It was only Wednesday, and it was already like it was an entire week. The Cinmisola news hadn't gotten to my mom and family yet, except my sister, which I personally told. But, it had already spread all over the school like wide fire, that even the teachers were murmuring it among each other. I avoided talking about it with anyone in my class, as no one could be truly trusted apart from the triplet. I tried to not talk to anyone in the class, while hoping no one came to talk to me also. I really wasn't in the talking mood, but, as usual, someone must always cross whatever crossed line a person has set. It wasn't long before I felt someone tap my right hand gently. I was really ready to answer the person rudely, but my plan immediately changed when I looked up and saw it was John. I gave him a weak smile and sat up. He was seated on the chair in front of me, with his back facing the front of the class, while he was directly facing me and the back of the chair between his legs. "Are you okay?" he asked me with a smile. I simply nodded, looking away from him. "Did I offend you?" he asked again. I shook my head as I changed the direction I was looking at and my gaze mistakenly landed on Art's seat, making numerous kind of feelings rush to my body in form of shivers from, my toes to my head. It was like fuel was poured on the burning fire inside me. My eyes squinted on their own as I moved my gaze from her seat to where I was hearing Zara voice coming from. It was like the volume of the noise in my class was gradually turned down, until it was turned off and all I could hear was Zara's annoying voice. The more she spoke, the more pissed I became. I was like I should jump from where I was, jump on her and strangle her to her death; or beat her to the point of coma, destroying the skin she took so much pride in. At that very moment, I started to feel the urge to take revenge for Art also. I could feel my heartbeat rate increase and abruptly stopped when, I felt a lukewarm palm touch my - now - cold palm. "Are you alright?" he asked in a calm tone.

I nodded and smiled. "Of course I am," I replied him with a feigned smile, then asked, "What is it you wanted to talk about?"

"You don't look like you're in the mood, maybe we'd talk about it later."

I let my smile widen as I pressured him, "Come on, I'm in the mood. Lemme know nah."

He cocked a brow as his lips spread into a new smile. "Are you sure you're ready for this?" he asked.

I nodded.

"It's actually something I have been wanting to tell you for a while now, but keep feeling discouraged and shying away."

He was starting to slowly piss me off. I hated when people stalled, it was mad annoying. "Yeah?"

"I really don't know how to put this." His gaze fell to his laps.

"Just say it the way you know how to," I prompted him.

He nodded. "I'll say it the way I know how to," he said more to himself than to me. "Okay, here goes nothing. Ella, I like you."

They were just words, but I could swear that at that moment, my heart skipped. I quickly decided to play dumb. So I laughed and replied, "Duh, I like you too. If we don't like each other, how are we going to be friends?" And at that moment I felt so uneasy. I didn't like him, no, not at all. I didn't even like him as a person. Himself and his friends mostly got on my nerves and pissed me off.

He shook his head. "No, not like that. Not friendship like. I like you more than a friend, and I want you to give us a try," he said so boldly, which made me feel so hurt and pissed.

Was he seriously asking me out like he was entitled? I was pissed but yet I still let myself smile as I replied, "Okay." I didn't know what to say and was beginning to see it as an avenue to get the revenge I wanted. I was going to get to both him and Zara, through our nonsense relationship.

"Are you for real?" he asked excitedly.

I nodded with a feigned smile. "Of course, I fancy you."

His smile widened. "So you'll be my girlfriend?" he asked again, for confirmation.

I was a little shocked and was close to saying no, but I didn't. I simply nodded. But still, didn't the phrase 'give us a try' meant we were going to go on date and see if we were compatible?

Before I knew it, he shouted, "Listen, class, I have an announcement to make." And, that caught the attention of the whole class, making them turn to our direction. He pointed towards me, then said, "Emmanuella here, is my girlfriend. No one tries to chyke her, look at her for too long, be too nice to her, make suspecting moves around her; you know the rules, follow them."

It was like the dark cloud of embarrassment rested upon my head. I felt so shy and embarrassed I felt like punching him. "What was that all about?" I asked in a hushed tone, with my right hands on my forehead as I tried to hide my face. I hadn't felt more embarrassed before.

"It's me marking my territory," he replied so casually.

Words couldn't describe how terribly offended I became by his words. But, luckily for me. The bell rang and I delivered from him and the embarrassment he had created, or so I thought. People seriously started approaching and telling me congratulation. I tried my hardest to keep a smile on and replied them with my smile still on. Some of them even had the audacity to even go as far as saying, 'And you guys look good together oh'. I kept my calm and still kept on smiling.

"Let me walk you home," John offered me with a smile, grabbing my hands.

Trying as possible to not be aggressive to him, I pulled my hands away gently with a smile as I replied. "Not today." He was about to start asking me questions, but I quickly replied him, "I have people I walk with, I can't just ditch them like that." With that, I picked my backpack and walked away. His voice was also pissing me off already. When I got out of the class, the triplets were waiting for me. "What happen? Where is Soma?"

Aisha sighed. "He left immediately he heard about you and John, claiming he had a headache."

"Who told him?" I asked in a slightly offended tone. I didn't even know why I was offended he found out from someone other than me.

"No one," Alimah replied me. "He heard it from some of our classmates who were gossiping about it when they were leaving the class.

I sighed to myself. "Okay, let's go home." Walking home had never felt so boring. It wasn't like the triplets were boring or something, they were still as fun as ever. But, our walk felt so different. Especially after the triplets left, I did lots of thinking and I didn't like it. It made me question my decisions, and I didn't like questioning my decisions, it made me want to change my mind. And, that wasn't an option at that moment. I went to his house, but Science said he came home and left almost immediately. I asked him if he looked angry or something, but he said he looked perfectly okay. That was the moment I knew I had messed up. I tried calling him severally, but all to no avail. He didn't even reply my texts or WhatsApp messages.

I had messed up big time.