"Your ambition?" he asked softly, close to my right ear. I stared at the blank space which was based on the information about my subject combination.

I was filling the examination form which would be attached to my scholarship form. Akorede and i were in the lounge as he helped me with it before asking me that question.

I hummed looking up from the paper, musing over his question.

"Honestly?" he looked at me giving me his rapt attention "I haven't decided yet"

He looked surprised by my statement.

"Really?" i nodded "why?"

"I don't know... Maybe because i want to do everything. Today i want to study electrical engineering, tomorrow i want to be a neurosurgeon..."

He chuckled at my response. Rubbing his thumb slowly on the back of my left shoulder which was very relaxing for me.

"That is a good problem. Your confidence in your ability is what leaves me awestruck every time"

"Yeah... Heard i am a philomath" i bragged. The sides of his mouth wrinkled with the smile that graced his face. "how about you? Any future plans?"

"You asked that question like i don't have one" i shrugged writing down the subject combinations.

"You rich people have everything handed out to you. I won't be surprised if you have trust funds that will sustain you for life"

"You make it sound like i am lazy"

"Well are you? Even if you are... I wouldn't have agreed to dating you" i stated the facts. Who wants to date a lazy person anyway? No one.

"I am thinking of taking over from my dad, when the time comes. I would love to work with him" I watch his eyes clouded with respect and love for the said man.

"You and your old man seems to be cordial"

"He is the best. Best friend, best adviser, best coach and equally the best dad in the whole wide world" he praised. I smiled.

You can feel the adoration even with the way he talks about the man.

"That is so sweet... " i put the form away, putting my whole attention on him "what is he into? I mean... What does he do?"

"He is into real estate, like he owns it" i nodded in understanding "he is also into stock exchange... A resilient broker, you know the two kind of work hand in hand"

"Like a real estate broker" i stated which made him nod. I smile as he spoke with pride about his father.

"He also owns a shipping company and other businesses he must have acquired that i don't even know about"

"Wow... Your dad is like Jack of all trades in the business world"

"Yes. And equally the master of all" i giggled, he smiled at me his fingers playing with the tip of my hair which i had made into huge cornrows after losing the braids i brought to school.

It is so refreshing to know more about his personal life. He has always been tagged with his uncle because the man schooled here and he had a reputation. People always forget the fact that he was just the nephew, he has another person's blood flowing in him. Yes, he might be a Cole.

He is also a Wellington.

"Enough about me... Tell me about your parents"

I wasn't expecting that but since we are having this conversation, i have no other choice to oblige. Leaning into his body, he wrapped his arms around me as i melt into his warmth, he placed his chin on my head.

Playing with the tip of the collar of his checked shirt which happens to be his house wear, i couldn't help but frown as i thought about my parents and his.

It has always been there but it now became so glaring and the fact still remains, we came from two entirely different worlds that are not meant to mingle.

What will his parents think of me if they find out?...

"My father is a fisherman, from Delta State, also an electrician, a plumber..." i think that was where i developed my love for science because it was always fascinating when ever he connected wires or fix something "my mum, a Yoruba woman. Is a petty trader... She sells pepper and mainly fish, smoked fish... I have a little sister, Miracle who we fondly call baby Miracle and..."

I stopped talking. Should i tell him about Martins? As if sensing my scepticism, he pulled me away. gently by the arms, to see my face.

"You wanted to say something?" i opened my mouth to talk but closed it having a rethink "If you don't want to talk about it, it is okay"

"Of course i want to talk about it. It is nothing serious" he nodded waiting for me to continue "I have a brother, an older brother... An older step brother"

"Okay?..."

I huff, sitting up.

"He is an... How should i put it, an ass? Always causing problems for the family and putting my mum in a tensed and sad state"

"My little brother can be a pain in the ass a times" he tried relating his situation with mine.

At least, he is not a thug.

"He is a street lord Akorede"

His eyes widens in surprise.

"Wow... " he looked lost for words. Just as expected.

"You see? Now i left you speechless" feeling stupid for talking about my delinquent step brother.

He shook his head pulling me closer. We were both occupying the plushy looking black sofa in the lounge.

"It is alright-"

"I am sure i scared you"

"No no no... I am not scared in anyway. Okay?" i gave him a look that shows i don't believe him. "I am serious"

"Really?"

"Yes, but can i ask you this question?" i nodded for him to go on "will they like me?"

I smiled at the prospect of him being introduced to my parents. He really wants us to get to that phase?

"I think they will love you" i said truthfully. Who wouldn't like Akorede?

"For real?" sounding doubtful.

"I am very serious"

"Your cousin doesn't seem to like me" he muttered avoiding my eyes.

Are we going back to this Tega issue? I thought we had trashed it out and left it somewhere.

It happened during our hangout in Theresa's house, Akorede wanted to drop me off back home which i accepted. This led to his encounter with Tega.

We all know how Tega can be...

"I told you... Tega is just being Tega"

"He doesn't like me"

I sighed running my hand through my face in frustration.

"I told you not to worry about it."

He said nothing, staring at me for a moment before nodding.

"Now let's move over to you" he gave me a questioning look "your visual arts textbook" I requested while raising my hand.

He groaned.

"Don't you ever get tired of studying?" he grumbled.

"No. You should have thought about it before picking art as a trade subject. You can't even draw a perfect circle"

He scoffed.

"I will have you know i can draw perfectly" he bragged, reaching into his school bag, before retrieving the large textbook, then handed it over to me.

"You do know that stick figures and doodles does not count right?" i asked but he only let out a grunt.

I chuckled, opening the textbook which looked too new for a book that should be read for an exam. I skimmed through the necessary part.

"Let's go over those artist again shall we?" he shrugged looking reluctant "okay then, give me the ones you can remember"

"Leonardo DiCaprio?... "

I narrowed my eyes at his smug face knowing he was just fooling around.

"Ehn en ni. You for say Brad Pitt" i kissed my teeth while he laughed. "be serious jor..."

He scrunched up his nose before finally complying.

"Leonardo Da Vinci..., Van Gogh?" i nodded for him to continue "there is a Donatello, Michael Angelo..."

"Okay but you know you have to classify them under their era, right? Like the Renaissance era?" he groaned out loud again probably at the concept of reading extensively on a subject he seeks no joy in.

"Don't remind me. Please... "

I shook my head at his childish act. Skipping through the textbook, i stopped at the Egyptian art, fascinated on the information concerning mummified bodies and their lettering skills.

I moved to the next page and almost wished i didn't. Greek and Roman art is what this page was all about and we all know the characteristics of Greek art.

Nudity.

I am with a teenage boy and you know how teenage boys think on subjects like this. Akorede included.

I was about to turn over to the next page when he held me by the wrist.

"Why are they all naked?"

There it is. That is the question i am waiting for. I basically face palmed myself as he openly gawked at the naked image of Athena, Greek goddess of war.

"Because that was how art was seen and made during the ancient times"

"Why isn't art made like this now?" A gasped escaped my lips as i smacked him hard by the arms, he laughed "Joking "

"You are very dirty minded" a scowl evident on my face at the prospect of Akorede staring at another girl's nudity.

He smiled cheekily at me, wrapping his strong arms around me again before pulling me into him.

"Don't worry... Even if i want to stare at a female, you are the only person i want to stare at that way" he said really close to my ear and i couldn't fight the blush. He laughed again at my flushed face.

"Shut up..."

"You should have seen your face" i rolled my eyes, diverting his attention back to the textbook, that killed his happy mood immediately "can we do something else?... I am tired of studying"

"We just started you lazy bone" i chided.

"How many hours do you use in studying?" he asked curiously.

"I'm not sure.. Six to seven maybe... Or more" he sat up in shock, a look of alarm visible on his face "what?"

"Seven hours?! What? Why?! Don't you think that is too much?!"

I frowned. Too much? What will i be doing if i don't come to school to do what i was meant to do.

"Uhn... No?"

"Babe! You are stressing your brain out... You need to cut down on your study time"

"To do what?" i asked confusedly.

He stared at me with a look i don't understand before shaking his head.

"We are going to do something about this" he declared, closing the book in my hand, taking it away from my grasp.

"What are you doing?" i asked.

"We are doing nothing. You need to relax your brain" he demanded this time.

"But i don't want to" i complained, pouting at his attitude. His eyes stayed at a particular part of my face for a while, he licked his lips before looking up at me.

"Can i do something then?" he asked. I raised an eyebrow before nodding "Can i kiss you?"

My breath hitched at his question. I knew we would get to this point but i didn't know it would be this long. I have always wanted to kiss those pinkish soft looking lips.

"Okay... " i said shyly.

"Are you sure? I don't want to force you into anything-"

He stopped talking when i stole a quick kiss. Looking shell shocked at my behavior, i got embarrassed at my forwardness.

Did i go overboard?

"Korede?"

He blinked staring at me and he suddenly moved closer, he was about to dive in when the door burst open.

"Korede do you know-" Bankole stopped talking when he realized the situation he walked into. A shit eating grin slowly spreads across his face, i felt like disappearing. "Did i walk in at the wrong time?" Korede growled as i go red. "I will come back later, you guys should  carry on with-" he growled again warningly while i pressed further into his chest to cover my face "later!"

We hear the door slam after him showing his exit but the awkward air never left with him.

"Well... That went well... " i said awkwardly.

A frustrated groan fell from his lips.

                       😁😘😙

"Nice bitch face..." Theresa praised, sounding proud of the permanent glare i had on my face.

"Not funny."

According to her, i had perfected the mean glare, courtesy of my boyfriend. Akorede's cold stares are beginning to rub on me with so much of time i am spending with him. Of course, the stony glares were never directed at me but to other people. I just had to repeat and copy the look on the same people as well whenever he was indulged in the act.

Theresa was at the receiving end of the glare this morning.

It was a Saturday morning, a time for students to hit the field and participate in one form of physical fitness or another. I am not a big fan of this moment and i tend to hide away till the duration of exercise is over but after constant nagging and begging by Theresa. I obliged.

Now i am starting to regret doing so.

She made me wore a pink T-shirt and black spandex pants which hugged my whole leg anatomy.

"There is nothing bad with it. See? I am wearing the same outfit" she twirled in front of me. She wore a purple T-shirt instead of pink and her feet were covered in a white trainers while mine was of ash color, she gave it to me to wear.

"People will be looking at my legs"

"That is what we are driving at" she declared, pulling me by my wrist towards the door while grabbing her water bottle.

Just like i expected, students stared at us. At me because they had probably never seen me in a leggings before.

It was so funny to see some of the male students leer at me. I walked with Theresa towards the field ignoring the stares i am not so used to.

I saw Akorede talking with Bankole and one other boy that i guess was his classmate, the guy was walking away from them when Bankole sighted us. He said something to Korede who turn around immediately.

I watched in satisfaction when his face glowed with appreciation, eyes running through my figure and mind you... Not in a lewd way.

I smiled when Bankole made a kissy face at him, probably making fun of the position he met us the other day. Akorede's face flared in annoyance, wrapping his arm around his neck, putting him in a tight chokehold.

"Boys... " Theresa muttered beside me while scoffing.

Twenty minutes on the track, i regretted coming to the field. I was practically wheezing and out of breath.

God! I am so out of shape! It is so pathetic to watch. I was practically waddling like a duck all in the name of going for a run.

I am not a sporty person. I can't say i like one particular sport, i see them as waste of time, energy and space.

I fall to the ground gasping for air, before sitting up on the well kept field, watching my mates burn down some calories.

Theresa was on her sixth lap and she doesn't look like she has done anything. Didn't even break a sweat.

Here i am, sweating like a pig in labour.

A hand holding out a bottle of water blocked my view, i looked up at the intruder and i was surprised when i saw Faramade. He said nothing, he gestured at bottle.

"Thank you so much!" i took it from his hand, opening the lid before taking a big quantity of refreshing water. Taking the bottle from my mouth, i saw that he had already sat with me on the ground.

"Fancy seeing you here" he greets, bringing his legs up, resting his elbows on his knees in contrast to my sprawled out legs.

"I will have you know that i was forced here. This is not my comfort zone"

"I can see that" he said and i can see a smug smile making way on his face.

"What? I am not lazy if that's what you think" i said getting defensive.

"I never insinuated such fact" i scoffed, rolling eyes playfully at his statement.

He blinked rapidly before looking away, watching our peers mess around as soon as they were not under the scrutinizing gaze of the sports prefect because he is the one in charge here.

I should stop staring but i couldn't help it. His hypnotizing left eye left me in a daze, seeing it up close under the natural light, i was fascinated.

He must have noticed my uncanny stare as he turned to me with a questioning gaze.

"What?"

"Your eyes... " it must have been my imagination but i saw him visibly tense up.

"What? I look like a freak with it, right? Like a mutation gone wrong?" i was taken aback by his cold voice and snide comments which were directed not at me but himself.

What does he mean by a freak? Who is telling him all these disgusting lies because it seems he must have been hearing people tell him about how imperfect they think it is with the way he sounded guarded just now.

Those mismatched eyes are gorgeous.

"I think they are beautiful... " i said truthfully and i think he must have sensed the sincerity behind my words when he looked up at me, a ghost of smile played on the tips of his lips as he said nothing.

I turn to look away from him, watching the mini football game which has just started at the far end of the field by some group of boys from commercial class.

I wanted to ask him about how he got the scar on his right eyebrow but i decided not to press further. I don't want to push his buttons.

Although it was a scar but instead of impending his good looks, it became an aesthetic, adding to the beauty and ruggedness of Faramade Kuti.

I basically sang the hallelujah chorus when the bell rang for breakfast because my stomach was already protesting.

"It is time for breakfast... " Faramade stated while standing to his feet, dusting his football jersey shorts, he looked down at me "you should join us at our table today" he offered but i was quick to shake my head.

"I can't, i don't want-"

"Yeah yeah... You don't want people knowing you and Korede are together" he said with an eye roll and a bit of annoyance "you can sit beside me, no one would notice"

I was still sceptical on the offer.

"I am not re-"

"Today's breakfast is on me. We are not eating the poison the school wants to give us. I am buying breakfast from my friends and you are also my friend and trust me you don't want to miss it for anything" he stretched out his hand for me to take in which i did as he lift me up in a firm but gentle pull.

Who can say no to a good breakfast? No one.

"Alright..." he smiled slightly as i accept his proposal.

"Just in case you want to change your mind, bring your friend... The one that has a female voice. Theresa finds him interesting"

Akorede being a pervert for five seconds straight 😂...

A quick glimpse into Omotolani's life. Her parents occupation and how it is a big contrast to Akorede's... What's your view on this?

Trival question : what's your favorite native soup? Mine is egusi soup /ogbono soup.

Don't forget to vote and comment, it is free and won't cost you a dime😊. It will also make my day.