Munachi Odumba

"Munachi, are you even listening to me?" Jasmine's voice snapped me back to reality and I nodded.

First lie this morning.

"Oya (okay), what did I say?" She dropped her fork on her plate and pouted.

"Munachi, are you even listening to me?" I mimicked her in the tiniest voice I could muster, turning my head left and right as fast as I could as I did so.

She narrowed her eyes at me while pouting.

"I do not talk like that."

Suure you don't.

Rolling my eyes playfully, I looked down and stared at my plate filled with Jellof rice and fish.

I was hungry yes, but I didn't feel like eating.. I was meeting with Senior Ebuka today and I still hadn't made up my mind on what to tell him.

"Yes you do. Your voice is annoying in some way. Especially when I'm on my PMS days... To slap you just use to hungry  (tempt)me. " Silvana said beside me and Williams giggled..

Then froze and laughed properly.

This boy self.
If you're girly, no one would judge you... They'll just label you gay, what's the worst that can happen after that?

Silvana raised an eyebrow at him and his laugh died out.. He quickly took a spoon of his rice and I shook my head slowly.

"Silvana shut up jor. Munachi, listen well this time... I won't repeat my self. I said ehn, Favor, senior Favor.. Ss3 Favor, she's dating one junior like that... He's a new student and he's in Ss1, can you imagine? No shame. " Jasmine said and I sighed deeply.

"Mind your business, because it isn't your business... If they date, it affects you how?" I asked.

"I wonder oh! But sha, it's stupid abeg.. Ss3 and Ss1, if she was in Ss2 ehen, no problem like that.. But she's in Ss3 and he's in Ss1... He's just starting and she, she's leaving... It doesn't make. " Silvana said and slowly put a spoon in her mouth and brought it out before proceeding to slowly chewing the rice in her mouth.

Why did she eat this slow?

"But sha, like it's only in school that it'll show that she's like his senior, he's taller... Older and looks more mature, so if they're still together during the holidays and they go on dates no one would ever assume that she's his senior. " Williams said, I rolled my eyes and tried to eat.

Tried to think and eat, I had a major issue at hand... He wanted us to date, I don't want that, I don't like him, I like Arthur, I don't know him and I know Arthur... He's a cultist and Arthur is not..

If I date him, he's going to want to spend on me.. I refuse and then he'll over think things... I accept and then one day, he'll want to receive something in return for the amount he'll spend on me...

He'll want sex.

If I don't date him, he has it out for Arthur... But why? Why would he even assume that? Maybe he would assume something else and just leave me?

He won't, he has it out for Arthur.. Beats him up and then eventually finds a way to get me to date him.. He might threaten Arthur's life and want sex in return for Arthur's safety from me..

I was trapped... Didn't know what to do.

"Even though oh! She's still shameless!" Jasmine yelled and the noisy cafeteria became quiet in some way as people turned to our table.

Most of them quickly turned back when they realized it was just Jasmine.

"Who's now shameless again?" Arthur said behind me and I whipped my head backward.

He's picking up this habit of just suddenly showing up unexpectedly.

How was he doing that?

He was alone and I looked around and saw Nonso and his friends walk over to the 'Maka's' table.

Was he now avoiding Silvana?

What concern you?

Silvana's eyes met mine and I shrugged, it felt like she already knew what I'd said in my mind.

Arthur sat beside me and I looked down.

My cheeks were heating up now..

I liked him!

"Hello." His perfect velvety voice said beside me and I nodded shyly while avoiding eye contact with him.

"Ewo! Whahala for who no get crush oh (Big trouble for who doesn't have a crush). Arthur, I was talking about Favor, the one who's dating Clifford... That junior." Jasmine scowled.

And she too was making a habit of speaking broken English more often.

"Guy, e make. Clifford na original sharp shooter (Clifford has excellent game). Just secured one senior like that when his transfer window hasn't even closed... Senior with experience oh too. Sharp guy!" Arthur sounded like he was smiling..

Why was he smiling?
I didn't even know what to do yet concerning Ebuka, I don't want him getting hurt.

I'm thinking up all the possible ways he could come out neat...

And he's smiling?

"Of course it'll make for you, you're a boy.. You guys like this kind of things, she's his senior.. This kind of nonsense would be making juniors talk anyhow to seniors, they'll be no respect again... When they break up now nkor? And he insults her? Or let's say he'll now cheat or fall in love with his classmate now, Senior Favor would make that girl's life a living hell..worst is if they're in the same hostel. Fight would start now." Silvana rapped out and I watched my food.

Muna, eat now.

Arthur laughed. "When they get there, they'll cross the bridge. All those ones won't disturb me. "

Was his voice ever this sexy?

Has it always been this way?

"Nana... You're not eating? Munachi, you're not eating? " Sexy voice spoke to me.

Wait...What?

I looked up, he smiled at me.

"Why aren't you eating? I thought food monging  was your hobby? " He smirked at me.

I rolled my eyes and replied.

"I'm thinking. "

"Of what? "

"You." His eyes widened as I said that and he looked shocked.

"Me? " I nodded

"Yes. Senior Ebuka. Don't know what to do. " Arthur's shocked look got replaced quickly.

He looked perplexed.

"What's there to not know? Do you want to date him?" I shook my head quickly.

"Then don't. I don't want you to either, he's a sick bastard, don't give him what he wants. He wants you. " Arthur sighed.

"But, Arthur, your life will be in danger. " Silvana said and chewed her food again.

"It's already in danger... " He murmured.

Eh?

"That's why I came late to cafeteria, that's why we came late. Ebuka came to our hostel today and shit happened. " Arthur explained in a way.

"It's true, you've not eaten... Our table mates didn't come today self.. So we have excess food, they're all in school now, they're all stabbing (missing)assembly. " Jasmine said and stood up to open the food cooler.

Arthur stopped her and took my plate instead.

She sat back down and I raised my two brows at him.

"You're not eating." He shrugged at me.

He took the spoon, dipped it in the rice and brought it to my lips... I opened my mouth for him and he pushed the spoon in.

"Awwn! Do you two know how long we've waited to see that?! " Williams shrieked happily and he hugged Jasmine tightly. They were besides each other so it made their hug awkward.

I took in the rice and then Arthur began to withdraw the spoon from my mouth...

I thought he'd dip it back in and continue feeding me but his next action shocked me.

He put it in his mouth, he put the spoon that'd been in my mouth seconds ago into his mouth and brought it out again, while I watched him.

While we watched him, he pushed the plate back to me and pulled out the spoon from his mouth.

That spoon now looked desirable to me.

"Perfect breakfast. " He said with a smirk..

Watching him do that, not only heated my cheeks but in between my legs.

How can a man look so sexy just licking spoon.

Spoon with my saliva though.

Wow.

Had we ever done anything further than kiss?

Yes.

Ss1 first term...

You rubbed it.

After that day?

I don't think so?

Have you ever seen him eat this school's food?

Hmn, now that I think of it.. No, not really.

"Do you eat this school's food? " I blurted out, he quirked at me.

"You're still weird. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't... I normally don't eat cooked food. " He shrugged.

"What did Ebuka tell you people, why'd he keep you guys back?" Silvana asked and my eyes widened.

That's true...

"Usual bullshit. Doesn't matter." Arthur's eyebrows scrunched together and he turned his face away from me...

He was lying

"Arthur... " I whispered his name and he turned to look above my head, he was now the one avoiding eye contact.

His eyes looked straight forward, towards the 'Maka's' table and he stood up quickly... I turned to find out why he'd stood up that fast and saw that they were all standing, Nonso, Kenelum, Kenneth, Dominique and Segun... They were all standing and looking at Arthur.

Arthur who was swinging a leg over my seat to leave,

Wow, he moved fast.

"See you in class. " He whispered to me, crouching behind me while his breath fanned my neck and his lips touched my ears.

He was about to pull away from me but I grabbed his shirt and dragged him backwards.

His eyes met mine and his lips was half an inch away from mine.

"What did Ebuka tell you. " I repeated Silvana's question to him, his lips parted and he tried to pull away.

I jerked him back and our lips touched, he didn't even let a second pass before pressing his lips further down on mine.

And they started cheering, the few people who were watching us started clapping loudly and I'm sure most people who weren't watching were now watching us.

Everyone was seeing us.

Were we kissing?

I think so?

He was gently pressing me backwards and I placed my other hand round his neck, his lower lip picked up my upper lip and then we actually started kissing.

The cheers got louder and he got fueled up in a way, he started caressing my cheeks with his hands and as quickly as his lips touched mine, he pulled away.

Why?

"You look cute. See you in class. " He muttered with a smirk and walked out a door.

Nonso and co, followed.

He left without actually replying...

Can't believe he dodged my question.

What's he hiding?

•°•

"... So, it's come to my notice that boys have resumed the trend of sneaking into girls hostel again. Last warning, you will be suspended if caught.. Don't endanger your education for few minutes of sexual bliss.. " Mrs Ojukwu said into the microphone and an uproar started in the junior area.

They always did that, any topic that involves 'sex' made them lose their cool... Like now.

"Be quiet! 7th graders be quiet!" Our principal spoke loudly into her microphone and they immediately obeyed.

Well, that was one good thing about them, they were super disciplined... But I'm sure they'll probably lose their discipline in 9th grade or in SS1.

"Do all these matter? The premarital sex and the dangers you all put yourselves in? Sex isn't just a physical activity, you unravel so many spirits by engaging in sex, you exchange destinies and souls through sex!" Mrs Ojukwu yelled and most people around me started laughing.

"This woman don light wan. Spirit dey travel through sperm or watin she dey talk?! Na only spirit dey travel? Why I never dey collect politician pikin money then? (This woman must be high, does spirit travel through sperm and why haven't I taken a politician's daughters wealth?)" A boy yelled behind me and the laughter doubled.

The people she was meant to be preaching to, Kenneth and Kenelum... Including Nonso- I didn't know if he still went again last night... He might have, he might have not.

Depends on him.

They weren't here... Sure there maybe other boys who did so in SS3, but I was sure the main actual guilty culprits weren't here to hear her and so, this message wasn't going to be delivered.

"... Class prefects, always ensure to lock your class doors properly after school and prep. You will be held responsible for any damage done to your class, bills will be charged, sometimes not to be distributed but will be solely focused on you." Mrs. Ojukwu continued and people who I assume were class prefects groaned round the auditorium.

Mrs Ojukwu pulled back her silky long wig with her hand, her red nails becoming the highlight of the short lived moment.

Mrs Ojukwu was Emerald Academy's founding daughter, she hadn't inherited it yet but she fully managed the secondary school, she was a woman in her late forties but she loved to stay in vogue.

"WAEC class. SS3's you all are lazy! " She exclaimed and another uproar began.

Most juniors began to laugh loudly or clap foolishly, for no reason.

What's funny in being called lazy?

"Ma! Watin na?!(What's that!?)" A deep bass voice shouted behind us and the people around him started laughing.

"Watin what? Private WAEC is less than 3 months away and you all are still un-serious!" She paused properly in between un and serious to drive a point home and continued. "You have been registered for the JAN/FEB exams and the MAY/JUNE exams and yet no signs of seriousness, I'm highly disappointed in you all. You won't just wake up and pass external exams and they will be no manna from heaven (school sponsored cheats), Do you all have plans to fail?! " Our principal continued.

"No ma!" They chorused.

Was senior Ebuka here?

"Then read! The library is always open during school hours yet you all don't use it-"

"-Ma! We use it oh. "

"I swear. "

"The librarian no dey let us read comic anymore, so watin go concern me for there again?! (The librarian doesn't allow us read comics anymore so what business do I have there again?)" A male voice yelled with the rest of his classmates but his voice was the loudest of them all and I giggled.

Okay, that was funny.

"Shay, it's comic that one came to school to read ba? " Silvana said beside me and smacked her tongue against her upper teeth in distaste.

"You are mad. " Our principal didn't yell, but the way she said it.

Even I felt it.

"Cheii! "

"Jesuuu! "

"O'setigo(It has begun)"

"Chaii! "

"Oluwa!"

"Obara' (Blood of)Jesus! "

"Geeez!" Most people in the auditorium exclaimed loudly. Their words doubled my giggle till I started laughing.

SS3's that were all four rows behind us looked rowdy.

Most of them were laughing too loudly just to spite the guy who'd said that.

Who'd said that?

"Who said that?! Stand up now! I said stand up!" Mrs Ojukwu ordered and all our heads turned back.

I highly doubt if that person would.

That's like saying 'Come, come and be shot.'

"Ma, nobody. It's not from here, it's that side. " Our head boy stood up, faced a window, shooed outside with his right hand and lied.

We turned back to look at her.

She sighed deeply and loosened her grip on her microphone.

"That side eh. That side? " Her tone changed and she shook her head.

"Exams are less than 3months away. Dull away in peace, SS3 revision classes commence immediately. Stay back after night prep. Till 11pm. Good day. " She announced and walked back to the 'VIP' section of the podium, which consisted of Vice Principals, HOD's and our head girl all seated on comfy - looking small couches. The big couch there was vacant right now, soon to be occupied by the principal, only the principal.

Our head girl stood up and replaced the principal.

"Read oh. " She smiled at the student population, while drawing her right ear up with her fingers, she was staring at her classmates who laughed in response.

"SS1, marching song. "

•^•

"Guy, the guy don kolo. Forget am may he dey fool him life, think say he get sense? (The dude has gone mad, forget about him let him keep fooling, do you think he's intelligent?)" It was clearly Arthur's voice. But who was he talking to and about?

Senior Ebuka?

Find out by entering inside your class. Stop standing outside an open door first.

"No be sex? Guy she's not your girlfriend, leave am. If she gree she gree, if she no gree she no gr- (Isn't it sex? She's not your girlfriend so let her be, if she agrees then she agrees and if she doesn't then she doesn't)"

"-Munachi." Silvana interrupted who ever was speaking—sounded like Kenelum and I froze.

Who is the person they were talking about?

Who are the people they were talking about?

Who's agreeing and who's fooling?

"Why are you standing outside? " Silvana whispered to me and I walked closer to her.

Incase any of them come outside, they won't think I was eavesdropping.

"Boys, in our class. " I weakly explained, nodding towards the door so she'd get what I was saying.

"And so? " Silvana asked me with widening eyes.

She shook her head, rolled her eyes then walked into our class.

I sighed and followed.

This was going to be awkward because the class instantly went silent at the mention of my name.

It's like walking into a room when you were caught eavesdropping.

Maybe next time, you won't be the first person to climb your floor.

I could've just followed Jasmine and Williams to the staffroom.

Arthur, Dominique, Kenelum, Kenneth, Segun and Nonso were all looking at us.

They all had this suspicious smile, except for Nonso who was staring at Silvana, who did her possible best to avoid meeting his eyes.

Soon his lips turned down in a frown and he walked to the back of the class, resting his back against the wall as his left shoe touched the wall too. His head was hung low like the tiles of the classroom was some antique treasure he was admiring.

"Hi." Arthur walked towards me and I nodded.

Silvana slowly eyed Arthur, then Kenelum and walked to our seat. She sat down and dropped her purple, small school bag besides her.

"What are you doing here? All of you? " Silvana asked Dominique. And I saw Nonso look up at her.

Why did it feel like he was hoping she was including him?

"E concern you? Dey mind your business sometimes. (How's that your business? Try to mind your business sometimes)" Kenelum stupidly said and Nonso sucked in a deep breath.

So I guess, Kenelum was still... Useless.

"Guy, stop. " Nonso exhaled in a breath.

"Whatever. I'm out. " Kenelum replied and left my class.

"Guy, later na. " Segun said and walked out of his own class.

Nawa.

"Where that mofo dey go? " Kenneth chuckled and walked out too.

""Leave am. Guy don forget him class. (Leave him, he's forgotten where his class is)" Nonso said and walked out too, he looked awkward as he passed our seat... As he passed Silvana.

"Be say, he don see fine babe sef. (Maybe he saw a hot chick) " Dominique too walked out.

Arthur chuckled then held my palm and most people started walking into the class.

So, maybe going with Jasmine to greet a teacher who later sent she and Williams on an errand, wasn't so bad after all.

At least it guaranteed the chance to enter our building before the rest of my classmates did. I should do that often...

Greet teachers with Jasmine and Williams.

I smiled at Arthur as we both walked away from the door, wasn't right to stand at the entrance and obstruct people from coming in.

"You should smile more often, you look so breathtaking when you do. " He smirked at me while flirting, I looked down and tried to unhand my hand from his... Hand.

I was feeling shy now.

When did he start having these kinda effects on me?

I wish I could just pause and go back to when he didn't have so much control over my emotions.

"Hello oh. Munachi. "Silvana's voice interrupted and changed my mood.

She was signaling I return to our seat with her hand.

I smiled and pulled away from him then walked to our seat.

"You know he was part of the dare right? " She said five seconds later after I'd sat down. I shook my head.

"He wasn't. It was Kenelum and Kenneth... Not him. All he did was find out. " I explained to her.

"Bullshit. Still, he knew for over a week and he didn't tell me... He probably was laughing at me behind my back all the whi-"

"-He wasn-"

"-Don't date him... "

"What? "

"I don't want you to date that cheat's best friend. I'd rather you date a cultist who might not cheat on you than you date someone who's never had a history of being faithful in his life. He will hurt you, just like Nonso hurt me.. Don't do it. " Silvana surprised me and I was sure my jaw was down.

"Did you hear yourself? " I asked her.

"Yes... Yes I did and I might not be fully proud of my words but listen to them. Arthur would hurt you. Ebuka would not. "

"He's a cultist. "

"And so? "

"Would you date a cultist?" We were whispering. But my voice was becoming aggressive.

"If I know that he'll never cheat, he'll never break my trust like that jerk did. Why not? All Ebuka would ask for is sex... I'd given that fool sex but still he left me-"

"-You left him. And I am not having premarital sex in secondary school... Especially not with someone who could put my life at risk. "

I didn't want to hear her anymore, I stood up and my eyes met Arthur who looked at me with raised brows.

He'd been waiting for me to return, he probably thought Silva had something lighthearted to tell me, or maybe she'd just remembered something.

I doubt he would ever expect her to tell me what she just did.

"Do it for him at least. Don't be so self centered this time, think about Arthur... Your life or his? A relationship or his safety? Not like you're marrying him, you'll break up soon.. Nothing lasts in secondary school. "

This time?

When last was I self centered?

"Silvana." I muttered her name and looked at her.

I wanted her to stare me in the eyes again and call me self centered to my face.

But she avoided eye contact with me so I walked out.

Was she right?

Was I being self centered for even considering refusing Ebuka?

Why was my life this way?

Kenelum entered the thought of raping me.. Because he'd planned it with Chiamaka, Chiamaka who had some silly obsession with me since 8th grade even before I dated Rooney she always picked on me, she must be the one person who's called me Numb the most... Arthur slept with that same Chiamaka just two days ago, to find out something we already knew... Okay, he said it's to make her quit endangering me.

Ebuka asked me out, I find out Ebuka's not who I even thought he was..

Arthur disgraces Ebuka and now Ebuka has it out for him.

Now I have to date him...

Just because I've been putting my self first and I've been self centered...

Am I even self centered?

Why does my chest feel so heavy? Why's my throat closing up?

Why do I want to cry?

She hurt you.. Her words hurt you.

Still, did she mean them? When have I ever been so self centered that she's holding it against me?

What did I do wrong?

Do I even have any rights to be happy.. Ever?

Why couldn't I just go back to not feeling things?

Go back to being Nu-

"-Munachi. " My hand was dragged back, I was dragged back.

People walked past us, some slowly and some in haste.

Who was holding me?

Find out.

I turned my head back and stared at the last person I wanted to see in this world right now...

I stared at him.

Sigh.

A/N
I might soon stop adding the translation to every pigin, there's no new words so if you've read up to this chapter you already know what those words mean. So welcome on board my fellow pigin speaker.