(073 - "Study Sessions" and Awkward Family Introductions)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!🎈🎊

PLEASE READ

I'm so sorry the update is coming at this time. I should have updated twice in December but school work choke. Even at home, they were sending us assignments to do and I just didn't have the time. I'm resuming this time next week, and I still won't have the time. But we go try run am.

But please, if I don't update for a while, just know it's for good reasons. I don't particularly like it when people go to my message board, enter my DMs or write in the comments to ask me when the next update will be. It's a lot of pressure... and I hate pressure. You need to understand that it's not as if I don't want to update, but the time to sit down somewhere and start writing out the chapter is what I don't have luxury of anymore.

Keep in mind that writing is not beans. It's not easy for writers to sit down and write the words we write. If I tell you my word counts per chapter, many of you will be shocked. A lot of you cannot write the word counts I write per week in a month. That should give you an idea of the kind of workload we writers have, coupled with our life outside Wattpad. Please be more understanding and be patient.

Yes, the book is interesting and you want to know what will happen next. Me sef, I want to write it. Heaven knows I didn't think I'd be writing AU this long and I want to finish it as soon as possible but if the time no dey, e no dey. Shey you get me.

So, instead of asking me "When is the next update coming," or rudely telling me "if you don't update soon, I'll swear for you" (I'll block whoever says this to me next time), just tell me "Well done". It will honestly boost my confidence and morale to make out time to update. You are reading this book for free, it's the very least you could do.

I just hope everyone read this, because I've made it loud and clear now. If you enter my DMs, or go to my message board to ask for updates, and you find yourself blocked the next time you try to view my profile, don't say I'm wicked. I pleaded with you, and I warned you 😌.

Now! Let's dive in! 🔥

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𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐘
(Hilary Idara Eghosa)

"You need to calm down, Dawn," I said as I packed my books into my bag, glancing at the screen of my phone where my best friend's faces stared back at me. "What did I tell you about jumping to conclusions?" My brows tugged up in question.

"Hilary, this isn't about jumping to conclusions when things are this obvious," she argued back.

I sighed.

"You saw what happened, from Monday to Tuesday when the announcement was made in the auditorium. You saw the way he reacted. There is already an obvious strain." She rambled.

"But that doesn't mean he is breaking up with you," I attempted to pacify, mentally noting that I forgot my highlighter so I went to get it from my drawer.

"It might as well be a breakup because he is still not speaking to me," Dawn lamented. Presently, I couldn't see her face but I had an intuition that her eyes were becoming glassy with tears, causing my heart to clench.

"This is the first week and I still haven't heard anything from him," she continued. "I went over to his house after school on Thursday but I was told he wasn't in. I'm sure he told them to say that so that he won't have to see me."

I started hearing sniffles, and that made me rush back to my phone to pick it up. Just as I predicted, Dawn was already crying.

"Hey," I whispered. "Please, don't cry. It might not even be the way you are interpreting things. Sochima won't intentionally hurt you like this, you know that," I said to her in the most gentle voice I could muster.

"If he wasn't trying to hurt me, he wouldn't have said what he said on Monday, or completely ghosted me till now," she retorted and I exhaled, not sure what else to say at this point.

Dawn was the master at relationship pep talks, not me. And now that she needed me, I wasn't sure say to ease her worries.

My mind wandered back to the events of Tuesday and how everything went down in the auditorium when the verdict was made. At the time, I was still very much horrified at the entire beatdown that happened in the basketball court on Monday, but even more curious to find out what the verdict would be on Tuesday.

Sir. Isaac had called an emergency extension of the assembly Tuesday morning and we all gathered in the auditorium, teachers and students alike, no one was left out.

The auditorium was almost as silent as a graveyard, safe for the few chatters here and there, students trying to speculate and decipher why Sir. Isaac had asked everyone to say back. After the main assembly, he just told all of us to wait, called Jidenna, Gigi, and Kizito to follow him and that has been it since.

The majority of the senior students already knew why, especially since the video of Sochima Johnson giving Tekena Tamuno a beatdown of the century has been circulating all over social media since yesterday afternoon. Only heaven knows who made a video of the incident.

It wasn't anyone in the court, that I was sure of. Plus the angle of the coverage said that the person shot it through one of the windows.

Stupid, jobless Crestview students.

But that wasn't the bone of contention.

Fights have been happening for as long as I have been in this school, and fights will continue happening even when I leave this school. But never has Sir. Isaac called a public meeting to address the situation or issue.

Usually, the verdict or whatever punishment he gave to the offenders was within the confines of his office. Sometimes with staff and prefects present, sometimes with the staff alone, but most of the time with just the parents of the offenders and the offenders.

He doesn't make these things public, allowing them to die a natural death. And if there is any video going around, within hours it's off the internet.

Till today.

The video was still circulating on different social media platforms, even on the school's official social media pages. And Sir. Isaac was making it public. The combination of these two events didn't bode well.

Or anyone directly involved in this.

"I don't have a good feeling about this."

Dawn whispered from beside me, wrapping her hands around herself as if she was feeling cold. To everyone else, it might seem that way because her teeth chattered and clacked against each other, but to me, I knew it had nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with Fear.

Her body was tense, shoulders hunched and hands instinctively running up and down her arm. She shifted nervously, her gaze darting around anxiously, allowing the obvious unease that ran through her to be evident.

Dawn was scared. Terrified even.

And rightfully so.

But it was my job to ease her.

"I'm sure there is no problem," I whispered back to her, but her only response was the incredulous look she shot back at me. I sighed. "Funny how it might not even be about Sochima. Maybe Sir. Isaac just wants to announce the outcome of our prefects' meeting," I added.

"A prefects meeting that isn't the business of the whole school, Hilary," she reminded me. "I would have believed you if it was only the senior student here, but this," she gestured to the hall of people, "is the entire school!"

Her voice went up a notch with a sharp edge to it, causing some of our classmates who stood close to us to look in our direction weirdly.

Okay, that didn't work.

"Hey," I threw my arms around her and pulled her in. "Calm down. Everything is going to be okay," I tried to soothe her.

"What if it isn't?" She threw back at me, tears welling up in her eyes. "Sir. Isaac has never called an emergency assembly in years, not one because of a fight, and that's saying a lot because many fights have happened in this school, some more brutal than others. Why are they calling an emergency meeting on top his own matter? What makes him so different, ehn?"

Tears were already dropping from her eyes in beads, and at that long, I wasn't sure what else to say or do aside to hug her. Semeeha texted me this morning that she wouldn't be coming to school because she was under the weather so it was just me with Dawn.

My eyes met Simi's where he was seated with the rest of our classmates. He glanced at Dawn, then looked back at me as if to ask if she was okay. But I just shook my head.

"It's going to be okay," he mouthed back, and my lips twitched in a small smile, even though his words did absolutely nothing to ease me. And if I didn't feel at ease, I wondered how Dawn was feeling.

I can't even begin to imagine how overwhelming it was for her and I felt terrible that I had no idea what to say to make her feel better. I just hugged her and tried to assure her that everything would be okay even though I wasn't entirely certain myself... even more uncertain now with the point she just made.

Sir. Isaac won't call an energy meeting if the verdict wasn't serious so it could only mean one thing.

God forbid.

The heavy glass doors of the auditorium swung open with a creak, alerting every single person and plunging the room of murmur into an absolute silence that reverberated through the room. All eyes, including mine and Dawn's, snapped toward the entrance, evident tension in the air.

I was holding my breath and I was as sure as anything that everyone in the hall was as well, especially Dawn.

Jidenna and Kizito were the first to come in, confident strides cutting through the hush of the room as they led the way to the podium with Sir. Isaac following behind them. Every echo of their footsteps against the tiled floor only amplified the tension... and the anticipation.

I expected the door to close, but it didn't, and that was when I realized that Gigi wasn't in yet. What I didn't know was that I was in for a surprise.

Dawn was in for a surprise.

In fact, the entire school was in for a surprise.

A big one.

Because as soon as Gigi walked in, a collective gasp echoed through the room, Dawn's own louder than everyone else's. And no, it wasn't because of Gigi. It was because of the person trailing behind her, shock rippling through the crowd as the unexpected figure came to view, her entrance shattering the silence like a sudden storm.

Mrs. Chidinma Chigozie-Kalu.

The Proprietress.

Jesus Christ!

She strode into the auditorium with an air of unapologetic confidence, her heels clicking in sync with the rhythm of authority, dressed in an attire that was a seamless blend of power and style, her hair a cascade of sleek obsidian waves, framing her face contorted with determination. Her eyes, sharp and penetrating, scanned the room with calculated precision that had everyone on chokehold.

The atmosphere had shifted and it was very much evident, the tension thicker, more palpable, and I needed no one to tell me that emotions were high.

"Okay, this is serious." I finally admitted

"You think!" Dawn whispered-yelled. "Proprietress is here! This is beyond serious!" Angry tears fell from Dawn's eyes and I had no idea what to do.

"Fuck!" She cussed, using the back of her palm to wipe her tears, shaky breath escaping her lips. There was nothing more I could say to pacify her or diffuse the complexity of the situation.

Absolutely nothing.

Mrs. Chidinma Chigozie-Kaly hardly - almost never shows up at school except on special occasions like the beginning of the session to get the new student acquainted with the school and during the valedictory service of each set. That's about it.

Aside from those two events, we never see her come around at all. Maybe she comes by in between the session, we wouldn't know because we don't see her or any trace of her presence. She's based outside the country with her family, only coming to Nigeria when necessary so of course, we don't always expect her.

But we were seeing her now, right after what might have been the biggest beatdown of the session. I wouldn't be too concerned if it involved just anyone, but it involved my best friend's boyfriend, someone who was a good guy by a long mile. And the mere thought that he might be getting expelled sent shivers down my spine.

God forbid.

"SILENCE!" Sir. Isaac thundered, plunging the room into another round of deafening silence.

"Good morning, students," Mrs. Chidinma began, her accented voice a firm and powerful echo.

"Good Morning, Ma'am," we responded, and the hall went back to being silent, so silent that you could hear a whisper all the way from the JSS1 students.

"I know you weren't expecting to see me, but it imperative that I speak to you all," she started to speak. "I stand before you today with a matter that demands immediate attention. I'm sure you all have heard about it, and some of you even witnessed the incident that happened in the basketball court, an incident that can't be overlooked!"

The sharpness of her voice cut through the air like a sharp blade, making me jump slightly and Dawn take in a sharp breath. I could hear the disappointment in her tone, and I held my breath.

"A video of the incident has been circulating online, even on the school's official page, and I have been getting worrying phone calls from many parents.–"

Shit.

That's why she came herself.

This wasn't a good look on the school.

"–We have to restrict the general page while we keep trying our best to take down the video since it just keeps popping back up when we delete it. Is it a crime that we allow you to bring your gadgets to school? Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is?"

Her question was met with absolute silence because we obviously had no answer to that. Not even the smartest person in the room did.

"Let me be unequivocal," She tilted her chin up. "Violence has no place within the walls of Crestview International Academy. While disagreements are an inevitable part of human interactions and your growth hormones are getting a better part of you, I will not – I repeat, will not tolerate this descent into mindless brutality."

"But that wasn't what–" Dawn started to argue but I quickly clasped my hand over her mouth before she got herself into trouble.

"Don't say anything," I pleaded with her. Her emotions were getting the better part of her and she might say something that would get her into trouble.

Her boyfriend was already in a compromising situation, the last thing we want is a couple's martyr.

"Blatant battering and inflicting of bodily harm on a fellow student," Mrs. Chidinma continued as she paced the stage, each step punctuating the gravity of her words. "Such actions are a betrayal of the principles that define us as an institution. We are supposed to be better than that! Do you think there would be no consequences... because there are. And this is not an exception."

Half of the student body took in a sharp breath at this moment.

"Sochima Ansel Johnson of SS3 Art Class One, come out."

"Oh God," Dawn whimpered and my heart began to hammer in my chest.

Sochima moved from where he had been standing all alone, away from the students, and began to make his way to the podium. For someone who was about to receive a probably life-defining penalty, he sure didn't look at it.

He was poker-faced, his emotions hidden beneath a mask of indifference, still having that undeniable aura of swag that accompanied his every step. For the first time, I was seeing him in his blazer, and that only seemed to enhance his demeanor.

I glanced at Dawn and saw that her eyes remained fixated on him, flashes of emotions running through them. She was still yet to tell me what had gone down between them in the ward when I walked in on her crying, but I didn't push it. All I knew was that it must have been serious for her to have broken down the way she did.

"Sochima," Mrs. Chidinma began to speak, alerting my attention back to her. "You are the last person I expected to be involved in such violence. I can't say I'm not disappointed in you because I am,"

Sochima's hardened expression faltered at that statement, his eyes darting down briefly and his fist clenching. My heart fell to the pit of my stomach and a light sob escaped Dawn's lips.

"However," now that caught everyone's attention. "I commend you for taking a stand against bullying. It is not lost to me that you stood up for one of the junior students in need. But then, two wrongs don't make a right, and because of the way you handled the situation, there would be consequences."

The air became charged with anticipation. Dawn clasped tightly to my wrist, almost cutting off the blood circulation to my fingers. But I didn't care because I was just on as much high alert as she was. We all wanted to hear the verdict.

"For the unorthodox way you handled things, a show of violence, and inflicting bodily harm on a fellow student, you are here suspended for two weeks!"

A collective exhale rang through the hall, followed by murmurs. Dawn threw her arms around me in a hug, soft sobs of relief escaping her lips. I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, my tensed shoulders dropping with utmost ease.

Sochima wasn't getting expelled and his scholarship is still intact. Thank God.

"Wait," Dawn raised her head to look at me. "What about Tekena's verdict? It won't be fair if–"

"QUIET!" Sir. Isaac's voice boomed through the hall, plunging it into silence once again.

"I don't think it's over," I whispered back to Dawn.

"There is more," Mrs. Chidinma announced, and I gave Dawn an I told you so look. "It has also come to my attention that certain behaviors resembling gangsterism and cult-like activities have infiltrated this school,"

Murmurs of discomfort broke out again as her words hung in the air.

"I won't lie, I'm deeply troubled by the reports of some senior boys bullying and victimizing their junior peers, subjecting them to brutalization without cause," she went on. "Such acts are not only abhorrent but go against the very essence of what this school represents!" As her tone intensified, the tension in the air also intensified, the gravity of her words sinking in.

"Furthermore, there have also been reports of senior boys engaging in unacceptable behaviors– smoking weed on school grounds, selling drugs, and partaking in actions that can only be described as questionable and downright alarming."

Wow. I had no idea she'd address that.

"Let me be perfectly clear," she declared, her voice sharp and piercing. "I am not running an institution that breeds delinquents. This is a place of learning, discipline, and high standards, and I expect my students to act like it. I will not tolerate such behaviors and those involved will face severe consequences."

Her address left no room for ambiguity or disagreement, the hall reminding in an uneasy silence, awaiting what would happen next.

"Sir. Isaac," Mrs. Chidinma threw the floor to him.

"If you hear your name, come out," Sir. Isaac said. "Kasali Saheed of SS3 Commercial Class Two, Chijioke Nwabueze of SS3 Science Class Two, Akosh Udofia of SS3 Art Class 3, and Adeoluwa Olatunji of SS3 Commercial Class One. Tekena Tamuno of SS3 Commercial Class one who is their ring leader is unavoidable absent due to his treatment, but will be equally punished."

Thank you! Best news I've heard all day.

The remaining four filed out one after the other, heads hanging low in shame.

"In the light of the incessant bullying and violence towards the junior students, smoking within school premises and dealing in illegal substances, these male students are hereby suspended from school for the rest of the school year," Mrs. Chidinma declared.

Oh my God! My eyes bulged out of their sockets.

"What the..." Dawn trailed off, unable to hide her shock as well.

Murmurs rustled from every corner of the hall, eyes darting between the guilty students, the air charged with so much shock.

Suspension till the end of the school year? I definitely didn't see that coming. No one did.

"Tekena Tamuno, who is the only prefect amongst them is hereby stripped of his prefect-ship position," That announcement sent the entire junior class into a frenzy of excitement and happiness, and no one needed to tell me why.

My lips quirked in a small smile.

"The guilty students are all in their final year, so they are also banned from participating in any final year activity with the rest of their classmates, except for the valedictory service–"

Omo!

Kasali Saheed was already weeping like a child.

"–They are not to step foot on school grounds except for their external and international exams going forward. They will be escorted in and out of the school premises by security details, and if they should step foot into this school for any reason outside the ones I mentioned, they would be treated as criminal trespassing on private property,"

Wawu!

"It's a lie!"

"So no prom, senior trip, all of that for these guys like this?

"Omo, e choke!"

"Which nonsense choke? They should better thank their stars that they weren't expelled."

"Abi! This punishment is actually fair, abeg. With all the wahala they have been causing, especially that Tekena. Proprietress is even merciful."

"It's good for Tekena! That guy to dey do!"

Those and many more rang out from all corners of the hall, especially from the SS3 side. The severity of the verdict left a majority of the students elated, some shaken, and a few discombobulated.

Missing senior year activities was no joke whatsoever. It's like the highlight of being in SS3. What's the use of being in SS3 if you are not allowed to participate in any event? Just don't bother going to school at all.

But then, I felt no atom of pity for any one of them. They deserved it and more, especially Tekena Tamuno.

Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish.

"This institution will not tolerate actions that compromise its values," Mrs. Chidinma said. "Let this serve as a stark reminder that actions have consequences and the integrity of this prestigious citadel of learning will not be compromised by the actions of a few. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Good morning to you all."

Immediately after Mrs. Chidinma was done, Sochima stormed off the podium, materializing with the crowd of dispersing students. Before Dawn could trace him, he was gone and that was the last she heard of him since then. That's what has got her so worked up, and rightfully so.

But he was also pretty justified for acting out in my opinion.

"Dawn, listen to me," I picked up my phone before plopping down on my bed, holding the phone in front of me so that I could look at her. "I understand how worked up you are about all this, and it's normal for you to overthink the situation. But you really shouldn't. I think you should also understand how hard it must be for Sochima to accept that his perfect record got smudged." I reminded her.

"He wasn't expelled and that's the most important thing," she said.

"Agreed, and we thank God for that. But smudged is smudged, be it in two weeks' suspension or expulsion. And two weeks of suspension for violence and inflicting bodily harm will always be on his record in this school. It might be taking a toll on him." I stated matter-of-factly.

"I get that. Believe me, I understand," Dawn maintained. "But that's why I'm here to talk. That's why we are a couple, we are supposed to do this together. But now, I can't even get across to him, not with a phone call or with texts." She lamented, her tone oozing with dejection and frustration, using the back of her hand to wipe another bead of tear that escaped from her eyes.

"I know, but I think all he needs is time," I said to her. "There might even be a reason he isn't returning your calls or answering your messages and they might not be all negative. What if his phone is confiscated and he isn't allowed to go out or see anyone, including you? My mum did the same to me when the whole issue with that demon's spawn of a physics teacher happened,"

In case you didn't get that, I'm referring to Mrs. Khadijah.

Dawn was quiet for a moment, a thoughtful look contorting her face.

"I didn't think of that," she whispered.

"See?" I pointed. "You are getting agitated when there are so many other possibilities that do not involve him breaking up with you."

"But what if–"

"No!" I cut her off gently, but my tone was firm. "Just as I said, Sochima won't hurt you like that. He loves you too much and I'm certain he is sorry for the things he said out of anger. You of all people should know that." I told her.

Dawn didn't speak again, a shaky breath of resignation escaping her lips.

"Just give him time," I admonished. "One week is gone and the second week is about to begin. In no time, both of you will be back to serving us couple goals." I teased her, attempting to get her to laugh.

Thankfully, it worked, her lips twitching slightly.

"I'll just take your word for it them," she finally accepted and I sighed in relief, my lips stretching into a smile.

"That's my girl." I gave her a thumbs up.

Maybe I'm also good at this relationship pep talk thing.

"So why have you been running around?" She asked, changing the subject. Then her eyes scanned my outfit. "Most importantly, why are you all dressed up," her brows furrowed in curiosity.

"Didn't I tell you?" She shook her head. "I'm going to Simi's house. We are studying together," I told her. Her brows quirked up as her eyes took in my outfit again.

"You are going to study at your boyfriend's house? Dressed like that?" She teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes. I grinned in response, fully aware that my choice of outfit might have leaned more toward the stylish side than the casual side.

I was wearing a form-fitting, off-the-shoulder top in a soft heather gray, the neckline gracefully showing a hint of collarbone, adding a touch of understated sensuality. The top was tucked into a pair of well-fitted bootcut jeans, the dark denim elongating my legs and climbing to all the right places. I finished the look with a pair of classic white Nikes and my braids up in a high ponytail.

I looked really good, if I do say so myself.

"I'm going to study, but there is nothing wrong with looking good while doing it," I said to Dawn. But my girl only scoffed back in response.

"Yes, you are going to Simi's house, but you and I know you are not going there to study," the suggestive undertone wasn't missed in her voice, causing my eyes to widen.

"Dawn!" I chided

"What?" She shrugged. "Don't worry, I'm not judging. Now that my relationship has hit a snag, it is my privilege as your best friend to live vicariously through you." She grinned at me.

Hey, God!

"We have externals to prepare for, Dawn. We are being serious, no funny business." I told her, trying to convince myself just as much as I was trying to convince her.

"Sure, of course," she wasn't buying it.

"I'm done with you," I chuckled and she laughed, throwing her head back. At least she was smiling, and that made me happy, even if it was only for a moment.

"Hey," Dawn called when I wanted to end the call. "Have you heard from Semeeha? She hasn't been in school since Tuesday," she noted. That observation alerted me to the fact that I haven't really been conscious of Semeeha missing school all week.

With everything going on between Dawn and Sochima, coupled with the fact that classes have started, and Simi and I have had our heads buried in books all well, Semeeha was literally the last person on my mind.

And that made me feel guilty.

"I haven't really thought about her all week," I confessed to Dawn. "I genuinely just assumed that she is busy preparing for her fashion show," I added and Dawn shrugged.

"Same here," she concurred. "I mean, her status updates have just been her promoting the brands she is an ambassador for, and my messages have only been delivered not read so I can't exactly tell what's up with her. Although..."

Dawn trailed off as if she caught herself before saying something she wasn't supposed to say, the words at the tip of her tongue fading with a thoughtful crease folded across her forehead. It was as if she was second-guessing whatever she wanted to tell me.

"Although what?" I nudged, now curious.

"Nothing," she shook her head and my curiosity piqued. "It's nothing you need to concern yourself with. I'm probably just being paranoid anyway." She added, waving her hand dismissively. But my curiosity only piqued more.

"You are never paranoid," I stated shrewdly. "Your intuitions are always spot on, so you can tell me whatever it is that is going on in your head," I urged.

"I'm serious, it's nothing you need to worry yourself about for now," Dawn didn't budge. "What you should be more concerned about is the possibility of Simi not knowing how to use a condom," she smirked.

What! I recoiled.

"Dawn!"

She burst into laughter.

"Thank you,"

I said to the Lyft driver after paying my fare and getting down from the car. He nodded in response, made a U-turn, and drove off, leaving me standing on the tarred road in front of Simi's house.

Walking to the gate, I approached the keypad that was attached to the pillar, my fingers dancing over the buttons as I tried to remember the combination to open the gate. Initially, I was skeptical about Simi giving it to me. Yes, he trusts me and I know I haven't given him a reason to doubt that trust.

But a combination to his house entrance?

It was as if he was giving me the free license to go and come into his house as I please. That was a big deal... like couples moving into the same apartment.

You watch too many rom-coms, Hilary. My subconscious mocked me and I chuckled.

But I saw reason when I told him it wasn't necessary and he said it was easier that way, instead of me having to call him each time I get here to come and open the door for me, so I'll just let myself in. That made sense.

Besides, there was a camera attached to the keypad and an alarm system that would alert anyone inside of my presence. So basically, Simi was already aware of my presence.

I imputed the combination and pressed the "open" button. The black gate responded with a soft creak as it slid open automatically, revealing Simi's house. I stepped into the compound and heard the gate close up behind me, a fresh sense of anticipation growing in me.

This wasn't the first time I'd be studying with Simi, but this would be the first time since we became official, and Dawn's lewd and suggestive words wouldn't stop playing in my head.

This is what I get for listening to Dawn's dirty-minded mumbo-jumbo before having a private time with Simi. Her words will haunt me till I allow myself to succumb to its whims.

Will I regret it? Absolutely not.

As I walked in further, my eyes scanned the compound keenly for any sign of Max, Simi's husky. For the life of me, I can't seem to accept that the Canine was harmless despite Simi's continuous assurance. If I don't see an imprint of that dog's paw on a legally binding document assuring the safety of humans, I'm not taking any chances.

"You are never going to give Max a chance, are you?"

Simi's voice resonated through the compound, a sound that yanked my attention away from the hide-and-seek game I was playing. My lips automatically stretched in a smile at the mere recognition of that rich bass tone before I even turned around.

When I finally shifted my gaze, there he was, already looking at me, his lips tugged in smiles that mirrored mine, eyes warm and inviting... it made my heart flutter.

Simi stood, casually leaning against the doorpost with his hand folded across his chest, exuding what I can only call a relaxed charm. I took in the entirety of him, briefly but intently. He had an armless red jersey that exposed his canon-like biceps over a pair of cargo three-quarter pants.

Casual... but attractive.

His hair was still in its bushy state, falling over his face and swaying softly at every slight gust of wind. I remember telling him sometime within the week that I liked his hair that way, and he seemed to be honoring that simple reference. That tugged oh my heartstrings in beautiful ways.

It was the little things like this and his commitment to them that made what we had a lot more special.

"Well, you are still yet to show me the contract he signed not to harm humans," I fired back at him, referring to his earlier statement. He threw his head back as he chuckled.

"So my word isn't enough for you?" He asked, and I shrugged, biting down against my lip to stop myself from smiling so hard. "You wound me," he whispered, his lips pulled in a pout and his hand to his chest to indicate that I just ripped his heart out.

A soft laugh escaped my lips.

"But seriously, where is Max?" I asked, scanning the compound again. "The last thing I want is for that vicious beast to come out of nowhere and pounce on me," the panic in my eyes and tone was clear as crystal.

"He is at the back," Simi answered with laughter.

"Locked in his cage?" I asked again, just for extra precaution. Simi laughed again.

"Yes Hilary, locked in his cage," he assured me, and a breath I didn't even know I was holding left my lips. Simi started chuckling again, mocking me.

"It's not funny," I whined.

"I know. I know," he raised his hands in mock surrender. "I'm sorry," he apologized.

"Apology not accepted," I shook my head, my smile transcending into a mischievous smirk. "But maybe there is another way you can convince me," I added, my voice reduced to a suggestive whisper.

Now you are the one being suggestive, Hilary. I thought to myself.

The corners of Simi's lips tugged in a smirk of his own, and his eyes darkened. He held my gaze as he pushed himself off the doorpost and began walking toward me, the gap between us thinning with every step he got closer to me and my head beating louder and louder.

Closing the distance, he reached for my face, cupping it in his hands.

I sighed.

His touch, ever delicate, brushed against my skin daintily. His gaze held mine as if to ask for permission, and my anticipation flared. He did that all the time, even when he knew he needed no permission to kiss me. But still, I pushed up my body against him, wordlessly granting it.

Simi lowered his head, hung it low, and pressed his lips against mine.

I sighed, again.

We kissed and it felt like it was our first. Every kiss we have ever shared, even if it's just a peck, had something new and extraordinarily beautiful that made it different from the rest... something that made us long for more.

This kiss was tender, a sweet exploration that spoke louder than mere words. I can never get over how soft and warm Simi's lips were, moving and gliding against mine with gentle urgency and detailed precision of seduction.

Simi kissed me with deliberate intentionality.

My hand held his to my face, the feel of his touch, soft yet firm, cradling my face with an intimacy that resonated through my veins and made me feel so lightheaded. A feeling I would never get used to... and in a good way at that.

Midway into the kiss, a realization crept in.

We were standing outside Simi's house, right in the open. Anyone could see us, people walking on the road, and most importantly, people inside the house, especially his parents.

Shit! His parents.

"Wait," I gently broke the kiss, my pause fleeting. "Your parents..." I whispered against his lips.

"Don't worry, it's just my mum," Simi shook his head, cutting me off. "Plus, she's in her room so she can't see us," he whispered, his voice a reassuring murmur with a soft smile playing on his lips.

I immediately relaxed, easing back into the kiss.

Simi angled his face, nibbling at my bottom lip, trailing his tongue against it, asking for entrance. I couldn't even deny him if I wanted to, not that I wanted to, parting my lips slightly to give him what he needed, moaning softly at the feeling of our tongues meeting.

His hand shifted to the small of my back, pulling me closer to crush every bit of space between us, deepening the kiss. My hands lightly traced the contours of his jaw before my fingers found their way through his hair, tangling in the curls and pulling his head closer.

A groan escaped his lips, the sound like a gentle vibration that went through the both of us at the same time, causing us to sigh in unusual.

This would never get old for us. I just knew that.

But we had to stop. I came here so we could study.

You lie! Dawn's voice echoed in my head.

I pushed gently against Simi's chest and he got the message, gently tugging at my bottom lip with his teeth before pulling away completely.

"We are supposed to study," I said in a breathless whisper.

"Are you sure we are doing to study?" His voice was equally breathless, but huskier, almost unrecognizable with waves of emotions emitting, making the air around us cackle with intensity.

I inhaled sharply

"Especially with you looking like that,"

His eyes scanned my body when he added that, with his bottom lip trapped between his teeth, adding a level of suggestiveness to his tone that made my cheeks flush with warmth. I could feel his gaze on every inch of me, the intensity of his scrutiny making me acutely aware of the heat building beneath his stare.

Damn you, Dawn.

Oh, you are still blaming Dawn. My subconscious mocked me

"You!" I pointed at him, creating a good distance between us. He stared back at me in amusement. "We are here to study. S-T-U-D-Y!" I spelled out to him. "You are not going to seduce me in Jesus' name!"

He burst into laughter at that, my antics were very comical to him.

I didn't care. All I wanted was to prove Dawn wrong.

"We are going to study and act like good children in Jesus' name. Say amen!" I demanded.

"Amen!"

Simi yelled back between laughter like he was mocking me. And deep down, I was laughing at myself too. Because we both knew that it was a lie. Simisola André Jordan will seduce me and I will let him, willingly... with my full chest and my round bum bum.

And we will act the farthest from good children.

The question again is, will I regret it?

Absolutely not!

"How's Dawn?" Simi asked me as we made our way into his room. I exhaled, shrugging.

"I'm not even sure how to classify what she's feeling," I answered. "I'm not going to call it heartbreak though, because I don't want to believe that Sochima has broken up with her," I stated matter-of-factly.

"Doubtful," Simi shook his head. "From my observation, he loves her too much and he is way too smart to let his relationship end because of an idiot like Tekena Tamuno," he added.

"Right!" I threw my hands up as I plopped down on the bed, glad that Simi and I were on the same page.

"I guess he is just going through a rough time accepting that this suspension is a permanent stain on his record. It's understandable," Simi stated, repeating the exact thing I told Dawn on the video call.

"That's the same thing I told Dawn when she called earlier," I mentioned. "He just needs time to cool off. He will come around eventually," I added that last phrase in a whisper, and Simi hummed in agreement.

"So..." he drawled, going over to his bookshelf. "What subject should we start with?" He asked, looking at me over his shoulder. My face scrunched up thoughtfully.

"Let's start with the one you are having the most trouble with," I answered, and Simi groaned.

"We are starting with the witch's subject? Just kill me, babe," his face contorted in a deep frown and I laughed.

By the witch, he meant Mrs. Khadijah. And yes, she's a witch.

"Our brains are still fresh, so it would be easier to assimilate," I explained to him. "It's still pretty early in the afternoon," I glanced at the time and saw that it just hit 2:30 pm.

"Fine," Simi mumbled, caving. "I'm just very thankful that she's not the one marking the mock exam or any other exam we will be doing for the rest of the school year." He added and I laughed again.

"Trust me, you are not as thankful as I am," I said. "That woman has been looking for a way to show me pepper since the day I called her," I noted.

"Enemy of progress," Simi chipped.

"Certified," I couldn't have agreed more, both of us bursting into laughter at the roasts.

Soon, Simi and I were crouched down on the furry rug of his study with our books out and splayed in front of us on the low glass table. We started studying, me explaining the principles of electrical circuits, pointing to the diagrams and equations, and him listening with rapt attention, asking me to repeat something when he didn't get it.

"In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each resistor is the same but the current is divided among them," I started, trying to guide him through the concept. "But in a series circuit–"

"It's vice versa," he interjected softly, and the rest of the words died at the tip of my tongue. "The current in series circuit remains constant, but the voltage is divided... right?" He sounded a bit unsure, not knowing that he just got it right.

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, my mouth a gap.

"That's right," I answered him, quite impressed at his quick grasp of his topic. He noticed, his lips tugging in a small smile.

"I have been studying on my own," He chipped, averting his gaze from me. But not before I saw the shy glint in his eyes. My smile widened.

"Okay, I'm impressed," I confessed and he chuckled.

Moving on to the next topic, I started to discuss the principles of simple harmonic motion.

"The principle states that when an object undergoes simple harmonic motion, the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement from the equilibrium position–"

"Which means, the further the displacement, the stronger the restoring force pulling it back," Simi finished for me again, and my smile widened even more, so much that I feared my lips would tear off.

"That's so spot on! You're getting the hang of this!" I couldn't hide my excitement, and it seemed funny to him because he laughed, pride gleaming in his eyes.

He should be proud of himself. The improvement in his understanding capabilities on the topics in this subject was impressively on point. It basically showcased the effort he has put into the work, and the strides he's making now proved that he was grasping the subject up until this point.

"What can I say," he shrugged, grinning from ear to ear. "I have the best tutor," he wiggled his brows at me and a fit of giggles escaped my lips.

"Now is not the time to get too cocky, though," I wagged my index finger at him. "It's not over yet," I warned him.

"Hit me," he challenged, and my mouth nearly fell open.

"Ehn ehn? Oya naw, let's go!" I brought out my flashcards, ready to hit him. "State the law of reflection." I threw the question at him.

Simi looked up thoughtfully, like he was trying to gather his thoughts.

"Right," he snapped his finger in recollection. "The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angles of reflection, and that's true for any reflecting surface." He spelled out the answer without missing a beat, meaning me awestruck for at least, ten seconds.

Wow.

"Newton's law of motion!" I fired at him again.

"Pfft, easy." He rolled his eyes, and my mouth fell open in shock. "Newton's law of motion states that an object at rest stays at rest," he held his index finger up. "Unless acted upon by a net external force, and..." he drawled. "for every reaction, there is an equal and opposite reaction." He deadpanned.

With nothing more to be said, I threw my flashcards into the air, causing him to burst into laughter.

"I rest my case," I said, and he laughed even more.

"Come on, that was an easy one," he said between laughter. "Newton sef should rest," Simi dismissed with a wave of his hand.

"He is," I answered. "He is resting in peace." I joked, sending Simi off once again, almost tipping over air and falling flat on his face because of laughter.

"You are laughing now, ehn? When I hit you with calculation, you will humble yourself sharp sharp," I threatened, and his laughter transcended into a gasp.

"Low blow, babe. Low blow." He cried, feigning hurt. Now, it was my turn to laugh.

But play or not, we had to move to equations because it was unavoidable in physics, and that was Simi's dreaded nemesis. We had to get serious at this point so that he'd get everything

"Okay, let's tackle these equations using Newton's second law," I said, my finger tracing the intricate symbols of the page opened in front of us. Simi nodded, forehead creased in attention.

"For this particular question, the force exerted by the object is directly proportional to its mass and acceleration, so what we do is that we express that," I pointed at it in the textbook. "with equation F = Ma," I explained, breaking down the complex terms for him.

"So what we have to do is find the acceleration." He noted.

"Exactly," I nodded, and he got right to work.

Simi began to work out the equation, and that was when I noticed that the usual frustration was no longer there. That impatience and unwillingness to do more because he wasn't getting it right wasn't present anymore. It was now replaced with patience and an intentionality to learn.

And that made me smile. A smile that he noticed.

"What?" He looked at me, an automatic smile stretching at the corners of his lips as well.

"Nothing," I shook my head, still smiling. He held my gaze for a moment, peering at me as if he wanted to read me. But then he chuckled and went back to solving the equation.

Second later, he leaned back, staring at his workings with uncertainty.

"I think I missed something," he squinted at his note. I looked over his shoulder at his workings and realized he really missed a step.

I exhaled.

"Don't worry, we can come back to this," I said. "Let's do something a little easier," I suggested, noticing the mild glint of frustration in his eyes.

"No," he shook his head, stopping me from flipping the pages to look for an easier question. "I want to try again. Let me just retrace my steps."

He didn't even wait for my response before he canceled the whole equation and started from the top. I just sat still and watched, taking in his determination to get it right. Seeing him so persistent encouraged me, and made me feel good about myself as his tutor.

And as his girlfriend.

"I think I got it now," Simi announced, his voice piercing my thoughts. I didn't even have the time to recover before he went off explaining the answer he got.

"The acceleration is expressed as the quotient of the force which is applied to a subject and the mass of the said subject," he began to explain, while I sat still and blinked away, completely speechless.

"So basically," he drew his note closer and began to write out his workings as he spoke. "If we arrange the equation to find acceleration, our answer will be that acceleration is equal to force divided by mass... simply put," he used therefore sign, "a = f/m." He finished.

Omo.

He finally looked up from his book and found me already looking at him in complete awe. I couldn't close my mouth, even if I tried to. I was shocked to my bones and I wasn't able to move for at least a minute.

That's how flabbergasted I was.

"Okay," I breathed when I finally found my voice. "At this point, Newton has got nothing on you," I surrendered, eliciting a chuckle from Simi. "I'm serious o. You should be teaching me at this point." I added.

"Haba!" He exclaimed between laughter and I joined in, laughing with him.

"I'm so proud of you," I told him when our laughter subsided, raising my hand for a high five. He gave it to me but used the opportunity to trap my hand and pull me in, landing a peck on my lips.

This boy! I giggled into the kiss before pulling away.

"I told you. I have an amazing tutor." He said with a glint in his eyes, and that sexy lopsided grin that was tugged at the corners of his lips. My smile broadened.

"I can't argue with that one. I heard she's pretty amazing," I teased and he chuckled.

"Now you are just being cocky." He smirked, using my words against me, and I laughed.

We continued studying, solving more equations while joking and laughing in between. Simi brought in snacks and that boosted our morale to study more. Soon we were done with physicals and moved on to chemistry which took a little bit more time. But Simi proved to me yet again that he has been studying and was improving remarkably.

By the time we were finishing up with chemistry, it was almost 5 pm. The next subject was biology.

Simi was pretty average in biology since the subject had nothing to do with calculations, so we wouldn't be spending so much time on it as the rest. Plus, I had to be home before my parents. Since my mum's promotion, she has been coming home later than she used to.

I don't want her stressing herself cooking when she gets home after a long day, so I've decided to take up that responsibility.

Also, we were coming to the end of the study session and not one "Shina" has been recorded.

In your face Dawn! I screamed in my mind.

"Let's just brush up on biology before I leave," I said.

"Biology, hmmn?" The suggestive undertone laced in Simi's voice wasn't missed. When I looked up at him, he had a knowing smirk playing on his lips and a glint in his eyes.

I spoke too soon.

"Don't start," I warned playfully, wagging my finger at him.

"Don't start what?" He asked, feigning ignorance. "You are the one reading meaning to a completely innocent statement, babe," he shrugged.

I opened my mouth to speak but he gave me a look, I just closed it back, heat creeping up my cheeks

"You know what? I won't even indulge you," I shook my head and went back to surfing for topics, or at least, pretending to because I could hear his chuckle beneath and feel his eyes train intently on me.

Simisola... I exhaled shakily.

"God, it's so easy to get you all hot and bothered," he murmured out of the blue, and I gasped, snapping my head over my shoulder in his direction.

"I'm not... hot and bothered!" I whispered-yelled in mortification, more heat creeping up my cheeks and flaming up my ears. Of course, Simi wasn't buying it,

"Whatever you say, babe," he mused, that teasing and suggestive undertone still in his voice. I sighed and shook my head.

"You are impossible," I muttered with an eye roll, looking back to my books and trying to concentrate on the topics before me.

In fact, I had to shake my head several times before I could concentrate. And that concentration wasn't even a full one because I was now hyper-aware of Simi's presence behind me due to all the double-meaning phrases he had been hinting at all day.

"So..." I drawled, clearing my throat. "We are supposed to study Mendelian genetics and inheritance patterns, genetic variations and mutations..."

I trailed off when I bribed that Simi had suddenly gone silent. When we were treating physics and chemistry, at least he dropped some comments here and there, even if it had nothing to do with what we were talking about.

So, I looked back over my shoulder and there he was, watching me, a faint smile lingering against his lips. His gaze on me seemed innocent her it bore into mine with an intensity that sent ripples of heat through me, stirring a subtle but unmistakable sense of arousal.

At that moment, it was as if the air between us had thickened, his eyes deep and penetrating, causing my heart to quicken.

Here we go...

His eyes held a certain kind of intensity that made my breath bitch, a sensation that lingered and left me feeling all hot and bothered.

Oh, now you are feeling hot and bothered. My subconscious mocked me.

"What?" My voice came out in a breathless whisper with a breathy laugh lingering within. Simi slowly shook his head, eyes unwavering from mind, that ghost of a smile persists against his lips.

"Nothing," he whispered, but his eyes said otherwise.

Funny how this was a vice versa play out of when I was staring at him earlier... only that one is definitely not as innocent.

"You should concentrate, Simi," I chuckled, my voice coming out in a small whine.

"I am concentrating, Hilary," his eyes still didn't leave mine. A sigh-like laugh escaped my lips as I tried to stop my heart from hammering so violently against my ribcage, trying to stop myself from being affected by his stare and proximity.

Do not fold, Hilary!

I turned back to my book... as if I could even do anything at this point, taking a deep breath while trying to act like I couldn't feel his eyes in every inch of my body– even in places shielded from his gaze, setting my entire body on fire.

I still don't understand how my body is so responsive to him and he isn't even touching me... yet.

"Uhm..." I cleared my throat for the second time, shaking my head slightly to gather my thoughts. "Mendelian genetics are the principles of inheritance formulated by Gregor Mendel. It basically talks about how traits are passed down from one generation to another through specific patterns—"

I felt a subtle breath on my exposed shoulder, a gentle caress of air, putting an immediate seize on the rest of my words.

Simi's breath.

Damn it! I'm folding!

An involuntary breath escaped my lips as I tried to fight the intoxicating sensation that threatened to shatter me in the most beautiful way possible and pull me under. I fought for my eyes to remain open, for my lips to not make a single sound that would indicate I was folding.

It was only his breath, yet my body was already reacting like it was touched by heavenly flames.

"Simi—" I started to warn, but I couldn't even get the rest of my words out past his name that sounded more like a breathless plea than a warning.

"Hmmn?"

He murmured, as if urging me to keep talking when he knew for a fact that I couldn't. I felt the heat of his breathing trailing up silently till I could feel it at the hollow of my neck, dangerously close to my left air.

"You were saying something about Mendelian generics and inheritance patterns."

His words were more articulate than mine, but his voice was just as breathless as mine, and even husky. He was urging me to continue when he knew the effect he had on me, when he knew I was struggling to maintain focus with everything he was doing.

But what he was more concerned about was Mendelian Genetics and Inheritance Patterns?!

God punish Konji, because I'm done for.

"Come on, baby," he continued, his voice cajoling, dripping with honey and hardcore seduction. "You are not concentrating." His teasing tone sent a jolt through me, his lips now brushing slightly against my earlobe, eliciting a sharp breath from me.

Simi was actively and deliberately seducing me, and I was letting him.

"You know what you are doing, Simi," I breathed, my eyes fluttering close no matter how hard I tried to keep them open.

"What am I doing? Hmmn?" He breathed and a sigh-like moan escaped my lips. "I'm not even touching you," he whispered.

I whined in protest.

"Or..." he drawled. "Do you want me to touch you?" He asked, brushing his lips against the nape of my neck, dragging out a wanton sigh from my lips instead of an answer.

"Tell me what you want, Hilary..." he breathed against my skin, leaving me momentarily breathless.

I wanted this as much as he did, but I didn't want to have to become this wanton mess to have it. But I was far too gone to worry about that because I have crossed that threshold already.

Guess I'd regret embarrassing my ancestors later.

"Touch me, Simi," I whispered, my words coming out in a breathless plea.

"Touch you," he echoed, and I could feel him completely close the gap between us, my back pressed against the broadness of his chest.

I exhaled sharply.

"With my hands?" He asked, but still went ahead to wrap his right arm around me, fingers skimming over my skin with deliberate daintiness, drawing out a shaky breath from me while his left hand brushed my braids over my right shoulder, exposing more of my neck to him.

My eyes were beginning to fail me again.

"Or with my lips."

He punctuated those three words with a soft kiss against the hollow of my neck, eliciting a sigh-like moan from my lips. My eyes fluttered closed completely and I didn't bother fighting them open again, throwing my head back over his shoulder to give him more access to my bare skin.

I'm finished.

His lips danced on my skin, his warm breath painting delicate and intricate patterns on my neck. I didn't bother stopping the soft moan that left my lips when I felt the tip of his tongue dart out to grace the part this his lips had touched, didn't bother stopping the sharp gasp that escaped when he pulled at my skin, nibbling at that spot where my pulse was, not painfully but hard enough to leave a mark.

His mark.

His hands continued to glide over my mid-tube through the sheer fabric of my touch, the dainty touch of his hand on my body like a soothing inferno, sparking warmth through my veins.

Simisola is going to kill me one and I'd die a happy woman.

When I couldn't take the assault of his lips on my skin anymore, I swerved around, throwing my legs on either side of his and settling right on his lap, straddling him. When I met his eyes, my breath caught in my throat.

His amber eyes were pools of darkened desire, holding a mix of love and lust, an intoxicating mix that sent shivers running down my spine and a tidal wave of desire coursing through my veins. I didn't need anyone to tell me that my gaze mirrored his.

"We should be studying."

The words escaped breathlessly from my lips, a playful undertone in my voice. A small, knowing smirk curled on Simi's lips in response.

"Biology can wait." He whispered back, his voice equally as raspy and as breathless.

Yeah... biology can wait.

Smiling, I completely leaned and our lips met, a soft sigh escaping my lips at the contact.

Just as I said... always like it's our first kiss.

The initial softness dissipated in a matter of seconds, evolving into a heated make-out. The softness of Simi's lips contrasted with the intensity and fervor he used to kiss me and that was what made it all the more electrifying.

There was an unbridled heat in the way his lips moved against mine, gliding and nibbling with deliberate intentionality that left me breathless and craving for more. Simi kissed me with a hunger akin to that of a man stranded in a desert, thirsty and seeing me as the only source to quench his thirst.

His tongue skillfully evaded my lips and met mine in sensual contact, eliciting a simultaneous sigh from both our lips at the same time, the sound lost in our kiss that increased in unrivaled urgency.

I arched my back against him, feeling the warmth of his taut body press against mine, cradling his face in my palms and tilting my head to the side so that I could kiss him deeper.

An unrestrained groan escaped his lips, vibrating through my body.

"Hilary."

Simi whispered against my lips, his voice like a plea... like reverence and I moaned back in response. He cradled me even closer, crushing every lingering bit of space between us till there was nothing left.

I ran my hands from where they were locked around his neck down to the hem of his jersey and tugged at it before pulling it off. Our kiss broke off momentarily as it went over his head. I flung it carelessly to who knows where, not caring to look at where it had landed.

Simi pulled me against and I let him, my lips meeting his halfway.

Heaven.

A delicate dance of ethereal whispers, where our lips met like soft clouds colliding, and the sweetness lingered in the air like the gentle glow of celestial stars.

That was what kissing Simi felt like.

My hands, having a mind of their own traced the sharp muscles of his torso, feeling them flex beneath my hands, their constraint under my palms in reaction to my touch on his skin. And when my fingers brushed against pecs, a groan escaped him, followed by a muffled curse against my lips.

It was so satisfying, to see the effect I had on him, the way his body responded to my touch.

Giving him pleasure gave me pleasure.

And though my head was clouded with passion and desire, it didn't stop me from noticing the hinting prod poking against my thigh.

Oh damn...

At that point, I was meant to stop the kiss before it became uncomfortable for Simi.

But I didn't. I didn't feel like stopping it. I wanted to test the waters. I wanted to see how much restraint Simi had when it came to me.

So, I started moving my hips against him, against it. Slowly, sensually, deliberately.

And that drew out a loud groan from Simi.

"Fuck... Hilary!"

He growled against my lips, and I smiled against his, keeping up with the calculated and precise movement of my hips, grinding against him, building up friction. Simi let out a ragged breath against my lips, and I heard another muffled cuss against my lips.

The reaction I was getting was so exhilarating.

Then I felt his hand trail down to my waist... then to palm my bum. At first, I thought he wanted to stop my movement, that it was getting too uncomfortable for him, but I was wrong.

He was guiding the rhythm, guiding the pace at which he wanted my hips to move against him and syncing it with the movement of his, eliciting a sharp gasp from me.

Simi was always in control when we made out, but now he was relishing his hold on control for me, allowing me to take the lead, but at the same time, still holding a little bit of it. And I followed his unsaid instructions, grinding against him at the pace he wanted me to go.

He stopped kissing me, a groan escaping his lips as he dropped his head to the hollow of my neck, his breaths coming out in labored pants, fanning my skin and his hands squeezing the flesh of my bum. I cradled his face into my neck, my breaths shallow as well.

I don't know where the boldness came from, but I basked in the control I had, relished in the pleasure of pleasing Simi, at the mere thought that I was the only one who could evoke such primal responses from him, the only one that could make him lose control, be unrestrained.

It was a big stroke on my ego as a girlfriend.

His girlfriend.

And I craved more of it.

But just as things were about to get more heated, a sudden crash from downstairs shattered the moment, causing us to pull apart. My eyes widened in startlement.

"What was that?" I asked frantically, hoping that someone didn't break in.

Were we so caught up in making out that we didn't hear the alarm go off?

Simi looked thoughtful for only a second before his eyes widened like a deer caught in a headlight, just like mine. But the emotion in his eyes wasn't shock.

It was fear.

"Shit! My mum!"

That was all it took for me to fly off his lap. In no time, he was on his feet too, grabbing his jersey from the floor and dashing out of the room. I was right on his tail, our shared moment dissipating and materializing into thin air.

Simi threw his shirt on as he skipped down the stairs in five hurried steps and I followed behind him, right when he turned at a corner that led to another hallway with rooms. I could hear his frantic breathing, could almost hear his erratic heartbeat.

I got really worried.

When we got to the front of an ajar door, he ran in, and after contemplating whether to go in or not, I decided to go in, just to see what was going on and how I could be of help. But as soon as I walked in, I stopped short in my steps.

A cold shiver ran down my spine— not the pleasant kind and dread pounded in my chest at the scene in front of me

"Mum!"

Jesus!

I took in the array of medical equipment that surrounded the room— machines with buttons and screens with their rhythmic beeps haphazardly tilted in an awkward position like they were tipped over. Stainless still instruments laid disheveled and splayed all over the tiled floor, the sheets of the hospital bed also draping over the edge, and a wheelchair on its side.

Not that wasn't what had me horrified.

It was because Mrs. Jordan was right there on the floor with all of them.

I needed no one to tell me that she had fallen.

Oh my God...

My heart clenched in my chest as I laid my eyes on the woman, and tears welled up in my eyes. My mind went back to the last time I saw Mrs. Jordan— a vibrant woman, a ray of sunshine, brimming with life, energy, and grace that radiated from her voice and permeated every aspect of her being.

That wasn't the person I was seeing now. The person right there on the floor was different from that familiar memory.

She looked so frail, a stark contrast to the vivacious woman I saw back then. Yes, Simi has been keeping me up to speed on her health, but the reality hit harder than expected.

It nearly broke me.

"I'm fine. I'm okay," I heard her voice, hoarse, but I could hear the laughter in it.

"Oh my God, mum," Simi yelled again, the horror evident in his voice as he rushed over to her while I stood, transfixed. "What happened?" His voice was quivering with an unmistakable tremor, fear echoing.

Unlike Mrs. Jordan who was all smiles.

"Oh you are being so dramatic," she waved him off dismissively. "I just had a little accident," she clearly wasn't taking it as seriously as we were.

"A little accident?" Simi questioned incredulously, his voice cracking like he was about to burst into tears. "You fell!"

"Don't we all fall once in a while?" She still wasn't taking it seriously, chuckling like this was a funny situation.

Even I didn't find it funny.

"I was only trying to get to my wheelchair," she pointed at the tipped wheelchair. "I was craving fruits and the one the fridge has finished so I wanted to get some from the kitchen," she explained, and Simi explained shakily.

"Why didn't you call me?" He asked, every word holding a weight of worry, his tone filled with genuine unease.

"I did," she answered and I swallowed. "You weren't picking so I just assumed you silenced your phone because you were studying and didn't see it ring,"

That statement made my heart fall to the pit of my stomach. And from Simi's silence, I could tell we were thinking the same thing, especially with the way his shoulders fell. He wasn't looking at me but I could imagine the dejection and guilt he must be feeling right about now.

Same with me.

We were not studying.

We were making out... when we should have been studying. If we were studying, we'd have been paying attention and our minds would have been on alert.

But no... we were satisfying our urges.

Shit.

Simi let out a shaky breath, crouched down to his mum's level, and scooped her off the floor. Simi was strong, that was evident, but he carried her so effortlessly like she wasn't his mum and like she weighed a feather, lifting her bridal style.

"I'm so sorry, Mummy."

He whispered, sounding like he was about to cry. A tear dropped from my eyes and I quickly used the back of my palm to wipe it off.

"Sorry for what? Baby, this isn't your fault," Mrs. Jordan said, that bright smile still playing on her lips, making me feel even worse. "You know your mum isn't as strong as she used to be. I'm extremely clumsy now," she joked, and a sob threatened to escape my lips.

Simi forced out a chuckle but said nothing to that, gently placing his mum on the bed. He wordlessly to the sheep and covered her with it. And when I heard a small sniffle, I knew he was crying.

Oh, Simi.

"Oh, baby. I'm fine," she whispered lovingly, reaching out to touch his face. To clean his tears

"I know, Mum," he whispered back, leaning in to press a kiss against her forehead.

As Mrs. Jordan finally noticed me, a gentle smile graced her grace. And that was when I realized that despite the illness, the warmth in her eyes and her smile, and in every of her disposition remained. It could never die.

"Hilary, it's so lovely to see you again," she called to me, and I mustered a smile, nodding.

"Good evening, Mrs. Jordan. It's lovely to see you again too," my greeting came out in a whisper, and her smile stretched even more and became more radiant. "Let me help out with this."

I crouched down to pick up the wheelchair that had fallen.

"Thank you, my dear," she said, an appreciative smile playing on her lips and I smiled back.

"Are you still craving the fruits mum?" Simi asked her.

"Yes, please. Even more now," she answered with a small laugh.

"Let me go get them for you ma," I offered and both of them looked at me. By that time, I was already done arranging everything that fell. "It's not a problem," I added.

"You don't have to," Simi whispered, looking at me.

"I want to," I countered back gently, a small smile playing on my lips. I really wanted to help, in any way that I could. Being with Simi meant I was in some way part of the family too. And after everything, I felt very obligated to do this for her.

"Do you want any specific kind, ma?" I asked Mrs. Jordan.

"Grapes and blackberries please. The green grapes." She answered.

"Coming right up!" I made to go, but Simi held my hand, stopping me. I looked at him.

"Thank you," he mouthed. I smiled and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze before making my way out of the room.

I got to the kitchen, got the fruits from the fridge, and took them to the sink. The stems were still attached to the grape, so I removed all of them, and when I was done with that, I washed all the fruits and got a ceramic bow out of the plate cabinet to pour them in.

"Who are you?"

A deep booming voice resonated through the kitchen, startling me. I shrieked, the ceramic bowl almost slipping from my hands as I nearly jumped out of my skin. I turned around with a start, coming face to face with a tall, chocolate skinned... handsome, older man.

And because of the pictures I had seen in the living room, he was a man I knew immediately was Simi's father.

Oh God.

"G-Good evening, Sir..." I stuttered, swallowing.

He didn't respond to my greeting, his gaze hard on me, holding me transfixed. He had what you might call a permanent scowl marred across his face, his eyes scanning me up and down in a way that made me feel very uncomfortable.

He looked scary as hell.

"I believe I asked you a question." His voice came out came out in a low growl, completely disregarding my greeting, and I swallowed again. "Who are you?" He boomed, making me whimper slightly.

Hey, Jesus.

"My girlfriend," Simi's equally deep voice evaded the space, alerting mine and his Dad's attention to him.

Simi was talking about me but his eyes were fixated on his dad, his gaze just as hard, just as fierce.  There was a slight shock on his Dad's face at the announcement that I was his girlfriend, but in Simi's eyes, there was a daring look... like he was daring Mr. Jordan to do something about it.

The tension in the room was evident, deep enough to be sliced through by a knife.

Omo...

"I have the fruits," I said, breaking the heated stare-down between father and son. His Dad looked back at me and started staring me down, so I quickly averted my gaze from his and went to Simi, my heart thumping in my chest.

"Here you go," I have the bowl to Simi.

"Thank you,"

"How is your mum?" Mr. Jordan threw the question at Simi and I felt how he froze momentarily. He knew he couldn't tell his Dad that his mum had fallen under his watch.

"She's okay. She's resting." Simi responded dismissively.

"I'm going to check up on her." He said.

That alerted Simi.

"No. You don't have to—"

But Mr. Jordan was already gone, heading toward the room.

"Fuck!" Simi cussed, dumping the bowl back in my hand, and started following behind his Dad while I followed behind him. Before I even got into the room, I was already hearing his Dad's voice.

"What in God's name happened here!"

"Demilade, there is no need to..." Mrs. Jordan was already trying to pacify her husband, but he didn't let her finish, turning to Simi who he just entered with me right behind him.

"Simisola, what happened?" He demanded. "Why is this place in disarray? And you had better not lie to me because I'll know."

Oh, God.

Simi exhaled shakily.

"Mum fell—"

"—Fell?!—"

"—Demilade, I'm okay!"

Mrs. Jordan was once again disregarded.

"But I got here in time to help her—" Simi started to defend himself but his Dad cut him off.

"I don't care if you got here at the speed of Flash!" He snapped, and I reflexively flinched. "You were supposed to keep an eye on your mum! You weren't supposed to leave her side!" He yelled, and I winced.

"Demilade, I'm okay!" Mrs. Jordan cried out.

"I was keeping an eye on her," Simi retorted, facing his Dad. "But she told me to go when it was time for me to study, and—"

"Study?" Mr. Jordan interjected, a scoff-like humorless laugh escaping his lips as he repeated the word, casting me a look that had me recoiling. "Is that what you guys call it these days?"

The sarcastic and insulting insinuation in his tone was not missed.

Ouch!

"Excuse me?"

Simi definitely took offense, leveling to face up with his Dad, but I quickly jumped in front of him, hands to his chest, holding him at bay. Not that o was strong enough to, but because I knew he wouldn't push me off just so that he could get to face off his Dad.

"Demilade!" Mrs. Jordan snapped, her voice echoing through the room and shutting every single person up. "I said I'm fine! It's not Simi's fault. Stop blaming him!"

"I left him in charge!" He retorted. "Who am I supposed to blame? You? The girlfriend?"

The way he said "the girlfriend" made me feel completely useless, like he just flung me away. Simi's jaw locked.

"Her name is Hilary, you—"

God forbid I let this escalate.

"Simi."

I called to him, stopping him from saying anything more that could this a lot messier, holding my hand out to him in a bid to tell him to calm down. I felt insulted by the way Mr. Jordan disregarded me, yes. But God forbid I become the reason they fight.

Simi held my gaze, hard, his chest falling and rising as he heaved. His anger was evident, like a tempest brewing. His eyes smoldered with fiery intensity, taut muscles betraying the tension in his body, I locked eyes with his, my eyes conveying a subtle plea for him to calm down.

He finally calmed down, tension melting from his shoulders and the harsh lines on his face softening. Then a slow, measured breath escaped his lips.

Good.

"I should go," I muttered, turning around to look at Mrs. Jordan, carefully avoiding locking eyes with Mr. Jordan. "Thank you for having me, ma." I mustered a smile and flashed it at her.

She couldn't respond, only mustering a small, apologetic smile back to me.

"I'll drop you off," Simi said.

"You don't have to—" I started to decline.

"I'm dropping you off," he maintained, leaving no room for argument.

The car came to a halt in front of my house and Simi turned off the ignition. I remained seated, not making any attempt to get down from the car, not without us talking at least.

The ride from his place was a silent one, no conversation made. I wasn't really concerned about that, or the fact that I was more or less insulted by his Dad. The first thing that concerned me was having to witness firsthand how their father-son relationship was practically in shambles.

From the things he already told me about his relationship with his Dad, I already had an idea that their relationship wasn't the best, but witnessing them go at each other the way they did... and being in the middle of it wasn't a good feeling.

But the second thing, and the one thing that really concerned me was the guilt Simi must be feeling.

At least, his mum made him feel better by not blaming him totally for the accident. But the fact that his Dad came and went at him like that must have made him feel even more terrible than he already did. I know it made me feel terrible, so I can't begin to imagine how Simi must be feeling right now.

I looked at him, seeing the conflict etched on his face, his grip tight around the steering wheel. I could tell that the exchange was taking a toll on him.

"Simi..." I called to him softly. He shook his head like he was just being pulled out of his thoughts.

"You should get down," he said, shocking me slightly. "Your parents would be waiting for you," he added, his tone forlorn. I understood that it was a lot right now, but I didn't want him pushing me away.

"Not until we talk," my voice came out in a plea, trying to get him to look at me. But that didn't work.

"I don't want to talk about anything now," he said, and I sighed. "Please, just not now." He pleaded with me. That was understandable, and I wasn't going to pressure him.

So I nodded slowly.

"Okay," I whispered, and he nodded, finally looking at me.

I could see the clash of conflicting emotions in his eyes, a swirling storm that betrayed the turmoil he was battling within. Stormy clouds of anger clashed with flashes of frustration and waves of uncertainty crashed against the shores of his gaze. It made my heart fall.

"Thank you," he muttered and I nodded again.

"Good night," I whispered before getting down from the car, not bothering to wait for his response. I didn't turn back, but I heard his car drive off.

He needed space, and I was going to give it to him.

Entering my house, Simi still lingered in my thoughts and my concern for his family remained in my mind and my heart. I knew I couldn't do much, but prayer goes a long way and I'd be praying for peace in that family.

If not for anyone's... but for the sake of Mrs. Jordan.

𝐀/𝐍

Just when you think Demilade is redeemable, he just does something that makes you so angry! Because what is all this nonsense he just pulled😒. I'm not going to let him spoil my new year mood.

Omo, Hilary is a baddie, but only for Simi!🔥🥵. She was blushing when Dawn was teasing her, but see her grinding against him like a pro! Ahn Ahn! Gurl, you bad 🌚🤌🏾. We know you bad.

So, Tekena has been suspended till he graduates and he has been stripped from his prefectship position. Yes, he won't be coming to school anymore, but don't for one second think he is done causing havoc... hehehe💀.

Dawn should chill for Chima... and Chima should calm down too joor. Let them just kiss and make up (they will soon🌚).

I hope you guys enjoyed this update though. Till the next update, you know the drill😌. Kisses 😘.