•°•Naomi's POV•°•

"Why don't you want a free ride, Naomi? What's wrong with it?" Jenna asked me and pinched my arm.

"Ouch!" I winced. "I couldn't help it. I just like to play hard to get whenever I am with Freddy. I guess I can't change that habit. It's just too fun".

"But my legs aching and the sun is turning me into human suya. Haba! Pity me na"

"Calm do...." I was interrupted by the blasting sound of a car horn. I tilted my head a little to get a peep. I was surprised and happy to see it was Freddy.

Jenna and I were heading to a shopping mall. We wanted to buy some artifical nails so we could fix. Since I'm the villain in the movie, I need to look like one. As for Jenna, she loves fixing her nail. I don't have anything against that. I just have problem with one person that fixs it. That's Kate. The true WITCH. I never expected to see Freddy today. Since Kate had snatched his attention yesterday and today. I've been thinking and trying to formulate a new method that will get Freddy's full attention on me. I'm sure his attention is still on Amarachi. Beside she is his girlfriend. I need to conquer her.

However, when Freddy called my name and I saw him in a white car, my heart did multiple black flips. I just did what first came into my mind, play the hard to get card.

"Yo, ladies! Don't walk away!" Freddy's friend had exclaimed, pulling me from my train of thought.

I turned to them and crossed my arms over my chest. "Are you following us?"

"Yeah! Something like that," his friend replied.

"Let's give you a ride," Freddy voiced and his lips curved into a cocky smirk.

"I don't need a ride. Walking is good exercise," I replied and pouted my lips in defiance.

"Sorry, Naomi! I disagree with you. Walking under Nigerian sun is brutal torture," Jenna cried out dramatically.

My eyes widened as I looked at her.

"I'm just saying the truth," she sighed and moved towards the car.

"I like this babe. She's funny," Freddy's friend said amidst laughter. "Welcome, beautiful. There's enough space in this car".

"Thank Goodness!" she said and smiled at Freddy. "Hey, Fred. We are going to a shopping mall close by. I don't know the name but someone said is close by". He nodded and she got into the car.

"You coming, Sugar?" Freddy asked me.

"Don't call me Sugar. I don't look like sugar," I huffed and stomped to the car. "I'm just going because Jenna is here. I can't abandon my friend".

"No wahala, Salt!" his friend responded.

I lifted a brow. "Salt?"

"Ah ahan! He called you Sugar and you complained. So I just decided to call you Salt. Simple logic," he answered and shrugged his shoulders casually.

"God help me. So I have to deal with Freddy and then his friend too?"

"What do you mean by that?" the two men exclaimed with laughter hidden behind their voices.

"Sorry! Maybe she is using too much words," Jenna voiced. "She is trying to say we are among mumu men"

"Is mumu a compliment?" Freddy asked with an incredulous look.

We all gasped and laughed. Even his friend joined us.

"American boy in black skin!" his friend teased him. "This ladies just insulted us".

"Ah! I didn't o. I was just interpreting Naomi's words"

"What? That was not even the meaning of what I said," I lied and got into the car. "I was thanking God for being among great men".

"Are you being sarcastic?" Freddy drawled and rolled his eyes.

"Yes! Awwn! How did you know?" I chuckled and pinched his cheek.

"Ouch!" he winced and looked at me as if he couldn't believe I did that to him. To be sincere, I'm surprised I did that.

"Call that payback for pinching my cheek in high school," I stuck my tongue at him and let out a really good laughter.

Freddy smiled at me and shook his head. "So mature," he taunted.

"Dude!" Dennis exclaimed all of a sudden. "This is partiality. If I pinch you, you will punch my face. But when she pinched you, you left her".

Freddy shrugged.

"When other girls pinch you, you frown. This is unbelievable," Dennis added with a low voice as if he was lost in thoughts.

"Chill, dude! Naomi is my childhood friend," Freddy told him and ignited the car engine. "Now, all I need right now is food".

After a while on the road, we got to the shopping mall. Dennis and Freddy decided to follow us inside. It was weird having them around us. Jenna turned to them and said, "I know you guys need food. How about you go to any cafeteria of your choice?"

"And leave you guys alone? Nah! We are gentlemen," Dennis said. Freddy had introduced him to us as a crazy computer genius.

"Actually, I want to buy Cheese Balls," Freddy said as his eyes swayed around the mall.

"Cheese Balls?" I quizzed.

"I feel the urge to eat it right now"

"Why are you so strange? You are a grown man, you know"

"Shush! I know that," Freddy chuckled. "I fell in love with it in the hospital when I was young. After cupcake, cheese Balls is my second favorite snack. I hope Nigeria Cheese Balls are good?"

"They are okay," I replied. "Go eat them while we girls buy nails".

"Wait! Is that why you are here?" Dennis asked. "I thought you came bikini shopping? I wanted to see you look sexy".

"Aargh! Dennis, when will you change?" Freddy shook his head and gestured that Dennis followed him but Dennis' eyes were on Jenna.

I can't believe I just noticed this now. Looks like someone is interested in my friend oo.

When Dennis winked at Jenna, she snorted and rolled her eyes. "Let's go," she said to me and strolled into a beautician's shop.

"Aren't you interested in Dennis? He is good-looking," I whispered.

"Pfft! That guy is obviously a playboy and I don't need that kind of guy in my life," she responded with a look of disdain.

"Alright! I get what you mean. I also don't new a player in my life"

We bought all we needed and met the guys at a cafeteria near the mall. Freddy was tossing cheese balls into his mouth when we arrived.

"How was your shopping?" Dennis asked.

"We didn't buy much goods"

"That's unusual. I thought girls could buy a whole shop in one day," he added.

"Not this kind of girls," Freddy voiced.

"How's your cheese balls?" Jenna snickered and sat on the chair beside Dennis.

"Crunchy! You want?" he asked, sliding a pack to her.

She grinned. "I don't hate it," she said and opened it.

Dennis had an empty ceramic plate at his front. When he noticed I was staring, he said, "Just finished eating rice".

"Oh!" I smiled at him.

"Two plates of rice," he added.

"Two?"

"Yeah! A man needs to eat well," he let out a satisfied sigh and rubbed his belly.

I nodded and sat on the chair beside Freddy. He leaned close to me and brought one cheese ball to my lips. "You want?"

"No!" I looked away.

"Why?"

"I just don't want it," I shrugged. For real, I don't want it.

"Why?" he insisted and cocked a brow.

I was about it to say yes and eat it but I thought of the fun I'll get arguing with him.
"Must I eat it?"

"Yes!"

"Why?" I questioned.

"You must it eat"

"Why?"

"Why not?"

"Freddy, move. You are leaning too close. Don't you know I need my personal space," I said. He was leaning so close that our shoulders touched. I liked it but I know that if I wanted to have Freddy back, I need our relationship to start from the beginning and years ago, our beginning started when we made a deal to fake date. I played the hard to get card while he was the dream boyfriend any girl could wish for.

"If you don't eat this cheese ball, your new nickname shall be and forever be cheese ball"

"I dare you, Freddy!"

"Eat!"

"No!"

"Okay, Cheese ball. You don't have to eat it"

My brows knitted as I sent a confused look at his direction.

"Your new nickname is Cheese balls," he winked and tossed the piece into his mouth.

"Aargh! You are so annoying!"

"And I'm so confused," Dennis said, pulling the attention of each of us at the table.

"Me too! Your stupid friend is saying my nickname is..."

He cut me short. "Not that! I'm confused because Freddy is being so free with you. The guy is always uptight and formal with other people. Always acting mature".

"Really?"

"Not with me. He is normal around me. But you? You are a girl. He isn't so free with girls," he disclosed.

I cocked a brow and looked at Freddy. He shrugged indifferently.

"Why?" I asked him.

"Are you asking me? Freddy has never been free with any girl. You are the first. Feel honored. He isn't even that free with Kate"

Hearing Kate's name made me feel a bit angry. I hate that woman.

"That means He likes Naomi," Jenna declared with a proud smile.

Dennis rose brow and studied Freddy. "I think so"

Freddy cleared his throat. "What? No! We are friends. Childhood friends. What's the point of being so formal and serious?"

No? He just said No? That he doesn't like me? Gosh! That word just crushed my bruised heart. I will just soak it in. I'll give him some time. Maybe he might fall in love with me again.

"Enough with the awkwardness!" Jenna hissed. "Valentine is next week! Any plans?" She announced as she hopped on her chair.

"Baby girl, you got any val?" Dennis whispered with a luring voice and leaned close to Jenna.

"Yes!" she replied in a heart beat.

Dennis frowned. "Who? Why?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"I'm your Val, okay?"

"What?" Jenna exclaimed. "I already..."

Dennis cut in. "Expect a gift from me," he said and smirked.

I didn't want to ask but I still wanted to. "Freddy, do you have a val?"

"Yes! Kate is my valentine date."

"Oh yeah! Dude, have you thought of a good gift for her?" Dennis quizzed.

"Not yet!" he replied and smiled. "I'll have to make the day special for her".

My heart ached. His reply stabbed me so hard that I was unable to suppress the disappointed look on my face. I rose to my feet. Trying to hide my face, I forced my attention on my bag. "Where is my purse? I need to get food to eat. I'm hungry".

Jenna noticed my watery eyes and nodded when she understood my condition. "Sure! Hurry up! I'm starving," she ordered and started a new conversation with them. I quickly walked away and arrived at the counter.

"Good afternoon. Welcome to..."

"Thank you!" I cut the waiter short. "Do you have any food that can cure heartbreaks?"

He rose a brow.

"No! No! I'm just joking. Two plate of jollof rice please"

He nodded.

I glanced at Freddy. He seemed happy chatting with Jenna and Dennis. However, I was feeling emotional and sad. The thought of loving Freddy and he not loving me back was heart aching.

Suddenly, his eyes met mine and I quickly turned away. I sucked in a deep breathe and sighed.

Will my love story ever be complete?

            ++++++++++++

Yep! That's the end of this chapter. What do you think? Did you enjoy it?

What do you think of Freddy's new nickname to Naomi? 🤣🤣

Any thoughts on Dennis? What about Jenna?.

Valentine is coming soon! Not just in my book but for real. 😋

What might happen in this book during Valentine? Is there any great idea that can draw Naomi close to Freddy?

Who likes Cheese Balls? 🤭🤭

Thanks for reading. Vote, my sweeties! Vote! #Stay safe.

From your 9ja Author,
Mabel.