He's never been one to believe in fate, he believed every human being had power over their lives and life was the sequence of decisions they've taken but today, he was reconsidering his beliefs because, what else other than fate could explain the scene in front of him?

Peering into the window of the Auditorium, Arthur wondered who this twirling girl was, she was definitely a student because, the red house gown that flowed over her thin frame seemed to be calling his name.

This must be fate. Fate.

Fate had to be the reason why Chidinma forgot his school bag today of all days, fate had to be the reason why he who was normally scared of anything supernatural continued on downwards towards the auditorium even after dusk.

It must have been even more fate for him to hear the music afterwards just when he was about to return back to the cafeteria because right now watching this unknown girl dance, Arthur felt like he was destined to not just meet her but to meet her like this; in one of his favorite places in Emerald Academy, to meet her in the auditorium because right now, all he wanted to do was dance with her.

But still, he didn't want to scare her away because if he just stormed in there and asked to teach her some moves, there was nothing stopping her from just running away even before he gets a chance to see her face close up.

Arthur decided not to use the main door because he didn't want to draw attention to himself, instead opting to use one of the doors placed at the center of the building, her moves echoed in his mind as he walked around the building; she could dance but her steps lacked practice yet they dripped passion and although he was relatively still new at choreography, he loved dancing and everything dance related... it even felt like now he loved her too.

He stepped into the auditorium and there was an immediate something that pulled him to her, like a buzzing static ringing in his ears the closer he got to her.

Who was she? She's mesmerizing and I haven't even seen her face.

"I'm not crazy I swear! " Arthur froze at her voice, he instantly recognized it, he knew whose voice it was, he also knew the stories he'd heard about her and was she talking to him?

He looked up with his school bag in his left hand. Her eyes were closed.. So she wasn't.

Who was NUMB talking to?

NUMB, a reputation so strong it was treated like Boogeymen. They said she cut herself, they said she was insane and talked only to herself but as Arthur stared at her, he wondered why they didn't also say she was breathtakingly beautiful.

He believed in fate now.

"Yeah.. I might be crazy talking to a bee. But you are the first thing to fascinate me in a while. " she said again and Arthur wondered how she wasn't seeing him.

Oh... Her eyes were closed... What bee?

She laughed again and her voice pierced his chest.

Wait, she couldn't be NUMB, the NUMB everyone knew didn't laugh or smile or talk... according to the rumors.

So who was she?

He stared intensely at her and that's when he heard the first buzz, the moment he squinted his eyes to see clearly was when he heard the bee. It was her. She was Munachi Odumba, she was NUMB. So why was she laughing...

At a bee... Where's the bee?

I can hear it but I can't see it

Arthur began his search for the bee, it was suddenly very loud and it came from her direction so he decided to take the bull by the horn and walk over to her damning the potential consequences of scaring her away, but her eyes suddenly snapped open and halted his steps, dark brown sparkling eyes that seemed to captivate him.

He suddenly looked away feeling nervous and glad she hadn't caught him starring. The last thing he wanted was for her to run so he slowly continued his walk to her and as she stretched to tap the player he finally noticed the bee flying on top of her head like she was covered in delicious nectar. That was where the loud buzz was coming from, a real bee.

Ciara's - Level up started blasting through the speakers, releasing hell and magic from the girl in front of him. NUMB repeated the words with Ciara as she twisted her waist and now she didn't look like she lacked practice anymore. Her waist breaking sharper than he'd seen Shakira's waist ever break.

"Five, four, three, two, one.. " she sang out while hitting her chest with her two hands slowly as she mouthed "Level up." countless times, twerking quickly with the song.

Arthur watched the bee fly away from her, possibly scared off by her quick and sharp hand movements, but he was confused when the bee decided to settle on top of his own head.

He wasn't fascinated by bees nor scared by them, his father owned a bee farm and all their honey was handmade, so he ignored the buzzing and watched her move, slowly she flexed her waist, dancing sultry all of a sudden. Whyning as if grinding on an invincible guy. Arthur froze up watching her move with some sort of inner anger inside her.

Her eyes screwed shut as she danced almost professionally to the music, she didn't dance like any of the dancers in the music video, instead she moved like Ciara. Anger seeping through her steps as she re counted with Ciara,

He gulped.

She was sitting on her knees now twerking slowly as she rose up. She was getting all touchy with her body and he stared with lust suddenly in his eyes. She was extremely beautiful. How could someone like this be nicknamed NUMB, it must've been an irony of some sort.

She had great talent and probably inspiration greater than his.

Heck, he didn't even have inspiration, dancing was just fun to him and he recognized it now because he was missing whatever flair she had but he wanted some of that flair, he wanted to become a pair with her. a couple with that flair, he wanted their body to sync up and flow like currents underneath a water body.

He wanted her.

Arthur waited for the song to end before he started walking closer to her again.

"Hey. " he said... Shocked at how NUMB was making him nervous. No girl made him nervous, even his crush that'd facilitated his transfer to Emerald Academy never had this effect on him, neither did Chiamaka who was the first hyper sexual girl his age he'd ever met, no girl other than NUMB had ever erupted this volcano of emotions in him.

The song had ended a few minutes ago so he'd finally climbed the pulpit where she was as he tried his possible hardest to ignore the fact that there was now a bee that could sting him at any second now hovering above his head, following him every step he took.

"Bee when did you start talking? Wow I am crazy. No friends and now a bee is talking to me. " Arthur's heart broke as he heard that.

No friends... I can be your friend.

"Bee? Are you still here? Where did you go, I can still hear you so please don't hide from me, please don't leave, I promise not to laugh again." Munachi said slowly and he felt tears prick his eyes.

How lonely was she that she was begging a bee not to leave her?

"I'll never leave you. " Arthur realized it was too late to take back his words when she'd quickly turned and stared at him.

Emotionless brown eyes stared widely at him. He froze.

That's why she's called Numb isn't it? It wasn't an irony, he understood the nickname now, she lacked any facial expression.

She carried blank eyes that pierced into your soul.

"Arthur. " she said... Her voice sounding low and giving nothing away.

She didn't look shocked to see him.. But she also didn't look like she'd expected him. All in all she didn't look like she felt everything.

"How'd you know my name? " he asked wanting to continue this conversation with her, that magnetic force was still pulling him to her and it wasn't a coincidence for them to be talking right now with a bee both circling their heads.

It was fate.

"Everyone knows you. Arthur Dike. New student, transfered this term. They all talk about you. Chiamaka's boyfriend. " she stated blankly.

A smirk formed... And by 'all' she meant 'girls'.

He wasn't so sure about the Chiamaka's part.

He came to the school less than three months ago, but the hype over him was still high. Particularly because he could dance.

And so could she, better than he could.

"What's your name?" He asked her, even though he already knew the answer to his question he wanted more of her, he wanted to hear her speak and he wanted her voice and her everything... he wanted her!

"Everyone calls me NUMB. " she responded with a resigned sigh.

"I'm not everyone, I want to know what I can call you. " Arthur said and the bee flew down between their faces, she jerked her hand upwards to swap the bee away the same time he did too so their palms touched, the bee then zoomed back upwards.

"Munachi... call me Munachi, I don't like the name Numb at all but if mother doesn't care about what I like, why should other people care too. " Munachi responded, he had his face upwards staring at the bee which gave her enough time to get a close up look at Arthur Dike.

His mouth was slightly ajar and his buck teeth with sharp incisors were white and unstained, he looked like he had good mouth hygiene and Munachi had built a mild obsession with everything hygiene, she wondered how his two front teeth were as bright as that.

"I like your name and.. " Arthur trailed off before his eyes widened in shock. "Fuck! I think that bee.. wait, the bee is about to sting. Shit! Look!" Arthur's eyes suddenly met her watching eyes, prompting her to look upwards and true enough the bee was angling towards them, about to drop down to sting.

But still, it was her first friend. Her first friend wouldn't sting her, "No, you're just misunderstanding, he wouldn't attack me. We're friend- ow!"

The bee stung her and she cried out more from the shock of betrayal than pain but the sharp sting was awful, Arthur instinctively swapped at the spot the bee had stung, her lower neck but the bee responded by stinging the top of his palm before oddly dropping to the floor dead.

Their eyes met again and even in mild pain their lips twitched slowly before they both erupted into laughter, "Well, I think your friend just said a big fuck you to you and life. " Arthur joked and Munachi laughed again, the same sound that'd captivated him to the auditorium, a sound he wanted to hear everyday.

She liked that he didn't mock her blind trust or even say "I told you so", she was so used to her mother's criticizing voice that it felt nice to not be judged. He stared at her face and notice a burst of emotions in her eyes, it wasn't a silent message or anything similar but her eyes were suddenly so bright all he could do was want to understand her completely.

She dropped down to the floor and scooped the bee onto her note, then told a confused Arthur, "I want to give him a fitting burial! Mother said even the worst of us deserve a good exit."

Mother?

Fitting Burial.. to a bee?

Sign me up!

Better this than some silly loud cafeteria.

"Okay, let's do this! A fitting burial for a Royal bee. " He said and picked the book from her hand as they walked towards the door.

Inches away from opening the door, he felt his muscles tense up as realization dawned on him.

She was NUMB, they were stepping out into the public, people could see them together... burying a bee.

Emerald Academy student could see him talking to the Boogeyman of his set.

"Fuck" Arthur panted. He thought this was fate, but maybe fate only happened in private. Being seen with Numb was the equivalent of social suicide and he'd just gotten here.

This was a huge risk moving around wet cement.

And for what?

"What's wrong?" Her voice sliced through the dark clouds that'd begun to surround his judgement. Like a melodic tone that reminded him of his mother.. His mother.

Mum wouldn't want me treating anybody like this. She chewed dad out for snapping at a kid who poured soap water on our windshield while we were stuck in traffic.

Dad would chew me out even more because he was always desperate to side with her, she could do no wrong in his eyes and he'd always taught me to protect.

Protect...

"It's nothing important. Let's go. " Arthur switched the book in his left hand to his right hand, then reached out for Munachi's hand.

She turned to gawk at his face in confusion but he didn't say anything, just nudged at the door in front of her with their intertwined hands and with a very deep breath, he stepped outside with her.

No one was nearby, but the cafeteria was bursting with noise. By now they were all meant to be in their hostel but there was an event today and dinner was shifted further so it meant everyone was in the cafeteria or loitering around nearby. Anybody could see him with NUMB.

Munachi.

"Here! Let's burry him here, we're going to have to use our hands though cause I don't have my shovel with me. "

With me?

Do you actually have a shovel in school.

He could understand why she was an outcast... the treatment wasn't fair but she differed too greatly from other Emerald Academy students, she was... weird.

But that's.. okay.

"Special people are usually different from others"

His mother's voice rang in his ears. She was right. Munachi was special. He bent low with her and helped her push away sand and stone before turning the book over so the carcass of the bee fell into the hole. They both covered the sand up while Arthur felt his neck choke up and sweat trickle down his forehead.

Anybody could see him right now, with NUMB.

Munachi.

NUMB.

Munachi.

NUMB.

Fuck!

"Let's go. " He pulled her up suddenly and scanned their environment, someone had now entered the vicinity. A female senior and she paused to watch them both, she could recognize Arthur instantly but she wasn't sure she was seeing the girl besides him clearly so she began her walk to meet them. She was a prefect and could use her position as an excuse: instruct them to enter the cafeteria.

Arthur watched the senior walk closer. He was struggling to breathe, walking outside with her was easier said than done and most especially the reality was a crushing truth on his neck. No matter how special he thought she was, everyone still saw her as NUMB.

Her name is Munachi.

"Let's go into the cafeteria to wash our hands. " He told her, she nodded and wondered why he was still tightly holding her hand. Usually people ignore her existence or condemn her existence, people make jokes at her expenses too so there was a possibility that he was trying to play a mean prank on her. Munachi's hand twitched in his as she tried to pull her hand out if his.

"Don't be scared of her, she won't punish us for being outside the cafeteria and she most certainly won't punish us for holding hands." Arthur misjudged but Munachi didn't bother correcting him, she just stopped trying to pull her hand out of his.

"Arthur Dike. Why are you outside?" Their paths finally collided, steps away from the roaring noise of the auditorium, they were so close that the seniors loitering in front of the door were watching the wild scene in front of them with deep interest.

Everyone recognized NUMB. She had no right besides Arthur Dike.

"Auditorium, my bag, this book. Bye Temitope. " He muttered with a bored roll of his eyes. Munachi felt uncomfortable with the leering eyes of the seniors at the door, she suddenly did not want to enter into the cafeteria because she was used to people pausing and whispering everytime she entered somewhere.

So she started trying to pull her hand out again, this time Arthur understood why.

"Don't..." He whispered as they climbed the steps to the Cafeteria, people sitting near the door had already started stopping to watch Arthur and NUMB... holding hands.

Arthur felt his heart beating strongly from his chest. This took too much bravery from him, a strength he never knew he had, an awareness he unlocked, a humility he never thought he had. He completely shed his pride and ego and possibly status for her the second he heard that buzzing sound even though it took some time to acknowledge it, so it was too late now to turn back.

"Don't let go of my hand. No matter what. " He whispered again to her and Munachi felt her breath seize. She was used to the stares and the pointing and the jest because they were bound to subside after a short time, they never lasted long enough to hurt her but she immediately knew that this time would be different.

It was Arthur Dike.

It finally hit her that everyone calls her NUMB.

They stepped in and the Hall instantly became quiet. So quiet a fork dropping echoed across the building.

Fuck. This is what she endures everyday!?

"Ignore them, let's go wash our hands. " He told her and they continued walking, the second they walked by a particular spot it roared with laughter and deafening voices. He was aiming for the sink besides the table he and his friends sat in, but it was so very far away and the laughter was spreading round, no longer waiting for them to walk by first.

Arthur wasn't sure who they were laughing at or what either, he just knew people were pointing and laughing and it certified his belief that he'd just committed social suicide by walking in with NUMB

MUNACHI!

Fuck them anyways. Fuck the popularity, fuck it all. She has a flair that they would never have.

"What's so fucking funny?" Arthur's head snapped at the person in front of him. It was a 9th grader, his set hated their set and vice versa.

"I'm not laughing at you man, I'm laughing at NUMB. I mean look at her, shapeless-" Arthur almost let go of her hand to punch his face but a voice stopped him.

"On your knees. Now. " Darren. Rooney's older brother and if Darren was nearby.

"All of you on his table, drop now. " so was Darrel.

Arthur turned his head and watched the twins stand besides Munachi.

Everyone on his table instantly obeyed even before Darrel removed the belt from his trouser.

"And all of you stop fucking laughing!" George screamed. Arthur sighed at the realization of what was happening.

His social suicide was being reversed. The thumping in his chest reduced but Munachi wanted to run. The attention was lasting far longer than she had ever experienced. The words this time were more harsher than what she usually heard, all around her people were lying against her. Voices swearing on their mothers that she self harmed and was possessed. Munachi wanted to run.

Arthur nodded at Darrel and Darren, they nodded back. He stared at Munachi who looked so frail besides her, he wanted to apologize for putting her through this.

He could feel her pulling at his hand which would've erupted more laughter if George wasn't standing and scanning the seats around them both sharp attention.

"I'm sorry. " He muttered and continued walking towards his friends table. Rooney's eyes were piercing holes into his because he had a lot of questions.

"Besides who give una permission to dey call person NUMB anyways?!" Kenelum, one of Arthur's friends suddenly stood up and yelled.

"Permission for what? Is she a person in the first place?" Chiamaka yelled out and Munachi sighed. There was a time that same girl was nicer to her... a time not so long enough but felt like a century with the stark difference now.

"Yes Chiamaka, she is. Now stop being jealous and go re-stuff your bra with tissue. " Rooney defended and Arthur nodded his head at him in silent gratitude. Rooney shrugged, it was no biggie to him after all, he knew the girl besides him. They were friendly rivalries in primary school, she didn't deserve the ostracism.

"Why her!? He can do much better than her!" A 10th grader yelled and George began to walk over to her table, she immediately started yelling "I'm sorry senior! I'm sorry senior!" which made him stop walking.

Arthur finally reached the sink and he helped Munachi wash her palms before washing his.

Then they began to walk towards his table.

"Jesus Christ, they're just holding hands abeg. They just walked inside together, big deal. Doesn't mean they're an item now. You EA losers are always so fixated on other people. Jesus Christ, just mind your fucking business. " Rooney ranted and rolled his eyes.

"He's actually right. Let's pray abeg. I'm hungry. " an SS3 student agreed and everyone on Arthur's table immediately started whispering among themselves.

They were severely confused. He left to bring his bag and returned with NUMB, they demanded explanations. Arthur answered their questions while Rooney stared intensely at her.

She was incredibly beautiful. Why do people bully her so much? It felt like propaganda to him. A stupid one, he knew he had questionable morals but wasn't it only ugly people that were supposed to be bullied.

Munachi felt his unconcealed gawking and turned to look at her former classmate while Arthur retold the story of how he thought it was a ghost in the auditorium.

Rooney and Munachi's eyes met and for a second, a very quick second she felt something flutter in her chest, something so strong it felt like memories hit her at once, she felt a deep connection to him like her soul was in love with him... in another world that is, because after the second passed she felt nothing at all and she returned her gaze back to Arthur who was slowly putting a peaceful thump in her chest.

Rooney didn't take his eyes off her, he couldn't for in that second he felt an emotion he'd never felt before, a reviving of his soul yet the death of it all at the same time. It was at that second he fell in love with her and the truth gutted him completely because in as much as he'd dismissed the 10th grader he knew with the way Arthur held her hands they were already an item and what fool falls in love with his best friend's girl?

...

...

A/N
I know I know! Shocking! Interesting! Captivating!You're welcome!!

Here's an alternate ending for our Munarth shippers! This chapter has always existed in my head even before I drafted Chapter 1 because IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE BEE.

Munachi and Arthur were never going to end up together because he had killed the bee and I know it looks like he still basically killed the bee in this alternate universe (the bee actually died) but him stepping on the bee represented him not being the "one", it's him accidentally cutting the invisible string that tied him to her, he was emotionally absent, carried the heavy weight of pride and prioritized the wrong things to the point he *couldn't* hear the bee, *couldn't* see the bee, so he could not be with her.

It was always set from the beginning and it is only in a universe where he is at peace with himself so much, that he does not cut the string tying them together...

If you'd read some of the chapters of book 2 you'd recognize how important his parents voices were especially in navigating his dynamic with Ninola (iykyk), and how he's always been their son so it's only their son who remembers he's their son that could deserve Munachi.

But yeah, in this universe his father doesn't die, Munachi never befriends Silvana nor Jasmine and most especially Williams because well... yk! Rooney does go abroad but he doesn't return back to Nigeria until book two where he'd be the one to meet Ninola (iykyk) and so many things that has happened in book 2 don't happen. I've always been fascinated by the concept of butterfly effect so its actually what genuinely inspired Numb because if you've been an OG reader you'd know I always put a bee on the book cover and finally you now know why.

Alsoooo, I'm completely revamping Book 2 so it's why I took down the entire chapters. If you liked this chapter, you'd definitely enjoy book 2. Be there 🤧