THEODORE

Streaks of sunlight fell on my face and I slowly opened my eyes to the blinding light.

Wait, did I fall asleep?

I tried recalling everything that happened the previous night. I was telling Irene about my childhood and I slept.

But how?

I was very used to staying awake at night that I could actually be up all night without the influence of caffeine.

Still trying to pin point what made me fall asleep, I heard a dulcet voice. It belonged to Irene. "Theodore you're up." She stated with a smile. I gave a once over. She was clad in a pink two piece tube top and mini skirt. As expected, it exposed much skin.

"Yeah. What's the time?" I questioned getting out of bed. She glanced at her phone screen. "Fifteen minutes to eleven."

Fifteen minutes to eleven?

And our flight was by twelve. I strolled lazily to my luggage to grab my towel and clean clothes and walked into the bathroom afterwards.

                      ☞︎︎︎☞︎︎︎☞︎︎︎☞︎︎︎☞︎︎︎

I was walking past the senior school teacher's staff block when I sighted miss Bolanle. It was the Monday after our C.A test and I was on my way to the seniors block.

I could sight students walking to their classrooms in cliques as the morning assembly was over. I would have arrived at school earlier but I overslept.

I was surprised, I overslept.

The look of awe my mum had when she found out I was still asleep by six am was priceless.

I was grateful to Irene. Somehow whatever it was that she did that successfully took me to the dreamworld worked ever since that night.

I followed miss Bolanle into the staff block though I was way behind. The reason I did that, I wasn't sure but I just did.

Seconds later, I was standing in front of her office. How I knew it was her office, it had her name boldly inscribed on a plate like furnished metal.

Two knocks and her voice came out. "Come in." Even her voice sounded grumpy and I was beginning to have second thoughts about going in.

Taking in a breath, I pushed the door open and her gaze landed my tall frame. She scowled.

Scratch that, the scowl she originally had on her face deepened and she pulled her thick black rimmed glasses off. "What do you want?"

"Good morning to you too miss." I dropped on one of the chairs right in front of her.

"I asked a question Theodore."

I bobbed my head to the side causing a large amount of my rich curls fall over my eyes. "I heard you. I came to see my photography teacher."

"Why would you come to see me?" She asked narrowing her eyes at me.

Shrugging, I picked up a black pen from her table and fiddled with it subconsciously.

"Put that down you spoilt brat."

Holding my hands to my chest, I gasped dramatically feigning hurt. "Me? A spoilt brat?"

She rolled her eyes and my gaze followed that movement subconsciously. "Aren't you all? All students of Claret High School are just children of wealthy and influential people and most of all, are spoilt brats."

The smile on my face disappeared. Watching as she ratted out all those words, I saw that it wasn't just her being extremely grumpy all the time, she seemed sad, regretful even.

It all made sense. Why I followed her.

There was something about me, I loved to help people who I felt were in some sort of problem and needed help but it was too bad that there was nobody to help me.

"You sicken me, all of you!" She literally screamed.

My frown deepened.

"Leave my office!" She ordered pointing to the door and her plump arm made wobbly movements.

I didn't move. She was glaring at me through glassy eyes. The amount of tears welled up in her eyes made my heart ache for her just like it did for Irene.

"What happened to you?" I found myself voicing out.

"Leave or I'll call the school authority."

"You said it yourself that all students of this school are children of wealthy and influential people. The school authority will do absolutely nothing if you call them." I stated my gaze plastered on her.

She looked like she was going to break down as she tried to fight those tears that threatened to flow down.

"Just spill it. I mean no harm." My voice went softer as I held her gaze. She tore her gaze from mine and fixed it on the air conditioner at the far edge of the room.

"Maybe I can help you get rid of the pain. Just maybe, I could proffer a solution to this pain you're feeling."

She shook her head immediately I spewed out those words. "You can't do anything about this, you can't help me Theodore. It's beyond you."

"Please tell me." I literally pleaded with her. For some reason, I didn't like to see people sad, and watching this thick lady just broke my heart into a thousand pieces.

At that moment, I knew her resolve was gone, she let the tears flow down her cheeks as she sobbed.

I only watched her. I couldn't do a thing. Couldn't move an inch because the way she cried made me wonder what it was all about.

"He left me. After eight years, he still left me." Her shaky voice came out.

"Who left you?"

"My boyfriend. Well technically my ex boyfriend now. He left me after dating for solid eight years. After telling me my size didn't matter, after telling me he loved me."

She sniffed and I got up and sat on her table right in front of her stroking her back gently.

"You know I was convinced we would get married. He had already met my parents and he had proposed. He gave me a ring Theodore, he gave me a ring."

I simply stroked her back not sure of what to do. I contemplated hugging her but I thought against it as I would not be able to wrap my hand around her.

"He ended up leaving me for a slim lady." She said I couldn't watch her cry anymore.

"He left you doesn't mean its the end of the world. You can still find someone. Someone better even."

Her sobs came out louder. "No I can't. I'm twenty nine years old. Who wants to date an overweight twenty nine years old lady?"

This was probably the reason she didn't quite like Irene. Because she was slim.

He ended up leaving me for a slim lady...

"No, don't say that. He left, that his problem. I know you'll find someone way better than him. Someone who'll love you for who you are, for what you are, for what you look like and for every single thing about you."

I handed her a tissue paper from the pack on her table. "Just because someone left you doesn't mean you should shut every other person out. If you keep doing so, you won't find someone else."

She blew her nose noisily and watched me with tear stained face. "What do I tell my parents and friends? They already know that we would be getting married."

I sigh loudly and got up from her desk. "You don't have to tell them anything, you don't have to explain anything. Live your life, keep being you and when the right person comes, he'll love you and stay with you no matter what the world thinks."

"Okay?" She held her face in her palms taking in all I had just told her.

"Please do this if not for everyone around you, for yourself. Make yourself happy. The right time will come and trust me when that time comes you'll forget you ever experienced all these."

I returned to the chair I was seated on before as soon as I noticed she had stopped crying.

"The guy is probably having the time of his life with his new girlfriend and you shouldn't be sulking over him. Make yourself happy Miss Bolanle.
Do the things you love. Go shopping, hangout with friends, go to the beach, get over it."

The bell for indicating the start of first period went off and I stood up and slung my bag over my shoulder. "I'll be leaving now. I'll come to see you soon, please take care and do not think about it anymore." And with that, I advanced towards the door.

"Thanks Theodore, for everything. I really do appreciate." Her voice came out soft, a complete contrast to what it has always been.

With my hands on the door knob, I turned slightly and gave her a smile which she returned.

"You're welcome."

That said, I walked out of the office and the staff block and headed straight for class.

Maths period and torture could as well be synonymous.

I hastened my steps as I made for the hell hole.

Maths class for forty five minutes, definitely torture.

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"Seems like everyone has plans for Saturday." Osaze huffed beside me the concrete bench at the school's garden (Love garden).

"Theodore's free." Kiki called out.

Osaze turned to me causing her braids to flip dramatically. "And you didn't say a thing."

I raised my hand in mock surrender. "I have been telling you for minutes now."

She pouted and poked my nose. "Aww Theo bear. I'm sorry."

I scrunched my face in disgust. "Don't call me that." She only giggled and poked my nose again.

Grabbing her finger, I twisted it a bit earning a yelp from her and a satisfied smile graced my face.

"Next time you won't call me that and won't poke my nose." I said and poked her nose. She made to speak but closed her mouth as soon as she opened it and looking away with a cute pout on her lips.

Oh Osaze.

"Where's everyone going on Saturday?" TY asked. It seemed he was done nuzzling Ola. They had been masters of PDA since the big talk.

Ola turned to him and began explaining. "Desmond and Irene will be going for the triple J all white party. You and I will find some place to hang out of course." she blushed for a moment.

"Kiki and Zion would be attending a family dinner with their cousins."

"No kidding." Zion grunted out from where he was seated. He was putting on a thick black hoodie over his school shirt and he seemed like he wanted to be anywhere but here.

"We'll scale through bro." Kiki patted Zion playfully.

"You guys sound like that family dinner is going to turn out bad." Irene said for the first time since we got to the garden.

"Trust me you don't know half of it. Terrible would even be an understatement." Kiki replied her earning a chuckle from Irene.

"I'm sure you'll be fine." That was Desmond.

"I hope so." Zion who was still cuddling with himself in that fluffy hoodie added.

I turned to Osaze who still wasn't talking to me. She still had a slight frown on her face.

I nudged her gently and gave her my killer smile. "Come on Osaze, I'm sorry."

She rolled her eyes and looked away. "Osaze bear!"

She bursted into fits of laughter causing me to smile. "So am I forgiven?" I asked.

"How can I say no to my Theo bear?" She said and poked my nose gently. I simply ignored it and poked her cheeks and her lips stretched wider.

In the end, she was wearing a large grin on her face.

Hey Loves! I'm back again.

How have y'all been?

What did you think about this chapter? Kindly tell me in the comment section.

I'm so sorry I literally went MIA. But the good news is I'm here with a new chapter and there's another coming very soon.

So I'd like for you all to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Oh wait, you can't enjoy the ride because it's a quite bumpy one.

Oh well, I'm off, see you in the next chapter.

Oh and Ife 🌚, Theodore actually came to my room 🤧😂

Ciao people✌

Word Count: 1955