Chapter Seven

MICHAEL

I drop the picture of Cynthia on the table and tell myself to get a grip. 

I shouldn't be smiling at her picture, not after she had disgraced me in front of the students.

My main priority right now should be building my now tarnished reputation and since I've come up with what to do, I should be thinking of how to put the plan into actions.

Not smiling senselessly at a random picture.

I stand up from the table and head towards the bathroom to brush my teeth and then to the kitchen to drink the orange juice I've been craving since I woke up.

On my way to the kitchen, I encounter an unexpected surprise in the sitting room that makes me stop in my tracks. Lying on one of the sofas is a sleeping Henry, a very rare thing because that man always goes home to his family unless it is totally necessary for him to stay.

I walk towards him, realizing as I get nearer to him that he looks pretty exhausted.

Poor man. Having to look after me must be really a chore.

I decide to leave him to sleep since he looks like he needs it and continue my way to the kitchen. I can already perceive the aroma of vegetable soup from the entrance and I smile, knowing only one person can make something that smells so nice.

I step into the kitchen to see Margaret, our middle-aged housekeeper, stirring what I presume is the vegetable soup in a pot and she looks up at me with a smile.

Maggie is our oldest employee and I believe I'm right to assume that she is in her late forties or early fifties. She is a friendly woman who has unfortunately witnessed my tantrums first-hand as a child and who has despite everything, treats me like a mother would treat a son.

"Good morning, Maggie." I chirp as I head towards the fridge but she replies by staring pointedly at me. My eyes follow her gaze and I look down to realize she is staring at my chest.

My bare chest.

"Young man, what did I tell you about putting on a shirt or singlet before coming down to the kitchen?" She questions, narrowing her eyes at me.

"Don't look at me like that. I didn't know I'd meet you in the kitchen." I grumble playfully, opening the fridge.

God knows I'm not going back to my room to wear a shirt and come back again when what I'm here for is just inches away from me.

I open the juice carton and take a huge gulp from it, only to see her giving me a judgmental look.

I sigh helplessly, giving her a sulky look. "What did I do now?"

"You're drinking directly from the carton."

"But it's my own na."

"What if Kunle or Henry had also drunk from the same carton the same way you just did?" She asks and watches satisfactorily as my face twists into a grimace. 

I begin to wonder if I had really just indirectly kissed one of them.

"Next time use a cup." She adds triumphantly and I pout in response.

Although I doubt I'd be using a glass cup tomorrow.

I put the lid back on the juice and return it to the fridge before going to stand beside Maggie, drooling at the sight of the very assorted vegetable soup in the pot.

I love spending time with Maggie and having occasional banters with her, and I especially love it when she nags at me. She understands that I need a mother figure in my life and she tries her best to fit into that role, something I really appreciate her for.

"What are we having for breakfast?"

"I saw what happened in your school yesterday-" She begins, ignoring my question and I immediately know she's referring to what had happened in the cafeteria. She puts off the gas stove and covers the pot then turns to look at me, all her attention directed towards me.

"-and I don't support what you did to that girl."

I open my mouth to say something in my defense but she puts her hand up to stop me from talking, "I don't say I support the girl too because she shouldn't have slapped you-

"Exactly." I cut in. 

And it's not like I said it to insult her. I know it's childish that I wanted to hurt her like she did to me two years ago but I was also hoping she would recognize me, the actual person who had saved her two years ago.

She continues like I haven't just spoken, "-but I know you, Michael. I've been working here for over ten years now and I know you and what you're capable of. I know you won't let that incident go just like that."

"I'm not that bad of a person." I grumble.

She grabs both my hands and squeezes them, "Whatever you're planning to do to her, don't do it."

"Maggie..."

She smiles adoringly at me and leaves one of my hands to pat my cheek. "I don't know what it is you want to do with her but I just have this feeling that if you go ahead with it-

"If I go ahead with it?" I ask quietly.

"You're going to regret it."

I stare at her shocked and at loss of words and she doesn't say anything either, probably waiting for me to digest her words until she giggles all of a sudden.

"Now, stop being a shameless young man and go and freshen up." She taps me on my shoulder lightly and laughs, totally acting like she wasn't being so serious with me just now.

So I leave the kitchen in a trance, my mind on one sentence.

You're going to regret it.

How the hell does she know I was planning something?

And more importantly, how does she know I'm going to regret it?

Throughout the years Maggie has spent in working with us, I've come to learn quite the hard way that more often than not, her words are true and they mostly come to pass.

I guess that explains the feeling of foreboding that is slowly growing within me.

But I can't easily let everything go and forget what had happened in the cafeteria yesterday, not when Peter had also gotten involved. I'd be damned to tell him I'm no longer interested in what he had proposed when I had readily agreed to it just yesterday.

He'll probably say something along the line of me being a loser or a coward with that sickening smile of his.

And there's also that one reason. To prove Cynthia wrong. To make her remember.

I continue my way to my room and notice when I get to the sitting room that Henry is now awake and is sitting upright, looking very deep in thought.

I ignore him, not caring about what he is thinking as I have something on my mind myself but sadly he has other plans. I'm yet to take two steps when I feel his hands on my arms, gripping it like his life depends on it.

"Where are you going?" He asks.

I shrug his hands off me and give him an amused look. "What do you mean where am I going? I'm heading to my room."

"Where are you coming from?"

I watch him carefully wondering if there's something wrong with him.

"Henry, did you hit your head somewhere?" I ask, fairly concerned.

He frowns, looking very offended. "I'm perfectly alright, Michael but I'm afraid it won't stay that way if you decide to do something stupid."

That's when I realize what's happening.

"Is that why you didn't go home? To keep an eye on me?"

I stare at him with amusement when he nods resignedly. This guy is really something else. I told him clearly yesterday to calm down, to not stress himself and now, he is doing this?

I try to give him my best reassuring smile, "Henry, you're over thinking things. Remember what I told you yesterday, just stay calm. Calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down!" He snaps and I take a step back at the intensity of his voice. "You wouldn't calm down if you were in my situation so just stop saying that."

I blink once then twice at him, not knowing what else to say.

What kind of problem is this?

Taking in a deep breath, I decide to try again. "Look here, Henry. What I plan to do is nothing to be worried about. I'm not planning anything criminal against the girl so stop getting worked up over this issue."

As soon as I'm done talking, I discover that there's really nothing to be worried about.

Maggie probably thought I was going to do something criminal and that's why she had said I would regret it but now I know there won't be anything to regret because what I want to do isn't really a big deal.

I feel a sudden sense of relief as I come to this realization. There's really nothing to be worried about  and I'm definitely proceeding with my plan.

I look Henry dead straight in the eyes, feeling a new wave of determination, "I assure you I won't be causing you any trouble. I promise."

He looks at me unconvinced but I hold his gaze, waiting for him to finally agree with me.

"Alright, fine." He sighs and adds in a stern voice, "But I'll be holding you to those words."

I nod in agreement, "Am I free now?"

"Yes, you are."

I breathe out a sigh of relief. "You should also freshen up, you look like you aged twenty years overnight."

I immediately turn to go to my room after saying that but not before catching the slight frown that has appeared on his face.

I chuckle as I head to my room, knowing how sensitive he is to his looks then go straight to the bathroom to freshen up and to prepare for school.

***

CYNTHIA

The alarm on my bedside table rings and I groan at the shrill sound of it. I subconsciously reach out to switch it off and I remind myself not to hate it because it is my life saver.

I'm about to stretch my body when I hear the notification sound of a message entering my phone and I groan, wondering if Grace won't just let me live because of what happened yesterday.

That girl really needs to learn to chill.

I lean forward to grab the phone from my bedside table and I'm surprised to discover that the message isn't from Grace.

John has just sent me a message, asking why I wasn't picking my calls and if I was alright. I was feeling kind of disappointed with him because he hadn't acted like my knight in shining armour yesterday.

I know he used to be friends with Wole and they don't like each other anymore - which might mean he also doesn't like Michael and the rest of them as they are friends with Wole - but that doesn't mean he shouldn't have said something in my defense yesterday.

I reply his message, telling him I'm okay and begin to scroll through my notifications. I roll my eyes at the number of missed calls on my phone, ninety percent of which are from Grace and the remaining ten percent from John.

She had also left some ridiculous messages on my phone;

Girlfriend: Are you home yet or in a police station? - 5:05pm

Girlfriend: Do you know the video has been deleted on Facebook? And it's no longer on any social media? - 5:30pm

Girlfriend: I just can't help thinking about the deleted video, do you also think it's a good sign? – 6:10pm

Girlfriend: Pick up your calls, dammit! I need to know you're not in a police cell! - 6:49pm

Girlfriend: Wait, don't tell me you're asleep. Where are you even sleeping? In a cell or on your bed? – 7:15pm

Her messages and calls surprisingly stopped after that time and I wonder why.

Deciding to just ignore everything and talk to her properly when I get to school, I drop my phone on my bed just as another message comes in.

Now what?

The message is from Grace this time and I roll my eyes, already knowing she had sent something dramatic.

Girlfriend: I'm so pissed at you right now. If I hadn't called Nanny to ask if you were home, I would be worried that you were spending the night in a cell. No matter what you do though, I'm still your best friend and that's why you must see me before entering the school. Make sure you see me at the school gate!

I stare at the message, now understanding why her message had stopped and not surprised at the fact that she didn't even send a good morning. After all, she is 'pissed' at me.

But I do wonder what it is that she is up to this time since she is insisting that I meet her at the school gate. I'm definitely sure whatever it is will be a waste of time.

I place my phone back on the bed and stand up reluctantly, heading to my bathroom. I brush my teeth and take my bath; my uniform already washed and ironed is hanging in the wardrobe. Looking at the uniform, I decide I won't be missing it once I graduate from secondary school. If anything, I'm glad this will be the last year I will be wearing it before going to the University.

Nanny smiles at me as she sees me climbing down the stairs and I return her smile. She quickly gets up from her chair so she can serve my own food, a sight I'm used to seeing a lot while coming down to eat.

I pull my chair to sit at the dining and greet her, "Good morning, Nanny."

"Good morning, dear. How was your night?" She asks, serving my breakfast of bread, fried egg and tea.

"It was fine." I reply and mutter a quick thanks for the food. I glance at my brother who hasn't said a word since I joined the table, not even a good morning. Now that I think of it, he was also quiet at the dining table yesterday.

For someone who always has a lot to say – except for when he's in front of the TV – seeing him concentrate on his food like it's a task that must be completed is quite disturbing.

Should I be worried?

I hear Nanny clear her throat, a sign that she has something to say and I raise my head to look at her.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, in fact I'm glad nothing is wrong. Since we didn't hear the doorbell ring yesterday only to see the police standing at our front door." She says happily and I give her a dead look.

Seriously?

"Nanny, I already told you that nobody is getting arrested." I huff but she doesn't look too convinced.

"I'm still having the lawyer on speed-dial just in case." I roll my eyes at her response but she gives me a look akin to... incredulity? "Why do you have to slap a Senator's son's face in the first place? I know you as someone who stays away from trouble."

"I explained what happened to you yesterday. It wasn't my fault and I really don't want to be reminded of what happened during breakfast or I'll lose my appetite." I add the last bit on purpose because Nanny detests wasting of food unless it is absolutely necessary and I'm glad it worked because she immediately keeps mute, not saying anything anymore.

I notice a pair of eyes watching me and I turn to see Sam looking at both Nanny and I, his eyes shining with curiousity and I can practically see the questions in them.

The reason he is still quiet is what I don't know.

We finish breakfast in silence and grab our school bags, in Sam's case, his school bag and lunch box, and we head towards the car where Lanre is already waiting, then bade farewell to Nanny.

We attend different schools. My five-year old brother is still in Elementary school and his school is nearer to the house so Lanre takes him to his school first before dropping me at mine.

"Good morning." Sam greets in the car all of a sudden and I blink down at him in surprise.

He hasn't gone dumb after all.

"Why were you silent at the table during dinner last night and breakfast this morning?"

"Our teacher taught us yesterday not to talk while eating; she said it was table matters." He explains and I nod, finally understanding.

"It's called table manners." I reply, correcting him. "And yes, your teacher isn't wrong but I assure you that you'll soon get tired of following it. I bet you were itching to say something at the table this morning but you were holding yourself back."

He gives an exaggerated sigh, acting all exhausted, "It's true jare, that thing is hard. I wanted to tell you something but I couldn't because of the table matters our teacher asked us to follow."

"It's called TA-BLE MAN-NERS." I correct again, emphasizing the words. "Besides, she won't know if you follow it or not. What is it that you want to tell me?"

His smile takes a shy turn as he responds. "I have a new girlfriend."

I stare at him blankly, wondering if I've just heard right but he gives me that shy look and then Lanre bursts into laughter.

I definitely wasn't hearing things.

I try to sound cool with it, "What do you mean by a new girlfriend? Have you had some girlfriends before?"

"Yes, I've had girlfriends before and I had another one yesterday." He replies confidently and my eyes widen in surprise.

Is he being serious right now?

"So, you're trying to tell me that you've had previous girlfriends and then you had a new one yesterday?!" I ask with disbelief and he nods uncertainly.

This whole situation must definitely be a joke.

"How many girlfriends do you have altogether now?"

He starts ticking them off his fingers as he says their names to himself and my mouth falls open when he stops counting on his seventh finger. "I had seven previously, the new one I had yesterday will make them eight."

I stare at him incredulously and glance at Lanre who is now trying hard to hold in his laughter. I'll be laughing too if this whole situation isn't so ridiculous.

I'm almost seventeen and I have no experience whatsoever when it comes to relationships and then there's my five-year old brother who already has eight girlfriends.

What the hell is this world turning into?

"What do you mean you have eight girlfriends?" I scold and his smile immediately drops. The look on his face tells me he wasn't expecting that question.

"What? Were you expecting me to congratulate you?"

"Is it a bad thing to have a girlfriend?" He asks, looking all innocent and confused.

I clear my throat so I won't sound too harsh, "Yes, it is, especially when you are still so young." I try to explain but the look of confusion remains on his face.

"But you have a girlfriend. You call Grace your girlfriend all the time. Does that mean you are doing something bad?" He questions and my mind just goes blank.

Don't tell me this is where the confusion started from.

I heave out a huge sigh and start to think of the best way to put it so he'll understand why I call Grace my girlfriend.

"No, calling Grace my girlfriend is different. Grace is a girl and she is my bestfriend, that's why she is my girlfriend."

He scratches his head, looking totally lost, "Does that mean only a girl can be your girlfriend?"

"Yes." I answer and watch his face scrunch up with confusion, like something is still not clear to him and that's when I realize something.

It really doesn't make sense and will probably sound so preposterous but this is Sam we're talking about and anything is possible.

I chuckle lightly, glancing at Lanre through the rearview mirror before looking back at Sam, "I know it's not possible but aren't your eight girlfriends all girls?"

He nods in the affirmative and I almost choke on my spit.

He begins to explain, "Just two of them are girls, the rest are boys and we call each other girlfriend because I told them I have a sister that calls her friend 'girlfriend' and they are really close. So we decided to start calling each other that so we can be close like the both of you."

Lanre just bursts into uncontrollable laughter at the end of his explanation and I try to laugh too, only it ends up sounding like a strangled cough.

What is this confusion this early morning?

His face falls and he looks up at me with sad eyes, "Should I stop being friends with them?"

I immediately shake my head, "Of course not. Why would you do that?"

"Because you said it is bad to have a girlfriend." He replies in a downcast manner and I start to feel bad for saying that.

I pat his head and he looks at me, his eyes hopeful. "You can continue to be friends with them. You just don't have to call them your girlfriends, okay?" I say with a small smile.

"Okay." He answers, a small smile forming on his lips.

"But why did you look so surprised when I told you I had eight girlfriends?" He asks, his sullen mood gone but it's a question I'm not ready to start explaining.

Thankfully, we get to his school before I get the chance to respond and I breathe out a sigh of relief. Lanre stops the car and I open the door for him, giving him a kiss on the forehead as he gets down from the car and handing him his lunch bag.

"Greet your new friend for me and your other friends, and make sure you take care of yourself, okay?" I say, waving at him.

"Okay." He replies and waves back. I watch as he enters his school, looking back to wave at me and Lanre once again and I return his wave too.

I catch the smile on Lanre's face as he continues in the direction to my school and I know the smile is as a result of my conversation with Sam.

I find myself smiling too but as we head to Dreamers High, I can't stop wondering if it's a good idea to continue to call Grace my girlfriend or not.

We arrive at my school and I get down from the car to see Grace already waiting for me by the entrance.

"Girlfriend!" She shouts, a huge smile on her face as she approaches me and gives me a hug.

For someone who is pissed at me, she doesn't seem reluctant to embrace me but I cough at the mention of the name that caused a whole lot of misunderstanding this morning while hugging her back and she quickly releases me, her face etched with concern.

She grabs my face, "What happened? Do you have a cough? Should we go to the clinic? Or do you want to go back home? Should I go with you?"

I shake my head mentally at her questions. This girl and her overreactions ehn.

I remove her hands from my face, "No, I don't have a cough and no one is going home. I just think it will be better if we adopt a new name to call each other."

"And why is that? What's wrong with calling each other girlfriend?"

"That's because anybody can start calling their friends girlfriend." She raises an eyebrow in question. "Sam for example." I add.

She looks confused for a moment until she gets what I said and bursts into laughter.

"You mean he has been calling his friends 'girlfriend' all these time?" She asks amidst laughter and I sigh, remembering all he had said in the car.

"You heard right. It wasn't funny this morning when he told me he has eight girlfriends." I mention and this time she doubles over with laugher.

"Oh, my friend, your poor heart must have gotten a shock." She says with a smile when she's done laughing.

"You have no idea." I smile too, waving it off and we begin to walk to the school gate. "Anyways, I got the message you sent to me this morning and I want to know what is so important that I have to see you before entering the school?"

Grace stops at the entrance and pulls me to the side then glances around. I give her a dry look as she does this, wondering why she's looking around like someone who is about to do something no one else should see.

When she seems satisfied with scanning around and is sure there's no one coming, she brings out a hat and sunshades from her bag.

I glance at them warily and look at her, "Why are you with a hat and a sunglass?"

"These are disguise I took from my mum's boutique for you to wear before entering the school." She answers like it's obvious and I raise an eyebrow at her.

Her mum owns a pretty popular boutique and the clothes and accessories that are sold there are very expensive. It makes me wonder just how much the items that are presently in her hands cost.

I give her an incredulous look. "Are you serious?"

"Of course." She nods with enthusiasm. "You know, I won't lie that I considered asking you to go for a plastic surgery but I figured it won't really be practical so I end up coming up with the idea of a disguise." She explains proudly.

Really, Plastic surgery? Am I sure this girl is alright? With the way she is still even looking proud of herself?

"So you honestly think I should put on a hat and sunglass in the school as a disguise?"

"Yes!" She exclaims excitedly, probably thinking I've finally gotten her point. "Look, I know the video has been deleted and you haven't been arrested since yesterday but we can't be so sure yet. It is better safe than sorry and with these on, you would hardly be recognized." She adds and gestures for me to collect the items, both of which I totally ignore.

"First of, I don't think I've done something that requires me wearing a disguise in school and secondly, I'm definitely not putting those on. For crying out loud Grace, these things will do the exact opposite of what you just said and will make me stand out. Everyone will be looking at the crazy girl with a hat and sunglass."

Grace heaves out an exaggerated sigh, a look of helplessness on her face and I honestly just want to smack her on the head with the hat in her hand so she can come to her senses.

"Look, Grace, I appreciate the fact that you are worried about me but you seriously don't need to do all these." I say kindly, trying to make her reason with me.

She shakes her head and I immediately know all my explanation was in vain, "You just don't know this Cynthia, but you're still at risk of getting arrested!"

Not this again.

"Even though the video was deleted on social media, the slap you gave Michael was all that was talked about throughout yesterday on the school's WhatsApp and Facebook group. I'm sure almost everyone in the school knows what happened and what you look like."

"So?" I ask in a dead voice, not in the least interested with what she has to say and she looks stunned, probably surprised at how unbothered I'm acting. She takes in deep breaths to calm herself and I roll my eyes.

She clears her throat, her voice sounding like she's explaining something to a three-year old, "So you are not safe, Cynthia. Putting on this disguise is the last hope you have."

Last hope? This girl is not serious.

How do I make her understand that there is no way I'm putting on those things no matter what she says?

The bell for the morning assembly rings before I can think of something to say and I sigh in relief. Even fate doesn't want me to put on her disguise or continue to give her reasons for not wanting to put them on.

"Grace, it's time for the assembly and we should go inside." I announce and without waiting for a response, I walk straight into the school.

"Cynthia, wait!"

I hear her call out behind me but I quicken my pace, not giving her another chance to convince me to wear her ridiculous idea of a disguise.

With this crazy start to the day, I begin to wonder just what the rest of the day will bring.

***

Hope you liked the chapter 😌❤️.

And let's be honest, children really have the most random thoughts. Who else has a younger brother or sister like Sam? 😂😂

Don't forget to vote and comment.

Thank you ❤️