Dedicated to olatidebeasho

***

"When we begin to accept people for who they are, only then will the world be a better place for you and I. Hate the sin, but don't hate the individual." - Yours truly.

.

It was Friday already and the thought that was on my mind while I was trekking to school alone was all the events that had taken place in just this week. From being paired with that disgusting bully, Peter, to me calling him a fool, which I didn't think I was capable of doing, to Adam revealing his sexuality to me, to... Okay, that's all. Each one of these events was a shocker to me.

"Hey!" I heard someone call behind me and I turned back to see who it was. Jogging towards me was a petite girl in Pacific school uniform. She was obviously attending the same school. "Please wait!" She hollered. I didn't want to wait for her but it looked like she had been running after me for long, so I just had to pity her and wait.

When she got close to me, she said, "Thank God I saw you 'cause I hate trekking to school alone. You're Daniella, right?" She asked in between quick and heavy breaths. For someone so petite, she sure had a big voice. Her voice was deep, loud and clear.

"Yes, I'm Daniella. How did you know?" I asked, scrunching my brows quizzically.

"Ah you don't know me? I'm in the same class with you na." She responded and we started to walk.

"Oh, really?" I felt slightly embarrassed that I didn't even know the students in my class. "I didn't know oh. I haven't seen your face before."

"How will you see when you're always with that Adam guy?"

Okay seriously, she just had to offend me. She shouldn't have told me to wait for her, if she was going to be rude.

"Anyways, my name is Gbemi." She said.

I don't care.

As we kept walking, she started to ramble on the reason she was late to school. I was hearing her but I wasn't listening neither was I saying anything. One thing you must know is that she was talkative and she spoke really fast. I increased my pace and she did same, still talking.

"Ah Daniella, you're walking too fast o. My legs are hurting."

"Do you realize we're late?" I said, still walking fast.

"I know that. But abeg, what's the worst they can do?"

***

"Could today get any worse?" Gbemi whined, standing upright with her hands akimbo. "I'm tired o. My waist is even paining me."

Both Gbemi and I were the only late comers that were cutting the weeds outside the school premises because we both decided to play smart. It was all her idea though. This was exactly what happened: When we got to school, we saw one of the male teachers and some prefects, including Amanda, punishing some late comers. So Gbemi devised a plan that we should both take the Junior School route in order for us not to get caught. Pacific college actually had two buildings— one was the Junior School building while the other was for the senior school.

As we were furtively making our way towards the Junior School building, Amanda caught us and she decided to raise an alarm. Talk of a wicked cousin! The male teacher meting out punishment to the late comers called us and he flogged us four strokes of cane on our buttocks for trying to outsmart him and then told us to cut the school weeds with our bare hands (one of the punishment I hated the most).

I shot Gbemi a glare, "This was all your idea. Had I known it was going to end up this way, I wouldn't have listened to you. Now I regret ever waiting for you in the first place."

"If the plan had worked now, you wouldn't be saying this."

"But the stupid plan didn't work, so duh!" I rolled my eyes at her and continued with uprooting the stubborn weed.

"I didn't know you were like this Daniella. I thought you were calm and gentle."

I looked up at her, "How can I be calm when I'm uprooting weed. In case you don't know, we ought to be in class by now."

"I know. Okay I'm really sorry for landing both of us into this mess." She said in a baby voice.

"Whatever. Let's just finish uprooting the weeds, so we can be out of here real quick."

"Have you forgiven me?" She asked in a baby voice again and I looked up at her dryly. She was putting on a pleading face.

"Does it really matter?"

"Just say yes."

"Okay yes, I have. Now can we just finish this punishment? I need to go to class."

"You know what Daniella, I really like you. Can we be friends?"

Apart from Adam, I had no friends in the city and for someone to be requesting for my friendship, how could I ever say no? "Yes, of course. We can be friends." I said, smiling at her.

"Aw thanks." She gushed and was about to enclose me in a hug, but I stood upright and moved backwards.

"Your hands remember. I don't want you staining my uniform with your dirty hands."

"Oh yeah. True." She said, hitting her palms together as though she wanted to remove the dirt from her hand. "Anyways, let's continue to weed. When we're done, we'd wash our hands."

"Yeah." That said, we went back to uprooting the stubborn weeds.

***

It was break time and surprisingly, all the students were in the class with their partners to talk about their projects, including Adams and Prudence. Peter and I were the only partners not sitting together. I was sitting alone, copying my literature note and I sneaked a glance at Peter. He was also alone in his seat and he had on an earphone. He was staring into space as he moved his head probably with the beat of the song he was listening to. I didn't know up until today that earphones were permitted in the school.

After that day Peter approached me to talk about our project, he had not come to meet me to talk about it again and I couldn't help but wonder why.

You told him that you both were going to talk about the project when you feel like it.

When did Peter start listening to me?

Instead of sitting here and contemplating why he hasn't approached you since to talk about the project, why don't you meet him?

Yes, that was what I was going to do— meet him. I stood up and walked towards Peter's seat. I couldn't believe I was doing this. When I got to him, I tapped his shoulder from behind because I knew there was no point calling him, as he was blocking his ear with an earphone. He turned to look at me and my knee suddenly went weak. Why was I suddenly nervous around him?

"Um... Our project, aren't we going to do something about it?" I was surprised at the way my voice sounded. It was higher than usual.

He removed his earphone from his ear, "Huh?" He said.

I was so happy that he didn't hear the way I sounded the first time. I cleared my throat before speaking again. "Let's talk about our project."

"So she's finally ready to talk about the project." He smirked, rolling his eyes at the same time. He was such a butthead.

"If by she, you're referring to me, then you're right. I'm ready to talk about it."

"Eyah, but sorry, I'm not ready to talk about it." He shrugged his shoulders.

I frowned, "Eh? What did you say?"

"What did you hear?"

Oh boy! "Okay, so what's that supposed to mean?" I asked angrily.

"It means we'd talk about the project when I want to talk about it. Now can you leave me alone?"

Why did that sentence sound so familiar? Oh I remember! Those were the exact words I said to him and now he just used it back on me. I told you he was a butthead.

"Wait, why are you so difficult?" I asked out of frustration. "Today is Friday. We have limited time. We are supposed to present the project on Monday."

"Monday? Today is Friday. So we still have Saturday and Sunday to prepare." He gave me a duh look.

I shook my head at his silliness. "There's no school on Saturday and Sunday, idiot!" I spat out and once again I felt guilty for being the first to use a cuss word. But with Peter, one couldn't just help but use it. He was flat-out annoying.

"I know."

I threw my hands in the air, "Guy, are you okay? You know and you're saying that we have Saturday and Sunday to prepare."

"Yes. School is not the only place we can get to talk about the project."

"Okay, where else, if not school?" I folded my arms around my chest.

"My house."

Is this guy crazy or what? "No, never! I can never go to your house to talk about the project, when everyone is talking about theirs in school."

"We're not everyone. Can't we be different?"

"Different, by me going to your house? A boy's house for that matter. No! My parents wouldn't even allow me." Yes I said it. I couldn't possibly say my guardians. That would only give him the inkling or a full knowledge that I wasn't staying with my parents. He didn't have to know. Since I haven't told Adam, I see no reason why Peter, my enemy, should know.

"Then get ready for zero."

"You're forgetting that it's both of us that would get the zero."

"I'm less concerned." He shrugged and I fought the urge to slap his head so hard.

"See, I'm going to report you to Mr Korede o."

"Try it and I'm going to make your life miserable in this school."

"Are you threatening me, Peter?" I asked and my brows marred in a frown.

"So you know my name?"

I sighed exasperatedly, rolling my eyes at him. "You're so annoying!"

"I know. Get used to it."

I rolled my eyes at him and was about to walk back to my seat, but he held my left wrist. His grip on my wrist sent a sensational feeling from my wrist to my entire body and I didn't understand why.

"Are you coming?" He looked at me pleadingly or maybe I was just imagining things.

"I don't know. Now can I go?" I asked flatly.

"Whatever." He rolled his eyes.

I looked down at my wrist. "Uh... You're still holding my wrist."

"Oh." He let go off me and looked away sheepishly. I didn't fail to notice how cute he was right now. Why was he so cute today? Focus Daniella, focus!

I walked back to my seat and continued copying my note. Not too long after that, the bell went out.

When it was exactly two o'clock, the closing bell was rung and most of the students, with the exception of Adam and me, got up from their seats, completely disregarding the history teacher standing in front of the class. The teacher was too lenient that nobody respected him. He didn't even know how to control his class. For the record, History class was one of my favorite classes, not because of the subject (As a matter of fact, I hated the subject), but because of how the class usually was. One could literally sleep if one felt like. That's how unruly his class was.

The teacher walked out of the class and I couldn't help but pity him. But really, who doesn't want to go home? Adam and I also got up from our seats at the same time.

"I'm taking your literature note home." I said to Adam as he wore his bag on his back.

"No problem." When Adam said that, I took out both of our literature notes from the locker and put it in my bag. Just then, someone dug his or her hand into my bag and took it out quickly. I looked back to see who it was and just like I expected, it was Peter. How rude!

He was walking backwards and facing me. "Just in case you change your mind." He whispered loud enough for me to hear, faced forward and walked out of the class through the back door. I immediately checked my bag to see if he dropped anything inside. He did. He dropped a small piece of paper in my bag. I took it out and it was his house address that was written on it. A wry smile formed on my face.

"This one that she's smiling, I don't understand." Adam said and I jolted slightly. I had forgotten he was even standing with me. "When did you and Peter become Romeo and Juliet?"

"What's that?" I scrunched my brows, confused as to what he meant.

"What's what?"

"Romo and whatever you said."

"Oh Romeo and Juliet! Don't tell me you haven't heard about them before. The secret lovers that their love story ended tragically."

"No. But wait, did you just refer to Peter and I as Romo and—"

"Romeo." Adam corrected.

"Whatever. So did you just—"

"Since both of you are now sending each other secret love letters—"

"We're not sending each other any love letter o! Nawa o! Adam, na where your mind travel reach? He only gave me his house address."

"And when did he start sending you his house address? I thought you both hated each other."

"I don't know about him, but I still do. He only gave me his house address because he wants me to come to his house, so we can prepare for our project."

"Why didn't you both prepare for it in school?"

"I don't know for him o." I said in a singsong voice.

"You don't know for him?" Adam asked, "Anyways, are you going to his house?"

"I don't know yet. Should I go?"

"You have to, if you don't want to get zero. And not just that, Mr Korede might not take it lightly with you both if you have nothing to present."

"Yeah, that's true. Anyways, enough about me. How far with you and... what's her name again?"

"Prudence and I are okay. At least, she's a bit serious with the whole project thing."

"Are you guys adequately prepared for Monday?"

"Yeah."

***

"So this is your house?" Gbemi asked when we finally got to where I stayed. I wouldn't call it my house because I wasn't living with my parents. Earlier today, I introduced Gbemi to Adam and they both seemed cool with each other, so three of us left school together. Later, Adam parted ways, leaving Gbemi and I to continue the walk back home. Gbemi wanted to know where I stayed so she followed me. Although I didn't like the idea, I couldn't stop her. "It's not even that far from school."

"Yeah." There was a momentary silence in our midst before I spoke up again. "So, remember o."

"Okay, so what time should I come over?" Gbemi asked. I told her to come over so she could take me to Peter's house. I didn't know anywhere in Lagos, so his address was of no use to me. And according to her, everyone in the school knew Peter's house.

"You can come around two. Please don't knock o. Just wait for me outside. I would be checking outside regularly by that time."

Her brows knitted in a frown as she looked at me suspiciously. "Oh okay. But why shouldn't I knock?"

"They are actually strict." I said, pointing back at the house with my left thumb. I was actually backing the gate.

"Who?"

"The people I'm staying with."

"You're not staying with your parents?" She asked, her voice laced with surprise.

"No, I'm not. I would explain later. Bye."

"Okay bye. Be outside by two o! I don't want to wait for long!" She hollered as she walked away and I chuckled.

______________________________________________

I know I took a little while to update this, but I'm truly sorry. I was quite busy with something that's more important to me than wattpad. Hope we understand. I'm sorry, okay? 🙏

How is the new character Gbemi?

How was the chapter? As long as you read it, please please please vote. It's not easy. Thanks.

Not for everyone. Only for those who are interested.

I got a lot of hateful comment in the last chapter concerning Adam's sexuality. See, Adam is not in this book to teach readers that homosexuality is right. No! It's not. I know I might sound like I'm preaching now, but a wise someone said, being sexually attracted to a particular gender is not a sin, but lusting after that person or having carnal knowledge of that person is the real sin. Now look, if you're gay reading this, and you think you're a wasted sperm like most Nigerians would like you to believe, I would like to have you know that you're not. I'm a believer and I believe you're who God says you are and not what the society says you are. You're the righteous of Christ Jesus. You're unique and deserve love. But the love starts with you. Love yourself and spread that love. It all starts from within. And for those that are homophobic, I have a few words for you, HATE THE SIN, BUT DON'T HATE THE INDIVIDUAL.

Peace out ✌
Bye 👋