Ay! Happy new month in advance🤗❤️

♤

♠️Y𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐢 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 -D𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐲

♤

~Not edited!~

|ARAMIDE|

After the nurse discharges me from the school's sickbay, Jamal tactfully follows me to the entrance of the girl's changing room as I go in to change. And I tell you, it was awkward throughout! How do you talk to a person that ignored you on your first day of resumption? Or someone that frowns anytime you have a close contact with them? Or better still your celebrity crush?

Oh then. Welcome to Aramide's dilemma 101.

I can't still believe we're together in a place. No Kiki. No Jerry. No Jide. No other classmate.

I put away all disturbing thoughts as I swiftly changed. Still having the nausetic feeling that I almost died inside a pool.

I come out some minutes later still hoping Jamal would have abandoned me to my fate but boy am I dropdead wrong. He is standing awkwardly at the entrance of the girl's changing room with a clear unamused face. His back is casually reclined on the beige wall while his airpods are fixed on both ears. His hands shoved into his khaki shorts. When he notices me, he stands straight and runs his right hand over his hair awkwardly. None of us saying a word until he breaks the silence.

"So, coach Meyers came along while you where in." He says with a blank expression.

"Okay?" I say in an unsure tone still urging him to go on.

"He said the school has reached out to your parents." He adds as he taps his Vans clad feet on the tiled floor repeatedly.

Parents? I pray.

It is obvious Jamal has an importnat place to be regarding the way he taps his foot in an impatient manner. And I on the other hand, have never been in a situation with a guy like this. So I kept avoiding eye contact with him as I shuffle my legs nervously. The atmosphere of the place is already chocking me and the air becoming uncomfortable and suffocating to have Oxygen. Non of us moving or speaking. I think I'm the only one feeling the bad vibes in the air.

Okay Aramide just say something.
You've got this.

"Thanks for saving me. I really thought you hated me." I add the last statement quietly but who am I kidding? He heard me but he chooses not to act on it as he stares at me warily before beckoning on me to follow him to where his chauffeur was already waiting in the school's parking lot.

Could have as well done that since.

I slide gently into the plush cushioned inner decor of Jamal's vehicle. Soft leathers that warms the butt and gives the skin a comfy feel.

Gosh I'm staying in this car forever.

I switch my phone on while sucking my breath sharply. Ask me why I'm doing so? Don't get me started with the numerous missed calls just from my uncle. Then you'd see my aunt, Derek and then my friends. Surprisingly, there is no single missed call or text from Ayo, which makes my body to relax momentarily. My phone rings on cue causing me to flinch and I guess it did not go unnoticed from the handsome lad sitting inches away from me.

I pick it up on seeing the caller's ID; "Dear uncle"

He told me he heard I almost drowned and asked if I'm okay. He sounded defeated and panicked. Like he let my hand down again. But I had to assure him that I'm fine already and I'm following a friend for a ride. The phone call however, ends on the note that I have to return home in one piece and he's never gonna let me out of his sight that easily. I drop my phone with a sigh before giving Jamal's driver my home direction.

I didn't want to blow my cover of being a Bolanle yet, so I tell his Chauffeur to drop me off some distance before the main gates of Paramount Estate, were we reside.

Jamal shoots me an inquisitive look but I ignore it. The car glasses are totally tinted, but I can still see the beautiful view of lekki through it. I beam as we swerve pass major places while Jamal's undivided attention remains on on his iPad.

What is so amusing in that thing sef?

The radio signal then announces its news hot bulletin. So I pay some attention to it so that at least, I'll know what is happening in the world.

ASSU GOES ON AN INDEFINITE STRIKE AGAIN.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BAND THE USE OF SNIPER FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.

FIVE BOKO HARAM SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN CAPTURED AT THE BORDER OF CAMERON.

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TO VISIT NIGERIA FOR PRESSING INSURGENCY ISSUES.

I'm getting bored of listening to the news that never ceases to end but a certain headline catches my attention.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ADC PARTY, THE JAGABAN OF POLITICS IN NIGERIA ALSO KMOWN AS JUSTICE BOLANLE, JUST RETURNED FROM INDIA WITH HIS WIFE, CHIEF MRS OMOLARA BOLANLE AFTER A SUCCESSFUL SURGERY OF OETEOPOROSIS I....

Hold on a minute. Did I just hear about my grandparents being back?!

My grandparents who I've never met in my whole existence of life, are now around. Months back, when I never knew anything about my extended family, I heard the news about Chief Justice and Mrs Omolara Bolanle going to India for the operation.

My affability demeanor, crumbles instantly as I feel the impact of seeing more family members. And from what I've heard and what I've known, Justice Bolanle is a ruthless Politician. He's cold to the bones and has no mercy for a single human.

Fuck, I'm doomed.

"Pedro, please tune the radio to another station."

"Yes boss."

The voice of Jamal and his bodyguard, reels me out of my deep thoughts. And that alone reminds me that I have not been paying attention to my surrounding because right now, he has finally discarded his iPad, and is staring intently at me.

Wait! Me??

That means...he's been staring at me?!

Impossible.

He must have noticed my uneasiness that is why he ordered his bodyguard that sat at the passengers seat, to change the radio station. I ignore his burning gaze as I stare out of the tinted window of the car feeling a little bit of relaxation as Eminem's song boomed from the speakers. After some minutes, he breaks the silence.

"So you can rap?" My face holds utmost confusion wondering who Jamal is speaking to. I tear my eyes from the outside view and glance at Jamal mouthing, 'me'? While pointing myself with my index finger. He rolls his eyes in a duh motion literally asking, 'who else?'

"Oh, umm not really." I reply with a curt tone still having the heavy feeling that I'm speaking with my celebrity crush. He chuckles lowly by my side making me to open my mouth in awe.

So he can chuckle? Ehh

This is a miracle.

"With what you were rapping just now I don't think that's ordinary." He says with a smug look on his face.

Whoa did I rap Eminem's song out? I thought it was in my head?

"....and yes. You were rapping it out." He finishes with amusement lacing his voice.

Is this boy reading my mind? Ah I'm not saying anything to him again.

"I'm not reading your mind incase you're wondering how."

This boy is a wizard! How does he know what I'm thinking?

"It's called body language Aramide." He replies with a smirk.

I didn't know how or when I snapped, but I did it. "Can you just stop it?! Its annoying."

"Really? I'm I really annoying you? It does not seem so to me." He cocks his left brow high in an amusing way. My cheeks flush with embarrassment as he says that. Gosh it feels like this boy can read me upsidedown, back-left-right-middle-centre, anyhow possible, he seems to know. My hands immediately shoots up to cradle my face which is already a blushing mess while the guy besides me, goes into a fit of full blown laughter.

Oh, so from chuckle to full blown laugh? Haha interesting.

"I never pegged a girl like you as a rap fan though. Its kinda rare." Jamal says with a coy tone as he picks his iPhone and starts pressing his keypad. I snort and fold my arms over my chest.

"Oh really? You better believe it now." I say with mock concern. He goes to the playlist on his phone and hands it to me.

Hold up. Jamal is giving me his iPhone?

I look at him unsurely wondering why on earth Jamal Nonso is giving me his 'oh scared phone of Jamal the musician'. He gives a lopsided smile urging me to take it. I bite my lip in nervousness and collect his iPhone from his calloused hand praying my clumsy self would not allow it slip from my sweaty hand. He beats me to answer the question in my mind.

"You know Johnny Drille right?" His eyes lights up with giddiness as he says the name.

"Umm, yes?"

"Oh, I love his music. Alongside Adekunle Gold, Ric Hassani, The Weeknd, Justin Timberlake, Trevor Daniel and those musicians that sing lowkey." His voice holds utmost pride as he says the names with sweetness.
I look at his music's playlist which is tagged, 'Jay's sui generis.' And truly, the songs are a complied list of the musicians he called seconds ago.

"But you do rap in your songs. How come you like these guys? I mean with the way you say this, you love this genre of music." I am really curious to know why. Because among the Triple-J, Jamal is the rapper while Jerry and Jide are the fast-paced singers. Jamal immediately realises his slip up as his happy face, immediately clouds with a frown. I gulp in return feeling bad that I must have triggered something in him.

"Are you trying to judge me?" His voice comes out in a whisper as his grey pair of eyes, have slightly changed to electric flicks of silver. I take a deep breath, close my eyes and prepare myself for the worst as I rack my brain on how to handle the situation.

"Jamal, I'm not judging you at all. In fact, I find it amazing how you love something apart from rapping. I myself love all genres of music, and I tell you listening to Johnny Drille songs, makes me to fall in love with life more than ever alongside Trevor Daniel and Justin Timberlake." Jamal turns to me with an unreadable expression on his face. Before I can blame myself for spewing rubbish, his face breaks into a wide grin and I swear it is the most jaw-dropping sight I've ever seen-Jamal's grin.

And from there, he gives me the second ear of his airpod and we both listened to Justin Timberlake's Mirrors, while talking about his passion for music. And I tell you, I've never seen so much passion emitted from a person for just talking about his passion and love for a certain career.

Jamal Nonso, you keep surprising me every moment.

I'm yet to know you.

♤

"Hey couz." Derek greats me with a small smile immediately he sights me from the uproom balcony. I drop my heavy HP bag on the hammock with a sigh, as I join Derek to stand at the railings overlooking the wonderful estate. The thing is ever since his near death experience, he has not been to school for two days now. So hopefully by tomorrow, he'll be in school. And also, we've become closer too.

"Derek. Watsup?" I ask with lesser enthusiasm as I am already feeling exhausted and somehow relieved that I shared an alone moment with my celebrity crush.

A dream come true.

"Good good." He replies as he hands me a glass of chilled water I never saw before.

Perfect!

"Ah thank you couz, you're the best." I say happily as I down the contents. He smirks as he turns another round for me into my glass.

"Why the creepy look kiddo?" I ask as I quirk my eyebrows at him. Oh did I tell you ever since I found out that I'm two months older than him, I started calling him Kiddo? He groans as he runs his hand over his face frustratedly.

"You're never gonna let it down will you?" He says with a sigh. I chuckle at his contempt and nudge him with my shoulder.

"Never will I ever kiddo." I reply with a smirk of mine. He chuckles and continues.

"Ehn over to the main gist." He rubs his hands enthusiastically. I'm telling you guys, this new Derek is creeping the hell outta me. This one is more free and open than the reserved and talk less Derek. And I'm glad he's better. "I heard you got drowned. How did it happen?" Its amusing why everyone thinks I drowned myself. I think I'm gonna let them believe it. I'm in no mood to report or defend myself like c'mon who would believe me?

Wait? How did he get the news so fast?

"Really? Where did you hear it from?" I ask with a pretentious tone, acting dumb.

He gives me the duh look.

"I-gist website of course." The water in my mouth which was about to pass through my oesophagus, spews freely as I chocked on it. My brain clicks when I heard, website.

Ehh? You say wetin?

"What?! Website? how?" Derek is obviously enjoying my predicament as he smirks and does a little reverse dance step.

"Yes a website. Website for only the students of CIGs though. Where gists and happenings in the school are being discussed by students." I heave a sigh of thanks to God. "So seriously, you have not heard of I-gist website?" He ask with a genuine frown. I rack my heard to at least remember if Jerry, Kiki or Jide must have mentioned it, but no.

"Nope I haven't."

"Well considering the fact that you've been a topic in that website for long I don't kno...." I didn't allow him to continue.

Me! A topic! Mad ohh.

My face suddenly holds frustration as Derek keeps doing the reverse dance steps, a subtle way of leaving me alone at the balcony.

"Derek please be serious nau." He stops his movements and walks back to where I am, giving me a sorry look as I run my hands over my forehead.

"Abeg, do me a favour and open it in my phone lemme see." I plead with a pout, no longer feeling frustrated. He sighs and warns me about the website before beckoning for my phone. In less than a minute, he is done as he hands it back to me. In curiosity, I glance at the today headlines.

•Coach Meyers seen making out with Lydia, the female captain for swimming.

Ha, I knew it. That man seemed fishy to me initially.

•Bassey, the smallest kid in JSS2, reportedly beats up the popular bully in Jason in SSS1 during break time today.

•The new student in SSS2 Gold who have been currently seen with the Triple-J and Kiki, Aramide Bola, is seen for the first time in swimming today looking all sexy and endowed but got herself drowned after the close of school. Does that mean she attempted suicide?

I roll my eyes at that. Really? How stupid can they get? this is totally fake. The people behind this is bias. I laugh at how stupid it sounded.

•Jamal and Lizzy seen at the boy's locker room together at the close of school. Are this two lovers probably back together?

*Tap on the link to see image or video of the headlines above. Watch out for more juicy Info's at I-gist.com

I didn't know if I should just cry or laugh. Wtf! I'm so confused. If I have a good memory at all, I heard Jerry saying, Lizzy is his ex and now I'm also seeing that Jamal also dated her? And possibility of them being together again?!

This is pointless really.

I tap on the last link and what I see, makes my heart clench. Lizzy and Jamal were kissing with so much passion and the way they held themselves together was too intimate. I drop my phone out of anger as I seeth my teeth.

Jamal was very much aware of what Lizzy did to me and now this? Even if he doesn't like me as a human at all he could have at least respected the fact that Lizzy hurt his best friend's feelings!

"Th...this is absurd." I manage to say finally. I sigh as I felt the need to talk. My head pounding like as if a sledge hammer was slammed on it repeatedly.

"Derek can I tell you something?"

He looks at me worriedly and nods unsurely. I wanted everyone to believe what they've heard, but I can't do that to my own family. I have to tell Derek the truth.

"Umm I didn't just drown myself" I say while wriggling my fingers. He urges me to go on as he crosses his arms over his chest. I heave deeply.

Here goes nothing...

And I explained to him everything I've been facing ever since I stepped my feet in that school till now. I also told him never to tell his father also. Derek mood shifted to that of stoic pose, after he listens to me carefully. I am scared at the look on his face and for the past fifteen minutes, he hasn't spoken a single word.

"You're silent Derek." I whisper out in frustration as I bite down on my lips.

"I have a plan." Is all he says before he plops down on the hammock, divulging me into his plan.

Why my life is so complicated? I have no idea!

~A/N~

Hehe I know you missed me, yes I missed y'all too.

BBN fans! Where are thou?
I'm not a BBN fan oo, I'm just finding trouble😂 but seriously I only enjoyed dem Efe and Bisola's era.
So for the now, who are your favourite housemates?!

Share your thoughts on the comment box as usual and tap on the lovely star below. Love y'all.

-Jasmine ©️