Dedicated to CharityPatrick6
thank youuu for your votes🥺🥺

The Inter-house sports competition started off with a bang. Canopies, decorations, props filled the stadium, Ifechi couldn't almost recognise the bleachers as they'd been repainted.

"....because I'm not your backup, Omo that one off me" Dami said with a chuckle. Apparently, Damien had filled her in the details of their last discussion.

When he asked her out.

Ifechi still blushed as she thought of it, but there was no need feeling smitten by his proposal, she'd rejected it.

"You know you just made him like you more right?" Dami said.

Ifechi looked at her with raised brows. "How so?"

"Playing hard to get! That's what you're doing. By rejecting him, you've made him know you're not cheap. Guys love that, makes them feel challenged"

She frowned. "I'm not playing hard to get"

A teacher cut them off before Dami could reply.

"Get settled, the event is about to start"

Ifechi bade her friend a goodbye and strolled to her booth, green canopies with green chairs welcomed her. She took her seat at the front.

The ceremony started with the prayers and then the different welcome speeches and soon it was time for the main deal.

The march past.

The school band had merely warmed up when she felt an urge to use the rest room. She was surprised to see a familiar figure pressed against the toilet walls, her silky dress creasing as a result of the contact. The last time they'd seen was almost a week ago, she'd forgotten how intimidatingly pretty her arch nemesis was.

"What are you doing here?" The voice snapped. Ifechi frowned.

"Wow, nice to see you too Grace" she said sarcastically.

Grace scoffed and muttered "Stupid as usual."

Ifechi bit back the anger in her chest and strolled to one of the cubicles. She wasn't going to give Grace what she wanted.

When she stepped out, Grace was still there. Ifechi became wary, she threw her suspicious looks while she washed her hands already preparing to run just incase.

"You know I could have sued you for assault" Grace said.

She closed the tap and turned to her with a brow up. "and so you didn't...why?"

No answer.

"I guess we both know you started it, so you didn't have the mind.

There was brief pause before Grace scoffed. Turning to face Ifechi, she folded her arms with a wicked smirk.  "Actually I was being sympathetic"

Ifechi rolled her eyes. "For what?"

"I didn't wanna let daddy withdraw your scholarship, how was poor mummy and daddy going to afford the fees?" She gave a mocking sad face.

Ifechi stared at her for a few seconds before muttering "Whatever!" It wasn't like she was surprised. She cleaned her wet hands and turned to go when Grace said something that sent shivers down her spine.

"This isn't over Ifechi, if I were you, I'd watch my back"

Ifechi gulped.

Grace didn't have to tell her, she already knew.

She had barely stepped out into the field when two junior students came rushing towards her.

"Senior Ifechi, senior Rachel is calling you, there's an emergency"

They led her to the class where her team members were dressing. Rachel was sprawled on the floor, clad in only her underwear, her flowery princess dress hung on the wall beside her as she cried, Boma standing beside with their matron consoled her with an eerie expression. The other female students present looked at her in pity.

"What happened?"

The slim girl raised her head and as soon as she saw Ifechi, she scrambled up on her feet hurriedly.

"Ifechi" she ran to hug her. "Thank God, I need you the most right now"

"What happened? And why are you not dressed up, the march past is about to begin"

"The dress doesn't fit"

"What?"

She rushed back to the hanger and pulled the dress, slipped it on hurriedly. Ifechi gaped at the figure beside her, but it wasn't a look of admiration. The dress was big, too big for someone as slim as Rachel. It looked shapeless on her, the waist loose and the breast pad sticking out like pointed pencils. If not for the situation at hand, Ifechi would have thrown up in laughter.

"It's terrible" Rachel burst out crying when Ifechi didn't say anything.

"I can't believe I trusted that tailor to do a good job. I'm so sorry, this is all my fault" their matron wailed.

"Well, what are we going to do? Can't we adjust the dress, the march past will soon start"

"Wear it" Rachel blurted.

"Huh?"

"Wear the dress, it'll look good on you" she started pulling off the dress before any of them could say anything

"Erm..."

"Here!" She shoved the dress at her.

Ifechi was confused. "Well, what about you, what will you wear, who will we present as our queen?"

"You"

Everyone turned to her in surprise.

"Me?" Ifechi said bewildered.

"Yes....please do this, you're our last option, unless you Don't want us to match" a random person said

"Yes, because it'll be somehow if we march and then when it reaches time for queen to salute, we'll be moping like fools. Pls o, we can't do this without you" another female student said.

She looked at their matron skeptically.

"Well there's no time, wear it!" The older woman urged. So she did, slipping out of her inter-house sports outfit swiftly and trying on the dress, when she had zipped it, their mouths were wide with shock.

"What happened?" She asked worried.

"Gosh, It freaking fits you!" Rachel exclaimed happily. "Abi I told you, it'll fit her" she started gesturing to everyone

Ifechi looked at the dress on her. Surely, it would fit because she was bigger than Rachel, the waist hung perfectly due to her broad hips and the breast pad didn't feel like they were empty spaces in them.

"Good, problem fixed"

A sudden sound interrupted them- the band.

"Okay...well...what about my makeup, I have none on and..." She spoke hurriedly while they helped her wear the other accessories.

"There's no time, let's go!"

"But..."

"Trust me, look you gorgeous even without makeup" Boma complimented in a hurry as they all rushed to the field.

Ifechi didn't fully comprehend what had happened till they'd reached the stadium and the rest of their teammates turned to her surprised.

She scoffed when P.G made a comment about her looking like a literal queen. "I don't even have makeup on"

"Normally"

Damien looked at her like she'd just fallen from heaven.

"You're making me feel uncomfortable" she told him when the marchpast had ended. His reply was a nervous chuckle.

"Sorry I didn't mean to"

They stared at each other. He was still shocked that the girl in his front had rejected him, but true to what Dami said, it made him like her even more.

And even much more when he found out he had competition.

Pedro was staring at her as well, with an expression he'd never seen on him.

Damien wasn't surprised. He'd seen other guys admire her from afar, even girls as well, but Pedro??

He felt betrayed.

Sound of someone coughing snapped him out of his thoughts.

"You're thirsty?" He asked. Ifechi shook her head, then another cough followed.

"Ok maybe...a little, the sun is scorching and this dress is starting to get hot" she said

He stood up. "What can I get for you?"

"Nah, you don't have to"

"I insist"

"Erm..ok, water?"

"Nothing else?"

She scoffed. "Yes just water"

"How about you follow me, let's see what you can find?" He suggested.

"Ify" P.G interrupted them before she could answer.

"What's up?" She said, Damien noticed her change in tone, she sounded cheery.

"Royalties are in the hall receiving refreshments, do you want something?"

"Yes pls..."

"...that won't be necessary" Damien suddenly cut in taking them by surprise.

Pedro raised a brow.

"Let's go" Damien said to her ignoring his friend's look.

"To where?"

"Canteen"

"When there is free food in the hall?" Pedro looked at him incredulously.

"She doesn't need it"

"I think that's left for her to decide."

They started a stare down before both of them turned to her for her response. Ifechi blinked rapidly unsure of what to say. This had to be the most awkward spot she'd been in since she first got heartbroken.

"Um..."

"Ifechi!" Someone called earning a sigh of relief from her lips as she turned to behold who had come to save her. Boma came striding towards her along with two junior students.

"What are you doing here, royalties are in the hall"

A scoff escaped Pedro's lip followed by a smirk. Damien clenched his fists with a frown.

"Matron is calling you" Boma said and Ifechi stood up immediately.

"Okay let's go" she gave the guys an awkward nod before leaving. Pedro was about to follow suit when Damien held his hand. He raised a brow.

"I know what you're doing and it's not funny"

"Excuse me?"

Damien ran his tongue over his gritted teeth in anger. "You like her"

The smile on his friend's face dissappeared before it reappeared, wider this time. He tilted his head to the side. "Says who?"

"Don't even deny it!" Damien spat.

P.G scoffed. "Okay...so what? Or are you afraid of a little competition?"

Damien glared at him for some seconds before shaking his head. "I can't believe this"

Another scoff. "Believe what? That I like a girl?"

"That you're trying to steal her from me"

Pedro stared at him wide eyed before bursting into laughter. Damien didn't look pleased.

"Ste...steal what..wow, you sound just like a child"

Damien marched up to him angry. "Watch... your...tongue"

Pedro scoffed while looking around. Damien got the memo and moved back. Their booth was at the end of the bleachers but their position was visible enough to gather attention if a fight ensued.

"Stay away from her" he growled.

"Or what?" Pedro challenged coming closer this time. He suddenly looked dead serious.

"If you think I'm Korede or Charles that you can boss around, you're mistaken. You had that girl wrapped around your fingers for a whole freaking term and what did you do? Chased after your petty Childhood fantasies. And now that didn't turn out well, you think you can just bounce in like the spoilt child you are and take her back. Not this time bro, not this time"

Damien was fuming, his heart was pounding against his chest, sweat from the growing heat trickled at the side of  his face. His tightened fist caused his nails to prick his skin but he didn't care. Glaring at his so called best friend for more than 3 years say those things to him made him furious and perhaps even hurt.

But somewhere deep down he knew he was right.

Still, he wasn't one to let go of his ego. So instead of backing out, he suddenly unfolded his wrist and smirked.

"She likes fair guys, you don't stand a chance."

Pedro let out a mocking laugh.

"You underestimate me"

A/n
Dun dun dun
Two guys one girl, a bit cliché don't you think, but hey, like I said, this book is a bit cliché.

Meanwhile I wonder what Grace is up to🤔 Ifechi better be careful.

Sorry I took so long to update. I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

As usual, God loves you ❤️