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Picture of my sweet baby, Cynthia in the media above

Chapter Eight

CYNTHIA

I join our class queue for the morning assembly and as soon as I get on the line, I immediately begin to hear murmurs.

It's not so surprising since I know I'm now probably hated by half of the student population because of what happened yesterday and I decide to just ignore all of them. But deep down, I'm not really comfortable with everything that's happened and is happening.

I was never bothered about the fact that I have no friends in class except for John and well, Tobi who doesn't even count, but at this moment, I wish there is someone close to me who will take my side and tell me all will be fine instead of reminding me of just how much trouble I'm in by slapping Michael's face yesterday.

I glance at Grace, my best friend who is supposed to take that role but is unfortunately the leader of those who are convinced I'd be going to jail soon.

Even now, she's frantically pointing to her bag, referring to the disguise in it and all I can do is look away, stifling a sigh. I'm not wearing those things even if heaven falls.

I get startled when a hand suddenly squeezes mine and I glance up to see John's caramel eyes, glinting mischievously as they always do as he looks down at me with a gentle smile that does weird things to my stomach.

I return his smile, almost getting lost in his eyes when his thumb slightly caresses my hand and I'm reminded he is still holding it. I remove his hand gently from mine, not missing the momentary confused look on his face but I smile reassuringly at him and he smiles back, his confusion clear.

I know he must have noticed that I have a crush on him and that he might be certain I would say yes to him but perhaps if I don't encourage him to do things like this, he won't be too surprised when I say no.

That's if I know how I'm even supposed to turn him down without hurting him.

He is about to say something, my heartbeat quickening at the fear of the possibility that he is about to ask for an answer again when one of our teachers speaks into the microphone, telling us to stand at attention for the national anthem.

I hide a smile, relieved that I'm able to avoid talking to him once more and sing the national anthem along enthusiastically with the other students. For the rest of the assembly, I pretend to listen attentively to what the teachers and the principal are saying but deep down, I know I will only be able to put off speaking to him about the issue for a short time.

After the morning devotion and listening to instructions that mostly involves being good students and reading our books with emphasis on the SS3 students because our final exams are approaching, I discover that the reason my classmates were able to get away with their coloured hairstyle yesterday was because they did not attend the assembly.

The Principal had ordered each class teachers to bring out students that aren't dressed according to the school's dress code from their classes and our class teacher had wasted no time in calling them out from the queue. I don't get to see what is to be done to them as we leave to our class soon after but I'll be lying if I say I'm not curious. One thing I know for sure is they won't be coming back to the class with those hairstyles and those heels.

Grace and I part ways when I'm about to enter my class and I chuckle at her disappointed expression when she sees that I'm not really going to put on her disguise. Was she really thinking I would change my mind?

Really?

She should know me better by now.

I step into the classroom and head straight for my seat. Tobi, my seat partner is already seated and is trying to put his bag into his locker. I have been stuck with him as my seat partner since SS1 because all classes in the school are arranged alphabetically and John sits far from me in class because of this same reason. The only time we get to sit together is when we are in the laboratory because he likes to sit beside me and work as my partner.

"Good morning, Cynthia." Tobi greets first, surprising me and I turn to look at him. He is opening the math textbook he just dropped on his table and isn't even looking at me.

"Good morning, Tobi." I respond, watching him as I take my seat beside him. He looks my way and our eyes meet and he quickly drops his head down to his book. I laugh lightly, wondering why he is acting funny. "Do you have something to tell me?"

I wait for his response, while bringing out my notebook and textbook for the subject we will be having but he still doesn't answer.

I guess he has nothing to say to me.

I glance at John's seat with a smile instead, knowing he might be looking at me like I always catch him doing but he isn't.

I scowl when I discover him sitting in between two girls, both of which are staring at him dreamily as he explains something to them. He scribbles something on a book but their eyes never leave his face, they probably aren't listening to what he has been saying.

It's a fact that almost all the girls in our school have a crush on either Michael or his friends but then it is also a fact that almost all the girls in our class have a crush on John. I'm not surprised because I'm also one of them and I really can't blame them, there is simply nothing to dislike about him. He is cute, brilliant, kind, very sweet and even all the teachers love him.

But he asked me out, not the two girls staring adoringly at him and not any of the other girls that have a crush on him in the class so I guess that's enough consolation.

I turn back to my notes and wait for the teacher we will be having for first period to come in. My seat partner is buried in his book, already solving some Mathematics question and I decide to imitate him by solving some Math questions when I hear someone mention Michael's name in a discussion.

The girls that sit behind me are chatting about the incident that took place yesterday and I hear them say how stupid I am for even coming to school today.

"You know I really don't think she is brave. She is just trying to prove that she is different from girls like us after Michael called her out on her stupid plan to get him to talk to her." One of them says.

"She is an idiot." The other scoffs. "No wonder Michael said she isn't one of the girls he will consider going out with." She adds and I can feel the stares of both of them on my back.

"The most annoying thing is she had the audacity to slap my Michael!" The first one shouts, sounding offended and I almost burst into laughter.

Her Michael? How pathetic.

Deciding I've heard enough of their nonsense, I turn around to give them a piece of my mind and I already have their attention, both of them are watching me with clear disgust.

One of them gives me a defiant look, her eyes shooting daggers at me, "What do you want?"

I give her a fake smile, "I-

"Good morning, class." The voice of our Mathematics teacher interrupts me and I can clearly see a look of relief on both their faces, they probably think that's the end of our conversation.

I give them a reassuring smile, "We'll have this conversation another time."

I turn to face the front but not before hearing one of them hiss and the other mimic what I just said. I smile and shake my head pitifully at them.

Children.

***

The bell for lunch rings and our Yoruba teacher, Mr. Solanke, steps out of the class. I stretch and look out the window, smiling as I watch some of the junior students in the school compound run around to catch each other.

I expect Grace to open the window anytime soon and stick her head inside like she always does whenever she comes to get me for lunch but after waiting for a while and realizing she is probably still in her class, I decide to go and get her instead.

I glance at John who I'm still avoiding and see that he is busy with the exercise the Yoruba teacher had given us so I take it as my chance to get out of the class as soon as possible.

Normally, I'd wait for him and we would get Grace together but everything has changed since he asked me out and I've begun to avoid him.

I reach Grace's class only to discover that there is still a teacher in her class and she won't be done soon so I decide to just wait for her, since I'm not really in a hurry to get lunch today.

But waiting for her soon starts to get uncomfortable as students who are passing by begin to whisper and point fingers.

Of course, I know what it is all about and what they are talking about. I'm just not comfortable with the whole finger-pointing as it is making me very self-conscious.

"I'm telling you, she is the one that slapped his face." A girl whispers loudly to her friend and I glare at them making both of them pass in a hurry.

"She's so shameless." I hear another girl say and I clench my hands into fists, trying hard to ignore the comments of the students while waiting for Grace to come out of her class.

I'm still waiting when I notice that there are no longer whispers from the students and they've all gone silent.

I swallow nervously, knowing immediately that Michael and his friends are around. They are the only ones that can get the students all frenzied up or extremely quiet.

He is probably here to avenge what I did to him yesterday.

I turn to look at him, subconsciously taking a step back as soon as my eyes land on him. Surprisingly, he is the only one who is here and he doesn't even look like he has any hard feelings for me.

But you never can tell.

I clear my throat, squaring my shoulders and acting like I wasn't affected by his unexpected appearance just now. If he is here to get his revenge for slapping him yesterday, I won't let him have his way so easily.

"Look here, don't even think of trying anything funny or..." I start to say but trail off when he gives me a weird look.

He presses his lips together as if he is stopping himself from smiling and raises his eyebrow in question when I stop talking.

I practically forgot what I was about to say.

"Or what?" He asks, finally smiling.

I look away from him and continue, "Or you're going to regret it. If you think the slap I gave you in the cafeteria was shocking then you haven't seen anything because I can even do worse so don't you-

"I'm actually here to apologize." He interjects.

"-dare think you can-

I stop talking and stare blankly at him when I realize what he just said.

What?!

***

MICHAEL

I finish eating my breakfast of white rice and vegetable in my room and pick up my bag and phone, ready to go to school.

On my way outside of the room, I notice there's a message on my phone and it's from Dorcas.

Dorcas: Babe, I waited for your call yesterday but you didn't call. Hope everything is fine?

I read the message, realizing with surprise that I really didn't call her. Hell, I didn't even remember her and it was all because of that coffee-eyed Cynthia girl.

"Good morning, sir." I jump at the sudden voice, discovering that I'm already out of my room and I'm actually standing in front of Kunle. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to give you a fright."

I wave it off, "It's okay. Good morning to you too, how was your night?"

"It was okay. How about yours, sir?" He asks and I cringe, remembering the senseless dream I had. "I'm guessing it's the same as before." He adds with a solemn expression when I don't reply.

I quickly shake my head, "No, Kunle. It wasn't exactly good but it's... slightly better than my usual nightmares."

He looks at me with a confused expression and I know he doesn't understand what I just said. But then it's quite comprehensible so I don't understand why he is looking at me like I'm speaking in a strange language.

Or maybe it's because I've never told him something like this before.

We begin to walk to the garage, me in front and him behind me as usual and that's when I remember the mental reminder I had given myself.

To set Kunle and Cynthia's Nanny on a date.

"So, Kunle..." I start, trying to sound casual. "...what do you think of Cynthia's Nanny?"

I glance back at him when he doesn't reply only to see a surprised expression on his face. "You gathered information about her so you probably know more than I do and you already met her once. Remember?" I add with an encouraging smile but at this point, I can practically hear his confusion.

"Isn't she pretty?" I huff out in frustration and I watch understanding slowly dawn on him, his lips twitching.

"She's pretty." He agrees and I grin, glad to know that he thinks the same way.

"So do you want me to call her up for you? I can book a nice dinner for both of you at one of those five-star restaurants so you two can get to talk and know each other better."

He raises an eyebrow in question, an amused look on his face and I give him a patronizing smile, realizing that I sounded so eager. But I'm not backing down now, I've already set the ball rolling.

"Pardon me if I'm wrong-" He says with a forced laugh and I blink up at him with a slight smile, waiting for him to continue "-but are you trying to set me up on a date with her?"

"Exactly." I respond happily. I was beginning to think the chief of my bodyguards has a thick head. "I haven't seen you with a girl, Kunle, and I think the both of you would make a nice couple except she might be few years older than you, let's say five or six at most but who cares, we are in the twenty-first century now."

He watches me as I talk, his lips pressing together as I progressed like he was trying hard not to laugh. He eventually burst into laughter when I'm done talking and I join in the laughter, excited that he isn't as opposed to the date like I was worried he would be.

That's it. I should keep the ball rolling.

"So, what do you think?" I ask after waiting patiently for his laughter to subside. Mine stopped a while ago.

I didn't even know why he was laughing.

"I'm sorry but I don't think it's necessary." He replies reassuringly, still grinning.

The ball just stopped rolling.

I smile at him, probably looking all desperate now, "But you don't have a girl-

"I have a fiancée."

"-to talk to and-

I immediately stop when I realized what he just said.

"You're engaged?!" I practically scream, my eyes immediately darting to his fingers to see if he is wearing an engagement ring but I don't see anything. He notices what I'm looking for and with a smile, removes the pendant of his necklace which is always lying beneath his t-shirt and guess what it turned out to be-

An engagement ring.

I stare up at him in bewilderment, still not believing that he is actually engaged, "But why?"

He looks at me like I did not just ask that question.

Okay, maybe that sounded wrong.

"I'm just so surprised right now. I mean, I'd understand if you're dating someone but being engaged? Aren't you like- twenty five? twenty six?"

He gives me a disbelieving look and an almost disappointed one, "I'm thirty two."

My mouth practically falls open at his announcement.

Thirty two? He's thirty two?!

"When did... How are..."

He stares disappointedly at me, not saying anything and I know he must be wondering what type of boss doesn't even know the age of the people who work for him, especially when he's more than just a worker to me.

"I'm sorry." I apologize, knowing I'm in the wrong. "I didn't know you were engaged. I'd have loved to congratulate you on your engagement and maybe get you a gift."

He finally smiles, "You can make up for it at the wedding." He says and I nod, just realizing that he's supposed to get married after getting engaged.

"Yeah. When is the wedding?"

He beams, "April, sir."

"Oh, next year's April?"

"No, this year's April." He corrects and I nod, assimilating what he just said then it dawns on me.

I stare blankly at him, wondering if I heard right, "This year's April? The one in three months time?! You're getting married in three months time?!"

He simply nods again in agreement.

I pull at my lips, wondering why I didn't know all these.

A lot has been going on behind my back. A fucking lot! The chief of my bodyguards is getting married in three months and I wasn't even aware?!

"I hope you aren't too surprised by my announcement." He says remorsefully and I begin to feel slightly offended.

"Of course, I'm surprised. Why didn't you tell me? I probably look like a fool right now." I watch his face begin to cloud with guilt but that's exactly what he deserves. "And what if I never asked you to go on a date with Cynthia's nanny? Would I have never found out?!"

"I was going to give you an official invitation card next week." He replies apologetically and I only huff in response, now feeling a bit annoyed. I turn around and continue my way to the compound with him following behind me quietly.

I thought we were really close but yet I didn't know these important things in his life. It only shows that there will always be a line drawn between us, a line that he must not cross as my father's employee. I might see him as an uncle I'm fond of but to him, I'm just the son of the Senator.

Someone he is asked to protect.

And that also makes me a bit sad.

We get to the parked Range-Rover with the other bodyguards waiting for me. They all chorus their greetings but I was in no mood to reply them, one of them opens the door of the car for me and I start to go towards it but just before I enter into the car, I turn back to look at him and give him a sincere smile.

"Congratulations, Kunle." I tap his shoulders affectionately, "I mean it."

He smiles back and nods appreciatively, "Thank you sir."

I proceed to enter the car after that and the others do so too. After everyone is settled into both cars, we drive off to school.

On our way to school, I decide there and then that I have to fulfill my plans before Kunle's wedding and that means I have just three months to go.

***

"So what's the plan?"

Our Commerce teacher, Mrs. Omego, has just left the class not long after the bell for lunch rang and I'm busy copying the last words she had written on the whiteboard into my book but both Femi and Wole had left their seats - definitely not completing their notes - and are now sitting on both of the armrests on my chair.

"I'm not delving into that." I reply in a bored tone, refusing to tell them anything. I had already thought about what the first step on my plan is going to be and it is quite simple.

I'm going to apologize to her.

That doesn't sound so special, right?

But I'm Michael Bankole and anything relating to me is very special.

The first thing to note is that I don't apologize to anyone, whether I'm in the wrong or not. Everyone in this school knows that, including the staffs and principal and I'm sure she knows that too.

Look at it this way. If I'm known as someone who doesn't apologize and I suddenly apologize to you even when you're the one at fault, then you would surely be moved to tears, right?

And I plan to make the apology a very, very special one. Everything will surely come into place after that.

"With the smug smile on your face, I guess you have it all planned out." Wole comments with an unimpressed expression and I smile even wider.

"Of course, I have it all planned out." I affirm proudly and glance at Peter whose attention is on the iPad he has in his hands. He hasn't said more than ten words to me since I had arrived in class this morning and that is really not surprising but this time, I feel he is actually ignoring me.

"Then tell us already." Femi whines and I turn to look at him.

"I can't tell you when Peter is here. You know he challenged me yesterday and I shouldn't let him know my plans."

Peter snorts at the end of that sentence and we all turn to look at him.

Femi narrows his eyes at him and makes a show of watching him studiously, "Did he do that because of what you just said or because he read something funny on his phone?" He asks in an interrogative voice.

I shake my head pitifully at him and I see Wole roll his eyes.

"I thought you've finally had sense this term since you were doing like one better person yesterday." Wole hisses, an appalled expression on his face.

"Who is this one now?" Femi retorts with a scowl, eyeing him like a lady.

I roll my eyes at the both of them and stand up, not ready to become the mediator between them. I know Peter snorted at what I said and not at his phone and I know he's going to pretend like he didn't hear what Femi had said.

"Where are you going?" Wole asks with a raised eyebrow when he finally breaks the stare down he is having with Femi.

"To carry out the first step of my plan."

He furrows his eyebrow in confusion while Femi jumps from where he is sitting and claps his hands excitedly.

"Oya what are we waiting for na? Let's go." He chirps happily. "If you won't tell us what the plan is, at least we will see for ourselves."

"I'm sorry, but no can do." I respond quickly and his face immediately falls. "This is something I have to do myself."

He gives me a sulky look, looking like a two-year old whose sweets have just been snatched from him, "But we should be there for you now, we are-" He starts to say but Wole interrupts, a very serious expression on his face.

"Why do I feel you're up to no good?"

I look at him indifferently, "It's your right to feel that way and honestly, I don't care what you think. What I care about right now is putting my plan into action and making it work." I glance at Femi who is still sulking, "And I'm doing this alone, none of you is coming with me."

With that I head for the door.

"We're definitely following him, right?" I hear Femi ask Wole in what he thinks is a whisper.

"Are you deaf? He asked us not to follow him." Wole replies loudly, sounding almost annoyed.

"Why are you now shouting? Do you want him to hear?" Femi whispers again and I can't help smiling as I open the door to the classroom, not waiting to hear Wole's response.

As soon as I'm out the door, my smile slowly disappears and my stomach starts to churn nervously. The confidence I had showed all of them in the classroom immediately vanishing.

This can only end in two ways; she accepts my apology or she rejects it.

But I'm Michael Bankole, the son of the owner of Dreamers High, not only wealthy but also very handsome and I never apologize. The fact that I will apologize to her when I've apologized to no-one else is definitely going to move her and she'll accept my apology without even knowing it.

With that fact in mind and a new feeling of determination, I go down to the SS3 floor and head straight for the SS3 science class.

I immediately regret telling the guys not to follow me as soon as I get to the SS3 floor because I was bombarded by students and I mean a whole lot of them. It is during the pushing and pulling of me and the students that I realize why celebrities never go out without their bodyguards.

"Stop!" I scream all of a sudden, startling them and they all move back. All of them, mostly girls, look up at me with both fascination and astonishment and I glance at them, making eye contact with some of them.

"If anyone of you should touch me one more time, I'll have the principal suspend you."

The announcement does well to remind them of who I am as they all begin to step aside, creating a path for me to pass through. I breathe a sigh of relief as I walk past them, arranging my sleeves and my wristwatch as they have been moved from where they are supposed to be.

I finally get to the Science class, not without the small squeals and gushes that escapes the girls' mouth as I pass by them but I ignore all of them, my sole focus on finding Cynthia Williams. I enter into the class and the whole class goes silent, everyone watching me with awe and confusion. I quickly search through the class, looking for a particular girl with coffee-eye but she isn't in class.

Oh, shit.

I never thought of not actually finding her. The only possibility I considered was her not accepting my apology.

I walk out of the class, wondering if she didn't come to school today then a random thought pops into my head.

Is she absent in school because she's scared of what I might do to her if I see her?

I smile at that thought, knowing if that's actually the case then she's right to be afraid. Especially after what she had done to me in the cafeteria.

I look up to see a girl standing not far from the entrance of the next classroom and I immediately know I've found the girl I'm looking for.

All I noticed was her stance and clenched fists since her back is to me and I know she is the one. She looks really pissed at something or someone but she is alone so I wonder who or what has pissed her off.

I make my way towards her, noticing the furtive glances and hisses that are directed at her. I hear one female student say something along the line of her being shameless loudly so she can hear, only for the same student to get startled when she sees me. She smiles a shy smile at me and hurries off and I only roll my eyes.

I think I know why she is annoyed now.

I'm standing behind her but she is yet to notice as she is still busy fuming at what they were saying to her, but she must have realized that those who were murmuring just now have gone silent and I watch as her fists clench even tighter before she finally turns slowly around to look at me.

Her eyes go wide as saucers as she sets her eyes on me and she subconsciously takes a step back. I could see anxiety in her eyes but all I can do is stare at her with amusement.

Well, this should be interesting.

***

It should surely be interesting 😌

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