Munachi Odumba.

"She just said no. OMG!"

"This girl no get joy oh. "

"Ahh! No? That's too much na. Don't she have heart? "

"If I'm Nonso, I'll just go and kill my self."

"Ahh! After everything he did?"

Everyone around us aired their opinions and I subtly rolled my eyes, they've not seen anything.

When they get to know her, they'll all try to hide the smile I'm hiding.

I still haven't recovered from the shock that discovering William's secret had given me when Silvana decided to drop her own bomb.

I mean, I had my suspicions. I've seen the way he looked at Silvana, the way he eyed Nonso most times when we were all together, but I'd just noticed all these after Nonso and Silvana had broken up and it did have good defense, because one could argue he cared so much about Silvana he now could not stand Nonso.

How did he keep his feelings to him self for so long?

Jasmine knew. He'd told Jasmine...

Who told you that one?

Are you still stupid?

No.

Then think.

Besides, he didn't even confirm it to you.. So jumping into conclusions would get you no where.

"Oh my Gosh, she said No!!" Williams screamed excitedly behind me.

How's that for confirming.

"Jazz, do you know what that means for me? Do you know what that means? Like oh my gosh I have a chance now, I'll go there and take-"

He was totally immune to the looks we were all giving him. Except for those in the courtyard, we'd all heard the happiness in his voice and we could all see how happy he was that Silvana had said no.

Silvana is another Amaka.
She will disappoint you.

"-No Williams, look. " Jasmine had one hand gripping his elbow as she pulled him backwards, stopping him from ecstatically running into the courtyard, she nudged her head towards the courtyard and everyone who'd seen Williams outburst turned to the courtyard to look.

"No I won't date you again. No! Ask me to marry you right now because I'll even say yes! Of course I'll be your girlfriend you royal jerk face! " She screamed at the top of her voice and jumped on Nonso.

Told you she's another Amaka.

She just disappointed the disappointees.

What?

I knew it. The moment she said no after thinking for so long.

She'd already said yes in her mind, she just wanted her own form of revenge.

"Oh my God! Don't fear me like..neve..mmm" She didn't let Nonso complete that sentence before kissing him and drowning his words.

Awnnnn!

Everyone outside the courtyard broke into "aww"'s and "Oou"'s as we all watched them kiss, this is was so passionate and I felt my cheeks burn while watching them.

Now who wouldn't love their loveee-

-Williams! Oh!

I whipped my head backwards to stare at a frozen Williams,

Oh no

He recovered and repeated, "She said no. She... She said.. No. No. No. No. No. " while walking backwards, he slammed into bodies receiving 'Who's that?' 'What is wrong with you' he certainly didn't hear before he finally turned and ran away.

Jasmine followed seconds after, shouting his name with this in understandable emotion in her voice.

Well, what are you waiting for?

Go.

You need to comfort him.. Comfort him for the first time ever since you met him 9th grade.

I turned to obey the voice in my head and was about to run when someone yanked my elbow and pulled me backwards.

Painfully.

"Leave him.... Jasmine's already going. So why go? He won't need your pity. So why go?"
Okay, the last person I'd expected to see unwrapped her hand from my elbow.

Chiamaka.

It's your fault. Talking about Tuface's Amaka bought Emerald Academy's Chiamaka.

Chiamaka Moses.

"What are you talking about?" I asked her and wiped my elbow in reflex.

Chiamaka stared at my hand and I saw a flicker of hurt flash in her eyes as she clearly took offense, but she was quick to mask it. Her voice sounded deep and unhurt when she spoke, "Oh don't act dumb Numb."

Numb.

7th grade I was not Numb to her.

I was Chibaby, baby girl, stranger danger.

But of course, she of all people wouldn't remember that.

Even I rarely did, it didn't even last long and it has been so years after but right now, like this, hearing this deeper voice, hearing her real voice I remember the nicknames she gave me.

I remember her asking for my name the first time we met, we sat on the same seat for the exam into Emerald Academy and she was covered in pink head to toe.

She was so brilliant, she still is but back then she was kind and she took my paper and helped me shade the questions I didn't know the answer to.

'I want to see you here in EA with me. Let's be besties, okay?'

This voice had said to me once and she did make attempts the entire first term 7th grade, following me everywhere calling me Chibaby, Chi gotten from my MunaChi, calling me Baby Girl instead once the Numb tag started second term but with a softness to it even though we weren't friends and she'd quickly assimilated with the popular kids because of her beauty, kindness and brains, everytime she called me Baby Girl it had the 'I'm here whenever you want to become friends with me instead of ignoring me' softness, then in third term she started the Stranger Danger nickname, like a tease and from nothing malicious.

Like an intention to call me anything but Numb and I was warming up to her. 7th grade I bore the brunt the hardest because father had just recently returned and I was going through so much but Chiamaka, this Chiamaka, kind, intelligent and present... she was my light back then, even though I never told her and I almost did tell her.

8th grade I planned to talk to her and everything but when I finally saw her that Chiamaka was gone, the real voice, the kindness and in her place was a perfect mannequin who teachers loved and students hated.

This voice, hearing her talk in her real voice, staring at her eyes and seeing that same 13 year old, everything flooded my head with memories.

Chiamaka Moses continued, "We all saw his pitiable show, he loves Silvana and let me guess: she either doesn't feel the same way cause he's deep in the friend zone or she's totally ignorant to his love? Which is it?" She raised her left brow and I admired the way it had this sharp curve at the edge.

And I remembered her boobs.

She'd slept with Arthur.

"Neither of it. Mind your business. "

I must have definitely imagined all those memories, no way Chiamaka had any nice bone in her.

The nicknames and everything, it must have been a crazy dream or something! Something my brain has taken as false memory.

She gave me the most faked laugh I'd ever heard which certified it, "Hell na. I'm not picking up your mantra. How boring would life be if I only faced my business? Your business is my business, his business is my business, her business is my business, my business wasn't his business. "

Huh?

"Look Numb. I know you don't like me and I don't like you too, I'm just trying to help you, you go there and what would you say? How would you act? You already exude pity right now, it's etched on your face. He already has Jasmine and she fully understands him because seems like she's the one who's been keeping his secret, don't make his feelings worst by trying to validate his one sided love. It hurts because no, I deserve to be loved and given full attention not some bitch on the side. "

Eh?

That's the most words she's said to me in a breath even back then when she waved at me in 7th grade—if I'm not imagining it, I've never heard her say this much to...me

And what's she talking about? And I didn't even know she could speak like this.

So many new grammar in her vocabulary, proper accentuation of her words.

I always did wonder what teachers saw in her, but now I see it too.

It must have been what gave her the immunity I've only witnessed the Darrel and Darren enjoy.

Chiamaka Moses was not just a prodigy like Silvana, she was also a multifaceted human being.

"Are you still talking to me?" I asked her.

Chiamaka kept staring into the space behind my head while nodding as a reply, then she squinted her eyes before she relaxed it and started giggling.

Okay?

"I know you saw Arthur and I.. Was that a turn on? Watching your crush, the guy who says he likes you.. Fucking another girl, hardcore? Was it?" Her voice now took on that peep squeak hyper-feminine voice that was known as the Maka branding.

I was so confused,

Why'd she suddenly change when I was beginning to join this side of her with that rush of memories I had minutes ago?

She just flipped on me?

Why?

"Shut the fuck up. " Arthur's words vibrated in my chest.

Arthur?

Arthur...?

Is that... wait?

Does she do this on... purpose?

"What? I'm just reminding her of what she saw. Reminding her of how big you are and how she'll never get to see or feel it. Not even once since she's all virgin Mary. Which sucks, cause you pack a little bit more extra. " Chiamaka said while giggling in between pauses again before walking away.

What.. the?

"Ignore her. She's... Stupid. " I turned to look at him.

"No, no she's not. She was actually being nice to me before she saw you. Chiamaka was actually nice to me. " I said slowly and he nodded like I was lying.

I don't blame him, I'm still trying to figure out if I didn't just imagine her giving me an advice right now.

She was giving me a mental whiplash and I was jealous of Arthur because he transferred in 8th grade, to him he has never seen Chiamaka Moses as the girl I wrote the common entrance exam with.

"You don't have to defend her. I wasn't going to insult her any further okay? Chiamaka being nice only happens when she's high and she wasn't high. "He said and I stared up at him.

How does he know that?

".. So hey. " He greeted in an attempt to change topic and I nodded.

Why doesn't he believe me?

"How'd I look? " He grinned widely at me and I smiled.

"Sexy. You look like Zayn Malik in a tux right now. "

"No, I do not look like Zayn Malik, I look like me right now in a tux. Okay? "

I nodded and rolled my eyes. "Yeah yeah. "

"So where's Williams and Jasmine? Did they miss the big moment? "

" The big moment?" I asked him.

" Yup. When she said no and changed it to a 'Yassss! I'll marry you RJF because I love you!' " he exclaimed and I shook my head.

She didn't even say half of that.

"They both saw it all. "

"So where are they? "

Probably wiping Williams mascara off his face.

He started applying makeup a term back.

He's just a naturally girly person who's been trying to man up and act a bit rugged like... Like... Nonso.

How didn't I notice his reason why?

"Don't know. " I shrugged and searched for Chiamaka's eyes and found them staring back at me, she wasn't glaring like most times just staring.

I could see the real her, I was staring at 18 year old version of that same 13 year old girl.

What's making her act this way?

Off and On like a light bulb being switched.

Was it Arthur sleeping with her that changed her?

Or what?

The whole performance? What was it!

Why couldn't she stay this way?!

"What's she looking at?" Arthur asked me and traced my gaze, now Chiamaka stuck out her tongue at me and acted surprised when she saw him... Just so she could wink at him and shift her gaze back to the courtyard.

What?

I'm so confused.

"Yeah, Chiamaka being nice... Yeah right. The moon collides with Earth. Let's go, I have to get rid of this uncomfortable tuxedo. " Arthur told me and I turned to look at Silvana being smacked on the head by Kenneth, which was exactly where Chiamaka turned back to stare at.

Was this it?

Nonso and Silvana making her glitch?

"Try that shit again and it's real slap I'll give you! " He shouted at her playfully and she giggled, Kenelum suddenly appeared with Diana by his side and I watched how his friends updated him.

Kenelum and Diana, Diana was his catalyst wasn't she?

Because I'm beginning to learn there was always good in him but with Diana, the good was encouraged to come out.

Their mini drama in the courtyard was cute, especially when he ran after her. It was symbolic to me.

I smiled and looked at Arthur, "Okay. Let's go. "

He held my hand and took me out of the senior building and in a second we were on the shortcut path.

"Wait, where are we going to?"

"Hostel."

"No! I'm not going to boys hostel. " I yelped and pulled my hand away.

"You're funny." He chuckled. "When did I say we're going to boys hostel? And when did I even say we'd go inside. " He took my palm again.

"Then why are we on this walkway?"

"Because I'm going to fuuuuuck you! " He drew out the word like a ghost and I giggled.

"So unromantic."

He stilled for a minute and muttered "Shut up. "

"Come on. Nonso isn't the most romantic guy in blue house. I'm romantic too. " He scratched the back of his head.

This was back. His nervousness.

"Okay oh. Okay. " I agreed.

And we continued walking-in silence.

We got close to blue house hostel and he stopped walking.

"Obviously you're not coming with me and I can't have you loitering outside hostels, your house mistress or anyone could see you. Please stay here. " He requested and I looked around.

I really looked around.

I shrieked. "Stay here? "

"Come on Numb, when did you start fearing anything?" He teased and I fired back.

"Since a romantic guy thought it'll be wise to leave me in all these grass, since snakes started biting humans. Since scorpions starting existing, since-"

"-Fine. Fine. I get it, eeesh." He groaned and continued walking.

"You're such a frustration, you know that right?" He continued and I rolled my eyes.

We went behind Blue house hostel and he stopped walking.

"You okay here? " He asked and I looked around.

Interlocked ground.

No bushes, no snakes.

I smiled. "Yes. I'll survive. "

His eyes travelled down to my lips and he leaned closer.

"Do you know how many things I could do to you here? Bad lightening equals no one being able to take clear pictures of us. " He leaned even more closer till his body rested against mine.

"I'm not having sex with you. " I cleared the air and he rolled his eyes.

"Shut up. " He leaned closer and our heads were touching, he leaned even more closer till his bubble gum breath fanned my nose and warmed my lips.

"So many things we could do other than fuck. I could show you"He whispered and I slowly tilted my head upwards to meet his. And he pulled away.

......

What the?

"Till we're official and only I have the right to do all that. Till you're my babe. " He grinned at me and broke into the most annoying laughter I'd heard all my life.

He was laughing at me.

"Fuck you. " I blurted out and crossed my hands while pouting with my head down.

"Awnn. You look so cute right now and you cussed at me. I'm such a great influence. " He snickered and walked away.

Why don't you just ask me out.. And Kiss me?!

Why?

I groaned and scratched my forehead in annoyance.

Guess Arthur's passing his own hair lice.

... Why am I still here?

I know no one would see me unless they'd decided to search for me, particularly behind blue house male hostel.

Still.

He didn't want to kiss me, just played me!

Nntoi.

Shut up.

"I didn't take too much time now, did I? "He suddenly startled me and I scrunched my brow at him.

He was now wearing his house wear attire. How did he change clothes that quickly?

Did every boy change clothes that quickly.

He checked his watch and his eyes widened.

"Let's get going... "

"Kiss me. "

I, Munachi Odumba just said that.

He walked towards me and pulled me closer by my waist and stared down at me.

"Okay." He smirked and dropped his head.

... Finally.

Since you also wanted to, then why the teasing?

"But not now. Soon. When you say yes to being mine and only mine. " He pulled away and started laughing.

He pulled away!

Now he's laughing!!

Oh come on!

"When did you ask me out and I said no? " I grumbled and pushed him out of my way.

I'll walk to the school alone.

"Nana na. Chill, don't vex for me. " he smirked and tried to stop laughing.

I glared at him.

"I'm sorry, you just look so cute like this. " His laughter doubled instead of dying down!

I started walking again towards the school and he stopped laughing.

"Okay.. Muna, I'm sorry. I really want to kiss you too. But seriously Nonso made me realize something. " He was besides me and trying to keep up with my angry stomps on the ground.

"I see. " I muttered and doubled my speed.

"Munaaa." He pulled me back and I found that annoying.

Just how many times am I going to be pulled back like I weigh paper?

"What?"

He stared at me and his lips twitched.

I dare you. Laugh at me.

"Are you seriously mad at me because I didn't kiss you? What the fuck? Who knew this day would ever come?"

Okay, now he's just insulting me.

I yanked my hand out and started jogging towards the school, the building was already in sight. I could make it.

"Nana. Stop. And just listen to me. " He said loudly behind me and I ignored him.

I walked past the building's main door and noticed that the crowd watching Silvana and Nonso were still crowding the last floor.

Don't you guys have prep to be prepping or something!

Eesh Muna, why you transferring aggression?

"She's here! " Someone suddenly screamed and I shuddered at the high frequency.

Who's here?

... Jasmine?

I looked behind me and saw Arthur slow walk inside the building instead.

Idiot boy.

"She's here oh! They're both here. " Someone hollered and I started rethinking.

Only Arthur and I just walked in.

... Why are they suddenly chanting it?

Did Silvana want to see me?

Did she ask someone to alert her when I came in?

But still, why would they all gather here waiting for me?

I watched in awe as the crowd made a circle round me. Round us both, Silvana waved at me with a smile while leaning on Nonso

I quirked at her in confusion.

You were looking for me?

"Now will you actually listen to me this time? " Arthur took my palm and I turned to look at him.

A slow song started playing and it doubled my confusion.

I'm so confused.

What's going on?

Kenelum smirked at me and Kenneth blew a kiss my way playfully.

Eh?

"I'm romantic too. " Arthur grinned at me and Segun threw a bouquet at him.

It looked like real flowers, white tulips and dollars in between the petals.

Woah.

Woah.

What?

"Nonso isn't the most romantic guy in blue house. I'm romantic too. " He repeated his former words and caught a small red bag and opened it to bring out a box of chocolates.

... Hmmn.

"Munachi Odumba, you're beautiful, nice, caring, sweet, compassionate, selfless, a bit silly, a huge frustration but above all. You're a great friend, I know if Silvana had said no I'd have still asked you out later but still. I can't imagine any other situation that's as perfect as this so yeah, basically I'm grateful she'd said yes to Nonso."

I could swear that my eyes were as wide as saucer pans.

Something else was thrown at him, something else he caught perfectly. Almost like a reflex.

He didn't open this tiny bag.

"Like, I wish we were all in University and in our final year because that would've made everything more perfect because you're my ideal wife. But no, we're not in University, we're not in final year. We're just in SS2. We're just kids who're starting out lives. But the only similarity between our current position and the future is the extreme love I have for you. The only thing that matters in both cases. "

He continued and my cheeks were on fire, I couldn't even stop grinning.

"I know we're probably too young to know what love is. But I'm sure I have the slightest idea of what happiness is and you're my pure happiness. After my mum of course. I'm talking too much. I'm sorry. " Everyone started clapping in that second.

And he chuckled. And dropped to his knees.

"... You're my happiness, you're my smile. So will you please do me the honor and be my girlfriend? Let's start small hey? Baby steps." He handed me the rose flowers and the chocolate. And brought out the parcel from the unopened bag.

And brought out a ring.

A ring??!!!

A riiiiiiing?

..... I don't want to get married. Not now or ever. I can't..

Marriages... Marriages... Marriages... Mother's marriage didn't work out. Because of me.

"Will you be my girlfriend? " He stuttered at the end and it became difficult for me to breathe.

Marriages...

He's not asking you to marry him. Calm down.

... He isn't?

"Yes!" I screamed with my subconscious and he placed the ring on my forth finger on my right hand.

He raised me up quickly and whispered in my ears.

"Soon. When you say yes to being mine and only mine." His words sounded familiar and he pressed his lips on mine and sucked on my lower lip.

Soon!
Munachi you're really silly.

How didn't you understand that?

We pulled away a minute after and I felt shy so I hid my head on his body.

Claps filled every corner of the building and I realized that more people had joined in watching us. I even saw few junior students poking their heads down.

... Oh geez.

I'm Arthur's girlfriend now?

I'm dating Arthur... I'm dating my second boyfriend.

"Let's go. "He whispered and we both walked out of the school building and cornered it.

We didn't go towards Rooney's shortcut but towards the Junior block.

We continued walking till we got to a closed classroom that wasn't locked. Arthur pushed the door open and we walked towards the corner with a teacher desk.

Strange. I've never been in this class in all my 5 years in Emerald Academy.

Teachers don't stay in classrooms. Neither do form teachers, so who had that teacher desk?

"Now we can kiss as much as you want to. " Arthur said lowly and leaned against me.

"And as much as you want to too. " I fired back and our lips touched.

A/N
God when ooooooo