guy. I shouldn't have brought it up at all." He said.

I quickly shook my head.

"No, it's not that," I debunked. My silence after what he said earlier must have sent the wrong message. "It's not exactly a touchy subject for me because I didn't even know what Dyscalculia was until about two months ago," I chuckled lightly at the memory of when Hilary told me.

"Was that when you got diagnosed?" Collins asked, folding his hands across his chest.

I looked at him, feeling a little skeptical about telling him anything. I mean, we have always been cool as classmates that were civil with each other, dropping normal greetings here and there, but this was the most we have said to each other, the first time we'd be having a real ass conversation.

Collins was a really cool guy, might just be very curious but... nah, we haven't gotten there just yet.

And from the realization that shone in his eyes, I knew he must have figured that out.

"Sorry, I'm being nosey," He rose his hands in surrender. I shook my head, my lips curving in a small smile.

"It's cool," I answered him with a shrug of my own. "It's okay to be curious about it. But I don't want to talk about it right now,"

"That's understandable," Collins answered immediately, nodding his head in understanding. "I respect that, bro," He said and I smiled back, glad that we had that understanding. He obviously knows how to read the room, unlike certain people that didn't know how to take the hint.

Something told me this wouldn't be my and Collins's last interaction, and I didn't mind that one bit. Didn't mind at all. He was someone I knew I could have an intelligent and intellectual conversation with.

The sound of distant chatters and noise alerted my sense to the reality that we were now out of the senior block and walking toward the sports complex. I didn't even know when we walked out of the building.

The vicinity was rowdy with students walking around outside the complex. I can't even begin to imagine how inside the complex looked like. The whole SS3 class would sum up to approximately three hundred students, just imagine how pretty packed it would be.

Now, imagine how completely bewildering it was, that even with the number of students scattered around the Sports Complex, I was still able to spot Hilary as soon as we entered.

Yeah, I spotted her in nothing less than fifteen seconds. Now that's another level of witchery.

I don't even know how humanly possible it was for me to know that she was standing right there. It would have been easier to understand if she was standing close to me, but she wasn't. On the contrary, she was standing quite a distance away from where I stood, a pretty far one.

It was as if somehow, all my sense organs, especially my eyes have been wired to spot her, and only her among the crowd. It was as if my brain has been configured to see only her as soon as I walk into any room.

Only her.

She was standing with Dawn, who was talking with her about something. I couldn't hear it but I could see her. She was smiling at something Dawn was saying, a smile that transcended into laughter.

She was too far, I couldn't hear her laugh but I could see it, I could feel it. So I settled for watching her instead, watching her light up so beautifully. My lips stretched in an automatic smile.

She looked okay. Happy. It was almost as if I could feel that emotion emitting from her. Seeing her like that, that radiant, made me feel at ease. But it also made my heart drop down to the pit of my stomach at a painful realization,

A painful realization that she might not be needing me after all.

"I should get going," Collins' voice alerted me back to the present, reminding me that the dark-skinned boy was still standing beside me. I turned to him and found him already looking at me, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

I didn't need anyone to tell me that he has been watching me gawk at Hilary the entire time.

And there was a caught.

"Right," I forced a smile on to stop myself from feeling awkward about the situation. I stretched my hand again for a handshake and he met me halfway, clasping my hand in his. "Thanks again for what you did back there," I said, referring to how he helped me earlier. "Really appreciate," I added.

"It's all good, man. Glad I could assist," He answered, nodding before he started walking away. I turned to walk away too, moving in the direction of the gym.

"Hey," Collins called to me, stopping me from walking any further. I turned back to look at him, my left brow tugged up in question, silently asking him why he had stopped me.

He was smirking, the same knowing smirk from before playing on his lips like he knew something I didn't.

"It's probably none of my business and hearing it from me might sound stupid, but..." He trailed off, his eyes traveling in a direction. I followed his gaze and it landed on where Hilary was, still standing with Dawn.

When I looked back at him, he was already looking at me again, his lips widening in a grin. Then he nodded, rather approvingly.

"I ship," Was all he said.

They were just two simple words, but they were more than enough to set my mind in overdrive. I knew exactly what he meant, but I didn't think he'd be able to deduce my feelings just by catching me staring at her.

It made me wonder if this was the first time he'd be catching me.

Am I that obvious? I asked myself.

Still, I tried my best to hide my shock, keeping my face as impassive as possible to veer him off whatever thought was playing in his head.

"I'm sorry but, I don't think I don't understand what you mean," I feigned ignorance, forehead creasing slightly in a faux frown of confusion.

But of course, Collins didn't buy that. Instead, he laughed, before blessing my arm with a playful punch. I instinctively took my hand there to rub on the spot he had punched me.

"I think you understand exactly what I mean," He looked at Hilary, then back at me with the smirk from earlier back on his lips. Then he wiggled his brows so comically that I couldn't stop the small laugh from escaping my lips even when I tried to hold back.

That was enough confirmation for him. Besides, it's not as if I had anything else to say to defend myself. This guy knew, and I didn't attempt to debunk it again.

"We go jam later, my guy," He said, patting my shoulder before he finally walked away.

I stared at his retreating figure for a moment before looking back at where Hilary stood but she wasn't there anymore. I glanced around to see if I could find her, but I didn't. I almost started thinking I had imagined her all that while, but if I had, Collins wouldn't have seen her.

So, she was there. Until she wasn't.

My lips stretched in a smile for no reason. Or maybe there was a reason. The fact that there was someone else other than Gloria rooting for Hilary and me. It might seem childish but it felt good. It felt really good.

My lips widened even further in a smile till it transcended into a chuckle. I adjusted the headphones around my neck before turning to walk away.

Ah, Simi. I sighed to myself, shaking my head slowly.

You are a goner.

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Crestview's sports gym was a huge one, bigger than most gyms outside school. Or maybe I was only thinking that because I haven't seen a lot of gyms in my time. I mean, why go to a gym outside and use the money to sign up for a membership when there was a free one here, just as well equipped as any other gym?

Still, this gym was bigger than what a high school's gym should look like, stereotypically.

I sighted a lot of my class guys as soon as I walked in. Some girls too. But unlike the girls that just stuck to using the stationary bike, elliptical trainer, or treadmill, equipment easier to handle, some of the guys were doing over sabi with the heavier, more... technical equipment even when they weren't strong enough to handle it.

Anything to prove that they were more... macho.

Like this one guy I sighted as soon as I strolled in. He was pretty scrawny and didn't look strong enough to use the chest press machine, but he still went there anyway. I mean, physical strength isn't all about the muscles, right?

But, it wasn't until I saw his friend holding up a phone, recording and hyping him up that I realized he was probably doing it just to show off.

The dude nearly got himself killed when he couldn't keep up with lifting the weight and the rod started coming down heavily to his chest. Thankfully, his friend had the good sense to fling the phone away and catch the rod before it came crashing down to his chest.

He could have broken his ribs, or worst still, suffocated from the crushing weight of the rod on his chest.

I shook my head, chuckling to myself as I walked deeper into the gym, moving to where the lockers were to drop my things. I had my eyes on the punching bag. Something to work my limbs.

All I needed was to get the boxing gloves.

"Finally! Someone that won't shy away from a punch!" A familiar baritone voice rang out, alerting me. I looked in the direction of the voice and my eyes focused on the big boxing ring at the center of the room.

Kizito was standing inside, and he was looking directly at me.

Me?

I looked behind me, to see if he was looking past me and at someone else, but there was no one else behind me. It was just me in that corner. I looked back at the hunk, my index pointed to my chest.

"Me?" I repeated this question, out loud this time around. Of its own volition, my legs started walking towards the ring, my hands shoved into the pockets of my hoodie.

"Wow, Kizito. You just know how to bruise my ego,"

Another voice called out, and that was when I noticed that there was someone else inside the ring with Kizito, wearing a pair of boxing pads in his hand. He was very familiar. His full kinky fro gave him away.

What's his name again? Somto? Sochi? Yes, Sochima.

"I've been sparring with you for almost an hour," Sochima continued, talking to Kizito. By this time, I had already gotten to the foot of the ring. "You bruised my lips," He pointed to the slight bruise at the corner of his lips. "You almost took out my teeth, and now you want to replace me with someone that just came," He paused and looked at me.

"No offense, Simi," He said to me, and I quickly shook my head in response.

"None taken," I answered, then looked at Kizito. "I wasn't planning to get into the ring. I just want to use the heavy bag," I jabbed my thumb at the punching bag hanging from the roof.

"Come on," He said to me, his voice pleading. "This is a lot more fun than hitting the heavy bag. I'd have said you should ask Sochi," He passed a teasing smile at the kinky fro boy, "But he could hardly take any of my punches," His lips turned in a proud smirk.

"Oh, piss off," Sochima growled, taking off his boxing pads as he walked out of the ring. When he got down beside me, he shoved the pad into my hands. "Be my guest, please," He said to me. "Help me wipe that smug look off his face," He pleaded desperately with me, eliciting a chuckle from me and a loud laugh from Kizito.

"I'm sure he will put up a better fight than you," Kizito called after the guy, his hands folded across his chest. I just kept watching the back-and-forth banter, wearing the pads on my hands.

"I'm going to tell Dawn you did this to me," He replied, tapping on the barely visible bruise on his lips. "You are going to have her to contend with,"

It was then I remembered that the guy was Dawn's boyfriend. Hilary had told me that.

"Abeg," Kizito called his bluff. "She was my best friend first before she became your girlfriend. She won't do nada," He brushed the threat away with a wave of his hand. Sochima smirked in return.

"Let's find out, shall we?" He said to Kizito.

On cue, the door to the gym opened and Dawn walked right in. On impulse, I felt all my senses come alive, my heart picking up a faster pace, every hair on my body standing.

No, it wasn't because Dawn walked in, of course not. It was more because, where Dawn was, Hilary was always there too. Especially since they were together just moments ago.

So if Dawn just walked in, Hilary would be right behind her... right?

The single thought of that made my lips suddenly dry. I quickly darted my tongue out and swept through it, keeping my eyes on the door, waiting for Hilary to walk in at any moment.

Any moment now...

Any moment now...

Any moment now...

Any mo...

No one walked in after Dawn. The door shut behind her and she ran to her boyfriend, after throwing out greetings to everyone in her way. I kept my eyes fixated on the door, still hoping, still waiting for Hilary to walk in.

But she didn't. And everything in me deflated.

"I'm not going to choose my favorite between the two of you," I heard Dawn speak, making me turn to look at her. She was standing between Kizito and Sochima who were giving themselves a faux stare down, trying to mark territory that isn't even there.

"But you shouldn't be punching my boyfriend, Kizito," She said to the taller boy, wagging her index finger at him in a chiding manner. I saw Chima smirk. "I will kill you next time," She threatened him.

The fact that she was so small, standing in front of a guy that was more than a foot taller than her, wagging her fingers at him like a mum brought an automatic smile to my lips.

Kizito rose his hands up in mock surrender.

"Hey!" He sounded offended, but we all knew he wasn't. "I am your best friend. You shouldn't be threatening me because of him," He waved his hand dismissively at Sochima.

"Well, he is my boyfriend and I love him more," Dawn countered, folding her across her chest.

"Told ya!" Sochima gloated, and I chuckled, shaking my head at the childish, yet very cute banter going on between them. My light chuckle attracted Dawn's attention to me for the first time since she stepped in.

I watched her face lit up and her lips stretch into a big grin.

"Simi, Hi!" She squealed like she was really happy to see me.

I raised my hand to wave at her good-naturedly, but the tiny person sped towards me instead, launching herself at me to gather my much bigger frame in a hug.

"Oh!" I huffed, being caught unawares by the gesture. But I gave back the hug she offered, a small laugh escaping my lips as I tried not to be awkward.

Dawn had a very infectious vibe, and I liked it. She had this mystifying ability to light up any room she walked into and she was doing that right now. She made it so easy to get along with her. They all did.

Well, except that Semeeha babe.

"I'm sorry," She said when she pulled away, still beaming with a contagious smile that had me smiling back at her. "I should have greeted you first instead of getting caught up between these two children," She rolled her eyes, jabbing her thumb behind her to point at Sochima and Kizito still bantering about God knows what.

"It's alright, It's cool," I assured her with a shrug, and she flashed back a wide, cheerful grin. Unable to help myself, I glanced back at the door, hoping that one miracle will happen and Hilary will walk through.

But nothing happened still.

"Babe," It was Sochima that spoke, and I looked back to see him beside Dawn now. "Give me a few, yeah? I want to grab my bag," He told her and she nodded, watching his retreating figure.

"Simi, how far?" Kizito called to me, making me turn to him. "Are you going to spar with me?" He asked.

"Yeah, give me a second," I held a finger up for him to wait, then turned back to Dawn. "Dawn?" I called to her, and she looked away from her boyfriend's retreating figure to me, brows raised in question.

I exhaled, trying to gather my thoughts together.

I knew what I wanted to talk to her about, or rather, what I wanted to ask her. I couldn't go without asking her about Hilary. Suddenly, watching her laugh earlier wasn't enough for me. I needed to make sure she was truly okay, and my mind won't be settled till I have made sure of that.

So, who better to ask than Dawn?

"Yeah?" She urged me to speak.

"You were with Hilary earlier, right?" I asked straight up. Sochima would be out any second from now and Dawn will leave with him, so I didn't bother beating around the bush.

She nodded.

"Yeah," She still went ahead to affirm, then bobbed her head towards the door. "She's actually outside right now," That statement made my eyes widen slightly.

"She's here?" I went back to staring at the closed door of the gym.

"She said she didn't want to smell all the testosterone in this place, that's why she wouldn't come in," Dawn answered with a chuckle, clearly oblivious to how her earlier statement affected me.

But I guess my immediate silence and longing stare at the door gave it away soon enough.

"Do you want me to get her for you?"

Dawn's question brought drawing my attention back to her. Her voice had reduced to a whisper, her expression softer now and her eyes sparkling with understanding. That was enough for me to know that she was in on whatever was going on between Hilary and me.

So there was no use hiding anything from her like I did Collins.

Shaking my head slowly, I forced a smile.

"Nah, it's okay," I answered, my voice reduced to a whisper of its own. Taking another long stare at the door again, I exhaled. "I just want to be sure she's fine, that's all," I added, looking back at the girl in front of me.

"You know you can call her now, right?" She said, her lips curved up slightly in what resembled a sad smile. "She got her phone back this week," Dawn informed me. "If at all, you guys are not going to talk in school, at least talk on the phone," She persuaded.

But, I shook my head again. Hilary made herself crystal clear.

"She won't want me to do that," I answered, and Dawn sighed. "I don't want to do that to her, either. I want to respect her wish to stay away for a while. I don't want to put her in a position where she'll be uncomfortable. I can't do that to her,"

"Trust me, you won't be doing anything like that," Dawn debunked immediately, and I exhaled, confused.

Should I go to her like Dawn was telling me to? Or do I respect her wish by staying away, waiting for her to tell me that it was okay to come back to her?

Oh, God...

"She misses you, Simi,"

Dawn said to me, her voice hushed and her gaze steadily on mine like she wanted me to believe it. But that's the thing. I can't believe something like this if it's not coming from Hilary. I want to hear her say it. I want to hear her say she misses me, just as much as I miss her.

And no matter how selfish it might sound, I want to hear her say she Wants me, too.

Sochima came soon enough and Dawn had to leave.

"Think about what I said," She told me as she walked away, her boyfriend giving me a mock salute as he followed behind and finally caught up to her.

I exhaled for the umpteenth time, my feet stepping on the canvas as I entered the ring. Kizito was ready for me, so we kicked off. We started sparring, Kizito throwing punches my way, and me using the boxing pads to catch and block them.

"Double jab," I called to him and he threw two quick punches to my pad, then one to my left.

"Do you really think staying away from her is good for her?" Kizito spoke, making me pause for a moment to look at him. His quirked right brow told me I had guessed right as to what he was talking about. He must have so heard my conversation with Dawn.

I sighed, getting back into position. He continued punching.

"I know it's the best for her," I answered, and that reply earned a scoff from the hunk in front of me. He threw a punch and I caught it quickly.

"No," He disagreed immediately, pausing his punches. "You just want to make yourself believe that it's the best for her," He said, standing upright to look at me properly. I mimicked his stance. "She also wants to believe that asking you to stay away is what is good for her. Now, the both of you are miserable,"

He made to throw a punch, but I shoved his fist off, his last statement pushing me off the cliff and into a plethora of frustration.

"What exactly would you have me do then!" I yelled at him, throwing my hands in exasperation. "What do you want me to do, Kizito? Chase her around?" I didn't even care that we were attracting a little attention to ourselves. "Trust me, I'm on the verge of doing just that but I have to keep it together for her sake!"

"Relax," Kizito pacified me, gesturing for me to call down with his hands. I inhaled to calm myself down, breathing steadily. Beyond worked up, I ran my hand over my face.

"She was the one that wanted this, Kizito," My voice was calmer now, more controlled. "She wanted me to stay away from her and I did-"

"And when has a girl ever been meant it when she tells a guy she likes to stay away?"

He asked me, his brows tugged up in a questionable gaze. I couldn't reply because I didn't know the answer to that question. I was still very much new to this... all of this. Was still trying to wrap my head around everything I was feeling, everything I wanted to feel, and everything I wanted to make her feel.

It was Kizito's turn to exhale, taking a more casual stance like I was.

"Look," He began, keeping his eyes trained on me. "I like your person, my guy. You are a good guy, one of the very few good guys I know in this school, probably in the entire world." His tone was approving, making a little bit of pride rise in my chest.

"These girls mean so much to me," He went on, his tone telling me he wasn't playing. "All I've ever wanted is for them to be happy and satisfied, but there is only so much I can do." He told me and I nodded, understanding him.

"You've stepped up for Hilary in so many ways," He continued. "You care about her, Simi. A lot more than you can admit,"

"Trust me, I have no problem admitting it," I said to him and he chuckled lightly, nodding.

"My point is," He carried on. "You make Hilary happy, happier than I've ever seen her this past few months," He stated matter-of-factly, eliciting a sigh from me. "And contrary to what she says, or what you might think," He gently jabbed his index to my chest as he said that,

"She needs you."

"And I need her too," I retorted. "You have no idea how much I need her, Kizito, but I'm not that selfish," I said to him, rendering him mute.

Exhaling, I went on.

"It's no longer news to you that I like her," He nodded to that, proving me right. "I care about Hilary. A lot more than I care about my own self." I told Kizito, beating my chest in emphasis. "I want to be around her more than anything, and as selfish as it might sound, I want her to want me just as much as I want her,"

I wasn't sure why I was letting Kizito see me this way, but what the heck? I was way past caring at this point.

"But I'm not that selfish to put this much emotional pressure on her," I continued, and watched as understanding crossed his eyes. "She has been through so much pain, still fighting a lot of emotional and mental battles. The last thing I want is to be the one to put her through any more pain,"

Kizito nodded slowly, more understanding forming in his features. I let it a sigh of resignation.

"I respect her too much, Kizito," I shrugged. "I respect her too much to go against what she wants, so I'm going to wait for her." I decided, even though it was painful for me to. From Kizito's expression, he seemed not to like the decision. But deep down, I know he too believed it was the right thing to do.

For Hilary.

"She knows she has me," I threw my hands apart as a sign of ultimate surrender. "She has all of me. I'm here for her all the time and I'm here all the way. I'm not going anywhere."

When I looked back at Kizito after saying that, there was a big smile playing on his lips.

"Look at you!" He exclaimed, giving me a playful punch that was quite painful, by the way. I winced between my laughter, rubbing the spot he punched me on. "So with all the hard-guy hard-guy, you be lover boy like this fa," He teased me, and I chuckled.

"Like you are any better," I smirked, wiggling my brows suggestively. He threw his head back and laughed.

"Hey," He started when his laughter subsided. "I'm just as much of a lover as I am a fighter." He gloated, flexing his muscles. I rolled my eyes.

"Get out," I shoved him and he laughed again. When the laughter subsided, he asked if I wanted to do the punching this time and I agreed.

"Thank you, though," He said while we exchanged gloves. I looked at him, wondering what he was thanking me for. He must have seen the question in my eyes because he continued.

"Thank you for understanding Hilary better than any of us can" He expatiated. "You have made things really easy and bearable for her since you guys became close and I'll be a fool not to appreciate how much of a positive energy you are to her." He added. I chuckled lightly, shaking my head as I wore the boxing gloves.

"Nah, don't sell yourself short. You and Dawn," I said to him. "You guys have been doing a lot for Hilary long before I came into the picture, and you are still doing it. You guys are amazing friends and she's lucky to have you. Both of you." I assured him. His lips tugged in an appreciative smile and I smiled back.

"Come on," Kizito held his padded hand up. "Let's get to it," He said, and I nodded.

We started sparring again, with me swinging the punches this time which Kizito caught quite effortlessly. From his expression, he looked surprised that I could throw punches that fast.

"You have quick hands," He commented, his tone telling me that he was impressed. I smirked and swung a right hook which he barely blocked, almost hitting him right in the jaw.

"Never underestimate your opponent," I told him, swinging lower to give him a body shot. He barely blocked that one too. "It's not just about the muscles my guy," I subtly jabbed at him. Of course, he caught the shade, laughing through it.

"Touché," He answered, not even thinking to disagree with me because he knew I was right.

"Kizito!"

That cheery call made us pause. Kizito turned in the direction the voice came from and I followed his gaze till my eyes fell on her. It wasn't until after my eyes took her in and recognized her that I realized I left out one more of Hilary's friends in my conversation earlier. But you won't judge me for not remembering her, given that it's been a while since I saw her hang around Hilary.

Hilary didn't tell me anything but it made me wonder if there was something up.

"Geez, I've even forgotten she was here,"

I heard Kizito mutter to himself beside me. I glanced at him briefly before looking back at the dark-skinned girl that skipped her way to us, turning heads while at it. I mean, in the kind of outfit she was in any guy that didn't give her a second look was probably a log of firewood.

Maybe except Kizito and I.

Kizito, because he was probably already used to seeing her this way. Me? Well... I mean no disrespect, she's physically attractive but she still doesn't appeal to me.

Her outfit was not exactly unusual for sporting, but it was... well, interesting. If I didn't know any better, which I probably don't, I'd say she purposely went for an outfit this inciting.

Talmabout a grey Calvin Klein sports bra with a low cut front that showed a tinsy bit of her cleavage and baggy joggers that hung very low on her waist, almost to her mid behind, revealing the matching Calvin Klein sports thong.

Don't ask me how I know the entire Calvin Klein female underwear set. Gloria has tons of this.

(Semeeha's Outfit inspo🔥. Baby girl is desperately doing the Lord's work🌚)

I watched her make her way towards us in skipping steps, the silk weave with bangs she had on bouncing around her face. Looking at her now, I suddenly remembered what happened last Saturday morning, when Gloria called Kizito's phone and she was the one who picked.

"Kizito," She called the taller guy again when she got to the foot of the ring, her massively glossed lips stretched in a grin. "I'm done with the treadmill," She told him, completely ignoring my very existence.

Not that I care anyway.

"Already?" Kizito asked, his hands akimbo as he looked at the clock. "Wow, time flies," He said more to himself than to the girl. "Alright then, go use the stationary bike for a few, I'll come and meet you there later. I'm kinda busy here," He nodded in my direction.

For the first time since she came here, she looked in my direction and finally noticed me. I watched as her smile literally turned upside down, her eyes scanning my entire frame from head to toe, giving me a once over with a sort of... dirty look that could make a person think about their entire life.

But I didn't get intimidated by her stare, not even in the slightest. I held her gaze and stared back at her. Of course, she didn't expect me to do that because she quickly looked away from me and turned back to Kizito.

"Fine," She agreed but didn't sound too happy about it. "I'm giving you five minutes sha," Her tone was authoritative like Kizito didn't have a choice. My guy just gave her a curt nod and we both watched her walk away. More like I was the one watching her while Kizito complained about how much of a piece of work the girl was.

For some reason I couldn't take my eyes off her, my forehead creasing with a slight frown. There was something... abundantly strange about the energy she exuded. And no, it wasn't about her rudeness. It would have been better if it was. There was something else off.

Completely off.

Or I might be wrong. Maybe it's what Gloria said last week that's messing with my thoughts.

About that...

"Hey," I turned to Kizito and he looked at me. "Did she tell you Gloria called last week?" I asked him, nodding in the direction Semeeha disappeared to. Seeing Kizito's face contort in a confused expression told me he had no idea what I was talking about.

"Last week?" He repeated and I nodded, folding my hands across my chest.

"Last week Saturday," I specified. "In the morning," I expatiated further, maybe it would jog his memory. But his confusion seemed to deepen. "Gloria called your phone last Saturday morning and she picked up," I nodded again at Semeeha's direction.

"Semeeha answered my phone call?" He sounded very surprised to hear that, an indication that he knew nothing about that phone call.

That made my frown deepen. Now it was my turn to get confused.

I watched Kizito pick up his phone from the corner of the ring where it was and started tapping on some buttons.

"Last Saturday was the fourteenth, right?" He asked and I nodded. "Gigi and I spoke that day, but it was only in the evening," Kizito revealed to me and I hummed. "There isn't even any record of Gigi's call from the morning on my call log," He added, plunging me further into more confusion.

What?

"I was there when she made that call and Semeeha picked," I immediately defended.

"I swear, there is no record on my log," Kizito swore, looking more confused than ever. "See," He handed me his phone to check and I collected it, swiping through the screen. In fairness to Kizito, there was no record of Gloria's call that morning, only in the evening.

I got even more confused

Or, am I getting the date wrong? I thought to myself but quickly shook my head in negation because I know I wasn't wrong.

But still, something wasn't right. A lot of things.

Did Semeeha not tell Kizito Gloria had called him?

And why the hell didn't Gloria tell Kizito that she called earlier that day when they talked later in the evening? She agreed to talk to him about it, right?

"If Gigi really spoke to Semeeha that morning, why didn't Semeeha tell me?" Kizito asked, voicing out my exact thoughts. "And why didn't Gigi tell me either when we spoke later that day, or every other day since then?" He looked a lot more confused than I did, even though the answer to these questions were just as more of a mystery to me as it was to him.

Or maybe it wasn't that much of a mystery. I had an inclining as to why Gloria didn't tell him. But the answer to why Semeeha didn't deliver Gloria's message or how the call log was suddenly nonexistent, I had no idea.

But it didn't feel good.

"Simi," Kizito called my name, jerking me out of my reverie. I looked up to see him watching me, the look in his eyes telling me he knew I knew something. "Is there something I should know?"

I would have told him right there and then everything Gloria told me last week, but I couldn't. It wasn't ok my place to divulge any bit of that information, especially after Gloria had said she would talk to him about it.

Why didn't she talk to him though? I hissed to myself.

"Simi," Kizito's impatient call brought me out of my thoughts again, and I looked at him. "Did I do something wrong? Is Gigi pissed at me for something?" He sounded so desperate to know.

I shook my head.

"No, she's not pissed at you," I assured him, while inwardly praying that she actually wasn't. Kizito didn't even look too convinced. "You guys have been cool this week. I'm sure that won't have been the case if she was pissed at you," I added, trying to calm him down.

I shouldn't have brought this up in the first place.

"But something is wrong," Kizito maintained, keeping his eyes squarely on me like he was trying to read me. "Isn't it?" He asked, his eyes searching mine for an answer.

I exhaled, regretting saying something in the first place.

"Maybe you should talk to her," I suggested objectively, not knowing what else to say. Kizito didn't look satisfied by that response, clearly expecting me to tell him everything I knew.

But I can't do that. It wasn't in my place to.

"Talk to her," I repeated emphatically. "You guys just need to talk, as soon as possible. But I promise, there is nothing wrong." I added, trying to pacify him in the best way possible. My nigga has even started sweating.

You and your big mouth, Simi.

"I'm going to her right now," He told me, not waiting for my response or approval before started gathering his things into his gym bag at the corner of the ring. I didn't bother stopping him, knowing that the earlier Gloria talked to him about her worries, the better.

Though, she might have my head later for spilling.

Firing off a quick thanks to me, he exited the ring and headed for the door. I was about to leave the ring as well since there was nobody to spar with again when I saw the Semeeha babe run towards him, dashing to his front to stop him from moving out of the gym.

I watched silently.

Kizito's stance looked like he was impatient but he still took his time to whisper something to her. I don't know what he said to her, but it was enough to get her to step aside so that he'd leave. I don't know why, but that entire scenario seemed... weird to me.

And I couldn't look away.

As if she knew I was staring at her, Semeeha looked right at the ring and met my eyes with hers. She started staring me down again and I indulged her. Her expression made me know she was grossly displeased, obviously by the fact that Kizito left her. Honestly, grossly displeased was putting it mildly.

The girl looked annoyed as fück, even more because I was staring at her.

"What the fück are you looking at!" She fired the question at me, the sharp tone of her voice attracting a little attention to herself.

I didn't say answer her. I wasn't interested in indulging her in a conversation of any sort, but I didn't take my eyes off her either. And from the way her eyes darkened on me, it seemed to irk her that I wasn't backing down from the stare, at least, not until I was done figuring out what her deal was.

She finally looked away when she realized she wasn't intimidating me like she probably wanted to and walked away. That didn't make me look away from her though. I still kept my eyes on her.

Then I felt it again, that strange energy from earlier. This time, it was emitting from her in unimaginably heavy waves, and that was saying a lot considering she was relatively far from where I stood. It had my chest twisting up in a way that felt... intricate, almost arcane.

I didn't like it. Didn't like it at all.

And the fact that this kind of energy was coming from this Semeeha babe, someone that was one of Kizito's best friends... probably still one of Hilary's best friends made it a lot more difficult to take in.

But truthfully? I don't trust her.

I don't trust Semeeha Malik.

𝐀/𝐍

🎶Crazy tings are happening. Crazy tings are happening🎶 in Tems voice.

So, I binge-watched Creed 1 & 2, and that was what gave me the inspiration for the entire boxing scenario. I know nada about boxing 😂. I personally think Simi and Kizito's bromance dynamic will be very sweet. What do you think?

Semeeha is busy doing the Lord's work 💀. Ride on, sister👀.

Sha, I dropped a big hint in a very subtle way in this chapter. If you think you caught it, let me know 🌚. I really want to know.

I'm sure some of you might be thinking, "why is Kizito still talking to Semeeha after she deleted Gigi's incoming call from his call log?" this and that. The truth is, Kizito won't know for sure that Semeeha deleted his call log until he sees it from Gigi's side. Shey you get.

But dude is falling my hand. Let's see if he will make up for it in the next update which will be in Semeeha POV. And y'all, it's Gigi still kinda protecting Semeeha for me. All of you that don't like her ehn 😂.

Till next time, you guys know the drill. Kisses 😘.