If there’s one thing I learned in Alanon, it’s that you got to face the music because it just grows louder when you ignore it.

Vicky Covington

Chapter Three

MICHAEL

I had lied to them.

When they had asked me why Henry won't allow them come into the house, I had given them the excuse that I was slightly sick. And even I know it isn't convincing because they know Henry is aware that I consider them my brothers and let them do as they please whenever they come over.

I successfully remove myself from Dorcas and head towards one of the armchairs, the one that is at the far end of Peter and take my seat. The class has only four chairs and tables, one each for me and my friends.

I won't say I totally like the class because sometimes it feels like I'm isolated from the other students but then I requested it and I do like the privacy it provides.

From what I know, many of the other students are dying to see what our class looks like but the truth is there is really nothing much to see. It's like the other classrooms but it just seems more spacious as there are only four chairs and tables in it. A huge whiteboard and projector are placed strategically in the class and there's a cushion chair for any teacher who wishes to wait while we do whatever exercise he or she might have given to us. There is also an air conditioner which isn't a special thing since it is present in other classes, the only difference might be the curtains that is usually drawn down from time to time to give the class a cozy feeling to it.

"I was going to sneak out to meet M.K." I sigh, finally deciding to tell them the truth. I know I would receive a lot of scolding from them because of this but they definitely deserve to know the real reason.

As expected, there are identical looks of bafflement on both Wole and Femi's faces. Dorcas also looks confused.

"Babe, isn't that the Malik guy? The one who introduced you to that illegal fighting stuff?"

"The one and only." I reply, trying to act nonchalant but I immediately notice the disapproving look from Femi and the disappointing one from Wole. Peter seems indifferent to our conversation as he looks focused with whatever he is doing on his iPad but I'm very sure he is listening to our conversation.

"But babe, you promised me. You said you wouldn't meet with him ever again especially after what happened a year ago." She whines and I fight the urge to roll my eyes at the girlfriend act she is putting on again.

By what happened a year ago, she is referring to when the fighting ring I fought with was raided by the Police, and Malik and I were arrested for being involved in illegal business and being who I was, I had made the news.

Michael Bankole, the son of Honourable Jeffery Bankole, a Senator representing the South-West district, involved in illegal fighting business.

That had been the headlines in all news station and newspapers. It trended on various social medias and it very well affected my father's image, but I wasn't remorseful in the least. If anything I was satisfied that it had been enough to successfully rumple his feathers.

It still makes me smile whenever I remember how furious it had made him that he even flew down from Abuja to confront me face to face. 

He had warned me then to never get involved with Malik again and he had made sure Malik was sentenced to prison to further put some distance between us. But now, Malik has completed his sentence and has been released.

Back when I had met him at a bar, I had narrated my life sorrows to him while drunk and he had told me he knew something that would take my mind off things. He had introduced me into fighting and I had loved the thrills and excitements that had come with the pain of getting hit in the ring. It definitely helped me forget things.

I was too immersed in the fighting world to remember what my shitty father had done to me but that also ended when the ring closed down. 

Malik had contacted me when he was released, telling me that he wasn't annoyed that he had spent a year in prison because of me and if I ever needed help, he is still here to help me.

I had taken him up on that offer and I was going to sneak out without my bodyguards or anyone knowing that I was going to meet up with him but they had found out. Henry had gone through my phone and found my messages with Malik and well, I had been grounded. I wasn't allowed to leave the house and no one was allowed to see me.

"I know I promised you but I needed something from him, something that can help me forget certain things." I explain to her but I only succeed in confusing her even more. The others share similar expressions with her and I notice how they haven't said anything.

Only Peter hasn't shown any reaction to the subject, he is still concentrated on his phone.

"Do you still have them? The nightmares?" Femi asks with concern and I nod in response causing both he and Wole to let out loud sighs.

"So what did he claim he has this time to stop the nightmares?" Wole questions, skepticism lacing his words.

"Yeah, I really don't trust that guy. The last time he claimed to have a way of helping you, you ended up getting arrested and that was because you didn't listen to us. I knew from the start that the guy was bad news." Femi adds with a bit of contempt.

I glance at the two of them, not knowing how they are going to take what I'm about to tell them but they look at me expectantly, waiting for me to talk. 

After a while of silence, I finally speak, "It's something that involves sniffing."

They first look at me like I've just spoken nonsense, not understanding what I've said until realization dawns on them and their eyes widen.

"Sniffing?! You mean drugs?!" Dorcas screams, a look of horror on her face.

That must have successfully gained Peter's attention because he is now looking at us.

"Is that true? You were going to collect drugs from him?" Wole queries with incredulity but I say nothing, not knowing what to say.

I know it sounds crazy and very stupid but I'm desperately in need of something, anything to stop my nightmares and according to M.K., the drugs would take me into a state of oblivion which is exactly what I need. I really don't want to have anything to do with my past and dreaming about it is almost ruining my sanity.

I glance at Peter's direction and my eyes meet with his. I was right to think he is listening to our conversation from the beginning because he raises an eyebrow in question as if to ask 'Really?'

I look away from him but won't meet the gazes of the others either, I can't bear to see the accusing and disbelieving looks in them too.

"Drugs?! Cocaine, really?!" Femi abruptly screams and the others quickly shush him for fear of a teacher overhearing us. "Don't shush me!" He continues, an annoyed expression on his face. "Your friend is really considering taking drugs and you all are being this cool about it?! He's about to become a junkie, a drug addict and you want me to be quiet?!"

I let out a frustrated sigh. I know he is saying the right thing but I still feel like I should say something in my defense. "Guy, relax. I've not started using it."

He looks at me like I've grown two heads then turns to look at the others, "Is he being serious right now?"

"The fact that you considered using it is disgusting on its own." Wole states in a calmer voice.

"Michael, if you end up walking down this path, forget you ever had a friend named Femi." Femi adds with a note of finality and before I can come up with something to say, he starts to walk out of the classroom.

On his way out, he runs into our class teacher, Mr. Ali, who ushers him back into the classroom without allowing any form of disagreement. Dorcas hurriedly leaves the class and it's now only the four of us left with the teacher as he begins a lengthy lecture about the new term and what we should be preparing for.

I know none of us is listening to what he is saying because we are all battling with numerous thoughts in our head.

And I know it's all because of what I had just said.

***

CYNTHIA

Our class teacher didn't leave the class until Mrs. Ike, our Mathematics teacher, entered the class and he also didn't leave until the bell for lunch rang. He didn't really teach us anything, just telling us how and what we should be preparing to do this term on Mathematics.

John wasn't present in class all through so I concluded that he was not in school and I'll be lying if I say that isn't a huge relief because I really don't want to face him now. I waited a while for Grace to come down to my class so we could go to the cafeteria together but she didn't and I was beginning to get hungry so I went down to the cafeteria alone.

I'm currently seated at our usual table, chewing slowly on my spaghetti and waiting for Grace to arrive when I hear her high pitched voice call my name from a distance, causing all the students in the cafeteria to look at her.

This girl just likes causing unnecessary disturbance.

The stares on her don't unnerve her as she sashays towards me, her tray of food in hand. "Why didn't you wait for me?" She asks as soon as she gets to me, dropping the tray on the table and taking a seat across from me.

"I waited for you but you took time to come and I was getting hungry."

A light frown appears on her face, "Was it not that our history teacher that refused to leave even after break? I was wishing I had your taekwondo skills so I can give her a kick that will send her out of the class." She grumbles with a sour expression and I can't help smiling.

I take a forkful of my spaghetti and put it into my mouth and I watch her do the same. I notice that she has that look on her face that she always have whenever she has something to say.

After watching her for a while and not being able to control my curiousity, I drop my fork and gesture to her, "Spill."

She also drops her fork and sips on her juice, all the while glancing at me sneakily.

This girl ehn.

"So, it's not like I have something to say o, I just wanted to ask if you really won't be giving John a chance." She begins and I groan.

I should have known.

"Did he put you up to this? Ask you to convince me to say yes?" I ask because I can't understand her persistence.

She immediately shakes her head, "No o, not at all. I just think you two would just make a good couple and I will finally stop worrying about finding you a boyfriend."

"I didn't ask you to." 

"But I believe it's my job as your friend and in fact, my dream to see you in a relationship, Cynthia. You're in your youths and it makes me sad to see you waste it when you should be having fun. You should live life more, Cynthia and I want you to be happy." She says in a soft tone, looking sincerely concerned and I can only stare at her for a moment.

"Look, Grace." I begin in a gentle voice. "You know what my take on relationships is. You can blame it on my obsession with romance novels and Korean movies but I only want to have a relationship with that one person." I see her expression start to go taut but I continue anyways. "I want to graze hands with that person and feel the electricity-

"That's just sexual tension." She cuts in flatly. "They've probably been admiring each other from afar and when they finally touch each other's skin, they read too much meaning into it and hence, the tingling."

Her words douse the passion that was growing in me while I was explaining to her and I sigh. "Just because you haven't found the one in all of your many relationships doesn't mean he doesn't exist, Grace."

She rolls her eyes, "He doesn't exist, girlfriend and that's the truth. You meeting your soulmate whose heartbeat matches yours and the electricity sapping stuffs are all just bullshit."

I give her a look of hopelessness.

Why did I think this conversation was going to be different from the other ones I've had with her?

She's as unromantic as I am romantic if not more and that explains why she is able to break off her relationships like it's nothing. But I do know it's because she hasn't found her soulmate yet, that person she will want to stick with no matter what.

The whole cafeteria goes totally silent all of a sudden and I immediately know what the cause is. This is how it has always been whenever Michael and his friends step into any gathering, I don't know why but anyone present in that space at that particular time just goes mute, like they have an invisible hold on their throat.

I can't blame them though, they look good enough to demand everyone's attention and they very well know that fact because they are very haughty and arrogant, especially Michael.

He was in my class in JSS2 and he was one of those who were indifferent to the rest of my classmates bullying me. He never joined them in mocking me but he definitely didn't show his dislike either, he looked like he was too preoccupied to be aware of his surroundings. 

He always had that distant look in his eyes and some rare times when we would make eye contact, I would feel like there was apprehension in them, some sort of fear that he would quickly hide. Then one day, he stopped attending classes and I found out not long after that he had a separate class just for him and he was able to afford that luxury because his father owns the school.

I hear a dreamy sigh from across me and I glance at Grace, only to see both of her elbows on the table and her head resting on her palms, a look of adoration on her face as she watches them – nothing like the rigid expression on her face just a while ago.

There are now silent conversations amongst the rest of the students which were very different from the noises that could be heard from every corner of the cafeteria just before their arrival.

"Oh, what I would do to go on a date with one of them." Grace utters absentmindedly, still watching them.

I make a loud gagging sound.

She turns to look at me with disbelief, "Did you just try to say they repulse you?"

I raise an eyebrow, "Yes?"

Her eyes widen in horror, "How can you think like that? How can you say they repulse you? Just look at them!" She shouts and literally turns my head so I'm looking in their direction. "You see that guy that is walking slightly in front of them? That very handsome light-skinned boy?" She asks and without waiting for my reply, she continues, "That's Michael. Can you see the way he carries himself like a prince? Honestly, I don't blame him because he fits that description and my God, have you seen his smile?" She gushes and swoons, placing her hand on her chest. "He has an open teeth smile and that cute space in between his front teeth is everything."

I nod distractedly at what she is saying because for a moment, I actually find myself wondering what his smile looks like. For the very little time he spent as my classmate I don't think I ever saw him smile not to talk of a toothy grin.

But I did have a crush on him because of his looks.

"And the guy walking next to him by the right? The dark-skinned beauty? That is Peter. Honestly, his gaze is so powerful. I've heard girls talk about how they literally shudder when they make eye-contact with him, it's like he can see right through you. I also heard he is very quiet." She says, looking at him admiringly and I roll my eyes before assessing the guy. He was never my classmate so I don't usually see much of him but I do admit he looks good.

She suddenly lets out a silent scream and I turn to look at her.

What's wrong with her now?

"You see that guy walking on the left side of Michael? That fair guy? That's Femi. Oh my gosh! He's so cute. It's my opinion but I think he looks the best amongst all of them." She says dreamily. I turn to the said guy and he is indeed cute but he doesn't look the best, Peter looks better than him not to mention Michael. He looks kind of adorable though and he is the only one with a small smile on his face. "Isn't he so gorgeous? Just look at how curly his hair is, I'm really curious to know how soft it is." She says and goes silent, staring at him affectionately. "He broke up with his girlfriend not too long ago." She adds with a satisfied smile and I raise an eyebrow as I watch her curiously.

Does she know she sounds like she has a major crush on him?

"Oh, yeah and let's not forget Wole." She says, snapping out of the trance she went into by staring at Femi. "He is also handsome and I love his skin the most, it glows always. I've been tempted more than once to ask him for his body products but I don't think I can stand in front of him without embarrassing myself. I mean he really defines the words "black and shine" and his hair is also to die for. It really suits him." I watch the guy as she describes him and she said no lie. I have always made it a hobby to ignore them whenever they are in the same space with me so I've never really looked at them like she just made me but I agree with her, he really is handsome and his skin looks well cared for.

"So can you see why you really can't hate them? They look so fiiiiiiine."

"I never said they weren't but unfortunately their good looks can't make up for their foul behaviour." I reply and I watch her open her mouth and close it, probably trying to look for something to defend them.

"Well, it's mostly Michael who acts up and gets into trouble. You can't deny the others don't do anything wrong." She finally says.

"They don't do anything whenever he starts to act up, they even go as far as defending him and that's as bad as his acts if you ask me." I answer, refusing to accept her silly excuse.

I glance at the boys and they are now on their seats, a girl is already clinging to Michael and he doesn't seem bothered, he even pulls her so she's sitting next to him. I roll my eyes and continue to eat my food.

Grace also picks up her fork to eat but she keeps on glancing at their table and has not taken the fork to her mouth for like a whole minute now.

I give her a pitiful shake of my head and take a fork of spaghetti to my mouth when I suddenly heard a familiar male voice.

"Hey, girls." He greets and I respond with a choke on my food, quickly covering my mouth so as not to spit out the spaghetti in my mouth. He quickly sits next to me and offers me the bottle of water that is on his tray. I look up at him and my eyes widen as it made contact with his.

Why is he suddenly in school?

"John, I thought you weren't coming to school today." Grace says with a hint of laughter, definitely enjoying how uncomfortable and nervous I am. I collect the bottle of water from him and take a huge gulp from it, still slightly coughing.

"I thought I wouldn't make it too but I had to. There's something important I need to hear today." He replies and looks down at me with a smile.

Oh, shit.

What do I do? What do I do?!!!

"Cynthia, how are you?"

"I'm fine." I reply with a small voice as oppose to the screaming voice inside of me and try to smile afterwards.

He gives me an unsure look, "Are you alright?" He asks, concerned.

"Yeah, sure." I reply, avoiding his gaze then turn to look at Grace for help, but instead she suddenly stands. My eyes widen when I realize what she is about to do and I begin to shake my head frantically.

She totally ignores me.

"Excuse me, I have to use the restroom." She announces.

I cover my face with my hands and scream silently into it.

Is she kidding me right now?!

I remove my hands from my face and try communicating with my eyes, "Are you crazy? Don't leave me alone with him!"

I don't know if she got the message or not but I do know she doesn't care. She winks and walks away, leaving me with John.

What do I do now? I'm really not ready to have this conversation with him.

"We haven't spoken in a while. I really missed you." His voice jerks me away from my thoughts and I immediately know he is referring to the space he gave to me during the holiday to think about his request.

I think I also know where this conservation is leading to and I can feel dread creep into my stomach.

"Didn't you miss me?" He asks with a playful smile, his eyes glinting with mischief. 

If there is something that I like the most about John, it's his eyes. They always seem mischievous and happy and they really portray what he is feeling in any situation. I only have to look in his eyes and I'll automatically know what he is thinking.

"Of course I did." I reply with a smile that has risen on my lips subconsciously. 

And yeah, he has an infectious smile too.

Why does my stupid heart thinks he isn't my soulmate and won't just allow me say yes to him?

"I think I've given you enough time to think about it and I've been really anxious to know what your answer is." He suddenly says causing my smile to slowly fade away and my heart to go into overdrive. I either escape now or have this conversation with him and it's definitely not the latter.

I stand up suddenly and grab my tray.

"What's wrong?" He asks, looking confused.

"I- I just really need to go." I say with a note of urgency and rush away from him.

In my bid to go as far away as possible, I don't realize there is someone in front of me and I bump into that person, hitting the person in the guts with my tray and dropping it almost immediately. It falls to the floor with a loud sound, spilling all of its contents on the floor and on the shoes of the person I just bumped into.

I look up from the tray, ready to apologize to whoever it is, but the words get caught in my throat as I stare at a very surprised face.

"You!"

***

Yeah, I think we all know who she bumped into.

And I don't even know why my heart is beating in excitement.

Next update coming soon.

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