TWO WEEKS had already gone by and I never used the invisible girlfriend.

After James' warning not to, I tried to heed it, even though it was very difficult for me. I didn't get rid of it as he did, but I put it in a box and placed it in the basement; far away from my sight.

Being away from Chioma gave me more time to visit James at his house, and it made us even closer.

Every other day was the same with Aretta. We always video called each other, and it made me look forward to talking to her more. I just hated how she was still hiding details from me, even when I thought we were becoming better friends. I could tell from the number of days she would not come to school that things were not right with her, but it looks like she still wasn't comfortable enough to talk to me.

"You will not believe what mom said today. She said she wants to invite you to come over to my house for dinner tomorrow." I gasped when I read Aretta's text. I was up in the morning, trying to prepare myself for school when I saw her message from last night.

"I would love to. Your mom is so kind. What time should I be there? Wait, am I not disturbing you as you study?"

"Yes, you kinda are, but I don't care it's worth it lol. I will tell you every detail at school today. I have to study for the stupid math test we'll be having during the first period."

"All the best during your test. Damn that rhymes lol. But on a serious note, let me not flood your dm with more texts. So talk to you at school."

I smiled to myself and grabbed my uniform.

******

"Zelie and Kwento, can you stand up?" Mrs. Sani said the moment she entered the classroom. "I explained the topic of genetics many times hoping you'd all get it, so I think now you can explain it to the class."

"But madam..." Kwento said, as he slowly got up from where he was seated.

"Don't but madam me. I want you to explain! Zelie, are you prepared to explain?"

"Madam, I will be honest with you. I tried studying it but it was too hard for me to understand. I don't think I can explain. I tried my best." Zelie said. She sounded so truthful. I just hoped Mrs. Sani could appreciate her effort and not punish her.

"You did not do your best. You could have asked Luca to help you. From the last time he explained, he seems to understand that topic. Don't you Luca?"

My eyes widened at how the attention shifted to me." Yes, madam, I do."

"See. All you could have done was go to Luca and ask him to help you."

"But why Luca of all people?" Zelie protested. Clear disgust in her voice.

"You know Zelie, your attitude needs polishing. You will never prosper in life if you keep such a poor attitude. Humility helps you prosper and asking for help makes you better."

"Yes, madam." She replied sarcastically.

Mrs. Sani rolled her eyes." Kwento, time for you to explain!"

"I don't understand the topic." He said it so vulgarly that I wondered what would happen to him.

"This disrespect you kids show is inappropriate. It's very irritating and I do not want to react. If you were my child, a slipper would have already reached your face right now. But under the authority invested in me, I will need both of you in the head teacher's office. You need to be expelled."

"Oh no madam, I am sorry please don't expel me. I will ask Luca to help me, please."

Mrs. Sani glanced at Kwento. He didn't seem to apologize at all." Kwento, follow me to Mr. Folake's office."

Kwento stared at her for a few seconds. "I am so sorry for being rude and for not taking the task you gave me seriously. I promise to do a better job next time."

Mrs. Sani seemed satisfied to see Kwento swallow his pride." How many understood the topic?"

I raised my hand, and a few others did the same.

"So only ten out of all of you understood it?" Mrs. Sani smacked her head." All of you that do not understand it, I will need you to ask those that do to explain it to you. I am not interested in explaining again. Next time my lesson comes up, I am giving all of you a test, so I expect you to lower your pride and ask for help. That test will be taken to the head teacher and all that fail will be expelled. I am going out, so use this time to ask for help."

She didn't delay leaving the classroom.

"Luca, please help me." Zelie came to my table. I stared at her with my eyes wide enough to reflect the shock I was experiencing. Seems like she was now willing to ask for help from me.

"I ... I am not v...very good at explaining, though." I stuttered. I was nervous being around her.

"I am sorry for being rude earlier. I haven't been so kind to you. I don't mind how you explain. I really need your help. I can not fail that test. If I do, I will be in trouble with my grandparents." She said.

"I will try my best to explain to you. Please tell me when you don't understand." I opened my biology textbook.

"I definitely will. I trust you can help me more than I can help myself." Zelie said, shocking me. Was she only being kind to me because she needed my help?

I glanced at Kwento. He was the only one seated alone without asking for help from someone that knew the topic. Seems like he didn't care at all.

*****

Food is very important when you've spent many hours listening to boring lectures.

I walked excitedly to the cafeteria. My belly-altering pleas for food. I was excited to hear more details about the conversation that transpired between Aretta and her mom that led her to invite me over for dinner.

"Luca, wait..." I heard someone calling me. I rarely hear people call me. I turned around and saw Kwento.

My eyes widened."What's up?"

"I have no option but to talk to you and it kinda sickens me. So you heard what Mrs. Sani said, teach me that topic."

"I believe she said you have to ask for help and you do not seem to do that," I said rudely. He needed my help, so it was my opportunity to make him beg.

"Okay fine, king Luca. Please help me, your servant." He said sarcastically.

"That was very sarcastic, but I will take it. So how can I help you?"

"Is it fine if you can come to my house tomorrow to teach me? I find it embarrassing to ask for help and I don't want anyone to notice I am ."

I laughed. "Okay, where do you stay?"

"I saw you at Aretta's house some time ago. I am her neighbor. The next house on the left is where I stay."

"Okay, I will come to see you then," I answered after realizing that it would be easier for me to teach him at his house then later go for dinner at Aretta's house.

"Why are you so fast to agree? I thought after all I have done, you'd refuse to help me."

"Honestly, the only reason I am helping you is because I feel pity, and I know this will benefit me as well. Otherwise, I would have refused."

"Whatever Luca. Just make sure no one knows about this. Oh else..."

"I get it." I laughed. I just loved the idea of Kwento the bully, pleading for help from me.

*****

"So, aren't you going to explain to me how your mom suddenly invited me to your house?" I asked Aretta, smiling. That text really brightened my day.

"No way! Her mom invited you? That's such a big deal!" James interrupted. We all got so used to being together in the cafeteria.

Aretta laughed at James' response." My mom thinks we are dating, so she wants to get close to Luca."

"Well, aren't you?" James smiled cheekily.

"Umm, hell no! Luca is a great guy but no," she uttered with disgust. Well, that kind of hurt to hear her say it that way to my face. If she thought I am so disgusting, then that explains why I am single. Obviously, all girls find me too disgusting to date. The only girl that could accept me was Chioma, and she isn't even real. I must be exactly like Plankton from SpongeBob. Only a computer can love me. Nothing I can not program can consider me date-able.

"Luca, I didn't mean it that way. If we were not friends, I'd totally date you." Aretta tried to defuse her words. Despite her efforts, it only sounded like she said that to make me feel better. She only said it out of pity. She wouldn't date me. Girls that would want to date a certain guy would not say 'hell no' to a prospect of their dating.

I stayed silent to prevent saying anything mean. It's not like I wanted to date her, either. She isn't even my type, so I did not need her pity.

James glanced at me with wide eyes. He knew how awkward he made the conversation by asking her that. A dead silence followed, and I did not want to start any conversation with the 'hell no' girl.

"So how did your mom suddenly bring up Luca in the conversation?" James suddenly asked. I glanced at him. What was up with him and continuing that stupid conversation?

Aretta laughed."After the last video call I had with Luca, she said to me,' Aretta, I need your cute boyfriend here for dinner. Maybe some of my food can make him marry you in years to come'."

Her words made me laugh, and I was not the only one because James burst into laughter, too.

"Your mom is trying to bribe him with food?" James asked, giggling.

"Yeah, funny right?" She laughed." That reminds me, she asked me to ask you what your favorite food is."

"Fufu." I smiled, suddenly my anger vanishing.

"Mom loves that crap, too. I'm sure she will prepare for you something you'll love."

"Don't make me excited. Tomorrow is too far." I giggled.

"Just be patient. Tomorrow will come soon." She grinned widely.

******

Boredom is the worst feeling ever.

I was bored. I had no text messages, not even notification spams. I opened my phone gallery because I had nothing to do but glance at my pictures and videos. Even my pictures and videos were depressing and boring to look at.

I opened my YouTube. Maybe I could watch something interesting. But just when I opened my YouTube, I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in," I said, wondering who was knocking.

"Luca, I found this box in the basement. I just wanted to find out if it's yours. I want to get rid of it. So I thought I should ask you first." Catherine, one of the maids of my house said, holding the box where I put my virtual reality headsets.

"No, don't get rid of it. It's mine please give it to me." I said, holding out my hands so that I could receive it.

"Sure." She gave me the box and just holding it reminded me of a lot. It kind of made me miss Chioma.

I didn't even get to say goodbye to her before I got rid of it and boredom was killing me. Maybe I could just use it this once and never use it again. That way, I can properly say goodbye to Chioma.

I fixed the sensors to my head and wore the headsets.

I moved through the completely white room and found my way to Chioma's house.

I knocked, eagerly waiting to hear her response.

"Luca, oh my God! Come in. I've missed you so much." She said, hugging me.

I smiled, hugging her back. "I missed you too, Chioma."

"I prepared our Aikido lesson. I think this will really help you." She smiled, her beautiful dimples exhibited.

"I even forgot about that. So, how will you teach me?"

"Okay, I will start with the easiest aikido technique. Let me just change into my suit."

"Okay..." I trailed off, shocked she even had a suit. I waited for a few minutes before she came in with the suit.

It was completely white, and she tied a black belt around her waist."I do have a black belt and a lot of experience in this stuff, so I will make an amazing teacher for you."

"You're the best. So how does the first move go?"

"I will show you everything. I just need you to follow my lead."

After several minutes of practice. I learned nothing.

"Oh my God Luca. You're way harder to teach than I thought." She wiped her forehead.

"I think I need more practice. Maybe I can get it ."

"That's the basic move. If you can't learn Ikkyo with ease, then you cannot learn the others. But I think I know how to help you." She smirked.

"How will you help me because it looks like I have no hope?"

"What I am about to tell you is serious. Don't use it for fun. Only use this to protect yourself."

"Okay, I will. Please tell me ."

"This method is to cause your opponent to get instantly unconscious. As I said, it's only for protection. You can try it on me."

"What! Are you crazy? I don't want you to faint."

"It's okay, I will be fine after."

She isn't real, so I don't have to worry.

"Okay, show me."

"You need to use the edge of your hand to hit the side of someone's neck with a lot of strength. Do it on both sides of the neck and it will instantly knock them out."

"Really, just that?"

"Do it on me so that you can find out."

"I think I understand. I don't have to hit you."

"That's the only way I will know if you got it. Just do it. I am only trying to protect you from Akin."

Akin? I've never told her his name.

"How did you know his name? I don't remember telling you his name?"

"You did. That day he fought with you and you explained to me about your bullying experience."

I have an excellent memory and I don't remember telling her his name. Yet how did she know it?

Maybe this is what James was talking about some time ago. He said Kayla knew the information he didn't even tell her. Is this what he meant? Is it possible that Chioma is spying on me?

"That's not important, Luca. You need to hit me. Just imagine I am Akin."

"I am sorry about this." I immediately thrust my hand against the left side of her neck and repeated the same for the right side.

It didn't take long for her to fall to the ground." Chioma, are you okay?"

She stayed silent.

"Oh my goodness, she actually fainted. Now, what do I do? Do I wait for her to regain consciousness?" I asked myself, panicking till I remembered she isn't actually a real girl.

I hope this technique actually works. That way, I might use it on stupid Akin. Let's see if he will try to bully me ever again.

______Authors note_____

Luca, why would you use your virtual reality headsets again?

I wish he knew the trouble that will come to him for doing so.