ONE WEEK LATER
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Ore stirred awake. Her mouth rounded in a loud yawn as she rubbed her sleepy eyes. Ore mostly felt fatigued for no good reason, she was sure it had something to do with the drug she had been constantly taking.

She eased herself from her blanket and patted the side of her pillow for the phone she had put to charge. Judging from the sunlight that was flittering through the ajar door and the noisy clatter of the hostellers, it was mid morning.

That meant Ore had slept through the later part of last night and aroused from her slumber subsequently skipping out on her early morning lectures. Ore groaned aloud, her bed hair shooting in all directions. She unplugged her phone and unlocked it, inwardly grateful that her battery was full.

She guessed that it was either the hostel management turned on the generator after she had retreated to bed or nepa brought their light in the wee hours of the morning. She laid back on her soft pillow and scrolled through her message notifications.

Her eyes landed on a message from Elohor and she felt her breath catch in her throat. She was thinking she had missed out on a practical or worse off one of her continuous assessment tests. Her calloused palm grew sweaty as she clicked on the message.

Elohor stated that the lecturers had a board meeting with some sport officials and thereby all school activities were inadvertently suspended for the day. Ore let out a sigh and a rueful smile graced her lips. She was free to do whatever she wanted for the rest of the day.

Ore mentally thought about making a list on the foodstuffs she would have to buy because the one she had was already exhausted. Only a can of milk and milo with two rubbers of garri was remaining and she couldn't survive solely on that till a month's time. Ore's phone began to vibrate pulling her back to the present. One look at the caller made her brows shoot up.

"Hey, what's up?" She managed.

"Hey." Tami's overly excited voice boomed through the speaker causing Ore to smirk. She wondered what was giving Tami so much joy, something that was visibly lacking in her dry life.

"So, no classes for today huhnn?
Got any thing doing?" Tami queried after a slight pause. She had obviously gotten the brief information as well.

"No, nothing in particular sha. But is there flexing?" Ore's ears perked up as Tami cleared her throat.

"Yeah, I was thinking of heading out to Uniport swimming pool with my girls and since you are one of them, care to join?"

Ore thought about it for a fraction of a second before shaking her head.

"No, I have to go to the market today and cook stew at least, I have been eating a lot since I started taking that medicine." Ore stressed on the word 'medicine' and Tami sighed understandingly.

"It's okay, but it's gonna be fun you know, lots of people will be there celebrating the short holiday and . . . Dami also."

At the mention of his name, Ore found herself retracting her previous statement and agreeing to Tami's plan that they spend the lovely afternoon at the pool.

But she had a few complaints to make.

"Ermm, I don't have a nice swimsuit and I don't really know the place." Tami laughed at Ore's whining and informed her that she was going to bring something sexy as she was coming to pick her up from the hostel.

Tami seemed to be in a happy mood.

"OMG, really?! I would appreciate that deeply. Thank you baby girl, I love you so much."

Ore terminated the call and sighed blissfully. She had to do a proper clean up before getting ready and she just couldn't wait to see Dami after so long.

All through the apparently long drive, Ore couldn't sit still. She kept on kneading her fingers on her lap and shaking her leg because of her nerves. She bit on the inside of her cheek as her eyes absentmindedly scanned the few buildings they passed on the way.

Tami who was focusing on the road with a strong grip on the steering wheel couldn't help but notice the way Ore was antsy.

"Hey relax, I got you the swimsuit and you are looking all doled up. Your shape is even showing now self."

Ore rolled her shoulders and gave Tami a fake smile. It was true. The after effects of the drug was visible in the red bodicon dress that she was wearing. Her once small breast had grown to an appreciable size and her hip was a bit wider with her butt jutting out.

At first Ore didn't want to admit that the medicine was working wonders. But then a few of her course mates who acted snobbish to her at first were now trying to start up light hearted conversations.

On one occasion when she was heading home from school, a milky skinned beauty with fiery red wig that cascaded down her shoulders and a finely chiseled face commented on her shape and the way she was mildly glowing.

The girl whose name Ore hadn't bothered to ask began probing for the kind of products that she was using to enhance her shape. Ore bit hard on her bottom lip, mentally berating herself before blowing white lies that a good cream and a health relationship with God was the answer.

Of course, the babe knew she was lying but she didn't want to appear bother-ish, she merely nodded her head and backed off from the sensitive topic. Ore didn't want anyone to know apart from Tami who had apparently told her crew of friends. But it was no big deal to her since they were a tight circle and very secretive.

They also made use of the drug at some point according to Tami so there was absolutely nothing to worry about. That was as long as the secret stayed a secret.

Tami rolled up the windows and turned up the air condition to cool the car temperature and make Ore more comfortable. But Ore couldn't contain the queasiness in her stomach and the mild nausea she was feeling. Her head was whirling and she took a deep breath to calm herself.

The vanilla scent of the fresher on the dashboard seemed to soothe Ore and she slouched deeper into the leather seat. Tami spared her a glance and cleared her throat.

"So . . . have you been having any side effects from the drug so far?" Tami blared her horn at a mini bus in front of her that was stalling for some reason and she made a slight turn, cutting past it.

"No," Ore gritted through clenched teeth adjusting the length of her short gown. She couldn't bring herself to tell Tami of the nauseating feeling that she had every morning and the way she became mildly irritated whenever she hadn't stuffed her stomach with food. Just the like the way she was at the moment.

That too would pass or so Ore thought.

"See, there's no need to worry okay. The girls would be there, other random guys and girls also, Dami is pretty chill about it too." Tami reassured.

Ore's head whipped in Tami's direction.

"What? Does he already know that I am coming?" She quirked.

Tami gave a smug smile, nodded her head in reply and flexed her stiff fingers on the steering wheel.

"What the fuck! Why did you tell him?" Ore was alarmed.

Tami shrugged non-committaly and Ore grew oddly quiet. She was praying silently that everything didn't turn out a disaster like it always did when she encountered Dami.

The rest of the drive was quiet, neither of them uttering a word to each other. Both seemed deep in their thoughts until Tami announced that they had reached the said location.

Ore stared at the black gate encircling the blue and white coloured wall of the school. Her stomach churned and she inhaled sharply.

Here we go.