"Announcement! Announcement!" I lazily dragged my gaze to the stupid noisemakers in my class. I was shocked to see Freddy and Peggy trying to get the class attention.

"Please! I need to share this" Freddy beamed.

Share what? What kind of guy is this?

"Yes! He has a special announcement" Peggy chimed in.

"Oya na! Talk" The class began to give them their attention.

"I... " Freddy trailed off and smirked at me.

That's fishy!

"Naomi and I are dating. She is my girlfriend now" he exclaimed.

The class smiled and began rejoicing while I sat there in a daze. To say I was shock would be an understatement. I was beyond shock.

"I... I.. " I stuttered. How will I deny this. Na wa for this guy. He didn't even ask me for my opinion.

"My guy!" his friends praised him. "Congrats!" some exclaimed. "Cutest couple", "I ship you guys", "Wow!"... The words just flooded the class.

"I said it" Gilbert yelled to get himself known. His chest was puffed out in pride. "I knew they were dating".

Olodo (Idiot! Dummy)!!!  We weren't dating before.

"Naomi! At last, you have a boyfriend. Thank God oo" some fellow girls squealed.

"You guys make a good couple" some beamed.

I shook my head in defeat. It was too late to deny. That's when I realized I was forgetting something. I looked towards Ken. He was busy writing his note. Should I worry about my chance with him? Nah! I don't think I will ever march up to his taste. What's his true taste if I may ask?

I scrambled to my feet and gripped Freddy's arm. I forced a smile to the class and began to pull him out of the class. He has to explain himself.

"And where do you think you are going?" Our Government teacher roared. I stopped dead in my track as  I stared at the male teacher resting on the door frame.

A weak smile appeared on my face, "Sir! I wanted to call you that we were having government class".

"Now I am here. To your seat! " he yelled. I nodded. I knew that he would buy that lie.

I slipped my hand off Freddy's arm and journeyed to my desk.

"All science student out! If you are not taking government class, leave as well" he sneered.

I present to you, Mr James, our lovely Government teacher and most loved teacher by the students. I hope you enjoyed that sarcastic remark!

He glared at the students that strolled out of the class. They were the lucky ones who won't have to spend minutes listening to the boring history of our country. I watched Ken walk out of the class. Lucky! Unfortunately, Kate would be joining us in this torture since she was an art student.

Minutes later, the class was calm.

"Bring out your note" he dictated.

In his class, you are not meant to laugh, cough, smile or talk. He believes that they are distractions. Sadly, it's not all teachers that are nice in a school. I am yet to introduce some with shitty attitudes.

Class was still going on.

"Who was the president in 1982?" he yelled. Before anyone could answer, he added "Take home assignment. Write all the president of Nigeria from 1960 till date. To be submitted first thing tomorrow morning "

Groans, snorts and hisses were our sweet replies. He ignored us and continued the class. My eyelid were beginning to get heavy. Everything around me began to look blurry. Now and then, I would yawn.

A folded sheet of paper was slipped into my hand. I looked at it then back to the source. Freddy smiled at me.

I flipped it open.

Hey girlfriend,

I really loved the look on your face when I professed our relationship  to class. Did you know that you were blushing? Lmao!

I rolled my eyeballs so hard that it hurts. I looked at what he wrote down and smiled. This relationship can work out, right?

While Mr James wasn't watching, I glanced at Freddy and frowned at him. He returned my gesture with an air kiss.

I turned back to the board fuming. I won't give in to him so easily.

"Hey, you! You! You! You!" Mr James pointed to four people. "Stand up!"

The class looked with pity to Mr James' victim. I gasped when I saw Freddy among.

"Can you please tell me what was so funny that you, four were laughing about" Mr James snarled.

The four boys snickered. It actually amused the class. At last something fun to watch other than Mr James' boring lecture!

"Oh! It's funny abi? You, boys are disrespecting me eh! " he sneered. "Gilbert, go and bring my cane in my office".

Please oo!  How can a person take pride in calling a piece of wood 'my'? My cane? Na wa oo! Is life that pitiful that one would find joy in spanking students?

I frowned at Freddy for being naughty. Now he is going to chop cane! (He is going to be flogged).

He shrugged and smiled at me. Gilbert ran back with the long, thick cane.

"Come out" Mr James howled, he bent the can in preparation for the moment.

Freddy said some words under his breathe and walked out first. He stretched his palm and wore an impassive look. He was in that headstrong teenage phase where you feel that the cane can't pain you. You know, that 'It no go pain me' phase

The sound of the wood slamming Freddy's palm filled the class. Mr James had given the four boys three stroke of the evil wand he calls cane.

I am serious, that wand commands respect. It isn't all students that like to be flogged. Someone like me, fears it. That's what made me nerd-like.

Class was over and we all tried to pet the boys that were flogged. I decided to scold Freddy.

"Hey, I won't accept my boyfriend to be in every teachers' naughty list" I spat out. He shrugged nonchalantly. His lips were pulled into a thin line.

"Is it paining you? I mean, your palm?" I asked.

He chuckled, "Nope! I took in the pain like a champ".

"Mu mu! Why were you even laughing in his class? " I jabbed my forefinger into his chest, making him jerk.

"He blew taboo! How can a teacher say It aren't done? " he squealed in a roar of laughter.

"What?" I exclaimed and laughed.

"Guys! We were laughing because Mr James blew taboo! " One of the boys announced. "It aren't done! "

The class bellowed in a raucous laughter. Na wa for these boys!

I choked in my own laughter as I watched the boy mimick Mr James. My eyes welled in tears.

"You guys are unbelievable" I was able to push that out while still laughing.

When I couldn't hold it anymore. I fell to the ground, clutching my stomach. I fought for air in between my laughter.

Freddy pointed at me and laughed hard. "You look like you are constipated" he teased.

That moment ended with me glaring at him. "Mtchew!" I hissed and pulled myself straight up.

"Ehn! " I snapped in realization. "Who asked you to tell the class about our relationship?" my voice lowered.

He chuckled and smiled. "They need to know. It would make it more fun" he replied.

"But... "

"Naomi" a voice called interrupting my previous statement.

"Huh?" I whipped to face the person.

Ijeoma's grimace look stared me down. "How can you date that monkey?" she pointed at Freddy. "I thought your first ever boyfriend would make sense, not him" she hissed.

I giggled. Awwn! My friend doesn't approve of my relationship. I have always wondered how that felt like. So this is how it feels. You being unable to explain to your friend what you see in the guy.

For me, I just see in him a chance to have a love story.

"Hey! I like her so what can you do about that?" Freddy replied effortlessly. It was like saying those words 'I like her' was an easy job. He crossed his arm at his chest and narrowed his eyes at Ijeoma.

Ijeoma eyed him through her lashes and laid her eyes on me. The bell rang and she lowered her voice at me, "When school is over, you have a lot of explanation to give".

Oh my gosh! Drama in my first love story chapter! Will the main character, Naomi disclose her secret? Will she share her love life with her close friend? We just have to find out.

And then I throw in some dramatic beats and boom, the chapter ends with a cliffhanger. Is that really a cliffhanger?

     ~~~Author's note~~~

Do you think it is advisable that she tells her friend? Would it ruin the fun?

The love story is just starting. Stay tune, my lovelies. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Pls vote and comment!!!
            From your sweetest,
               Naija all the way❤