Let's just pretend Nigeria's economy isn't as bad as it is right now so when you see some unrealistic prices of things, ignore it 🙂.

Hope you enjoy the chapter!

***

Chapter Thirty Seven

CYNTHIA

"Okay, so this is what happened."

Since we are both going to sleep on my bed, I shift over so she can settle in very well and I do the same. Soon, we are both lying under the cover and I tell her everything that happened from the moment I was sent out of the stadium to the moment she saw me at school.

But I don't tell her about the moments I shared with Michael. I don't tell her about the almost kisses we had or how I had hugged him. I feel kind of guilty for keeping it from her since she is my best friend but I just want to have those memories to myself.

"So, you really want to help those children in that village?" She asks.

"It's not a village. It's a neighbourhood at the outskirts of the city." I correct.

She shrugs, "Same difference." I roll my eyes. "I really think it will be a very good idea to help those children though."

"I know, right? But according to Nanny, it is going to be very difficult. There are up to fifty children in that village and it's quite discouraging to know they are that much. The only thing I can think of doing now is buying each of them a carton of noodles." I tell her and Grace immediately begins to shake her head.

"Do you know how much a carton of noodles is? It's 2,000 naira and that's wholesale price. Now, multiply it by fifty. What do you have?" She asks and I do the calculation in my head.

My eyes widen as I realise the answer, "That's 100,000 naira."

"Exactly. Where will you get that much money? Will your parents release that huge amount to you?" She asks and I shake my head.

They will never release that much unless it's an emergency and I can never contact them so there is no way I can even convince them to release it.

"I can tell Nanny to save our monthly allowance for the month. It's 60,000 naira, that's still something."

"I can tell my mum and she might contribute some things. There are some clothes at the boutique that she wants to discard but I think is still in good shape, we can give them that too." She adds and I smile.

"Thanks, Grace."

"You are welcome." She replies with a smile then I sigh.

"I wish there was a way we can just go there with lots of foodstuffs, clothes and even appliances to make living for them more comfortable."

Grace doesn't reply and I glance at her and see that she is deep in thought. I tap her and she looks at me.

"What are you thinking of?"

"I think I have an idea." She declares and I sit upright.

"Really?" I ask hopefully.

"Yes." She replies and also sits upright.

"How about we get all the students in SS3 to contribute something? Our school is for the rich so I'm sure if they all contribute something, we will be able to buy more than enough things for them." She explains and I nod my agreement.

"That's true." I say happily but my happiness doesn't last when I realise an important thing.

"I don't think they will want to take part in something like that. It'll be hard to convince them to put something down especially when they don't even like me." I explain with disappointment.

"They like you more than they like Dorcas." She replies encouragingly and I give her a dead look.

"You mean they dislike Dorcas more than they dislike me. I don't have many fans in that school and you know it."

"Well, you are right." She sighs and falls back on the bed. I look down at her helplessly, wondering what I'm to do when she grins all of a sudden and sits upright again.

"What if the boys convince them instead? Everyone likes them, I'm sure they will be willing to contribute something if the boys are involved." She suggests.

That's actually a very brilliant idea. I hug her excitedly.

"That's true." I agree with a grin, releasing her. "I can talk to Michael about it and you can talk to your boyfriend." I announce with delight and she immediately starts to blush.

"What's that?" I ask her, not understanding why she's blushing all of a sudden. She holds her cheek with a wide smile.

"You just referred to Femi as my boyfriend." She gushes.

I give her a dead look, "Seriously?"

She ignores me and lay down on the bed, looking at the ceiling dreamingly.

"You know, at this moment, I actually wish Femi was here lying beside me."

"Yeah, I know. It's all in the honeymoon phase." I reply with a small smile of my own.

"It's not like you have any experience so you shouldn't be the one to talk." She counters and I chuckle.

"But I do read books and they explain them so well." I reply in my defense.

"I know right? And they always seem to have happy endings."

"Yeah, it makes you wish to meet 'the one' very soon." I sigh.

"Haven't you met 'the one' already?" She asks me and I look at her.

"Have I?"

"I guess you haven't if you don't realize it yet." She shrugs, ignoring the confused look on my face.

"Well, I guess it's settled now. Don't worry, you will get to buy things for those children." She mentions and I lie down beside her again on the bed.

"You don't know how happy that makes me." I tell her and she smiles.

Her phone starts to ring and she picks it from the bedside table to see who is calling. When she grins, I already know who it is.

"It's my boyfriend." She announces, still grinning and I smile.

I leave her to talk with her boyfriend while I think of what Grace said earlier.

"Maybe you don't like John enough like you think you do."

I do like him; I've had a crush on him for more than a year now.

But do you still like him?

I remember when he kissed me on the corner of my lips and my hands rise subconsciously to touch it. I then remember the way Michael had looked at me at the entrance of their secret passage.

I smile at the thought and then immediately stop smiling.

Why am I suddenly thinking about Michael?

"Are you asleep?" Grace asks, disrupting my thoughts.

I shake my head, "No, I'm not. Are you done texting your boyfriend?"

She smiles, "Yes. He just wished me goodnight." She tells me and I nod. "What were you thinking of? The children?" She asks.

I shake my head.

"John?"

I nod.

"Are you doubting your feelings for him?"

Yeah.

"I'm just confused. I like him but I can't give him my heart. Doesn't it sound weird?"

"If you are saying this because of me, clear it off your mind. We are both different people and my advice for you will be to take your time." She advices.

"But it shouldn't be so hard to do that, should it? I really want to do it, you know? Give him a chance to be my boyfriend but I'm not sure."

"You want to know what I think?" She asks and I nod.

"Well, what I think is it's either you like someone or you don't. So don't think about it too much and let things work themselves out. Then, at a certain moment, the answer will be clear." She says, surprising.

I give her an impressed look.

"Wow! Since when did you know how to give advice like that?" I ask and she smiles sheepishly.

"I actually saw that on TV. What I just finished saying." She admits and I burst into laughter.

She laughs along.

"I'm glad you are my best friend." I find myself saying, looking at her with a smile.

"I'm glad you are too."

"BFF?" I ask with a grin.

"BFF." She replies with a grin.

"Now, I'm really starting to feel sleepy. I've had a long day." She yawns.

"You sure did. Let's go to bed."

"Good night." She says and switches off the light.

"Good night." I reply and close my eyes, ready to fall into a blissful slumber. I'm beginning to have a dream about me and a guy in a car when I hear her voice in the darkness.

"What did you say?" I ask quietly, fighting a yawn.

"I said I think I forgot to do something but I can't quite place what it is." She whispers.

"Let's just sleep. You'll remember tomorrow." I tell her and close my eyes again.

***

MICHAEL

"You are not sleeping on an empty stomach, Michael."

That statement is followed by another knock on the door and I groan, knowing I can't continue to ignore her.

I reluctantly get down from my bed and approach the door, opening it to a satisfied smile on Maggie's face.

"You're such a teenager." She comments as she walks in.

I ignore her and go back to sit on my bed, a message entering my phone just as I settle into it. Maggie takes a seat beside me, waiting patiently for me to check my phone before placing the tray of food in her hands on my laps.

The message is from Dorcas so I'm reluctant to open it because of Maggie but I do it all the same and I'm not surprised with what she sent.

A picture of her in just panties and a hand covering her breasts with the caption 'Missing our midnight sessions' stares back at me in my inbox. I roll my eyes at it, not dignifying it with a response before dropping the phone on the bed.

Maggie clears her throat loudly, a look of disapproval on her face. "Children of nowadays." She comments with distaste.

I chuckle slightly at her obvious discomfort, "That's Dorcas for you."

"You know, I don't like to interfere in your matters and that's why I leave you to do whatever it is you want to do but can't you just find another girl to date? This Dorcas girl is uncultured and undisciplined. She walks into the house all proud and arrogant like she owns it and does not bother to acknowledge anyone in it. She's so spoilt Michael and you deserve a better girlfriend."

'I'm not really better than her', I want to say in response. Not in Dorcas' defense but because it's the truth. I say nothing though, taking the plate of yam and egg from her.

"She's not my girlfriend though." I tell her instead, taking a forkful of fried egg into my mouth and I almost spit it out in laughter when I see the look on her face. She looks like she's confused and surprised at the same time, making it comical.

She furrows her eyebrows, "Wait, so- so both of you aren't even dating and yet she- she allowed you to-

She looks so stunned, unable to even finish the sentence that it's straight out hilarious. The fact that I'm not bursting out laughing is a feat.

'Maggie, it's not a big deal." I respond, taking a sip of water from my cup.

"It's not a big deal?!" She screams, "Having an active sex life at this age is already wrong on its own and now, you are just sleeping with anyone?!"

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. She has started her nagging again.

"She isn't just anyone, Maggie. We had a thing." She shoots me a dirty look at the end of my statement and I have to cover my mouth to swallow my laughter.

I clear my throat before I continue, "I don't like her anymore though, she's too clingy."

She says nothing for a while, just staring at me with narrowed eyes. "So you are going to look for someone else to have a thing with?" She pronounces 'thing' with disgust and I just had to shake my head.

"No. You just made me realise I was wrong and having an active sex life at this age is wrong so I'm going celibate." I announce to her proudly although we both know it's a big lie.

Maggie looks at me like some screws might have gone lose in my head and then just looks straight up confused herself.

"Let me just leave you to eat. Make sure to finish everything in the plate." She warns, standing up.

"Yes ma!" I shout, earning a roll of her eyes before she finally leaves the room. I know I can't finish the food in front of me but I eat one more yam and finish all the fried egg then I wash it down with water.

I move the tray of food to the table in my room and go back to sit on my bed, my mind wandering back to what it has been thinking of since this afternoon.

Cynthia. And the whole truth about the situation.

I should tell her about what had really gone down two years ago and the real reason I had approached her. She might hate me after she finds out but it's only going to make things easier for the both of us.

I don't want to love anybody. Especially not her. Not when it's only going to lead to potential heartbreak.

I take a deep breath and nod in determination, I'm really going to do this.

First, I'm going to message Peter and have him end the stupid game he had gotten me involved with and then, I'm going to go back to our exclusive class. I might go back to having classes with the guys but I won't stop having the science tutorial class from my tutor. I'm going to pursue my dreams of becoming a doctor till the end. I will also end it with Dorcas in the hopes that my nightmares don't return and if they do, I guess I'm really going to listen to Henry this time and see a doctor.

Okay, let's do this.

The first thing on the list; texting Peter.

He is irritating and I don't really want to talk to him but I guess I have no choice.
Hopefully, he is online.

Me: Hey.

It takes a whole five minutes for him to reply even though he has been online since I texted him but I decide to keep my cool.

Peter: Oh, Michael really texted me.

I roll my eyes at his comment. He is talking like we don't chat on a normal basis. Well, to be honest, we haven't texted each other in a year. Let me just go straight to the point.

Me: So, about what we agreed upon the other day at Joe's place when we were taking ice-cream. I don't think I'm interested anymore.

Peter: The Cynthia thing?

No, the Dorcas thing. I scoff at his response. Asking like he wasn't the one that brought it up then.

Me: Yeah. You know I joined at first because I thought she was going to be a challenge. But it's beginning to get obvious that she likes me so it's getting boring.

Peter: 😂😂😂. She likes you? I don't really think so.

Asshole.

I stare irritatingly at the laughing emojis he sent. What's funny? Is it so unbelievable that she likes me? It might not be that clear but I've definitely swayed her. I mean, she would have allowed me kiss her today if I hadn't stopped myself so that counts for something.

Me: I actually don't care what you think. What's important is I don't want to do this anymore.

Peter: Okay, cool.

I stare down at his message in surprise. I wasn't exactly sure of what his reaction was going to be but I sure as hell wasn't expecting him to agree to this so quickly.

Me: Really, you are cool with this?

Peter: Sure. The fact that you are no longer interested doesn't mean I am too.

Wait, what?!

Me: What do you mean?

Peter: It means whether you go through with your part or not, I'm not stopping on my end.

What the- This annoying motherfucker!

Me: If a person wants out of something that was originally agreed by two persons, isn't it common sense for the other person to call it off too?

Peter: I guess I'm not one with common sense then. Anyways, whether you are still interested or not, I'm not backing out of this. As someone who hasn't really made any move, I need my own chance too, don't you think? 😉

I drop my phone on the bed in frustration, annoyed and irritated at the whole situation. I should have known before agreeing to do this with him and now-

There's no way I'm going to let him have his way easily. Even if it means continuing with this.

Another message enters my phone and I pick it up.

Peter: So does that mean we will be seeing you in our class tomorrow.

Oh no, you won't.

Me: I've just come to realise that I love being a science student way more than I thought. You won't be seeing me in our class for a while 😏.

Peter: Oh, well 🤷🏾‍♂️. Goodluck!

Me: Goodluck to you too!! I think you need it more.

Peter: If you think so.

If he was standing in front of me, I'm pretty sure I would have thrown a hard punch at him. That fucking annoying human being.

Now more than ever, I've got to make Cynthia fall for me.

I only have to take care of my own feelings.

***

CYNTHIA

"Hey, wake up."

A soft tap hits my leg and I groan, turning away from it and pushing the hand away.

"You must be really enjoying your sleep." An amused voice that sounds so much like Grace's says.

Ugh, am I dreaming about Grace now?

"Wake up!" A loud scream that does the work and gets me bolting up straight attacks my ear drum.

"That's what I should have done since." She says, sounding smug.

Rubbing my sleepy eye, I manage to throw a dirty look at the person that disrupted my sleep.

"Grace, what is wrong with you?" I ask, disgruntled.

"We have school today, dumbhead and it's already 7 o'clock. Do you know how long I've been waking you?"

"Oh."

"Oh." She mimics and I roll my eyes. "Why did you even refuse to wake up? Were you dreaming about John? Or was it Michael?"

I know she is teasing me but I did dream about Michael.

We were in a car once again and I asked him to give me alcohol, something I still don't know why I did because I only drank it once in my entire life and it didn't end well. Needless to say, I had gotten drunk in my dream too and I have gone about confessing my feelings too. I was going to kiss him, I remember leaning towards him but I don't know what happened after.

I don't know what happened before I entered the car too.

This isn't the first time I'm remembering something like this but it was far more detailed this time around.

Why can't I seem to recollect what happened? No matter how I try.

A finger snap in my face jolts me to the presence and Grace is busy shaking her head at me.

"Are you sleeping with your eyes open now?"

I ignore her question, "Do you think Michael and I have ever been in a car together before? And I had gotten really drunk and tried to kiss him?"

She looks totally confused for a moment, probably wondering what I'm saying.

"Uhh, none that I can remember. Where did that even come from?" She then moves closer. "Or is that one of your fantasies? Getting drunk with him in the back seat of a car and making out with him without a care in the world?" She ends with a wiggle of her eyebrow.

I give her a dry look, "Are you done?"

She nods her response, still smiling.

"I've been seeing something like that repeatedly. Sometimes I dream about it and sometimes I just get triggered and the same scene flashes before my eyes."

She raises her eyebrow, finally looking serious, "So you think it's like a memory?

"Exactly. But I don't seem to remember any of it happening."

"Then ask Michael." She shrugs. "If he was really the one in your memory, I'm sure he might actually remember it."

Yeah, I should ask him. But-

"I think I already did." I utter unsurely.

"Really? And what was his answer?"

"I don't think he answered me."

"Why?"

"The conversation flowed into something else so I just kind of forgot about it."

"Then ask him again."

I exhale a huge breath, knowing she is right and I have to ask him again.

"Why do you look like asking him will be a chore?" She smiles, looking at me intently.

"Well, because asking him why I was drunk and trying to kiss him in a car will only increase his already big ego."

She chuckles, "You can't blame him. He has girls like Dorcas wanting his attention so he is probably used to it." Then she looks like she is thinking about something, "Come to think of it, do you think he took her side yesterday when the both of you were arguing by the staircase?"

"When she pulled my hair yesterday and burst into fake tears?" I ask for confirmation.

"Exactly."

He did ask to know what was going on here even though it's with a slightly annoyed voice, although I think that was because he saw Dorcas. And when she had burst into tears, he hadn't even called her out. He just gave me this look.

"Whatever." I reply, standing up from the bed. "That's his problem."

Grace looks really amused by my response but tries not to laugh by pressing her lips together.

I roll my eyes and head towards the bathroom.

***

"Good morning, Nanny." We both greet as we walk down the stairs in the morning.

"Good morning, dearies." She replies with a smile. She is setting the table in the dining room as usual, one of the sight I'm used to seeing when coming down the stairs in the morning.

"Good morning, Grace." Sam greets. "Good morning, Cynthia."

"Good morning, Sam." I reply as I pull out the chair to sit.

"How are you, Sam?" Grace asks, doing the same.

"I am fine." He replies. "You came back late yesterday; I was waiting for you to arrive so I can collect my ice cream."

My eyes widen in realization and I glance at Grace and see the same reaction on her face.

She looks at me and whispers, "That was what I forgot."

And I remember her mumbling about forgetting something right before we fell asleep last night.

I nod sheepishly and she faces Sam "Of course, you were asleep so I kept it in the freezer for you." She says quickly with a small smile and then looks at me with worry.

"That's great. I'm going to take it to school and share it with my friends." He replies delightfully.

"What do I do now?" She whispers to me in panic.

Nanny is listening to our exchange with amusement but says nothing. After a while, she turns to Sam.

"Sam, I already packed some chocolates and sweets in your lunch box. Why not come back to eat your ice cream?" Nanny asks.

"But Nanny, I want to take it to school." He argues.

Nanny gives him a stern look, "You already have more than enough to eat at school. You'll eat your ice-cream when you get back, is that clear?"

He looks like he wants to disagree but nods instead. "Okay, Nanny." He grumbles and we both let out a sigh of relief.

Grace gives Nanny a look of appreciation but Nanny pretends she doesn't see it.

When all of us are done eating breakfast and head for the car, Grace lingers at the back and wait till Nanny gets to her. Sam is already in the car waiting for us.

"Nanny, thanks for saving me in there." She smiles sweetly at her, "But I still have one more favour to ask you." She adds quietly so Sam won't hear.

"Will you by any chance be going to get-

"Yeah, I will be going to get groceries and I'll also buy the ice cream." Nanny completes and Grace grins.

"I know I don't say this all the time but you're the coolest nanny ever." She gushes, throwing her arms around her and I can very much see Nanny trying to act cool by hiding her smile.

I chuckle and go to drag Grace who is still busy clinging to Nanny.

"Thanks Nanny. Grace, let's start going to school. We're already late." I remind her and she nods.

"Bye Nanny." We both say as we enter the car and the driver drives away.

***

The assembly has just ended and as expected Michael is seated in class.

I can't help remembering his reaction when Dorcas was crying all over him and telling him that I bent her hand badly, he seems to have believed her and even gave me a questioning look. He should know that I’ll never attack her first, no matter how annoying she is.

I ignore him and take my seat beside him. I remove my bag that is strapped on my back and take out the notes and textbooks for the first lesson.

“Good morning, Cynth.” He greets cheerfully and I roll my eyes. I close my bag and put it in my locker.

“Good morning, Cynth.” He greets again but I still don’t reply. I drop the notes and textbooks on my table and open them to go through the previous lessons.

He grabs the hand that I’m using to turn the pages of my note and I try to remove it from his hand but he grips it harder. I finally turn to him with a glare and he raises an eyebrow.

“I have a feeling you are annoyed with me.” He says and I scoff. I say nothing and he doesn’t release my hand.

“Fine, what is this all about?” He finally asks.

“Doesn’t it feel like you are betraying your girlfriend? Holding the same hand that twisted hers just yesterday?” I ask with scorn and he looks at me uncomprehendingly before he finally realizes what I’m saying.

“Is this because of what happened yesterday? You think I took Dorcas’ side?” He asks with amusement and I only stare at him.

“I really didn’t know what happened and that was why I asked but I’m definitely sure she provoked you into doing what you did. I’ve stopped taking her sides whenever she is involved in a fight because I’ve come to realize that she is almost always to be blamed.” He explains.

“Well, I’m glad you know that.” I reply.

“So, you are no longer annoyed?” He asks, smiling. I try to hide my own smile and we say nothing for a moment before he clears his throat.

“How is Grace?”

“She is fine.” I answer unsurely. “Why are you asking?”

“I hear she and Femi are together now.”

“Yeah, they are and she is really happy about it.” I reply, smiling. “So, I’m guessing Femi told you guys already?”

“Yeah, he did and he is really happy about it too.” He replies.

“But he is also worried.” He adds and I look at him in confusion.

“Why is he worried?”

“Were you online on WhatsApp yesterday?” He asks.

“Yeah.” I nod unsurely and then realize what he is trying to say. “Is he perhaps worried about the girl that threatened to do something to Grace?” I ask and he nods.

“But she said she will only do something if she finds out there is something between them.”

He sighs.

“That was his ex-girlfriend. One of Dorcas’ friends and according to Femi, she wouldn't stop disturbing him with her calls yesterday to ask him about it. He told her that he has a new girlfriend but he didn’t tell her it was Grace.” He replies and I roll my eyes.

“If he told her he has a new girlfriend and she saw the pictures of them going on a date, it won’t take long for her to realize who the new girlfriend is or else she is dumb.”

“Which I doubt she is.” He replies.

“Well, you can’t be so sure.” I tell him and he raises an eyebrow. “What? She is Dorcas’ friend after all.” I shrug and he laughs.

I smile too but it vanishes as I realize what is really on ground. “So you’re saying she might really do something to Grace?” I ask and stand up with panic. “What if she’s already doing something to her already?”

Michael holds my hand and pulls me back to sit.

“Don’t worry, she can’t do anything when the first lesson is just about to start. If she is really going to do something, it won’t be until lunch.” He assures me but it does nothing to ease my worry.

“But why will she say something like that and claim that Femi belongs to her? They broke up after all.” I ask him.

“Until now, she has never truly believed that both of them are over. She still clings to him and scares away any girl that tries to come near him.” He explains.

I glare at him and he suddenly looks confused.

“What’s wrong with you guys? Why do you date girls that have gone psycho?” I ask him and he looks at me still confused then his expression changes to disbelief.

“Wait, why am I involved? Femi was the one who dated a psycho.” He replies offensively and I give him a dead look.

“So you are trying to tell me Dorcas isn’t a psycho?” I say drily and his demeanor changes.

“I guess so.” He agrees quietly. "But we aren't even-

The teacher chooses that moment to enter the class but I’ll be lying if I said I paid attention to what he is saying or what the teachers that entered after him taught. I only count the hours then the minutes that are left until lunch.

Immediately the bell rings for lunch, I stand up to go but Michael pulls me back and points at the teacher that is still in class.

I squeeze my hands nervously and glare at the teacher that refuses to leave the class. It takes all of my willpower to not shout at her to leave.

When she finally leaves, I immediately stand up to meet Grace. Michael also stands up and blocks my way.

“What are you doing?” I ask with impatience.

“Calm down. I doubt Femi will allow anything happen to her. He knows about all these too.”

“I have to go.” I say urgently and he sighs.

“Fine, let’s go together.” He replies. I stare at him for a brief moment before deciding that it's probably better if we go together.

Soon, we are out of the class and I run to her class which is thankfully just a block away from mine.

I get to her class but what I see causes me to stop. Michael who is running behind me also stops, almost crashing into me.

“Why did you stop?” He asks but I don’t reply.

I’m sure he must have seen why I stopped because the next thing he says is,

“Holy shit.”

***

Not edited. Will do so later.

Feeling too lazy to write an Author's note.

Don't forget to click on the little star below and leave your comments. I hope you enjoyed reading.

Until next time.

Hikmah.