This chapter and the next will be majorly about the symposium. You guys should please not skip anything because it can help you learn about addictions and how to overcome it. See this as my little rant on Addictions. I hope you learn a thing or two.

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"𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅."
_𝑼𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏.

𝕁𝔸𝕄𝔸𝕃

Fingers nervously playing with the strap of backpack, I walked through the vaguely familiar hall way. It was vague because it's been a while since I've been here and I  wasn't sure how he'd react to me coming back to him, especially after all the insults and disrespectful words I had hurled at him the last time I was here. But I was ready to take my chances.

I needed to see him or I'll just go insane.

Maybe I'm already insane. I thought to myself, reaching the familiar white wood door.

I really hope he's in. I prayed within myself, raising my fist up to knock the door. When I didn't hear anything, I knocked again, but this time I got an answer.

"Come in." His deep voice called. I exhaled, feeling even more nervous than I was while walking through the hallway. I swallowed, bringing my hand to the knob and turning it open, revealing his office and him, sitting down on his chair, writing down something.

I wasn't sure if I was ready to face him. I wasn't even sure if he was ready to see me. I disrespected him, walking out on him. I won't be surprised if after he realizes I'm the one, he walks me out of his office.

"You know, mosquitoes are entering my office o. If you want to enter, you better enter." His words startled me, knocking the breath right out of me. I looked at him. His head was still down, as he kept writing to like he had not just spoken to me.

Did he even know it was me in his office?

"Jamal, enter, close the door and take a seat. Mosquitoes." He repeated, calling me name this time and confirming that he knew it was me. I took a deep breath and walked further in, shutting the door behind me before slowly and consciously walking to sit down.

The room suddenly became very silent, safe for the sound of Faizal's pen scribbling what nots inside the jotter. I didn't even know how to start a conversation at that point so I went ahead to start massaging my fingers against the bandage around my hand. Though, I couldn't stop the nagging feeling I kept having at the pit of my tummy to apologize for everything I did and said the last time I was here.

I should apologize.

"I'm sorry," I said, head hanging down because I couldn't look him in the eye. That's how ashamed I was. The scribbling stopped and I felt Faizal's eyes on me. Still looking at my fingers, I continued.

"I'm so sorry for being so disrespectful that day. Though I didn't agree with all you said, I could have handled it better instead of snapping at you and insulting you. I shouldn't have done that." I concluded, raising my head up a bit to peek at him but I immediately looked back down when I saw him leaning lazily against his chair, staring at me.

Why do I feel like a child caught with his hand in a cookie jar?

"How have you been, Jamal." Came the shocking question. My head jerked up and I looked at Faizal. He had a lazy smile playing on his lips as he kept peering at me, his finger stroking his chin. I had not expected him to ask me that kind of question just yet but I really wanted to pour everything out to him, to tell him everything that has been going on.

But when I opened my mouth to speak, he rose a hand and stopped me from speaking.

"Let's not start with the bad part." He said and I nodded, adjusting myself on the seat to a more comfortable position. "Let's start good. Tell me something that has really made you happy." He elaborated and I took a deep breath, trying to think of something that has made me happy this past few weeks because I really haven't had any reason to be happy.

"Oh, I scored 291 in my JAMB." I told him and his smile widened.

"Wow! That's an extremely good score. I had 239 but then who is counting." He asked rhetorically, the grin not leaving his lips as he wiggled his eyebrows teasingly. He was trying to make me smile and he succeeded because my lips twitched a bit in a small smile.

Then I remembered that 291 would have been a better score if Khalil had not gotten two marks higher than me. This thought made my smile turn upside down and Faizal noticed.

"I succeeded in making you smile and now you are frowning again. What's the matter?" He asked, leaning forward and resting his forearms on the table. I heaved a deep sigh, rubbing my temple with my fingers.

Why does everything have to be a competition between me and him ?

"Khalil had a 293." I replied, watching as he not so subtly rolled his eyes at me, obviously thinking that what I was saying was silly even when it wasn't. "He was two marks ahead of me and he has given more reason for my parents and every other person to like him even more." I spat disdainfully, reminiscing the moment when Khalil had told my parents his JAMB score. I didn't miss the look of pride in their eyes that day or the way the had commended him, way  more than they had commended me.

"I'm sure you are over thinking the entire situation. I don't think your parents prefer Khalil to you. You are their son, their blood. Besides, it's not a competition."

"It is to me!" I snapped back at Faizal, who seemed unfazed by my sudden yell. He just kept peering at me through his glasses. I suddenly felt bad for yelling at him. "I'm so sorry for yelling but you have no idea what it has been like this past month. Nothing but a fucking competition and he is winning." I lamented, clutching my palms together as a sign of anxiety.

"Calm down, Jamal." Faizal said calmly but I could sense the anxiousness in his voice. Save for our last meet, I have never been erratic around him before so he wasn't used to it.

Even therapists need therapists

"Tell me all about it." He said and I took a deep calming breath even though my fingers wouldn't stop shaking. Something that has been happening for the past few days due to anxiety, insomnia and a hint of fear. Fear of the unknown.

"Elyon and I broke up." I revealed, watching as Faizal's eyes widened in utter surprise and shock.

Taking another deep breath, I let it all out. I told him everything that had gone down since I walked out on him.
From when I told Elyon everything that happened between Khalil and I when we were younger to our massive fall out, up till date. I told Faizal everything and he listened with rapt attention and without interruption.

"Now, she spends so much time with him like we never happened." I said, my voice shaky and quivery. "It's so hard, you know, seeing them together everytime. Seeing her laughing and smiling and I am not the reason for that smile or laughter. It's like she doesn't care about me anymore."

"I don't think that's the case, Jamal. I know Elyon cares a great deal about you. She loves you and you shouldn't doubt that, especially at this point." Faizal stated matter-of-factly, hitting his pointer finger on the table for emphasis. I sighed, rubbing my palms together.

"I actually thought that telling her would instill some sort of fear in her, like the kind of fear I have, for Khalil. Instead, it made her even more curious about him." I scoffed, looking away from Faizal and focusing my attention on the table. I had not realized what I had said earlier until Faizal chuckled. Raising my eyebrow in question, I looked at him.

"So, you admit that you are scared of Khalil." It was more of a statement than a question but either way, it still shocked me. Then I realized the error I had committed and tried to straighten it.

"I-I didn't mean i-it like that. I meant t-that..." I stuttered out and Faizal rolled his eyes at me.

"Jamal."

"Fine." I yielded, letting out a sigh of frustration. "I am not exactly scared of him but I am scared of the things he is capable of. He took my girlfriend without even lifting a finger and he has my parents wrapped around his little finger."

"I don't think he took Elyon away from you." He said, and I looked at him. "You pushed her away when all she was trying to do was to help you. I've met Elyon and she's an inquisitive young girl with a big heart. You can't just tell her about your issue with Khalil and not expect her to want to get the other side of the story."

"There is no other side to the story!" I brawled, hitting my good hand against the table.

"Says who?!" Faizal fired back and I couldn't respond. "You were barely conscious that day, so for all we know, you are not entirely right about the story." I scoffed at what he said, folding my hand across my chest.

"I can't believe you are doubting me right now." I said, disappointment laced in my voice. Faizal heaved a sigh, removing his glasses and scratching his eyes.

"Look Jamal," He began, leaning forward again. "You don't like being this way; helpless, sad, miserable, angry. Do you?" It was more of a rhetorically question but I nodded anyway.

"I hate being this way." I threw my head

"Good. Then you have to get rid of that hate and fear that has eaten deep into your soul and the only way you can do that is by trying, at least, to hear Khalil's side of the story. Then and only then will you find real peace of mind about this entire situation."

"What if there is no other side?"

"Then, you might just have to forgive, forget and move on. But first of all, seek closure."

☆☆☆☆

I got back to school just in time to see my mates go into the auditorium. That was when I remembered that we were supposed to have the symposium in the next few minutes. So, I didn't bother going to the class to drop my bag, I just went straight into the auditorium.

It was extremely rowdy as expected. Not everyone had settled down mainly because there was no teacher around at that point. I stood by the door, my eyes wandering around for a familiar face.

"Jamal!" I heard Skye's voices from aside and I looked towards that direction to see her walking towards me briskly. I shoved my hand into my school pants pocket, getting ready for a mouth full.

In 3... 2... 1.

"You just left school during break time!" She whispered harshly and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "Do you know how dangerous that is? If the principal had found out you snuck out during school hours, you could have been stripped of your position as a prefect and worst of all, you could have been expelled! I was worried sick. Where the hell did you..."

"I went to see Faizal." I quickly cut her off, getting tired of her rambling and talking. I saw her face soften and a sigh escaping her lips. What did she expect? That went out to smoke weed or relive myself of the immense pain I was feeling by drinking? Skye means well and I know that, but sometimes she's just too much.

"Ohh, Thank God. I thought you..." She started talking again but I cut her off.

"You thought I what? Went out to get high?" It was meant to be an harmless joke but with the way she widened her eyes in shock, I realized that she had taken me serious.

"Have you been smoking!" She lamented, placing her hand over her head like a dramatic Nigerian mother. I scoffed and started walking away from her. Then she started following me from behind.

"I asked you a question, Jamal!" She held my hand to stop me and I stopped, not wanting to cause any sort of drama because the entire auditorium was filled up and what else is more dramatic than twin siblings yelling at each other.

"I have not been smoking, Skye. Can you please give me a fucking break!" I said through gritted teeth, jerking my hand away from her grasp. Skye sighed, brushing her braids to the side.

"I'm sorry. I think I am becoming really overbearing at this point..."

"You think?"

"Okay, kill the sarcasm." She rolled her eyes at me. "I'm just worried about you." She added briefly and I exhaled

"I know. But I'm fine. Besides, like I said, I just got back from Faizal's. I'll be okay." I told her and she nodded, even though I could see the uncertainty in her green orbs.

I heard a familiar cheery laughter that always turned my insides to a burst of positivity. Skye heard it too and we both turned towards the direction of the door, where the laughter was coming from. Elyon and Khalil walked through it, talking animatedly, oblivious to the fact that the were being watched.

Khalil leaned closer to her, whispering something to her which caused her face to contour in a mock grimace while she used her hand to push him away, her grimace contorting back to her beautiful cheery laugh. I looked away from them, my heart pounding furiously against my chest.

How can Faizal say that he isn't doing all this intentionally?

"You shouldn't focus on them. Don't let them get to you." Skye started but then I looked at her, a frown marrying my face.

"Stop making it seem like we didn't have a share in this. You insulted Elyon, I insulted her. We didn't do right by her."

"Don't you think I know that?!" She snapped back at me. "I feel guilty every day, remembering those awful words I said to her. I wasn't fair on her but that was the price to pay for having your back!" She countered, stabbing her pointer finger to my chest. I scoffed, shaking my head.

"You want to have my back? Then try finding a way to fix everything because I would stop at nothing to get my girl back. I need Elyon back and if you want to have my back, you will help me get her back." I stated, eyes locked with Skye's and my gaze unwavering. All, so she could see how serious I was.

"Skye!" Somadina's voice jerked us out of our mini staring contest. "We need to get everyone settled and we need to start as soon as possible. The guest speaker is around and she must not walk in on a rowdy room." With that, Soma walked away. I looked at Skye.

"We will talk later. Go find somewhere to sit." She rapped, walking away from me. I sighed, massaging my temple. Vanessa and Mateo saw me, beckoning for me to come to them.

Trying to empty my mind and wanting nothing more but to focus on the symposium, I walked towards their side to sit.

☆☆☆☆

"Good afternoon, Everyone. My name is Somadina Charles Dike. I am the head boy of this set and I would also be your host for this symposium." Somadina began, pausing when everyone clapped. Our set teachers had already begun to troop in ones and twos, situating themselves at corners of the hall.

"Why are they boning face?" Mateo asked, referring to the teachers that were win the hall. "They want to look serious in front of the guest speaker?" He joked and I chuckled, looking back at the podium to see Somadina's mouth moving but I wasn't hearing anything he was saying  because of the noise makers at my left and at my right.

"I heard the woman is a renown therapist and she has lived in Canada for a very long time. She came specifically to Nigeria for this very symposium. I think we should be honoured." Vanessa chipped, her hands swinging in gestures for emphasis.

"Princii said this was her Alma Mata." I stated, causing my friends to look back at me. "I have a feeling she'd be happy being back here. Nostalgia and what not. I don't know why I'm awfully specific but that was what came to my mind." I scrunched my nose up in thought.

"Let's listen sha, before this guys punish us." Mateo said, referring to the teachers again and I chuckled, looking back  the stage where Somadina and some of our mates were.

"Before we call on our guest speaker, a few of our mates will each talk briefly on the topic at hand, which is ADDICTIONS. We have three speakers; Chike William-Williams, Skye Bamidele and Denola Da'silva and they will each talk for five minutes." Then Somadina looked at Chike.

"Chike, the floor is yours." He stated. Everyone clapped as Chike stood up from where he was seated and mounted the podium while Somadina went to sit on the chair designated for him.

"Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Chike William-Williams and I an advocate for the fight against addictions." He paused for effect, looking around the suddenly quiet room. Then, he continued.

"What is addiction? Addiction is more than just an intense interest in something. It's way broader than that. Addiction is a medical condition that changes the structure of the brain and body and also causes a person to feel compelled to keep using a substance or keep performing an action or activity even if it's to their detriment. Now, I'm going to be talking briefly about the 'substance' part of that definition which I can term to be the use of drugs.-

Addiction to drugs is probably the most common addiction there is. When you hear about addiction, the first thing that comes to your mind is drug addiction. It is also known as substance use disorder. Drug addictions can start with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations, and, for some people, the drug use becomes more frequent, to the extent that they are unable to stop using it."

Somadina stopped him and quickly reminds him that he had two more minutes. A grumble broke out through the hall and I knew that I wasn't the only one enjoying Chike's talk. Chike nodded to what Somadina had said and looked back at us.

"I'll try to summarize everything." He said then cleared his throat to continue. "The risk of addiction and how fast you become addicted varies by drug. Some drugs, such as painkillers, have a higher risk and cause addiction more quickly than others-

As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high. Later on, you may need the drug just to feel good. As your drug use increases, you may find that it's increasingly difficult to go without the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you feel physically ill. At the end of the day, you may need help from your doctor, family, friends, support groups or an organized treatment program to overcome your drug addiction and stay drug-free. But then, getting over an addiction isn't a cake walk, so it's better not to get involved at all. Thank you."

The applause that rang out was a very thunderous one. Some even gave Chike a standing ovation, even me. He was able to hit the nail on the head in just a few minutes, passing his point across very well. Skye came up after Chike and spoke more on Drug addiction, elaborating more on Chike's points. Denola came after Skye, talking more about porn addiction which was newer and fresher.

After Denola had finished speaking, the Principal walked in, mounting the podium with a grin playing on his lips.

"Once again, let's give a round of applause to these three students." Everyone clapped again, giving cat calls and whistles as the trio went back to their seats. Soon, the rowdiness died and all attention was all the Principal.

"I am so glad that we are building great minds in this school. Our guest speaker came in just in time to hear everyone that spoke, and she was very impressed with how knowledgeable you students are." Everyone suddenly began to look around, trying to catch the face of the Guest Speaker that has remained anonymous till now. I stole a look over my shoulder but didn't see anyone.

"Maybe she's still trying to remain anonymous." Mateo chipped, settling back down.

"Don't worry," the Principal said, catching our attentions again. "I am going to introduce her now and you'll see her. Don't be impatient. But before I introduce her, I'll read her bio very quickly." Everywhere became dead silent, everyone anticipating the guest speaker.

"She was born in Abuja, on the 6th of July. She attended Crown Academy in Abuja for most of her secondary school education but transferred to this school, Limelight Academy in her final year. She graduated as one of the best in technical class. She attended Bridges University in Abuja for the first two years then travelled out of the country to Canada to continue her tertiary education and that is where she has been ever since. Stopping her architecture profession to work as a full time therapist, she has a passion to help Teenagers and Young adults going through all sorts of life crisis and she is very successful in her field. She is married to a World Renown Artist and they are blessed with four children."

World Renown Artist? Wawu! I want to meet this woman! I thought.

"With no further adieu, it is my pleasure to introduce the Guest Speaker of this symposium-" Princii paused for effect, just as we began to hear the clicking of heels on the tiled floor.

"Mrs Tiana Adebiyi-Williams."

A/N

That's how no one guessed that it was Tiana in the last update 😂😂💔💔.

In the last chapter, I put a question that "Who do you think the guest speaker is?" I was expecting everyone to bombard me with Tiana answers fa. I mean, I dropped hints like mad! I even said the guest speaker is a past student of the school! No one even answered, vilalove09 was saying that she's the one😂😂😂. If not that I love all of Una, I'll just enter your dreams 😏😏😏.

Since I started Eye of the Storm, people have been asking me to bring Tiana into this book, or at least show her once.  Now, here she is. Married to Tyler and with four children🥰😍😍. Who is excited! No one can tackle the talk on addictions better than Tiana because she knows firsthand all kinds of addictions.

This symposium is far from over though. I'll touch really sensitive topics which I hope you are ready to learn from. Let's hope that Tolani would show face at least for this time, to hear something that might probably be able to help her out🤧🤧💔💔.

I'm still going to update on Saturday, God willing. Don't forget to VOTE! COMMENT! SHARE!

See you on Saturday 😘😘🥰🥰.