~Giwa~

"I hope we all now understand how to differentiate a noun phrase from a noun clause?" Ms. Owunam, the English teacher said, as she literally scanned the entire class thoroughly, with her eyes looking above the glasses that hung on her nose.

I sighed to myself before proceeding to look at my watch. It's exactly five minutes to the end of this class, and I cannot wait for this woman to leave. I absolutely hated first periods on Tuesdays. Apparently, Hassana did too. As she sat by my side, leaning on her desk, looking all bored and frustrated with the class, I realised her English notebook was opened infront of her and she had not written a single thing on it since the class started. To be honest, I'm not sure if she'd been listening in class. It amazes me how somehow she still gets good grades.

Ms. Owunam, who I saw had already noticed Hassana's lack of enthusiasm started to slowly walk round the entire class, making sure to not pass every row as she went onn and onn about Grammatical functions.

Being as dramatic as she usually was, a smallish woman to say, she walked first past the first two rows where Idara Ekan and the others occupied, looking them closely like she was scrutinizing, then to the middle row where basically Yure and Krisdana sat, skipping an empty seat that Ivandor, who I could see was absent in class, should have been sitting on, before squinting her mean stare at  Nova and Shade by the empty seat, making both sort of cawar back a bit in fear. The new sitting position has been off to her since last week. She eventually moved past them to Sean and Marcus' row; the art students that sat directly in front of us. Then finally, to my row at the back of the class, where she was originally headed to from the start. She stood by Hassana's seat and slammed her hand on her desk, causing Hassana to jolt up in shock.

"Alfa!" She scolded. "If you find my class so unbearably boring, you can as well leave" she said, with a stern voice.

Hassana grudgingly adjusted and managed to sit upright, her face looking so frustrated.

Ms. Owunam started making her way back to the front of the class. And just as she got there, I noticed her getting distracted. Her slightly shocked look was fixed at the door of the class and slowly everyone in class started to look that direction as well to see just who it was, standing by the door, as though they were asking permission to come into the class at about two or three minutes to when it was supposed to be over. We were all certain about one thing; Ms. Owunam hated lateness.

"Fejaun?!" Ms. Owunam went.

Ivandor stood there by the door of the class.He akwardly ran his hands through his brown hair, down to his neck, and rubbed on it for a few seconds, tilting his head a bit as he looked at a raging Ms. Owunam who looked like she was about to throw some serious backflips.

At the other side of the classroom, I saw his cousin, Krisdana who looked a bit confused as to why he was so late to class. His friends, Yure and Nova, actually looked like they already knew, but were rather worried about the consequences of his lateness.

"How dare you show up to my class by this time?" Ms. Owunam said, her voice, having an edge to it.

Ivandor said absolutely nothing. What could he possibly say that would make Ms. Owunam understand?

Just as Ms. Owunam opened her mouth to speak again, the bell for second period went. I saw a small smile forming on Ivandor's lips, but never fully showing itself. He'd escaped Ms. Owunam's wrath. Typical case of saved by the bell.

The whole class became so noisy as all the art students started getting out their stuff to leave the class. Our next period was Chemistry, so we were going to be having a combined class with Ss3C Science students, who were probably on their way to our class right now. The Art students in my class however, were heading to Ss3C to meet up with their Art Students for Government Class.

Ms. Owunam grudgingly started packing her books that were on the form teacher's desk, totally trying her best to not pay attention to Ivandor anymore as the Art students were already standing up to leave the class. Ivandor moved a little from the door, to the side, giving way for the Art students to leave the class. Krisdana, paused as she got to the door where Ivandor stood by, and it looked like they had a conversation that lasted for just seconds before she left with the art students. As soon as Ms. Owunam left the class, Ivandor's smile came fully on his face and he made his way into the class.

"Giwa!" Hassana whispered to my hearing as he walked in. I scrunched up my nose at her excitement.

What was even doing her?

However, Ivandor, who I thought should have been walking towards his friends who sat a few seats infront of us, surprisingly just walked past them after greeting them swiftly. And I realized he was now walking towards..wait..my seat?

Jesus Christ. What's he doing?

Even Yure and Nova looked hella confused as they turned back to watch him walk towards my seat. Shade, who sat by Nova's side, had her brows squeezed together in more confusion than the boys infact. Asides Hassana, noone else knew he had texted me that Saturday.

Hassana however nudged me and I fought the urge to push her back. And as soon as Ivandor got to where I sat, he took the seat in front of mine and turned it around to face me. Then he sat on it, before raising his head up to look me dead in the eyes, piercing his hazel eyes into mine like he was trying to get into my mind or something.

I noticed Hassana covering her mouth and giggling. What part of this was funny to her?

"What are doing here?" I said, with the plainest tone I could possibly use.

His face broke into a smirk and Hassana's giggling cut in. This time, he sort of glanced at Hassana for a second and back at me.

"I know you're not deaf" I deadpanned.

This boy has to be the wierdest individual I've ever encountered in my life. Why would someone just walk up to you and you're the one begging them to speak?

"Actually.." he started.

Oh wow. So he talks.

"I wanted to tell you that you don't have to worry about the whole Dynamis thing. Figured it was difficult for you to make out time for it since you're really busy.." He said. "So..I already spoke to the Jss1s' and I've gotten the list for Mr. Odum. That's just what I've been up to all morning." He finished.

I looked at him to continue.
Was that all?

"That's all" he said, like he read my mind.

"Okay" I replied, as I looked at him dead straight without flinging.

He sort of laughed at my answer and smacked his lips together for a second.

"Is that all you can say?" He asked me, with his eyes lightening up a little like he was actually waiting to hear more.

"What else am I supposed to say." I said. Yes, I said. Not asked. It sounded more like a statement, than a question.

"Uhh.. Thankyou..maybe?" He said in a suggestive tone that made me mentally roll my eyes.

"Why? It's not like I asked you to do anything for me" I replied. I heard Hassana who was beside me making a sound at my rude reply. I tried my best not to laugh.

"Wow, that's rude" He said. But he didn't sound offended, rather amused.

"Yeah like how you snubbed me on Monday ba?"

I cannot believe I just said that out loud.

However, Ivandor's face contorted to a more sober look and he twisted his mouth to the side a bit. Wait - was he actually feeling guilty?

Through the corner of my eyes, I noticed Hassana  looking confused. Yes, she wasn't aware of the fact he literally acted like I was nothing last week. But the way she is so attentive to our conversation and neither of us is addressing it though..

"I'm sorry about that" Ivandor said to me. "I was not just having it that day. But it doesn't matter because it had nothing to do with you, so you didn't deserve it"

"Hmph" came my reply.

"Should have said sorry long before now" he said.

"You think.." I replied. My eyes darted away from him and to the English textbook opened in front of me. There was a wierd silence for a few seconds.

"Is that why you blocked me on Whatsapp though?" I heard his voice finally say.

Wait..
So he did text me?
It wasn't a mistake after all.

I raised my head up to look at him, trying my best to keep my face impassive.

"Ivandor, can go back to your seat now" I said plainly.

"Giwa..

"Can you leave, please?" I said, with the most polite tone I could possibly dig up. It still didn't do too well to hide the exxasperation in my tone anyway.

Fortunately, Class C Science students started matching into our class. That meant Mr. Shola, the Chemistry teacher would be here any minute. I could see Aaron and Casper coming in first, amongst the Class C Science students, as though they led their class - which they probably did on a norm anyway. And then Chika Chioma and her clique aka the Igbo Sisters, following up behind them, laughing very loudly. The rest of the entire class shuffling their feet as they trooped in.

"Guess, I'll talk to you later" Ivandor said to me. I didn't reply, and he stood up and put the seat he turned towards my seat back in it's former position, before going away towards his friends, to sit with them.

I don't know what exactly Ivandor has in mind, buy I can guarantee I was not ready for it. At moments like this when I was tired of the world playing games with me, all I needed was my girls. So, that afternoon during break, we all gathered in the School's Senior Restaurant to have lunch together, and I took time giving them details on the whole Ivandor gist.

"So wait..What exactly does Ivandor want?" Shade spoke up.

And yes - Shade was here with us, alongside, Hassana, Prissy and me. And to be honest, I did miss the group. Hopefully, Shade would be more open towards us this time.

We,each, had a plate of jollof rice with salad and chicken in front of us. Prissy however didn't want to eat till after sports because she said she'd be too full for it. She was apparently the only girl amongst us that did sports, so instead, she was at the counter, helping us to order drinks for our food.

"I think he likes Giwa" Hassana spoke up. "But she doesn't want to even accept that he does"

"He doesn't like me" I snorted. Even that idea sounded off to Shade as she sort of pulls her brows together.

"It's not possible. He can't like me abeg" I added, and the way the disgust in my voice came with the last statement..

That's when Prissy happened to come in, holding up a tray filled up with three plastic bottles drinks - Two Fanta and one coke.

"So you guys are we still talking about Ivandor" She said, as she sat down with the tray on the table. Shade and Hassana picked up a fanta and the coke laid there on the tray for me to pick it up.

"You guys. To be honest, that guy should legit stay clear of me. I'm not understanding this new demeanor of his" I said dryly.

Just with that last statement, the bell went. That meant Break was over, and also, Sports for the next two periods was just starting.

"Oh that's my call!" Prissy jumped. Immediately, she was up from the table and waving us all goodbye as she left the restaurant.

The rest of the girls had all day apparently. However, I needed to go back to class and tidy up a few, since I knew right after sports we'd be going back home. So, I left my food half unfinished, excused myself from the girls and started to make my way quickly back to the Ss3 Block.

As expected, the Ss3 Block was kind of rowdy as people were leaving for Sports. From where I was, I could already hear the never ending clanging of the Bells from outside. I knew already that it was Soma Best, the over active Utility prefect girls, probably walking around school and clanging the bell as furiously as she could, in the ears of those juniors who were finding it difficult to leave their classes for sports.

Sending juniors out for Sports was the duty of Ivandor and Amarachi Ukeje; the Sports Prefects boy and girl respectively. But the population of the school was too much for them to handle alone, so a little help from the other Prefects wouldn't hurt right? Even some oversabi non-prefects chased juniors out of their class sometimes. I mean, from where I was again, I could hear Ajiroghene's husky loud voice all the way from Ss2 Block screaming, "Ss2 Girls, Don't let me get you in your class!". I rolled my eyes. She wasn't even a prefect, and I can reckon she never came out for Sports for even one day as a junior herself.

My class was empty as I expected. I walked straight to my seat, opened my desk locker, and started to pick up the books I'd work with at home from it, taking my time to sort them out properly and put into my bag.

Just then in my very focused state, I heard shuffling of feet at the door of the class . I paused for a second, before looking up to the door to see who stood there..Ivandor Fejaun.

I looked at him for a while as he just stood there not saying a word to me, watching me like a wandering ghost. My eyes drifted from him back to my locker and I continued what I was doing.

He wants to act like a ghost, right? Then, I'll treat him like one.

I heard his foot steps clear as he walked further into the class towards my seat. I didn't even look up for a second. Didn't stop what I was doing either. Once he got to my locker, his hands dropped on it. That's when I looked up from them, to meet his hazel eyes staring down at me. I didn't even bother asking him why he was staring at me without saying a word. I looked back down away from him and put the last of my books into my bag. Then, I stood up from my seat, hanged the bag on my back and started to walk away from him and out of the class.

"Giwa.." I finally heard his voice call behind me. I halted on my tracks and stayed out for count of three, before sharply turning to face him.

"What!?" I snapped at him.

That smirk came on his pretty boy face again, and I swear if I was close to him, I may have slapped it right out of his face.

"Have Coffee with me" he said straight up.

Ehh? Did I just hear him correctly?

"What?" escaped my lips barely.

"I'm asking you to have coffee with me,Giwa. And yes, It means I'm asking you out on a date" he said so plainly, not even trying to code any part of it.

I paused a second, my eyes sort of darted to the ground as I went through what he just said in my head.

Is he really asking me out on a date?

That's quite ..odd.

No guy has ever asked me out on a date before..

And I don't know why..it sort of makes me feel a wierd sort of way..

Made me feel sorta ..special?

I looked back up at Ivandor, who was just standing there by my desk locker, looking at me and waiting for my answer. I swallowed, and was quiet for a moment as a wierd feeling enveloped my whole system. Then, I opened my mouth and gave him my answer.

                "No"

And with that, I walked right out of the class.

Okay..Ouch yeah😂
Uhmm.. Thoughts?????