In school the next day, we were...well I was literally avoiding him. Who cares if I didn't do what Yinka wanted me to do. How can I do it when he was behaving weird.

And it hurt. It hurt as hell. Yes I liked him..a lot. Basically, I'm crushing on him and he literally said he liked be back, so why would he do that? Do I look like his parents?

And this hour was one of my most unlucky times of my life. I was walking past him to go meet our French teacher when he saw me.

"Hey cookie" Tony smiled at me, I rolled my eyes "How original" He smirked and grabbed my hand but I untangled my hand from his "I need to get to class" I said

"Its lunch break" he deadpanned

"Well....I-I need to uhm uh I..Ineedtoseeateacher....yes! I need to see a teacher. H-He called for me"

"Mhmm" he said totally not buying it "which teacher?"

"Huh? Uhm...M-M-Mr. Rasheed" I stuttered.

What the hell?! You mean Mademoiselle Rachael!

Why am I saying absolute nonsense?

"He is not around today" he said folding his arms, looking at me amused.

"Oh! I-I didn't know...then I have to meet M-Mrs Omotoye and co-"

"Just stop lying. We both know you've been avoiding me today."

"W-What? Why w-would I a-a-avoid you. I mean its not like you yelled at me for no reason" I said. My eyes widened...why did I say that?

Stupid Stupid Stupid

His eyes softened

"Look...about yesterday, I'm sorry. I've been meaning to talk to you about it that's why I even came here in the first place. my attitude was uncalled for and...I'm just sorry. I've been going through lots of pressure lately with my parents and all...they don't even know about Yinka living with me, so seeing them yesterday I thought you told them and...I was just angry with them. but that isn't enough reason for you to forgive me--"

"It is. Its more than enough. I forgive you okay? And I understand. You can talk to me if you want. Just to.."

"So you wanna tap small gist abi?" He teased.

I laughed hitting his forearm "mad"

"Fine....meet me after school? At my house...its that okay by you?"

"Of course! See you there then!" I smiled and turned to walk away

"Aren't you going for lunch?" He asked grabbing my hand back. "Nah I hate beans" I muttered

"they help you grow. You're short after all" he smirked.

"Thanks captain obvious. And you're what? 6'8?" I glared.

"I'm actually about--"

"Oh! I don't wanna hear it!" I grumbled.

He laughed loudly

"Let's go jare. You need to eat" he said pulling me to the dinning hall.

"Mademoiselle Rachael" would have to wait. Yes and yes! I lied to myself. How stupid is that?

Just like you lied about your crush on Daniel in the beginning.

Why am I thinking of him just now???

"Penny for your thought M'lady?" He asked opening the door to the dinning hall.

"Uh no. They cost thirty five dollars actually" I said shaking my head.

"You're really mad."

"And that's what I called you, not too long ago" I smiled biting my lip.

We got our food and sat down on a table close to the window and Air conditioner.

"Nah. I'm not eating this. The beans is way too marshy" I said scrunching my nose, pushing the food away. God I hate this!

"Uhmmm...no its not. Its actually nice" he stated putting some in his mouth, moaning in pleasure.

I pushed his hand away and brought my food closer, shutting my eyes and putting my
hand on my nose, I let the food drop into my mouth as I chewed with disgust written all over my face.

Tony laughed at me...hard

"There you go. Now thirty five spoons left" he said.

*****

I raised my hand to knock on the door when it was opened by the one and only Tony.

He smiled at me in all his glory. Just kidding.

Well...that's what they say when a guy is shirtless and sweaty. He was probably working out. My eyes drifted downwards. To his abs. Holy potato. If I had those kind of abs, I'd wear crop top forever. I swear I'd brag about it till I die.

"Are you going to come in. Or you'd just stand and stare?" He smirked.

I rolled my eyes and walked inside, settling on the couch. "Yinka! I'm here!" I screamed. "She isn't around." He said seating opposite me.

"For God sake put a shirt on. you're sitting in front of a girl" I said.

"Because of that. I'll stay here with no shirt on. I know you prefer it that way" he wiggled his eyebrows "ew no! I'm going to raid your fridge" I stood up and walked to his fridge pulling out caramel popcorn, skittles, ice cream, oreos, one burger....wait. How much stuff does this guy have? I quickly grabbed the remaining stuff when he yelled my Name.

A slice of vanilla, chocolate and velvet along with pizza. Surprisingly warm. And two bottles of fanta.

"Wait...wait..wait! Hey! I just got that pizza and burger nau?" He complained. I shrugged and settled down opening the pizza. He grabbed it from me "no. I got it for myself" he said. I reached out to him but he moved back. Pulling the pizza out of my reach.

Boy nope! It doesn't work that way.

I quickly jumped on top of him, pinning him down to the couch and grabbed the pizza. But he wasn't having it either. He pulled and I pulled, he pulled and I pulled...until it flew from our hands. I watched in horror as the pizza hit the wall and the box opened, the content falling out.

I quickly jumped off him and grabbed as many pizza as I could counting one to five.

"That's gross" he commented.

"What? Five seconds rule" I said plopping down on the couch. I began to eat it. He reached out and grabbed one pulling his hand away quickly before I could slap it away.

"So....explain yourself" I said my mouth full.

"I don't know where to even begin."

"Beginning? I mean you even said begin" I deadpanned.

He rolled his eyes."its not that easy." He muttered.

"I....my...the guy you saw isn't my father. the one who came with my mom. He's my step-dad. My real dad is white. I was basically the outcome of a one night stand. At that time my mom travelled out to complete her studies. apparently she went for a party and boom! I'm suddenly here. She tried to abort me but it wasn't working..she just got really sick and stuff. And then I was born."

I didn't even know what to do so I just hugged him. "Thanks cookie"

"Stop calling me that! Its too cliché" I complained.

"Fine! I'll call you poop" he said.

I got up and smacked his head hard. He wrapped his hands around my waist and pulled me towards him. "T-Tony what ar--" I was cut of when he kissed my forehead, then nose, then cheek

"Tony? A-Are you okay?"

"My mom hated me. She said that I was a mistake and because of me, she was deprived of family love and the love she deserved from her friends. she said that because of me, she couldn't finish school, because of me, her life was ruined. So she began to hit me from a very young age. Anytime she could, she would hit me. And then he came. The bastard who calls himself my father. But I call him my step father. He got married to mom and I wasn't even invited to the wedding. He stopped mom from hitting me but he decided to use me instead as means of getting money. So he made rich women use me and--"

Tears welled up in his eyes and for the first time in my life, I saw a tear drop from his eyes. "Tony" I whispered, my own tears coming out. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The boy has been through a whole lot. I couldn't just believe that his mother...of all people...could do that to him.

I hugged him, burying his face in my neck. He cried. An agonizing one. I wish I could take his pain away..and just make him happier.

"I--I...It was hard for me at that time. Because those women would..." He paused. "Tony..you don't have to talk about it okay. Just deep breathe. Here have the burger. Please...calm down" I said rubbing his back.

"Thanks...again" he smiled sadly. My heart broke seeing him like this. He took the burger and took a bite out of it and smiled again. "See? Its making you better" I laughed.

"You're really silly you know?" He laughed

"Mhm but I'm a good pillow." I stated. He nodded at that.

"Uh...back to the story." he said chuckling bitterly. "Tony.." I began but he cut me off. "No. I want to do it. I want to talk to someone. And at least tell them the full story. Yinka doesn't know the full story. She just knows I'm not the true son of that guy. And my mom didn't really love me. She doesn't know I was abused. And a sex slave." He breathed harshly

" just..let me please talk?" He whispered. I nodded and kissed his cheek.

"But some time later....my sister died. Yes i have a sister, my mom and my step dad basically did the deed together. I mean..how else do have a child?

we went swimming together when all of a sudden, someone threw her into the water while I was talking to another person. I turned around when I heard a squeal and a splash but I thought it was one of those other girls. So I ignored them. Until it was time to go home, I started looking for my sister. I was about to pick up my phone from the side of the pool when I noticed a limp figure in the pool.I shouted and rushed towards them and pulled them out only to find out it was my sist---" he burst into tears again and I hugged him telling him over and over that I was sorry.

I kissed his tears as they dropped also while he just hugged me tight. As if his life depended on it.

"my mom shouted at me and told me how to save people of they were drowning. She became more than a shadow of her self. She would get home drunk and then beat me so much. Sometimes she would rape me. my step dad sent me to even more women...Most of them were abusive. After they were done using me, they would beat me up and injure me or something,mostly on my thighs be cause my mom didn't want anyone to see it. I can show you if you don't mind"

He raised his shorts a little and holy mother of Jesus!!!

There were so many ugly scars there! Who the hell would do this to Tony. I didn't know I was crying until I opened my mouth to speak and tasted my salty tears

"...And then they'll send me back to hell aka home when they were done with me.

It went on like that for years until I couldn't bear it anymore. So I started working my butt of to get enough money to build a house. But they weren't sufficient for me. My mom decided one day that she didn't want me around anymore. she didn't want to see me again so...she paid people to build this house and sent me away. God! It pained me so much. I turned into drinking. Almost every night, I'd go to the club and drink or go to parties and get my butt drunk. And soon enough I became addicted to it. I met a guy back then, Falode. He was a cool, nice guy. We were very close friends, literally best friends. He got me to stop taking alcohol because it wasn't going to solve my problems.

He helped me enroll into the camping and also helped with Yinka. So..when the camping stuff started and all and then you almost drowned? I wanted to kill myself. I was having flashbacks to my sister. And then....I got kicked out.

We all decided that, to help my relationship with you and to also investigate more, I should enroll into Hodder. and that's what I did. And how I knew you even more. Until your parents realized that their daughter was still alive and sent for Yinka. Now...my parents want me back. To their house, and I'm afraid Yinka won't be able to stay here. I don't know if your parents would want to--"

"Of course they would. I'll just inform them. What does your parent want from you?"

"I don't know. They said their business is crumbling so they probably want me to sell this house, move in with them again and continue their business. Apparently, my mom was sorry about what happened and she was also getting a divorce against my step dad. I really don't care. I just hate them both for ruining me"

"Its going to be alright Tony" I whispered, he hugged me tighter, burying his head in my chest trying to relax.

We stayed in that position for a long time. Not that I was complaining.

****

This was sad. Who knew Tony went through all this? 😭😭

Anyways this is a new book I'm writing. Sold To Love. And this is the book cover here.

I haven't published yet but I will soon. And I'll give more information on it.

This chapter is  not edited at all. So I'm sorry about that.

We're on the road to 10k reads still ❤❤ please share this book and let's get to 10k

God I'm really happy! And a big thank you to my readers. Y'all are the real gang. Ilysm 💖💖