It had just dawned on me that that boy was freaking half naked, only a white towel not so tightly tied around his waist. I spun around on my heels, fixed my gaze on the splash of paint on the wall and said, “You should get dressed.”

❦︎

~[VICTORIA]~

The huge, cream building was already visible from outside the black gate. A large balcony with silver railings was protruding from its front with two large pillars beneath it for support.

“Nice house.” I complimented as he drove through the gates which a dark-skinned man in a black and white uniform had opened.

“I know.” He replied as he parked under a black canopy. There were two other cars already parked under it. “Let’s go.”

We both exited his car, about to open the brown door but we both turned around when we heard someone yell in a Hausa accent.

“Ah! Oga, I don bring wipe come?”

[Boss, have you brought a wife?]

“Mr. Danladi, please just don’t start this afternoon.” Fidel growled but I could see the smile pulling at his lips as he looked at the gateman.

“I dey am por sorry, Oga.” The man – Mr. Danladi–said and planted his butt on his small bench which was just beside the gate.

[I am sorry, boss.]

Fidel shook his head, still trying to hide his smile. “This man is a handful.” He muttered to himself and looked at me. “Let’s just go in.” he grabbed my hand and dragged me in after he opened the door.

White and gold was the colour scheme of the living room, a contrast to the black and gold of my own home. White sofas with gold throw pillows were arranged in an L, facing the flat, medium sized Panasonic TV. The fancy, gold chandelier with clear crystals radiated white lights that reflected off of the spotless, white tiles and white, marble centre table which had two black remote controls on it.

“Do you need something to eat or drink? I can get something from the kitchen.” He volunteered but I declined, telling him that I was okay.

“Let’s go upstairs then, to my room.” He proceeded to continue dragging me, leading me up the straight flight of white-tiled stairs with gold railings.

The hallway was a vast space of white walls with rows of brown doors. I internally hoped that his room would not be all the way down the hall. And my I was relieved when he turned the metal knob of the third door and pulled me in.

His room was like a festival of colours. I was pretty sure every colour in the rainbow could easily be found in his room, with at least three shades each. And no, it’s not an exaggeration. The walls were not just one particular colour, not even a pattern. It was a splash of every single colour I know. Even his bedsheet was a checkered pattern of the seven colours in the spectrum. Only the furniture were plain  white.

Maybe we walked into the wrong room?

“Is this really your room?” I just had to get it out.

“Yes, why?”

“Nothing… just wasn’t what I was expecting.” I looked around, still struggling to understand how it was possible for somewhere to be so flamboyant.

“Colourful, right?” he walked over to his bed and plopped on it, sprawled out. “I like it this way.”

“Hmm.” I nodded, moving over to his white couch to sit. The way my backside sank into the soft cushion made me relax my back further into the couch. But, “We should get started with our project.”

“Yeah…” He pushed himself off the bed. “I’ll just have a quick shower.” and then he sauntered into what I assumed to be his bathroom and shut the door.

I resorted to looking around the room, taking in the beautiful chaos of the colourful room. And then a picture with a white frame caught my eyes, it was placed on his bedside table. From where I sat, I could tell it was a woman but the image was not clear enough. I raised from the couch and walked over to the photo to get a closer view of it.

Taking the picture in my hand, I squinted at it. The woman was light-skinned, just like him and she had dimples too, but not one-sided like his. The woman smiling at me looked oddly familiar, I could swear that I had seen her somewhere. If only I could just remem—

Fiona!

I took some time to look at it again. Yes, it’s her.

The woman in the picture was Fiona – SH’s principal.

“She’s beautiful, right?”

I jerked, almost dropped the photo but caught it by clasping it between my elbow and tummy.

Fidel laughed and retrieved the photo from my grip, smiled at it and placed it back on his bedside table. “My mom.”

“She’s pretty.” I glanced at the photo and looked back at him. “She’s the principal.”

He gasped, placing his hand on his chest in mock surprise. “You don’t say!”

I rolled my eyes and playfully hit his wet, bare chest.

His wet, bare chest…

It had just dawned on me that that boy was freaking half naked, only a white towel not so tightly tied around his waist. I spun around on my heels, fixed my gaze on the splash of paint on the wall and said, “You should get dressed.”

He gripped my shoulder and spun be back around, laughing right in my face. “I’m not naked for crying out loud.” The muscles of his packs flexed as he laughed and I noticed because I was openly ogling at them.

Why should someone be this ripped?

My eyes were particularly trained on the tattooed image of an infinity symbol just below the nipple of his left breast.

“I actually came out to ask if you wanted to freshen up too, y’know, take a shower?” he raised his thick brow at me.

I cleared my throat, forcing myself to look away and walk over to the couch. “No, I'm good.”

“Okay then, I’ll go put some clothes on.”

Please do.

I pressed my palm over my heart as if it would stop the way it was wildly pounding against my ribcage… because of someone’s chest.

I came here for a project not to come and have a heart attack.

°°°°°
                                                  

Fidel emerged from the bathroom, thankfully, with clothes on this time. A red tee-shirt over black joggers. He walked over to his study desk and grabbed his laptop, then came to occupy the space beside me on the couch.

“Let’s start.” He mumbled, typing away on the laptop. “You have your economics textbook with you?”

“Yeah.” I unzipped my bag and retrieved my Economics textbook and then turned to the page of our desired topic.

About forty minutes later we were done with inputting and setting up our presentation on PowerPoint.

“Finally.” I muttered as he shut his laptop. We both sank further into the couch, exhaling in satisfaction of finishing most of the work.

“We can practice the actual presentation sometime later? Tomorrow?” he turned to me to ask.

“Yeah.” I nodded and looked up at the white wall clock just above his bed. “It’s almost six, I better head home now.”

“True.” He stood up and pulled me up. “I’ll just grab my car keys.”

"Oh no, I'll just call my—"

"I insist. And I'm not taking no for an answer." Although he smiled, his voice was firm. So, I nodded, giving in.

He grabbed the keys from his bed and ushered me out the door, down the stairs and out the front door. I paused in confusion when I saw my dad’s black Audi pull into the compound. I did not call him, so what was he doing there?

Fidel also looked confused because that was definitely not his mom’s car. We both stood in front of the front door waiting for the two people in the vehicle to alight.

Dad first came out, Mrs. Fiona shortly after. They were both staring at us with as much confusion as we were them as they approached.

“What are you doing here?” Dad inquired, stopping in front of me.

I could ask you the same.

“I came here for the project I informed you about.” I deadpanned. I had informed on our to school earlier in the day.

“Oh…” he scratched the back of his neck. “Well, let’s go.”

“Why are you here?” he wasn’t going to get away with this so easily.

“Uh… her car broke down earlier, so she called me for help.” He cleared his throat uneasily. “I couldn’t say no.”

“Well, I guess there’s no need to take you home now.” Fidel said as he walked over to his mom. “Goodnight, Bubbles… and goodnight, sir.”

“Goodnight.” My dad smiled at him and looked at his mother. “I’ll be leaving now, Fiona.”

The way her name softly rolled off his tongue... he didn't even say my name like that. I chose to believe that I was overthinking, then I exchanged goodnights with Fidel and his mother.

The mother and son waved us goodbye as dad drove out the compound and then I looked at dad, ready to bombard him with questions.

                                °°°°°

Dad refused to answer all my questions from last night, insisting that he needed to pay attention to the road. And when we got home? He was ‘too sleepy to talk’. But the mistake he made was thinking that I was going to let the matter die. He was the one taking me to school after all. So, I began my interrogation all over again.

“Vicky, I need to focus or do you want us to die?” he glanced at me briefly before looking back at the road.

“We’re at a red light.” I deadpanned. “And besides, you have never complained about talking and driving before.”

As if on cue, the stupid traffic started moving and a satisfied smile marred Dad’s lip. “You see? I have to focus now.”

“Dad, what is up with you and the principal?” I persisted, not taking his ridiculous excuse.

“You are stubborn sha.” He shook his head as he tsked. “Okay, I’ll tell you.”

“Mhmm? Start talking.” I adjusted on the seat and gave him my utmost attention.

“We were friends in high school and we’re just trying to catch up on lost times.” He said, not taking his eyes off the road.

I frowned, eyeing him. “That’s all?”

“Ehen? What else do you want to hear?”

“There’s something more.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I just know.”

“Me too, I know there’s something more between you and her son.” He took his eyes off the road and eyed me. “You think I would not know?”

“There’s nothing!” I shrieked. “We are only working on a project.”

“And he’s calling you Bubbles?”

I facepalmed, groaning frustratedly. “It’s a nickname he gave me, he does it with everyone.” He calls Tracy a serving tray for crying out loud!

“Carry your yeye nickname out of my car, please.” He rasped as the car came to a halt and that was when I grasped that we had driven into school already. “Just be careful and remember the daughter of whom you are.”

I laughed and unstrapped the seatbelt. “Bye, Dad.”

“Bye, Baby.”

•
•
•

A/N

Quick question. Do y'all prefer longer or shorter chapters? Comment with your preference, okay?

Victoria+Fidel ship? Anyone?👀

Who's your favorite character so long? I know for sure nobody's bout to pick Jason 😂.

Please, vote, comment, share. Help the book grow if you're enjoying it, okay?

See you in chapter 14.

Stay safe, I love you!😗♥️