"How could you?!"

Ifechi had never seen Anita so angry...no furious on an early Monday morning.

"What?" She asked playing dumb, even though she'd an idea of what she was talking about.

"You kissed him!"

Ifechi was taken aback, if not for anything, but the way she screamed it loud enough for the whole class to hear. She had not even sat down or settled in for the day because Anita walked up to her immediately she stepped into class with her pretty, accusing face morphed into a frown, there was even a tear stain on her right cheek.

"What!"

"You kissed him! I saw you, I saw the both of you...everyone did"

Ifechi scoffed. So she really was going to blame her.

"Are you for real? Did you really see us because if you did, then you should know that he was the one who kissed me and not the other way"

"You were the one that caused it, you flirt! How can you do this to me even when you knew I liked him, how could you Ifechi, how could you?"

Ifechi was stupefied. She, a flirt, because of PG? Since when?

"I..how..how can you even, what are you even saying Anita?"

She looked at Dami who just stood there, looking a bit confused and apologetic, like she wasn't used to seeing both her friends fighting and so didn't know whose side to take.

Ifechi was flabbergasted. Here was a girl she thought was a friend blaming her over some useless interaction that wasn't even her fault, all because a stupid crush.

The same stupid crush you had on Damien right?

She ignored her subconscious and proceeded to move to her seat but Anita stood in her way.

"You're not going anywhere"

"What the hell?"

"Yes, until you apologize for what you did"

Ifechi was stunned. "Apologize? For what? See Anita, I don't have this strength, pls excuse me lemme pass" she said wearily.

And she really was tired. After getting home on Saturday, she found it difficult to sleep. By Sunday, she had buried her head in her books from the time her parents came back from their journey, till it was almost midnight.

"Anita excuse me lemme pass" she repeated when Anita remained fixed on the spot.

Still no movement.

She took a deep breathe and pushed her way past her stubborn friend, what she got in response was a loud slap.

"Haaa!" Someone yelled and it took Ifechi 3 seconds to register that the sound had come from her cheek. The sting she felt almost immediately was extra proof that her friend had just slapped her.

Anita had just slapped her! Over a boy.

"Dun dun dun" One of their classmates made a sound effect with his mouth and many of them sprang up as well, looking at Ifechi and awaiting her response.

She wasn't one for drama, but this was very tempting. Placing her arms on her stinging cheek that was probably red, she took slow deep breathes to calm herself.

She could retaliate and slap Anita, and then a fight would ensue. She was not one to be over confident, but judging from Anita's tiny and fragile frame, tackling her to the ground shouldn't be much of a challenge, but she didn't want to take the chance. Small people could be surprisingly strong.

On the other hand, she could ignore her and walk away, but that would make her classmates think she was weak and may even encourage more bullying in future.

But Ifechi was better than revenge, even moreso because of a boy....that wasn't even in class!

What the heck! She thought as she looked at PG's empty seat. She snapped her attention to Anita, who had a smirk on her face, and a wicked glint in her eyes. She was ready for a full blown fight.

"Are you happy now?" She asked to the amazement of everyone.

Anita was shocked, she had anticipated a fight to break out. It would have made things easier, to stay angry and fight about some stupid crush.

Without waiting for a response, Ifechi pushed past her and walked to her seat with everyone's stare at her back. She dropped her bag and slipped out a small pocket mirror to check her face. Her cheek was pink as expected, a small hand print could be seen.

She closed the mirror just as a teacher walked into class with a bunch of paper.

"Settle down settle down" he said. Everyone's attention quickly switched back to the current event at hand- exam, and their first paper was maths, as usual.

"I never knew she could be this abusive"

Ifechi did not reply Dami, she had no words. Her heart rate became faster and her eyes teared up quickly.

No don't cry, don't cry

As they cleared their bags to the front and rearranged their desk for the exam to commence, Anita stole a glance at Ifechi. Slapping her had been satisfying, but now she regretted it. She wished she had responded differently. She did not know if to expect a revenge later, she had to be careful.

Her eye candy walked in few minutes before the exam started. She gave him her sweetest smile which he replied with a nod before moving to his chair which was too far for her liking. She wished he didn't sit so many columns away from her.

She saw Mike, a classmate giving him the handshake and then whispering somethings with a mischievous smirk. His eyes flickered to Anita as he spoke and his grin grew wider.

"Omo guy them slap person for you o" She saw his lips move.

PG mouthed back a 'who' and Mike motioned with his neck in her direction. She quickly looked away in order not to be caught staring.

They switched classes as they normally would during exams and upon her prayers, Ifechi and her remained in the same class, their class.

The teachers must be doing this on purpose, she frowned at the thought.

While question papers were being shared, she tried recalling some maths formulars. Not as if she had read, she was too angry over Saturday night that she brooded over what she termed a betrayal for the whole of Sunday.

But you know he was the one that kissed her abi

Her mind mocked her childish behaviour.

So? She shouldn't have kissed him back.

She scolded stubbornly

She didn't you doofus! She even slapped him and ran off.

Abeg!

Deep down she knew her mind was right, but denial was bliss and it was easier to blame the wrong person.

"Aunty when you're done daydreaming, pls pass the question paper" a harsh voice behind her brought her back into reality. She turned to a guy from the other arm. His pimpled face was twisted into a scowl. Anita hissed before picking one and dropping the rest on the his desk.

She almost fainted when she stared at the theory questions. A lot of classmates groaned too.

She hissed scornfully when she saw a small smile on her seemingly ex- friend's face. Ifechi just had to be brainy and beautiful, why did girls like her have to have everything?

She rolled her eyes and paused when she saw PG looking at someone, and guess who it was?

You guessed right...Ifechi!

She felt like squeezing the paper in her hand as tightly as she could.

Love sucked!

**********

"Hey"

Ifechi turned around, the space in the school's field was nearly empty save for a few students like her who chilled out there when they were done with their papers.

She gripped onto her chemistry textbook tightly when she beheld his tall frame.

How could someone always look this good?

"Hi" she greeted Damien with a shy smile.

"How are you doing?"

"Fine" she turned her head back down.

"How was your exams?"

"Good, what about you?"

"I mean, not all of us are maths Lordes like you so fair is a safe word" He joked and she found herself laughing light heartedly.

"Um...oh yeah, I forgot, I brought something for you..the stuff, you know..lemme just get it" she said awkwardly while grabbing her bag. She dipped her hand inside and pulled out a small plastic bag.

"The last piece of cake" she said with a nervous chuckle.

"Wow thanks, I actually didn't expect it" he replied to which she nodded.

"I got you something too" he said causing her to sit up.

"Really?"

"Yeah...." He said scratching his neck, "....it's not that much, but I hope you'll like it"

When he pulled out the little box, Ifechi was stunned. He opened it to reveal a beautiful necklace with a pair of earrings. They were customised silver jewelry, the shape of the infinity symbol.

"Dami said you love working with numbers"

"It's beautiful, I like it"

His face lit up.

She sighed.

"What's wrong?" He asked

"I can't...I don't think I should accept it" she said shoving it back at him

His face fell. "What? Why not? You just said you like it"

"Yeah but, it must have cost you a lot, I mean this looks expensive, I'm not worth..."

"Hey hey hey, never say that again" he cut her off. "You're worth more. Plus if it cost me so much, isn't it more reason you should accept it, or you want my effort to be in vain?" He gave her a weird smile, she shook her head nervously.

"No no, it's just that... nevermind, thanks, I really appreciate" She snatched the box back while he just laughed at her shyness. Ifechi bit her lip and blushed in embarrassment, why didn't she just say thank you and accept it the first time, he must think she was forming or something.

"You're welcome"

They stared at each other.

"I ..erm...I should go back to class now, thanks!" She picked her bag and sped off before he could say anything.

She met her friends at the entrance.

"Was that my cousin you were talking to?" Dami asked her.

"Uh..yes"

"You guys are not quarelling again?" Dami asked surprised.

Ifechi chuckled. "We were not quarelling before, we were just not on talking terms"

Someone scoffed beside them and that was when she noticed that Anita was also there.

"That's what you'll say, next thing we'll see you kissing someone's boyfriend" she murmured but it was loud enough to hear, Ifechi couldn't take it this time, she faced Anita.

"What did you say?"

Anita looked her contemptuously "what?"

"I asked what did you say?" Ifechi said more sternly this time, Dami became tensed.

"Guys let's not do this here, not outside at least"

"How is that any of your business?" Anita fired. Ifechi threw back her head in laughter.

"You're pathetic do you know? Since you have such a big mouth and an ego, why don't you repeat what you said!" She said in a more scary tone, a group of students passing paused and she saw Anita flinch a bit. She regained herself immediately and feigned confidence.

"I wasn't talking to you" came her lame reply.

Ifechi gave her a once over before deciding she wasn't worth her time so she faced Dami. "I'm going to class, bye"

She walked a few steps and turned back to look straight at Anita.

"And you....never raise your hand at me again, the next time you try such, I won't take it lightly"

With that, she walked off.

And that's a queen and more😎

Seriously, girls that fight other girls over boys, how many awards do you have now 😏

I honestly think it's pathetic, especially when the boy in question doesn't even like you and is the one at fault. Moreover, some girls fight girls over guys that partook in the 'business' with them.

I'm not encouraging betrayal, but at least confront both parties and not just the girl because you think you fight her and win.