KIMBERLY POV

I huffed again  as I practiced my speech. I had to do this,  if not i wouldnt have the time to do it again.

Emi was wonderful,  his smile was everything,  I have been crushing on him since jss1 but he never knew.

Our Waec was at the corner and once we get back to school from camp, we will start binge reading and serious prep, so I wouldn't be able to tell him again.

Whether he rejected me or not I had to at least try and fight for what I want.

I walked towards Emi's cabin as I huffed again opening the wooden door as I walked towards the room where Emi was seated backing me.

"I know this might sound weird but,  ever since the day you pushed me into the pool when we were in jss1 I've had this attraction towards you,
I tried to push it down but you keep doing things that make it develop more ,
Im sure you're wondering why I decided to confess now but I can remember that you told me that if I wanted something I've gotta be bold and fight for it so,  Emeka Alejandro Igbinoba, I am in love with you. " I ended as I didn't get a reply.

"Emi?" I called out as I turned him to face me as I saw tears pouring down on his face.

Emeka never cried, he was always the one to settle fights and cheer people up. He was the only guy that Ashely was very free with besides Jace and her elder brother.

" What's wrong? " I asked him as he gave me a pained expression as he explained what happened .

"I thought... I thought that we had a thing going on.. I wanted... I wanted to ask her out soon.. But I guess.. All I did wasn't anything to her" he said as I clenched my fists in anger.

"It's always Deraline " I muttered angrily. She was the one who made Emi cut his hang time with me to create space to hang out more with her.

I pulled him close as he cried in my shoulder as I comforted him.

"I don't have a chance... Do I? " I muttered with a cracked voice.

"I'll... Ill think about it" he muttered in my chest as I shushed him.

"Don't.  Forget I ever said anything Let's get through this together okay?  Don't think of anything else until you're better " I said even if I was feeling hurt.

"You know.. If Ashley finds out you cried she's gonna rain hell on whoever made you sad" I said trying to cheer him up as he chuckled.

I wasn't joking. And Emi knew that too. Ashely Winters was going to make whoever the person was life miserable.

"That's why she shouldnt find out. She has a lot to deal with, I don't wanna add my problems to hers" He said as I shunned him.

"You're never a burden to Ashley.. Now enough of this..rest now ill get you some ice cream and then we can talk all about it okay? " I said as he nodded as I rushed out .

JACE POV
TWO DAYS LATER...

The boys and I were fishing for barbeque night as Emeka joined me as I smiled at him.

"Hey lover boy" he called out to me as i smirked.

"Emi..whats popping? " I asked as he shrugged.

That wasn't normal.. Normally Emi would have looked for my trouble or pushed me into the water. I dropped my rod as I pulled him to sit on a log with me.

"What's wrong bro? " I asked as he sighed.

" I'm conflicted ." he said as I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"Okay so... I'm crushing on dera and I wanted to ask her out but I saw she and damilare making out in the forest,  it seems she has a relationship with him" He said as I urged him to continue

"then I was heartbroken.. Very. Kim confessed her feelings for me and then she saw my state and told me to forget she eve said anything and she comforted me and we has ice cream together and she let me cry on her shoulders " Emi said as I hummed.

" so what can I do? Should I still run after dera? Or I should accept Kim? "he asked I ran my hands through my hair.

"I'm not a good counsellor or adviser, so Im only going to tell u something it's better to be with someone who loves you because you can always learn to love him/her than being with someone you love when you know that the person doesn't see you that way " I said as Emi nodded as I gave him a pat.

"yeah.. Ashley is better at giving advice " Emi said as we chuckled and went on fishing.

THIRD PERSON POV
It was lunch time and the girls were seating together and there was tension in the air.

Kimberly kept glaring at Deraline as she stabbed her grilled chicken with her fork.

Deraline kept staring at her phone smiling and giggling Silently.

Hailey secretly snuck her pills into her mouth to avoid Ashley or any of the girls catching her.

Peace and Lois conversed with each other arguing about the trending style  while Ashley ate her food listening to the both of them cutting  in when needed.

" I wonder how we will get everyone at the campfire tonight,  it's the last night we will spend here ..tomorrow we will be back in school " Lois spoke off cutting her argument with peace as they all nodded.

"Shouldn't be that hard" Deraline said as Kimberly glared at her.

"Easy for you to say. You've got two guys wrapped around your finger " Kimberly sat as the girls heads snapped towards her .

"Kim what was that about? " Ashley asked as she stared at the girls with Dera who was totally confused as to why Kim said that.

" I dunno.. You should ask her" Kimberly mumbled only to Ashley's hearing as they all shrugged it off putting fake smiles on their faces as they continued what they were doing earlier .

Emi walked towards their table as deras eyes lit up.

"Emi I... " she was about to say as Emi shut her up not even sparing her a glance.

"It's Emeka to you and Ash? You wouldn't mind if I stole my girlfriend for a bit? " dera was hurt a bit , she didn't know why Emi was being so cold to her.

The girls stared at each other confused... Who was Emi's girlfriend?

Emi walked toward Kimberly as he pulled her up giving her a slight kiss on the cheek.

" I was talking about kim" He said as Ashley stared amused .

"Emi... "dera started again as Kimberly responded this time.

"Miss Akeredolu,  it would be best if you stopped pestering my boyfriend" She snapped as she smiled at Ashley and the rest of the girls.

" see you guys at the campfire" she beamed a smile as Ashley waved slightly.

Dera eyes welled up as she stared at Ashley who didn't even know what to say.. She was confused and she just shrugged standing up leaving the girls.

Dera suddenly remembered what happened between her and Damilare two days ago... She had to talk to him she bolted out if the chair leaving Lois,  Peace and Hailey alone.

"so.. Whats gonna happen now? " Peace asked staring at Lois and Hailey.

"Don't ask me! I'm outta here" Lois said as Peace followed behind as they left Hailey who rested her head on the table as the drug effects where kicking in.

Sky sat beside Hailey as he smiled at her and she smiled back.

"what just happened  with you and the girls?" he asked as she smiles resting her head on the desk again.

" Honestly I have no idea. "