I stared at Freddy and Kate for a while. A sharp pang stabbed me in my chest. I clenched my fist and glared at them. Kate noticed my presence and pulled herself off Freddy. She bit her lip and fiddled with her fingers. She had the expression of a person who was caught red-handed in an act. Freddy's gaze swung to me. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. He tried to say some words but no one came out from his gaping mouth. He glanced at Kate and then at me.

"This is definitely a misunderstanding," he exclaimed and walked towards me.

"Don't even dare come to me" I stretched my palm out and scrunched up my face.

"Freddy, tell Naomi the truth. Tell her that I'm your real girlfriend," Kate voiced.

Irritation surged through my veins. I knew that staying among them would produce different emotions and reactions. I was so furious that I couldn't think clearly. The only idea for me was to run away. Then, I can process everything that has happened to me and know if it's best to delete Freddy out of my life. I saw the way Freddy was silent and that made me more agitated.

I pivoted on my heels and ran out of the room as angry tears welled up in my eyes.

How dare he play with my feelings? What's going on? Why did he kiss Kate? Why didn't he say anything? Are they dating?

The questions floated in my mind as I ran in the hall towards the stairs.

"Naomi, wait!" Freddy's voice echoed.

My brows snapped together and I ran faster. Luckily, school had closed and there was no students at the hallway. Before my feet could touch the stairs, a hand held my forearm and pulled me back.

"Trust me, Naomi. This is a big misunderstanding. I'm not dating Kate. No..." he rushed the words out as he panted.

Naomi? After so long you actually called me by my name.

"Do I look like a fool to you?" I sneered and tried to squirm from his grip. "Let go of me!"

"I'm not dating Kate!"

"Then why were you kissing her?"

"I...I..." he shook his head ferociously. "I...I didn't kiss her. She kissed me. I swear"

I inhaled and said in the best calm voice I could force out at that situation, "Freddy, I am so angry that I'm not listening to you now. Just leave me alone. I want to cool off".

Behind I saw Kate lick her lips and smiled at me. My blood boiled. I just wanted to slap that her stupid face.

I need to leave this place before I explode.

I shoved Freddy's hand off me and made my way back to the stairs. He held my arm again and I exploded. I turned and landed a hot slap on his face. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" I yelled and stomped down the stairs. I wanted to turn back and apologise for slapping him but my blood was hot. I just stomped straight home and buried myself under my bedspread.

Later that day, my parents called my sister and me to the living room. My father announced that his sister, my aunt was getting married. That was the best news since today. My favorite aunt was going to get married.

"We will be traveling to Ibadan for her wedding," my dad declared and a large smile played on his face.

"Yes!" Anita squeaked.

"Awesome!" I exclaimed, trying to appear ecstatic. I was happy with the news but I wasn't in the best mood.

"We are traveling tomorrow" my father added and reclined on the couch.

"Tomorrow? Why tomorrow?" Anita probed and shot both her brows up.

"To start the preparation. I need to be there," he replied and sat upright on the couch. Anita and I were standing beside the couch while our mother sat on an armchair at the other corner of the living room.

"But school?"

"School can wait. Ah! I expected you to be happy" he sent a sideways glance at her.

"I'm happy but I haven't gotten my mid-term test results yet," Anita grumbled and crossed her arms over her chest. "I want to see my result".

"You will get your result when we come back. We are only staying there for five days" His gaze went to me. "Are you okay with that Naomi? Can you start packing?"

I nodded with a blank stare. Anita regarded me and smirked, "Someone is going to miss somebody during this journey".

I knew who she was talking about. I haven't told her about what happened today. She doesn't know that I was super happy that I won't have to go to school tomorrow. I didn't want to see Freddy or Kate. I was hurt and I needed some time to think and reflect. Most of all,...I'm scared!

What if Freddy really liked Kate and I was just a toy to him? What if everything that I believed exist between us was a fake? I wasn't ready to hear the truth.

I need this five days to get myself ready for the truth I will hear from Freddy. If he breaks my heart, then so be it. I will just try and survive. Sha...I know I will cry...a lot!

The next day, my family and I began our journey to Ibadan. I sat at the back seat with Anita. I spent my time staring out the window. I kept replaying what happened in school.

Was it all a misunderstanding? Should I trust Freddy?

I had a lot of questions to ask but I was scared to find out the answer. I seriously don't want my heart to be broken, I thought to myself.

"Naomi, talk!" Anita growled and narrowed her eyes at me.

"Talk? Talk about what?" I rose a brow.

"You look gloomy. You love road trip but today, you look like someone who wants to cry. What happened to you?" she leaned closer and her eyes scanned my face. "Answer! What happened?"

"Nothing!"

"So you will not talk?"

"Nothing happened!"

"Ah!" she gasped and placed her clenched fist under her chin. "So it is like this abi? You will not talk?"

"There is nothing to talk about," I lied. There was a lot to talk about. My lips trembled and tears swam in my eyes.

She wrapped her arms around me and rubbed my back. "What happened? Tell me na!"

"Freddy!"

"What did he do?"

"He kissed Kate!"

"What?" she pulled away and her wide eyes drilled into mine. "What did you say?"

"He kissed Kate"

"Are you sure you saw everything well? How can Freddy kiss Kate?"

"He did. I saw it with my own eyes"

"Are you sure?" she quirked a brow.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" I choked out and wiped the lone tear that ran down my cheek.

"How can he kiss Kate?" Anita yelled.

"Anita, why are you shouting? Don't you know your father is driving? Eh?" Our mother rebuked from the front seat. She was seating at the passenger's seat next to my dad who was driving.

Anita shut her mouth for a second. The moment our mother cooled down, she whispered, "Tell me everything you know".

I narrated all that I could remember. I told her about what Ijeoma had said to me and the video she had sent. I told her about Kate and all she had said to me. Then, I ended the story with the real kissing scene I saw between Freddy and Kate. Once again, I was angry when I recalled home they seemed to enjoy the kiss.

"Freddy is a...is a...is a.." Anita let out an exasperated sigh. "I don't even know the right word to describe that idiot. How could he do this to you?"

I glanced at my parents to make sure they weren't listening. My mom had fallen asleep and my dad was listening to the broadcast from the car radio.

"Naomi, I know it might not be easy for you but if Freddy is actually a jerk, then forget about him. That guy is stupid"

"Anita," I called her name in a soft voice and my brows knitted. "I won't lie. Something in me tells me that everything might actually be a lie. The chemistry I share with Freddy feels really real".

"Chemistry? Is it the chemistry I am studying in class?" she exclaimed and chuckled.

"I mean...um...like connection"

"WiFi connection? Naomi, haba!"

"Are you even listening to me? I mean like connection...like our feelings"

"What happened to it?"

"I think what I share with Freddy is true and I think he has that exact feeling for me" I sighed and tugged on the cornrow that fell on my forehead. "I don't know why I feel like that".

"Wait first!" she waved her hands at my face and leaned closer to me till I could feel her breathe on my cheek. "I know this question is stupid but do you love Freddy? It is only in all those love story you hear people speak of chemistry"

"I don't think I love him. I just like him so much" I shrugged and bit the inner flesh of my cheek.

"I'm going to break Freddy's bone if he breaks your heart. An eye for an eye. If he breaks your heart, I will just crush him too"

I let out a long breathe and looked at her. "Forget it. I won't let you hurt him. I don't like seeing him in pain. It hurts me a lot. Breaking his bones will just cause me more pain".

"Ah!" Anita placed her hands on her head. "How will I save you now? You have fallen deeply for this guy. This is not good". Her expression was serious as she stared at me. "This is definitely not good".

         ~~~:::::*:::::~~~

Days later, the wedding took place during the weekend and after that, I sat on the bed at my hotelroom as I read a highschool romance novel on wattpad.

Yep! I was killing myself. I was busy wishing my story with Freddy could end with a 'happily ever after'. I don't know about when we graduate but I am hoping we could date during our secondary school.

Freddy hadn't call me since the incident in school. I don't know how to react about this. I just decided not to think for now. When we met face-to-face, I will talk to him and settle everything.

"Naomi," Anita strolled into the room and her glossed lips curved downward. During all the wedding ceremonies, Anita had looked her best. Many guys were asking for her number. The way she shone and glowed was to much for me to understand. I felt so awkward. "Naomi, is it not you I am calling?"

"Yes! What happened?" I drawled and rolled my eyes. I wasn't so happy with her because she didn't do my makeup for the white wedding. The stranger I asked made me look like some witch. I had to wash my face and so I went to the party with my natural beauty. I don't feel ashamed. I just wished I could glow like the way Anita did.

"How dare you insult my brother-in-law?"

I raised both my brows and stared at Anita like she was a mad woman. I even think she is. "Which brother-in-law?"

"I knew Freddy was a good boy. It was you who falsely accused him"

"Excuse me?"

"Excuse me my foot!" she sneered. "I knew Freddy was good and Kate was bad".

"Anita, if you have something to say, just go straight to the point" I rolled my eyes and set my attention on my phone.

"Freddy called!" she stated and sat on the bed.

My phone slipped from my hands to the bed and I stared with a slacked jaw. "He called?"

"He explained everything to me. It was all a misunderstanding, Naomi"

"What do you mean?" I crawled from the bed and sat at its edge beside her.

"He really likes you and no one else. The way he spoke made my heart melt. You have a guy that sincerely cares about you," she said and let out a sigh of satisfaction.

"Please explain na! I'm so confused"

"He is a keeper!" she sighed and looked heavenward. "Lord, please bless me with that kind of guy".

"Anita!" I yelled, placed my hands on her shoulder and shook her. "What happened? Why are you saying this?"

"Kate likes Freddy," she replied and stared at me.

"So? I know that"

"She is a cunning girl. Do you know that?"

"Um mm..." I trailed off.

"Ijeoma is a backstabber. Do you know that?"

"Ijeoma?" I cocked a brow in confusion.

"Ijeoma and Kate cooperated to destroy your relationship with Freddy. Kate wants Freddy for herself. She hates you"

"She hates me?"

"Yep! Freddy said he could not believe all the despicable words she used to describe you. He said the girl is wicked"

"Kate? She looks like a good person"

"Yep! She looks like a good person but she is cunning and mean within. She forced a kiss on Freddy. That's what you saw. He wasn't enjoying the kiss. He was trying to shove Kate off him. He is not dating her and that video you saw..." she paused and rose a brow. "You remember the video, right?"

"Yes! I still have it in my phone" I replied.

"He had gone to a restaurant with some of his friends. Kate and Ken were invited. They were playing truth or dare and she dared him to call her his girlfriend. She videoed it and she sent it to Ijeoma. Ijeoma betrayed you because Kate promised to get Nonso to notice her. That girl is obsessed with Nonso," she concluded with a snort.

"So Freddy likes me and I am his only girlfriend?" I squeaked and hopped on the bed.

"You don't understand!" Anita said with wide eyes and shook her head.

"What do I not understand?" Fear gripped me as I waited for her reply.

"He..." she shook her head. "He likes you so much. You are among the most important people in his life. He said he was extremely sad when you left. He couldn't sleep or eat".

"Oh my gosh!" I blushed.

"This is not normal. What kind of boy is that? I mean... What kind of relationship is this? You guys are young and this is Nigeria so how did you find such a boy and how are you guys so close to each other? Are you guys destined to be together? This is so weird and unusual," she blurted as she pondered on it.

I shrugged and cheered, "I guess I am really lucky. Freddy is the best. I can't wait to see him. I will apologize for not trusting him and for slapping him. I am such a fool. How could I allow those girls to deceive me?"

"I hope you guys stay happy though. Your relationship is actually unique. I need to admit," Anita chimed and gave me a thumbs up.

I recalled something and snapped my head to where Anita was standing. "Anita?" I stressed her name and cocked a brow.

"What?"

"You were blaming me. Is it not you that insulted Freddy? I didn't insult him. In fact, I told you that I had a feeling that everything was a fake"

"Shush!" she placed her index finger on her lip. "I didn't insult Freddy. I knew he was a good boy"

"Liar!" I chuckled. "But..um...Why didn't Freddy call me?"

"Somehow, he couldn't find your number in his phone. He thinks Kate has something to do with that. She is a cunning girl, you know"

"I never suspected. She looks sweet and her British accent is so..."

Anita cut in, "Don't allow her to steal Freddy from you. That's all I have to say".

"You are right. I will confront her in school. She messed with the wrong person," I narrowed my eyes and clenched my fists.

     ~~~Author's Note~~~

Thanks for reading. Did you enjoy this chapter?

Does of you who thought Freddy was bad...🤭🤭 He isn't. He is a darling boy.

What do you think Naomi should do to Kate?

If you were in her shoe, how many slap will you lan on Kate's cheek?

Did you ever suspect Kate could be this cunning?

Don't FORGET to VOTE. Thanks guys. Love y'all

Stay safe,
Mabel.