A picture of Akeju Balogun in the multimedia. (Forget the hair do, focus on the face and imagine him in a low cut).

I stared into the chemistry note, going over the solution that the teacher gave and i couldn't help but find some flaws in the example given.

How come no one noticed?
How come I never noticed till now?

You never noticed because you were emotionally and physically drained...

I huff going through the rest to check if it was correct, which it was.

I took another spoonful of garri. Enjoy the sweetness of the sugar and fresh groundnut while basking in the silence of the hostel.

Am sure am the only one in the hostel. I refuse to step a foot in a place where i was thoroughly embarrassed in the morning, in front of all those rich kids.

Munching noisily yet slowly, I adjusted the pillow on my thighs working quietly and swiftly on the assignment.

I look up from my book when the door opened abruptly, long legs came into view, we locked eyes. A frown sitting on her face.

I gulped, looking like a child with her hand caught inside the cookie jar.

"You are not supposed to be here" she said closing the door after her, stepping towards her space giving me a blank yet strict look.

How did she manage to always look like that?

"Uhn.. Am-am n-not rea-really~"

"Do you always talk like that?" she asked looking annoyed "Why do you talk like that?" she asked.

And it does not sound like she was taunting me, she really wants to know.

"I a-am hmm" I sounded dumb, really dumb.

"I know you can talk, talk normally!" she snapped in annoyance and possibly frustration "if you don't want people walking over you, you have to speak up. Okay?!"

I nodded quickly.

She stared at the cup of garri i had soak with sugar and groundnut. Raising an eyebrow in question.

"Why are you not in the cafeteria? It's dinner time"

"I a-am not that hungry" I said trying hard not to stutter.

"That is why you are eating that?" she asked taping her fingers while throwing her bag on the bed.

"It is garri actually "

She threw me a look before rolling her eyes then she went stripping. She was so confident and comfortable with her body and skin as she kept on parading in her black lacy panties and bra right in front of me.

I can't do that... I will be worried about how bony my ribs will protrude.

She changed into her house wear, a dress which was in a fitted form.

I look down at my already swollen garri finding our interaction strange and weird.

"Hiding in the room will not the matter. You have to be brave if you want help"

"What do you mean by that?"

"I believe you are not dumb. You know what am saying"

She sassed out, before leaving the room once again leaving me in silence but this time, it came with something am familiar with.

Loneliness....

I waited patiently till it was time for prep. I wore my house wear which was a short A-shape dress, I finished the look with the black hoodie which belongs to my cousin.

I raided his wardrobe, stealing hoodies, basketball tee's and big tee's during the holiday. It was the later part of the holiday that i found enjoyable.

His faint cologne filled my sense which gave me a sense of comfort. I double checked what i had packed to see if i got everything I needed. I put on a dark pair of rubber sandals.

Once cleared, i stepped out of the room locking it up.

I took a much needed walk to where i will be havingl my night prep. The cool, crispy air blow through my face making me feel a bit cold. Burying my two hands into the pockets of my hoodie, I walk slowly towards the Ss2 block which was always a quiet place to read and a nice place to hide.

I stopped walking at the sight i saw. Akeju, JJ, Bobola, Kelechi... They stood at the farther end of the block talking and joking around. They were all in their house wear. Akeju was flying is collar while two buttons were opened to showcase his white singlet and broad chest.

I groan quickly hiding from their view, in hopes that they will not see me. What were they even doing there?

They always have their prep in the hall or the ss1 block, not here! Not my safe abode.

And with the way they were acting, i don't think they were here for prep and i honestly don't want to find out what they were here for.

I backtracked, I decide to go to the hall. We just resumed and I don't think anyone will be that excited to read on the first day of school.

As usual, the hall was almost empty. I can count only ten students in this big hall. All good for me though. I went to the other side of the hall, far away from the students who seem to be in a group reading.

Securing a seat, I brought out my books before diving into the beautiful word of Further Maths. I was okay for forty minutes, my pen working nonstop against my notepad.

Then my mind went back to what happened this morning. Today was not my day... I got bullied by my fellow classmate who seem to have it out for me for no reason. He never failed to make my life miserable. It was like he took it as his personal job to make sure I had no friends and I was ostracized from any social life in SJC.

I could recall reporting him to my dad, he only consoled me and told me to be strong because let's be realistic, my dad couldn't do anything. When Tega heard of this, he was so furious and was actually planning to knock Akeju's teeth off but for the fact that we were in different schools, that was impossible.

Tega is still looking forward to that day though...

Then me actually bumping into Akorede. I shiver at the thought of what could have happened if I had actually spilled my food on him. His glaring eyes almost made me cower in fear even though he was not present. He would have shoved me because that was how Akeju started. Shoving me around like a rag doll. Or could have screamed at me.

I really don't know what would have happened to me if I didn't save that tray from falling off. Having Akeju on my neck is bad enough already. I don't need Akorede completing the equation... If Akorede hates you, the whole school hates you.

If he gives you a time of his day or actually had a decent conversation with you. You are suddenly loved by everyone.

I look down at the textbook again, solving the sums correctly. Sometimes i don't need the calculator cause I will just discover that I had already solved the sum in my head.

Distant chatters fluttered into the room, disrupting my attention as it got louder. Looking up, three girls walked in and not any three girls..

It is the Queen with her friends...

SJC queen bee, number one drama queen, a music prodigy and a professional snub. Celine Nnaji.

She is so beautiful... Her skin was so fair and clean, exquisite brown eyes and pointed nose and her hair... Gosh her hair!

It was so long, thick and lushly, not that I had the ample opportunity to touch her skin not to talk of her hair.

Her family was well to do as well.. Something she never fails to rub in your face, she has a nasty and equally selfish character that will make you wish you never got on her bad side.

She talks excitedly with her two friends,Becca Ejifor and Zara Ahmad. The three queen bee... Trust me, they are the last people you want to associate with.

They talked and laughed excessively as they walk through the hall, even their house wear looks extremely good on them.

I let out a huff when they came to a stop. They continue talking not caring if they were disrupting other students attention as they give them frowns but no one dares to put them in order. That means you want to see shen!

Now there goes my quiet night...

                        🍩🍫🍷

After a tedious night of reading and listening to Celine and her friends talking about their expensive vacation and how Zara got laid after three weeks of celibacy. Yes, they were very loud.

I decided to head back to my hostel, i had twenty more minutes before light out and i really don't want to spend my night in a dark classroom, on a hard chair in this cold weather.

Taking brisk steps, paying less attention to my surrounding cause everyone is heading back to the hostel, but stopped at the voice i dreaded of.

"Smalls!" I groan.

Not this evening! Please not this evening!

I gasped as he slings his arm over my shoulders, his cologne invading my sense of smell. I look up to his strange eyes which was filled with mischief.

I said nothing as his arm pushed me forward in a bid to move on in other not to attract attention.

As if anyone will help me....

"Where were you?" he asked causally but I can still feel the anger coming from him in waves.

I bit my lower lip, I took a quick glance behind me when I heard snickers.

His band of village idiots were with him.

Why am I not surprised?

"I was in the hall" I said looking straight up while he steered me further.

I hope we are going in the right direction, I tried walking out of his arm but the hard grip he had on my shoulder made me rethink, he simply whistled placing his hand deep in his pants pockets.

I shuddered, feeling slightly uncomfortable at our closeness. He has never done this before. I mean he has never held me this close, it was just insult and pranks but he never got into my personal space.

So you see why am wary?....

"Are you wearing padded bra?" I stopped walking freezing at his statement.

"Excuse me?!"

He stopped as well taking his arm off my shoulder, he stood right in front of me blocking any chance of escape.

"Shey u dey wear push up nii?" he asked in another crazy form, saying it casually like he was talking about the weather.

I stood there looking shocked and lost for words.

"That is personal" I defended.

"What is wrong with this one? It is just a simple question na. The last time i check, it was more or less like a seed. Now it has developed into ripe oranges over night"

I gasped taking a step back at his statement.

What the hell is wrong with this guy?!

"You have no right-"

"Sharap Jor! Who dey follow this one talk about right... Shey na push up or foam? Abi make i touch am to confirm?"

I stepped back again as he came forward with his hands raised. Was he going to harass me in public?

"Stop. I don't-"

"I just want to press nii se" I hear his friends laugh mockingly at my predicament "no be say i wan fuck you" his friends hooted, cheering him to go on.

My eyes watered.

He can't do this to me... This is so wrong. What as gotten into him? His sexual innuendos were making me uncomfortable or is that his new device to make my life miserable?

"What is going on here?" I burst into tears at the familiar voice.

I don't even know why I am crying, was it due to the fact that he could have harassed me right here if who had stepped in hadn't interfered? I really don't want to find out.

Sobs raked my body as i wrap my arms around me as a form of security.

"Nothing boss" I hear Akeju casual reply.

"Then why is she crying?" the strong voice asked as I fail to look up to see who it belonged to.

I just know I recognize it from somewhere.

"I don know o. N gbo, why are you crying?" I said nothing finding the ground more interesting, Akeju pulled my face up by the chin to look at him "are you deaf? Why you dey cry?"

He growled looking angry. His eyes oozing poison warning me not to say a word and the coward that i am, shamefully went along by shaking my head.

"Answer jor!" he screamed causing me to yelp.

"Hey hey... That's a enough. Leave" the voice commanded.

Who had the balls to command Akeju?

He stood looking reluctant, his friends who had been quiet ever since the voice interfered watch on.

"Shey u def nii? He said vamoose!" another voice said.

I hear Akeju hiss before beckoning to his friends, i almost fell when he deliberately bumped his strong shoulder into mine but got saved when my helper held me still.

I watch him saunter away with his minions before looking up at my saviours. I gasped at the two familiar faces.

Bankole Dacosta and Faramade Kuti.

They both watched my frozen form.

"Are you alright?" Faramade who was still holding my arm asked. I nodded rapidly. He unhanded me.

Bankole who was the first person who intervened watched me in curiosity.

"Are you sure?" I nodded again "were they making you feel uncomfortable?" I shook my head, lying my way out. "Babe... I need words"

"No they weren't" I sniffed, wiping the treacherous tears away.

They both watched me for a while.

"Run along then"  I nodded muttering a quick thank you before scampering away from their sights but I still felt their stares on my back the whole way.

This Akeju seems to be getting out of hand o..

Imagine asking that stupid question.

Funny enough, some stupid boys were bold enough to ask some girls that question back in secondary school.

Do you think Omotolani is weak?

Cheers to Faramade and Bankole who came to Omotolani's rescue.

Which scene was your favorite?

Translation :
Shey u dey wear push up nii?:  are you wearing a push up bra?

Sharap Jor! Who dey follow this one talk about right... Shey na push up or foam? Abi make i touch am to confirm:  Will you shut up! Who was asking you about me being right or not?... Is it push up or foam bra? Or you want me touching it to confirm?

no be say i wan fuck you: it is not like i want to fuck you.

I don know o. N gbo, why are you crying?: I don't know. Listen, why are you crying?

Why you dey cry?: why are you crying?

Shey u def nii? He said vamoose!: Are you deaf? He said get lost!