~ happy New Year ~

⊱𝙸𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙰𝙾𝙻𝚄𝚆𝙰 𝙽𝙾𝙴 𝙰𝙳𝙴𝙻𝙴𝙺𝙴⊰

~~•~~

"Jude!" I called my boyfriend for the 100th time, trying to get his attention. Since I got here, he has been glued to his laptop and his phone, switching between the two and making and receiving endless phone calls.

"What?" He answered without even sparing me a glance.

"I'm bored."

He sighed, spinning around in his swivel chair to face me where I sprawled on the bed, propping my jaw on my palm.

"Let's make out then. That will be so much fun."

I raised a brow at him. 

Yeah, making out wasn't such a bad idea. But I wasn't in the mood for heated kisses and getting handsy. Besides, covering up numerous hickeys isn't on my list of fun activities to do today.

"So, making out is what you could come up with?"

"You're my girlfriend, and we're alone here. So what do you suggest we do apart from a make-out session?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Talk or something."

"We could talk while making out. Plus you've been disturbing me for the past one hour, so you want something." He smirked.

My cheeks grew hot.

"No!" I shot at him defensively but it was no use because the muscular boy was already getting up from his seat, approaching me with a teasing smile on his face.

I tried to put up an unaffected look, hoping that would make him back off, but he saw it as a challenge. He plopped on the bed beside me and as if I weighed nothing, Jude scooped me up and I was straddling him in no time.

"Jude!" I squealed, smacking him hard on the shoulders and he laughed like all I just did was tickle him. 

His large palm tugged me up a little and I gasped, eliciting a smirk from him. I was flushed against his chest while he had his back propped against the numerous pillows on his bed. His eyes slowly swept through the length of my face and my breath hitched softly.

"You were saying?" he asked huskily, biting his lower lip and I felt my mouth run dry.

Shit. That was hot.

"I. . ." I trailed off quietly, trying to form a single word, but the more he leaned in, the harder it became to come up with anything. My brain literally hung up on me.

The next thing I did was close up the space between us by connecting our lips in a slow, soft kiss, compelling me to snap my eyes shut. It must have lasted for a few seconds because he pulled away, his darkened orbs taking me in.

"I thought you didn't want to make out," he taunted, his voice coming out in a sexy octave that made me release a harsh sigh.

"Shut up and kiss me," I rasped.

Jude crashed his lips on mine and he wasn't subtle this time around. I had been with this boy for 3 years now and I still couldn't imagine myself getting used to how his kisses seized my breath all the damn time. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach, crushing into a fluttering mess and a moan slipped out of me when he dug his fingers into my braids, fisting them. 

My hand slipped to the back of his head and I cupped it softly. With how the heated kiss was turning my senses into mush, I barely noticed when he flipped us over and he was now hovering above me. I threw a leg around his waist, tugging him closer.

I could feel him. All of him. And when he moved erotically against me, I let out a throaty moan, feeling an overwhelming surge of heat course through me. 

The way his lips stroked against mine made me arch my body into him, meeting his muscular body halfway as it collided with mine, leaving me more turned on than I was. My palm impatiently roamed back and forth his broad back, frustration unfolding within me, as the stupid sleeveless material was getting in my way of feeling his bare skin beneath my palm.

Sensing my impatience, he broke off the kiss, drawing a wanton sound from me and I peeled the shirt off his body, capturing his lips in a fierier kiss. I ran my hands through his broad back, feeling his taut muscles against my palm. His back was hard, broad, and perfect.

He broke it off again and locked his intense gaze on mine while I breathed heavily and I found myself sucking in a harsh breath at how beautiful he looked, shirtless and hovering above me. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my jaw, causing me to throw my head backward and his lips traveled downwards, meeting the hollow of my neck, causing my legs to tighten around him.

"Jude," I rasped and he chuckled huskily, gripping my thigh possessively while sucking on the skin of my neck. I could have sworn I felt my eyes roll back in their sockets as they snapped shut in pleasure.

I tilted my head to the side to grant him more access and also cupped the back of his head to aid his movement. His hands snaked under my blouse, brushing against my bare skin and I squirmed beneath him, pushing my body against his.

Kranium's Can't Believe filled the air, quenching all the tension from earlier and yanking me off my high. Jude let out a groan against my neck and reluctantly removed his hand from where it was inside my blouse. 

I rolled my eyes, fishing for my phone beside me with my hands and I swiped the receiver's icon without stopping to check the caller ID.

"Hello,"

"Where are you?" His stern tone was a contrast to my soft one and fear gripped me for a few seconds. I did a quick scan of anything I might have done wrong before leaving the house this morning just in case, so I could prepare myself for Daddy's wrath.

"My friend's place."

"Come home," Ini said. "Aunty Maggie and her family are here."

Ehn??

"Brother Ini,"  I called, but a loud beep came from his end. The call had ended.

Great. Now my day is going to be ruined.

"You have to go."  I turned back to face Jude who was staring back at me with a blank gaze. It didn't fool me. I knew he was pissed.

"Yes. My aunt and her family are at home."

He didn't reply. He just slid his shirt over his head and rolled off the bed, heading back to his working desk.

Oh boy.

"Jude."

He was angry, and I knew I would be too if I was him. Heck, I was even annoyed. We didn't get to spend much time together because of his busy schedule, my school, and of course, my anonymity. This was one of our once-in-a-blue moon opportunities, and it got ruined. 

The phone calls, video calls, and texts weren't just enough. 

"I'll make it up to you next time."

"Yeah, you would." His sarcastic tone had me giving him an eye roll.

"Drop the attitude. I said I'll make it up to you." I said again, and when I didn't get a reply, I went over to him, wrapped my arms around his neck from behind, and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"I love you."

Just as I expected, he hesitated but eventually gave in, and with a sigh, he held my hands to his mouth, kissing them softly. I exhaled in relief as it felt like a little burden had been lifted off my chest.

"I love you too." 

Those words leaving his lips made my lips stretch into a smile and my heart flutter. 

"I'll drop you off." He offered, taking my arms off him and getting up from the chair as he took his keys from the table. A risky offer, but I could use a ride home. Not the first time he had given me a ride anywhere. It was a risk we took every time we were together. 

"Sure." 

Soon, we were on the road and on the way to my house. We stopped at a fast food drive-through, as Jude didn't want to take me home empty-handed. He never did. A car ride with Jude or a visit was never complete without him getting a thing or two for me. Except I didn't want It.

Jude thanked the lady who attended to him and wound up his window. I had my face cap and 

dark shades on so no one could recognize me if the windows were down.

The anonymous life is hard my friends.

"Here babe." He handed me two paper bags.

"Aww." I cooed, going through the mouth-watering fast food he got for me. "You spoil me too much."

"That's the point, love." He winked, eliciting a chuckle from me as I turned to drop the paper bags on the back seat. 

"Babe," He called, and as I turned to answer him, he placed his lips on mine, his hand gently cupping my face. Warmth rushed through my veins as I responded to the kiss. We took our sweet time to savor each other. No rush, even though I knew my family was back home waiting for me.

A loud honk startled us and we quickly pulled away from each other. We got so carried away that we didn't even remember we were in a freaking drive-through and blocking the car behind us this whole time. Laughing at the realization, Jude honked back and drove off.

We finally arrived at my house. We said our goodbyes to each other, then I got out of the car. Jude insisted on me going in before he drove off to make sure I got in safely. Like I would trip and fall or someone would hit me on the head with a stick and stuff me into a sack just a few steps away from my house.

With Jude still watching, I walked through the gates and into the compound, then heard his car zoom off. 

I just parted with the only thing keeping my anxiety at bay from the moment Ini called. So as I walked towards the door, my heart raced and my palms grew sweaty.  

The thought of having to face Dad and that man whom I disliked intensely made me feel sick to my stomach. My mind raced with so many negative thoughts of how wrong this gathering could go, and I just wanted to turn around and call Jude to come back and pick me up.

But I had to face them. I stood in front of the door, took in a deep breath– like that would help me feel any better– then opened the door and walked in. 

Aunty Maggie and her husband sat in the living room with my Dad and eldest brother. The four adults were discussing but stopped as soon as I was in sight.

Here we go.

"Good afternoon Daddy."

"Where are you coming from?" He queried immediately, not even bothering to give a response to my greeting. 

"Lora's house. We had schoolwork."

"What kind of school work?" He questioned again, his voice stern and uncompromising this time as he demanded an answer from me. 

A bank of lies had already been established in my head, so all I had to do was fish out a lie, feed it to him, and hope he would gobble it down and not be unnecessarily difficult.

"Sam, take it easy on the girl. She said she had schoolwork." Aunty Maggie spoke in my favor as she got up and approached me.

"Good afternoon, Aunty Maggie."

The older woman gave me a beautiful smile and pulled me into a warm hug which I reciprocated without a waste of time. I stayed in her embrace for a little while, taking in her flowery scent and relishing in the warmth and tenderness of her motherly hug. 

Almost like Mum's hugs…

She pulled away, held me at arm's length, and looked at me, still with that smile on.

"Ideraoluwa. How are you doing?" 

"I'm fine ma."

Aunty Margaret Bamidele, the only mother figure in my life. She and two of my uncles were the only ones who accepted my mom when she got engaged to Dad.

Dad's family didn't quite approve of their son marrying a foreign woman and a top model. When he confronted them, they claimed she had corrupted and turned their son against them. 

"Good afternoon sir." 

This man wasn't excluded. Pastor Andrew Bamidele has never failed to show his dislike towards us. To him, we were sinners, wayward children, and bad influences. And he and his family were the holy and pure ones. God's favourites.

"How are you, Idera?"

"Fine sir."

It took me everything not to roll my eyes and walk up to my room because I knew the act was for his wife. Not even my Dad, because he didn't give two shits about him.

Pathetic.

With all that being done, I left the living room and went up to Iyanu's room to give him a daily rant about my day. The door opened before I could even reach for the doorknob, and Aunty Maggie's first son was standing in front of me.

He was leaning against the door frame. One of his hands was resting on the doorknob, and his lips stretched in a wide smile.

"Noe, what's popping?"

I gasped in surprise.

"Mikey!"

An excited squeal left me and I pulled him into a tight hug. I could feel the deep rumble from his chest as he chuckled and wrapped his arms around me.

"It's been so long. Like a year."

"A year?" He quirked a brow like he was skeptical of my words.

We never visited them. It was clear that the man of the house didn't want us around them, and it's not like we want him around anyway. Aunt Maggie had to force her husband and also plead with my Dad before this lunch could even hold because there's no way in hell Dad would have willingly allowed that man to step foot into our house.

"Yes na. The last time we saw each other was at your mum's birthday party."

"Fashi that one jare. You're here now. How are you? How are those your fine friends? Especially the light skin with the large bunda." 

I looked at him in shock to see a grin plastered on his face as he put an arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him.

He was referring to Lora that way.

Yes, Lora. Surprised right?

"Jesus Christ, Micheal. You're 23, man. That girl is Idera's age mate." Iyanu spoke up. His eyes had been glued to the monitor in front of him since I came into his room.

"Age is a number, Iyanu."

"And jail is just a room." I nudged him quite hard, eliciting a groan and I pulled away from him. "Don't you have a girlfriend?"

All I got to that question was silence followed by a shrug, causing Iyanu to turn in his chair and stare at our cousin in disbelief, while I shook my head and dropped my bag on the carpet.

As the two boys began to bicker, I sat down on Iyanu's bed, grateful that there was no sign of Matthew, Michael's younger brother and the most annoying human on this planet after Jidenna. I still had to ask if he was here somehow, so I could do my best to avoid crossing paths with him.

"I hope your asshole brother isn't here?"

"Oh, I'm here." I turned my head towards the sound of that familiar voice, and there he was, strolling out of the bathroom, ruining my mood instantly.

Well, speak of the fucking devil.

"Great." I kissed my teeth and picked up my bag, prepared to leave the room as I didn't want to be in the same space with him. I cast him a glare and slung my bag on my shoulder. 

"Just keep your distance while you're here. Okay?"

Matthew rolled his stupid eyes at me. "Like I even want to be here in the first place."

"Good, so leave my house."

He wasn't given the chance to reply as he was cut off by his mum's loud voice calling the four of us down for lunch. Michael clapped his hands and gave them a quick rub.

"And that's my cue."

Iyanu swiveled his chair around and got up. 

"Mike. How far that matter?"

"True, true." He put an arm around my brother. "I go run am for you. I gats settle some things first."

I frowned at their convo, making my way towards the door of the room.

"Both of you will be doing like yahoo boys."

"Shut up." Iyanu lightly smacked the back of my head. I scowled and was about to retaliate, but Aunty Maggie's voice came again. Louder this time.

"Are you children coming down or not?" 

~•~•~

I didn't like this idea of having lunch with Matthew's family one bit. Well if Michael and his Mother were the only ones here, it'll have been much better. 

Michael and Iyanu were talking in low voices, Matthew was busy on his phone and Ini was involved in our parents' conversation. I just concentrated solely on my food, while trying as much as possible not to attract attention to myself.

"So, Idera." Michael's father began. The sound of his voice had my heart pounding against my ribcage, and I prepared myself for the worst.

"How are your studies?"

"Fine sir," I answered him with my eyes still glued to the huge chicken on my plate which I was trying to cut a piece out of. 

I didn't see the need for his “concern". All I could see was a man was itching to look down on me and prove his point that I was a morally soiled child, who was also a potential bad influence on his son, any chance he got.

"Your grades?"

"Fine."

The entire Adeleke family, from the patriarch down to the youngest, is aware of my poor academic performance, thanks to Daddy Dearest. During a general family gathering, I may or may not have upset him, which made him blow up and bring that to light.

That was added to their list of unreasonable reasons why he shouldn't have married Mum and raised us the way they did.

"Honey," Aunty Maggie called her husband. "can I speak to you outside?"

He paused eating and looked at his wife. "Is there a problem?"

"No. Not at all."

"Okay then."

The couple got up and left the dining table. I took their departure as a cue to get up and leave to escape his further unneeded questions. God knows I wouldn't be able to sit still while he threw subtle jabs at me. Comparing me with Matthew and all that bullshit. 

I shut my eyes, placed a hand on the right side of my head, and groaned, effectively gaining the attention of the rest on the table. 

Good.

"Are you okay?" I heard Michael ask alarmed.

"It's the migraine," Ini told him.

"I need to go upstairs." I slowly stood up, pushed back my chair, and staggered for more dramatic effect, which had Matthew hurriedly getting up from his chair to hold me.

Woah.

"Matt, please take her to her room," Ini said to Matthew who nodded and gently led me up the stairs. Once I was sure we were out of their view, I wriggled myself out of Matthew's hold and continued the walk to my room myself.

I locked the door and threw myself on my bed once I got into my room, with my face up to the ceiling, and exhaled in relief. 

A successful escape.

Fuck family dinners.

~•~•~

With the paragon coming up next week, the school was bustling with sports activities. From basketball practice to swimming and American football practice. The atmosphere was charged with excitement and anticipation as those involved worked together to make sure that the competitors were practicing regularly and ready to compete.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays were declared half lecture-free days, so training could begin in the various competing sports. Everyone was so excited about it.

Walking back to class after using the restroom, I overheard the ss2 girls in the hallway gush over how "incredibly hot" Crestview boys are.

They are though.

But the irritation I felt towards them was like a buzzing mosquito, making it quite difficult for me to pass by and not tell them to shut the fuck up.

While half of our classmates were practicing for the paragon, I was part of the other half who weren't. The school's track team which I'm on, wasn't going to be participating in the competition. Wouldn't be my first time missing out on competing in a grand competition though.

"Idera!" I turned back on hearing my name to see a sweaty Lawal in his basketball jersey and shorts, grinning from ear to ear as he approached me.

"What's up with you?" I playfully tugged the dark boy's cheek.

"Nothing much. Just happy to see my favorite person." He looped my arm and his sweaty one together. Thank God for the thick jacket I had on.

"What's up? Are you okay?"

Lawal never failed to ask that question anytime we were together. I never liked anyone asking me that, but the first time he did, it felt different. I didn't want to lash out at him or resort to any form of violence.

"I guess so. At least the family lunch wasn't so chaotic."

"That's good to hear." He beamed.

Heaven knows if I stayed there till Michael's father and Aunty Maggie came back in, there would have been an even larger family gathering.

"How's paragon practice going?"

"It's going good."

"Are you nervous?"

"It's not my first time competing in the paragon, but I'm nervous as hell."

"You'll be fine Lawal," I assured him. With Lawal being one of the best on the team and bringing in his A-game, it was going to be a sure victory.

He sighed. "I hope so."

"Lawal!" We were startled by the loud voice that belonged to Mitchell Dede. "Get your ass back to the court right now!"

Mitchell stood a few meters away from us in his 6ft 4 inches glory. His height earned him the name iroko back in Ss1 when he joined us. 

Lawal stomped his feet on the ground like a child throwing tantrums. "But I'm tireeeed." He whined.

"You better go and train if you want to whoop Crestview's ass."

"I want to, but I'm tireeeed."

I nudged him. "You heard Mitchell. Get your ass back to the court."

With a pout, he unlinked our arms and folded his.

"Fine. Only because you say so."

I gave him a pat on his back as he sluggishly made his way to Mitchell. 

"Drill him hard, Mitchell!"

His lips slowly formed into a smirk. "Oh. I will." He said before smacking Lawal on the head and dragging him by the waistband of his shorts.

I shook my head with a chuckle.

Boys.

Taking off my jacket and with just a few steps, I got to the entrance of my class but bumped into someone as I was about to walk in.

"Can you fucking watch it?" The person shrieked and I stepped back to see it was Jidenna's bitch, Serena.

Well, not today satan.

Already encountering Jidenna earlier today was enough. I didn't want this one to add to it and ruin my day. Ignoring her and suppressing the irritation I felt, I sidestepped her and made a move to enter the class, but she grabbed my shirt and pulled me back.

Something sparked in my head.

My whole body seized up instantly. I could feel the heat slowly rising to my face and my heart racing. I turned to face her, my eyes narrowed to slits. 

"Are you drunk? Why would you be pulling my shirt? Are you mad?" The way I yelled out, one would think I had gone insane.

"Are you yelling at me?"

"You are insane. I swear to God if you don't let me go, I'll redesign your face with my palms Serena!"

And I meant it. I was going to ruin her stupid face.

"Oh, now you're threatening me?"

"Get your hands off me!" I shrieked. My skin felt like it was crawling and burning at the same time. I felt like I was about to explode, burst out if she didn't let go of my shirt. 

"Evacuate the hallway now!" A masculine voice boomed in the hallway, but it sounded so distant with how loud I could hear my heartbeat.

I swear if Serena didn't let go of my shirt-

"Both of you should chill." Hugo came in between us and held her wrist. "Serena, let her go."

"Without an apology?" She scoffed. "I don't think so."

"Well, my palm can apologize to your stupid face!"

"I don't think that's how an apology works, Idera." He faced Serena and released my shirt from her grip. "and why should she apologize to you?"

"She bumped into me."

My God, I sure wanted to burst out into laughter at her lame-ass reason.

Hugo gave her a skeptical look. "I think there's more to this, but I'll just go with your reason. You two are seniors, you should be doing this out here."

"Fuck the juniors and school staff!" I yelled again. That earned gasps and murmurs from the onlookers. But like I said, fuck them.

"She has been pushing me all week, Hugo, and what she wants, she's going to get it." I roughly brushed past my classmates who had gathered by the door and stormed over to my seat.

Some still stood by the door asking Serena and Hugo what happened, while others came back in. They all knew better than to approach me and ask me anything. I blocked out everyone's voices because I was already angry and I knew I wouldn't be able to take it if I heard their snarky comments about me.

Sensing an upcoming migraine episode, I reached for my bag and began searching for my meds. My fingers moved quickly through the bag, digging through the contents in a frenzy. I could feel the cold metal of my water bottle, the hardcovers of my textbooks, and jotter. But I couldn't find the one thing I needed badly.

"God, no.."

I felt my chest tighten a bit as panic slowly began to set in. There's no way my meds weren't in my bag. No way, because I always had them in there.

With each compartment I checked and couldn't find, the more agitated I became, until I felt like I was about to burst. I could feel the sweat forming on my brows, my mind in a frenzy as I desperately tried to remember when I could have possibly put them. 

I was about to throw my bag in front of the class when a sudden thought struck me. I remembered Oma told me this morning that I left them at her house and they were in her bag. A wave of relief washed over me and the tension slowly drained away.

I looked beside me to get her bag, but there was no black and white checkered bag hanging on her chair.

Why the fuck isn't her bag in class?

I closed my eyes and laid my head on my desk, taking deep, calming breaths. My symptoms had not begun, but I was uncomfortable as hell. I tried to focus on my breathing, on the sensation of the air moving in and out of my lungs. I tried to block out the noise in the class and the light streaming in through the windows coupled with the ones from the ceiling.

"Idera." I heard my name and I looked up immediately to see Dami at my desk sporting a worried look.

"Are you okay?"

"No, Einstein." I snapped at her. "Do I look okay to you?

I watched as she sat on Oma's chair beside me, brought out my water bottle, put it on the desk then reached into her pocket, brought out my pills, and placed them beside the water bottle.

"Why are you with them?" I questioned, a bit confused. My head was in a haze.

"Oma gave this to me to give you."

"And you forgot."

"Sorry." She gave a sheepish smile, then opened the small bottle containing my migraine pills. "Now take them. I don't want another emergency."

Not another word was said as I grabbed the bottle from her, poured two tablets into my palm, threw them into my mouth, and washed them down with water.

I took a deep breath, and then another. 

"Thanks, Dami."

She grinned. "You're highly welcome, Idera."

"Dami," our heads turned simultaneously to the owner of the voice who stood in front of the both of us. Juwon Kuti, the girl rumored to have been in a homosexual relationship with Dami back in Ss1.

But that's an absurd story for another day.

"What is it?" 

"Your Dad is here."

And the girl beside me went pale instantly.

───────•••───────

So this chapter is kind of a filler. Maybe.

We are three or four chapters away from "Ze Paragon"😌

My part of the collab with Iyanuoluwa-Temi will be coming up soon, and I hope you guys will love it.

Vote, comment, and share❤