As long as you have me and I have you, we'll always scale through— together.

~Ruby T.

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This chapter is dedicated to Vaiironica she's a sweetheart. Really.😂❤️ Thank you for being patient with me.

We may begin! Skrrrrrr!

_____°•°_____

*Unedited.*

•AYO•

“Thanks a lot, bro!” Mide, my little sister said and wrapped her arms around me in an embrace once I was done helping with her math assignment.  

I smiled at her and ruffled her rough braids which she’d let down the sides of her face. “Anytime.”

She grinned, because we both knew she liked it when I ruffled her hair. But the grin suddenly morphed into a frown. “Anytime, you say. But if I ask you for Senior Ore’s number, you never give it to me. Shane has his number!”

I shook my head and laughed. “Why don’t you just get it from her instead?”

“Because it will bruise my ego. She stole it from her brother’s phone. I don’t want to steal, that’s why I’m asking you honorably. Plus, Shane won’t just give it to me.” She crossed her arms and pouted. 

“You’re adorable, but no. I’m not giving you Ore’s number.” I ruffled her hair again.

“I don’t like you!” She stomped her foot hard on the floor and up the stairs to her room.

I sighed.

Kids these days…

What did she want to do with Ore Jumai’s phone number? My guy was going through a lot, I could see it. And apart from that, I did not want my little sister getting involved in any RBA drama because of the school’s star boy. It wasn’t like my life was any better or something, but right now, as much as I liked the guy, I did not want to be Ore Jumai.

As I stood up, about to leave the dining, my dad walked in with a suitcase. Apparently, he had just returned from his business trip. He was dressed in his usual corporate outfit, but this time, it was a light brown tuxedo and a white shirt worn underneath. His beards had turned white and he needed to shave. His hair was also a little overgrown. I did not even know he would be back today.

I walked towards him and welcomed him, attempted to take the load from his hand, but he stopped me and said, “I heard of your feat with basketball in the just concluded interhouse sports competition, your mother told me about it. Even though your team didn’t win, scoring with a three-pointer is indeed legendary. I’m proud of you, son. And I want you to know that.”

I beamed up at him, because as tall as I was, my old man was still taller than me. He was smiling too, and I noted, once again, the stunning similarity in the way we smiled. “Thanks, dad.”

He patted me on my shoulder and finally let me carry his case for him to where it belonged. I was happy that finally, he had acknowledged my love for basketball. And maybe someday, he would stop being so keen on what I was good or wasn’t good at— even if he had his reasons.

I threw that thought deep into the back of my mind and headed upstairs to my room, just opposite Mide’s. Closing the door behind me, I collapsed on my bed, letting my mind wander on today’s activities. The wandering stopped when it got to my girlfriend, Nina. Over the week, we had hardly spent any time away from each other on school grounds, but she still had not told me anything. 

Nothing I could really work with to try and help her. Deep down, though, I had an inkling to what I think might be wrong with her. The weight loss, sudden tiredness, drained energy, and most of all, the long, black, deep scar I had seen at the back of her thigh that day. at the back of her thigh. It was something that could never be erased from my mind. Though I only caught a whiff of it, it gave me something I could work with. And I so wanted to be wrong about my findings.

I rolled and laid on my bed face-up, picked my basketball from the floor beside me, and started throwing it up and down—a habit I had gotten accustomed to each time I had stuff to think about.

After I saw the scar, I’d followed up Nina’s ‘symptoms’ online, without telling her or anyone, of course, and all my research led me to one thing: she was being abused— physically. But yeah, it was still something I could not prove. I had tried to convince her to open up to me, secretly searched other parts of the body for any other scars. But I did not want to look like a creep, so I kinda stopped.

My phone dinged and I jerked my head to the side, surprised. I didn’t remember turning on my mobile data. Turned it off because I was done talking with Nina and MJ would only disturb me with useless stickers. Honestly, I still did not know why I hadn’t yet blocked him.

Sitting up and resting my back on the headboard, I grabbed my phone from the table beside me. Turned it on to see it was an actual text message from Bolu telling me to come online on WhatsApp because she had something important to discuss with me. I obliged, switched on my mobile data, and headed straight to WhatsApp. Archiving all unimportant chats, I then went to Bolu’s DMs.

After we hi-ed each other again, next thing she typed was,

Something’s up with Nina and we need to help her.

I fought the urge to scoff and roll my eyes at how slow a best friend she was. No, I had never had anything against Bolu. But the fact that she was just figuring this out and telling me now irked me. It just did. I mean, weren’t best friends supposed to be very observant about each other? Sighing, I ran a hand down my face and proceeded to type a reply. 

Me: I know. And I think I have an idea of what might be wrong with her.

Bolu: You do? Wow. Observant boyfriend to the rescue. Sue me, because I haven’t really thought of anything exactly. I've been worried about her, you know?

I smiled. Bolu is ever the hype man, even in serious situations. Plus, I think she already knew she had messed up as a best friend, you know, based on her reply. There and then, the little resentment I had for her vanished. She cared after all.

Me: Yes, I do. Hype man. 😒😂

Bolu: Lmao. Tried talking to her today, but once her phone rang, she ran off. Man, it was then I put what you’d said about earlier and everything happening now together. I deserve an award for the slowest best friend of the year.

Me. Yeah, I agree. You do.

Just what exactly was the thing with Nina’s phone always going off and causing her to run off? I knew it was now a general problem, so to say, now that Bolu mentioned it. But I did not bother telling Bolu about the phone thing on my side. What use would it be?

Bolu: Lmao. 😂 You’re low-key mean. Okay. So, what do you suggest we do?

I puffed air out of my mouth. My fingers were hovering over the keyboard. When it felt like I was taking too long to give a reply because I was busy calculating things in my head, another text from her came in.

Bolu: I think we should inform the rest of the gang. Maybe when we are together, we’d think better. You know, we are pretty smart individually, but I think we’ll be smarter together.

I read what it twice. And I saw sense in what she said. I had never been one to do things with a group before. Heck, I had never even had or been in a group of friends— I only had MJ and basketball, maybe— until now in RBA, and it felt really good. Even though I was mostly secluded, they never actually left me out of anything when we came together. Plus, other sides of my personality came out when I was with them. For example, the humorous and foodie sides of me I did not know I had.

Me: This makes a whole lotta sense. Like I said, I have an idea of what might be wrong with her, but I’d rather I said nothing until I was sure. We’ll all just talk on Monday, then. Since the study session day is still kinda far. Ninu really hasn't changed her mind on anything, has she?

Bolu: Actually, no. She hasn’t. And I’m really curious to know your idea.

Me: Let me make sure I’m right before I spew anything. Monday's best.

Bolu: Okay, slay. Till Monday!

Slay? What exactly was I slaying? This Bolu sef… I chuckled and shook my head.

Me: Yeah.

Bolu: I’ll still call her, though. Just so you know.

Me: Alright.

Bolu: Yeah, bye.

Me: Bye. 

I dropped my phone beside me on the bed after my reply. Bolu and I hadn’t really talked much in person before, so it was not surprising that our chat ended almost awkwardly. We had only had a very meaningful conversation once, and it was when Sukky and his geng came to ruin it, confusing the heck out of Bolu. Honestly, I was really glad she never brought up that incident.

My mind went back to Nina. Again, I hoped I was wrong about the abuse. I really hoped so, because it would traumatize the life out of her. And I understood what trauma was, I understood because of what happened back then…

My phone dinged and this time, it was a text from an unknown WhatsApp number. The message was a group invite link. I checked the profile of the unknown number, nothing was there, not even a name to identify them with. I furrowed my brows, beginning to get suspicious. I then clicked on the group link to get the info; I saw it was for ex members of a karate club I used to attend a few years back— Samurai Rangers.

I sighed and shook my head. Karate was a part of me that really did not need reawakening. It was all in the past now. All…in the…

Suddenly, the image of Sukky and his Geng among the students in the bleachers, wearing the orange shirt that made me resent the color itself. The orange shirt. The dark room that was once lit. The orange shirt. The dark room becoming dark. The orange shirt. The dark—

I held my head in my hands and groaned. My breathing increased and I stood up, taking slow steps to the bathroom since it felt like my knees were about to give away. I was supposed to be over this. I was supposed to be over this. I really was.

Getting to the bathroom, I turned on the tap and splashed water on my face multiple times until I was calm. Then I raised my head and stared at my bloodshot eyes in the mirror. There was only one reason I was triggered that easily again. I was too sure it was because either one of Sukky and his Geng had sent that group invite to me. They were not going to give up on blackmailing me. They really weren’t.

•ORE•

Tired.

I was tired.

It was only a few days after the show-down between Ashley and Chidera, and, to God who made me, I was freaking tired. Exhausted. I was stressed out from pretending to be the good and perfect boyfriend to the queen bee who just got served breakfast by her best friend. I was tired of holding her hand and she being clingier than ever to me. I was tired of being the sensitive person who could not let his girlfriend know he never loved her and was rather in love with his seat mate.

I was so tired of all the lies.

I was tired of being Ore Jumai.

As I looked up at Jeremy’s bed above me, I was barely holding it together. All I wanted to do was bolt out of this hostel, grab Bolu and escape with her to our happily ever after. But this was no fairytale. It was reality, and things did not work like that. I sighed, placed both hands on my face and blew air into them. Out of everything that’s been going on, I never saw what Ashley did coming. Yes, I did notice that Ashley had been behaving out of character, so to say, but I did not think their friendship would go down that way.

I always thought they had a really tight bond that could never be broken. But maybe I just chose to be blind, because now that I look at it, it was pretty obvious that Ashley had looked more like a sidekick to Chidera than her friend. Well, who even knew with girls? Always complicated with their stuffs and all.

Imagine, when Chidera had told me to step into the situation— which, frankly, wasn’t my place to — Ashley had bluntly told me to step out. I mean, ouch. Shenking of the highest order and a bruise to my ego. Of course, I was embarrassed for Chidera, but again, ouch!

Ashley shenked me in front of everyone: junior students, senior students, and others from outside our school. I caught sight of those girls from Ashley’s party, ones whose names I couldn’t even remember. I knew they had seen me, but I pretended not to see them. But then, all these did not even matter anymore. I’d long ago thrown out the feeling I got from being popular. Being popular right now just meant more and more drama, more people stalking your life, wanting to expose your dirty secrets. Being popular, getting hyped by fans and followers wasn’t in any way helping me solve my issues. All it did or had done, was suppress them to make them more magnified. Like I said, I was tired of being Ore Jumai. 

I couldn’t go on and be an insensitive human by telling Chidera the truth about me and Bolu. My second shot at getting to say the truth was stolen from me by the universe. Thanks a lot, Universe. Really. It was indeed lovely to know how much the Universe adored me.

To top it all, today was another Monday to endure the pain of being Chidera’s understanding boyfriend. On Friday, when I finally got to talk to Bolu after class and Chidera sorta released me, I thought she would be angry. But she was not. She understood the dilemma I was in and all I’d wanted to do at that moment was just kiss her. But of course, I could not. I texted her later, though.

We talked for quite a long time and she told me I should take my time with everything. And that as much as she wanted to stop hiding, Chidera was a human being and needed someone by her side. She also said that everything else would fall in place and I’d find the right time to tell her the truth. She wanted me to be all right. I was speechless. Speechless because I did not think she would be that understanding.

We chatted about other things, letting the matter slide of our backs for a while. Then, I ended our conversation online that night with something that shocked even me. I ended it with three words—four, if you’re counting: I love you, Boluwaji. It shocked me because it was the first time the words felt so real coming from me. I’d typed and said those words countless times to Chidera knowing deep within me that I had never meant them. Not once. And, I swear, I almost shed a tear when Bolu told me she felt the same way.

I did not remember when I had fallen in love with her, I just knew I did. Our confession of love to each other was the highlight of my Friday night. But even with that, after we ended the conversation, I was back to thinking about the whole Chidera situation. At this point, nothing could get it out of my mind. 

“Guy, aren’t you going to get dressed for school? It’s almost seven,” one of the guys said and I broke out of my thoughts to see Oche staring down at me, both his brows raised.

I shook my head and looked around me, seeing that all the guys were getting ready for school. Then my eyes widened as I fully registered what he said. “Oh, shit!” I stood up from my bed and grabbed my towel, running to the bathroom. 

“Omo, overthinking don carry my guy where e no know,” I heard another of them comment. It sounded like Josh’s voice. They made other comments, the sound of water from the shower drowned all their voices out.

I really had spent a lot of time thinking, because I remember waking up and checking the time on my phone and seeing four a.m. When had the guys even gotten up? When had Jeremy climbed down from the bed and I didn’t feel it? I made my showering quick and in no time, I was out of the bathroom and putting on my school uniform.

As I picked up a comb to run it through my hair, I noticed most of the guys were staring at me. Jeremy was at his corner, placing his books in his bag. Fikayo just sat on one of the beds, flipping through the pages of a book like he was in an entirely different world. Phillip was all dressed for school, but apparently, he needed another morning nap, so yes, he was sleeping.

I narrowed my eyes and dropped my hand to the side slowly. “What?”

“Are you okay?” Fawaz asked, and for the first time in so many years, he looked and sounded very serious. Jeremy snorted, like he knew the answer to Fawaz’s question.

I managed a smile. “Yeah, sure. I’m fine.”

Jeremy snorted again and I turned to look at him. He was still filling his bag with books. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I exhaled and shook my head.

“But you don’t look fine,” Oche said. “You’ve been keeping to yourself a lot. And you don’t even indulge our stupidity anymore. It’s making us feel really stupid.”

When he said that last part, I laughed. I just had to. "Look, guys," I started. "I'm fine. Really."

All of them narrowed their eyes at me and, trust me, it was the most awkward moment ever. But I endured all their stares until Josh broke it and sighed. "Okay oh. Just know that we got you."

"Yeah," Fawaz said. "Make we go chop abeg."

Tobi walked to where Phillip was 'napping' and slapped the back of his leg. Hard. It was enough to snap him awake. Before Phillip could yell whatever, Tobi held up his hand and said, "Time to eat."

That was enough to shut Phillip up and make him trail behind them groggily as they filed out of the room.

Only Jeremy was left with me in the room. He was done stuffing his backpack with books. Slinging his bag on his shoulders, he walked out of his corner and faced me. Crossed his arms and stared directly into my eyes. Again, always one to see through me.

"Bro, you've got to fix whatever is up, and you've gotta fix it now. I have this weird feeling that something's about to go really wrong if you don't fix it," he said, straight to the point.

I sighed. Pinched the bridge of my nose as I hung my head. "Fine. You're right. I'll do it. Today."

He stared at me longer before saying, "Okay." Then he reached out to punch my shoulder. I grinned. He winced.

"Ouch. Na iron man costume dey your shoulder? Wetin be this abeg?"

I only threw my head back and began laughing. Together, we walked out of our room and to the dining hall. After breakfast, just as I was about to leave the hostel and get into the bus, my phone dinged with a text message. I took my seat in the bus before I checked and my smile faded.

It was a text from Aisha. Not bothering to check its content, I removed the bubble, turned on flight mode, and threw my phone into my backpack. I was determined to do something else today. And that was to tell Chidera the truth.

____°•°____

When the bus pulled over in the school's parking lot, I didn't bother to wait for the rest of the hostel guys to walk with me like I usually did, no. I headed straight for the entrance. But I guess I should have waited, because I was not prepared for the stares and whispers I got once I got into the school building.

It wasn't unusual for me to get stared at, because it was mostly from admiration. But this, this was different. I flashed my usual grin at the students, but they scowled at me instead. I furrowed my brows and wondered what was up.

It got worse when I climbed up to the SS3 block. The whispers were louder now and I could hear different voices say things like:

"Always acting like he was so perfect."

"Who knew he was a cheat?"

"Geez, I can't believe I'd wanted to date him so bad."

"Las las, fowl yansh don open. E don cast!"

The whispers were one thing, the scowls and glares I received were another thing. This was never something I saw coming. I mean, I knew I didn't live for it anymore, but the whole of RBA loved me. What was all the hate I was seeing in their eyes right now?

"What's going on?" I asked nobody in particular. Of course, nobody replied. Then I turned around to see the hostel boys heading my way. They were all looking at their phones. I decided to throw the question of why they — hostel boys except me— had their phones with them, and ask them instead what was up with the whole of RBA's students today.

When they got me, Jeremy placed an arm on my shoulder and said quietly, "Bro, check your phone."

My face was a mask of confusion as I stared at all of them, silently pleading with them to tell me what was going on. But none of them gave me an answer. They just stared ahead, like something else was behind me.

I did as I was told and took my phone out of my backpack, turned off flight mode. Immediately, another message from Aisha came in. Mistakenly opening the bubble, I read the text message without wanting to. And as quick as it was, I knew the content of the message. It was simple: They'd found Liyah and dad wanted me home as soon as possible to get back to preparing for the marriage between both of us.

I closed the bubble, turned on my mobile data and headed straight to our set's WhatsApp group chat. There were some photos forwarded to the group, I knitted my brows and looked at Jeremy, who used his head to tell me keep going. I did…and I wish I never did.

Because what I saw in those photos…just about shredded me to pieces.

Phew!

Okay, hi there!

How are y'all, my beautiful readers? Here's another update for you oh.🥲 Ngl, this chapter hard me oh. I had to cancel and change some parts before I considered it ready for posting. It's always hard to write in Ayo's POV because he's sorta a very delicate and deep character. Dunno if y'all have noticed.

Anyway, what do y'all think Ore saw? I'm sure it's what I think y'all are thinking. But you see, I don't know what y'all are thinking. Lmao. Hehe.😂🌚

P.S. What did you notice about Ayo in this chapter? Are we getting closer to his secret? Are we? ARE WE? TELL ME, ARE WE??!

Just fasten your seatbelts and hold on tight, you're read for a ride and a great big surprise!

All right. I'll do my best to drop the next update soonest. Because this chapter is sorta a cliffhanger. 😂🤧🤧

All right, enough talk. Anticipate the next chapter soon! Let's finish WWAT together, yeah? Yess!!!

Remember to be kind. It goes a long way.❤️

Pray for Nigeria.❤️

Stay safe and loved.❤️

Vote. Comment. Share.

March is your best Month yetttt!

God bless you now and always.❤️

~Ife.❤️🌹✨