I dashed down the stairs. Freddy needs me. He wants to talk to me. To share something with me! I slowed my movement and went to my parents. They were on the couch and their eyes were fixed on the television screen. They were watching a Nollywood movie.

"Mom, dad!" I called softly. "I want to buy airtime. I need data to do my school assignment!"

"Did she say she is going to meet a boy?" My mom snapped.

My heart plummeted. "No! I said..."

She cut in, "This generation eh! All these children of nowadays!"

"No! Mom, you don't understand!"

"See the short skirt she is wearing!"

I looked at myself. I was wearing black jeans. My eyes darted to the television screen.

"She wants to go to her boyfriend's house, spoiled child!" My mom raged.

So it is the movie eh. My parents don't even know that I'm here.

"Mommy!" I called.

"What?" she turned to me. "What is it?"

This movie has spoiled her mood!

"I want to buy airtime!" I replied.

"Am I holding? Go and come back na!"

"Okay!" I glanced at my dad. His eyes were still on the screen. I nodded and scurried away. I found myself running. I was worried. I just hope what Freddy wants to tell me is not a bad news. I hope he is fine.

I got to the street we agreed to me. Freddy was sipping a drink while operating his phone. He wore a dark blue hoodie and a gray ripped jeans a.k.a crazy jeans. Fresh, hot boyfriend! I smiled but it faded away when I saw that his brows were furrowed and his mouth was set in a hard line.

Something is wrong! He doesn't look happy.

"Freddy," I went towards him and tapped his shoulder.

He turned and smiled, "Good afternoon, Cupcake!"

Is he trying to fake a smile?

"What's wrong, Freddy? You called me!"

"I know! Something happened!"

"What? Is it bad?"

"It was something I never expected to happen!"

"What is it?" my worried eyes widened in curiosity.

"Do you want to hear the details?" he arched a brow.

"Can you just tell me what happened?" I snapped.

He sighed and said, "I was in my room playing my video game when I felt something odd. There was something missing!"

"Eh! Missing?"

"Yeah! I picked my phone and soon I found myself here" a boyish grin crawled on his lip. "I just realized I missed you and I wanted to see you. That's all!"

"What? Guy, you are mad! I thought something bad happened! How can you do this to me? I almost had an heart attack!" I yelled and slapped his arm. I held his ear and squeezed it. "What kind of joke is that?"

"Sorry! Ouch! Ouch! My ear! I am sorry, cupcake! My ear oo!" he whined as he tried to squirm out of my grip.

"Didn't we see each other yesterday so why are you missing me all of a sudden?" I queried.

"I don't know! My ear!" he whined. "I guess I am addicted to you!"

I paused. "Addicted to me?"

"Yes! Please release my ear. Abeg!"

My face flushed. I could feel the warmth spread through my cheek. He missed me! He is addicted to me!

"Sorry!" I released his ear. "Does it hurt?"

"Yes na!" he grumbled and pouted.

"That's good for you!" I stuck my tongue out.

He chuckled and asked, "Didn't you miss me?"

"Me?"

"Yeah! Did you dream about me?" he asked, took a big gulp of his drink and licked his lips.

I froze and averted my gaze to a moving car. "N..n...no! I didn't dream about y..y...you!" I faltered.

"Boom! You are lying! I guess I know you too well! What was your dream about?" his eyes lit up as he stared at me.

"Are you deaf? I said I didn't dream about you!"

"Why are you lying?" he teased and poked my belly.

"I'm not lying!" I denied.

Oh Lord, forgive me! I am a sinner!

"What was I doing in your dream?"

"I said..."

He cut in, "Stop lying!"

"But..." I trailed off and rolled my eyes.

He smirked and asked, "So you dreamt of me?"

I glared at him and he wiggled his eyebrows.

"Yeah! I did!" I confessed. "But in my dream, I was chasing you with a knife!"

"Jeus! Haba! Wetin I do to you?"

I shrugged and giggled.

"I know you are lying sha!" Freddy threw his arm on my shoulder and winked.

I huffed and said, "I need to buy airtime!"

"Okay! I will buy it for you! How much do you want?"

"No!" I yelled and waved my hands. "You are not buying anything for me. I will use my own money!"

"What's wrong?"

"You have spent enough! The birthday gifts you gave me....you know, all those money you spent. It's enough!" I exclaimed.

"Do you have money with you?"

"Yeah! One hundred naira. I can manage it!"

"You don't need me to..."

I cut him short, "Yes! I don't need you to buy it for me!"

"Okay! If you say so!" he breathed and shrugged. He drank the last content of his drink and tossed the bottle away.

I looked at him and smiled. He slipped his hand into mine and gestured to the road. "Let's go!"

I glanced at our entwined hands and then at the people around us.

What if someone knows me and tell my parents about this? I will be dead for sure!

Freddy saw the worried look on my face. He snickered and held my hand tight. "Let's go, baby!" he teased.

I gulped and followed him.

Excuse me, is there anyone willing to dig my grave? I need your assistance please. My end is near!

We got to an aboki's shop. The lean man rose to his full height from the floor.

"Wetin you won buy?" his thick Hausa accent rented the air.

"I won buy recharge card!" I replied.

"Which one?"

"Airtel!"

"How much?"

"One hundred naira!"

He nodded and walked into his shop.

"I don't mind giving you some money!"

"I don't want na!"

"It is my duty to take care of my Cupcake and make her happy!" Freddy exclaimed melodramatically while placing his hand on his chest.

I bit my lip and blushed.

He is so charming!

"Freddy! Naomi!" a familiar voice screamed. I turned to its direction and grinned.

"Peggy, how far?" Freddy greeted.

"I dey oo! This girl is just tormenting me!" Peggy said and gestured to the little girl she held at the crook of her arm. Peggy wore a knee-length gown that had floral pattern. The little girl wore a blue jean and yellow shirt.

"Who is she?" I asked with a smile plastered on my face.

"My little sister!" she replied. The little girl gazed at me with her big black eyes.

"She's cute!" Freddy commented.

"How are you, dear?" I asked the girl.

"Fine!" she replied with her cute squeaky voice.

"What's your name?"

"My. Name. Is. Ab....Abigail!" she said each words one by one.

My smile widened, "Awwn! She is so cute!"

"Abegi! Spare me that one! Cute my foot! This girl na troublemaker! She is not innocent oo!" Peggy scoffed.

"Sha...she is finer than you!" I taunted.

"Mtchew! She is not fine than me jhare!"

"Are you jealous? The girl is finer than you!"

"Naomi if I slap you eh, your beloved boyfriend won't be able to save you!" Peggy threatened and winked at Freddy. "I didn't know you guys see each other outside school. That means your relationship dey authentic!"

I smiled.

Yeah, our relationship is real. It's just that we are also doing it to win a bet while trying to create our own love story.

"Sister Peggy, I want biscuit!"  Abigail whined.

"Shut up jor!" Peggy thundered.

"I want biscuit!" she repeated.

"I said shut up! Didn't you just lick sweet? Longathroat!" Peggy yelled. Since she was carrying her, she dropped her down and frowned. Abigail began to cry. "Shut up!" Peggy slapped her back.

"Hey!" Freddy and I screamed.

"Why are you beating her?" Freddy scolded and pulled the little girl away from Peggy.

"Peggy, calm down na! She is just a child!" I added.

She hissed and rolled her eyes.

"Do you want biscuit?" Freddy asked Abigail. The little girl nodded. "Then stop crying!"

She wiped her tears and smiled.

Freddy smiled, "Let's go!" They walked to the shop behind us. I took my recharge card from the shopkeeper and he asked Freddy, "You won buy something?"

"How many biscuit should I buy?" Freddy asked me.

"One!" I replied. He searched his trouser pockets and pulled out some naira note. He picked fifty naira and handed it to the man.

"One biscuit! Ten naira!"

He nodded and walked into his small shop.

Freddy likes children! That's nice! His child would be so lucky!

Peggy groaned and hissed, "If you like, forget about me. Don't buy my own!"

"I shouldn't buy anything for you?" Freddy smirked. "Okay!"

"That's not what I meant, idiot!" she snorted.

"Did you just call my boyfriend an idiot?" I gasped and feigned anger.

"If you love him, just tell him to buy me a drink and one gala (sausage roll)" she eyed him and pursed her lip.

"Na wa oo! Calm down!" I laughed and slapped her back lightly. She glared at me. "Just smile for us!"

She rolled her eyes and her lip curved upward. Freddy bought what she requested and he gave Abigail her biscuit which made her happy. I didn't ask for anything though.

As we chatted, a big honk interrupted us.

"Naomi!" a masculine voice roared my name.

I gasped and turned, "Dad?"

His black car stopped beside us and he cocked a brow. "I thought you said you wanted to buy card?"

"I did!" I quickly waved the recharge card.

"Then, what are you doing?" he glowered at me. His hard stare resting on my shoulder like a heavy weight.

"I met some of my...my...my friends," I gestured to Peggy and Freddy. "I just wanted to talk to them for a little while!"

His gaze moved from me to Peggy, then to Freddy. It lasted on Freddy for a long time. I had to intervene. "He is Peggy's....um...Cousin!"

He rose his brow again and sent me a quizzical, more like threatening look.

"You better go home. Your mom is looking for you!" he grunted.

"Okay, sir!"

He nodded and drove off. I watched till his car was far away. I turned to my friends. Peggy was gasping while Freddy had his hand on his chest.

"My heart is pounding! Your dad scared the life out of me!" Freddy breathed.

"I almost fainted!" I exclaimed. "I need to go home now!"

"Your dad's frown can never be worst than my own dad's!" Peggy voiced. "My dad can frown eh! I don't know why he doesn't smile!"

"My dad smiles oo!" I said. "It just depends on his mood!"

"Cupcake, I will escort you to your house!"

"No oo! Don't worry!"

"I want to worry!" Freddy insisted. "Come on! Let's go!"

"I will join you! Naomi, let's go! We don't want anyone to kidnap you!" Peggy chortled.

When we were two buildings away from my house, I paused. "Let's stop here! I will continue myself!"

"Let us follow you to the front gate of your house na!" Peggy said. She held her sister's hand and used her free hand to point at my house.

"It's okay oo! Let's just stop here!" I demanded.

"Fine!" she mumbled.

"Bye, Cupcake! See you on Monday!" Freddy leaned and kissed my cheek. I stood, stunned. I definitely wasn't expecting that.

"Um..." I blinked my eyes and smiled at Freddy "Yeah! Bye! See you on Monday!"

"Lovebirds! I so ship you guys! Fraomi!" Peggy squeaked. "Bye bye!"

I waved and strolled to my house. I blushed when I thought about the good moment I just spent with Freddy.

I want our relationship to be genuine. I want him to know I like him too.

I sucked in some fresh air. I am determined. On Monday, I will tell Freddy how I feel about him.

    ~~~Author's Note~~~

Did you enjoy this chapter? What do you think of it?

Did you smile or laugh?

Should Naomi tell Freddy about her feelings?

How do you think things will go for them?

How are you? How you doing? 😘

Thanks for reading! TIME TO VOTE!!!!⭐⭐ Love y'all.

                From your dearest,
                     Mabel ✌🏼✌🏼