HAPPY NEW YEAR!! WELCOME TO 2022.
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☆Chioma

"I don't like this skirt. See how many heads turned."

"My own is even long enough. Aren't you seeing other girls? Biko enyela m nsogbu." I hissed and he grabbed my arm. We locked eyes and he searched mine for what? "Buchi."

"I'm sorry." He let go. "You said you were going somewhere." We were in my room. He had snuck in with my help. If any supervisor caught us, we'd be punished.

"Yes. Alec invited me to hang out."

"Where?"

"The recreation ground."

"You're going alone?" I nodded as I removed my shirt then skirt. He turned his face away. Such a gentleman. "I'm coming along."

"You weren't invited," I told him. "Please get that gown on my bed." He passed it to me and I thanked him.

"I want to know the kind of people you're friends with. I still don't approve of Felix."

"I don't need your approval for anything. You aren't even my dad." He sighed.

"Felix will hurt you."

"He won't. He can't. "

"He lusts after you. He doesn't need your friendship. What he wants is you on his bed." I scoffed.

"How do you know?"

"I'm a guy. I know what each of his stares means. And Felix is crazy. Isi na-eme ya somehow." I wore flat sandals and put my phone in the pocket of the gown.

"Are you still coming? Let's go." I said after grabbing my favourite white top which I had already gotten ready. Ka- I mean Alec would sign it.

---
"Order whatever you like. I'll be back soon." Alec ran off leaving me with his friend. The emperor was dark-skinned but looked Indian. I did not know his name. I only knew he was an Imperial, an emperor like Alec and Kenneth. The other person was a girl who kept staring at me. I felt somehow.

She smiled. "I'm JL."

"JL?" Maybe I did not hear clearly.

"No. Jeiel. J-E-I-E-L. Jeiel. It's of Hebrew origin."

"Jeiel. I'm Chioma. But also called Vivian." The Indian guy looked up at me then back at his book. I saw him mouth something.

"Vivian. Nice to meet you." Her smile. Pretty. "Is he your boyfriend?" Buchi was finally noticed.

"My twin brother." She covered her mouth in surprise.

"My bad. I'm sorry." She smiled again. Pretty pretty. "What's your name?"

"Jordan." He was scanning her. Trying to read her. He shrugged. "Chioma I'll be back." He turned around.

"Hey, Starry Eyes!" Alec came running towards us, someone following behind him. Kenneth. Adonis. "Snap out of it girl. I know he's handsome." Alec whom I don't know how he appeared beside me whispered. I blushed furiously. Even more, as he sat beside me. It was the last space. I felt his eyes on me before he looked away. Nice. He had spared me a glance at least. "Have you introduced yourselves?" I nodded. "Let's start again. Name. Then age. Then birthday. Where you're from. Not hard is it? Should I add more details? Oh. And who you are taking to the ball."

Alec was the lively one, I quickly noted. Buchi arrived with two sundaes. Sweet. That's why I loved him so much. I put a scoop in my mouth. This was heaven! I sighed. It made me miss Cold Stone. It had been long.

"Vivian take it easy," Alec said, laughing. "You eat funny. Not like any lady I've seen." That was the second person who said that. The first...He was tapping the table rhythmically. He suddenly turned to me with a mocking smile. I told you so. I got the message. I slowed down in my eating. "So I'll start. I'm Alexander Kendall." Alec Kendall. K. Alec. So Kalec? Woah!

"I'm seventeen. November baby." Yeah. November 12. "November 12th. I'm American. North American. The United States. Grew up in California but from New York. And I'm going to the ball with Jeiel here." He winked at her. Okay, I'm curious. Which ball?

"Okay. Hello. I'm Jeiel Essien." Essien? She's..."I'm seventeen. February the 29th." Buchi laughed.

"How do you celebrate your birthday? Every four years?" Okay, something was up. He did not like her. He avoided my stares.

"I moved it to the first of March. My parents are Nigerians but I was born and raised in the UK. I'm going with Alec as earlier stated."

"Kenneth you're next." Okay, this was going to be...ah.

"Kenneth Chukwurah. Eighteen. January 15th. Nigerian parents. British citizenship. I'm going to the ball with Vivian."

"Huh?" I looked at him in confusion. "Me?" He nodded.

"No. I'm going with my sister." Buchi said.

"I asked her first," Kenneth said. "And she accepted. Didn't you Vivian?" I was stunned. What in the world was this ball? "Vivian." Kenneth's voice was low and laced with danger. It sounded threatening.

"Yes. Yes. Buchi I'm sorry." He frowned. "Sorry." He looked away. "I'll make it up. "

"How?"

"Umm..."

"Forget it. It's okay. It's your turn." He stood.

"Where are you going?"

"I have no idea. But I'll be close. If something happens just scream my name." I heard someone make a sound. How can someone think dirty at this point?

"Okay. Bye." He patted my cheek and left. Suddenly, I wss aware I was among strangers.

"So Vivian..."

***

"No Kenneth. Just stay away. Please."

"Jeiel. " I heard him whisper.

"He called yesterday. He called me. I can't do this anymore. Not with you. Go find someone else." What was going on between them?

"Stop eavesdropping." I turned around.

"Oh, Dev. Hi." He had introduced himself earlier.

"Leave here."

"Umm, I wanted to ask Kenneth a few questions. "

"So you followed them secretly?"

"I...erm...okay I'll be-" I heard a gasp then that weird sound.

"Kenneth...let go."

"No." Dev stared very hard at me expecting me to leave. The sounds became even more erotic. What were they doing? "I want you."

"If we are caught..."

"We won't be Jeiel." His voice was so...husky. So those two had that kind of relationship? Well, how do you feel about this discovery, Chioma?

Me? Thanks for asking. I feel terrible. Absolutely terrible. My chest hurts. "Vivian," Dev called again. I nodded and turned to leave. I covered my ears so they won't be dirtied.

"Goodbye."

***

"A new girl? With the emperors?"

"What is she? An attention seeker?"

"Why was she allowed? What is she?"

"She has no rank. None. Is she trying to gain favour with them?"

"Doesn't she know that all except Alec are cold hearted devils?"

"She's new. How would she know?"

I quietly shut my locker and walked to my next class. Mathematics. I saw some students staring at me but none of them said a thing. I was glad they didn't. I walked quickly. Too many eyes. I stumbled and fell. I wasn't watching where I was going. I turned back to see some girls looking at me with anger. I stood and dusted my skirt first.

"I'm sorry. We're you hurt." I smiled. She was the one who tripped me.

"No. Thank God I wasn't." I realized not many people followed rules. Her hair was dyed white with blue highlights. And she wore a nose ring. Those were unacceptable. "I can't stay to chat. I have class now so..."

"Don't you know who you're talking to?"

"No. I've never seen you before."

"I'm a Royal."

"Okay? What does that have to do with me?" I looked at my wristwatch. I was going to be late.

"You have to give me respect since you're nothing." This is a first. I've never been called such before. I stared at my nails. Well-manicured, white nail polish. Simply beautiful. Pity I'd use them to scratch her face. If she didn't stop. But Chukwuoma is always a good girl...

"Goodbye." I turned around to leave. Better run away from trouble.



Happy New Year my babies. Wishing you a better year. 2022 will not be a disappointment.  Amen.

So how was this chapter?  Enjoy it?

What do you think about:

Dev

Alec and

Jeiel with Kenneth? Those two...hmm

I want you response.

I'm dedicating this again to Nightbird_writx. Her votes amazed me. And val_entino. His votes too. And everyone one else who has supported me in one way or another, thank you. 😊

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