Chapter dedication: Tessy_Xo I love you so much girl! and oh, happy birthday💫 you've been a great friend Tess!

♤

Sweetie, if you're ever going to be two-faced at least make one pretty.

— Marilyn Monroe

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"How many topics have you both been able to cover so far?"

"Over the weekend, we were able to touch the four most difficult topics he was finding hard to deal with. The rest would be treated with much ease now that I know his weakness and strength in Physics." My answer comes out crisp and sharp as I have exactly executed it in my mind to be. No stuttering or tension evident.

"Hm, not bad. Just ensure he gets them right because we can't let our golden boy to have an ill record." The Dean of Sciences says without looking up from her paperwork.

"Yes ma I will." I simply reply wondering why she didn't look up when she belted out her last instructions. After exiting the college of sciences in a whole, I am being greeted by the general body of students roaming around because classes just ended approximately ten minutes ago hence the freedom of everyone around the four corners of CIGs this late afternoon.

I walk the long distance of the science block, down to the senior student block where my classroom is being located after talking with the few people I could recognise during the course of my short-long walk. I stand at the foot of the stairs and moan out in pain, recalling I have to climb its extremely long and strainous fleet of stairs since the elevator is under temporary reconstruction.

I hate unnecessary stress this hot afternoon.

I finally make it, breathing like a person who ran a whole marathon race. On entering my class, some set of my classmates have formed a semi circle behind the class talking excitedly about the current hearsay fleeting round CIGs i-gist website. And for the first time in a long while, I feel elated that I am not the centre of their discussion both in the school's blog or within the school in a whole.

"Hey," I am momentarily startled by the second party of a person which eventually turns out to be Isoken. Hissing at my discovery, I sit down and give her the stink eye.

"Don't do that again abeg. Na small thing dey vex me." Instead of her to reply, she starts laughing all of a sudden.

"Wait, what came out of your mouth just now? Pidgin?" She rhetorically questions and I know she'll never let me down at my poor attempt in speaking pidgin English. I ignore her little mockery antics and search for where I placed my school bag.

"Oya sorry na. I just can't believe you lived in Warri your whole life and yet, you can't speak a proper and thick Warri pid..." She pauses when she notices the serious look that is now marring my face. "What are you looking for?"

"My...my school bag! I could have sworn I left it here." I mumble in the midst of my confusion.

"Are you sure?" Isoken queries and looks around my seat inquistively.

"Yes I am!" I almost yell out in frustration. I slump on my seat, trying to rethink my previous encounter of my bag. Jerry and the rest left earlier as usual, to catch up for thier recordings in the studio. So it is probably none of them especially Jerry who is capable of pranking me since he seats close to me in class. Apart from that, I doubt anyone would want to take my bag willingly.

"Just relax and retrace your mind. I suggest you go back to where you just came from." Her suggestion is wise but the fact that Isoken just made a speech with all seriousness makes me to chuckle. She creases her face into a frown, wondering what is so amusing when my school bag is missing.

"First time you're saying a statement that makes sense." Her mouths forms an 'O' expression and the next thing that accompanies it is a smack on my shoulder blade.

"Owww!" I whine at the impact of her fist on my shoulder.

"Shut up jare. Go and look for your bag before you open your mouth waaaaaaaaa and insult me." That did it for me as I laugh quietly, before going into the journey of searching. Starting from my class, all the way to the cafeteria, then to all the labs we used tor practicals today, down to the college of science it all seemed like a fruitless effort and the thought that I will never see my bag again freaks me out.

Like who in his/her right senses would take my bag when I have no huge sum of money inside?

Or am I being pranked?

Or did I offend someone?

I sigh for the umpteenth time and close my painfully. The faraway noise of students chattering and moving round filters into my ear and I am quite sad that I cannot be lively as they are when my bag is missing. The mini laptop we use for learning, the note I use for tutoring Jamal, few notebooks and most importantly, the latest Samsung phone I just got are all inside my school bag. I cannot afford to loose all that.

Turning to my left, I decide I have to start asking my classmates one by one even if it means being jeered at. The first person within my sight is Jaramilo and it is quite rare to see him without his bunch of hooligans flocking around him.

"Jaramilo!" I call out when I reach his side. He faces me with an unknown expression as he shoves his hands into his blazer pockets. No doubt, Jaramilo is a very classic and handsome guy even with the little scar that lies beneath his left brow, he still looks outstanding and can be passed as a model. Only problem is his bad behaviour that will never sit well with me.

"And the mountain finally comes to Mohammed." He chuckles dryly as his hands jam together in what I supposed is his mock applause.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" I ask, my voice laced with impatience.

"I mean," He starts, as he stands on his both feet fully. "You've been wandering like a lost soul around when I know the solution to your headache."

Ment?

Of course this is ment! No normal being will just stand and start sprouting rubbish like this idiot just did.

"And I thought you had sense for a second." I hiss and attempt to walk out on him when he grabs my right arm slightly. "Are you mad? Get your hands off m..."

"I know where your bag is okay?" He cuts me short before I could react fully.

"Wait, you do?" My initial reaction is to be calm about his response but when I remember who I am speaking with, my mood switches to suspicion. "How did you get hold of it? What do you want from me?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Now take it easy there. I never said I was the one that took it. Follow me, I'll show you." His grip on my arm loosens completely as he steps aside to give me room to follow him. Something about my bag being missing, sounds so fishy and Jaramilo getting involved with this dosen't make a single sense at all. I cross my arms over my chest in a defiant manner facing him squarely.

"And why should I trust you?"

"You should trust me because, I want to be the good guy in this case for once. I promise." The wicked and dark scowl that usually graces his face is long gone and is replaced with a slight look of softness. An adjective that isn't to be seen in the same sentence with Jaramilo's name.

"Okay fine. Lead the way." I give in and fall in step with him as he leads the way. Even though I cannot place why I feel the urge to turn back now, I suppress it down in hopes that I am just doing this for the sake of my school bag. We pass the staircase that leads to the SS3 classes and I have the quick flashback to when senior Tobias and I had a moment at the lonely hallway.

Tobais...

I really do hope he is okay.

"Soooooo, here we are!" He prolongs his 'so' and surrenders his hands to the air. I turn around in confusion, not seeing my bag in sight.

"Where is it you moron?"

"Over there, just look over the window." He jerks his eyes towards the empty classroom adjacent to us. My brow creases in suspicion because Jaramilo cannot be trusted at all.

Bending slightly to poke my head into the class, I finally see my bag seated carefully at a seat situated close to the window side. The instant smile that washes over my face is immeasurable as I lean further to grab my bag.

On collecting my bag, I feel strong pair of arms encircling my waist, forcing me to loose my grip on my bag.

"What are you doing?!" I yell and force myself to wiggle free from Jaramilo's hold.

"Just listen to me will you?" He replies back with a voice deeper and sensual than usual. He turns me round so fast and my face smacks hard to his chest.

"Get your hands off me and act like a civil human!" I yell again hitting his chest repeatedly for freedom.

"Look, I'll let you go if you just..." he hesitates for a while and I am confused as to what he is up to.

"Jaramilo speak or I'll knead you where the sun doesn't shine."

"Okay fine! Just a kiss from you."

Silence.

Utter silence.

Uttermost silence.

And then, I chuckle all of a sudden after seconds of silence. Jaramilo is a clown and I have always known that from onset. What a way of wasting my time!

"You must be sick and deranged in the head!" I push him away from me and this time he lets me go willingly but his hand doesn't leave my waist completely.

"Just a kiss and you're making a fuss about this Aramide.

Is he kidding me?

Did he just say I am making a fuss about this?

"Who wants to kiss this dirty lips of yours? Keep them to yourself!" I yell and forcefully try to remove  his hand that is still resting on my waist and yet they refuse to bulge.

"You know my lips are the sexiest you'll ever set your eyes on." The smirk on his face is very evident as he closes the gap further, his eyes sweeping over my body in a dangerous manner. Of course I am aware of the fact that Jaramilo has the perfect pair of lips for a guy like him but I cannot acknowledge that fact because of his personality.

"Cocky bastard! If you try anything funny, I'll scream!" All I ever wanted to do is to get my bag and now I'm entangled in this unforeseen mess.

"Just a kiss godammit! You're different and special okay? I don't know why you're outstanding from the useless folks of girls that roam round the face of our school daily. I just want you!" He cleches my waist strongly and plants his lips on my face. I quickly divert them from landing on my lips as they land on my cheek instead. I raise my palm to strike his face so hard at the aftermath of his attempt to kiss me.

I gasp and step back, shocked that I was able to slap a guy for the first time in my life. His left palm is placed over his face as he strokes it slowly, probably trying to register the fact that I just slapped him.

"Okay this isn't my fault alright? I warned you to stay away from me!" I didn't wait for his response as I swirl on my feet and collect my bag angrily.

"No you can't go away! I didn't lure you to this place for nothing. How hard is it to just kiss? Did I ask for fücking sex? Isn't that what you give to the Triple-J willingly?" His hands re-grip my arms as he pins them to my lower back.

"Get away from her you dimwit." A voice starles us both and I can literally see the anger swirling in Jaramilo's eyes as his grip on me tightens for a second, his jaw clenching so hard.

"Stay out of this Nonso!" He replies, completely blocking my view from seeing Jamal.

My whole body slacks in relief knowing someone I know is here at least. The sudden calmness that washes over me is delightful but the way Jaramilo tugs at my arm, reminds me of my current situation.

"I'd be back for you Sweetheart." He sticks his thumb out to draw an imaginary pattern at the corner of my lips, his eyes following the moment lightly before he finally releases me from his grip. And before leaving, he and Jamal had this intense staredown that sent chills to ripple within my spine.

"Oh God!" I sigh in relief, examing my wrist for any imprint from the way he rough handled me.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jamal comes closer and questions me with keen interest.

"Um, yeah. I think I am." I don't know why I stuttered but yeah, let's just say I did so.

"Hmm I'm always rescuing you from compromising situations like this, don't you think this is a sign?" He steps an inch closer taking my hand into his. My mind jumbles all at once at the close proximity we have all of a sudden.

Because he is a guy obviously.

But Jaramilo is a guy also!

Stupid brain!

Jamal was obviously fixing the button of my blazer wrist that is why he took my hand initially.

Oh

"So, so um, why are you here?" I blatantly ignore his last statement since I could not really place what he was trying to insinuate.

"We are to start rehearsals with immediate effect for our latest single. Remember?" The way he is so consecrated in fixing my button fascinates me. His brows draw in together as a perfect arch. The way his mouth is even moving in a stylish pattern as he speaks. His jaws are much heightened and...

"Hope you're ready though?"

Wait is he speaking to me?

"What?" My hand drops by side, indicating he was done with it. The corner of his eyes crinckles a bit, his grey eyes darted with a splash of amber as he chuckles quietly.

"So you were not listening to me huh?" He outstretches his right arm for me and I stand like an fool, staring on.

"What are you doing?" My voice comes out a bit alarmed not that I am scared or afraid, I'm just being paranoid around him since his motives have never been clear to me since day one.

"Come on, loop your hands with mine. We have no time to waste." When he notices my hesitation, he walks closer to me and takes my arm, looping it with his and his eyes bore into mine deeply as he speaks. "I meant it when I said we should be civil with each other okay?"

So I wasn't dreaming then!

I was not hallucinating either...and I could have easily blamed it on my tipsy state.

Why did he lie that day when Jide and Jerry asked him what happened?

"And you made me look like a fool that day!" I mumble in whist trying to get my arm off his but of course he locks it with force, not allowing my hand to move away so fast.

What is it with everyone holding my hand like I'm a kid? I sigh, recalling the way Jaramilo held my hands similarly.

"I did it for a reason Ara. Besides, you should be wise enough to know that Jaramilo is a dangerous person. Why would you be in this lonely place with him in the first place?"

"My bag! And I regret ever listening to that punk. Why were you so relaxed in dealing with him though?" By the time I say this, we are already at the ground floor of the senior blocks, and I didn't miss the gazes that dropped on I and Jamal's interlocked arms.

"My bodyguards are always around me." Is his simple reply. I facepalm mentally for forgetting about that. Of course he is a celebrity and I didn't even remember that he can have secret bodyguards and agents, lurking around the corner.

"I'm just glad you're safe. Just do me a favour and stay far away from him okay? Milo is a dïck and will never change." The worry etched on his face makes me to wonder why he has always been uptight since the first time I saw him. I always described Jamal as squirdward because he rarely displays any emotion apart from his stoic expression. Seeing this other sides of him means he trusts me enough to know how he truly feels from the inside.

"Thank you Jamal." I say shyly and step forward to hug him. He clearly did not expect that from me and slowly, he wraps his hands around me. His grip on me is firm, comfy and cooconing. I sigh into the hug, ready to back out when I sight someone alighting from an e-class Mercedes Benz in the school parking lot that isn't too far away from where we're standing.

No freaking way!

"To...Tobias?" I question slowly as he strides like a model fresh out from a magazine photoshoot, to where Jamal and I were rooted. Without waiting for him to reach us, I excitedly run the short distance between us and hop onto his body like a kid seeing her loved one after a very long time. "I missed you! Oh my God!" I shout and squeal not caring if I sound like a petty maniac.

"Little one, I miss you too." The laughter that rumbles from his chest and belly is heartfelt and I smile contentedly, feeling him up with so much enthusiasm; completely forgetting the fact that I left Jamal alone.

Author's note

So this update has been due since yesterday, I just didn't have the time to update but here I am😊

So quick fact to y'all, someone said the story relates to me a lot and my friend wasn't lying at all😂 of course I can relate so much to the story because most event happened to me, or my friends. But as a matter of fact, I'll leave y'all to do the guessing. Until I'm done with this book, I'll reveal the agenda and which character I represent the most. You are free to drop your guesses as from now😌

Another update this week, anticipate!

Book recommendation: Nothing in between by Stardust_Wendy  if you're not reading it I really pity you. Like why have you not seen the book??! Go check it out rn.

Q: How would you react to being pranked by someone you do not like at all?