Jamal's POV

I was seated in my therapist's office, clad in my school uniform, waiting for him to come in as soon as he was done attending to other patients. I looked around the white room, the walls pasted with posters on things that had to do with mental health stability and I rolled my eyes.

I'm not mad. I told myself, tried to assure myself.

But the self-doubt was still there. I have had several incessant episodes and I wouldn't blame my parents if they give up on me soon and place me in a psychiatric home. They have tried their best and I really wouldn't hold it against them.

They were better off without me.

The sound of the door opening jerked me out of my self-pity and I looked to see my therapist, Dr. Ahmad Faizal making his way to his seat, giving me his usual friendly smile which I returned with a blank expression.

"Good to see you again, Jamal." He said and I rolled my eyes.

"You saw me two Fridays ago, Faizal," I stated and he chuckled.

"Two weeks is enough to miss my favorite patient." He smirked and my lips quirked in a smile.

Since he became my therapist, Faizal had been like a big brother figure to me and has asked me to refer to him by his name. Being a very young doctor, we were able to relate on a personal level. Though sometimes he got on my nerves, I appreciated the fact that he was making so much effort to see me get better.

He opened my file and looked at me through his dark-rimmed glasses. "You had an attack last Thursday, early in the morning." He stated matter-of-factly and I shrugged, trying to act as nonchalant as possible.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't have an attack," I said. He removed his glasses and peered at me intently.

"Jamal, you come here every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning before going to school. Even if you didn't have an attack, you'd be here." He said and I sighed, looking down. He was right. That was the story of my life. He sighed and leaned forward. "How bad was it this time?" He asked.

"Just as worst as the previous ones. It happened from the nightmare again and this time it felt like I was being choked. I couldn't breathe. My mum cried again. Skye did too." I muttered, pain laced in my voice. I heard Faizal hume in response. I looked at him. "I'm causing them pain." But Faizal shook his head.

"No, Jamal..." He started but I interrupted him, looking at my shaking hands.

"They have dedicated their entire life to taking care of me and it's just a matter of time before they give up. I'm not the normal child that my parents wanted." I speedily wiped off the stray tears that had fallen from my eyes.

"You know, it's okay to cry right?" Faizal said but I shook my head.

"I wasn't crying." I denied and Faizal chuckled.

"Your parents are not complaining and I want you to know that. You are their son, it's their responsibility to take care of you no matter the ailment or sickness or disorder. They love you too much to just give up on you. That's why they are making this much effort" He explained.

"You are talking like it's normal. I have these attacks at least three times a week. It's embarrassing." I snapped.

"You have drugs to help calm your nerves. Also, you are very lucky to have the kind of sister and friends that you do. They are not ashamed of you." He admonished and I nodded in understanding, wiping the extra tears from my face.

"Continue living your life like a normal teenager, because you are normal. Keep doing your art and playing your music, play sports and involve yourself in athletics, flirt with girls even." I chuckled at that statement and he joined me.

"Don't allow setbacks like this to hinder you from enjoying your youth, Jamal. I need you to remember that and I don't mind reminding you every second." Faizal told me as he has always done in the past and I nodded.

"Thank you." I smiled at him and he smiled back. He leaned on the table and looked at me.

"So, tell me something, anything. What happened throughout last week? Anything new?" He asked me. Instinctively, my lips spread in a lopsided grin as the image of a certain girl flashed through my mind. Faizal noticed this.

"Oh, you are smiling. That's rare." His interest has been peaked and I laughed at how therapist Faizal switched so quickly to amebo Faizal.

"I met someone," I revealed in a low voice.

"Hmmm, this is interesting. So, who is she?" He asked and I raise my eyebrow at him.

"I didn't say the person was a female, Faizal," I said.

"Well, you wouldn't be smiling like a lunatic if the person was a male." He stated matter-of-factly and I snickered.

"Fair point," I replied.

"So tell me about her, Jamal. What is she like?" Faizal asked and my lower lips went in between my teeth, thinking about her again.

"I haven't gotten to talk to her yet. She's a family friend that just moved from Abuja and my parents had her family over for dinner..." I trailed off and Faizal looked at me with a corked eyebrow.

"But..." He urged me to continue and I laughed.

"...but she has this calming and soothing aura around her. It's so serene..." I trailed off again, a calm feeling washing over me. I looked at Faizal who already had a smile playing on his lips. "I sound so cheesy. This is stupid."

"No, on the contrary, Jamal. You haven't looked this calm in a while. You have this look on your face when you are thinking about her and it's genuine. That's saying a lot because you don't ordinarily warm up to new people." Faizal stated.

"I know right. It feels so strange, yet natural. I really can't understand the way I'm feeling. Maybe, I'm wrong about her though. I'm not exactly the best judge of character." I moistened my dry lips with my tongue.

"We can't exactly say, Jamal. This is the first time you are paying attention to a lady apart from your sister. I'm not counting that girl you are always frolicking with. What's her name?" Faizal requested.

"Tolani?" I stated and questioned at the same time.

"Yes, that one. I honestly don't know why you are still with her." Faizal grimaced and I sighed.

"It's complicated," I stated.

"Anyway, what I'm saying is...she has got to be special if you can't stop thinking about her. But still, be watchful." Faizal advised and I nodded.

"I will. Thank you, Faizal." I smiled and he smiled back.

"Of course. Anytime." He replied.

After a few more questions about my health and my drug dosage, it was time for me to leave. I bade Faizal goodbye before I left his office. Strapping myself into the car seat as the driver made a turn, driving out of the parking lot and into the road, I sighed, preparing myself mentally for what drama the new session had to bring.

****

Elyon's POV

The bell went off, signaling lunch break. Students began to file out of the classroom and I picked my purse and my phone from my bag when Mateo tapped my shoulder.

"You don't have to buy anything. Your school fees have catered for your feeding. Well except you don't want to eat cafeteria food." He told me.

"Wait, for real?" I asked and he nodded a smile playing on his lips. "Seriously, I'm beginning to love this school even more," I added and he chuckled.

"Come on, let's go. Skye and the others are probably waiting." He said, taking my hand and pulling me along.

"The others?" I asked and he nodded.

"Yes. Don't worry you'll love 'em." He assured me and then led me to the cafeteria.

The senior school had its cafeteria making it less rowdy. We lined up to get our food, with students I guessed were seniors, coordinating the queue so that everything would be orderly and fast. The food was white rice and meat sauce with chicken. The aroma was nice and I hoped it tasted just as good as it smelled. I got bottled water and bigi tropical along with my food, placed it on a tray before following Mateo to where he was leading me to. Suddenly, someone bumped into me and something fell from the person's hand.

"Oh my God, are you blind!"  A high-pitched voice shrieked and I looked to see a dark skin girl glaring daggers at me. I looked to the floor and saw that it was her phone that had fallen.

"I'm so sorry. Let me help with that." I made to bend and pick but she snapped at me.

"Don't dare touch my phone." She growled and I stepped back, frowning. She then picked it herself. "You are so lucky the screen isn't broken." She hissed and walked away. I looked at Mateo who shrugged.

"Ignore her. That's the best punishment for Tolani." He said. We began working again.

"You know her?" I asked.

"Unfortunately, she's someone I honestly can't ignore. You'll get used to her." He told me as he reached the table. I furrowed my brows, about to ask him what he meant by I'd get used to her when I heard my name.

"Elyon." It was Skye. I smiled as I finally paid attention to the table Mateo and I had stopped at. It was a long table with long chairs at both sides and the chairs were had people on them. One guy and three girls including Skye. Mateo led me to sit beside him.

"Mateo, would you like to do the introduction?" Skye asked me with her usual cheery smile playing on her lips.

"Don't mind if I do." Mateo looked and me and smiled then face everyone. "Guys, I'd like you to meet Elyon. She's new here." He then faced me. "Elyon, these are the 'guys'." He made air quotes with his fingers.

"Hey, there are three girls here." One of the girls glared at Mateo who in turn rolled his eyes.

"I know you understand what I'm saying, but you just want to antagonize me, Chidinma." He said and Chidinma smiled before looking at me, the same smile playing on her face.

"Hi, Elyon. As the Buffon has said, my name is Chidinma but you can call me chichi. Welcome to our boring school." She stretched her hand, gesturing to the building, just like Mateo had done in the morning.

"Do you guys always call the school boring? Mateo said the same thing this morning." I stated with a smile.

"It's like a tradition. We tell every new student that the school is boring but it is at the end of the day, with all the activities and drama that they realize the school is not boring." The other girl spoke and I nodded in understanding.

"Oh, I get the irony now." I smiled and she smiled back looking at Skye.

"I like her already." She said and I laughed, Skye giggling as well.

"I told you, you would," Skye said.

"I'm Vanessa by the way." The girl introduced before she slapped the other guy on his hand. "And this mute fellow..."

"Haba. I'm not mute." He spoke up for the first time since I got to the table.

"Then talk, like a normal person. You are too quiet at very weird times." Vanessa rolled her eyes.

"I'm not supposed to talk while I'm eating. It's bad table etiquette but none of you will know." He snapped back and Vanessa rolled her eyes again, while the rest of us on the table found their banter cute. The guy looked at me and smiled.

"Don't mind this childish girl. I'm Somadina by the way, you can call me Soma for short. The most mature one in this group." He bragged.

"Tahh! For your mind." Vanessa attacked him again and they continued that banter.

"Las las, both of you will still date," Skye said and everyone laughed.

"This crazy one, never!" Soma recurred, his face scrunched up.

"Who wants to date you before?" Vanessa hissed. I laughed along with the others as I got familiar with the new faces and Mateo turned out to be right about them. They were chill.

"Oh, Jamal is here." I heard Chidinma say and my head jerked up in a flash.

He was around alright and he was walking towards us, typing away on his phone. I felt my heart pick up a beat. I haven't seen him since the dinner at his house last Wednesday and I've been eager to.

Why I was eager? I did not know.

"J. J." It was Somadina that called this time and Jamal looked up from his phone.

His eyes met mine.

My heart flipped.

A/N
Double blessings on Sunday! I know you guys love me right now bah.

Anyway, this is another update. I've actually had this chapter hidden as a draft since yesterday so I decided to update today. But don't expect, frequent updates for EOTS after this because I want to calm down with this book.

I also don't want to update in a scattered way. So I after this, my next update would be next Friday and the Friday after that and on and on like that. Basically every Friday sha. If it's not constant, then it's definitely school work but I'll try to make it constant.

Jamal has a therapist that he sees three times in a week.

Y'all have met the rest of the group. If you can't remember their faces you can go back to check the characters.

Seems like Jamal is quite Smitten by Elyon and vice versa. Too fast? I don't think so tell me what you think.

Don't forget to also vote and share.

Kisses. 😘😘