“We all have to do our part, because we are all in this together and it matters.” – Hilary Clinton

Dedicated to Rihanna_Adedeji her book, Perfectly Imperfect, which is now finally completed was and is still a life changing book. She's also been a wonderful source of inspiration to me!!!!😌😌😌😊😊😊😊😊

                                       •BOLU•

When I figured the assembly was over and students would be in the hallway cruising before the first period, I decided to come out of the class and blend with them too.

"Boluwaji Jayeola!"

I heard my name from someone's mouth and I knew it was none other than Nina. She rushed towards me and crashed me in her infamous, engulfing hugs and as usual, I almost fainted.

"We missed you on the Assembly," She said after pulling away. "What happened?"

I shrugged. "Just felt like skipping assembly today."

"Hey Bolu," Ayo said and waved at me. He stood behind Nina.

I reached out for a fist pump and he obliged.

As far as I knew Ayo, he was pretty cool and good boyfriend to my best friend. They were pretty much my OTP. And I think I've mentioned that a million times.

"Where are the others..." I barely finished my sentence when a deep voiced scream resonated in the hallway. It was Fred and he caught everyone's attention.

Why on earth...

"Sorry people," he said and my classmates either hissed, rolled their eyes or burst out laughing then returned to their business.

He skipped towards me and scream-shouted again.

"Why are you screaming?" I asked, giving him a  look.

"I'm screaming 'cause girlll, have you seen how beautiful you look today? I mean you are always beautiful but mehn, have you seen you hair?"

"Oh." I resisted the urge to blush.

They noticed Ore's work.

"You seriously should stop hanging out with MJ too much, he's already affecting you negatively. Like seriously, I can't speak to Fred without him yelling on the other end of the line...geez," Ninuola said as she walked towards us, looking all annoyed.

"Welcome to my world," Ayo said and spread his arms out, grinning.

Ninu groaned and said, "No, thank you."

We all laughed.

"But seriously though, your hair is fab, who styled it for you, 'cause I sabi say you no fit pack am like this," Nina said batting her eyelashes at me.

"Oh, so you think I can't pack my hair like this abi?" I feigned hurt. "You just broke my heart."

"I love you b, but I won't lie to you, I know you can't ever pack your hair like this." She shook her head and tsked.

"Seconded, bruh," Ninu said nodding.

"Thirded," Fred added, nodding too.

I glared at them. "Such good friends, you are."

Ayo laughed.

"Where's Joy?" I asked suddenly because I wanted to change the topic (I wasn't exactly keen on mentioning the fact that Ore had styled my hair) and also because she wasn't with us.

Ninu shrugged. "Probably with her boyfriend or something..."

I heard a tinge of hurt in her voice. She looked at her phone quickly as she said it. Since the New Year's get together we had at her house, we'd never really had a chance to talk to Ninu about it. I was not sure if Nina was aware about her feelings towards Jeremy though but we seriously needed to talk about it one of these days.

Ayo furrowed his brows as if he just figured something out and was thinking about it.

"Yeah, those two ehn...make me wish I had a babe," Fred said.

I glanced at Ninu again when he said that. She remained neutral in her expression and it made me relax somehow.

"They'd be here soon, anyway," Nina said.

Just then, Joy walked towards us, looking like she was going to strangle someone.

It scared me.

Was it Jeremy that offended her?

"Whoa..." Ayo was the first to speak. "Are you okay, Joy?"

"Yeah babe, are you?" Nina asked with her tucked in Ayo's.

She almost walked past us until Fred actually dragged her back and she snapped out of whatever was happening to her and shook her head.

"Hey, guys!" She said grinning. I was surprised at how quickly the murderous look on her face changed to a very infectious grin.

Yes, I had to grin back at her.

"Joy Anne, are you okay?" I asked her.

"Wow, funny how your face just changed from that murderous look you had on to this all beautiful grinning human being," Fred said.

I saw Ninu roll her eyes.

"Eh-ehn?" Joy's brows creased like she was confused. "So I was frowning before?"

"Yes na," Nina said. "Abi you didn't know you almost walked past us?"

Joy's eyes widened in total shock before her forehead deepened more, in confusion. "Me?" She gestured her index finger to her chest. "You mean I almost walked past you guys?"

"Yup. Pretty much the message we're tryna pass across here," Ninu replied her without looking up from her phone. Her tone was void of any emotions.

Ayo furrowed his brows again and stared at Ninu for a while before looking away. Maybe he too already figured the reason for Ninu's behavior.

Joy sighed. "I'm sorry guys. My morning's been pretty messed up. First off, I didn't get enough sleep because I was preparing for today's presentation and second, my baby brother scribbled jargon on most of my work when I went into the bathroom this morning so it got me cranky, I had to redo those again all before I got to school this morning and..."

"Geez, really messed up," I said. Looks like I wasn't the only one tensed up because of this project.

Although I think Joy still looked pretty normal. I on the other hand... Well, y'all know the story.

But if you asked me how I felt right now...

I was ready. Very ready. I shut down the voices in my head completely. I decided to keep in my mind, only what I had to say to myself and I had positive things to say to myself.

Very positive things to say.

So I was feeling pretty confident about my project today.

"Yeah, sorry about that but babe, you gotta take it easy," Nina said, putting an arm around her and hugging her slightly.

"Yup. You really need to," I added.

Look at me. Pot calling kettle black.

*Insert handshake emoji*

Joy sighed. "Yeah, thanks guys. I really need to apologise to Jeremy though. I think I might have taken it out on him too much this morning when he approached me."

"Awwwwwww, couple goals," Fred cooed.

"Shut up!" Ninu said under her breath but I heard her.

"Tell y'all what, after this wonderful project, we should all hang out at that new place not too far from school, we'd really deserve a treat after this physics stuff Mr. Noah made us do," Nina said. "All on me."

"Ooh, are non-science students invited too?" Ayo asked.

"Sure, boo," Nina chided and kissed his cheek.

"That'll be really cool, thanks Nina," Joy said.

We all agreed with Nina. She was such a sweetheart. Really nice. I'd give almost anything to be as nice as she was.

"And by the way, I love your hair!!!!" Joy squealed and hugged me, scaring me a bit at first because of the sudden-ness. I laughed a little as she pulled away from me.

"Thanks."

She side hugged me again, still smiling. I just kept smiling too. Ninu looked up from her phone and at Joy hugging me. She said nothing and went back to her phone again.

We stood, gisting for a while before Chidera walked past us, waved and smiled vigorously at us with Ashley trailing behind her and rang the bell with so much vibrance and energy.

She yelled, "FIRST PERIOD!!! FIRST PERIOD! EVERYBODY IN YOUR CLASS RIGHT NOW!!! PERIODTTT!!!"

Yelled that with even more vigour, vibrance and energy.

                                |~|~|~|

Two periods passed and when the bell was rung for third period, Ore and Marybelle, our head boy and girl, made an announcement in the class.

All Science students in SSS3 were asked to move out to the hall. Yes the school hall, for the project.

I thought it would be the normal thing that we'd just stay in class during physics period and do the stuff but Mr. Noah decided to overdo it and take it to the next level. Or was it the principal's idea?

I would not be so surprised if it was actually her idea because RBA and karamo   equals 5&6. Finish.

Anyway, we packed all our stuff and moved to the relatively large hall that RBA normally used for major school events and so on. Yes it was different from the assembly hall. It was just plain cream colored walls, over one hundred wooden seats and a big stage or podium or whatever in front.

The noise increased as students filed into the place. Despite the fact that teachers told us to quiet down and arrange ourselves in an orderly manner, nobody listened and the noise became even louder.

In the end, Mr. Noah had to come and tell us how to seat by himself. We were to sit with our group members in a particular column set aside for the SSS3s.

It was later we figured all the students in the school were told to attend the 'seminar'
That's what they called it, a seminar.

That only made me extra nervous that someone would have thought I had ADHD.

Of course, I was pretty confident in myself but it didn't stop me from being a nervous wreck. I was super nervous.

I exhaled for the umpteenth time, rubbing my palms together before I took my seat beside my group members.  I waved at them and they acknowledged me too. To my left, Ini was seated with Alvin and Nonso beside her. Gift and Ore were still not here.

Speaking of Ore, we didn't speak to each other at all since the staff closet 'incident' even though we were literally seatmates. There was still awkwardness in the air around us. Just awkward.

If it was already this awkward between us, I wondered how it'd be standing next to him during the project presentation.

God help me.

I fiddled with my fingers as I recalled everything I'd read for this physics project.

Bolu calm down.

You got this.

I exhaled.

I can do this.

I can...

"Are you ready for this, Bolu?"

I looked up and saw Gift Eniola staring at me. She was the one who spoke. I nodded my head...too much if you asked me. From the corner of my eye, I saw Ore talking to some other students two rows behind us.

"Are you sure?"  Ini asked and drilled holes into my skin with her stare.

I swallowed and said, "Yup. I'm prepared."

"Better be oh, 'cause..." Ini started again when Alvin cut her off.

"Geez Ini, flex the babe na. She talk say she don prepare. Issokay abeg."

Nonso remained quiet.

"I'm just making sure," Ini replied him with a shrug.

Gist ticked something on the notepad she held. "Good then, everything's all set. Nonso and Alvin have all the tech stuff covered."

Just then, Ore walked to us.

The group except, Nonso and I, exchanged excited greetings with him. I mumbled incoherent words and looked down at my fingers, trying not to blush.

I wasn't successful though, for the record.

Gift wanted to sit in between both of us but Ore told her to take the other seat and he sat beside me.  She wasn't pleased.

Then next, he whispered; "You okay?"

"Yup." I nodded. "A lot nervous but I'm okay, nothing I can't handle."

He slowly took my hand in his, they were so warm, and squeezed them. I wanted to remove my hand but I just couldn't.

"You'll do great!" He assured.

"I know," I replied and he was shocked - even I was shocked - at my reply but he just replaced it with a smirk.

"Getting really confident, now are we?"

"Uh- huh..." I drew out.

"That means you've been a real good student."

I smiled genuinely at him. "Yeah."

"And I've been an amazing teacher. Not just hot but drop dead gorgeous..."

"Shut up!" I said and glared at him playfully. "Cocky idiot."

He chuckled. Winked at me and was about to say something else when Gift interrupted.

"Um...Ore, you guys might wanna listen now." She nodded towards the stage/podium.

There and then, the principal was holding a microphone, dressed all chic, very corporate(too corporate for my liking) her grandma glasses way below her nose bridge, her hair pulled up in a bun, lips touched with red lipstick, peached colored satin blouse tucked in a maroon straight skirt. She had a tie knotted round her neck too. Yes, a tie. Don't be so surprised bruh.

The whole hall went dead quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"Good afternoon students!" The sound of her voice resonated in the hall.

"Good afternoon ma'am!" We replied in imperfect unison.

"You all might not know the reason you were called here but I'll let you know..." She cleared her throat. "So it seems some of our SSS3 students, that will graduate soon, were told to work on a physics project... choosing from various topics in the subject..."

I blocked out the part she explained to our juniors what we were going to do because we already knew what we were going to do.
I started listening again when she said:

"It was my idea to let it be more like a seminar..."

As if I knew!

"And it's a brilliant idea because we all get to learn from our rising champions. They also get to learn from their fellow classmates and teachers...all in all its an unending learning cycle and that's why I was very pleased when Mr. Noah and the Vice Principal told me about it..." She exhaled slightly. "So..." She looked at Mr. Physics and the VP, who nodded at her before she looked back at us again. "We may proceed."

                                      •ORE•

Three sets of students had done their presentation and judging from how they'd presented, they were like good, better, best.

Honestly.

The first group was good but they were probably too nervous and missed out on some things 'causing them to be just good. The next group probably picked on their mistakes and made a note not to commit them and then became better. The next group after that did the same and so far, they were the best.

Only two groups left before my group would present.

It still baffled me why on earth RBA had to make a big deal out of things. Correction, it still baffled me why on earth our prim and perfect principal had to make a big deal out of this.

The next group had Ninuola Adams and Jire Umubi, her seatmate in it. They were the only ones I knew and whose names I could remember out of the six of them.

They walked up to the stage and started their presentation. They spoke on the topic - Simple A.C circuits.

From the looks of things, I figured Ninuola was in charge of the group. She was clearly in control of everything. And the last time I saw her talking about it, she looked like she didn't care.

Anyway, she'd said she'd make her seatmate do all the work... which was actually true... Ninuola was in charge but Jire and her other members did most of the work.

Ninuola and I had a weird kind of friendship. We only mostly talked online, at least that was before SSS3. Before we even knew we'd sit close to each other, before we knew our friendship groups would enlarge.

She was a savage no-nonsence person and an extreme extrovert but still had only a few friends. She talked a lot but didn't just talk to anyone or anywhere.

She was always in control of herself and people around her...most times.

In a matter of minutes, Ninu's group had finished and then the next group went. Before you know it, it was our turn.

I occasionally glanced at Boluwaji, whose hand hadn't left mine since the beginning because I wanted to make her feel comfortable.

Compared to the way she looked this morning (lmaoo) to now, she looked pretty relaxed. I could tell she was still nervous though, she squeezed my hand unconsciously from time to time.

I guess y'all know how she came in this morning but my hands worked the magic later.

I didn't even know I could do something that good. I got her looking like a freaking goddess. She really liked it but things turned out pretty awkward between us after I brought up a particular topic.

I wished I didn't but I just knew I had to.

I didn't want her feeling like I'd take advantage of her or something. Even though I'd pretty much concluded I had feelings for Bolu, I knew I had to keep myself in control. I should not have made that move to kiss her that day.

That's why I apologized.

And also because, you know, I had a girlfriend.

One. Major. Wahala.

She slipped her hand away from mine as we stood up and walked to the stage or podium or whatever. I missed the tingles I felt just by holding her not-so-small hand.

We got to the stage and Bolu stayed beside me as I'd told her earlier. Nonso and Alvin got busy setting up the tech stuff while Ini went backstage to put on whatever scientist outfit she'd need to put on. Gift wasn't really going to do anything except hand over the spiral bound document to Mr. Noah once we were done.

"Good day everyone," I started and the students burst into a round of applause.

Perks of being a secondary school superstar.

You get hyped up even without doing anything.

I smiled. "Good day everyone. I'm Oreoluwa Jumai and our project is based on the topic - optics..."

Another round of applause echoed in the whole hall and Bolu stepped forward. I nodded at each of my group mates and they nodded back at me.

And when Bolu opened her mouth to speak... I could only marvel.

Hey!

Wassup?

Me? I'm stressed out. Writing this was kinda hard and took me too long.

😩😫😫😫

Anyway, this ain't the end because if I were to continue, it would be too long and frankly, right now, I ain't got the strength to continue 😩😩😫

But don't worry, I'll update the next chapter most likely later today or tomorrow sha🌚

And yeah, I'll save us all the stress of doing physics lectures on wattpad😂😂😂😂😂

So... your thoughts on this chapter??

Y'all gotta fill me in.

Random question: What have you been up to lately?

Me: Reading books.😁

If you haven't followed my IG page please follow up. I keep begging you guys🙁🙁😕

I'm gonna do a Q&A session for my characters on my status so please follow up. It's @ i.f.e_b.writes God bless you.

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~Ife.