IRENE

I was taking quiet strides towards the door. It was Monday and I wanted to have a great day and week ahead and that was why I was technically tip toeing so I would get out of the house without calling attention to myself from my mum and her boyfriend.

Surprising how he packed his things into our house during the weekend and is now living with us and sharing my mum's matrimonial bedroom with her.

"Hey Irene. Your mum and I have been looking for you."

Screw you!

Your mum and I. Pfft. I mentally scoffed and turned to him with a scowl on my face but he had a smile on. A pretty one at that, with deep dimples and for a second, it reminded me of the boy I had met at Jade's party. Kaycee.

But this dude in front of me was just so muscular with bulging biceps and six pack abs through his fitted tank top. He was in one word, Dashing. But there was something I couldn't understand, he seemed much younger than my mum and watching them together, they seemed to be so in love and I found it disturbing.

"You can stop staring now. I know I'm good looking and all but your mum's not gonna like that." He said with a coy smile and my cheeks heated up in embarrassment. I was staring hard.

I snorted loudly and he chuckled. "Demilade, come over for breakfast."My mum called and I sighed and walked towards the table with Mayowa behind me.

Taking a seat at the dining table, I watched mum and Mayowa kiss and I scrunched my face in disgust. Get a room fellas!

The atmosphere at breakfast was light and we ate breakfast in silence. As soon as breakfast was over, I sprinted out to the car and got in.

"Good morning Irene." Mr Sunday greeted. "Morning." I responded cheerily. I was happy that morning, really happy.

I spent my evening the previous day at TY's with TY and Ola. That was how bad I wanted to be out of the house. As much as I wasn't interested in the show they were watching, I stayed with them.

Long story cut short, they hugged in excitement when Laycon was declared the winner of the Big brother show and afterwards, they kissed.

They kissed!

It felt like they were lost in their own world as they barely acknowledged by presence as they kissed passionately. I was shocked at the intensity at which their gazes held afterwards.

Ola is so going to get teased by me today. I thought as my smile deepened. The drive to school was a short one as half the time, I was thinking of how to bring Ola and TY together.

"We're here." Mr Sunday said and I got down and started making my way to the love garden as it wasn't time for assembly yet.

"Irene!" A high pitched voice called and I groaned mentally. I knew who that was. It was a girl in my set who had the idea that we were buddies even after so many hint I had given her to prove otherwise.

"Hi." I managed to say with a smile as she got to where I was standing. "Good morning." She said all smiles and pulled me into a hug which made me feel she was being to forward but then, she was only a sweet girl with positive vibes.

"How are you?" She asked grinning. "I'm fine." I simply replied her. "Where's Theodore?" She asked looking around.

Sorry?

"How should I know?" I asked. "He's your friend. It's possible you have a clue to where he could be." She said and I rolled my eyes at her.

"I'm coming from home. I don't know where he is. It's not like we live together or something. Felicia, be guided please."

"My name is not Felicia, it's Chidinma." She replied.

It sounds alike, doesn't it?

"Yeah okay. Just know what—"

"Irene." A voice called out cutting me short. It was Theodore, his voice came out ever-so-slightly supercilious and I found it attractive. "Hi." I drawled out as he got to us.

"Hey Theodore." Felicia, scratch that Chidinma said her voice chirping like that of a bird. "Hi." He responded and turned to me. "Can I talk to you? About our project." I shrugged. "Sure."

"I wanted to invite you guys to my birthday." Felicia spoke up. I seemed to prefer calling her that name to so I was going to stick with it. "On Saturday, there's going to be a party at my house and I'll like for you two to be in attendance."

"We—"

"We'll be in attendance if we're free." He replied curtly. He cut me short for the second time. "Alright." She beamed and walked away.

"And what was that all about?" I asked writhing in feigned rage. "What?" He asked folding his hands across his chest and resting his back against the wall. His back hitting the wall made his hair bounce and I found myself staring at his rich brown curls. How would it feel to touch them?  I thought.

Focus stupid! My subconscious scolded.

"I'm not going to her party. I have a competition on Friday—"

"And the birthday is on Saturday." he replied cutting me short again. "Will you stop interrupting me!" I stated and he smirked. I felt a jolt of electrifying heat shoot through my spine as he lips lifted into that dangerously gorgeous smirk he had on. What is this?

"I'm not going to that party." I said in finality and he shrugged. "Suit yourself." He replied simply and the bell for assembly went off.

We walked to the assembly hall together and all eyes were on us. And I could hear the side talks.

How can someone be this fine?!

My ovaries, I want a son like this.

I'll be his baby mama if he asks.

Dayum! That dude is hot.

Did I say all eyes were on us earlier? Well I was mistaken. All eyes were on Theodore.

Only someone like Irene can get him stop dreaming you hopeless romantics. One said and I bit the side of my cheek to prevent the laughter that threatened to leave my mouth.

Oh my gosh! I could hear the junior students sigh in admiration.

Does this happen everyday?  I thought because the boy in question didn't look bothered one bit and he didn't act like he heard anything they said but how possible was it not to hear them as they were very loud.

They are only fueling his ego. I thought with a scowl on my face.

I can smell something in the air. Wait it's jealousy. Irene is jealous. My subconscious mocked and my frown deepened.

"What's wrong?" I heard Desmond's voice and only then did I realize that we had gotten to the hall. I turned to my side and Theodore was nowhere to be seen.

"He just left." Desmond stated making me turn to him. "How did you—"

"It's pretty obvious. I mean he was the one by your side just now so he has to been the one you're searching for." He replied with a shrug.

What's up with these guys and interrupting me?

I rolled my eyes at him and made for my duty post which happened to be in JSS3 line. As I passed in between the seats to ensure total silence, the junior students were staring at me like some trophy. Again, perks of being Irene Coker.

                               •••••

"— and we have come to the end of today's lesson. I'll see you all on Wednesday." Our maths teacher announced and left the class with his lesson note under his arm.

"Finally!" Kiki breathed out from beside me as the class got rowdy. "That man's teaching is bondage." I said to her shoving my notebook and textbook into my locker. "No kidding. I didn't hear a thing he said." She added and that got me laughing. "To think you're the book lover."

"I love learning but this man makes learning seem like slavery." She added grabbing her small purse from her bag. "Let's go for break abeg, that yeye man ate into our break time." She said tugging me by my hands and we made for the door.

I looked back in search for Theodore. I mean, he's having lunch with us anyway. He had a broad smile across his lips and there was someone with him. My brows creased as I realized who it was. Black long box braids, the only person I knew that killed the nerdy and Bad ass bitch look all at once.

Osaze.

The girl came all the way from science class to smile at Theodore? I snorted mentally. How jobless. I thought.

I kept watching the duo as the exchanged smiles and as she tucked stray braids behind her ear from time to time smiling all the way.

"Let's go Irene." Kiki said cutting through my unrequited stare down. "They'll come join us when they're ready." She said and finally succeeded in getting me out of the class but then I turned back. I knew I shouldn't But I did anyway.

And then, I felt a painful tug in my chest. She was poking his nose continuously and he made to bite her finger both laughing and probably lost in their own world.

I quickly walked faster to join Kiki who was walking ahead of me.

Getting to the end of the block, I sighted Ola walking out of her class, commercial class and I immediately grabbed her hand and she yelped.

"Jesus! You scared me." She said placing her hand on her chest dramatically. "What happened after I left on Sunday?" I asked Ola and I watch her then red like a ripe tomato.

"Well, I left afterwards. I couldn't face him anymore. When you left, he offered to get us juice and I walked out of the house as soon as he went into the kitchen."

"What!?" I literally screamed earning a few stares from passersby. "What could I have done? I was already embarrassed."  She said running a hand down the length of her face. "Why would you do that? That's really dumb you know?"

"Rub it in my face. As if I haven't realized." She hissed. "How will I face him now?"

"Wait, what are you two going on and on about." Kiki asked eyeing us both suspiciously. "Ola and TY kissed and she walked out on him immediately after and now she's not sure how he's going to react or how she's going to—"

"—Wait, you said they kissed?" She asked half whispering the last part. I nodded in reply. "When the fuck did that happen? And where? How even? Fuck I'm so clueless about this."

"Language young lady." Ola called out and Kiki snorted loudly. "Says the girl that curses all the time."

"Just stop this. It's not time to do this." I said as we walked into the cafeteria and approached the table the guys were at. "He's seated there." I stated and Ola traced my gaze to the guys. "Oh no." She whispered and made to turn back but Kiki and I didn't let that happened as we held onto her on both sides and literally dragged her to the table.

"Hey guys." Kiki announced cheerily. Ola made to take a seat beside Zion but then he frowned. "Sorry baby doll, But I want to seat with my twin sister." He said and dragged Kiki to the seat and gave Ola a sad smile.

Desmond beckoned me to sit beside  him leaving only the empty seat beside TY and the two seats opposite TY. She made to sit on one of them and the Zion shook his head. "No, no, no. That is for Osaze and Theodore."

I could feel Ola's frustration that moment and I felt pity for her. She ended up taking a seat beside TY who had his eyes on her all the while but she refused to make eye contact with him.

"Come on guys, let's go get something some snacks." Zion said getting up and dragging a reluctant Kiki along and the same applied to Desmond and I, we walked away from the table leaving Ola and TY alone.

I saw Ola's pleading eyes but I couldn't do a thing about it. It's your cross to carry sister.

Making our way to the counter to get our orders, I saw Osaze and  Theodore walk into the large hall that contained hundreds of students. They seemed to be in a conversation as Osaze kept nodding to his words as the approached us.

Seems like they were aware of TY's plan to have an alone time with Ola. Poor girl!

Once they got to us, I turned to Theodore who had his eyes on me. I couldn't tell what he was thinking of as he had an impassive yet uncertain look on.

I looked away as I saw how Osaze's hand was latched on his forearm.

Amateurs.

*

Another chapter!
So what do you think of TY and Ola's little act? 😂

Theodore's POV in the next chapter.

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Word Count: 2190