There is a surprise for y'all in the Author's note so I'd really like you all to read through the Author's note carefully immediately you are done with the chapter. I hope it turns out to be a big surprise for y'all because I'll  be bummed if it doesn't.

Let's Dive in!!!!

↭JAMAL↭

"Welcome to the annual Lagos State Inter School Competition: The Olympia." The facilitator called out and everyone student present in the room clapped. Probably everyone except me. I wasn't even in the mood to cheer for my school because my mind was only focused on the fact that one person was pissed at me.

Elyon.

I had lied right to her face. I wasn't a good liar so she was able to figure it out and boy, she didn't take it so well. Since last night, she hasn't been talking to me. Sending her series of apologetic messages was pretty futile because she didn't reply any of them so I stopped and tried to take my mind off it.

For the record, it's not working.

You know what confuses me the most? The fact that in have no idea why I am not spilling my guts to her. I haven't had any problem telling her shitty things that has happened to me in the past. Why is this different? Is it because she's warming up to Khalil and I don't want her to start seeing him in a bad light? Or because, I'm not sure what Khalil is up to this time and I don't want to jump into conclusions?

Or because he is family?

I groaned, hissing at myself more or less. Family sentiments will be the death of me. If not literally.

You shouldn't even allow Elyon to be too close to Khalil because of how dangerous you think he is. The more reason why you should tell her.

The tiny voice of reasoning said in my head but I couldn't give it so much thought before I was pulled out of my mind trip.

"Dude." Mateo called to me, jerking me out of my reverie and I turned to look at him. He was peering at me, deep blue contacts in his making it seem like he was staring deep into my soul. "You good?" He asked me and I quickly nodded.

"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" I asked him with a nonchalant shrug, trying to act normal. He eyed me skeptically, as if trying to read me.

"You seem absent minded is all. Are you sure you are fine?" He asked again and I nodded, assuring him that I was hay-okay.

No I'm not okay. I said to myself as I tried  to pay attention to what they were doing on stage.

Apparently, I have missed a whole lot more than I thought. The competition was kicking off with the art category and all the contestants were already on stage standing beside their designated podium. I looked at everyone on stage, paying close attention to those representing Crescent High mostly.

I could only recognize  Adam's girlfriend Kunmi and that strange guy, Alex. I couldn't recognize the other girl. My eyes turned to where the representatives of Limelight were, my eyes fixated on Elyon. Due to the fact that she has been avoiding me all morning, I really didn't get a good look at her. Now I did.

She was in her complete uniform, which I had not seen her in since the day she came in as a new student to Limelight, blazers, long black socks and all. That was the dress code for every student representing in the competition.

Elyon pulled that look off without breaking a sweat. She looked the best out of every student standing on that stage. Her blazers hugged her body perfectly. It was like the school uniform was made specially her with the way she stood tall and confident in it. Her braid was packed in a high ponytail with two locks falling over her face, a professional yet chic look. She looked like an Angel.

My Angel.

She looked up suddenly and began to scan the crowd with her eyes. My heart picked up the beat as I hoped that she was looking for me. She sure was. Her eyes met with mine and my breath caught in my throat. She held my gaze, looking straight at me that legit had my skin sprouting goosebumps.

I quickly looked away from her, not being able to hold her intense gaze anymore, not after what went down last night.

"Dude, they are starting and you are not even paying any attention." Mateo nudged me by my side and I turned to look at him. He was peering at me.

"Are you sure you are okay?" He asked me again and I frowned, getting a Tad bit irritated by his nosiness.

"You have asked me this question about one hundred times this morning, Mateo and I'd keep giving you the same answer. I am fine." I tried not to snap at him. Mateo let out small chortle, shaking his head at me.

"I don't know who you are deceiving but I know it's not me, Jamal. Because I am your best friend and I can tell when you are lying." He replied rather calmly and I was awestruck.

Why are you shocked? You were surrounded with people that can read you like the back of their hands. My subconscious mocked me and I sighed.

"Whatever is going on with you, I suggest you talk about it. It doesn't have to be with me. But for now, let's focus on cheering our school on to victory." He completed and I nodded, turning my head back to watch the Competition kick off.

And I cheered as loud as I could for my school.

For my girlfriend.

↭↭↭↭

Somadina was devastated.

It was getting to evening, we were already done with the academic section of the Olympia. Limelight Academy and Crescent High ended up in the finals and we were tied. They used a tie breaking question for the Science Category, one student representing from both schools. Somadina had gone for us. We were sure about ourselves. Maybe a little too sure. We had it.

But Gabriella from Crescent High kicked us to the curb with the way she speedily answered that question.

More like kicked Somadina to the curb.

He hasn't smiled since then. Even with Vanessa right beside him.

"Guy, it wasn't your fault." Mateo said as we walked into a place called "Central Market" where they sold snacks, junks and small chops like grilled meat and suya.

"Honestly, you didn't know they had gotten so good. It really wasn't your fault." I chipped in, walking over to the kiosk to get a bottle of water.

"That's the thing." Somadina spoke for the first time in a while. "I underestimate them so much that I didn't even put so much energy in my reading and studying. It's even more humiliating that it was a girl that beat me." He whined. Vanessa smacked him.

"Now that's very sexist." She chided him and he apologized, caressing her hand. I chuckled and took another gulp of water,  my eyes scanning the rather busy environment, tunning out my friends were saying. A lot of students were around, in groups mostly. I saw Khalil with a girl, from another school majorly and I scoffed.

Casanova mode is on. Girls at this place won't rest definitely.

My eyes rested on Adam and Kunmi at a corner; almost secluded. Kunmi's back was rested against the wall at the corner, Adam's arm on the wall, caging her. They were talking, it looked like an intense conversation. Then Adam leaned in to press a kiss to her lips, a small kiss that I was sure would turn to a full make out session. I chuckled again and looked away from them.

My eyes settled on Kunle and his girlfriend. They were talking about something, an intense conversation too but nothing like Adam and Kunmi's kind of intense. This one was a serious kind of intense that had me frowning a bit.

Jamal, it's not your business. Look away. I told myself as I tried to busy myself with looking at someone else.

My eyes swept past Gabriella and that strange dude, Alex. Gab seemed to be engaging him but he wasn't even speaking, his eyes fixated on something, rather someone. I followed his gaze and it landed on Sophia Williams, who was in the midst of Skye and Elyon, talking and laughing about something. I realized that there was a lot of drama going on at Crescent High. Just like there was a lot of drama going on with us.

My eyes trained on her, taking in every detail of what she was doing, the little gestures she was making, even when she reached for her leg to kill a pestering mosquito.

How long is she going to stay mad at me?  I asked myself.

"Then you made another dick move..." Mateo's voice jerked me out of my reverie and I looked back at them, trying to catch up on what they have been saying before I trailed off. "by walking off the stage when she wanted to shake your hand." Mateo completed and I caught on, chuckling at the memory.

"That wasn't so smart. It made you look like a sore loser." I added.

"I am a sore loser!" Somadina screamed out. "Okay, I agree it was a dick move. I'd apologize when I see her." He stated. I sighted Gabriella and Alex coming towards us.

"Well you can do that right now. She's walking over here." I nodded towards their direction and Somadina turned to look. Soon, they reached where we were.

"Hey guys." Gabriella greeted us with a wave and we waved back. Alex only acknowledged us with a nod of his head as they made to walk past us to where they were going to.

Somadina didn't make any move to apologize like he said he would so Vanessa nudged him hard in the ribs and glared at him. He knew better than not do his girlfriend's bidden.

"Hey Gabriella." He called and the latter turned around to face him. He left Vanessa's side and walked close to the duo. Alex whispered something to Gabriella before he walked further away, leaving her with Somadina.

"You did good. Congratulations." He stretched his right hand for a shake, his left rubbing the back of his head. Gabriella smirked and took his hand, shaking it.

"Thanks. You were not so bad. For the record, I was just taking it easy on you." She smirked again and walked sway towards the direction Alex had walked to earlier. I placed my mind over my mouth to stifle a laughter.

"Dude!" Mateo called between laughter. "That girl is vicious. I like her." He added and I nodded in agreement.

"Funny how I kinda do too." Somadina smirked. Mateo and I stopped laughing and looked at him in shock.

Oh no he didn't?!  I looked at Vanessa who had a scowl on her face.

"You like her, abi?" She asked Somadina sarcastically who immediately saw the error in what he had just uttered, in front of his girlfriend. Mateo and I were watching the entire thing, trying not to laugh.

"Babe, that's not a what I meant." Somadina said and Vanessa scoffed.

"Oya, go and make her your girlfriend na!" Vanessa snapped and walked away.

"Baby! It's not like that na." Somadina called after her, following her behind, trying to get her attention. Mateo and I looked at each other and burst into a round of laughter.

"Those two will never seize to amaze me." Mateo said.

"I still wonder how Somadina puts up with someone as extra as Vanessa. I'm guessing that's what he loves about her." I stated and Mateo nodded in affirmative.

"Are you fucking with me right now?" Mateo suddenly cursed, his face in a scowl. I frowned, wondering why his mood suddenly changed.

"What's wrong?" I asked him. He was staring ahead.

"That asshole is making a move on my girl." He nodded towards a direction and I looked.

Surely, Skye was standing in front of a shawarma shack, a very familiar guy right beside her, trying to talk to her but she was telling him off. The dude didn't seem to take a hint as he held her hand and pulled her back when she was trying to walk away. In a flash, Mateo and I were walking towards them. Mateo was seething, I was annoyed.

"Hey!" Mateo snapped as soon as we got to them. Skye let out a sigh of relief and moved away from the guy, towards me. I took her hand in mine, pulling her towards me, concern written all over my face.

"Are you okay?" I asked her and she nodded.

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from my girlfriend!" Mateo's raging voice called my attention and I turned to him, looking at the guy who was smirking at a raging Mateo. Then I recognized him.

He was the asshole that said he would tap my sister's ass before leaving the competition. Thinking about it was even very disgusting.

"Calm down, bro. I was just saying hi." The guy smirked, patting Mateo's shoulder and that seemed to rile Mateo up even more. His scowl turned into a full blown deadly glare.  Mateo getting angry wasn't a good thing. I knew that from experience. Skye exchanged a worried look with me. She knew what I was thinking.

"Now listen to me," Mateo moved closer to the guy and stabbed his index to his chest. "I am not your bro and you had better stay away from my girlfriend or I'll break your face." He said through gritted teeth. I knew immediately that it was time to leave.

"Mateo let's go." I said calmly.

"What are you going to do, pretty boy?" He had a sardonic smile playing on his lips. He was intentionally trying to rile Mateo up and I knew that it won't end well. For Him.

"Mateo. Let's go." I repeated but he wasn't paying me any heed. I looked around to see if anyone was watching but everyone was busy with their own thing.

"You want to know what I'll do, uhn?" Mateo had a devious smirk playing on his lips and I knew, I just knew he was close to loosing it. All he needed to do was give the first punch and everyone's attention will be on us.

And that was the last thing we wanted. That kind of bad attention.

"Mateo." It was Skye this time. She was beside him now, her hand slipping between his, lacing his fingers with her. "Let's go." She whispered calmly. I let out a breath, hoping and praying that Skye would be able to talk him out of loosing it.

"I've warned you." Mateo breathed out, speaking on a dangerously low tone. "Next time you won't be so lucky." He stated before allowing Skye to pull him away. I glared at the guy who still had a very annoying smirk on his lips before walking away myself.

God knows, if he tried anything funny again, Mateo won't have to lift a finger on him.

Because I'll kill him myself.

"Can we talk?" A familiar suddenly came beside me and I looked to see Elyon standing right by me, looking at me, her face quite impressive and expressionless. I was shocked to say the least. Shocked she was talking to me.

"Sure." I replied, my voice coming off more eager than I had hoped. She turned around and began walking towards a direction. She didn't need to say anything before I followed her, hot on her heels.

Isn't she angry with me anymore?

We stopped at a rather secluded corner, just a few meters away from the central market. Elyon turned to me, her gaze scrutinizing, it made me feel hot all over. No one has ever made me feel this way just from one look. No one except her. Her expression gave nothing away, I couldn't read her but I was sure as hell that she could read me.

What was she thinking about?

"I know you are still pissed with me." I started when I decided that the uncomfortable silence was too much to take. She looked on, not saying a word and I took it as a cue to continue.

I moved closer to her, wanting nothing more but to hold her. I wasn't ready to tell her anything. I just wanted her to be able to trust me and be patient with me. I didn't want to keep lying to her. That's what I wanted her to understand.

"Elyon, I know I shouldn't have_" I started again but she cut me off.

"Why didn't you tell me that you have started having night mares and panic attacks again?" She asked suddenly, shocking me out of my wits.

"What!"

Who the fuck told her?

A/N

Gen gen!

Who told Elyon about Jamal's new incessant nightmares and panic attacks? Do you have a guess, or at least guesses?

Something big is going to happen in the next chapter and there would be an introduction of the third POV for this book. Yes, you guess right. Khalil's POV. Who wants to know what going on in that guy's head?

Now for the surprise!!

I want to let you all know that Beneath the Surface;  BTS Family Series Book 1 is coming back to Wattpad on the 25th of this month (A Christmas Gift to Everyone!!!). I posted more details on my IG page (iyanu_temi).  To get the full details and get a sneak peek of the character aesthetics, you should go check it out. Trust me it's better than ever!!!

I know I said I'd give triple updates. Yes, I will still give triple updates, but later today sha. So stay tuned for more drama. Guy! The Family Drama is about to start. I am so pumped!

Don't forget to Vote, Comment and Share. I love y'all three thousand!!