Jamal's POV

Flashback.

"I think...I think Mateo likes her." I opened up and Faizal sighed, settling down to listen to me.

"What makes you think that?" He asked me and I sighed.

"I'm not blind, Faizal. I've seen the way he looks at her, seen the way he is around her. He is smitten by her, just like I am. Only that he is going about it the wrong way and it's getting me pissed off." I replied and Faizal hummed, dropping his glasses.

"Going about the wrong way how?" He asked again and I sighed then started to relay everything that happened at the party to him, every bit of it. How Mateo made a move on Elyon. How he touched her. How he wanted to kiss her.

"If Elyon didn't had the urge to throw up, something would have happened and God knows I'd have beaten up Mateo to a pulp. Hell, I still want to." I growled out, feeling fresh anger course through my veins as the image of that night flashed through my mind.

"What are you going to do if he wants to date her?" Faizal asked and I looked at him like he had gone banners.

"What kind of question is that? What do you expect me to do?" I snapped at him and he chuckled.

"Jamal, that question is too deep to be simple so I want you to think about it very well." He stated and I calmed down. He exhaled and continued. "Now, your reaction to whatever happens is totally your choice but you have to act with wisdom so that whatever the case may be, you won't loose at both ends." He paused for effect, looking at me as my expression softened.

"What do you mean?" I asked him.

"Mateo was your friend way before Elyon came into the picture. Do you really want to fight over her with your closest and longest friend?" That question hit deep and the intensity and knowledge behind it was too scary for me to handle.

"She's worth fighting over..." I started but Faizal cut me.

"I know she is. Trust me, I've seen the way your face lit up at the mention of her name. She means a lot to you and I know that but are you ready to throw your friendship away for something you are not too sure of?" He asked again and again that question hit deep, I was rendered speechless. Faizal continued.

"You like her. Heck, you are gradually falling for her but you are not sure if she feels the same way. So why gamble on it?" He asked rhetorically and I heaved, coming to the realization that he was right.

"If Mateo wants to go for her and he perhaps tells you about it, give him the go ahead..." I shot my head up at that.

"What?! No..."

"Let me finish. You don't know what will come out of it. If she will say no or yes. But instead of fighting your friend, support him. Be happy for him, give nothing away." He said. I exhaled, the weight of what he said hitting me hard.

"That would be so hard." I whispered.

"I know, trust me I do but I know you cherish your friendship with Mateo. Heck, you help him even when it's not convenient for your health. This is one of those times. Be the bigger person. Who knows, it might work in your favour." Faizal smiled and I sighed again.

"If he is going about it the wrong way, it is bound to blow up in his face." He added.

"What if it doesn't?" I asked him.

"Never say never." He simply replied.

End of Flashback

"What did you say?" I asked Mateo again. I saw the mischievous glint in his eyes. He was getting the reaction he expected. He knew what he was doing.

Be cool.

"I said I need advice. I like Elyon and I want to ask her out." He said matter of factly and I nodded, trying my best to keep my expression bland and blank.

"Okay, but don't you think it's too early. I mean, she just resumed and you are not even sure she feels the same way." I replied, trying to busy myself and started to paint the back ground of my canvas.

"Ohhh, I'm quite certain she likes me, her body language and all. Also, I don't want anyone making a move before me." I sensed the threat in his tone when he said that last part. I exhaled, trying to remain calm. One more bad word or I'll bash his face with my fist.

"What makes you think someone else will want to make a move on her?" I looked at him briefly before going back to painting.

"I don't know, you tell me." His tone was very threatening this time. I dropped my palette and looked at him. He had his stance. He didn't come here to actually apologize, he came to threaten me.

"What do you mean?" I asked him, feigning ignorance. He chuckled humorlessly and I corked my head side ways.

"Don't play dumb with me Jamal. I've seen the way you look at her, the way you act around her, the way you defended her at the party. You like her." He said and I remained silent.

"But you know what, I'm going to ask her out and I'm going to date her and you will seat back and watch me." He said gruffly, jabbing his index to my chest. It took all my will power not to punch him. I exhaled again and my lips spread in a smile.

"Okay." I replied and picked up my palette. I saw the look of disbelief in his eyes. He was expecting more than that.

"Okay?" He repeated and I shrugged.

"Yes, okay." I chuckled. "Mateo, you are my friend and no matter what, I'd always be happy for you. You want to ask Elyon out, go right ahead. I dey behind you. This isn't the first time I'd be having your back right?" I patted his shoulder, flashing him a wide grin and went back to painting but God knows, I was burning on the inside.

He didn't say anything and I didn't engage him either. I heard the door open and close, signaling that he was gone. I dropped the palette and leaned my hand of the table, head down and seething.

I was pissed.

"Calm down, Jamal. Cool down." I said to myself, breathing heavily. I quickly took my medicine from my back, threw two tablets in my mouth and washed it down with a bottle of water. I began to catch my breath.

"I'm fine. I'm okay. Breath..." I took few calming breaths. Soon my breathing was stable and I threw head.

What have I done?

*****

Elyon's POV

Mateo and I were in the music studio. I told my parents about the music proposal and we decided that I shouldn't take it. My studies was more than any other thing for now. I could do mini music competitions like project fame and all but The Voice was too huge and time consuming.

"We used to have this talent show stuff at the end of the term, you should sing then. People need to hear that beautiful voice of yours." Mateo said, holding my hands and I giggled, though I felt a bit uncomfortable.

Mateo has been hella touchy these days and though it started off as cute, now it was just plain uncomfortable. Right now we were the only ones in the music studio and I was a bit uncomfortable.

Never be in an enclosed place with a guy you are not in a relationship with. In fact, never be in an enclosed place with any guy!

"I'm still very shy about facing a crowd but I think I can get through it." I chuckled.

"I'm very sure you'll do great." He brought his hands to my face and traced it against my skin. I felt my skin crawl a bit. I cleared my throat and stood up from the stool.

"I should get going, I'm supposed to meet Jamal up for our visual art practical." I said and he frowned.

"Jamal?" He repeated, the frown deeply creased his forehead.

"Yes. We have this art work to do. It's for the inter school art competition so we are working on it together." I told him as I packed my bag.

"Ohhh." Was all he said. His change in countenance surprised me and I wasn't sure if it was because of me or it was because of something else. I slung my bag over my shoulder and faced him.

"I should get going." I told him and he nodded, his lips spreading in a smile. Well he is back. I smiled back and made to go.

"Elyon, wait..." He held my hand and I turned to look at him. He had a look on his face, an expression I couldn't decode at all. He didn't let go off my hand but I didn't tug it either.

"I need to talk to you about something." He added, pulling me to sit again. I chuckled and shot him a teasing look.

"We've been here for almost an hour and you didn't bring it up." I smirked. He chuckled and then licked his bottom lip. A gesture I've grown accustomed to him doing almost every time.

"I know and I'm sorry." His voice was calmer and had a slight bit of intonation to it. "I didn't want to scare you away and I thought we probably had all day so there would be more time but since you are leaving now, I had better just try my luck." He explained and I nodded.

This sounds pretty serious.

"Okay then, shoot. What do you want to talk to me about?" I asked. He sighed and looked away nervously, licking his lips again. He looked conflicted. "Hey... You can talk to me." I cooed softly. He looked back at me, at out intertwined hands and back at me again.

"I like you Elyon." He deadpanned and my eyes widened.

Fuck me!

*****

I haven't been the same since Mateo dropped that dim on me. I'd be lie if I said I saw it coming because I didn't. Now it all made sense. The gestures, the hand holding, the unusually long hugs and the overall clinginess. I just excused it as Mateo being his usual flirty self but stupid me didn't read the signs. Instead, I was leading him on.

"Fuck me!" I groaned again.

"What's making you so grouchy all of a sudden." Skye asked me as she sat down beside me on my bed. Vanessa was also around but Chidinma wasn't. She and her parents went to the embassy. As an international model, basing in Nigeria wouldn't be good for her so She was moving. In fact her entire family was moving.

I'll serious miss that weirdo.

"I agree. Your mood has just being one kind since we got back from school. What's up?" Vanessa plopped down on the bed beside me.

"Guys, I'm just about to drop the biggest bombshell of the century." I told them and immediately, they were alert. Trust girls and their natural amebo gene.

"Oya, gist us." Skye said eagerly.

"Mateo asked me out." I told them, expecting a big shout of shock, surprise or excitement but my supposed bombshell of the century was followed by a long string of hisses.

"So that was your 'bombshell of the century'? Abeg, stale gist. Next!" Vanessa hollered and Skye laughed. My mouth hung open.

"So you guys knew he was going to ask me out?" I asked them.

"El, it's not about the asking out part. That one is actually news. But him liking you was so obvious to every eyes. I wonder how you didn't pick it up before now." Skye replied and I sighed.

"Exactly. Honestly, it was just a matter of time before he asked you out." Vanessa chipped in. I growled and fell on the bed.

"I'm so confused on what to do. I had to tell him that I'd think about it and get back to him." I told them and soon their serious face was up.

"Are you really going to think about it? Or you already have an answer in your mind?" Skye asked quietly.

"Mateo is my friend. I haven't seen him as someone more than a friend to me and I honestly don't want to jeopardize that." I replied.

"So what I'm hearing is that you don't like him the way he likes you. Your feelings for him are just plain platonic." Vanessa inquired and I nodded.

"Then you have your answer." Skye shrugged.

"But I don't want to break his heart." I whined.

"Look, baby girl. You can't say yes to him either because you'd be going the two of you a lot more harm than good. It's better to let it die here and now than for you to string him along then break his heart later. That would just be plain cruel." Skye explained and I exhaled.

She was totally right.

"You are right." I admitted.

"I know I am. That's why I'm your best friend. I'd never lie to you." Skye grinned. Vanessa's phone chimed and she quickly rushed to it. Skye and I exchanged a knowing smile. She was grinning as she kept typing away on her phone.

"Vanessa, who is that?" I asked and she looked back sharply, hiding her phone in her hands.

"Just Somadina. We are talking about an assignment." She stuttered. Skye laughed, clapping her hands.

"You are talking about an assignment and you are blushing like that. Come to think of it. We don't have any assignment today." Skye said, her hands akimbo. Vanessa bit her lips with a nervous smile playing on it.

"And Somadina is too much of bookworm to actually forget his assignment." I smirked and she cracked, giggling like a love crazed patient.

"Spill!" Skye ordered.

"Okay! We have been spending so much time together lately and I think I like him." She was blushing mad and I couldn't help but laugh.

Somadina and Vanessa had always been the cutest to me from day one. I could feel the chemistry between them even though they made to hide it through constant bickering and banters which everyone found cute by the way. Now, it was getting pretty official.

"Well it's about damn time. I was wondering when you guys will finally stop covering up your chemistry with so much bickering." Skye said.

"Nigerian boys ehn. They say it's the guy that disturbs you a lot that likes you the most." I chipped in and we all laughed.

"I'm not too sure he likes me back though." Vanessa frowned.

"Don't even say that one. I'm dead sure Somadina is crazy about you. Trust me." Skye assured her and Vanessa smiled again.

"OMG, I'm blushing." She squealed and we fell back to the bed laughing.

"Skye, Shey you don't have any guy you like ni?" I asked and she gave me a wide grin.

"It's a secret." She shushed me with her index finger on her lips and I giggled.

I can't trade my friendship with these girls for anything else.

****

Jamal's POV

Mum had sent me with her car to get her some groceries from the market and some provisions from the supermarket because Skye is apparent studying at Elyon's. Scammer. I had to take her car so that it would be faster and more convenient.

I was just driving back into the estate and towards my house when I saw a figure leaning on the fence of the house. Looking closely, I groaned when I realized who it was.

What the f is she doing here?

She saw the car coming and pushed herself off the wall. I got down from the car and walked towards her.

"What are you doing here, Tolani?" I asked her and she shrugged.

"I came to see you. Isn't that obvious?" She replied with a sneer.

"I can see that but you barely come over to my house. Especially when my parents are around." I almost snapped.

"That's why I waited outside for you." She shrugged and it was getting pretty annoying. I sighed, massaging my temple as I felt a wave of headache.

"So what do you want?" I asked she and she gave me a cold glare.

"Is this how it's going to be? Ehn, Jamal? You break up with me then you totally ignore my calls and text messages." She snapped at me and I was forced to roll my eyes.

"Is this what you came all the way from your house for? To come and raise your voice in front of my house? Because if this is what it is then you had better leave." I simply replied and she looked at me, bewildered.

"Is that really what you are going to say to me?!" She snapped again.

"Tolani, people need to be in a relationship before you can say they broke up. We were never in a relationship. You said it yourself and this is me accepting it." I shrugged and she sighed. Immediately, her countenance changed from angry and frustrated to seductive and scheming. She closed in on me and traced her finger on my chest. I rolled my eyes at her antics.

This is getting old. Doesn't this girl have a pause button or something.

"J. J baby." She cooed softly. "I'm so sorry, you know I didn't mean that..." She trailed off and I scoffed.

"Of course you didn't." I muttered in sarcasm.

"But I promise to be a good girl from now on." She stressed the 'good girl' part, a suggestive glint in her eyes. I shook my head and took her hand, pulling it off me and stepping away from her. She looked surprised. I've never refused her before, not without a fight at least.

"Go home Tolani. I'm pretty sure you have assignments." I simply said, walked away from her and went back into the car. I saw her stand there, shocked. I paid her no heed, honking for the gate man to open the gate which he did and I drove in without a ounce of remorse.

Not today, Satan.

Not today.

A/N

Hello Hello Hello!!

I know what I said about going off till next month but I felt it was cruel to leave you guys on a cliff hanger that long. So I decided to update a chapter with no form of cliff hanger or anything that can give my sweet readers an heart attack.

Jamal handled the whole issue very maturely, for both Mateo and Tolani. Who agrees?

Elyon knows her answer for Mateo. It's obvious what it would be.

Mateo is becoming the King antagonist of this story.

Our ship is finally sailing for Somadina and Vanessa!!!

Who do you think Skye likes?

Comment your conspiracy theories and don't forget to also vote and share with your friends.

I love you and I'd see you next month!