I stared at the forty two inches flat screen where a sci fic movie was ongoing. I hummed at the strawberry ice cream i was currently eating. The air con was at a moderate temperature in the room.

Men... I love this.

I should do this again.

"You seem to be enjoying this?" Theresa teased me from where she sat with Ejiro, they were playing a game of Ludo.

I nodded, not finding enough words to justify what i feel right now.

"We should come here again or we could skip class" Korede offers but i was quick to shake my head.

"It would be fun." Bankole said giving me a big smile thinking it will work on me.

"I. Will. Not. Skip. Classes. With. You. Guys" I deadpanned.

They turned quiet at my seriousness.

I went back to eating my ice cream before Akorede suddenly sat really close beside me, i gasped in shock as he placed his head on my thighs.

"What are you doing?" I asked sounding nervous but he only gave me a cheeky grin.

I discreetly lift my eyes to others. They were looking at us with a smug expression. Theresa threw me a wink while Ejiro smirked.

I blushed.

Placing my hand on his surprisingly smooth cheek in a bid to push him away but stopped when he jerked almost shivering under my touch.

It was probably due to my cold hands that was holding my cup of ice cream all along.

I place the cup on the low stool beside the cute sofa i was currently occupying before placing all my attention on him.

This is getting out of hand, he is going beyond his boundary and i don't know what to do to put him off.

His brown eyes stared at my dark ones and i could have sworn i saw sparks igniting in them, i don't even know what to do in this type of situation.

My hands unconsciously reach out to his hair and i feel him shiver as soon as my fingers touched his scalp, i remove my hand and the pleading look he gave me made me return the hand, my fingers venturing deeper into his slightly coarse but moisturized hair.

His eyes close in reflex and i hear him let out a hum. He must be loving this.

"What do you put in your hair?" I asked him, my hand was able to slide freely through it and he did not wince a bit.

Try that with my 4c hair, i will cry like a baby.

"A lot of water and hair conditioner." was his quick answer "we have the same hair type right?"

I shook my head.

"You need to see the battle i always have with this hair whenever i want to comb it, i actually tear up" I said with an eye roll causing him to laugh.

"I can give you my hair products?" he offered but i shook my head in denial.

The bell rang causing me to snap out of it, pushing his head away making him groan in protest, sulking along.

I find it cute but i shook my head as i stood up dusting my skirt from any crumbs of the meat pie i ate.

We all left the room heading for our designated classes, Akorede's lingering touch on my back was all i could remember.

This boy really doesn't know how to be discreet. He is getting too touchy.

The class went by in a breeze, soon it was closing time and we had to head back to the hostel.. I couldn't wait up for Theresa because the prefects were having a meeting with the principal.

I got to the hostel and was planning to head to my room to have a good nap when i was pulled by the collar of my blazer.

My eyes went wide in fright and confusion due to the unexpected move from whomever was holding me hostage.

The person slammed me against the wall, fear coursed through my veins at the sight in front of me.

Celine Nnaji.

And boy... Did she look livid?

"You..." she points her well manicured nail polished index finger at me. The finger as well as her whole body was practically shaking from the anger consuming her whole system "you slithering conniving manipulative bitch!"

I flinched at her caustic words.

"Celine-"

Wham!

Gasps and snickers were heard as my face flew to the other side due to the sudden impact of the slap she delivered on my face.

I blinked away from my dazed state and the tears forming in my eyes. Her hand is painful... It hurts like a bitch, no... Two bitches..

"Did i say you could talk?!" she snaps at me causing me to cower back a bit. "You don't listen, do you? That is the problem you paupers always have, you always try to reap where you did not sow!"

I look up at her statement but look away in shame and embarrassment.

Those words are heavy. And hurtful too.

I did what i know how to do best.

I tune everything out, hoping she would leave me alone when she realize my numb state.

I jump when she pulled at my arm dragging my bag away from me. I watch in my immobile and frightened state as she goes on a rampage on my innocent bag.

Emptying it of the contents and practically squeezing and stepping on the vital papers.

After giving me a final note of warning and practically pushing me to the floor, she left me alone.

With a shaky sigh, i packed up what she poured out of my bag into the bag, not looking up at anyone, I walked with slumped shoulders towards my room.

I will not.

I will not cry...

I will not cry!

I quickly got into my room throwing my bag onto the floor before dragging my feet towards my bed, falling on it, burying my head in to the pillow as i let out a painful, frustrated scream.

An heart wrenching wail escaped my lips.

                       😨😩😧
I don't know for how long i slept after crying but i know it was a long time. I was floating in and out of consciousness trying to forget what happened this afternoon but it kept playing in my mind like a broken record.

I felt a slight shake against my arm, i ignored it, i felt it again, i shook it off.

"Babe... " I frowned at the familiar voice in my ear, Theresa was practically breathing down in my ear. "Babe?" my face was blocked from her view.

"Uhnmmm?"

"Are you okay?"

I am not okay.

"Uhnmmm....."

That was my reply to her question.

"You sound off"

"Uhn hmm?"

Really?

"What is wrong?" she asked sounding agitated.

"Hmmmm... "

I hear her fluttering footsteps but i was too tired to care about what she was trying to do.

"Omo-T?"

I let out a quiet huff before sitting up to look at her with bleary eyes. She tilts her head to the side giving me a once over, she was in her house wear.

"Hey... " she frowned at my hoarse voice. Shit! I probably sounded like a pig.

"Why are you still in your uniform? It is almost time for dinner."

I look down at my body to see that she was right. I didn't take it off when i came in the afternoon. I was too hurt and exhausted to do so.

I undressed starting with my tie.

"I forgot"

"What happened?" I raised an eyebrow at her question praying that she hasn't heard the news. The apparent confusion and worry on her face made me realize she hasn't heard a thing.

Thank God!

"Nothing "

Was my monotonous answer as i stripped out of my uniform before putting on my house wear.

I know i should take my bath but i am too exhausted and scared to go out of my room.

What if i encounter her again and she got mad seeing my face and decided to bash it in...

I crawled into my bed, draping my old blankets over my frame, moving into a foetal position before closing my eyes. It had been a childhood thing...

I do this whenever i am sad about a particular event or whenever i am scared, i feel protected this way.

"Aren't you going for dinner? "

"I am not hungry" my voice came out sounding small.

I hear her let out an exasperated sigh from her mouth but i pay no heed to it. I hear mutter something about going to the cafeteria to get something but i was too tired to make out her words.

I hear the door close causing me to close my eyes in relief the same time a single tear escaped from my eyes.

It felt like hours when i hear the door open again. I watch with hooded eyes as Theresa came in with a nylon.

I felt her tap me slightly on my covered legs when she got to my bed.

"Get up and eat" was the first thing she said to me when i looked up at her.

She bought me toast bread and Vita Milk. I sit up at the aroma and also because i don't want to waste her money.

Saying a small yet quick thank, i opened the toast bread. The insides was filled with butter, spicy fried eggs, and sardines.

I ate quietly under the surveillance of Theresa's watchful eyes. She was watching my every move.

"What happened?"

I look up at her cryptic question. She stared at me straight in the eyes giving nothing away. Her eyes was also watchful, also daring me to lie.

She knows....

"I don't want to talk about it"

"When are you going to talk about it?"

I shook my head. I hear her let out a sigh, it sounded so much like that of annoyance.

"Should i be worried that you can't defend yourself?"

I frowned at her imposing question. What does she mean by that?

"What do you mean?" i questioned between mid bite.

"Your mate slapped you and you can't slap her back" her voice coated with accusation.

"I can't slap her back!"

"Why?!" she snapped

"Because... " i drawled out not finding a reasonable answer which caused her scoff.

"I can't be everywhere Omotolani. You need to be brave in situations like this. Imagine the shock and annoyance i felt when two jss1 students were talking about how that mulatto bitch slapped you"

I look down in shame suddenly losing my appetite. My showdown with Celine is already being carried around by juniors, talk about losing respect.

"You talk as if this thing is easy"

"I know it is not easy but once you put her in her place once or twice. She will get off your back."

I shook my head recalling the mean words she said to me this afternoon.

"But she is right. I don't belong here. I don't belong with you people. Why will Akorede want to befriend me?"

"Because you are a good person, a breath of fresh air for him, for us all" i shook my head not believing a thing she said but she remains adamant "i can't speak for him but i know you are good for him, don't let anyone tell you otherwise"

I bit my lower lip before shaking my head slowly.

The word 'pauper' still ringing in my head. She is right...

Akorede is way out of my league in all ramifications... I need to stop disturbing myself. They guy is just going to play me. What will he want from me when he has girls like Celine at his disposal.

"And promise me that if she does what she did in the afternoon again, you will equally return the favour by dashing her a deafening blinding slap"

I giggled at her words shaking my head.

.....
"Pass me the fishing line, will you?" I tell Ejiro which he quickly did. I just finished with the baseline of the vase, i am about to start with the body.

For my trade subject, i choose craft making where you do all sorts of hand crafts and design like knitting, bead making in which i am very good at the two.

There is also tie and dye, basket weaving /making and all sorts. I am working on one of my projects which was a flower vase.

I smirk when Ejiro kept staring at my hand as i weaved through the transparent fishing line with the large crystal like beads.

"Looks like magic right?"

"Absolutely"

"Wait till i knit in front of you, that is much more intricate than this, but very easy once you get it"

He shook his head like a child making me chuckle.

He looks very interested in what i was doing and he really wants to learn with the various questions he had been asking me.

"Can i ask you a question which is way off this course?"

I nodded.

"Why are we here?" he asks me, his hands waving around the empty pavilion.

"You don't want to be here?"

"Of course i do. I just thought you would be scooped up at a corner reading up a cuboid sized text book"

I smiled at his observation.

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"

He hummed, shaking his head along.

I was actually reading before prep but i felt my eyes were going to fall out of its socket if i try as much as read a single line of my notebook.

I may be a bookworm but i have my boundaries.

I dragged him with me to the pavilion to do my project, i really don't want to be left alone.

Day sixteen of avoiding Akorede Wellington. I feel bad whenever we lock eyes and he tries approaching me for a conversation, it is either i ignore him or run away.

On the twelfth day, it seemed like he gave up on trying to talk to me. He only gives me hurt and confused look.

Which always made me feel and look bad.

My hopes of being left alone with my friend were dashed when they popped up from no where.

Why do they always move in convoy?

"What are you two up to?" Bankole asked with a curious expression gracing his face.

He stared at the bead craft in my hand with interest, Korede sat away from us, the place gave him a good view of us, it gave him a good view of me. I quickly look away when our eyes met.

He did not bother to hide it. He just stared with an expressionless look.

"It is a project. For my trade subject" he nodded before asking if he could hold it.

I gave him the half done flower vase. He stared at it for a while.

"Can you make one for me?" i shrugged "i want to give someone" I nodded.

"Your girlfriend abi?" Faramade teased.

"Ode. You think i resemble you?" I chuckled taking the vase from his hand.

"I can also make the purse, bag and necklace as well"

"Really?!" his eyes widens at the prospect "Can you do like five attractive purses? I will pay.. Different colors and styles nii o"

Maybe Faramade is right about the girlfriend issue.

"Your section of the farm in over grown with weed, you are still chasing girls" Theresa fired at him.

"Is it your farm?"

"You are playing with your grades. Who told you to pick farming as a trade subject?"

"Is it your farm?...."

I shook my head smiling while they bicker back and forth.

"Just make sure you pluck the yam. I want a taste of new yam"

I paused.

Did i hear her right?

Pluck kwa?

It seems i was not the only one who heard this because we were all giving her bewildered looks

"What? Why are you all staring at me that way?" she asked looking totally confused.

"Pluck?"  Evans was the first person to speak up. "Pluck yam?"

"Yes. They pluck it on trees right?"

I swallowed my laugh with a cough causing her to eye me suspiciously, the others did a bad job at concealing their laughter as the erupt with it.

For someone so intelligent, she definitely lacks some farming skills.

"Why are you all laughing?" she asked in annoyance.

"Theresa. Yams are not plucked on trees?"

"Really?"

"Yes"

"They are not pulled off trees?"

"Absolutely not"

"I should have paid more attention during Agric lesson in our junior class" she muttered.

I watch as Evans give her a brief lecture on yams being a root plant and how there is need for heaps to be present before planting your seedlings of yam, seedlings being yams cut into small parts for planting.

I went back to my work. I was so engrossed in it that i did not notice them leaving one by one.

It was too late when i discovered that they left me with him. He hijacked him before i could sneak away from his presence.

"No. I won't let you run away again" he said grabbing my wrist in a firm hold.

"I am not running away"

He gave me a raised eyebrow before shaking his head. He sat opposite me, his opened legs locking my closed ones in. I sat still not knowing what to make of the situation.

"You can unhand me now" he looks at me unsure but he must have seen my calm countenance causing him to release me from his hold. I am not going to run away na...

I miss the warmth of his hand on my wrist.

"It has been two weeks. Two bloody weeks... You refused to talk to me?, you have been avoiding me? Did i do something wrong?"

I shook my head quickly.

"Of course not"

"No. Don't tell me that. Tell me what is wrong... Talk to me. If i am doing something wrong or something you are not comfortable with. Tell me"

I feel so awful with what he is saying. He thinks he is the problem. He did nothing wrong.

Just because he was being friendly to me, this happened. Now what will happen if we actually start dating?

"You did nothing wrong-"

"No! Don't give me that. Was i moving too fast? Okay, i am sorry. We can be friends. If that is what you want. Friends. We can be that just stop ignoring me. Please... It is really-"

"Akorede!"

I snap at him in frustration making him go mute. Who could have thought he was such a blabber mouth?

"Hmm?"

"You didn't offend me"

"Really?"

"Yeah. I was just going through some stuff and i needed some time to myself"

"Are you sure?" he asked sounding unsure.

"Yes of course "

I am so glad the 'slap' incidence hadn't gotten to him, i don't want to look like a weakling before him.

"Are you for real?"

I nodded, he placed a hand on his chest particularly where his heart was located before letting out a heavy sigh closing his eyes.

Why was he being so dramatic?

"God! You scared me!"

"How?"

He gave me a funny look at my question, as if i asked him who killed Jesus.

"Are you asking me that question? Shetemi... You were downright snubbing me"

I felt myself melt like a puddle when he called me by my middle name. It just felt different from him.

"I was not snubbing you"

He scoffs shaking his head.

"You were. Is Theresa rubbing on you due to you two living together or are you always like that?"

Funny enough, i remember Theresa pointing it out once on me being a low key snub. Whatever that means...

"I will make sure Theresa knows about this your observation" I said with narrowed eyes.

"Ehn! Don't o! She will get me skewered"

I burst into laughter at his exclamation.

Have you ever been in Omotolani's situation?

Do you think she should have slapped her back?

Remember Omotolani is a teenage girl going through serious inferiority complex due to where she found herself... Have you ever wondered what she is like outside school ?

She is familiar with the smell of marijuana and she knows and had heard a lot about sex... What sort of life do you think she is leading outside school?

I need your opinions.... Your thoughts...

What do you think of Celine?

Abeg show me love, you no show me love.

Your opinions will be really appreciated during the course of the story and please vote o.

Na beg i dey beg....