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THEODORE

My weekend went pretty well. Apart from the fact that I had those nightmares on Saturday night, every other thing was fine.

Monday morning, I was in school contemplating on talking to Irene about our project when I sighted her from a distance.

Think of the devil......

Just that Irene wasn't a devil. She might appear to be one but I knew deep down in my heart that there was more to her and I knew I was going to go against all odds to know what she was made of, what made her up and how I could help her.

I didn't know her well to feel her pain. I mean, it's been barely three weeks but there was this voice speaking to me in my head.

Help this soul

Help Irene

Help her

I knew what that voice was and I decided to do just that.

"Irene." I called from a distance and she turned back that was when I noticed the girl beside her. I had seen her around but never said a word to her.

"Hi." Irene responded as I got to where they stood. "Hey Theodore." The other girl said in an excited tone waving at me vigorously making her afro puff bounce lightly.

Okay.....

"Hi." Was my simple reply. "Can I talk to you? About our project." I said to Irene. "I wanted to invite you guys to my birthday." Miss Afro puff spoke up. "On Saturday there's going to be a party at my house and I'd like for you two to be in attendance."

"We—" Irene began to say something but I interrupted immediately knowing fully well she was going to decline. "We'll be in attendance if we're free." I responded and miss afro puff grinned. "Alright." She responded and stalked off.

"What was that all about?" Irene's irritated voice came out and I groaned mentally. I'm not going to hear the last of it.

"What?" I asked feigning ignorance. "I have a competition on Friday—"

"And the party is on Saturday." I said interrupting her. "Will you stop interrupting me!" She snapped and I smirked.

"I'm not going to her birthday." She declared. "Suit yourself." I said and shrugged and then the automatic bell went off for assembly and we walked to the assembly hall together.

On our way, I kept hearing the comments made about me but I ignored them as always. I had already gotten used to it. Perks of being drop dead gorgeous.

Shut up! My subconscious scolded causing me to smile. As soon as we got to the hall, I walked straight to where my mates that weren't prefects were and sat down beside an unfamiliar girl who kept staring at me like I was a bowl of ice cream.

Girls.

                  •••••

Our maths teacher literally bored the whole class to death. Most art students didn't like maths to start with so having a boring and extra lengthy maths class was hell on earth.

Immediately the bell indicating lunch break went off, we expected the scrawny looking man Mr Kanuri to leave the class but little did we know that he had other plans.

Everyone was bored to death and I could tell from their expressions and exasperated sighs they made when he left. A wave of fresh breeze hit my skin causing me to look out the window.

I could sight junior students at a distance talking, laughing an playing a groups. So full of life and probably had nothing to worry about. But who was I kidding, they definitely had a thing or the other to think about.

Oh life!

"Theodore." I heard my name and I turned. It was Osaze standing beside my desk in all her melanin glory staring at me through her designer black rimmed glasses.

A girl so full of life yet so lifeless. I couldn't help but wonder what was going on in her head, her mind.

What has she gone through?

"Hello!" She said waving her hand in my face. "Hi." I quickly replied with a smile. "You're fond of zoning out." She stated taking a seat on my desk right in front of me.

My lips stretched into a smile. "How are you doing?" I asked and she bobbed her head to the side. "I'm doing good. In fact I'm very fine and it's all because of you."

"Because of me? How so?" I asked. "Well basically you made me see things in a new light and for that, I'm grateful." It was very true though. I had called her on Sunday and talked to her about how she behaved with her friends on Saturdays and I made sure she apologized.

"It's nothing. Really." I said and she only nodded smiling at me. "Is there something on my face?" I asked running my hands down my face.

"No. Why?"

"You're staring." I stated and she chuckled softly. "Well you do have a cute nose." She said poking my nose gently. "What?" I asked laughing hysterically.

"Stop poking my nose. It's too tender for that." I said feigning hurt. "I don't want to." She replied still poking my nose. "I'll bite your finger off."

"I'd like to see you try." She replied a smirk playing on her lips and she poked my nose again. I made to bite her finger but she withdrew giggling lightly.

"Come on, let's go get something to eat." She said and pulled me by my arm as we walked towards the cafeteria. TY had contacted me earlier in the morning that he was going to have a private time with Ola and he needed us to be away for a while.

I searched for the table as soon as we walked into the cafeteria and when I found it, I saw Ola and TY seated there alone.

Finally, the big talk!

I took Osaze's hand and we walked towards the counter where the rest of the guys were at. "Why are they all at the counter?" An oblivious Osaze asked beside me gesturing towards Zion, Kiki, Irene and Desmond.

"TY and Ola are having the talk." I said to air making air quotes at the last two words. "What talk?" She asked again. "They kind of kissed yesterday and that's what brought about the talk."

"Well it's about time they had it anyway." She said holding unto my forearm. "What do you mean?" I asked still walking in that position. "I mean, they've liked each other since like forever. They should just make it official already." She said and we took a halt as we got the the counter with me nodding my head at her.

I looked up at the four standing at a close distance from us and my eyes met that of Irene. I watched as her eyes dropped to Osaze and then she looked away.

Little miss drama queen in action.

                    ➪➪➪➪➪

Pushing open the door to my room, I walked into my little sanctuary and I was met with something shocking. A worker in my room. My room, my healing home.

It was a lady and she had her back to me. "Hello?" I called out to gain her attention. She turned immediately and I got a better view of the person in question. Lucy, Lucia. No,no. Not Lucia, she's Lucinda.

"Welcome sir." She uttered with a bow. "Thanks." I responded and dropped my bag pack on my study desk. "What are you doing in my room." I asked dropping my blazer on the couch.

"I was tidying up your bed before you walked in." She responded. "I did tidy up my bed this morning before leaving."

She shifted her weight from on leg to the other. "I was asked to change your bed sheets." I casted my gaze to my newly made bed. "Okay."

I removed my tie and started popping open the buttons of my shirt when I still noticed that Lucy was standing there head bowed. "Er— What are you waiting for?"

"I want to do your laundry." She simply stated. Sighing, I sat down on my bed. "Lucy." I called. "Sir?" Was her formal response. "It's Theodore. Call me Theodore." I said and she nodded slowly. "Now, look up."

She did and her gaze met mine. "I know you're trying to do your work and all but I don't think you know me at all. I do my laundry myself. When I'm done I'll give them to you to take to the dry cleaner for ironing." She nodded and drew her lip into a thin line.

Looking away from her, my gaze landed on my wardrobe and against my will, it went further higher and my breath seized for the briefest moment. My customized camera wasn't there and that was where it had been for a whole year now.

"Did you touch anything else in this room? I mean, a sides my bed."

"I cleaned the entire room and dusted the furniture." "Where is my digital camera?" My gaze returned to the supposed place I had placed the device.

"It's right there." She pointed and I followed the direction she pointed to. "On the night stand."

I exhaled knowing that the device was intact. Grabbing it, I returned it back to where it was before standing on my toe to make that happen.

"That camera should not be touched again." I said and she nodded yet again. What's up with her and nodding?

"You can leave now since you're done here." She made her way to the door taking slow strides and stopped she. she got to the door. "Please do call me if you need any help."

"Sure." I replied and she walked out closing the door behind her.

"I need a shower man." I huffed, took off my clothes and headed straight for the bathroom.

The few minutes I spent in the bathroom was worth it as I felt totally refreshed afterwards. Walking into the room with a towel around my waist and a smaller one I used to dry my hair.

My phone beeped and I picked it up from my dressing table. It was a text from Irene.

I'll be really occupied this week as we would be preparing for the swimming competition on Friday and as a result of that, I won't be able to meet up with you for our project.

                                    Thanks,Irene.

Thanks, Irene? Like I don't know it's you. I mused with a small chuckle. I threw the phone on my bed and went to put on some clothes.

My phone beeped again and I grabbed it. It was another text but this time it was from Osaze. My lips stretched into a smile.

Hey Teo bear!

I grimaced, Teo bear?

And on cue, my phone rang. It was none other than my very troublesome friend, Osaze.

"Teo bear!" She literally screamed when I picked up the call. "Ew, don't call me that." I warned a smile playing on my lips. "I will, even though you asked me not to."

I slumped in my bed laying down silently listening to her ranting on how she walked into her room and saw that her younger brother had turned it into a playground and how she had to clean it up.

"What are you doing?" She asked once she was done ranting. "Staring at the ceiling whilst talking to you. How about you?"

"Sitting in my bed. I'm about to begin my chemistry assignment." I nodded and we were silent for a rather long while. "I'll talk to you later." I half-whispered breaking the silence.

"Um— sure. Take care."

"I will. And you too." I replied and she ended the call with a soft giggle.

Dropping my phone beside me, I let out an exasperated sigh.

I needed a nap so bad.

Closing my eyes, I was slowly crawling out of the conscious and one person's face came to my mind. Irene.

I slept peaceful and luckily, I had no nightmares.

*
Phew! I was so freaking lazy 😩

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Word count: 2003