Let's assume this is Grace's bedroom above

Chapter dedication is to Simdyp. For giving me comments that made me smile when I saw the notification 😇

Ifechi didn't like the feeling of goosebumps, perhaps no one did. But the amount of goosebumps that appeared on her skin from the moment they stepped down out of the car till they walked the long way to the big entrance, one would think she was friends with them.

Her mum kept commenting on how beautiful the house was.

"ulo nke a maka o, Ify okwa ya? (This house is very beautiful, Ifechi isn't it so?)"

"Yeah sure" She replied absent mindedly. How was she going to handle seeing Grace?

'Ifechi calm down, maybe you're overthinking, perhaps it's just another similar house, you know all these estate houses look the same'

If only her subconscious was right.

A guard took them into one of the living rooms where they stood waiting despite the man's permission that they could sit.

"Sir Okereke!" A deep voice suddenly echoed through the large walls which had them turning.

Ifechi was stunned by the man that stood arms wide with a warm smile in the middle of their huge living room.

She had expected an old, pot bellied man. Mr Okigbae was young and handsome. Way too young to be senator in her opinion, he looked 45 max. Weren't most senators in Nigeria grandfathers and old men from governorship who went to senatorial District as their retirement?

"Senator!" Her father hailed and the two men met and shook hands.

Her fears was almost forgotten a few minutes later as they settled into their dining seats to have the "Christmas buffet." Her mouth watered on sight of the various assorted foods all arranged in different trays and dishes. She held herself from staring too long when Mr Okigbae spoke.

"My wife and daughter should be down any minute"

All her worries came rushing back.

What will I do when I see Grace.
What will she do when she sees me? I hope she will not be mean to me...well she can't do that in front of all these adults, sha she can if she wants to, Ifechi stop worrying it's just a visit, highest she'll not talk to you.....

"....Ifechi you should know Chinaza" her eyes snapped up and she blinked twice before shaking her head.

Despite already having a strong intuition that Chinaza was Grace's Igbo name, she decided to play dumb.

"No.. I don't"

Mr Okigbae raised a suspicious eyebrow "Really? She's in SS3, aren't you in SS3?"

"Yes sir but there are different arm....."

"....there they are!" He said cutting her off when two beautiful ladies entered the room. As the exchanges and formal introductions went on, Ifechi could only focus on one person, her nightmare since the past one hour.

Grace was in front of her.

"What the heck!"

**********

"So you're the genius who snatched first position from my daughter" Mr Okigbae commented. They were back in the living room after the exuberant lunch and Ifechi couldn't stop looking at her nails. Perhaps it was because she was scared of looking up straight at Grace whose glare was fixed on her from the moment they saw each other.

"You've done excellently well Ifechi, I'm veey impressed" the man said dropping the piece of yellow paper that was her report card on the table in front of him. Her mum stood up to take it back dutifully and folded it neatly inside her purse, her face still etched with the proud smile of one whose child had won an award.

"Who would have thought someone could beat Grace. I always knew that her class wasn't as competitive, at least she now has someone to keep her on her toes" he added with a laugh that Ifechi found rather sarcastic. Her parents laughed as well, in an automated manner and Ifechi found herself being forced to smile.

The only two people that didn't lift a single face muscle was Grace and her mum.

Mrs Okigbae looked rather scornful. Ifechi noticed that the woman's attitude was a little off since her husband introduced them properly maybe because of their average background.

Or maybe you're just overthinking it. A voice muttered in her head.

"Grace performed brilliantly as well.." the beautiful woman spoke up for the first time.

Despite the hint of disdain in her voice,  Ifechi admired her glowing skin. Grace's mother was indeed very beautiful, just like her husband. It was no surprise why they had such a stunning daughter.

"....she had some of the highest scores in her class, Grace dear what was the total score in your math again?"

"99" Grace said proudly, throwing Ifechi a scornful look, Ifechi went back to staring at her growing nails.

"Hmm that's good, very good.." Mr Okigbae spoke up. "..Ifechi, what did you have in your math exam?"

Ifechi looked up to see all of them staring at her. She swallowed before replying.

"100"

Silence.

"Erm......well, Grace, why don't you carry Ifechi to your room, you know show her around, you girls should go and bond, we adults have something to discuss." Mr Okigbae said a minute later.

Both girls looked at him in horror.

Grace's felt her blood boil at her father's command. She would rather chew her perfectly manicured nails than spend time alone with such a classless person. But of course she couldn't refuse, so with a tight smile and folded palms, she answered.

"Yes Dad"

She gave Ifechi a sign and the two girls left at once.

Ifechi took small, cautious steps behind Grace, anticipating what felt like an hour of torture. Why the heck did Grace's father have to be the same person as her sponsor? Senator Williams Okigbae, no wonder Grace's surname was Williams. But Why did she and Grace have to be in the same school? Why did she and Grace have to be rivals? Why couldn't her parents just afford to send her to a good private school? Why wasn't her parents rich? Why was the world so unfair? Why was......

"Don't touch anything!" A voice snapped her into reality. She looked up only to see Grace glaring at her, her eyes moved from Ifechi's face to her hands which she had subconsciously placed on the wall by the side of the door.

Ifechi wasn't even aware that they'd reached her room.

"Uh..sorry" she said dropping her hands to her side and later folding her arms. She took in the view in her front and was taken aback by its beauty.

Grace's room was spacious, far spacious than any teenage bedroom she'd ever seen, which wasn't a lot to begin with anyway. Still, she felt intimidated by the amount of luxury in front of her- fancy wallpapers, big bed, big closet and dresser, TV and vanity table filled with various collections of cosmetics. She also sighted a table filled with books and a laptop sitting comfortably by the far end.

Someone scoffed, interrupting her plethora of admiration.

"I see you like my bedroom ..go on...ogle while you have the chance, I'm sure you've never seen this type of luxury in your life, you probably never will" Grace blurted.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, you have a voice now?" The caramel girl mocked and burst into laughter.

"You may sit...there! That's a chair over there, incase you haven't seen one before." She said causing Ifechi to roll her eyes.

"Yeah, because I'm dumb enough not to know what a chair is...thanks, I'd rather stand"

Grace scoffed. "Suit yourself"

"Who would have thought?" Grace said to no one in particular. "Ifechi Okereke, D.C.A's own champion, queen of maths, Grace's greatest rival....." Grace added the last part with a snort.

".....is from a wretched family?" She said and burst out laughing again.

"I'm not from a wretched family"

"Ok, then I suppose those simpletons you have as parents downstairs are rich?"

"Watch your mouth Grace"

"Or what?!" Grace snapped making Ifechi recoil in fear.

"Who do you think you are to tell me what to do, in my own house, in my own room, are you insane?" She said standing.

"You're nothing Ifechi, you're just the scholarship kid, my dad's latest charity project" she added with a smirk.

"To think you have the nerve to stand up to me or even meddle with my business, do you think you have a chance against me, or even anyone in our school. If you don't learn to stay in your place, I'll teach you your place" she spoke rudely.

Ifechi blinked away tears that were starting to sting.

"You may be rich Grace, good for you. But I'm something and I don't need your approval or that of anyone else to know that" she said with the last bit of confidence left in her. Grace threw back her head in laughter so bitter that Ifechi's flinched.

"It seems you don't know where you are and where you belong. Have you looked at your school. You're out of place Ifechi. Sure you've managed to fool everyone with your fake persona. Now that I know who you truly are, I'll make sure to keep you in your place and if you try any nonsense, I'll make sure others find out as well"

"Find out what? That my parents aren't as rich as yours..... not everybody is like you Grace. People don't care about vain things like how much your shoes cost or if you're using the latest iPhone"

Another laughter.

"Is that what you think? Oh my God, Ifechi you're so clueless. It seems you don't know who you're classmates are, or the people you go to school with...."

"St...." Ifechi started but was cut off.

"Don't you dare interrupt me while I'm speaking!" Grace bellowed only to be interrupted by an intercom.

"Miss Grace, Honourable Senator Okigbae instructs both of you to come down at once. Our visitors are leaving." One of the workers called out.

Grace let out a hiss and returned her attention to Ifechi. The latter was relieved.

"Listen and listen well, let me give you a piece of advice...." Grace started with barely one minute to pass her threat before her father would summon them again.

"....Stay away from me and my business and everything that has to do with me at school. Don't talk to me, don't look at me, don't even breathe the same air as I'm breathing. If you do, there will be grave consequences, is that clear?"

"I said IS....THAT.... CLEAR?!" Grace said more sternly.

Ifechi shifted her feet uncomfortably, putting up the best indifferent look she could muster. "Yeah whatever"

Grace smiled satisfactorily. "Good, now get out of my room"

"Gladly"

When she shut the door to the car and they drove out of the extravagant compound, she let out a breathe she didn't know she was holding.

Her mum let out a loud hiss.

"Can you imagine that woman talking to us like she's better than us."

"Nwanyi-oma (good woman) calm down" her dad said softly.

"No o, don't tell me to calm down, what's all that now. Which one is your wrapper looks too cheap to be imported.. Is it because her husband is rich that she feels she can insult me? I'm at least 10 years older than her, isi ya na-enye ya nsogbu (something is wrong with her head)" her mother ranted and Ifechi stared amazed.

Well apparently, she wasn't the only one who had her share of condescension.

"My dear, it's okay, zukwanike (rest). We have left their house now. At least the main aim was done. He saw Ifechi's result and was impressed, that's all that matters" her dad appealed to her angry mother, or perhaps made an attempt to stop her nagging.

Her mother exhaled loudly and looked at Ifechi from the mirror.

"Well how was your own interaction with your classmate? Is she friendly? Did you people relate well?"

Ifechi bit her lips in fury. She was reminded of all the mean things Grace said to her, including the threat she was given. But not willing to steer any more hatred for the family, she faked a smile.

"It was good."

Her mum sighed. "Thank God, at least she's not like her mum"

Ifechi nodded. "Yeah"

If only her mother was right.

A/n

Yeah I finally updated. To be honest, sometimes I forget I'm writing this story, especially when I have really busy weeks or days. But I'm going to set a reminder from now on.

Brace yourselves up for the next few chapters is going to be filled with drama.

Holidays are almost over, Grace now knows Ifechi's "secret" (though it's not exactly a secret). Who knows what's she's going to do with such knowledge, I smell a blackmail coming up.

Pls vote and comment.