Dedicated to Africanliterature. Thanks for the beautiful cover.

***

The next day, I walked into the class in a neutral (neither bad nor good) mood and in my locker, I saw two boxes of chocolates and a note on top of the boxes. My eyebrows knitted in a frown as I curiously took the note and read its content.

May your day be as sweet as the chocolate in the box.
From...

From who? Who could this person be? It was hard to believe that I, the village girl was having a secret admirer. Could it be Peter? For all I know, he had been acting strange towards me lately; like he had a thing for me. And not only that, yesterday I told him to return the gala he took from me the other day as a make up for stealing my spotlight in the class presentation, so maybe this was just his way of making it up to me. Just maybe. With that thought in mind, I looked over at Peter's seat, but he wasn't present, neither were his friends.

Curiously, I asked Adam, "Uh, good morning. Do you know who dropped this chocolate box and note in my locker?"

Adam, who had his head buried in a book, turned to look at me. "Someone dropped a chocolate box and a note in your locker?" He asked, looking surprised.

"Yeah, you don't know?"

"No, I don't."

"Who could this person be?" I mumbled under my breath, but with the way Adam smiled at me, I guess he heard. "Biko, why are you smiling now, Adam?"

"So you've started having secret admirers that sends you gifts secretly." He emphasized the last word. "I never knew Nigerian teenage guys could do such anyway. I only read stuffs like this in American young adult books."

"But who do you—" I was cut off when my vision suddenly became black by two clammy palms covering my eyes. Who's this now? I touched the back of the person's palm to feel it and it was hard and crinkled. "Who's this? Gbemi?" I guessed and she laughed as she took her palms off my eyes. I turned around to see who it was and just like I guessed, it was Gbemi.

"Good morning my love!" She said cheerily.

"Good morning." We both hugged each other. "Your palms are strong."

"Really? Anyways how was your night?"

"It was fine and yours?" I said, even when my night wasn't fine. It had never been fine. Going to bed late and waking up very early wasn't close to a 'fine' night.

"Short." Her reply took me by surprise. That was exactly how my night was. "I went to bed by two o'clock yesterday night and woke up this morning by five thirty. That's just like three hours of sleep."

"Ahem!" Adam feigned a short cough to get our attention. "Hmm Daniella, I've known you for three weeks now and you've not hugged me like this before oh."

"Aw, my best friend is jealous." I cooed, touching my chest.

"So he's your best friend while I'm just your classmate right?" Gbemi said, pouting her lips as though she was offended but I knew better than to know she wasn't. She was just kidding around.

"So what if I'm her best friend?" Adam asked.

"Okay, enough guys!" I said, chuckling. "You both are my best friends—"

"That's a lie Daniella." Adam interrupted, "I'm your best friend. You're only saying we both just not to make Gbemi feel bad."

"Shut up Adam." Gbemi lunged at him, but I stood in her way laughing hysterically.

"What? Am I not saying the truth?" Adam said, standing up from his seat. What they were both doing was supposed to gain attention from other students, but it wasn't. The other students were apparently engrossed in the early morning chat with their friends. The class at the moment was in frenzy.

"Don't mind him." I said to Gbemi, "Adam is my male best friend, while you are my female best friend."

"Better! That settles it. If you're not cool with that Adam, then go and hang yourself in that mango tree at the back of the school." Gbemi said.

"Daniella is just deceiving you Gbemi." He clapped his hands with each word.

"That's enough Adam." I said and there was a momentary silence before the three of us burst into a peal of laughter, which earned us a stare from surrounding students.

"So what's up?" Gbemi asked as we three sat on the chair that was meant for both Adam and I. "This one you're holding two boxes of chocolates this morning, what's going on?"

"Someone actually gave it to her— a secret admirer." Adam immediately replied before I could even speak up. He was such a gossip monger.

"Who asked you Adam? Talkative! Anyways Gbemi, I found the chocolates in my locker this morning and I have no idea who put it there. See the note that was even attached to it." I handed to her the small piece of paper that was with the chocolates and she collected it immediately.

Once she read it, she laughed.

"What? Why are you laughing?" I asked, cocking one of my eyebrows.

"Because it's funny. The person even..." She trailed off when Mrs Uchenna, the English language teacher, walked into the class.

"Class greet!" Ayo, the captain commanded and we all stood up to greet the teacher. In the process, Gbemi slid to her seat, which was in two seat rows before ours.

"Have your seat." The teacher said and we did as told.

***

It was break time and many students were scattered around to take a break from class work. I was on the first floor, heading towards my class from the female restroom, when I heard Peter's voice from behind me.

"Hey Daniella! Wait up!" I turned back and saw Peter trotting towards me. I rolled my eyes and faced forward to continue the journey to my class, but quicker than I expected, he held my arm and his feet slid forward on the cemented floor.

"Hey, I told you to wait and you just wanted to ignore me like that." He said with a frown marred on his face.

I exhaled and held my arms in akimbo. "What do you want?"

"You." He replied sharply. "I've been looking all over for you."

"Okay, now that you've seen me, what do you want?"

"Uh, I want to give you back your gala." He said and suddenly I remembered the chocolates that were sent to me earlier today. I wanted to ask Peter if he was the one who put it in my locker, but then I thought against it. It couldn't have been him, because if it was, he wouldn't be talking about giving me back my gala. But if it wasn't him, then who was it?

I looked at his hands, expecting to see my gala but he wasn't holding anything. "Where's the gala?" I asked.

"You're going to follow me to the cafeteria outside to buy it." He gave me a duh look.

I chuckled, biting my lower lips. "Wait let me get this straight, you're expecting me to follow you to the school cafeteria to go and buy the gala that you're supposed to buy for me as a sorry for stealing my spotlight in the class presentation?"

"Uh-huh."

"Think again." I said, brushed past him and headed to my class. Hardly had I taken four steps when he appeared in front of me again.

"So now you're forming for me because I want to buy you gala?" He smirked.

I rolled my eyes. For some reasons, I actually liked being with Peter because he was the only guy I get to form for. "You know you don't have to buy the gala right?" I said.

"Please just follow me." He pleaded and the fact he just used the word "please" with me made it sound like music to my ears

"If you can't go by yourself, then don't bother buying it."

"And you'd forgive me?"

I hissed and I was about to walk away when he stood in my path.

"Okay, okay, I'd go buy it. But please wait here. I don't want to look for you."

I didn't say anything and Peter ran off to get the gala. It was so hard to believe that Peter was actually running to get something for me. It was too good to be true. It made me feel like a princess. Was that how much me forgiving him actually means to him? I wondered if Peter was crushing on me. The thought made me smile and I couldn't help but wait patiently for him.

While waiting, Charles approached me. "Hey Daniella!" He said, his voice sounding very nice.

"Hey Charles." I said, looking up at him. Charles and Peter were both tall— like 6ft, but Charles was taller, or maybe his slimness just made him look taller.

"Did you get the chocolates and note I put in your locker?" Charles asked. Wait, what?

"You are the one?" I asked surprised.

"Yes I am. Are you surprised?"

"Of course, I am. It never crossed my mind that it was you. Why didn't you put your name on the note?"

"I didn't want anyone to know it was me."

"But you put it in my locker yourself."

"Anyone could check your locker." He said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Okay anyways, thanks for the chocolates." I said, "But why? I mean why did you give it to me?"

"Uh..." He scratched the nape of his neck and smiled sheepishly. This boy was so charming. "You look like someone I've met before and I kind of like you." He said.

Did he just say he likes me? "Oh, who's this person if I may ask?" I inquired, pretending not to have heard the 'like' part.

"You really don't have to know the person. It's unnecessary. Can we be friends?"

It took every strength in me not to burst out laughing. For some reason, he was funny. I said nothing but stared at him and contemplated whether I should say yes or no.

"Huh?" He ripped me off my thought.

"Aren't we friends already?"

"So that's a yes?"

I shrugged, "So you were going to tell me something the other day? What was that?"

"That you're so fine!" He deadpanned. If before I was able to control my laughter, this time around I couldn't. He was just so hilarious that I laughed so hard.

"Hey dude! Get out!" My laughter immediately subsided when Peter pushed Charles, causing him to stagger backwards. I shot Peter a glare and he looked furious. "Now!" He said menacingly.

"Hey dude, what the fuck is your problem?" Charles spat out, emphasizing the F-word. I was surprised that he could cuss. "She's not your babe, so why are you always worked up when you see me around her?"

Peter lunged at him, but two guys that were close-by immediately stopped him. I wondered what would have happened if they hadn't stopped him. What even surprised me was the fact that Charles didn't budge. It seemed like he was ready to fight Peter.

"Make una leave the guy jare. He wan fight. Make e con fight na." Charles said and once again, I was surprised he could even speak pidgin, which means, there was more to him than what he was letting on.

What Charles said seemed to have instigated Peter's anger the more and as Peter wanted to attack him, the two guys stopped and begged him not to. Peter glared at Charles and Charles returned the glare. The tension between the both of them escalated pretty fast.

"Charles, just leave. Please." I advised and Charles looked at me. I nodded my head pleadingly.

"Because of her, that's why I'm leaving oh. Just know that one."

"Dude just dey go abeg." One of the guys that stopped Peter from attacking Charles said.

Charles spun around and walked off, followed by the two guys, leaving only Peter and me. Peter walked to where he dropped what he bought, which was in polythene, and picked it up. He handed it to me but I was angry with him for what he just did, so I rolled my eyes and walked off to the class.

I was surprised that he didn't call me back.

***

"Ah we missed o." Gbemi said once I was done telling her everything that happened between Peter and Charles.

"I really don't like that Peter of a guy." Adam said, "I thought he had changed. He's still the same bully he has always been."

"Right? I thought he had changed too." I said.

"But it looks like this Peter guy really likes you Daniella." Said Gbemi.

"Yes, I agree. Daniella you know you once told me that he got angry when he saw you with Charles the other time, and now again, he almost got into a fight with Charles just because you were talking to him. That means he's jealous—"

"Which also means he likes Daniella." Gbemi added immediately.

"That's his business. He should better not like me, because I don't like him and I never will."

"He's a fine boy sha." Gbemi shrugged, curving her lips downwards.

"With a nasty and obnoxious attitude." Adam added.

"Yeah, yeah, and Daniella be careful oh. Don't let Prudence catch you. She's actually crushing on Peter but Peter's not looking her way. If she finds out Peter likes you, she and her yeye minions would come after you o."

"What's my business with Peter and Prudence? See abeg, I've had enough drama in my life already. I don't want any more with Prudence or whatever her name is."

"And so Charles was the one who put those chocolates in your locker?" Adam asked rhetorically.

"Yes oh. I was surprised also. I didn't think it was him."

"I think he likes you too." Adam said.

"So that means you're caught up in a love triangle with Peter and Charles." Gbemi said, grinning from ear to ear.

I sighed heavily.

____________________________________________

Hello people! How was this chapter? Please don't forget to vote and leave a feedback. Thanks for all the love on this story.

I have some good news for y'all. In the just concluded African writer's awards, Daniella took first place in the teen fiction category. I'm so chuffed and grateful. First off, I'm grateful to whoever nominated this book for the award and secondly, I'm grateful for all the supports I get from y'all. If it weren't for your support, I wouldn't be writing this story. Thanks. Love y'all so much.

BTW, Level Up by Ciara issa jam! Listen to it and watch the video.

If you wanna see my real face, follow up on IG @dan_lexicon.

Till next update,
Bye 👋