Let's clear the air of confusion around here, Desmond is not in love with Irene, he has a girlfriend and he's really into her. If you read Resolutions, you'll know that. He's just protective of her because he doesn't want her to get hurt but personally, I feel he's overdoing it.

Anywhoo, dive into this chapter and see what I have for you ❤️

IRENE

"I think my brain is about to explode." Kiki said as she placed her book beside her on the bed.

"Mine too." I said dropping mine right on top of Kiki's.

"We have been studying all day, let's do something else."

"All work no play makes Irene and Kiki dull girls." Kiki added causing me to giggle.

I got up from the bed and stretched. It was a Saturday I had gone to Kiki's house during the early hours of the day mostly because my mum was at work, Rowland was at Osaze's and Ivy had yet another shoot. I didn't want to be home with Mayowa and I missed Kiki. It's been ages since we had a decent conversation.

"Tell me Irene, why didn't you tell me that you were getting life threatening texts?"

I turned to face Kiki who sat on the bed with a serious look on her face.

"I'm sorry." I said and slumped on the bed. "Theodore was just there at the right moment and I blurted it all out to him."

After few minutes of silence, she spoke up again. "About Theodore, have you guys talked?"

"No."

"Why not?" She enquired.

You're a fucking hypocrite and that's it!

"We have nothing to talk about."

"But you know-" She started.

"Kiki I honestly do not want to talk about him." I said to her and she nodded in understanding.

I placed my hands behind my head as I lay on Kiki's bed the silence around us thickening. But thankfully, she broke it. "I spoke with Uche."

I sat up on the bed staring at her with so much interest. "You did?"

"Yes, I did. And I have decided to give him a second chance."

My mouth curved into a smile. I was genuinely glad she gave my words a little thought. "What changed?" I asked her.

"We all make mistakes and that doesn't mean we should be written off and he is miserable. Trust me you don't want to know what he looks like."

My heart swelled with joy for her. "That's great. I'm glad you're doing this and I genuinely hope you won't regret this."

"Me too."

"So you guys have talked it out, right?"

She bit her bottom lip. "Actually, that's where I'm headed to now." She walked to her wardrobe and pulled out a summer dress.

"You think Ola is gonna let you two talk?" I asked. I mean, she has always been against any romantic relationship between her friends and any of her relatives.

"Uche is home alone. She is at TY's place." She said as she slipped on her sandals.

"How do you know that?"

She shrugged. "The question should be why don't you know. She has been at TY's for over a week now."

My eyes almost bulged out of its socket. "One week? How then will they study?"

Kiki shrugged as she applied lipgloss. "They'll be fine." She said and grabbed her purse.

"Well if you're leaving then I'll be leaving too." I said, stuffed my books in my duffel bag and walked out of the room with 'lover girl'.

"I know I have no right to make decisions for you but I'd like for you to hear Theodore out. He might have a justified explanation for his nasty behavior and words." She said.

"After all, he forgave you for being unnecessarily mean on his first day. Everyone deserves a second chance Irene, even Theodore."

We had already gone downstairs and out of the house. "It's not the same thing Kiki. Those words hurt me real bad and I don't think I'm ever going to hear him out."

"You won't hear him out? You'll suppress your feelings too right?" She asked.

I rolled my eyes. "It's just a silly crush Kiki. I'll be fine."

"Alright, alright. Have your way, but give my words some thought." With a pat on my back, she whisked away and I got into my car and ordered my driver to take me to my desired destination.

➪➪➪➪➪

The door was pulled open the moment I rang the doorbell.

Well that was quick.

Ola poked her head outside and when she realized it was me, she opened the door fully and I couldn't help but burst into laughter immediately I sighted what she was wearing.

"Girl what are you wearing?" I knew what it was but I was just teasing her. She was putting on and oversized shirt I was sure belonged to TY.

She feigned annoyance. "Do you want to come in or not."

I walked into the apartment and started laughing again when I sighted TY in just a pair of shorts. "Were you two making out before I arrived?" I asked looking from TY to Ola.

"No."

"Yes."

They answered simultaneously and again I bursted into uncontrollable laughter.

I turned to TY. "I'll take TY's yes as the truth." I said and sank into one of the couches.

He walked to Ola and perked her lips. "Is there anything wrong? She's my girlfriend." He said giving me his billion dollar smile. "Isn't that right babe?" He asked as he kissed her lips again and again and again and-

"Will you guys just stop it already? My virgin eyes are at stake here."

TY's deep rumbling laughter followed. "This could be you and Theodore you know."

My smile disappeared and it was as though Ola noticed so she shoved him with her elbow in the chest.

"I'm sorry if I-" he started but I cut him off.

"Oh no, it's all good. " I said with the wave of a hand but deep down his words had an effect on me.

"This could be you and Theodore you know."

Well it is Osaze and Theodore, that I'm sure of.

"So do you guys even study or are you always all over each other?" I asked as Ola settled down on the coach beside me.

Ola smiled.

They have gotten this one's mumu button.

"Well that's for us to know and for you to keep wondering." She said.

TY sat right beside Ola and wrapped his arms around her protectively. "When you get a boyfriend, you'll know." He said and kissed Ola's forehead.

I shrunk back into the coach I was seated in. Maybe I should have come here, I didn't feel good at all.

Putting on a plastic smile, I got up and walked to the door. Funny enough, they hadn't even noticed because they were busy whispering into each other's ears.

I really shouldn't have come here.

As soon as I pulled the door knob, Ola spoke up. "You're leaving already?"

I turned to her with a smile. Apparently they were done whispering to each other as I sighted a shirtless TY heading to the kitchen."I'll just leave you two to get back to your make out session."

"Are you sure?" She asked and I nodded smiling even wider.

She walked to me and gave me a big hug. "Good luck with your JAMB exams sweetie."

"Thank you and you too babes." I said when we pulled away.

"Send my warm regards to your boyfriend." I said laying emphasis on the word 'boyfriend'.

"I will. Take care."

And with one last plastic smile. I left.

THEODORE

I got to my examination center two minutes after Seven and the place looked scanty even though it was stated clearly in the email I got that the exams would begin at 7am sharp.

Yeah, African time.

I sighted a bench from a distance and I most definitely didn't miss the light skinned beauty that was seated on it. It appeared to me as though she was putting on a disguise, either that or she was a Muslim girl. I hurried and took the space beside her before anyone else could do it.

Our school was an accredited CBT center and I could have requested to write my exams there but I didn't, I let them post me randomly to any center of their choice.

"Good morning." I said to the girl seated beside me who had her face in her phone. She looked up to acknowledge my greeting.

"Good morning." She said.

"I like your hair." She said and I dug my hand into my curls subconsciously.

"Thank you."

"Reminds me of someone special." She added smiling. I knew that smile.

"Your boyfriend. Am I correct?"

"Yes. He has beautiful curls just like you." I took more interest in her mostly because of how happy she looked talking about her boyfriend.

"What's his name?" I asked her.

"Timilehin." She replied with the speed of light.

"That's a nice name. Well I'm Theodore Oyedele-Thompson."

She quirked a brow at me. "Are you by chance the son of the-" She started and I cut her off.

"-ex governor of Lagos state?" I nodded. "I'm his last child."

"You don't say." She looked surprised. It's the same for every other person when they hear it for the same time.

"I do say."

"You are biracial then."

I wouldn't say I am but then I kinda am. "You can say that."

"Just like Timi." She added and I had to ask her the question that had been on the tip of my tongue since she mentioned her boyfriend.

"This Timi guy, do I know him?"

"You could. Timilehin Adenuga."

Timilehin Adenuga...

The name sorta rang a bell in my head.

"Could it be Jason. I know his father owns a company. Adewale Adenuga group of companies."

"Yes! Timilehin Jason Adenuga. That's him. You know him."

"Yes, I do. He's an acquaintance. Our dads have worked together before." I shrugged.

I have seen the boy in question few times when I was younger but have never really engaged in a conversation.

"You must miss him so much with the way your eyes brighten as you talk about him. I'm sure you can't do a week without setting your eyes on him."

She chuckled. Her pearly whites came into full view, she indeed had a beautiful smile. "I haven't set eyes on him for ten months now." She said and my eyes widened.

"You're kidding right."

"No."

"Why is that."

"He's in the US."

I see. Long distance relationship. I heard it doesn't work out most of the time but for some reason I hoped it worked for them.

"What is your name?" I asked.

"Uzo. Uzoamaka Edogo."

"For real?" It is no wonder she was putting on a disguise.

"Yeah, why?" She arched a brow.

"You're a model. I know that."

She smiled. "Oh wow, You don't look like someone who follow celebrity news. I'm quite surprised you know me."

I smiled remembering my first encounter with Irene. "I have come to know that some models take offense when you don't know them."

Her beautiful laughter filled the air again. "I'm guessing you have had an encounter with one."

"You know it."

"Who was it?"

"Irene Coker. Are you two friends?"

She smiled broadly. "I wouldn't say we are friends but I'm friends with Desmond."

"Desmond." I muttered under my breath as anger towards him surged through my veins.

"You know him?" She asked.

"Well... we're all friends." I responded. "-ish." I added.

"I offended Irene," I added. "I'm certain Desmond hates me now." I breathed out face palming myself.

"Desmond is the sweetest guy I know. I can promise you he doesn't hate you, he is only mad at you for hurting Irene. Desmond cares about her so much, to a fault many would say."

"But I'm trying to fix my mistake." I said to Uzo.

"By telling her you're sorry, am I right?" I nodded. "Why don't you show her instead, show her that you're genuinely sorry. It works almost all the time."

Just as I was about to say something, a loud voice interrupted me. "All candidates should head into the hall only with their JAMB slip and a pencil."

Great and I didn't come with a pencil. "Do you perhaps have an extra pencil?" I asked Uzo.

"I have five."

I chuckled. "Five? Why?"

"You gotta come prepared." She replied with a quirky smile, trust me I wasn't going to be tired of seeing that smile even in years to come.

"Here, punch in your digits and let me know how things go with you and Irene." She said handing her phone to me. The way she said 'you and Irene' seemed like it had an undertone.

"We are not dating okay, I know that's what you're thinking." Her lips stretched into a smirk.

"I didn't say a thing Theodore, it's all in your head." She said and I rolled my eyes handing her her phone.

"Thank you so much Uzoamaka."

"Anytime brother. Well see you whenever and good luck with your examination."

"I wish you the same." I said and she scurried away not without a smile.

Oh heavens. Pre examination jitters.

*

Another chapter for my watt-fam, I want to use this opportunity to thank y'all for supporting me even till this very moment. I love y'all so much.

Y'all are going to see more of my characters from Resolutions soon. Anticipate!

The next chapter might come a little late but definitely before the end of the week.

Kindly drop your thoughts on this chapter and don't forget to vote and share too.

Go and read Tequila by UjuritaElliana
Don't say I did not tell you oh.

See you in the next chapter.

Word count: 2149