I vividly recall the moment I went back to school, my head held high, feeling a mix of defiance and determination in the air. The chilly morning breeze gently brushed against my skin as I strolled through the school gates. The principal and other school authorities approached me, expressing their gratitude for my efforts to resolve the conflict I had ignited. I couldn't help but smirk at their naivety. "What on Earth were they thinking? Do I look like a peacemaker to them? Never! I will ensure that both of them pay dearly for making a mockery out of me. I'll start with that boy and deal with that girl later," I silently vowed, feeling a surge of anger and determination.

Later that evening, as I called for a meeting with the Mafians, the dimly lit room filled with the sound of hushed whispers and chairs scraping against the floor as my comrades gathered. I gazed at the numerous shadows lining the walls, feeling a strange sense of power and control. Taking a deep breath, I cleared my throat to address them. "I know you've all been eagerly awaiting my plan of action regarding this insult," I began the words resonating with a sense of authority. "Relax your nerves, for I bring you good tidings. Stage 1 of my plan has been successfully carried out. Now, we move on to stage 2..." However, my speech was abruptly interrupted by Kane, whose voice pierced the silence. "Tiger, I don't understand what you mean by stage 1 and stage 2. This isn't some game we're playing. We need to act decisively," he suggested, his words breaking through the tense atmosphere.

Amid the mutterings of support from the other members of the Mafians, I felt my patience wearing thin. "Hush! Keep quiet. How dare you interrupt me while I'm speaking?" I retorted, fixing him with a withering glare. The room fell silent as Kane quickly apologized, "Sorry, Boss," his voice reflected a mix of respect and fear.

"We should all relax. I have everything under control. They've been asked to join us for a game. So, while they're here, our task will be simple – we'll capture Sam. Their school is quite large, so I'm confident that they won't notice if a sheep is missing," I declared confidently. "We've heard you, Tiger. I hope your plan succeeds," Kane responded respectfully. With that, the meeting concluded, and I went to enjoy a peaceful night's sleep. "Three days from now will be a blast," I thought happily.

***********************************
~Sam~
I couldn't fall asleep that night. My roommates reassured me that everything would be fine, but that didn't ease my mind. I turned to face the wall – my usual thinking position. The memories of that sports event replayed in my mind, the sound of the crowd cheering, the feeling of the grass beneath my feet, and the scent of the freshly cut grass filling my nostrils. "Why did I react like that? I could have waited for the referee's whistle," I regretted. There was no point in blaming myself; the action was already done. I despised seeing someone overly arrogant, and I couldn't contain that feeling whenever they irritated me. The match was in three days. I didn't feel like participating. Why should I? I'm the main target. I eventually decided to be a spectator. "That will keep me out of harm's way during the match," I cleverly concluded.
After setting my heart at rest, I felt sleep gently knock at my door. "Come in," I whispered as I slowly allowed the darkness to overwhelm me. The room was dimly lit, and the soft fabric of the curtains swayed gently in the cool night breeze, casting eerie shadows across the walls.

It was dark, really dark. I found myself drowning in the middle of an ocean. The water was icy cold, and the taste of salt filled my mouth as I struggled to stay afloat. I tried to swim upward, but something unseen kept pushing me backward, deeper into the murky depths. Suddenly, I broke the surface, gasping for air as if nothing had happened. "Slowly and steady, the lamb moves to the slaughterhouse," Janet's haunting words echoed in my ears.

I woke up panting, my heart racing as if I had just been jolted out of a nightmare. Everything seemed so vivid and real, the sensation of being submerged in water still clinging to me. "Weird dreams again," I murmured, relieved it was just a dream. I didn't want to dwell on the unsettling images that had filled my slumber. "It must be that my brain is stressed out," I concluded, trying to shake off the lingering unease that lingered.

I was about to go back to sleep when the "wake up" bell was immediately rung. I clutched my fists and punched the pillow in frustration. It felt as if I had only slept for two minutes. "Not fair," I muttered to myself, feeling the rough fabric of the pillow under my knuckles.

However, the school environment was calmer and more serene than usual. The sounds of birds chirping and the gentle rustling of leaves filled the whole atmosphere, creating a peaceful ambiance. I was more than determined to be useful to myself today, regardless of my surroundings. Whether in Nigeria or the United States, the impending end-of-term examinations were nothing to joke about. I opened my Mathematics textbook, feeling the crisp pages beneath my fingertips. It was fascinating how much I had improved, and I savored the sense of accomplishment. Bliss had helped me a lot in my studies. My mind flashed back to when I had spent time at her house - the comforting scent of freshly baked cookies and her caring attitude when I had fallen asleep in the study instead of on the bed. I couldn't help but chuckle at those heartwarming memories, the warmth of her home still lingering in my mind.

Linda approached me disturbing my peaceful memories. "Hey, Sam. Is it okay if I'm with you?" she asked shyly. "Of course. It's not a problem", I replied, elated. She smiled at me and sat beside me. "I don't like studying with people but for you, I will break protocols", she said.
I subconsciously found myself comparing her to Bliss. Bliss did the same for me; she broke protocols just for me, and right now, Linda is doing the same. "Will she ever be able to fill in that gap in my heart?", I asked myself. As we were studying, Bliss asked me a question. "You haven't told me much about that your girlfriend. The memories you guys shared.
Everything about your life there. Can you please tell me?" she asked anxiously.

I smiled at her. "Are you sure you want to hear this? It will take years before I'll be done", I joked. "It doesn't matter, silly boy. I can wait that long", she laughed.
I told her everything, starting from my love for Julie, then Janet, and finally Bliss. "Not every story has a good ending", I concluded, tears clouding my eyes. "I'm sorry I brought up your painful past", she apologized. "I'm so surprised you managed to maintain that smile on your face despite your inner emotional turmoil", she continued. I looked at her and smiled. "It doesn't cost one to be happy", I told her. She just nodded, something else was on her mind. "Sam, can I tell you something?", she asked, breathing heavily. "Sure you can", I answered, anxious to know what she had in mind.

"It's just that I feel somehow when you mention your girlfriend's name. I feel this connection as if we have met somehow", she said, her face looking serious. I looked at her and laughed heartily. "Don't be crazy, You are just making things up. You haven't seen her", I said. "But wait".
I looked closely at her neck. "What's that on your neck?", I asked, trying to get a better view. "It's nothing, just a birthmark", she quickly replied, using her hair to cover it. "Hope you don't have a problem with it?" she asked fearfully. "No, no, it's just that Bliss had a mark on her neck too. But she didn't let me see it. Maybe people with birthmarks are ashamed to reveal it", I answered mildly.

The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on our surroundings as we recounted memories and shared moments of vulnerability. The scent of paper and ink filled the air, mixed with a faint fragrance of roses from the vase on the desk. Linda's voice, soft and hesitant, contrasted with the sound of pages turning and the occasional distant murmur from our room. Tension and curiosity hung palpably in the air, adding a layer of complexity to our conversation.

"Does in any way resemble your girlfriend?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity. The question hit me like a ton of bricks. I had never really compared them before. As I studied her closely, I noticed some similarities in their facial structure and jawline, but their body shapes were different—Linda had more curves. "But why is she asking this?" I wondered to myself.

I watched her as she was deep in thought. It dawned on me that she was an orphan, with no siblings or family of her own. Perhaps that's why she asked. She wanted to understand what having a sister felt like. "Don't worry, Linda. One day, you will meet Bliss," I reassured her silently.