Sorry for the late update. Hope the length of the chapter makes up for it 😌.

Dedicated to Perezsax ❤️

Chapter Fifteen

CYNTHIA

I sit at our table in the cafeteria, waiting for the bell for lunch to ring so Grace and John can come down to eat. I feel strange since I'm the only student in the cafeteria and everywhere is quiet.

The bell finally rings and I quickly go to buy lunch before other students come in to get theirs. I buy Jollof rice, salad and chicken with a can of Coca-Cola and by the time I go back to sit, people are already trudging into the cafeteria to get their lunch. I have just taken two spoons of rice when I see John walk into the cafeteria. His eyes immediately go to our table and I see him visibly relax when our eyes meet, his mouth forming a smile.

He walks towards me first instead of getting his lunch and leans above me on the table, my heart skipping at our close proximity.

"Are you fine? Nothing weird happened to you at the station?" He asks in a low, gentle voice.

"I am fine." I find myself responding in a whisper and returning his smile.

"Good. I'm coming now, let me just get my lunch first."

I nod in response and watch him join the queue for lunch, my smile not leaving my face as I watch him order his food at the servers.

Can someone tell me why I feel this guy is not my soulmate again? Should I just accept to be his girlfriend?

Wole and Peter walk into the cafeteria not long after and I know that as the noise in the cafeteria reduces. Not silently like when it's all of them but enough to know that the both of them still have some of their attention.

Good for them.

But why are they just two? Where are Femi and Michael?

Wait, is Michael not back from the police station?

My question is answered almost immediately as he strolls into the cafeteria with his hands in his pocket and a smug expression on his face. He looks far too confident for someone who is just coming back from the station and I can't help rolling my eyes. He suddenly pauses, searching the cafeteria until his eyes land on me.

He winks at me and I narrow my eyes at him, wondering what has come over him.

I didn't even give him the ride he wanted so much.

I watch with distaste as he bounces to his usual table where his friends are waiting and it isn't even up to a minute when his girlfriend and her friends come to join the table.

I roll my eyes. Typical.

Grace rushes into the cafeteria and I watch her with alarm. Seeing how she is hurriedly running into the cafeteria with an anxious look on her face, she has probably been worried sick about me and is going to bite my ears off.

She stops running when she sees that a considerable amount of people has their attention on her so she walks briskly towards our table instead, practically slumping on one of the chairs.

"I'm sorry." I immediately offer an apology but she doesn't seem to have heard. She looks like she is in a trance, a dazed expression on her face.

Is something wrong?

A hush falls over the cafeteria again and I look up to see that Femi has just entered the cafeteria, a slight smile on his face. I don't think he is even aware of his surroundings as he heads to their table, smiling.

I glance over at Grace's dazed expression then his smiling face and then back to Grace.

Am I missing something?

"Hey, Grace." John greets as he pulls out his seat and places his tray of food on the table. That seems to successfully jolt her out of her reverie.

"Hey." She replies his greeting and then finally looks at me and sees me, her eyes narrowing. "You." She points an accusing finger at me. "What the hell happened to you since yesterday?"

"I didn't want to waste your call card that's why I didn't pick your call." I respond with a sheepish smile. John chuckles at my obvious lie but Grace doesn't even blink.

"Really? That's why you kept me in the dark? Since yesterday?!" She screams the last part and I'm sure everyone in the cafeteria is now looking at us.

John stands up and gently pulls her up from her seat, "Go and get your food first and we will all talk."

She had come into the cafeteria and to our seat in a rush that she probably forgot that she hasn't bought her lunch.

She doesn't even look at John as he guides her away from the table, her glare solely directed at me. "You have a lot of explaining to do when I get back." She finally speaks and I immediately nod in agreement.

"Yeah, I do."

She heads to the servers then and I can't help but notice the subtle glance that she directs at Michael's table, her eyes darting to Femi.

I guess I'm not the only one that has some explaining to do.

"Your friend is so dramatic." John comments with a hint of laughter.

I glance at him with a smile, "You mean our friend is so dramatic.

He chuckles then his face slowly grows serious, an apologetic look on his face, "I'm sorry."

I raise an eyebrow with confusion, "Why are you sorry?"

"If I hadn't gone home earlier, I would have been with you to help with the guy that you took to the hospital."

"You know about that?"

He gives me an almost offended look, "Everyone in the school knows about that. And besides it concerns you, so even if they don't know, I have to know."

I smile at him, wondering how he can make me feel special with just those words. He returns my smile and reaches out his hand to squeeze mine.

My eyes fall on his hand on mine and I shouldn't think about it right now but I can't help feeling a bit disappointed that I didn't feel even a tiny zap of electricity at our contact.

I find myself looking at him again, like I could find the answer to that discovery on his face.

Or is Grace actually right about the tinge of electricity just being sexual tension? And I'm not just sexually attracted to him?

An all too familiar voice clears her throat and I look up to see her drop on the chair with her tray on the table and a dead look on her face.

"Start explaining." She mentions without preamble, "I want to know why my calls weren't returned."

"Should I be annoyed too since you didn't return my call also?" John chides and I blush.

"I'm sorry." I say quietly and Grace raises an eyebrow.

"Oh, so you apologize to him but not to me. That's so nice of you." She states flatly.

"I just thought it'd be better to explain to both of you here at lunch than to waste call card over the phone." I defend again but she scoffs and clears her throat.

"I'm your best friend and you shouldn't wait till the next day to tell me something I was in on from the beginning. I carried that guy to the car with you, you should have at least called to tell me that you arrived home safely and to tell me how the guy is doing." She rants, looking hurt.

"Then, without even knowing what happened yesterday, I hear people start to say that you and Michael have been taken to the police station. What did you expect me to think?"

"I'm sorry!" I say, almost too loud. "I was going to tell you guys at the right time."

"I thought the guy that was rushed to the hospital died and you were accused of murder." She blurts.

"What?!" Both John and I chorus with astonishment.

She glances like a clueless person at John and then at me before dropping her gaze on her food, let out a sigh and spoon the rice into her mouth.

John and I exchange looks and I give a slight chuckle. This girl.

"I was definitely not arrested for murder."

"Then tell us what happened." She looks up, replying impatiently.

"Fine, let me explain what happened." I respond then begin to tell them both everything that happened in the hospital and in class this morning. John already knows what happened in class but I guess Grace hasn't heard of it since she looks so surprised when I mentioned the fact that Michael is now transferred to our class, then I tell them everything that happened in the police station.

I don't tell them about the whole 'give-me-a-ride' incident though and I'm not surprised that after all my explanation, the first question Grace asks is, "Michael is now your seat partner?!"

"Yes." I reply with a sigh and she squeals.

"You are going to be sitting with Michael, as in Michael Bankole?" She asks again and I reply with a roll of my eyes.

She turns to John with delight, "John, did you hear that? Michael is going to be her new seat partner."

He doesn't say a word in response and I notice how his demeanor has changed ever since I mentioned that Michael is now sitting with me. I don't know if he is just being jealous or there is something more to it.

"He knows already." I answer instead and everyone falls quiet, a remorseful look now on her face.

We continue to eat in silence until Grace suddenly asks, "What do you think is happening at their table?" She points at Michael's table and I notice that he and his girlfriend are having an argument that is gaining the interests of the other students.

"A couple's fight, obviously." John replies Grace's question. I look away from them and catch John looking at me. I give him a small smile and continue to eat.

"I can't believe people actually prefer to watch them fight than eat." I can't help commenting as I lift a spoon of rice to my mouth.

"Do you have any idea how many girls are hoping for the two of them to break up?" Grace asks like that explains everything.

"That's not my problem." I reply and she chuckles.

I open my coke to take a sip and as soon as I drop it, I feel John's palm on mine.

"I'm sorry." He says again and I look at him with confusion.

"And why are you sorry now?"

"You were probably scared and confused in the police station all by yourself, I really wanted to go with you, I even contemplated jumping one of the fences to get out of the school so I could be with you."

He would really do that for me?!

"And there's still the situation of yesterday." He adds desolately and I give him a reassuring smile.

"You don't have to worry about what happened yesterday." Grace beats me in responding to him. "You know how Cynthia is, she defended that boy and prevented him from getting hit all by herself." She adds enthusiastically and then claps excitedly.

"Do you know what she ended everything with?" She asks and he shakes his head.

"I despise you." She finishes with so much seriousness, probably trying to mimic me. John bursts into laughter and I roll my eyes.

That was definitely not how I looked or sounded like.

"I'm serious. You could feel she meant what she said with the way she said it. I almost felt sorry for Michael."

I raise an eyebrow in question but she isn't looking at me.

"But I won't deny he is a jerk." She continues and I immediately nod in agreement.

"A handsome jerk". She adds again causing both John and I to roll our eyes.

"Excuse me, but that handsome jerk is my boyfriend."

I look up at the new intrusion at our table, hoping that it's really not who I think it is. But I'm out of luck as I find Dorcas standing right in front of me. She isn't with any of her rats but then they aren't far from us and are looking at us from Michael's table.

What does she want?

If Michael and Dorcas argument had the students interest then the fact that Dorcas is standing in front of my table has the whole cafeteria interest, including the cooks and food sellers.

But then I'm not surprised as it is in this same cafeteria that I stood up to Michael for the first time just two days ago.

I give her an uninterested look, "What do you want?"

"I came here to tell you two things." She begins and I smirk.

This should be good.

"Really?" I ask sweetly, leaning back in my chair. "I doubt it's anything sensible but I'll give you the benefit of doubt. Let's hear it."

She scowls at my words but continues all the same."One, you have absolutely no right to talk to my boyfriend the way you did yesterday."

I open my mouth, feigning surprise and shock at her words, "Wow!" I exclaim and clap my hands in amazement before asking, "What's the second thing?"

"Stay away from my boyfriend." She concludes and I just can't help it, I burst into loud laughter. I hear my laughter resonate in the cafeteria and the look of annoyance on her face only fuels it.

"You're so dumb." I state after I'm done laughing and it succeeds in making her more annoyed if that is even possible. She opens her mouth to say something but I don't allow her.

"Haven't you heard of the seven fundamental human rights?" I ask and she raises an eyebrow. "Well, in case you don't know or you've forgotten because you are dumb like that, I will be glad to remind you." I add, still smiling and fold my hands.

"One of these rights is the freedom of speech and that means I can talk to any damn person the way I want, where I want and whenever I want, especially if he is an asshole like your boyfriend." I explain as calmly as I can.

Dorcas opens her mouth to protest but I cut her short again.

"And I should stay away from your boyfriend? It's so ridiculous to even think about." I tell her, sincerely amused. "That sentence should actually be directed to your boyfriend since he is the one who can't seem to stay away from me. Let me also remind you that I absolutely hate him. In fact, you can do me a huge favour by telling him to stop being my seat partner this very minute." I end with a tight smile.

"Oh, and thanks in advance." I add then lean forward to continue eating.

"I wasn't done talking to you."

"But I'm done talking to you. You can go back to your boyfriend now." I respond, taking a spoon of food to my mouth.

"You think you are so smart because of all what you just said but I don't care. I'm only asking you to stay away from my boyfriend or else you will regret it." She announces.

Gosh! She sounds so stupid.

"And henceforth, whatever he does is none of your business. So you shouldn't go around interfering in what doesn't concern you and making it seems like he is a bad person." She adds then asks, "Do you understand?"

I make a show of ignoring her. I drop my spoon and take the fork and knife to eat my chicken.

"I'm talking to you!" She screams but I pretend no one just spoke and turn to Grace.

"Have you tried your chicken yet? I think you should because it is absolutely delicious." I smile and give her a wink. She only shakes her head in response, her lips twitching.

All of a sudden, I feel something sticky land on my shirt and I look down to see that Dorcas has poured the rest of my lunch on me.

I stare at my clothes, stunned as I watch the oily stain that the rice leaves on it as they drop on the floor.

She didn't just do that.

I raise my head to look at her and find a satisfied smile on her face.

"I guess I have your attention now." She sneers, "Anyways, I'm just going to repeat what I've just said, stay away from my boyfriend. If he comes to you, move away. If he calls out to you, turn a deaf ear, that is the only way we won't have to hate on each other in this school and trust me you won't want that to happen." She continues and then with a smug smile adds, "Now, I'm done talking to you."

She then turns around and starts to walk away.

I stare at her retreating back, clenching my hands into fists.

She's a fool if she thinks this is ending like that. This conversation is definitely not over.

I stand up from my chair and grab the Coke that I haven't finish drinking. Grace eyes widens as she sees this and realizes what I'm about to do but I quickly look away. I know she is going to try to stop me but there's no way I'm allowing Dorcas go scot free.

I look at her and I'm glad she won't be hard to catch since she is sashaying to her table. I leave our table - effectively shutting all murmurs across the cafeteria - and take long strides to get to her. When I do, I grab her by the arm and turn her around.

She lets out a squeak, her eyes widen in surprise.

I hide the coke behind me and give her a fake smile, "We weren't done talking now, were we?"

She quickly overcomes her surprise and narrows her eyes, "What are you trying to do?" She tries to free her arm from my grasp but I grip it harder.

"You must have thought I'm still in JSS2 where you can do whatever you like and go scotfree. But what to do Dorcas, times have changed and personally, I think what you did just now was really bad and it was one thing you shouldn't have done because then I will be forced to retaliate." I tell her.

She tries to act bold and hide the panic in her eyes but it's as clear as day.

"What are you going to do?" She asks with a hint of fear and I smile.

"This." I respond and before she can ask what this is, I begin to pour the Coke on her head. Smiling satisfactorily at the collective gasps from her and all the students in the cafeteria.

I glance at Michael's table as I pour the coke on his girlfriend and I see him watching me intently, his expression unreadable.

The rest of his friends look astonished and surprised, except Peter who sits laid back on his chair with an impressed look on his face. His arms are folded and he watches me with a smile.

Okay, there is really something going on with that guy.

I empty the drink on her and watch satisfactorily as it drips down her stupid extension hair and her shirt before letting go of her hand.

Her expression is so priceless that I'm tempted to take a picture and use it as my wallpaper so as to remind her that this happened.

Shock, disbelief and embarrassment are written all over her face and I can't help it as my smile gets bigger.

Her two friends rush over, fussing over her and sending glares my way. I only fold my arms and shrug.

"She asked for it."

"You've made yourself a new enemy, Cynthia and you are surely going to regret this." Dorcas declares through clenched teeth.

I pretend to shiver and reply in a mocking voice, "Oh, I'm so scared."

Cat comes forward, a murderous glare on her face and I also walk up to her, a smug smile on my face.

"I think that's enough drama for today."

I watch Grace as she comes to stand between us. She gives me a berating look and drags me out of the cafeteria into the girls' rest room before I can even say a word.

She closes the door, drops my hand and stands akimbo, staring right at me so I can do nothing than to look anywhere but her face.

"Are we going to camp here until school closes again?" I joke to lighten the mood but her lips don't even rise into a smile.

"Come on." I pout to make her talk and she finally sighs.

"I'm disappointed, Cynthia. You really shouldn't have done that."

She removes my handkerchief from the pocket in my skirt and after wetting the handkerchief, begins to dab gently on the stain on the shirt to reduce it.

"You stooped to her level and did the exact same thing she did to you, even worse. What do you think that says of you as a person?"

"Grace, please. You really do not expect me to just allow her walk away after what she did."

"Yes, I expected you to let her walk away." She retorts and bends down to dab at my skirt. "I wasn't surprised when you poured coke all over her as payback because it's just like you. You should really learn how to control yourself. You shouldn't get back at everything."

"Really?" I ask with disbelief. "So you would rather I allow her insult me in the cafeteria and watch her go just like that? You would rather I give her more reasons to walk all over me because I couldn't fight back the first time? You would rather I allow myself to be used as an object of ridicule just because she felt like it?"

"Of course not. I just don't want you to start making enemies." She replies, slowly standing up and looking me in the eye.

"So you think I'm not scared of what this would cause? Do you know how anxious I was when Michael suddenly appeared in front of me not knowing he was going to ask for an apology? Is that what you would like? For me to get scared whenever someone looks down on me? For it to be JSS2 all over again?!" I shout.

She doesn't say anything but the resigned look on her face speaks volumes.

"I really didn't expect this from you, Grace. Especially when you know why I'm like this. Why I always fight back." I add quietly.

"I'm so sorry but I'm only just concerned about you. What if she wants to get back at you for what you did?" She asks just as the bell signaling the end of lunch rings.

"At least, she will think twice before she does anything." I reply then exit the restroom.

***

MICHAEL

I have to remind myself to close my mouth as I watch Cynthia's friend drag her out of the cafeteria the second time this week. I'm still trying to process what to think of the whole situation when I hear a slight chuckle coming from Femi.

"This is so hilarious." He says, still chuckling.

I can see Wole nod in agreement. "You aren't wrong. Damn, that girl is really something." He adds with a smile. "Michael, are you really sure your plan will work?"

My gaze falls on Peter at Wole's question and I see that he has a smile on his face and he is staring at the exit of the cafeteria, where Cynthia and her friend just walked through.

What is going on in his mind?

"Guy, you know what? You have to introduce that girl to us formally." Wole tells me and Femi quickly approves with a delightful clap. I turn to look at the both of them.

"Yes, you should introduce her and her friend to us formally." He adds excitedly.

"Why are you involving her friend?" Wole asks him with a scrutinizing look and then his eyes widen all of a sudden, like he realizes something then he screams. "You like her?!"

I roll my eyes. Not again.

They are probably going to end up having an argument like they do every time Femi gets a new girlfriend or is about to.

"Why are you now shouting?" Femi replies with annoyance.

Wole doesn't even seem a bit perturbed by his pointed glare, "You and I have to talk. A serious talk. I can't let you continue to allow yourself be used by all these girls all because you are searching for some kind of validation for yourself."

Femi's face seems to darken with anger at his words and I'm almost taken aback by the way he is looking at Wole.

But Wole should have known better than to bring up this issue just like that.

I wince at the sudden sound of a girlish scream and I see Dorcas still standing where Cynthia had left her, the Cat and Chicken girl fussing all over her.

"How dare she?! How dare she embarrass me again?!" She shrieks.

Well, thank God it isn't my fault this time around. She brought it upon herself.

She suddenly turns towards my direction and I'm terrified by the look on her face. Her eye makeup has been watered down by the coke that was poured on her and now she kind of looks like a... panda?

I stifle a laugh at how weird she looks.

She pushes one of the girls that is cleaning her shirt away from her and starts to stump towards me. I let out a resigned groan.

Now, what? I'm not me the cause of this one na.

"Michael, you and I are going to have serious issues." She starts as soon as she gets to me and I let out a sigh.

"Nawa o." Femi mutters beside me.

I swear, Femi. I swear.

"What did I do now?" I ask, sounding exhausted.

"I was arguing with you few minutes ago because you transferred to her class but it turns out you are also her seat partner?!"

"Dorcas look, I have my reasons and-

She raises her hand to stop me, "I don't want to hear it. Transfer back to your class or forget about me." Without waiting for my response, she storms off.

The Cat girl follows after her immediately but I notice that the Chicken girl is still standing, staring longingly at Femi. She probably doesn't even know that the rest of her friends are gone.

"Chika, what the hell are you doing?"

She blinks back to reality at the sound of the Cat girl's voice and quickly runs to meet her.

So her name is Chika?

"Michael, you've got a lot of explaining to do." I hear Femi's nagging voice and I give him a bored expression.

"Please, don't start. I'm tired."

"Femi, we have a lot to talk about too." Wole reminds Femi who only rolls his eyes in response. Wole ignores him and turns to me, "How was your stroll to the police station?"

"And why are you suddenly a Science student?" Femi asks too.

The bell for the end of lunch rings just then and I breathe out a sigh of relief, immediately standing up to leave for my new classroom.

"You know you're still coming back to meet us, right? We are all going to Peter's place." Femi calls out but I only quicken my pace.

He is right though. I have no choice than to tell them everything anyways.

I head towards the normal staircase absentmindedly and I soon realize that's a mistake as the bell just rang and there are a lot of students on the staircase.

I should have waited a while before coming out of the cafeteria.

I catch the astonished and bewildered look on some of the girls' face and I give them a tight smile before hurriedly going down the stairs and turning to use the 'out-of-bounds' staircase.

I successfully arrive at the class after only being harassed by a girl, thankfully, and my mood immediately falls when I see John talking to Cynthia by our table.

Are they close to each other?

"Well, I taught her a lesson." I hear her tell him. "It's no wonder she is Michael's girlfriend. Their personality is a perfect match." She adds.

They are talking about Dorcas?

I clear my throat to announce my presence and they both turn to look at me, "You can't be so sure now, can you?" I ask with amusement but she gives me a dirty look.

"I don't care." She replies and turns back to John with a smile. "Talk to you later."

He nods and gives her what he thinks is a charming smile before turning to me with a glare, his smile vanishing, "Don't you dare try to mess with her."

I give him an indifferent look, flashing him a grin and he rolls his eyes before he finally goes to his seat.

I go to sit next to Cynthia and while looking at her, I can't help thinking that my plan is already falling into place.

Now, there's only one thing to do.

And that's to get her to remember who saved her two years ago and make her fall for me.

***

Wahala for who no get plan o.

Things are really just about to get interesting so... Wo, don't lemme talk 😌.

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Until next update.

See you 😘