KIISHA

Friday came quickly and it was Valentine. We had a speech competition from each class, this was one thing we do during Valentine, each class picks a title from the bucket list and comes out to present. Our class had chosen 'the Origin of Valentine' and Chike had represented our class and he came second. The PECULIAR class had won and our class was given a new wall clock.

After the speech, we all went back to the field for practice. The day went by fast and it was already evening, everyone were preparing for the Valentine Ball which would hold by 7:00pm.

"Wow, you're just too beautiful in this cloth, where did you get it from?" Kiiti asked as I walked to her in my red turkey gown and white open toe wedge.

"My mum gifted me the cloth and Jared's mom gave me the wedge on my birthday"

"Are you close with his mum?" Kiishi who just got out of the bathroom asked.

"Not really but our moms are friends," I explained as I went back to my table to pick the necklace and charm bracelet Jared had gifted me.

"Hmm," Kiishi and Kiiti said simultaneously and I eyed them playfully.

"Come and help me with my necklace," I directed it at Kiiti who was fully dressed in a white and red promenade gown matched with a silver stiletto unlike Kiishi who was just bringing out her cloth from the wardrobe.

"This is beautiful," I heard Kiiti say, I didn't even know when she got to me.

"Thanks," I replied succinctly as she held my wrist to look at the bracelet, she almost twisted my hand just because she was trying to read what was carved in it.

"Hmmm, to the moon and back," she dropped my hand and stood akimbo, "Who gave you this necklace and Bangles?" she stood like someone interrogating me and I chuckled.

"Can't I buy it myself?"

"Just answer the question," Kiishi who was now putting on her white evening dress said before Kiiti.

"Ok, It was Jared that gave me on my birthday"

Kiishi turned to me, clapped and smiled, "Hmm, he gave you on your birthday and you're his date to the Ball," she turned to Kiiti, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" she raised her eyebrows playfully.

"I am, Kiisha is there something you're not telling us?" Kiiti asked with suspicion laced in her voice.

Well, I didn't tell them about the date on my birthday and even everything that happened that day and I also didn't tell them about the strange feeling that was building up inside me.

"Kiisha!" they both shouted in unison and I was almost startled.

"Well, it's getting late now, I'll tell you everything you want to know after the Ball, so can we go now?"

Kiiti and Kiishi shared a look before dashing me a suspicious look respectively.

I stood up and Kiiti dragged me to her place.

"What?"

"You can't just go like this, let me make you up," she said before turning to the drawer under her reading table as she brought out the make up kit.

"How did you bring that?" Kiishi who had already finished dressing asked.

"I just told the hostel mistress that I'm a make up artist and that I would like to make up for the contestants on the cultural day and the queens, princess and all other ones on the inter-house sport day," she explained as she opened the Kit.

"And she agreed?" I asked.

"Before nko, you seem to have forgotten I'm the Governor's daughter"

"That's true," Kiishi nodded before walking to us.

"Kiishi you'll help me ooo ,so you'll also learn by that too"

Kiishi eyed her playfully before agreeing, "But you'll make up for me too ooo," she pulled her ear in warning and Kiiti smiled.

"Every one of us will make-up, all those guys neck must break today," Kiiti said with amusement.

Kiishi and I smiled.

She brought out a new blade and moved closer to me.

"Wait, do you want to cut my face?"

Kiiti smiled while waving her index finger and shaking her head.

"She wants to shape your eyebrow," Kiishi explained while she sharpened the eye pencil.

"Hope it won't cut me?"

Kiiti nodded in assurance before she set to work. Couple of minutes later, she was done. I stood up to look at myself in the mirror and my mouth hung open, I'm not as beautiful as this o, Kiiti yo've change my face.

"Wow, Kiiti you're good ooo," I complimented when I finally tore my gaze from the mirror and turned to her. She was now bringing out a new blade for Kiishi who was readily seated.

"I want my own to be as beautiful as Kiisha's own or even more oo," Kiishi instructed.

"Okay," Kiiti responded as she set to work on Kiishi's face.

"But did you learn make-up?" I asked as I sat on Kiiti's chair.

"Well, you know my parents are always busy so I spend most time with my aunt who is a make-up artist, she's the one called Suzanne"

"Wait oo, is your aunt the Suzanne who gets all round job for brides and actresses?" I asked in surprise. That Suzanne is a very popular make-up artist.

"Yeah"

"Wow, that's nice, so you do follow her around to work and attend to clients?" Kiishi asked.

"Yes"

"That's nice no wonder you are good with this," I commented.

Almost an hour later, Kiiti was done with both her make-up and Kiishi's own, we all took pictures, this time Kiiti readily took the pictures before we sauntered to the dining hall, we were to meet our dates there before we all head to the school's main hall which is called the Royal Hall.

Kiiti and Kiishi had sighted their dates immediately we got to the hall and had gone to them, I sat down and picked out my phone to call Jared before I felt a pairs of hand on my face, covering my eyes.

I despised this stuff but I sensed the hand belongs to Jared so I didn't shout but rather called his name gently.

"Hm, how did you know I was the one?" he asked as I turned to him. I stood fully in front of him and his mouth hung open as he scrutinized my body for some minutes before I felt uncomfortable and decided to talk. Wait ooo, our clothes are somehow matching. Did mummy buy for him too?

"Don't allow a fly to land on your tongue"

"Wow, you look gorgeous, you just took my breath away, Aanuoluwakiisha, you're an uncontested beauty," he complimented with a smile and I couldn't help but grin as my head was swelling.

"Thanks," I said when I finally got my voice.

He moved closer to me and whispered, "I'll make sure you're mine".

The air on my neck stood and I couldn't move from the position I was until I felt his hand on my waist, I flinched and hit him with the wrapped gift I got him, we were to exchange the gifts during the Ball.

"Easy, riff, we have to go now, we're almost late," he said and I looked around only to find we were the only one left, I felt as self conscious as a teenager should.

"Let's go," I muttered.

He smiled at me and his dimples revealed itself and I looked away quickly, lately I didn't have the courage to look him in the eye.

I felt his hand on my waist again and tried to relax as we walked to Royal Hall, throughout the walk, I kept mute while he smiled.

We finally got into the hall and it wasn't hard to find a seat as Kiiti and Joshua had already reserved us one, I asked Kiiti where Kiishi was and she pointed at her direction. She was sitting with Olumide and they were laughing, they looked so sweet together.

The resounding clap from everyone tore my gaze away from them as I looked up at the stage. The Social Prefect Boy welcomed everyone to the Ball before explaining some other things.

They served us pepper soup while the Social Prefect Boy was talking and I didn't waste anytime to eat it.

"Now, it's time for you guys to exchange your gifts," I heard Uloma say, I didn't even know when the Social Prefect Boy had been replaced on stage by its female counterpart, the Social Prefect Girl, I was busy devouring the pepper soup with my voracious appetite.

"Here," Jared pointed a wrap at me, I dropped the bottle water I was drinking and collected the gift before giving him mine.

"Now let's make this dinner bubbly, each table has six occupants right? We're going to play the spin the bottle game," Uloma announced and noise filled the air.

Spin the bottle ke?

"Oookay," Quadri shouted as he picked the empty bottle on the table.

"Now, let's go," Uloma shouted before music started blasting.

Quadri spinned the bottle and it pointed at him and Joshua.

"T or D?" Quadri asked.

"T"

Quadri smiled sheepishly before talking, "Why did you decide to ask Kiiti to be your Val?"

Kiiti and I shared a knowing look.

"I have a crush on her"

"Awwwnn," Ify, who was Quadri's girlfriend cooed while I smiled.

Kiiti kept a straight face and the air got tensed, Kiiti decided to spin the bottle and it pointed at Jared and I.

Oh no. I just pray something stupid won't happen well the bottom is at him, so he'll be the one to ask, thank goodness.

Jared cleared his throat and smiled at me before asking, "T or D?"

"T"

"No, you can't pick T, someone just chose T so I think the next should be D," Quadri said and I felt like slapping him.

I looked at Jared who smirked.

"I second that," Joshua said.

"But...," I tried saying but Ify cut me short, "Let's vote then, we're six right"

"I agree," Joshua and Quadri said in unison while Jared nodded.

"But ..," I tried saying and Ify cut me short once again, "Everyone has agreed except you so we're good to go"

"My opinion doesn't matter right?" I asked while eyeing her menacingly, I turned to Kiiti so she'll decline but the stupid girl smirked at me before looking away. Just wait till we get to the hostel, I'll skin you alive.

"So who is up for D?" Joshua asked and everyone raised their hand except me of course.

"That's five against one, so it's settled," Ify said and I glared at her before giving Kiiti the look of 'you're dead today' but the foolish girl smiled.

"Oya Jared dare her," Quadri instructed and Jared smiled.

He cleared his throat and smirked at me. I have a feeling he'll say something stupid but he'll surely get it from me.

"I dare you to ...," he smirked at me again and I glared at him, "Kiss me," he completed the sentence and I felt like strangling him. Is he crazy or something nii?.

"I don't know how to Kiss," I blurted and they all dashed me a fierce look. What? Do I know how to kiss nii?.

Jared scoffed talking, "But on your birthday we ..," I cut him short instantly, ehn, I wouldn't allow him to say we kissed that day, no we didn't Kiss, he stole my first kiss from me.

"What if I don't kiss you what will happen?" I asked but before he could respond Kiiti talked.

"What happened on your birthday?"

Oh! I slapped a hand on my forehead before glaring daggers at her.

"Nothing happened," I responded while giving Jared the look of  'don't you dare say anything'.

Kiiti opened her mouth to talk but Ify talked before her.

"Oya, kiss jare the time for the game will soon be up"

"I can't do it, what's the penalty?"

"You return the gift I gave you and become my slave till the end of SS2," Jared said as he winked at me.

"Nitwit," I muttered while glaring at him. He'll surely get it from me. I looked at the gift curiously, I wouldn't return it 'cause I wanted to know what was there and me being slave till the end of SS2, over my dead body, it's better I just peck him on the lips.

"I'll go with the dare," I announced and a smile appeared on everyone's face. Stupid set of people.

I turned to Jared who smiled broadly, why is this one trying to torment me with his smile. I looked away quickly before heaving and turning back to him.

I moved closer to him while trying to avoid his gaze, immediately I placed my mouth on his lips and tried to move away, he pulled me back and deepened the Kiss, at first I tried getting away from him but he wouldn't let go, so I relaxed and allowed him to savour my mouth before kissing him back. It felt so good and my stomach churned.

"It's okay ooo," I heard Kiiti's voice shout as she banged the table while we immediately let go of each other and I quickly looked away.

"Hmm ....," Joshua said but the voice of Uloma stopped him from saying whatever was in his mind.

"Now, it's time for the award," Uloma announced and noise rented the air.

I fixed my gaze on her and made a mental note not to look at Jared till the end of the Ball.

"For the best dressed couple for this Ball, give it up for Jared and Kiisha," she shouted.

Wait, wait, wait. What's going on? Did I just hear it right? Jared and I again. I sat down rooted in the chair until I felt Jared's hand on mine, I withdrew it quickly and stood up, we both walked to the stage to receive the award, throughout the medium of the award, I didn't take a look at him, I avoided him.

We walked back to our seat, I was the one with the gift presented to us so I just dropped it on the table. The guys started saying rubbish when we got back but I shut my ear and focused on the award.

Till the end of the award, I stayed mute and put, my gaze didn't leave the stage, even when Kiiti tried talking to me, I ignored her.

"Time to dance," the Social Prefect Boy announced and everyone shouted, "DJ roll in the music," he said before leaving the stage.

Everyone stood up and went to the center of the hall while I stayed put jejele on my own. You should see how Kiiti was dancing with Joshua, I never knew that girl could dance oo, she should just join the school's dance team. That girl is just rocking that place.

I started  tapping my feet as I felt the vibration of Fireboy's 'Vibrations' but they never born me well to stand up and dance.

"Stop tapping your feet, let's go and join the others," Jared said. We were the only ones left sitting, others were all dancing.

Why is he sitting? He should have just joined others.

"And how is tapping my feet any of your business?" I asked in a hostile manner.

"I've noticed you do ignore me whenever something happens between us, I don't know you to be someone shy, then that means you have feelings for me"

Oh! Gosh. This guy is a manipulative bagger.

"I don't feel anything for you?" It came out more like a question than a statement. I don't feel anything for him, I told myself. Then what's this weird feeling in my stomach, probably the food I concluded.

He smiled, "Then why do you ignore me?"

"I'm done talking to you," I hissed and picked up my phone but he collected it and turned my face to him.

"Aanuoluwakiisha, look straight into my eyes and tell me you don't feel anything for me," he ordered and I looked away quickly.

Who is he to order me around? I sprawled to my feet and he did the same.

"Since you didn't deny, then...," I held up my palm, "Let's just go and dance"

He smiled at this and I walked to the center of the stage while he followed me. Why do I have this strange feeling again?