So, the previous update was a blast 😂. Some of y'all were mocking Jamal and some of you guys were pitying him. Another fraction of y'all decided to have a little bit of both. The thing just dey sweet me baje 😂.

Now let's see what is going on in Elyon's head.

****

"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒙𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑰 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔..."

_𝑱𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒐𝒏

𝔼𝕃𝕐𝕆ℕ

Standing in front of the school auditorium, I watched as my mates walked into the hall in groups. Sighing for the umpteenth time, I glanced at my watch then looked left and right, wondering where Khalil was.

After few days of complete loneliness since he didn't come to school, he promised to show up today. And since I hardly had "friends" at this point, he was my only friend. He told me he was I'll, which I understood and God knows, I wanted to go over to check up on him but I couldn't risk the chances of running into Skye, or Jamal.

Jamal...

I shook my head vigorously, trying to get rid of incoming thoughts about him. If I was going to focus on anything else, I needed to stop thinking about him.

It wasn't a cake walk, trust me. Especially, since I was extremely worried about him.

Focusing back on Khalil, I hissed, bringing out my phone to chat him up.



"You really look like a weirdo just standing there." A familiar voice came to my ear suddenly, startling me. I jumped, almost dropping my phone. A heart laughter came from the person and I looked, seeing that is was Vanessa.

I sighed in relief.

"Has anyone told you that you are very small, but also very creepy?" I asked and she pouted, placing her hand on her chest and batting her eyelids comically.

"Awwwn." She cooed and I rolled my eyes, a small smile playing on my lips. "You know, Soma keeps saying the exact same thing yet, he still kisses me like his life depends on
it." Her puppy dog look transformed into a full smirk and I fake gagged.

"I didn't have to hear that." I told her and she shrugged, flipping her extremely long ginger red braids.

One of the perks of being in your final year, the school rules and regulations don't apply to you completely. You can alter your school uniform and you can start making coloured hair. Coloured braids weren't allowed but then, the school didn't bother troubling us anymore.

"Why are you standing out here though? Almost everyone is inside the hall." She asked, her tone serious now.

"I'm waiting for Khalil. I don't want to enter the hall on my own, seeing that is kinda my only friend at this moment..." I trailed off, trying to be mindful of my words.

"Ouch. I'm hurt." Vanessa pouted again, her hands on her chest just like she had done few minutes ago. I wasn't sure whether to take her serious or if she was joking. Still, I had to thread carefully.

"I didn't mean it that way, Vanessa." I quickly clarified, averting my gaze from hers nervously. " You know, you are my friend. It's just that with all that is going on..." I began again but she stopped me from going any further.

"I understand what you mean, Elyon. Don't worry, I was only joking." She smiled and I sighed in relief, smiling back at her.

"Speaking of the things that are going on, how are you holding up?" She asked, placing her hand daintily on my folded ones.

Suddenly, everything that has been happening for the past few weeks started rushing back to me and I felt tons of emotions welling up in my chest. The tears started coming but I knew I had to stop it. At least, I had to pretend to be strong in front of Vanessa, so that she wouldn't worry herself about me.

So instead, I mustered up a small smile and nodded.

"I'm hanging in there." I replied and she nodded, intense eyes watching me skillfully. "I mean, it's pretty hard coming to terms with this whole thing but I'm sure it will get better. I hope it gets better." I stated and she nodded again, slowly this time.

I wanted it to get better. I thought asking for a break would make everything easier but it wasn't making anything easier and I wasn't sure it would even get better. As much as I didn't want to think about them, I missed Skye and Jamal. My love for them, my will to always help them, trumped my anger towards them.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

I think it's a bit of both.

"Well, for what it's worth," she started, jerking me out of my reverie. "I think the things Skye and Jamal said to you wasn't cool. Especially after everything you have done for them." She said and I frowned slightly, the sides of my lips quirking up in a slight smile.

"I thought you weren't taking any sides." I queried and she chuckled.

"I'm not taking sides. Just saying the truth." She winked and I laughed heartily, feeling a weight being lifted off my shoulder at her claim.

At least someone has my back.

"What is this assembly all about though?" I asked her, changing the topic immediately. She glanced inside the hall and shrugged. "You are a prefect, you should know." I prodded further.

"I honestly don't know but I am guessing it's about the upcoming symposium. We have what, three weeks till WAEC starts. We want everything after WAEC to be all fun and games, not symposiums and seminars." She answered and I nodded in agreement.

The last thing I would want is for my final moments in high school to be all about Seminars and what not. Symposiums are good, but nahh. At this point, I've realized how much I've been kinda dulling myself.

"That's your guy." Vanessa suddenly said, nodding towards a direction and I looked to see Khalil walking towards us in his usual swagger strode. I sighed in relief, my lips quirking in a small smile, which wiped off when Vanessa said something.

"Wow! I knew it was just a matter of time Jamal did something to him." She said and I frowned, looking back at Khalil as he came closer.

It was then I noticed the slight cut on his lips and the enormous red blister close to his eyes. Before I could ask Vanessa what she meant, she was gone, just the same moment Khalil reached me, a wide grin marrying his face. That way, I got a closer look a him and I realized I wasn't just imagining the blister and the cut.

"What happened to you?" I asked immediately, forgetting the fact that he wasted my time when he left me standing out here all alone. In response, he smirked and rolled his eyes.

"Hello to you too, Smallie." He said, leaning against the wall beside me. I scoffed and rolled my eyes back at him like he had done earlier.

"First of, I have warned you to stop calling me that." I chided, wagging my pointer finger at him in a warning manner which made him chuckle. "Second of, I asked you a question. What happened to you?" I repeated the question, my eyes assessing his face.

"I fell." He simply replied, with a shrug. I frowned, wondering why he wasn't even trying to give me a better lie because I knew that Khalil was a very good liar.

"That was a lie and it was a terrible one." I stated matter-of-factly and he shrugged again, that same playful smirk still tugged at the corner on his lips.

"I know. I didn't want you to believe me. I just don't want to tell you exactly what happened because I know you'll figure it out in 3... 2..." He was counting down just as I thinking about it. And as it clicked, the frown on my face deepened.

I didn't want it to be what I thought it was.

But nothing could get past it at all.

"Jamal did this to you?" I asked to confirm what I had thought of. I wanted him to prove my thoughts wrong but to my greatest disappointment, Khalil nodded in affirmative.

The hell??

"I wasn't actually ill." He confessed, his smirk transforming into a small smile. "Jamal kinda got pissed and punched me three days ago. But it's all good." He shrugged again. He was shrugging so much that I was kinda scared his shoulder would fall off.

I began to wonder why Jamal had done that. His hate for Khalil was something I was pretty used to. They had only fought once and none of them came out with a bruise or even a scratch. Knowing how strong Khalil was, for him to have a bursted lip and a big blister close to his eyes...

I became incredibly worried about Jamal. Especially since I've not seen him since he walked out of the cafeteria that day.

Is he okay?

"Your boyfriend is fine." He stated like he heard my thoughts, causing me to look at him. "I didn't hurt him in anyway because I knew you wouldn't let me rest if I had done anything to him." He said and I sighed in relief, a fraction of the concern I was feeling gone.

"Why did he do this to you?" I asked and Khalil scoffed out a laugh like my question was very funny.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" He questioned back and I shrugged, not knowing what else to say. "He keeps seeing me with the girl he loves. That is like his worst nightmare coming to reality. He would have killed me if he had the chance." Khalil said, laughter in his voice and I glared at him, not appreciating his words.

"Don't say that Khalil!" I chided and the latter shrugged, a nonchalant look marrying his face.

"I'm saying the truth, Elyon and you know that first hand." He maintained, looking at me straight in the eye. His words hit my heart's core, bringing back the memories of what had happened that day.

The day when everything fell apart.

"But you know," Khalil continued, bringing me out of my thoughts. "It's kinda good he is acting that way because now, we are sure he really wants you back." He smirked and I shook my head, not wanting to believe that statement. Even though, I wasn't sure why I didn't want to believe it.

"I-I don't t-think that's r-right." I stuttered stupidly and Khalil laughed.

"What else will make a guy beat another guy? Jamal is an emotional wreck at the moment. I am very much certain about that because I live with him. But, that is also okay, because it's like a punishment for what he said to you. It will make him realize how much he needs you, how much they all need you."

"All you have to do is act like you don't care."

☆☆☆☆

After a good forty-five minutes of waiting for someone to tell us the reason why we were all summoned to the hall, the principal decided to show up. I was seated beside Khalil and surprisingly, Vanessa and Somadina came to join us on our seat. Soma was talking to Khalil who didn't mind engaging him. I don't know why that made me happy, but it did.

"Good afternoon Students." The Principal, Mr Adeyemi greeted and we all responded.

"I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting. I had an emergency meeting with your teachers and head of departments concerning your JAMB results which are out..." His statement was cut off when everyone began to cheer, jumping from their seats. I was happy, yet nervous.

What did I get?

The hall suddenly became extremely rowdy as people began to guess what their JAMB score would be, with Mr Adeyemi chatting with Mr Ayoola about something

"I can't wait to see my result." Somadina chirped excitedly, making the rest of us gape at him like he had said the most stupid thing ever.

It was actually, honestly, the most stupid thing he has ever said.

"Somadina, is it that you like it when people hype you about your genius or you just like acting daft." I asked, causing Khalil to let out a chuckle. Vanessa glared playfully at me while Somadina pouted in response.

"You people should hype me na." He coaxed and I scoffed.

"Settle down everyone." Mr Adeyemi said and the hall became quiet in a few minutes.

"The JAMB score hall of fame has been set up in your block. You can check it out after this meeting because there is something else I want us to discuss." He paused for effect, looking around the hall through his thick rimmed glasses. Then, he continued.

"Your student body representatives had a meeting concerning the Symposium which I made compulsory for everyone and they got back to me on the topic and date they all agreed on-

So, this is to inform you that you will be having the symposium next week Friday and the topic of the symposium is "Addictions"." The hall broke into murmurs and Mr Adeyemi paused. I scrunched my face up thoughtfully.

Addictions.

"Addictions." Khalil drawled thoughtfully and I looked at him. "That's not such a bad topic, is it?" He asked me and I shrugged.

"I think it depends on whoever they call to be the guest speaker of the symposium. If the person can do justice to that topic then the topic is a nice pick." I answered and he nodded in agreement. Soon, Mr Adeyemi began talking again.

"The guest speaker for this symposium is an alumni of this great institution but I won't tell you the name of the person yet because they don't want their identity revealed until the day of the symposium. Also, you can pick representatives from each of your classes to talk briefly about the topic before our guest speaker comes up. Trust me when I say, it's going to be a blast." At that statement, everyone began to clap.

"I think that's all for now. You can go ahead to check your JAMB scores and also check the JAMB Hall of Fame."

Before he even finished talking, half of the students had dashed out of the auditorium to go check their JAMB scores in the school's computer lab. Even Somadina rushed out with Vanessa hot on his tail and I was shocked. Chuckling to myself, I looked at Khalil who was still seated. My forehead creased when I saw how much he was glaring at his phone which he was typing away on.

I didn't want to invade his privacy so I just decided to ask instead of peering at his phone like a busy body.

"Are you okay?" I asked, causing his head to jerk up to look at him. His glare was quickly wiped off and he mustered a small smile.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just trying to chat someone up." He looked back at his phone longingly. Not knowing what else to say, I shrugged.

"Okay. I'm going over to check the JAMB Score Hall of Fame. Are you coming?" I asked and he shook his head in response.

"You go ahead. I'll be with you shortly." He said and I nodded, turning to walk out of the hall when I heard Khalil's faint voice speak to his phone.

"Tolani, where have you been? You haven't been in school since JAMB and you are not picking my calls. I've left a dozen messages and chats for you. Please pick up... chat me up or whatever. Just let me know if you are okay. I'm getting worried." The concern and fear in his voice was so obvious, I would have noticed it from a mile away. Then, I began to think.

The last time I saw Tolani was when I saw her and Khalil together, arguing about God knows what and that was even before JAMB, almost two months ago.

Wow.

I wasn't worried or anything about Tolani but Khalil is my friend and seeing him like this made me more worried about him. For him to be this frantic, there must be something more to it and it scared me.

And maybe, I was also, in a way, worried about Tolani.

I do hope, for Khalil's sake, that she was okay.

☆☆☆☆

I walked through the hallway, towards the big frame at end that was plastered against the wall. That was where the JAMB scores Hall of Fame was. I took my time before I decided to go there because I knew the place would be jam-packed. Feeling apprehensive and skittish, I got to the frame, my eyes closed.

I intentionally didn't check my JAMB score I'm.the computer lab. I wanted to be surprised if I saw my name on the Hall of Fame.

Let my name be on the Hall of Fame! Let my name be on the Hall of Fame!

I opened my eyes and began to look at the names from the beginning.

Somadina Charles Dike
350

Chike William-Williams
323

Skye Iyinoluwa Bamidele
319

Esosa Evelyn Abieyuwa
305

Omotolani Emma Adeoye
301

Mateo Seyifunmi Craig
298

Elyon Tiwatope Damije
297

297! I had 297! I literally jumped sky high with so much excitement, feeling a huge weight being lifted off my shoulder. I looked back at the board, at the remaining names on the list.

Vanessa Tega Lawanson
295

Khalil Olumide Gobir
293

Jamal Inioluwa Bamidele
291

I was happy that everyone I knew was on the Hall of Fame. I was even more surprised about Tolani's score. I really underestimated the girl, she was really book smart. And Khalil, I didn't really take him serious when he said he was an A student but he made it to the Hall of Fame with an amazing score.

With a smile playing on my lips, I made a mental note to apologize for really undermining him.

"Elyon." A familiar voice called to me from behind. I didn't turn immediately, hoping that I was actually imagining the voice.

"Elyon." The second call was enough for me to know that I had not imagined it. Taking a deep breath, I turned around, coming face to face with Skye. And boy, she didn't look good.

In as much as I wanted to ask if she was okay, I remembered Khalil's words.

...All you have to do is act like you don't care.

So I got into character, a stoic expression marrying my face as I folded my hand across my chest.

"What do you want, Skye?" I asked her, trying my best to let my tone come off as sharp. She sighed, looking conflicted and uneasy. I took in a shaky breath, hoping that my stoic expression doesn't break into that of care.

"C-Can we t-talk?" She stuttered out and I frowned.

"I don't think we have anything to talk about. We have done all the talking three weeks ago, if I remember correctly." I flashed her a sarcastic smile and turned on my heels, wanting to leave that place.

"It's about Jamal." She called behind me and I automatically halted in my steps but didn't turn around. I didn't want her to see the look of worry on my face. My mind began to go into over drive, thinking of things that could possibly be wrong with Jamal. I was scared but I didn't show it.

So I turned around, my expression still stoic.

"What about him?" I asked, my tone coming off as nonchalant and I knew I was pulling it off when I saw the shocked expression on Skye's face. But it only lasted for a second as she was back to her fidgety, uneasy self.

"Elyon, Jamal isn't himself any more." She started, her eyes welling with tears and it took all my will power not break character. "He is literally a shadow of himself and he acts out a lot, getting angry unnecessarily. I'm getting scared that he is loosing it and as much as I want to talk to him, he doesn't let me in."

"How is that supposed to be any of my business?" I asked nonchalantly, shocking Skye and also shocking myself at how I was still able to maintain my indifferent character. Skye was legit crying down, her mouth hung open as she obviously still couldn't get over the fact that I wasn't even concerned.

"Elyon! How could you even say that? You should help me talk to him, you are his girl..." Something in me snapped when she started talking. Everything she had said toe that day, the way she had acted out, came rushing back to me in full force and now she wanted me to help her. I didn't need to act angry or pissed...

Because I was really angry and extremely pissed off.

"Oh, now you remember that I am his girlfriend. Yet, you accused me of cheating on him!" I queried, my voice sharp and edgy. Skye's priceless expression showed that she wasn't expecting my reaction. It just made clear to me how much I have been taken for granted.

God...

"I didn't mean what I said that day, Elyon. I swear, I was angry and I just snapped!"

"And I am angry right now!" I countered, my voice louder making her veer back. I was so glad people had begun to go home so the hall way and classrooms were pretty empty.

"That day, You forgot everything I have ever done for you and Jamal. You forgot the fact that I was your best friend and you accused me of cheating on him, with your cousin. You insulted and embarrassed me in front of him. You made me feel less of myself and now you want me to help you? NO!" I said to her shocked face, turned on my heels and started to walk away, aggravated and with my fist clenched together.

"Elyon Please!" Skye cried out, calling out to me. "He needs you!" I stopped and turned at that statement

"Skye, you have made it absolutely clear that you are the only one he needs." I concluded and resumed walking away.

It hurt me so much that I didn't follow her, or asked her to lead to way to where Jamal was so that I could see him. To hold him and tell him I how much I loved him and how much I wasn't going any where. But this had to be done and just like Khalil said, they needed to feel my absence.

He needed to feel my absence.

A/N

Happy Valentine's Day❤️❤️❤️❤️😘😘😘😘🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍😍

I'm so sorry that I'm dropping this update very late. I have been writing this chapter for about five days and I should have dropped this chapter since but I've been on set, shooting a movie so I didn't have time to publish this chapter.

But I hope it was worth the wait 🥺❤️.

Elyon has decided to focus on the most important things now and even though it's hard for her, she knows how to prioritize. Khalil has been giving her advice on how to handle things.

Do you think his advise are good?

And Skye has now realized how much she need Elyon. But she can't take back her words and Elyon cannot easily forget them. I don't think she was harsh with the way she spoke to Skye. Anyone that has been hurt by their best friend would respond that way.

Tolani. Don't forget about her, she still has a very important role to play in bringing everyone together.

Question of the Day: Who is the Guest Speaker?

I'll try to update as soon as possible. Don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT AND SHARE.

See you when I see you.❤️😘