Hey, guys. I'm finally done with my test and I felt I should update as soon as I can. For all of you that has been patiently waiting for this update, I love y'all and I hope you enjoy it.

I will start the regular updates like before. So, anticipate 😌.

***

Chapter Twenty

MICHAEL

I grab her face and bring my head down to kiss her and she seems too stunned to process what is happening. But the shock is only for a minute because just when I'm about to close the last inch of space between us, she places her palm in the middle of our lips so I end up kissing her hand instead.

I blink down at her in confusion, only just realising what had happened before she pushes me away, a look of disbelief and indignation on her face.

I close my eyes, expecting the slap that is sure to follow but then a moment passed without feeling it and when I open my eyes, I see her looking at me with a bit of confusion before she speed walks away from me.

All the adrenaline that was bursting through me at that moment immediately disappear and I'm left feeling disappointed in myself.

I shouldn't have done that. 

I really shouldn't have done that.

God! What was I thinking? What is wrong with me?

I just ruined whatever chance I had with her, even though I'm pretty convinced I had no chance with her to begin with.

I know I overreacted, if there was another word to qualify what I did, it will definitely be more fitting but now that she's gone and I'm not being blinded by my emotions, I start to think of why I had even reacted that way.

Why?

I definitely do not like her.

In fact, thinking of all the humiliation I've suffered from her these past few days, there's possibly no way I can.

So was it my ego?

Was it that I just couldn't stomach the fact that she was acting all lovey-dovey with someone else when she wouldn't so much as bat an eyelid when I'm involved? Especially after all that had gone down between us two years ago?

Or is it the fact that the person is John? The most disgusting person I know?

The possibilities are endless.

I can't let her end up with John, not if everything that had gone down with Wole is something to go by. I have to stop whatever he is planning towards her, I just can't believe he genuinely likes her. 

Gosh! I need to talk to the guys. To hear their opinions. I know I'm going to get bashed and I need to stop over thinking things.

My head has been hung low all these while so when I raise my head and see the number of people watching me with wary and worried eyes, I take a defensive step back.

At least, they have no judging eyes.

I square my shoulders and proceed to walk confidently through the number of students that have gathered. I might have just done something that is out of character but there is no doubt that I'm still their one and only Michael, the son of the Senator and the school owner.

I head towards the out of bounds stairs and straight to my former classroom. I don't care that it's not lunch break yet and it's still lesson hours. I don't even care that they might be a teacher with them. I just feel it won't be a great idea to sit next to Cynthia for the next period after how I had just tried to kiss her.

I open the door to the class and of course, the look of surprises on their faces is as expected, well, they all look surprised except Peter whose only indication that I'm in the classroom is a raise of his eyebrow.

"Guy, what are you doing here?" Wole is quick to ask and I roll my eyes at his question. He doesn't even sound happy to see me.

"I've missed you too." I answer with lack of enthusiasm.

Femi rushes to me and pulls me into a side hug, "Michael, I've really missed you. I swear. The class isn't same without you." He pouts and I can't help smiling at him.

At least someone felt my absence.

"The teacher for the next lesson will be here anytime soon." Wole announces again and I throw him a pointed look. He seems to be grumpier than usual.

"Well then, she can use this period to rest." I respond while shrugging off Femi who is still clinging to me. I go to close the door and put the hook in place so no one can come in.

"This one that you're here and you're closing the door." Femi comments, eyeing the door I just closed.

"What? I can't decide to come spend some time with my gees because I suddenly miss them?"

"More like you've gotten yourself into trouble and choose to escape here." Wole mumbles loud enough for all of us to hear. I narrow my eyes at him because he is actually right and I begin to wonder if they already know what happened.

Well, nothing gets past him. And looking at him now, he really doesn't seem too happy.

"What's wrong with him?" I ask Femi and he replies with a long and loud hiss.

"Who knows for him."

I stare at him, surprised at his reaction until I remember what had happened yesterday, how they had argued and gone their separate ways.

I chuckle loudly, "Don't tell me you guys haven't settled since yesterday?" I glance at Wole then at Femi then back to Wole again.

"I'm not fighting with anybody." Wole replies flatly. "I'm just trying to make him see reason."

Femi flares up immediately and I realize I just made a mistake by bringing up the topic. "Thanks but my eyes have seen what they want and it's not seeing any reason."

"I don't think the eyes are working at all in the first place because we won't be talking about this if they were." Wole retorts.

I look back and forth between the two of them as they bicker, thinking of what to say to end this before it gets out of hand. I glance at the only other person in the class who should be trying to do same but is only resting comfortably on his chair.

Seriously, I don't know if he is just unbothered or annoying.

"Can you guys stop? I didn't come here to hear you guys argue." I state flatly to both of them but I might as well be talking to the air. Wole rolls his eyes but Femi doesn't seem to have heard me.

"Michael, do you know what his problem is? He has too much time on his hands. He doesn't date and isn't even interested in dating, that's why he won't stop butting into others business."

"Why are you bringing up my dating life?" Wole questions in a very stern voice, even I know it's a warning directed at Femi, to keep his mouth shut and to just end that topic. But my fear is Femi might not get that message.

And that's exactly what happened.

"So I can't talk about your dating life but you are allowed to talk about mine? Everyone here knows about it so I might as well say it in front of them that you really need to stop acting like a grumpy old man and go get laid or something."

"I'm. not. interested." Wole grounds out, his eyes now blazing with annoyance.

I move nearer to where Femi is standing and pull him by his sleeve. "It's okay, just end it there." I whisper to him.

"No. I'm not ending anything if he won't stop butting in on my personal life." He replies in a loud voice.

"So what's your point exactly?" Wole asks with a raised eyebrow.

"How about you move on from Tiwa already and have a girlfriend so we can all breathe peacefully." Femi replies and the rate at which Wole shoots out from his chair and head towards Femi is alarming.

This isn't really what I am here for.

"Do. not. mention. Tiwa." He declares slowly and angrily to Femi who only rolls his eyes.

"But you can mention my parents?"

"They are two different things!" Wole suddenly shouts.

"Oh yeah, then don't give what you can't take! Leave me the fuck alone!" Femi shouts in response too, both of them staring each other down.

"You're the one who is acting like a fucking child and throwing tantrums!" Wole responds back, not relenting.

I groan and bury my face in my palm. This is really not what I was expecting when I said I was coming to speak with them. This is really not it.

The sound of someone trying to open the door disrupts the silence that is now in the class and with a heavy sigh, I proceed to open the door for whoever is there. I think that will be better than having to deal with them screaming at each other.

The teacher at the other side of the door looks surprised when she sees me open the door. She must not be expecting to see me here since I'm no longer a student of the class. I only give her a tight smile, "Just pretend I'm not in this class." 

Well, it's either that or go back to sitting next to Cynthia and I don't think she will want that right now. I should probably give her time to cool off so I won't end up receiving another slap.

The teacher nods in response at my words, still clearly not understanding what is happening but enters into the classroom all the same. She pauses once again when she sees both Wole and Femi who are still giving each other the stink eye and I had to go and separate them so she won't just change her mind and end up leaving the class.

When we are all finally settled and she starts to teach, I lay my head on the table and begin to think of what to do to redeem myself in Cynthia's presence.

I didn't even get to ask her if she likes video games so I'll know the ones to install for her if she's really going to come over tomorrow.

I guess I really messed up.

***

CYNTHIA

Why is he acting mean all of a sudden? We were cool until I left the laboratory so what has gotten over him?

He really just called me a fool and saying I'm offended is an understatement. I'm trying hard to not kick him in his face right now.

"If you can like someone as disgusting and dangerous as him, then I was wrong to think you're smart." He continues and I just can't help finding the irony of his words hilarious. I burst into laughter and it isn't the joyful kind.

John is literally the kindest and sweetest person I've ever known and he has the audacity to say he is disgusting and dangerous. 

It's just really funny.

"Disgusting? Dangerous?" I question with disbelief. I don't even know I was walking towards him until I see him take steps back till he is leaning against the wall. I stare right into his face because I want him to clearly see the repulsion I have for him in it as I speak. "What is this? A clown show? Or a 'call-others-what-I-am' type of show if that's even a thing?"

I ignore the confused look on his face and continue, "You and I both know who those words are perfectly suited for. Calling someone disgusting and dangerous when you're the one who beat an innocent guy to a pulp and isn't even human enough to check up on him in the hospital that he is."

He seems a bit ashamed at my words but it does nothing to lessen the amount of loathe I'm feeling for him at the moment. Just what the hell is his problem? How many emotions will he make me feel in the short amount of time that we've known each other?

He looks straight into my eyes, the look of remorse replaced with determination, "Whatever you're thinking of me right now, John is probably ten times worse than that. You shouldn't like somebody like him."

Is he serious right now? Are we talking about the same person? And what the hell is it to him if I like him?

I scoff before replying, "Then who should I like? You? I would rather stay single for the rest of my life."

He looks pretty taken aback at my comment and for a moment, I don't know what to do. But the next thing he does surprises me, he legit just grab me by the arms and begin to shake me.

Is he serious right now?

When he stops, I give him a murderous glare, "What do you think you are doing?!"

"Letting you see reason."

The hell? By shaking me?

I think there's something he isn't getting.

"Look here, Michael. You might have been mistaken that we are now friends or something because I decided to help you in the laboratory but don't be deceived, I can never be friends with someone like you not to talk of liking you."

"You can never like me?" He asks.

Is he deaf or what?

Before I can even begin to think of what to say next, he turns us around so fast that I'm pressed against the wall instead of him and he's the one looking down at him.

I can feel my heart beat unsteadily at the quick movement but I think part of why it's pounding like this is also because of our close proximity and current position.

What- what does he want to do?

"What do you think you are doing?" I manage to get out in a firm voice, my heart is already going haywire at this point.

"We'll see if you can still say that after I do this." 

Do this?

What's he going to do?

It's not until I see him closing the remaining space between us did I realize what he's about to do.

My eyes widen at the realization. Is he really about to... kiss me?

No. 

No!

I'm not giving my first kiss to him. Before his lips can meet mine, my palm instinctively raises up to cover my mouth just in time for his lips to kiss my hand instead.

And even the kiss to my palm is enough to send in a tingling feeling. I literally feel something spread through my body. 

Then he slowly raises his head up and our eyes meet and at that moment, a memory suddenly flashes before me.

A memory of us in a car, in this exact position, only my hand wasn't covering my mouth and... and... and that was it.

What the hell was that?

I look back at Michael and notice his eyes are closed now and he looks like he is bracing himself for something. He opens his eyes and looks down at me with an unreadable expression. 

I don't wait to talk as I hurriedly walk away from him, wondering what that memory was.

***

The bell for lunch rings and the only thing I'm pretty sure of after what had happened in front of the Chemistry laboratory is that Michael never came back to the class, I don't think I heard a single word from our Computer Science teacher.

And sitting with me instead of Michael is John who although his presence is pretty appreciated is unable to stop me from thinking about what I had remembered when Michael had almost kissed me.

Why would Michael and I be in a position where we were about to kiss? Even weirder is the fact that I was the one who was trying to kiss him. Why would I want to kiss him? I admit I used to like him way back but...

Or wait... is it one of my fantasies of him during that time? 

Just what is that?

"Hey!" I'm startled by John's sudden shout and his slight shake of my hand. "I've been calling your name for a while now. What were you thinking of?"

That I might have been crazy at one point in my life and had tried to kiss Micheal which doesn't really make sense because we have never ever been together until the collision at the cafeteria.

"It's nothing." I respond with a small smile.

"Wouldn't it be better if I could sit next to you like this instead of that guy?" He asks, pretending to be thoughtful and I laugh.

"Yeah, it will be so much better." 

And I won't have to be confused about anything regarding him.

"Let's go get Grace together. It's been a while since we went together to get her." He suggests and I nod in agreement.

I pick up my bag from the table, "Let me just put this in my locker." 

I'm still putting my bag in the locker when I hear Grace's voice from the window, "What's up, people?" 

"I guess we won't have to get her anymore." John mutters and I can't help smiling.

"So... why is John sitting there instead of 'Mr. Popular'?" Grace questions innocently and I sense John immediately tense beside me. I look at her and gently shake my head, telling her not to push the topic. She looks at me confused for a second before getting it.

"Michael isn't here." I respond instead and she shrugs.

"Well, let's go for lunch. I'm seriously famished." She groans with a dramatic note of impatience.

I roll my eyes and begin to stand, "Let's go, John." 

We both go out of the classroom to join Grace and when we get to her, she smiles at John and raises her eyebrow in question at me.

I'm walking in between John and her so I mouth to her. "I'll explain later."

She gives me a 'you-had-better' look earning a shake of my head.

We end up walking to the cafeteria with Grace chatters and my responses to her words. I can't help thinking that John's silence is because of Grace's mention of Michael.

We get to the cafeteria and go to get our food and then we go to sit at our usual table. I look at the table where Michael and his friends usually sit and find that they aren't there yet.

Where did he even go? Why didn't he come back to class after Chemistry? Well, he almost kissed me so I guess his conscience is weighing him down. Serves him right.

"What are you thinking of?" John's voice cuts through my thoughts again and then he follows my line of view.

"It's nothing." I respond quickly and start to eat my food. He says nothing and also continues to eat his food. Everything is going well until Grace dramatically drops her fork on the table.

"Okay, tell me what happened while I wasn't with you guys. I don't like to be kept in the dark." She announces and I sigh.

So much for explaining later.

I hold John gaze, asking for permission to tell her everything that had happened with Michael and he just shrugs.

I then explain everything that happened in the most neutral way that I can, leaving out the fact that Michael almost kissed me and what I had remembered because of John who wasn't there to witness and who I'm sure won't take it well. 

I don't even know if I should tell Grace about the almost kiss later but I'm very sure that if I did, she will never let me hear the end of it.

And saying I'm surprised that Grace didn't react dramatically after I'm done explaining is an understatement. John and I exchange looks as she sits quietly on her chair, not saying anything.

She then leans back on her chair and gazes ahead before she finally clears her throat.

"I think I should also change my department and become a science student." She finally comments wistfully and I give her a dry look. "I could have watched all these you just told me live! They happened right under my nose!" She exclaims with a hint of disappointment and I roll my eyes. Surprisingly, John chuckles and I smile.

She doesn't say anything after and continue to eat and we do the same. We are still eating in comfortable silence when the cafeteria goes silent again, a declaration that Michael and his friends are in the cafeteria.

I roll my eyes at no one in particular and continue to eat, minding my business.

But the sudden murmurs from the students which is quite unusual gets me curious and I look up to see what could have caused it. That's when I notice that Michael and his friends aren't going to their usual table but are heading to... us?

Grace drops her fork for the second time, John's hand visibly tightens around his fork and I just keep staring ahead, unable to do anything.

What the hell is he about to do now? 

Everyone has their attention on us like we are some kind of mythical being that they never considered existed until now and I don't like that attention one bit.

"Hey, guys!" Femi is the first one to greet and he sits beside Grace whose eyes widens in surprise.

"Hey." He says quietly to her with a smile and she blinks in response, staring at him.

Seeing Grace lost for words is a very rare sight and I have to try very hard to hide my smile. I also think it might be safe to assume that Femi might be interested in her.

"What do you guys want?" John asks a little bit harshly, successfully reminding me that Michael is still here with the other guys.

"Hi." Wole greets John who slightly flinches at the greeting. Wole's expression towards John doesn't look like he even wants to greet him, it looks more like he wants him to drop dead on the chair that he is sitting on.

Why bother greet him in the first place?

I look at John too to see that he is also fuming and he is looking at Wole with disgust.

Is there something between John and Wole that we don't know about?

I'm still trying to process everything that is happening when I see someone wave at me, completely catching me off guard. I know there's nothing special about a wave to take me by surprise but it isn't the wave itself that is surprising, it's the person who is waving at me.

I raise an eyebrow as I watch Peter wave at me, then drop his hand before slightly lifting his lips up in form of a smile. Emphasis on 'slightly'.

I quickly look away from him trying not to be too weirded out by his behaviour only for my gaze to land on Michael who I now discover has been staring at me intently, waiting for me to look at him. He smiles when I finally look at him and I'm left even more confused.

Is that supposed to be an apology? His smile?

Well then, fuck him.

"What do you want, Michael? I don't like the attention we are getting." I hiss, wanting my irritation towards him to be known clearly. Femi chuckles just then and I direct my glare at him instead, to which he quickly makes a straight face.

"I'm sorry but you do realize that all you did since the beginning of this week was draw attention to yourself. You've been in many situations with Michael and Dorcas too." Femi explains and I narrow my eyes at him before rolling it. 

He is actually right but that doesn't excuse what is happening at the moment.

"And you guys don't have to add to it unnecessarily. What do you guys want?" 

"I'm sorry." Michael answers and I'm left momentarily shocked. I definitely wasn't expecting him to apologise out of the blue. All the guys turn to look at him, surprise evident on all their faces, even Peter's.

"Wow. This is the second time Michael is apologising this week." Grace muses out loud. "Is this really the same Michael that I know?" 

Michael ignores all of them, only looking at me. "I'm really sorry, Cynthia. I don't know what came over me then. I really shouldn't have done what I did back then and I have no excuse. None whatsoever."

He holds my gaze throughout the apology and unlike when he made a show of apologising in front of Grace's classroom just a couple of days ago, I feel like he truly means it this time around.

"I hope you can forgive me." He adds quietly, giving me a remorseful look that almost makes me want to tell him he's forgiven.

I look away instead, refusing to meet his eyes. "Is that why you are causing a scene?"

"That and to tell you that I will be going home early today." He responds and I immediately frown.

"Why?" I ask and his lips lift a little.

"To prepare the secret room for your arrival." He replies, earning himself an unimpressed look from me.

"So you are saying you will skip the rest of school to get a room ready which can easily be done even after school closes?" 

He shrugs, "Well, let's just say there are other things I have to do too. Plus, I don't think you will want me sitting with you after everything that's happened." He explains.

But you've apologised. I'm not a monster or something.

"So, I guess we will be seeing you tomorrow in the secret room." Wole adds.

I start to nod in response when I realize that I haven't even told them that I won't be able to make it to their secret room.

"Guys, about that-

"Baby." A whiny voice interrupts what I'm about to say and I groan, knowing exactly who the voice belongs to.

Michael stiffens at the sound of the voice and his facial expression goes cold, which is a surprise as I definitely wasn't expecting that kind of reaction from him. Soon enough, the queen of all things artificial appears in her excessive made up glory and I can't help sneering.

"Baby, what are you doing with these rats?" She asks, slipping her hands around his arm.

"I was just reminding them of something important." He answers gruffly and removes her hands from his arm, only for her to place it back.

I see her bimbos standing just behind Wole and Michael who are not sitting and see that one of them is staring way too much at Femi and Grace. More like staring lovingly at Femi and giving Grace a death glare.

That must be the ex-girlfriend Wole mentioned yesterday.

"Let's get away from these things, Michael. They irritate me." She tells him with a fake smile while directing an eye-roll at me. 

"Your voice is what is irritating." I tell her and she immediately scowls.

Femi and Wole snorts at her expense and I can swear Peter has a smirk on his face too. She gives me a hard glare which I successfully ignore and feeling my appetite dissipate, I stand up to take my tray of food to where the dishes are.

Only as I stand up, Dorcas flinches and cowers behind Michael and I raise an eyebrow in amusement before realising she might have thought I wanted to pour the food on her.

I almost chuckle when I remember her threat about her being a new enemy.

"If you are going to be an enemy of mine, you are going to have to try a lot harder than these." I say, gesturing to her whole act, earning a glare from her in response.

I carry my tray to the dishes and stump out of the cafeteria, not looking back. I'm angry and I don't even know why. 

I go straight to the class and I'm grateful that there is no one in there. I go to my seat and bring out the books for our next lesson. All these I'm doing with annoyance and I don't notice when someone enters the class.

"Why do you look so angry?" 

The familiar drawl of his voice startles me and the first thing that comes to my mind is that we are the only ones in the classroom.

"What are you doing here?"  I ask instead, ignoring his question.

"I'm here for my bag ." He replies as he comes to sit beside me so he can unlock his locker and take his bag from there. I say nothing after, pretending to go through the books that are in front of me when in fact I'm aware of every of his movements.

He suddenly turns towards me and my hand hovers on the page I'm supposed to flip over, "You never told me if my apology is accepted." He mentions quietly.

I slowly turn towards him, wondering why he is bringing it up again and see that he really looks expectant.

"Cynthia, I'm really, really sorry for the things I said back then and for trying to kiss you. I would never try to kiss you anymore." He mutters pleadingly. "Well, unless you want me to." He adds sheepishly and I can't help the short laugh that escapes my lips.

"You wish."

He gives me a hopeful look, "So is my apology accepted?" 

I watch him carefully, wondering why he's so intent on me accepting his apology. But I've got to admit he does look sorry. There's honestly no point in dragging it out.

"Fine, apology accepted." I announce and the look of pure delight on his face makes me smile too. He starts to move closer to me, extending his hands out as if he wants to hug me. It's only when he sees the uncertain look on my face that he pauses to look at me, his hands dropping to his sides.

"I'm sorry again. I was going to hug you without thinking." He scratches his head awkwardly.

I almost burst out laughing at his behaviour. Why is he being all cute now?

"It's okay." 

"So we are cool, yeah?" He asks again and I nod. "Good. Because you really have to come to the secret room tomorrow. You like video games right?"

I'm reminded again that I haven't told him that I won't be able to come to his secret room.

"Michael, about the secret room-

"Yeah?" He raises an eyebrow almost immediately.

"I don't think-

The sound of a phone ringing interrupts me again and he hurriedly brings out his phone from his pocket. "Shit. I've forgotten that the guys are waiting for me. They are already calling."

He immediately stands from the chair, holding his bag with him. "We'll see tomorrow. Take care." And with that he walks out of the classroom and I can only watch him leave.

Great.

He's going to prepare a room that I won't be coming to and he won't even let me tell him that. I didn't also get to tell him about the flashback I had but I'm guessing that's a good thing.

He is only going to laugh his head off when I tell him about it because it sounds pretty ridiculous even to me.

What's he going to think about me asking him if I've ever tried to kiss him before? The least that question will do is to fuel his already enormous ego and having that happen at my expense is a certain NO.

And maybe the memory is only a figment of my imagination but whatever it might be, I'm going to have to find out myself.

***

So... Pretty long chapter right? You're welcome 😘. I hope this makes up a little for my absence.

How do you guys see this story turning out? I want theories.

Don't forget to recommend, vote and comment.

Until next update,

See you soon ❤️