I got to school early the next day.

I kept replaying my memory of what Alex said to me the previous day.

"He wasn't lying, you looked really pretty today."

My cheeks were tired of blushing.

I greeted a few Coursemates that crossed my path and strolled to my seat. Enny and I often sat in the second row to avoid distractions.

Dropping my bag, I brought out my MCB 324 notebook and sat. We were to have 4 lectures that day including a practical class.

Enny hadn't come. Her seat was empty. I placed one of my notebooks on her chair so that no one could take her space.

What's keeping her late? I have tons of things to tell her!

I withdrew my Cellphone from my bag and dialed her number. It rang for a few seconds before she picked.

"My looove!" She sounded so happy on the phone.

"Yes, are you still at home?"

"Noooo." She answered, still maintaining the joyous tone.

"Where are you?"

"Right behind you!"

Like a flash, she suddenly appeared.
"Look who's worried about me!" She cried out, handing over my book to me as she sat.

"Who is worried?" I grinned.

"So how far with Alex? I wanted to call you yesterday but I forgot." She whispered.

"You're always forgetting." I chuckled.

"Seriously, I really forgot this time." A deep furrow appeared on her forehead.

"You said this too last time." I burst into an uncontrollable laughter.

"You know I'm always busy at home."

"Yes, with movies." I sneered.

"Oya, I apologize. Gist me already!"

I breathed in and out and smiled.
"That one is gist for later. I have something more important to tell you." I moved closer to her.

"Hehe, see me see wahala. What could be so important?" She replied, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"I came to school yesterday, to meet Alex."

"Shebi you said that one is gist for later?"

"Calm down. I'm driving somewhere."

"Toor."

"I was looking for him when I ran into Samuel."

"My Samuel?"

"Yes, but you won't want to call him yours again after I tell you this."

I noticed the change of countenance on Enny's face.

"Was he with another girl?"

"He told me I was pretty, like how anyone else who saw me would have said. I thanked him and was about to leave when he said he needed a kiss."

"A what?" She folded her arms.

"I initially thought he was drunk until he pulled me and kissed my forehead. I was so shocked. It was at that moment, Alex......"

Enny was no longer seated.

"Where are you going?"

"To meet him, of course. Why would he do that nonsense to my best friend?"

I blushed.
"I thought you liked him."

"I was beginning to but what he said the last time we met was a total turn-off."

"What did he say?"

"He said I should come to his house, that we were going to enjoy ourselves. He now added that he had enough condoms."

"What in the world?" I clapped my hands in surprise.

"This pervert kept pestering me. I thought he liked me. Turns out he just wanted to have his way! Men!" She fumed angrily.

"He simply isn't the right man. He doesn't even worth your anger jare."

"I know, I'll still confront him. He's very stupid."

Enny waddled to the back row. I faced my front because I knew she was about to give that guy all the curses of her mouth and I wasn't ready to watch that. I felt free because I did the right thing. I wasn't planning to tell her before because she was going to be heartbroken but I felt it was better than getting broken in the future.

The MCB 324 Lecturer had entered. It was a woman in her mid-forties.

I haven't seen Alex today.

Scanning the class briefly, I found him where he normally sat. His gaze was fixed on the notebook in front of him.

Always reading!

Enny had returned. She wore a big smile on her face.

"How far?" I whispered.

"I did him dirty." She raised her palms for a high-five which I joined.

We then settled for lectures.
After the woman taught us, we had two more classes until it was time for practicals.

Our MCB laboratory was bigger than our lecture room. This was because we weren't the only ones that took practical classes there. Biochemistry students also offered that course so we always took the practicals together.

Enny and I changed into our White Practical Lab Coat and headed to the laboratory with other students.

"How is tomorrow going to be now?" Enny asked.

I looked at her.

"What is happening?"

"May 10!"

"Your birthday!!" I screamed almost too loudly, causing distraction to people. Their eyes shot me arrows.

"Sorry." I managed to say to a few that heard.

I waited a little before I continued.

"May 10 is here already?"

"You forgot my birthday."

"I didn't, I didn't just know it has come already." I defended.

"What's the difference?"

"Oya sorry. Are you planning on doing anything?"

"Guess what?"

"What?" I was curious because I knew her family would surely throw a big party.

Enny's family was a very sociable one. She had two brothers and a cute baby sister.
Her brothers "Daniel and Segun were both in secondary school while her baby sister "Sarah" was in kindergarten.

Her parents were divorced but she still visited her Dad a few times.

"Mom told me to invite everyone!"

"Really?"

"Yes, it's going to be a blast!"

"What time?"

"12pm. I checked the timetable already. We have only MCB 315 and it's 8 am to 10 am."

"Opor!" I hailed her.

We reached the Lab. With how fast we walked, almost all the seats had been occupied.

We quickly settled for the last row. I could see Alex seated somewhere in the front row. He was talking to someone. I wondered who it was because he rarely had friends.

The Lab was rowdy and noisy.
"Have you seen Kemi?" Enny asked at the top of her voice. I could barely hear her.

Kemi Adetiba was our third friend but we weren't as close as Enny and I were. She was a Biochemistry student and we always met during practicals.

"I haven't seen her o."

"Okay."

"Please is anyone here?" I heard faintly. It was Ola, the Class Representative's voice. I looked back and saw him with another guy, they were pointing to the seat beside us.

"No, we just got here too," Enny replied.

"Let's sit here. Ola told the second guy.

"Hey," Ola said to me.

"Good afternoon," I replied, not looking at him.

"Hi." The other guy greeted.

"Oh, my bad. Enny and Jummy, meet Kayode. He just joined us yesterday. He's a transfer student from Ondo state University."

"Okay," Enny replied, smiling.

I nodded.

"Kayode, these are my colleagues, Jummy and Enny."

I looked at him. He was light-skinned, thin, tall and handsome; though not as Alex. He had a chiseled face and it was clean-shaven. He wore a black neck-up top with a pair of white Jean trousers.

"Nice meeting you guys." He replied, looking straight into my eyes.

I looked away.
"Same here. Welcome to Hallmark!" Enny replied.

When the Laboratory Instructor entered, we worked on fruits with Axile Placentation and we were given a class activity in our Practical Manual. After about an hour, we ended the class.

I was very tired.
"Let's go home ooooo!" I told Enny. She was having a conversation with the new guy.

She moved closer to me and whispered into my ears.

"I'm coming."

I sighed.

"Okay, I'll just wait for you outside. Don't stay long o!"

"Fine!"

"Goodbye, guys." I waved at the two guys.

Ola waved back. He was busy with something on his cellphone.

"Goodbye, Jummy," Kayode said.
He was looking straight into my eyes again.

What's with these weird gazes?

I waved at him and headed outside.

Enny took a while before she finally came out.

"Ye, what took you so long? I'm dying of hunger!" I scowled.

"I don't think you looked at that guy's face o." She folded her arms.

I eyed her.

"Kayode?"

"Yes."

"He's very cute!"

"So?"

"He sounds friendly too. I just wanted to make friends with him."

"I don't have issues with that but you were delaying me!" I cried out.

"Sorry baby. See, he even asked about you."

"What does he know about me to be asking about me?"

"He asked if we were close and I told him we've been best friends for a long time."

"Ah, what's his business?"

"Nothing now, we just talked about random things. I invited him to my birthday party tomorrow!"

"Congrats o, my own is just that I must eat more than everyone."

"You're going to do something for me, Jummy," Enny replied, ignoring what I said.

"What is it?"

She handed me a piece of paper.

"You're going to give this paper to Alex, my home address is on it."

"What? Why?" I frowned.

"Help me invite him to my birthday party. I saw him when I was coming. He'll soon be outside, please."
Enny walked away immediately.

This is unfair, Enny! You should've told me beforehand. You're going to pay for this!

Seconds later, Alex walked quietly outside. He was alone as usual. I walked towards him, stopping him.

"Hi, Good afternoon." I greeted.

"Afternoon." He replied in a cold tone.

Does he have mood swings or what? We were together for hours yesterday and now he's acting like he doesn't know me.

"I... My best friend said I should invite you to her birthday party. It's tomorrow by noon."

The look on his face became colder. I knew he was going to decline so I did something.

I handed the paper to him.
"That's...That's the address. We'll be expecting you!"
I didn't wait for his next reply, I ran off!

Two love triangles are building up! Write your guesses in the comment sections! 😋
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Love y'all!❤️

Word count: 1670