Munachi Odumba.

"... Talk to me Munachi, why do you look so scared?" Ebuka's gruff voice snapped me out of that frozen haze I was in.

I stared up at him from the pictures in the book, his eyes were looking up at the ceiling and he looked like he was in deep thoughts.

What was he thinking about?

What vile thoughts was he thinking about?

Was he silently applauding himself for getting me to fall into his trap?

But how he'd made these pictures look so real?.

There were four pictures inside his long notebook, in one Arthur was shirtless too... I'd seen him shirtless so I knew that this body couldn't be his, but it looked so realistic and the difference between his body and this was the complexion and that slight difference was barely noticeable.

Me on the other hand, everything matched and it almost looked like I was stark naked with Arthur in between my legs, like they were wrapped behind his waist, looked like we were actually having sexual intercourse, with my back against the wall.

And another, Arthur was on me on top of a desk and I was naked, my breasts looked like he was pressing it down with his own chest in this fake picture.

Why did they look so real?

"None of these ever happened!"I shouted at him, grabbed the pictures in the book and flung it up at him. It bounced against his face and fell flat on the tiled floor.

I crouched low to pick up the two pictures that had fallen down minutes ago.

"What's your problem? Why are you so fucking useless?!"

First time ever.

I wasn't even fully aware of what had triggered my words, but it was too late to take them back.

Maybe it was the way the pictures looked so doctored, so fake and so... Shameful.

Maybe because I already knew what the next stage in his master plan was.

First he lures me here with a foolish excuse that only I was only foolish to believe,

Next he was going to threaten me and I hated being threatened, I hated being in compromising situations... Maybe that was the real reason why I'd fought with Kenelum a term back, why he'd angered me so much and fueled up my adrenaline.

Ebuka smirked at me and stepped closer, "Fuck. Never knew you could cuss. Damn, you sound so sexy when you're doing tha-"

I shut him up once I tore the six pictures in my hand at once, they weren't thin and light but they weren't thick and heavy either, he looked shocked at first.

Then his facial features morphed into a triumphant one, there was something about his smile that scared me but not as much as how frightening it was to hear him laugh.. laugh at me.

"I have copies. More copies, different angles, different positions, I have more than you could possibly imagine and you wouldn't want the whole school seeing them, now would you? " His words slowly registered in my head and I blinked twice.

So I was right...

"You're threatening me? " I sounded way confident than I felt.

It was common knowledge that of course he'll have more incriminating pictures of me, so he was right and he had a upper hand now.

But didn't he have from the start, from the last step I climbed onto this floor?

He had copies... Copies he could leak.

He's always had the upper hand, from the moment I agreed to go with Silvana to Blue House Hostel, I stared too long at the abyss and now I was trapped inside it.

"See it whatever way you please, all I know is... I'm the chapel prefect and I have all access to the projector and the materials in it... Maybe, accidentally. "He licked his lips and grabbed my waist, immediately stretching his palm around my butt.

"These pictures could accidentally appear on the screen of the school's laptop. "

School's laptop.

School's laptop... First hint.

"Why are you doing this? What do you gain out of this? " I asked him after I'd tried and failed at separating our bodies, he was too strong or I was too weak.

I always thought I'd be able to defend myself against anything, irrelevant of gender differences but Ebuka over powered me.

So I turned the pictures in my hand and tore another side of it.

"What do I gain out of this? Your body, like fuck... You're so fucking sexy now. Rooney doesn't know what he's damn missing. " He added a second palm to my butt and kneaded my flesh like I was some cheap N50 agege bread he was about to devour with a smirk as I continued tearing up the pictures.

But why does he keep mentioning Rooney every time?

I'm sure Rooney didn't even think about me as much as Ebuka kept mentioning his name.

"Shut up. " I growled and dropped the pieces of the pictures on the floor.

He licked his lips slowly and finally let go of me but when I tried to step away he pulled at my hand.

"You're even so fucking attractive now that you're mad, fuel that anger into something positive and fuck me with so much passion. "Ebuka sounded like he was moaning, I was disgusted.

"Must you be so stupid?" I yelped at him and threw my leg up in an attempt to kick him in between his legs.

It worked and he groaned then slowly dropped.

I wasn't going to be submissive just yet.

First I needed to check the school's laptop and delete my pictures.

"Like damn, Munachi, I never knew you were this violent... It's such a huge turn on. Can't wait till you're kicking under me. " He was still talking?

I turned to run away but I couldn't go far, I didn't even reach the stairs before I felt his hand grab my hand, I tried to yank it back but his grip was too stiff.

His tight painful grip on my wrist proved that he was actually angry and this was all an act.

The way he dragged and shoved me inside a classroom I assumed was his, was extra proof.

His hand instantly wrapped around my neck.

"I didn't want to do this okay? You're frustrating. Maybe because I wasn't clear with you? I have pictures that can ruin your life in this school, fake and real... I have them both. Now have sex with me or I will release them. " He growled at me and then pushed me back wards, my back painfully slammed against the wall and I gasped.

His lips attacked me immediately and at once I tried to push him off.

No, don't do this... Give me a chance to find the pictures at least.

So I can delete them.

He was extremely super strong and I started panicking.

Maybe I didn't think things through, I just.. How could I have known this was a possibility.

I just came to say yes to be his girlfriend.

Things were quickly spiralling out of control now, drifting and shifting from my original plan...

"No! Stop, leave me alone!" I screamed at him and doubled the energy I was using before and tried to shove him.

It didn't work and it scared me because this meant he had experience in girls fighting him off that mine had no effect on him. He was used to this, wasn't he?

I raised my leg to kick him again but he was more than prepared and Ebuka raised it up and draped it over his waist as he immediately pushed into me.

I screamed at the pain that our violent joining had caused me and he seized the opportunity and shoved his tongue into my mouth.

No.

Let go of me.

"Stop! "My shout came out muffled because of his mouth on mine and I jerked violently so he could stop but he didn't.

He was too strong.

Why did I come here?

Nonso warned me...

Munachi you're stupid..

"Leave me alone! Please leave me! " My words came out muffled again and his hand zipped down my house wear in a second.

It dropped. His lips left mine as his eyes scanned down my body.

The cold air on my arm was chilling and it gave me goosebumps, I pushed my chest out and tried to push him again but still, he didn't budge, his lips left mine and he pressed my left breast too tightly releasing a groan from my lips and a grunt from his.

Sounded like he was enjoying this.

"Someone please help me! " I screamed and his hand flew to my mouth, he strapped it tightly round my lips and his finger obstructed my breathing channel for a minute.

"What the fuck?! Do you want me to share your shameless nudes or what?! " He glared at me, I glared back.

He narrowed his eyes at me and slowly removed his hand from my mouth.

"They're fake and you know that! The only real one in there is just him kissing me. I'll report you, I'll get you arrested if you continue-" His dry laughter didn't let me continue. The way he laughed made me feel more stupid than I already did.

"Fine, do it... Popci will probably sweep your matter under the carpet like he did the last time, but I'd have enjoyed this damn butt by then." He smirked and his eyes shone in the darkness.

Last time... Jasmine, Nonso and Arthur were all right...

It wasn't just a distorted rumor that my subconscious had first assumed their unconfirmed tale to be... it was real.

He was a rapist...

But now, how do I get out of this.... Predicament?

Why didn't I just listen to Nonso?!

I want out! I do not want to be in this abyss anymore!

"You don't know who my father is, you'll get expelled." My voice came out shaky and barely inaudible as I played my last card.

"Or you would? If shit happens, dad will get rid of evidence.. Get rid of you. Not my fucking business, just enjoy this and shut up." He moved down to my cleavage and sucked on my skin.

I pushed his chest with my two palms and he groaned.

"Why the hell did you even come? You want this, that's why you came here, so stop forming and enjoy this. " Ebuka eyed me slowly with a sharp glare. Looked at me like I was some cheap slut.

Aren't you?

Why did you actually come?

You want this...

You're shameless.

You're a slut...

"I came here because you told me to give you a reply here. I came to tell you that I'll be your girlfriend, I didn't come so you could do this, let go of me! " I shouted at him and my eyes swelled up with tears.

He pulled away but still held my hand tightly and starred at my eyes, his facial expression showed surprise for a second then it switched to amusement, his smirk was disgusting as his eyes scanned my face slowly.

"So Numb cries-"

"I'm not crying-"

"-You were really about to say yes to me? You really wanted to be my girlfriend? "He smiled sheepishly at me and imitated a blush, wrinkles formed under his eyes as his teeth came into view, his smile was real.

But why?

Why was he so happy?

No, I didn't want to be your girlfriend.. I had to say yes.

I came here in an attempt to save the boy I actually want to be with.

Someone who would never try to take advantage of me, no matter how stupid I get.

But you don't need to know that.. Just let go of me.

"Then why'd you do it? I really like you Munachi, I have from the moment I watched you dance with Arthur because Rooney kept messing up your dance routine, I'm the one who first called you both dancers with a flair because I kept thinking to myself there's something bright about that girl and I also remember thinking to myself I'd do anything to trade places with him but recently, I noticed you've grown a lot. Your body has now filled out and I've developed an attraction to stubborn women, you walking out on me while I was talking was extremely hot. It made me see you in a mature light.

Now I also had power too, I could get you, you could finally be mine and I wouldn't watch from the sidelines so why? Why were you kissing that Dike fool? Why did you let him touch you? I was just looking for some shit I could hold against you so you could say yes and you gave me a major shit that fucking turned me on. Shit that showed me your true nature, showed me how much of a bad whore you are."

Bad whore...

You gave him shit that incriminates you.

You're so stupid, you could've just gone when Silvana left..

Avoided Arthur, but you just had to be stupid... Greedy and completely useless.

Mother was right,I am useles-

She doesn't call you that anymore after the dangerous argument she had with Rooney that is...

Because she's acting, she's waiting for a perfect chance to do so...

If she finds out about this encounter, she'll know you're a whore..

But there was a catch and a twist in this all, because...

"Mother didn't raise a whore! "

I screamed at him and pushed him with the extra surge of adrenaline that was secreted into my blood stream...

I didn't even know I had that much strength,

He fell back wards and I didn't waste a second to run out his class, I barely raised my house wear across my chest as I did so.

Whatever happens.. Happens.

I just had to try to prevent it.

I just had to delete his remaining proof, somehow.

I went straight to the stairs and slid down the stairs as if I were in a race, with my hands struggling to zip up my gown and trying to fit into the sleeveless arm holes as I did so...

I was running as if I was Silvana... But this time, someone was definitely going to catch me if I didn't increase my speed.

And so I did exactly that and skipped three steps at once then made a U turn down when I reached the landing but instead of having a smooth escape with no hitches, I slammed into a hard yet soft body and my heart dropped.

What if this was one of Ebuka friends who were waiting downstairs for him.. Or me?

And he'd seen me coming somehow?

I stepped back in fear and calculated my chance of escaping with my head down, so he couldn't see and create a mental picture of how i looked like facially...

Incase of incasity.

I could turn quickly right now and make a run for it... I'm sure who ever this was wouldn't catch me because I'd be taking them by surprise.

I put my plan in motion but this time, I slammed into another tall body...again.

Why didn't I think about this? How did I forget that he had two friends?

I turned right this time and continued running, I wasn't going to give them the chance of halting my movements.

I just needed to get to the auditorium, get to the school laptop and find those pictures... That's if they were actually there.

God, what will I do if they weren't.. What would I do if he'd made extra copies already and saved them somewhere?

My life would be over, so very over.

"Nachi wait. " A familiar voice called out my name and dragged my hand backwards.

None of his friends called me that...

And I doubt if any of his friends would've said my name like that.

Whipping my head backward I turned and looked at the person holding my hand, turned to look at Nonso.

Then it dawned on me... I finally noticed that they weren't just two people on the stairs with me...

They were 6.

"Nana?... Fuck, you were right. " Arthur's asked me immediately our eyes met.

His eyes were narrowed at me as he scrutinized my face,

Nonso dropped my hand and murmured,

"Told you."

What were they doing here?

Why were on their way to Ebuka's class?

What was Nonso right about?

.... What was going on?

"Guy, why you dey run like tha-shit. Cover up biko. " Kenelum spoke, he was the first person I'd bumped into.

Cover what?

I looked down trying to follow his gaze, the blue bulb above his head perfectly illuminated the staircase path and when I saw it, I mentally slapped my self.

In an attempt to quickly escape, I was currently half naked, my house wear wasn't balanced rightly under my collar bone... One side was drooping down and that part was exposing my bra and cleavage.

You're practically still flashing everyone your breasts!

You never learn, now do you?

Arthur grabbed my hand and pulled me back, he was on the last step and so I lost my footing due to the far distance I'd just practically flew down.

He pushed me behind him and started fumbling with his house wear shirt.

"Guy, why you no come hostel on time? Why you no tell us say you see Munachi dey go that bastard class earlier? Why you no warn her may she no g-"

"-Guy, no yarn me that bullshit! I warn her may she no come, she no listen watin man go do?! May I kidnap am, carry am go 'im hoste-"

"-Fuck you! Why you no try that one, worst she go do she go slap you?! Now look am.. Only God know watin that bastardized, worthless, idiotic, shameless, stupid SOB, rapist of a mofo do her.. Watin that fucking fool do my girl way mayher dey run with fear! "Arthur yelled loudly.

Okay, I'd never seen Arthur this angry...

In all the times I've known him...

I've seen him fight with unexplainable rage and everything.. I'd heard him throw diss laced with venoms.. But never had I seen him this angry.

... And it was all my fault.

"Guy, no shout for the guy like that! No be the same nigga come warn us?! No be the same nigga come tell you say your girl dey in danger?! No shout for am! He even talk say he warn am say she no listen, guy, if na me I for don dey sleep for hostel.. I no go fucking give a fuck about this bitch. " Kenelum admonished Arthur who acted like he didn't hear him, instead he turned and roughly shoved his soft silky house wear into my hand.

"Wear it. Now. " Three icy words and he was gone.

Three words and he was flying up the stairs.

Three more seconds and his friends were following suit, except Nonso... Nonso stayed still and avoided eye contact with me.

"What's going on? " I asked him and he looked up then looked down and started walking down the stairs.

Was he ignoring me..?

Doesn't he have the right to?

You did give him a low blow when you last saw him, just because he was trying to prevent you getting hurt.

Now look at you... Stupid girl.

"Let's go. It's almost light out. " Nonso's tone was commanding and I instantly obeyed, he was looking down at me with tired eyes.

"You're following me?" I squeaked out, feeling awkward as I walked in front of him, obviously there was this thick tension that existed between us and it made this cool night air feel too cold.

"No oh. I'm frying watermelon. Move faster. " He grumbled behind me.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry for what I said earlier o-"

"-You disappointed me okay? I never expected that nonsense from you okay? " His scolded and I looked down.

We weren't walking as fast as I would've wanted, but it was my fault... After all, he was just closely following behind me.

I increased my walking speed as I climbed down the stairs and in two seconds he was in front of me and I was staring at his back.

The silence was uncomfortable and I tried to break it,

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to get you off my back and-"

"-No! Not that! Yes, what you said was painful to hear, but you were right.. I hurt her because I cheated and I know that. " He sucked in air in front of me as soon as we walked out of the school building and I did the same.

It was chilling outside, he cleared his throat and continued talking.

"I accept my errors. That's not what I'm talking about, why the fuck did you go up there to meet him? Like what the fuck were you trying to achieve?!" He stopped, he was waiting for me to give him my reason...

So he could interrupt me, It was far too obvious.

"I wanted him off Arthur's case. I wanted for sav-"

Knew it.

"-Did you do that now?! Did you worsen or make the situation better? You wouldn't had made shit better okay, you date him and what happens next? He's just going to forgive Arthur? The guy's a demon okay! Forget the act he portrays in the auditorium,we just tolerate him okay?! He would still have it out for Arthur! He punched him openly in front of juniors! What the fuck were you thinking?! Didn't Arthur say he had would handle it?!! We had a plan Munachi, we had a fucking plan! After the bastard and his friends threatened Arthur in our hostel and after he dropped that BS about how he just wanted to fuck you now.. Arthur made a plan, we were going to blackmail him, we already had dirt on him.. He was actually supposed to meet with Skylar tonight! Her dad's a governor! We had plans of using her! I can't go into details but we had a fucking plan! Now you messed it up! Now Arthur's going to kill him! And that'll elevate the matter! "

I didn't know that...

I'm so stupid.

Mother was.. Right.

"I'm so sorry... " I whispered to him, the clear dark empty sky made me feel... empty.

Why was he following me anyways?

Was this preplanned by Arthur and his friends?

Or he just wanted to do this?

But why'd he want to walk me back to my hostel, well... He thinks I'm going there-The auditorium where the school's laptop was kept, was my actual destination-

Why'd he want to help me after everything I'd made him go through tonight?

"Sorry?! You're sorry? No, I'm the one who's sorry because I thought I knew you! I thought I understood you and I thought I've figured you out, I thought that you were that quiet shy girl, but you're not! Why the fuck didn't you listen to me?! I love Silvana, that's why I love you too! I didn't just come back for you because you're Arthur's unofficial girl! I came back because you're important to Silvana! I came back because you're my friend! Even after this fucking stunt you pulled, I still love you. "His words truly melted my heart but before I could react, he'd already engulfed me in a bone crushing hug.

"We ran Munachi, even Kenelum ran, the guy doesn't hates you. He's just weak and he doesn't respect women. Arthur didn't stop running till we reached the stairs, Skylar was supposed to be the girl in your place tonight, that we all knew... We weren't even supposed to be here till 12,because that's when their own drama would start.. Then we could blackmail him.. Her father has a stronger hand, he'd succumb... You messed up the plan big time. And I don't understand why, why'd you disappoint me? You're not the Munachi I know, you're not the same girl I met in 7th grade, you fucked up. Big time. "

I know Nonso... I know.

"I didn't want this to happen, I wasn't involved in the plan-"

"-Because he didn't want you to get stressed! He's a guy and that's our mindset okay, we protect you weaklings called girls."

Weaklings called girls..

Why would he say that?

The female gender couldn't be termed weak, we were all brave and strong..

... So what if we weren't built to be physically strong? He was just stereotyping and being so sexist at the same time.

He was being a boy.