Picture of Wole above 💖💞😻

Warning: Talks of suicide in this chapter.

This is a very, very long chapter. I hope you enjoy it.

Happy reading!!!

***

Chapter Forty Five

CYNTHIA

All SS3 students are looking forward to two things today.

The football match between St. Joseph and St. Paul.

And the principal's announcement on Dorcas and her friends' punishment.

"Good morning, students." The principal greets.

"Good morning, ma." We all chorused with a little too much enthusiasm.

"I guess you are all happy about the first match that will be happening today or maybe it's more of the fact that there won't be lessons today." She chides and the students laugh. "Anyways, I wish both teams good luck."

"Thank you, ma!"

"Now, I want the rest of the school to give the SS3 students a big round of applause." She demands and there's a loud sound of applause from everyone. "This should have been mentioned yesterday but I decided to do it today because there is an announcement relating to it that I have to make."

"I asked the rest of you to clap for them because they took it upon themselves to engage in an act of giving which is pretty impressive. But then unfortunately, we have some irresponsible students amongst us." She finishes with a frown. "Can Ibikunle Dorcas, Chukwudike Chika and Benjamin Catherine come up here?"

The three of them aren't standing on the queue like the rest of us but with the teachers at the back of the hall and when they seem reluctant to go up to the principal, they are quickly ushered there by the teachers.

"Cynthia!" I hear Grace whisper-yell and I look at her. "It's happening." She mouths with a grin.

I nod with a smile, wondering why she is so happy that they are about to be punished. I won't deny that I find this satisfying though.

"These three students did something dangerous to their fellow student on Saturday when they went out to give to people in an undeveloped neighbourhood and they deserve to be punished." The principal states and there is an indistinct murmur of agreement from the SS3 students.

"The disciplinary committee has therefore decided to give these three students a week suspension-" The principal starts to say but is quickly interrupted by the whispers of the students.

"Just a week?"

"Shouldn't it be at least two weeks?"

"I'm not surprised since Dorcas dad is a politician and her mum is part of the disciplinary committee. I knew they would be favoured."

I glance at Grace with a questioning look and she looks at me with disappointment.

"The students will be given a week suspension from school and they are to withdraw from whatever activities they will be partaking in during the sports competition." The principal finishes and the addition of the last sentence seems to please everyone as the whispers immediately stops.

"But ma, I'm the queen of our house. I have to be there during the march pass." Dorcas complains and the principal flashes her an angry look.

"You have no right to complain whatsoever. Say another word and you will be suspended for a month." She tells her sternly and Dorcas immediately falls silent.

I watch as she glances through the students on the assembly and when she finally sees me, her nose flares in anger. I give her a smug smile and her expression at that moment is something I can live for.

Her friends don't look happy with the principal's announcement either but they don't look as furious as Dorcas.

"You'll pay for this." She mouths to me.

I raise an eyebrow in surprise, wondering how she's still making threats even while being punished.

Hasn't she learnt anything yet?

Soon after that, the assembly ends and we all head to our classroom. As the principal had said before, they isn't going to be any class today so I can say I'm looking forward to a relaxed time in class.

To my disappointment though, I don't meet Michael in class and when I take my seat, I see a note taped to my locker.

Good morning, Cynth.

I know you must be sad that you didn't meet me in class but I had to go because our housemaster insists that we train until the match.

I didn't mention anything about it yesterday because I wasn't sure how you would react but I can't stop thinking about it. There is something I have to tell you before the match starts.

Yours truly,

Michael.

How do I let him know that the kiss has been on my mind too ever since? And that no matter how hard I try to act cold and indifferent, the memory of that day makes me falter!

I don't know I have a smile on my face as I read the letter, it's until I'm folding the paper and then realise I'm still smiling that I quickly make a straight face.

But what is it that he wants to tell me?

I glance at John's seat and find it empty too.

Is he also training for our match on Thursday?

The match isn't till 12pm in the afternoon so I decide to pass time by reading my favourite Harry Potter book. I don't know how many hours pass while reading and I'm so lost in the book until I start to hear loud murmurs from my classmates.

I look up to see what is happening and almost drop my book in shock.

What is he doing here?

"Hey." Wole says as he walks towards me, surprising me as he is the least person I expect to see. He enters like this has always been his classroom and totally ignores the stares he is getting from my classmates. He takes Michael's seat beside me and snatches the book I'm reading.

"Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone?" He asks, reading the title then cocks his eyebrow at me. "Really?"

"Yeah. It's the best Harry Potter book to me. There is not too much talk of Voldemort and it is the only book that really makes me want to go to Hogwart." I reply, collecting it back from him.

He chuckles and says nothing then raises his leg on the table, stretching.

He sure knows how to make himself feel at home.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was bored. Femi and Peter were both called by their housemasters and I was left alone."

"How nice of you to remember me when you were bored." I reply sarcastically but he only grins causing me to roll my eyes.

I try to continue my book but he interrupts me again.

"Where is Grace? I thought both of you would be together since there are no classes."

"I don't know. I've been expecting her for a while."

"How about we play a game? I don't think you can concentrate on the book anymore."

"It's all because of you but fine." I reply, folding the page I was reading before dropping the book on the table. "What game are we playing?"

He smiles mischievously before replying, "Truth or dare?" and I immediately shake my head.

"NO. I'm not playing that. I'm not going to be dared to pull off my school blouse or kiss a random guy so no, I'm not interested."

"Come on, it's just for fun." He persuades.

"Count me in." A feminine voice that can only belong to Grace answers from the window before entering the class.

"Where were you?" I ask as she approaches us.

"A teacher sent me on an errand." She replies. "So what are we doing?"

"You didn't even know what we are going to do and you claim to be in?"

"Well, I heard fun and I'm all up for fun."

"I was convincing her to play a game of truth of dare." Wole puts in.

"Truth or dare?" She asks with a hint of disappointment. "Well, it's better than nothing." Grace tells Wole and then looks at me expectantly. I glance at Wole and also see him pleading with his eyes to play with them.

I let out a sigh before replying, "Fine, I will play but only if there is no daring."

Both of them look unimpressed but I shrug, "Take it or leave it." I add with a note of finality and they nod their agreement reluctantly.

"Fine, since we are only three, we just have to ask each other questions in turn. Grace asks me a question, I ask Cynthia and Cynthia asks Grace in that order." Wole explains and we both nod.

"So, I'm guessing I'm the first." He smiles then turns to Grace, "So Grace, what's my question?"

Grace doesn't reply immediately, thinking of what to ask him. She then smiles mischievously and Wole gives her a wary look.

"You can't ask me naughty question." He immediately tells her making her chuckle.

"I can ask you any question." She smirks and he turns to me for support. I'm already enjoying this so I only shrug in response.

He sighs resignedly before he finally speaks, "Fine, what's your question?"

"Amongst the four of you, I mean you, Peter, Femi and Michael, you are the only one who doesn't seem too interested in girls. Don't you plan on having a girlfriend?"

He visibly relaxes and I almost giggle out loud. Why did he look so scared?

"I was actually expecting a much harder question." He smiles with relief then begins to answer,. "Nope, I don't plan on having a girlfriend. At least, not anytime soon. I love living the singles life."

"Hmm, so you want to tell me you've never had a girlfriend?" I ask him and the smile on his face slowly begins to fade.

"Oh, he probably had one before." Grace teases too but he says nothing. I notice that his demeanor has changed and begin to wonder what could have caused it.

Grace still oblivious about the change in his behaviour, nudges him. "Tell us about her na, the ex-girlfriend. Why did the both of you break up?"

Wole starts to look uncomfortable with the topic and doesn't reply. Grace finally gets that something is wrong and looks at me, I shake my head slowly telling her to not push the topic but she looks puzzled.

"It's okay, Wole. You don't have to tell us if it makes you uncomfortable. We are playing the game for fun anyways." I try to ease the situation and he suddenly smiles but it is a tight one.

"I can tell you. Both of you are now my friends anyways." He replies, still smiling. I exchange looks with Grace and she looks like she doesn't know what to do or say anymore.

No one says anything, waiting patiently for him to talk and after a while, he finally opens his mouth to speak.

"Only the boys know about this and the both of you can't tell this to anyone else." He begins and we both nod. I don't know why but I get the feeling that I'm not going to like whatever he tells us.

Then he continues, "We never broke up, my ex-girlfriend and I." He glances at the two of us and starts to laugh at the looks of confusion on our face. It isn't a happy laughter and it tugs at my heart because it actually looks like he is hurting.

"What happened?" Grace asks softly and he closes his eyes, swallowing repeatedly. When he opens them again, there are tears in them.

What's going on?

"We didn't break up." He starts again, his voice breaking and a tear falls from his eye.

"She committed suicide."

I gasp, my hands flying to my mouth in shock and Grace looks too stunned to react.

She killed herself?!

There's a very loud silence following those words and for the first time in a while, I don't know how to react.

What do someone even say to this?

He looks at the two of us and wipes the tears that have fallen on his cheek then continues, "She was always so quiet and reserved that it was hard to think that something could be wrong with her. She was beautiful, kind and very brilliant, that may be why she got into our school on scholarship because her parents definitely couldn't afford the school fees."

I suddenly remember that our school used to admit students on scholarship before they had stopped years ago. My former seatmate was a beneficiary of that scholarship and I remember how he used to be the brunt of our classmates jest.

"I wasn't friends with Michael and the rest of the guys then because this happened almost three years ago. I had another friend then or so I thought he was until I discovered he was also in love with her. She caused a rift between us and maybe helped me in discovering who he truly was. He never accepted our relationship even when she agreed to date me."

That doesn't sound too good.

"But then one day, he was suddenly cool with it." He further says and I'm suddenly confused. "I should have thought it was strange that he really just accepted our relationship but I just concluded that he realised the fact that we are together and there was nothing he could do about it."

"It was a month later that I received news from her parents that she had committed suicide." He finishes and wipes the tears that had started to fall again. "It still shocks me till today because it never occurred to me that she could be considering it."

Knowing there is nothing I can say to console him, I scoot closer to him, giving him a side hug. Grace squeezes his hand and we stay like that for a while.

"I'm sorry for being a cry-baby." He finally says with a small laugh before I release him.

"You must have really loved her a lot." Grace comments with a sad smile.

He shrugs, trying to play it off, "It was really hard to get over her. I was close to committing suicide myself but then I met Femi and he introduced me to Michael and Peter. They are the best thing that happened to me." He responds, smiling a genuine smile now.

But then I realise something, "Wait, so you are saying you all didn't grow up together as friends? Especially you and Femi?"

"Yes, it was nothing like that. Femi and Peter are the ones who have been friends the longest with each other." He explains causing Grace and I exchange looks.

"That's quite surprising. You and Femi seem closest to each other." Grace utters and he chuckles.

"You mean we fight the most. But then he really is a life-saver."

His response earns a proud smile from Grace and I can't help shaking my head at her.

It's well with her soul.

Wole then sighs loudly, "So that's it, my pathetic love story. I have since decided not to get involved in another relationship. I don't think I can handle it if something like that should happen again."

"Did you try to find out why she committed suicide?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"When I asked her mum, she told me Tiwa was okay until the very day she committed suicide but because her mum was fond of me, she gave me her cell phone and some of her things to keep, but I still can't go through them. She used a picture of us as her phone wallpaper and anytime I see it, it just breaks me."

I sigh, squeezing his shoulder to comfort him, "I can't say I understand how you feel but I think you should go through her things. You might find something on her phone and I know it might seem not so important anymore, especially since almost three years has passed since she died but it can help you move on."

He nods then gives me a small smile, "I will try."

I give his shoulder one last squeeze before falling back on my seat.

"Enough of this sad story." Grace says with a clap of her hands, wanting to change the atmosphere. "Wole, it's your turn to ask Cynthia."

"So Cynthia, who do you love the most?" He asks with a smile.

Hmm, who do I love the most? It's honestly so hard to choose between Nanny, Sam and Grace.

"It's a tough one. I don't think I can reply to that."

He shakes his head, "You have to answer."

"Okay then. The people I love the most are my family. Nanny, my younger brother, Sam and of course, Grace."

Grace engulfs me in a hug as soon as I finish my sentence, "Awwn, that's so sweet." She whines and I chuckle, hugging her back.

When Grace is done hugging me, Wole surprises me by suddenly holding my hand and giving me a look of sympathy.

"What's wrong?" I ask with confusion.

"I know you didn't say it out loud but it isn't hard to realize that your parents are dead." He starts and I blink surprisingly, not understanding how he came to that conclusion. I glance at Grace in confusion and she looks like she is holding in her laughter.

"Even if it is too late, accept my sympathy." He adds and Grace just bursts into laughter.

The look of confusion on his face makes it even funnier and I soon join in laughing.

"What's funny?" He asks, still confused.

"They're not dead, dummy." Grace tells him when we stop laughing and he frowns.

"Cynthia said her family comprises her nanny, Sam and you. She didn't mention her parents; doesn't that mean they are dead?" He asks.

"They are not dead but somewhere in the country. I only mentioned those three because I feel closer to them and they are always around." I explain with a smile.

He has a look of doubt on his face but doesn't say anything.

"I think Femi is starting to rub off on you." I tease him and he gives me a dry look.

"That's a good thing because just so you know Femi is one of a kind." Grace says proudly and I smile.

"Indeed." Wole replies with a roll of his eyes.

It is now my turn to ask Grace and although the game started on a sad note, it turned out to be really interesting.

It isn't until the bell rings for people to start going to the stadium that we stand up and join the people that are headed to the stadium.

On our way to the stadium, I ask Grace the team she is supporting between both teams that are playing. I don't know which team to support as Michael and Peter are in St. Joseph while Femi is in St. Paul and they will all be playing. Grace seems to be in a much stronger dilemma as she is a team member of St. Joseph and her boyfriend is playing for St. Paul.

Most students are already murmuring that St. Joseph will win because Michael was playing so their supporters were more.

Each team members are putting on their vest as a sign of support and you could see the blues and yellows standing out among the rest of us that are in uniforms. Grace is also putting on her blue vest but I know she'd rather be putting on a yellow vest.

The stadium is already crowded when we get there and we have a hard time looking for where to sit. We are walking in between rows to find somewhere to sit when a hand suddenly holds mine, startling me.

I look down to see John smiling up at me and then he says to the people sitting beside him.

"I'm sorry guys, these are the people I said were sitting here." He tells them and three students stand.

I'm surprised that he knows we are going to be three since it's supposed to be just me and Grace. I smile appreciatively at him and sit beside him.

Grace also says her thanks and takes her seat beside me while Wole sits next to Grace without saying anything to John. It is for a brief moment but I notice the look they exchange between each other.

I can't seem to understand why Michael doesn't like John and goes as far as saying he is despicable. He just went out of his way to keep a seat for Wole when they are not even on good terms.

I can't help wondering what he supposedly did to one of the guys and who he did it to.

Once we are settled, Grace turns to me.

"Don't you think it would be more interesting to watch this match with a drink?" She asks and I shrug.

"Sure, let's go together." I reply but she shakes her head and winks at me then glances towards John. I immediately understand what she is trying to say and I roll my eyes.

"Don't worry, I'll get a drink for both of us." She wiggles her eyebrow and turns to John.

"John, Wole, do you guys also want a drink?" She asks and John replies that he is okay. Wole on the other hand volunteers to go with her and so the both of them go to get our drinks leaving both me and John.

"Hi." John says to me.

"Hi."

"I'm not a creep." He suddenly announces and I give him a blank look, wondering what he is talking about. "I'm referring to what Michael said about me yesterday. I'm not a creep." He repeats and I can only nod, not knowing what to say.

The speakers announce that the players will move to the field in ten minutes and go silent again.

The students immediately start to settle down and no one is standing any longer since the match is about to start. John is no longer saying anything and I wait in silence for Grace and Wole to come back.

***

MICHAEL

After the intense training that we had done on the field yesterday in preparation for the match against Femi's team today, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I should have fallen asleep as soon as I had taken my bath and laid on my bed.

Maggie had understood that I can't cope between sports practice and my extra lessons so she had put the tutorials on hold. Something I'm very grateful for.

But as soon as I had settled into my bed, instead of sleep to come, I find myself thinking about the one thing that has always been on my mind lately.

Cynthia.

Even during the football training, I can't help trying to figure out why she is giving me the cold shoulder and why this all began after the kiss.

I know I've already come to terms with it already but there's no denying that my attraction towards Cynthia is way beyond the surface.

Although I also know I'm not in love with her and of course, I will like to keep it that way but I find myself being greedy for more.

And this is the first time I will ever feel that way.

Come to think of it, I have always been attracted to her.

In JSS2, I had moved classes because I couldn't stand the others bullying her.

Back then at the party two years ago, she had gotten to me more than any girl could have and even though I had tried to bury whatever it is I might be feeling for her after she had so easily believed that John was the one who had rescued her instead of me, there's no denying that it was always there somewhere.

And I had foolishly set out to make her fall for me because I was so convinced that she liked me and was just pretending after all that happened in the cafeteria. not knowing I had indirectly set out to prove that I was the one with feelings for her.

Now that I know all these, it's only right that I tell her everything and this time I'm going through with it.

She needs to know what really happened two years ago and the truth about why I had approached her. And if after coming clean to her about all these and the agreement I had with Peter, she still considers me worth talking to, I'm going to continue with this and see where it leads to.

I might not be her happy ever after but even if it's a small moment I get to share with her before she realises I'm not the best for her, I want to have that moment to with me forever.

'Let's not get ahead of ourselves', my subconscious reminds me. 'You need to tell her the truth first.'

I exhale slowly and nod in agreement with myself.

Yes, I need to take this one step after the other.

And before I can even begin to plan for the future, I have to tell her the truth.

But the problem now is 'how do I tell her?' especially now that she's been giving me the cold shoulder.

She's been acting like the kiss never happened and I have to tell her all these somehow.

What do I do?

I doubt she would want to be alone with me with the way she's behaving and I doubt there's a way I would be able to convince her.

I continue to ponder on that till I finally drift of to sleep.

Now that it's today, I still have no idea on what to do and I know that I won't be able to meet with her until after the match because we will be on the field throughout.

While the assembly is going on, I decide to write her a note. If she's acting cold because she thinks I kissed her by mistake or that I regret it, I should let her know that it's far from that.

So I write her, telling her the truth about how I can't stop thinking about the kiss. And just in case she might not really be feeling cold towards me anymore, I ask her to see me. Not because I already want to tell her the truth - I know that can't surely happen in school - but because I want to see her before we start the match.

And so after writing the note I head to the stadium to train. Training isn't something I look forward to because of Peter since we are in the same team and he is also playing football, but like always he pretends he doesn't see me and just continues to do whatever our Housemaster asks us to do mechanically.

I know we hardly talk on normal circumstances but ever since he had brought up that proposition back then at Joe's ice cream shop, he has become even more closed off and rude than ever. I hope it's not because he is taking it too seriously since I won't be doing my part anymore, especially after I've told Cynthia the truth like I plan to.

Throughout the training, I keep glancing around the stadium hoping to see Cynthia. Some of the students are already in the stadium to watch us train but Cynthia isn't anywhere to be found.

Forty five minutes to the football match, our Housemaster asks us to go freshen up and change clothes then meet back at the other entrance through which we would enter the stadium.

Saying I'm disappointed that Cynthia didn't show up is an understatement and I can't help thinking that if she wouldn't so much as come to see me here at the stadium then how do I ask her to meet outside school so she can know the whole truth.

I take my bath quickly and head to the locker where I keep my things. I smile at the guys who keep trying to get close to me and nod absentmindedly to whatever they are saying even though I'm paying no attention to them.

About fifteen minutes to the start of the match, we are all gathered at the other entrance to the stadium as instructed by the Housemaster. I notice that my teammates are beginning to get nervous and just smile to myself.

I would say something to encourage them if I wasn't so nervous myself.

The players of St. Paul soon arrives next to us and Femi is waving excitedly at me, not hesitating to stand beside me.

"How nervous are you?" He asks, grinning and I just shrug in response. There's no need to give him something to tease me about since he seems more excited than nervous. "I can understand that you might be scared since you are playing against us. Don't worry, we won't beat you guys too much." He ends smugly.

I scoff at his words, shaking my head, "I still think the only team that stands a chance against us is St. John."

"Cynthia's team?" He asks with a roll of his eyes. "What makes them better than us?" He gives me a challenging look.

"Well, there's a reason why they always come second to us and that too with only few points behind us."

He starts to say something in response but my mind is drawn to something someone is saying at the back.

"Let's bet on who is going to win this year's sports competition, St. Joseph or St. John." I hear one of our players say to his friend from Femi's team.

"Of course St. John is winning this year." His friend replies immediately.

"And what if St. Joseph wins?" The player from our team asks.

Then it all clicks into place.

How I can get Cynthia to go out with me without it seeming like I'm desperate. How I can finally make her come to me and make it seem up to fate.

Although, it will be counting heavily on luck but I have to take this chance.

I have to see Cynthia before the match starts.

"What are you thinking?" Femi asks me with a wary look just as our Housemaster arrives and announces that both team should form two lines, each team on each line.

"Sir, please give me some minutes." I ask and he looks at me like I've grown two heads. Before he can start to refuse me, I'm already leaving the entrance and heading into the stadium.

"The match is about to start! Where are yo...

His voice trails off as I leave them behind, heading towards the stadium seats. What I am about to do now is actually stupid because I have no idea where Cynthia could be sitting as the stadium is now packed and I might end up not seeing her till I'm forced to return back to my teammates.

But I can't stop now since I'm already staring down the seats and since doing this means a lot to me. I look around, trying to see if I can recognise her braids from among the thousands of students in the stadium.

After approaching three different girls with the same colour of braids like hers, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief when I see her sitting rather awkwardly next to John.

I groan loudly when I see him next to her but I'm not going to allow him ruin this for me. I don't know what her feelings towards him might be at the moment but I really need to do this.

I run towards her and take the seat that is empty next to her and I swear the look of surprise in her face as she takes me in - probably wondering why I'm here - is worth every second I spent in looking for her.

"What are you doing here?" She asks, looking worried. "You are meant to be on the field very soon."

I try not to smile thinking about how she's worried about me.

"Didn't you see the note I left you? I told you to see me before the match starts." I remind her and when she gives me an apologetic look, I know she had forgotten about it.

I wonder what could have happened to make her forget to see me.

"Can't it wait till after the match?" She asks and I immediately shakes my head.

"I have to ask you before the match starts because the Inter-House Sport has began today." I explain and of course, I get a confused look.

"Ask? What do you have to ask?"

"Let's make a deal." I tell her, successfully surprising her again.

"What?" She asks like she just heard wrong.

"I said I want us to make a deal." I repeat.

"I know, I just wasn't expecting that. What deal?"

I take in a deep breath before answering, sincerely hoping that this works.

"I want you to go out on a date with me if St. Joseph wins this competition." I tell her and watch as she processes the words, looking too stunned to speak.

"Did you just ask me on a date?" She finally asks, uncertainty evident in her voice.

"Yes." I respond then add, feeling the need to explain. "If we should win the competition."

I see her contemplate within herself and then starts to shake her head.

No, please. You can't say no.

"You do realize you have a girlfriend, right?" She asks and now, I'm the one who is momentarily confused.

Girlfriend? What girlfriend?

"I can't go on a date with someone who is in a relationship." She continues and that's when I realise who she's referring to.

I exhale a sigh of relief. At least getting that out of the way won't be difficult.

"Dorcas was never my girlfriend." I tell her the truth and watch as her eyes widen, total confusion all over her face.

She blinks once then twice, "Are you serious right now? Both of you never dated?! And I- and she- wow."

I watch as she struggles to come to terms with what I just told her. I never knew telling her that I was never involved with Dorcas would evoke such reactions from her.

Is she annoyed that I didn't correct her misconception about us? Or is she thinking that I'm lying just to get her to agree to the deal?

"We never dated." I quickly reassure so she knows I'm saying the truth but then she starts to smile. It's for a fleeting moment before she clears her throat and make a straight face but I could swear that I had seen a smile on her face.

Maybe I still have a chance after all.

"But what if my team wins?" She asks and I'm taken aback. I didn't think that far actually. I was just so glad that I could come up with that idea that I didn't even think of other outcomes.

"I didn't think about that." I reply honestly and she gives me a dead look.

"So you want to make a deal where only you gain something?"

I shake my head, "No, it isn't like that. I was just really excited to have gotten that idea that I didn't think about that."

I have to come up with something fast.

"What if you get you get to ask me to do anything for a day if your team win?" I ask, blurting out the first thing that comes to my mind. "I can be your slave, personal assistant, errand boy, anything you want."

She smiles openly at the suggestion this time and I know she likes the image that I have just conjured.

But please God, let St. Joseph win.

I don't mind being her errand boy but I would rather we go on this date so we can sort everything out.

"But what if neither of our team wins?" She asks with a raised eyebrow and a small smile, knowing I didn't think of that too.

She's enjoying this.

I groan, trying to rein in my frustration, "Why does making a deal have so much involved?" I mumble and see her shrug, her lips pressed tightly together.

She's really making a show of holding her laughter though. I'm just glad that she is responding normally to me again.

Thank God for the element of surprise.

"How about if one of us is in a position ahead of the other? Like if my team is second and yours is third or yours is second while mine is third." I explain and she nods thoughtfully.

"Deal?" I quickly put my hand forward for a shake because I don't want her to come up with anything again and she smiles knowingly at me.

"Deal." She shakes my hand and I almost jolt forward from the tingles that I feel.

There's really something about this girl and to why she affects me this way. At least now that she has agreed to this deal, I'm now a step closer to setting things right.

"I'm going to make sure we win." I tell her.

"Good luck." She replies with a small laugh.

"I've got to go now." I release her hand and mine somehow feels empty. "Don't forget to watch how I play."

"I'm not sure about that but I'm going to watch how everyone plays."

"Still works, but I know you won't be able to take your eyes off this body." I gesture to myself with a wink and she rolls her eyes playfully.

"Yeah, yeah, just get going." She replies and I give her a smile before running off, knowing the players will be called to the field any minute.

That worked better than I had expected and somehow, I know everything will continue to go smoothly from here.

***

Michael, why do you think there are still lots of chapters to write in this book? 😂😂. This boy does not know what's going on.

Hmmm, so let's talk about Wole. This story contains lots of broken characters that are very good at portraying that they are actually fine and Wole is definitel top three among those such characters. We all know him as a strong character who always says the truth as it is and looks out for his friends, and unfortunately, we are only going to see bits and pieces of his life till this story ends.

One of those such bits is his relationship with his ex girlfriend. I think many of you will now know why that is a very touchy subject for him whenever it comes up in an argument between he and Femi.

I'm also sure most of you can already guess who he was friends with before he befriended Femi and the others. But what most of you won't be able to guess is just how connected he and that person is.

I really wish I'm done with this story already so you all can just find out what I'm saying already but sadly, that's far from happening.

I will try to update more often though.

Thank you all so much for your continuous support and messages. They mean a lot ❤️.

Don't forget to vote and comment.

Until next time,

See yah 🥰.