There's a big difference between falling in love and being in love. There's a big difference between infatuation and falling in love.

Phil McGraw

Present day.

Chapter One

CYNTHIA

I stare warily at the large green gate that has the words 'DREAMERS HIGH SCHOOL' written boldly on it as Lanre, our family driver, parks the car in front of the school.

Today is the first day of what would probably be another boring year and the only exciting thing about it is that it's also the last year I'll be spending in school. And even at that, I would have given anything to not have to be here at this moment but Nanny wouldn't have it.

No amount of explaining to her that coming to school on the first day of resumption is a waste of time convinced her to let me stay at home and that's why I'm currently seated here in the car, watching lazily as cars drive into the school to drop off sons and daughters of other wealthy families, instead of getting down and entering the school myself.

While I idly watch different cars drive into the school compound, I only hope to see a particular white BMW car. It's the car that drops my favorite person in the whole of this school and the only reason I had finally given in to Nanny's insistence on coming to school today. I can't wait to see her bubbly self and maybe get infected by her aura of happiness so I can get through the day with a better mood. 

But after ten minutes of waiting and seeing no white BMW car belonging to her drive into the school, I start to feel a bit disappointed.

I begin to think that she might have decided to not come to school today anymore, probably thinking being present in school today will be a waste of time just like I had thought, but then I remember the text she had sent me this morning out of excitement, telling me how delighted she is that school is finally resuming and how she can't wait to see me and I know I was wrong.

Concluding that she is probably already in school since I arrived pretty late, I finally decide to get down from the car. I smile apologetically at Lanre who has been waiting patiently for me to alight from the car for the past few minutes but he only smiles back and tells me to have fun.

I simply wave in response as I step down from the car and walk into the glamorous school that is Dreamers High, noticing immediately how well it has been groomed and maintained during the holidays.

The first thing that probably comes to mind of guests or new students who enters Dreamers High for the first time is 'elegance' or 'class' and it's no surprise since Dreamers High School is a huge school that is situated on the Island of Lagos and is attended by the children of the wealthy and affluent from all parts of Nigeria. It is also known for its grand hall that is used for hosting the school's social events and its large stadium - that is sometimes rented to other organizations - for sporting events.

The bizarre amount of money that is being paid every year as school fees can definitely be seen in the school's beautiful structures and surroundings. The school management has a penchant for the colours 'green and white' and you can easily see that in the painting of most of the buildings across the school.

Thankfully, the person who designed our uniform wasn't as patriotic as the person in charge of choosing colours for the buildings and that's why the colours of our uniforms are white, black and ash.

We are currently in the Harmattan session so it had been announced on the WhatsApp group for SS3 students that the management had ordered all students to put on the school's winter uniform and in accordance to that I'm currently putting on a white shirt, black plaid skirt and a white or cream coloured sweater with designs of black in the neck and sleeves. Students can choose to wear the long sleeved sweater or the short sleeved sweater and I had chosen the latter, deciding it's better to start the first day of the new term fashionably.

But as soon as I get to the SS3 floor, I discover that my mates have taken the word 'fashionably' to the next level and I mean a whole new level.

The hairstyles I can clearly see on some of my classmates are peculiar and definitely against the rules. It is very surprising because Dreamers High is a school that enforces rules and regulations with punishments, they take pride in breeding disciplined students and that's why the only explanation I could think of for their sudden boldness and confidence, when they wouldn't dare to do that in the previous term even as SS3 students, is that this is their last term as SS3 students.

Unlike my hair which is just simple box braids made with black and brown attachments, some of my female classmates had extensions, long colored extensions for that matter, fixed on their heads. Some have box braids made too but with bright coloured attachment. I blink in astonishment when I see a girl with pink braids talking to a girl with purple and white braids. The school has no problems with braids or the use of attachments but it crosses the line on the use of bright coloured attachments and any form of extensions. I begin to wonder if there had been an assembly today because I definitely wouldn't be seeing this if there had been one.

The second most notable thing to see is their footwear. I use footwear because I don't know if whatever some of them are wearing can be qualified as shoes or sandals. I'm putting on black sneakers which are a bit in contradiction to the school's rule of wearing black flat shoes but what I have on is definitely nothing compared to the girls who came to school in stilettos.

I watch with dread as one of such girls turns abruptly and holds on to the school's railing on the balcony to keep from falling because she had almost lost her balance due to her high heels.

Please, who send her like this?

I shake my head as I hear one other guy whose dreads are tinted gold boast to his friends about how the shoes he is putting on costs up to 50k. I glance at the said shoe and honestly, if someone should give it to me as a present, I'd just sell it.

I continue to make my way to class and had to stifle my laughter when I overhear the conversation of two girls who are oblivious to the third party listening to their discussion.

"I bought this bone straight wig for 180k o." One of them announces with glee to the other girl and pats the hair proudly.

The other girl gives her a disgusted look that is quickly masked by one of pretended interest, "Are you sure it's not fake? I heard the original is like 250k." She says then smirks, clearly enjoying the distressed look that is now on the first girl's face.

What kind of friend is this one?

I don't wait to hear the rest of their conversation since I'm not really interested in watching the tantrum the first girl is about to throw so I make my way to our classroom. There are very few students in class when I entered and from the snippets of talks I can hear from various directions, they are all just having the continuation of the conversations I just left outside. 

Well, except for some few students who probably have better things to do than to brag about the price of the new wristwatch they are putting on to anyone willing to listen.

Our set was named the 'vainest' sets when we were just in JSS2 by the then seniors of that time and I must say it was a title we rightfully deserved. My classmates back in JSS2 competed with the seniors then in any way they could, not even minding that they are more than couple of years ahead of us in academics and age.

If a senior brings a designer bag to school today, it was sure that a junior from our class would bring the same bag to school the next day or even one that ranks higher than the senior's. From bags to shoes to watches, name anything that could be used to brag, the juniors came to show the seniors that they meant the rivalry. 

The seniors would call them names like vain and proud, would put them down in numerous ways in the hope that they would stop their ways and not get so endeared by worldly things as time goes on, but it had only gotten worse.

Like how it is even when they are the seniors now, they still compete amongst themselves and find ways to show off the new thing they just got to anyone who is willing to know, pitiful if you ask me. But then, that's how it has always been every first week of resumption, the bragging will probably end before the week runs out, when academics begins in full swing.

I head towards my seat and I'm not surprised to see my seat partner, Tobi Davies, with his head buried in a Chemistry textbook looking every inch the nerd that he is.

"Hi, Tobi." I greet but he doesn't respond. He is so engrossed in what he is reading that he doesn't notice that someone is now standing in front of him.

I wave my palm in his face to get his attention and he jumps, probably startled by the hand that is suddenly in his view, before finally looking up, adjusting his round-glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"Hello." He greets with a small smile and almost immediately, lowers his head down to his book again, a silent declaration that he doesn't want to be disturbed.

I intentionally ignore the message.

"How was your holiday?" I ask, going to take my seat beside him.

Now, I hope you aren't thinking I'm the kind of girl who goes about trying to chat to anybody who is willing to talk or listen because I'm in fact the opposite.

I've been called proud, arrogant, rude, stuck-up and many other names by my classmates for this same reason and honestly, I don't care because I'm more comfortable with not befriending any of them than to get constantly reminded of what they had done to me when we were still juniors. 

The only reason I'm making this effort towards my seat partner is because I hold no light to him when it comes to keeping to one's self, and honestly I don't blame him. He has also had his fair share of mockery from our classmates because of his small stature and the fact that he is schooling here on scholarship makes it worse.

And after the incident of one of the girl who attended Dreamers High on scholarship committing suicide, I took it as a personal job to be nice to him. I must say he's also a very strong person because he has been able to hold out this long, just three months left until he graduates.

But still, we've been seat partners for three years now and one would think through those years, we would have gotten close enough to actually have straight conversations for at least an hour without being awkward whatsoever. But if I'm being truthful, I don't think we've spoken up to a hundred words to each other since we became seat partners.

He gives me a disgruntled look, not liking my intrusion for the second time, "It was fine," He answers simply and this time, I know that is definitely the end of our exchange.

I make myself comfortable on my seat after putting my bag into my desk locker and glance at my wristwatch only to discover that the first period is almost over and there is still no teacher in class. If this isn't exactly what I was meaning to make Nanny understand when I was explaining to her that coming to school on the first day of resumption is a waste of time. I wish she could see this herself.

I try to emulate my seat partner by bringing out my Chemistry textbook to read so as to pass time, but after reading it for what is approximately ten minutes – yawning more than ten times in between and ending up with watery eyes – I close the textbook knowing I will only end up falling asleep if I should continue.

Clueless on what I'm supposed to do next, I decide to text Grace to ask for her whereabouts.

Me: Where are you? I'm bored.

Girlfriend: Me too, girl. I don't know why God decided to curse Arts students this morning by sending this woman to us. We don't even have History class today and she has spent almost twenty minutes in class, already revising last term's work.

Her reply was swift and I snicker after reading it. The boring subject teachers will really be doing their best to make us bored all the time.

She must be definitely uninterested seeing as she is on her phone when there's a teacher in her class.

Not bringing your phones to school is another rule that is totally disregarded by probably all students of the school as long as they can get away with it and I'm one of them.

I quickly type my reply.

Me: Then hurry over to my class or I'm going home.

Girlfriend: Don't you dare. I'll tell her I'm going to use the restroom now.

I chuckle again before replying.

Me: Alright then. I'm waiting.

She reads the message but doesn't reply so I know she is already asking for permission to use the restroom.

The only person I'm totally free with after Nanny is Grace and I smile as I recall how we had became best friends when I was in JSS2 and how we've become inseparable since then.

She was the sweetest and most genuine person I met back then and she still is, even though I don't always agree with her view on certain things in life, relationships for example.

Remember how I said we were named the vainest set when we were just in JSS2 by the seniors, it wasn't just the designer items rivalry that earned us that title. The school stereotype had contributed to it too and by school stereotype, I mean the typical division of students into social groups; the popular cliques, nerdy but cool cliques and the unfortunate ones who are termed outcasts. It doesn't just end there as there were grades to being popular and sadly, it still continues.

At the top of the popular pyramids right now are people like Michael Bankole, Femi Durojaiye, Dorcas Ogbonna, Peter Adams, Wole Wright, and others that I really don't care to remember.

For you to be amongst those on top of the popular pyramid you have to be very good looking and extremely wealthy, but the thing is there are lots of wealthy kids in school - our school is for the rich after all - but not so many students are very good looking.

Back when we were in JSS2, the only very popular people in our class were Michael Bankole, Dorcas Ogbonna and her friends whose names I can't recall right now. They had really seemed to enjoy this privilege as they only moved with people they considered worthy enough to be in the same category as them and looked down on people that were not in the same 'class' with them. Grace was also at the top of the pyramid then but for some reason, she never liked Dorcas and her friends, and no matter how hard they tried to make her their friend, she refused any form of association with them.

And me? I was absolutely hated by Dorcas and her friends for no genuine reason. I still wonder why till date because I feel I deserve to know why I was treated that way by her and her friends.

Dorcas made sure I had no friends, made sure I was an outcast even when I was more than worthy to be amongst those on top of the popular pyramid but I never cared and it only seemed to annoy her even more, so she continued to make my life miserable.

It became worse when an unfortunate incident happened to me and let's just say it ruined the second year of secondary school for me.

We had been asked to bring our parents to school for a Parent-Teacher meeting then and Sam, my five-year old brother was just little over a year then. He was very ill and Nanny had to stay with him so she could take care of him and that obviously meant she couldn't make it to the meeting.

Quite understandable, isn't it? But not according to my classmates then.

Why? Because ironically, every one of them had someone to represent them, one of their parents, be it their mum or dad was there for them. I was the only student with no one to represent me.

My real parents? I stopped caring about them after they continuously chose their work over Sam and me.

Few days after, rumours of me being an adopted child began to spread.

How it came to be, I don't know but apparently, I was an orphan who was adopted out of pity by a rich couple and they didn't care enough for me to show up on the day of the meeting since they already have children of their own.

No matter how hard I explained to them that I wasn't an orphan, no one cared to listen and I was soon branded with that name, being called 'orphan' by everyone.

Imagine raising your hand to answer a question in class and a random classmate goes, "Hey orphan, are you sure you know the answer to that question? Why don't you just put your hands down so you won't embarrass yourself?" And the other students would burst into laughter, even when what the person had said was clearly not funny.

It got so bad that I could be standing next to my desk, trying to pick a book or pen that had fallen and I would suddenly be shoved. "Orphan, you shouldn't be standing like a moron." One of them would say and the rest of them would laugh again.

I had arrived at school one day only to see that the word 'orphan' had been written all over my desk and chair and I had decided then and there that enough is enough. I mustered up courage - since I was a shy girl with bruised self esteem - to report to our class teacher in JSS2 and she was caring enough to actually take it up with other teachers. They came as a group to speak to everyone in the classroom, addressing the issue and warning them against it.

But did it work? No! The teachers' intervention only made it worse and the bullying intensified.

If anything, I regret ever going to the teachers to complain and when the mistreatment had continued, going to report to my class-teacher was no longer an option. But I was only human, a young one at that and I was beginning to break. Seeing other students enjoy watching me humiliated and even joining them in making me humiliated made me feel worse.

Some didn't care because they weren't the ones in my shoes and they obviously preferred it that way but there were others who were totally disgusted by their acts and Grace was one of them.

I would never forget the day she had stood up for me in class and the backlash she had gotten in return. One would think she would never come to help me anymore after how disastrous the whole thing had turned out to be, but guess what? She did it even more persistently.

"What is she thinking about?" A familiar high-pitched voice belonging to the one person I've been waiting to see asks and my lips curve into a smile. I'm glad to know she was actually able to make it out of her classroom.

I turn to look at her pretty face, noticing that she also has black braids done on her head and it is neatly packed into a ponytail with the tips of the braid curled. She isn't really putting on any makeup except for the light lip-gloss that she is wearing and she is dressed in the same winter wear as me, choosing the short sleeved sweater over the long sleeved one.

I pretend to ponder over her question then flash a grin, "I was thinking about my life, especially the parts that includes you."

She gives me a scrutinizing look, probably wondering if I'm bluffing or actually saying the truth. I also narrow my eyes at her, imitating her look until she slightly shakes her head and gives a light chuckle. I smile in return and watch as she moves into the classroom and engulfs me in a big hug.

My expression changes into one of amusement as I hug her back, wondering why she is suddenly hugging me, "What's the deal?"

She releases me from her embrace with a pout, "What do you mean what's the deal? Didn't you miss me?"

"We saw each other like a week ago."

"Exactly, we haven't seen each other for a whole week. That's a very long time." She chides.

"Yeah, a very, very long time." I nod enthusiastically in agreement while trying to keep a straight face.

She gives me an unimpressed look, knowing I was not taking her seriously, "I'm being serious, Cynthia."

"I'm also being serious, Grace." I mimic but she scowls and I end up smiling. "I really missed you honestly." I finally say and her face softens as she smiles approvingly at my words. I chuckle, knowing very well that she takes even the littlest of things to heart.

She mutters a quick 'Hi' to my seatmate who only responds with a curt nod and then sits on the chair in front of me after turning it around so she is directly facing me.

If there's one thing that always comes up in our conversations, it's definitely 'boys' and that's all Grace's fault. She's either always fantasizing about a certain boy who has managed to catch her attention or thinking about whether to agree to date a guy that had just asked her out.

"So tell me about Bayo? How is he?"

Bayo is her latest boyfriend, emphasis on 'latest', but looking at how her face is now scrunched up in disgust after my question, he is probably now her ex-boyfriend.

I admire Grace a lot for she is a very wonderful person but her one flaw is her obsession with boys. We've been friends since JSS2 and I've lost count of the number of guys she had dated since she got to SS1.

She even dated a senior who invited us to a party back then and it's funny how I can't seem to clearly remember details from that night. It did strengthen my resolve to never go to parties again though, especially after that amount of scolding we both got from Nanny.

"We broke up." She shrugs nonchalantly, confirming the answer I already had in mind. Of course, they broke up. This is Grace we are talking about.

I narrow my eyes, trying to look all serious. "What was the reason this time? You guys started dating when last term was about to end and that's just two weeks ago."

"He talks too much." She shudders as if an image of him talking had just flashed in front of her. "I don't understand how a guy can talk as much as he does. We can spend an hour over the phone talking about things that are meaningless and even when I try to give him signs that I'm getting tired of the conversation, he just ignores it and keeps talking."

I find the way she had just spoken with repulsion comical and that's why I can barely keep the laughter from my voice when I ask her if she had really broken up with him because of that.

"Yeah." She replies indifferently, totally disregarding the fact that I find it amusing and I let out a huge sigh, wondering what I'm to do with her.

Well, compared to some of her other reasons for breaking up with her past boyfriends, this might actually count as a valid reason. Grace is someone who had once broken up with a guy because she had said something funny and the guy in question hadn't laughed. She had said and I quote, 'I can't date someone with no sense of humor, someone who takes life too seriously.'

And the irony of it all is that her dad must never find out about her ever being in a relationship with a guy. I bet that man can't bear to hear the words 'Grace' and 'date' in a single sentence. With the way he is so strict with her when it comes to boys, you would think he wants to get married to her himself.

That's probably why sometimes, I feel she's just dating the guys as an act of rebellion, to escape from the cage her dad had put her in since she's never truly interested in them.

And she's able to get away with it because her dad is seldom at home.

"But seriously, Grace. All these aren't necessary. Just find one guy and commit to him."

She looks at me with disbelief, "Ehn?! Commit to what?! With all these guys of nowadays that just wants to get down with you? Abeg, abeg, abeg."

I start to say something in response but my seat partner coughs slightly and Grace and I both turn to look at him. Sensing the pairs of eyes that are on him, he raises his head to look at us - his eyes layered by his glasses seeming all innocent.

"Don't worry Tobi, you are not one of them. I don't think you have it in you." Grace reassures him with a smile and I roll my eyes at what was definitely unnecessary for her to have said but that's when I notice Tobi's lips lift into a slight smile which soon disappears. I raise an eyebrow, studying him.

Is there something I don't know? Come to think of it, why did he cough when Grace had said guys of nowadays just wants to sleep with girls?

"Forget about my relationship with boys and let's talk about your non-existent one." Grace says, diverting my attention.

Ouch.

I already know what she's getting at so I feign disinterest, "Grace, I don't need to start hearing about how I'm at the perfect age for dating and to start going out with guys."

She looks at me hopelessly and shakes her head almost pitifully, "I don't just understand you. You have guys lining up to date you but you turn all of them down without any good reason. Just why would you do that?"

"Because I don't like any of them?"

She narrows her eyes at me, "What about John then? You like him, don't you? So why the hell aren't you giving him a chance?"

John.

That one word is enough to evolve a myriad of emotions within me and I smile shyly, feeling butterflies in my stomach. I have a crush on John and it is no secret, especially from Grace since she has pressed and pressed until I had finally told her how I feel about him.

It wasn't hard to fall for him, he is cute, kind and so sweet. He even has a mischievous side to him that I absolutely like.

And there's the fact that he was also the one who had saved me from getting raped at the party two years ago.

***

I think there's a kind of mix-up somewhere. Cynthia seems to be confused. *grins evilly*

So, don't lie o. How many of you are like Grace? How many boyfriends did you have in secondary school?

Lemme go first. I had none actually. I had crushes though and my crushes always end up asking me out but I'm like Cynthia in the sense that I believe in finding your soulmate and falling in love with him and living with him happily ever after.

And for some reason, I used to believe my soulmate is in the University waiting for me so I didn't want to waste my time with mere secondary school boys 😂😂😂.

But let's be honest, all the University guys I've met are F9s. None of them are worthy to be my soulmates.

Wo, lemme stop here 😊.

So, thoughts anyone? Bombard me with your theories. What do you think is going to happen?

Don't forget to leave a vote and tell your friends about this book 😪😔.

Next update soon.

Until then,

Love you guys ❤❤