When it was late in the night and I was sure everyone had gone to bed, I locked my room door and brought out my phone. I came online on whatsapp to see if Peter, Adam or Gbemi were online. I wanted to scold them for leaving school without me, particularly Adam. If I were to blame anyone for what happened today, it would be Adam. He was the one who took me to the botanical garden and told me he had something very important to tell me, only for him to leave when Charles came. Not only did he just leave the botanical garden, he left the school.

So help me God, I will kill you tomorrow in school.

I sent the message to Adam when I saw that he was online. The message got delivered but he didn't read it.

A minute had passed and he still hadn't read the message. I slid out of his chat board to check if Gbemi was online. She wasn't. The time when she was online last was 10:32pm and the time was presently 10:33pm. She had just gone offline.

Then I checked to see if Peter was online. I deliberately checked his thread last because I was pissed at him for not waiting for me just as we agreed. Even if everyone left school without waiting for me, Peter shouldn't be part of them. I was really disappointed in him. When I tapped on his name, I saw that he was online. What was he doing online by this time when I wasn't online? The thought of him chatting with another girl crossed my mind and I got jealous instantly. I wanted to type a message, berating him that he was chatting with some other girl, but I thought better of it. I mean, that was me just jumping into conclusion and it was insensitive. Rather than that, I greeted him.

Hey Peter!

A minute passed. Two minutes and even five minutes had passed and still Peter hadn't read, let alone replied my message. And he was online! Peter wasn't one to reply my messages late. I couldn't help but wonder why he was doing it now. Perhaps he was online and was asleep. I hope that was it.

I checked to see if Adam had replied my message, but he hadn't. As a matter of fact, he had gone offline. My eyes were heavy already, so I switched off my phone and hid it in my luggage. Then I went to bed and before long, I drifted off to sleep.

***

I woke up with a jerk to the sound of a cock crow. Everywhere was a little bit bright, meaning that the day had dawned. Oh my gosh! I overslept. I jumped out of bed and hurried to the kitchen to sweep the floor, warm the leftovers, and quickly boiled water that I was going to use to have my bath. The weather was quite cold this morning.

"So you woke up late this morning." I jolted as Uncle Henry said and spanked my butt.

I had a towel wrapped around my body. Uncle Henry moved towards the sink and dropped his mug, that he probably used to take coffee this morning, in it. "Help me wash it. I'm off to work." He said.

"Whatever." I mumbled under my breath.

Uncle Henry was walking out of the kitchen but then he stopped abruptly and turned around. "Daniella, do you know all of these your suffering can stop if you want it to?" He asked.

I scrunched my brows in puzzlement. "I don't understand sir. How?"

"All you just have to do is yield to my demands." He said and I rolled my eyes. "If you can just make love to me, I'd ban everyone from beating you or even disturbing you."

"I'm fine sir. I can cope." I said as I took up the mud to wash it.

Uncle Henry wanted to say something else, but Annabelle called him from outside the kitchen.

"Think about it." He said and then walked out of the kitchen.

I hissed and rolled my eyes when I was sure he was out of earshot.

I got to school pretty late. Classes had commenced already. The CRS teacher didn't allow me into her class, despite my pleas. She told me to kneel down outside the class until she was done with her class. Talk of an unforgiving Christian teacher! When the period for her class was over, she walked out of the class and I walked in majestically. I was kinda in a bad mood because of how yesterday was and how the morning was turning out.

I had my seat without uttering a word to Adam.

"Good morning o!" Adam greeted after some minutes, when he probably noticed I wasn't going to greet first.

"Morning." I mumbled. I checked Peter's seat and I noticed he wasn't around. "Wait, Peter hasn't come to school?" I asked Adam.

"Do you see him on his seat?" Adam asked in a duh tone.

"So why are you barking?" I said, rather caustic.

"Do you know what it means to bark?" He retorted, cocking one of his brows like I had just said something dumb.

Adam also seemed to be in a prickly mood. Our conversation almost seemed like there was a strain between us and I wasn't comfortable with it. The last thing I wanted was for our friendship to turn sour.

"Adam, what's wrong with you?" I decided to ask in a calmer tone.

"You were the one giving me cold shoulders, so I should be asking you that." Adam answered.

"Why did you leave school yesterday without waiting for me?"

"Wait, is that the reason for the cold shoulders?" Adam asked chuckling.

"I'm just not really in a good mood. Okay so answer the question."

"I'm sorry about yesterday. I just thought Charles was gonna take your time. Besides, Gbemi wanted to go home quickly yesterday cause she had a running stomach and she wanted me to escort her."

"Very flimsy excuse." I glared at him. "You were the one who took me to the botanical garden, so it was very wrong for you to just abandon me there like that. Very wrong."

"I'm sorry." Adam held my shoulder as he apologised.

"So what did you want to tell me?"

"Um... Never mind. It's not important anymore."

"Just tell me." I pushed further.

Just then, the literature teacher walked in and we all stood up to greet her.

The day went by with series of tedious lectures. Our civic teacher even denied us of our break because according to him, we were lagging behind in his subject. Like who cares? Since he had given us his scheme of work, he could have simply told us to study the topics that was pulling us behind his scheme and make our note on them, instead of using the time for our break to teach us. Because of that, Adam and I didn't have the opportunity to continue our conversation.

As the civic teacher was teaching, I zoned out. I was thinking of Peter. What could have been the reason for him not coming to school today? For some reason, I felt something was wrong with him. I made a mental note to pay him a visit.

When the school hours was finally over, all the tired looking students rose to their feet and wore their bags on their back to leave for their houses, including me.

"Um Adam, I want to go to Peter's house to see how he's doing, so if you want to follow me, I'd suggest we leave now." I said.

"No don't worry, you can go. I'm not even leaving school now. Gbemi and I want to do something." Adam said, wearing his bag.

At the mention of Gbemi's name, I realised that I hadn't even spoken to her today. I walked up to her seat. She was sitting down and scribbling down something in a notebook.

"Hey Gbemi! How are you?" I slapped her arm lightly.

"Hey Daniella! I'm fine. You're going home?" She asked.

"Yes, I am."

"Okay, see you later."

"Bye." I waved at her and then Adam as I left. The instant I got out of the school building, I remembered that I had forgotten one of my note under the locker and immediately, I ran back into the school to get it. As I got up to the hallway in the first floor and was about to enter the class, I heard Prudence voice from inside and she mentioned my name. So I stopped to eavesdrop.

"Daniella doesn't know the surprise she's in for when she gets to Peter's house." Prudence said.

"But really, is it not just amazing how our plan worked so easily." Someone said and it was a guy. The voice sounded so familiar. I wondered what plan were they talking about.

"I know, right! She can't be the only one dating when the rest of us are single. It can't happen! They must break up." Someone with a different voice said. Another familiar voice.

"Every time Peter, Peter. She doesn't even have time for anybody again. Abeg make them break up."

Wait, that voice!

I entered the class to see who these people were and to my utter surprise, I saw only Adam, Gbemi, Charles and Prudence in the class. I wanted to speak, but words failed me. I wanted to move, but my legs were fixed to the ground. I wanted to act, but I couldn't. It was unbelievable! So my best friends were conniving with my worst enemies against me. I was shocked to my bone marrows. But much more than that, I was disappointed. Never would I have thought Adam of all people would betray me. Gbemi could, but not Adam. I trusted him so much. I was beyond disappointed.

The four of them snapped their heads at me and the look on their faces was priceless. They all looked ashamed. They sure didn't expect to see me. Well so did I not expect to see them together.

I forgot what I came to the class for and ran out. I kept running till I got to the school gate that my heart was bouncing in my chest and I was panting heavily like a panther. How could Gbemi and Adam do this to me? Why could that have been in cahoots with Charles and Prudence? And then it hit me hard.

Peter!

I ran. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me to Peter's house. When I got to the house, I wanted to knock but I noticed that the gate was padlocked from outside. Nobody was home. I wanted to turn around to leave but my eyes drifted to something that caught my attention. A folded sheet of paper was placed in between the closed gate. I thought of minding my business and just walking away, but curiosity had the better of me. I pulled the paper from the gate and unfolded it to read its content. My heart skipped as I saw my name.

Dear Daniella,

I really hope you're the first to pick up this letter. But if you aren't and someone else is reading this right now, I'd really appreciate it if that someone finds you and gives this to you. Anyways, I know you're probably wondering what's the reason for writing you a letter when I could easily just chat you up online. Well the reason is just to show you how damn serious I mean this I'm about to tell you.

So Daniella, I like you. Like really really like you, but I know your heart beats for someone else— Charles. You're probably wondering how I know? Well I saw you both kissing each other at the botanical garden. Really, if you had just told me from the very beginning that he was the guy you like, I would have understood and just let you go. But toying with my emotions and dating Charles secretly wasn't the ideal thing to do girl. You just made me feel gamed.

My heart was beating so fast at this point.

And so I've been thinking and thinking and I've decided to give you up for your secret lover. I guess that would make you both happy and comfortable. Yes, I'm breaking up with you. Trust me, this is hard for me, but there's nothing that makes me more happy than knowing you're happy. I still love you, but I can't be the second option in a love triangle.

Just in case you're wondering why I wasn't at school today, well I've decided to leave the country for Dublin to start all over with my family. I guess you're happy for me. I'm gonna really miss you. Take care and my regards to everybody in school.

One love,
Peter.

My heart squeezed. The tears welled up in my eyes dropped on the middle of the paper and bored a hole in it. That was also how Peter's words drilled a hole in my heart.

I was heartbroken.