Above in the media are the latest and maddening Nigeria albums as of recent!😩✨My best being, Ag baby and Twice as tall. Which is yours?!

♤

My last made me feel like I would never try again. But when I saw you I felt something I never felt.
-𝓣𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓸𝓻 𝓓𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓮𝓵

♤

Narrator's POV》

"Dude what the hell?!" Jide's voice reeled Jamal out of his deep thoughts. He glared at the former as he stuffed his things into his sportsbag.

"What?" Jamal asked not so innocently.

Jerry hissed as he replied. "He just said our manager has spoken to Yure. You know Yure the headboy of Castron high na."

"Ohh." Jamal replied absentmindedly still wondering how and when Yure got into thier discussion. Everyone knows Castron high school-heck CIGs has done a lot of competitions with them. Rumours has it that the current head girl of Castron high-the ruthless Giwa Falade had finished the head girl of CIGs with just her mouth which happens to be Aramide cousin, Cheryl. It was very epic that Chery had her match. The school also has the popular and vast known model-Shade Onam and now Yure who is an upcoming artiste. As Jamal zipped his bag, the two other guys simultaneously smacked him upside on his head in a split of seconds.

"JESUS! guys afar na? Una wan kill me?" Jamal retorted in pidgin as he used his hands to touch his head that was already paining him slightly. The two guys ignored his outburst as they continued to eye him questionably. Jamal gave up after some minutes as he dumped the sportsbag in his hands to the changing room floor and stood akimbo facing his two best friends squarely.

"Seriously Jamal you've been like this recently. Always having mood swings like a girl PMSing." Jerry said as he rubbed his forehead frustratedly.

"We've been bestfriends for years guy. What's the problem?" Jide added softly as he crossed his hands over his chest, seeking an explanation. Jamal creased his eyebrows as he stared far away ignoring the intense gaze of the duo standing before him. True that this guys before him plus Kiki has been his best friends and backbone since they were much younger. But could he possibly tell them the reason behind his deep lost in thoughts was because of the stupid dare they involved themselves at the expense of someone? And also to complicate matters, his stupid excuse of an uncle is back at home.

So much for being a celebrity.

He wanders away from the thoughts of his toxic home as he thought about her.

There's this unexplainable aura he always experience whenever she was close to them. And to always announce her presence unknowingly, her lovely strawberry and Jasmine flower scent graces wherever she enters. The combo is so great and alluring that she dosen't know it causes havoc to others around her. Her pink bottom lips that she bites daily because of shyness and nervousness. Full lips that moves in a perfect sync anytime she talks. Her brownish-coffee orbs of the pupils in her eyes that widens and glitens with giddiness anytime she's in a good mood, whenever she's excited or happy and whenever she's gisting with her friends.

It also reduces in fraction whenever she's sad, but that is rare. Her smile is charming like the bright sun that lightens up people day. Her voice is breathtaking and is like a lullaby that can lure you to sleep for years. Her body especially her long legs is another story he could not fathom. He thought of her natural curly and long full hair that always framed her face in a spectacular way.

Clamping his hands together, he wished he could run his hands through them. It always seemed like he hated her not knowing it was the opposite. He only hated the fact that she's a made dare to them, although Kiki wasn't aware of that. And she chose to come at the wrong moment, when things are not okay at all. He kindof likes her company. In fact even if the others didn't notice it, she's brought a massive positive change to the group of friends. Even Kiki who is always reserved, is now more open. One thing Jamal is known for, is for being a very good observer. That was how he was able to notice the day she received that letter. Unfortunately, Aramide is so gullible, innocent and a novice in almost everything.

I wonder how she would look without her uniform or sports wear today, since she's swimming for the first time. That killer smile and body...

Wow Jamal you're being very stupid.

Jamal ma pa mi na.

Jamal wondered as a silly smile graced his handsome face.

"He's doing it again!" Jide said as he flung his hands into the air exasperatedly.

"And its creepy as fuck!" Jerry added with a mock frown as he held his phone in his hands ready to capture Jamal's hilarious face.

"Guy nor snap me abeg." Jamal yelled as he shoved the phone to Jerry's face.

"You wan break my Samsung? Sha na you go pay." Jerry replied as he shrugged and pocketed his phone in his own sports bag. Jamal scoffed and spread his five fingers in the air, gesturing the common, waka comeback towards Jerry.

"You." Jide said as he pointed his index finget to Jamal. It was not a query, but a statement. And Jamal knew that the discussion wasn't over yet. When they didn't speak for some seconds, they all raced towards the pool area on cue and laughed on thier way.

There's nothing more than having best buddies.

They started swimming, trying the styles as the coach has instructed and played games in the pool. Jamal wondered why he has not seen Kiki yet.

Of course, she's with Aramide.

He followed Jerry and Jide's line of vision wondering why they suddenly went mute and his breath immediately hitched in his throat. Walking with Kiki by her side was a shy Aramide who's hands did nothing to cover her extremely long legs and gleaming caramel skin. He felt like ripping the wandering eyes of each guy that ogled at her.

Wait what?

Did I just reason that way?

Jamal queries and face-palms himself mentally.
Comments started flying trough the air and little did Aramide know, she was the centre of attraction.

Amebo students association.

"Med oooh!" Jerry exclaimed as he stared at Aramide's form as Kiki dragged her towards the direction of coach Meyers.

"O Boy! Our wife get shape oh!" Jide added as he whistled. As expected, Jide the womaniser of the group must comment. Jamal felt like smacking them both for saying things like that. The girls around them that heard what the boys said, snickered. Most girls had to force thier boyfriends to look at them again. And this only increased the hate and added fire, to the wicked plans they had for her.

"Brainless idiots. Una never see woman for dis life before?" Jamal asked irritatedly.

"Never!" They both responded as they continued staring at her. Jamal needed a distraction badly
Seeing her like this just made him to develop sudden headache. He didn't know why, and he could not find the answers to why he was feeling awkward like that.

Immersing himself inside the pool for minutes and repeating the routine as he tuned out the conversion of the outside world. When he took his sixth dip, he saw Senior Dozie and Senior Christopher eye raping her and that was all it took in him to feel disgusted. He got out of the pool and sat down on the reclining chair as he tapped away on his iPad furiously. His Ipad was a form of distraction and excuse anytime.

Still typing with anger, Kiki squatted beside him. "Hey, you okay?" She asked softly.

He did not answer as his anger shifted towards Kiki.

Why did she abandon Aramide with those perverts?

"I did not abandon her Nkem. She was enjoying thier company and besides she can make new friends too." She replied as she rolled her eyes.
He gave her the look that said 'you heard me?'

"Yes I heard you clearly you dumbäss." He grinned as he stared at his best friend. Kiki is one among many females who could crack through the inner cubicles of his heart. She is the only female apart from his sister and mother, that he ever allowed to call him 'Nkem', his native name in Igbo. The name which means 'my own' is too personal to be messed up with, according to him. His attention moved back to Kiki who had an evil smirk on her face. And he knew then, she wanted to ask a question that he was not ready to answer.

"Are you interes...." Jamal cut her short before she could say it.

"Why don't we continue our swimming eh?" He said quickly. She narrowed her eyes at him and knew he was trying to ignore the question. Before she could challenge him, he dropped his IPad carefully and flung her over his shoulders as they lunged themselves into the swimming pool. He ignored the gawking audience and joined his buddies.

Why don't I have fun while it lasts? He thought.

After some time, Aramide joined her friends and that was a cue for Jamal to switch mood. He couldn't understand why he always turned mute anytime she was near him. Even if he tried to talk, her innocent face, pouting gesture and her timidity would just shut him up. Making him to regret the dare they got her involved in.

Who would have thought her body was this nice? Uniform is really a big cover up.

Jamal get your head out of the gutters! His brain chided. He couldn't help but admire her body as she swam.

He could not bear the stinging headache slamming his head rapidly as he walked to the direction of his locker in the changing room to change. On collecting his stuffs, a cold hand sharp finger ran down his back. He needed no prophet to tell him that it was Lizzy.

"What do you want?" He asked without turning back as he gritted his teeth in anger and frustration.

"Aww c'mon baby. You know I want you." She replied as she bit her lips seductively her voice low but sultry. With all the frustration and headache, he knows he should not be giving heed to the girl who almost tore thier group of friendship and ruined thier music career apart sometime ago. Heck, she also threatened Aramide of all people recently.

But no, he wasn't reasoning with his brain as he swirled on his feet and tried to leave. He knew he was a deadmeat when it comes to Lizzy, the girl he once liked so much. Lizzy was awe struck at his attempt to leave her so she took matters in her own hands and roughly grabbed him. He couldn't backtrack since she started it, he just decided to go with the flow as he kissed Lizzy with the fierceness of a tiger seeing its prey.

He missed her.

As he kissed her, she moaned deeply savouring his sweet taste of mint and salty water. And the kiss was anger and frustration driven. Lizzy was the first girl he ever went far with and how she ended up dating the three best friends, is a story for another day.

The moan made him more fierce as he slammed her hard against his closed locker thereby making their body to jam impossibly closer. She hiked her right leg high as she encircled it around his slender but firm waist. Her tight and skimpy bikini didn't help to hold all her breast together which jogged up and pressed against his muscular chest. He hissed into the kiss and immediately, as if cruel reality dawned on him, he instantly regretted it.

But unfortunately, they've already gone far.

He quickly returned to his senses when her hands roamed round his bare broad chest. Suddenly he felt disgusted and sick as he ripped his mouth of hers. "Baby! What is it?" She asked as she tried to control her ragged breathing. He glared at her as he pushed her leg down and put a distance between them.

"Get out!" He spat out venomously. If Lizzy was scared, she didn't show it as she gulped and spoke with her sweetly sick voice.

"But you're hard for me Jamal. I can see that clearly. She said with a smirk as she sashayed towards him and slipped her hands inside his swimming underwear. His eyes widened at her audacity. He almost gave in at how good it fell to feel her hands down there again but he had made his decision already.

For Christ's sake I'm a full blooded guy down there! Fuck!

He muttered mentally. With every ounce of will power, he gripped her hands that were giving him handjob and pushed her as he cussed.

"Don't ever push your luck again Lizzy!" He spat out as he left her stranded. He angrily collected his things from his locker and left there without casting a look at the smirking girl who spoke into the speakers of her hidden phone when Jamal became out of sight. "NOW."

Jamal did not know what Lizzy has planned or whatever she was up to. But he had a feeling it would not be good. His instincts are always right. He quickly texted his friends, that he'll join them later since they all agreed to meet up in Jerry's house today after school so that they could work on their new album and at least get to do a collabo with Yure. He reached to the indoor pool side which he thought was already empty. He forgot the second ear of his airpod on the relaxing chair.

But the sight before him made him to backtrack. Jade held Aramide with one hand roughly while Della slapped her on the face twice. His body boiled with pentup rage and he started seeing red all of a sudden. He wanted to go there and stop their madness. But what he saw next, broke his self restraint.

They pushed her into the deepest part of the pool, as they laughed menacily and walked away through the back door of the indoor swimming pool area. Before a nanosecond could pass by, Jamal has already lunged himself into the deep part. His visions were very good in water, so that was an added advantage. He finally saw her lifeless body going deeper into the body of water. He skilfully carried her out and dropped her on the ground.

"Aramide! Aramide! Can you hear me?" He asked as he tried to revive her but her pale and lifeless face was the only answer he got in return.

Stupid. She can't hear you

He placed two hands over her chest as he pumped down heavily. He tried so hard not to focus on the fact that the upper parts of her breast were on display. After trying all methods, he carried her effortlessly to the school's sick bay and hoped the nurses were still around.

Luckily for him, two nurses were still on duty. They kindly ordered him out as he paced repeatedly at the not quiet lobby since some students were still in the other section of the school.

Who the hell wants her dead? That's ridiculous.

He debated if he should call the squad but later dropped it as the nurse came out and told him she's finally okay but not without warning him that she's exhausted. He couldn't help but let his lips curve into a little smile as his heart warmed. He rolled his eyes knowing it didn't take much conviction for Aramide to be deceived to drown. They must have tricked her easily, yes she's that gullible. And he put two and two together to know Lizzy was behind all this.

He slid into the room gently as his eyes took in the fragile form of Aramide. He almost wept at how she looked right now.

Like a shattered glass.

He tactfully went over to her side in the comfy all white room that smells of antiseptics and a slight scent of air freshener. He used that time therefore to examine her features since she's asleep.

Her hair which was wet, sticked all over her pale face. Her forehead creased in lines of worry while her full lips were parted slightly which made a whoosh of air pass through. Her face, peaceful but yet troubled. He wanted to remove the lines of worry from her forehead so badly, the urge so strong that he ended up pecking the corner of her mouth gently and savoured its succulence.

Ogbeni so pecking has now removed the lines of worry ba?

He felt guitly and dirty, that his lips which touched Lizzy's own minutes ago, was now touching her innocent face. As he removed his lips gently, her eyes fluttered open seconds after. He was utterly surprised and wondered if she knew he just pecked her. He has never had a conversion with Aramide and seeing her a breath away made his body freeze above her while knocking the air out of his lungs.

Oh boy.

Her brownish-coffee eyes locked with his own and her strawberry and Jasmine mixed flower scent entrapped him. Aramide on the other hand was completely shocked to see electric silver pair of eyes staring intently at her.

Omg! Jamal is in heaven with me too! She reasoned happily.

When she initially regained consciousness, she thought the nurse at her first sight was an angel. And she also thought the immaculate white walls of the room, was heaven.

She giggled all of a sudden while startling Jamal who furrowed his eyebrows at her odd behaviour.

"What's so funny?" He asked curiously.

She made a dramatic pause and intertwined her fingers together.
"Can you imagine you never spoke to me while on earth? And now that we're in heaven, you're veryyy close to me." She said dreamily.

Jamal froze again and became dumbfounded.

Has she lost her memory?

"Aramide you are not dead. You are still in planet earth. Remember you got drowned right?" He asked hopefully. She immediately stilled on the bed. She was not dead? But she was supposed to die! Why was Jamal talking to her then? She noticed he was staring at her chest so she quickly used the sheets to cover up as she blushed. His minty breath was still fanning her face as she shifted away from him.

"But. I was supposed to die!" She said as she tried to hold her tears at bay. "They hate me! My life is just pure bad luck!" She added. Jamal turned soft as he saw her somber look. He thought she was just being plain timid, shy and dumb. He leaned in closer to her again and waited for her to retreat but this time, she stayed put.

"Look," he began as he traces her soft cheeks softly. "NO ONE. I mean no one deserves to die unjustly okay?" She nodded shyly as she avoided eye contact with him.

Why is he being kind to me?
She asked herself.

"Let me tell the others what happened." He said after some minutes of intense staring as he reluctantly retreated his hands from her soft cheeks and grabbed his IPhone out.

"No no please don't! I do not want to burden anybody again. Its better kept a secret." She pleaded sincerely. He stared at her and wondered what kind of person she is.

How does she expect him to shut up in a near death experience like this? Never will he.

She might be his least favourite person right now, but he is a human after all that cares.
He nodded and told her he wouldn't tell them not knowing he had plans. The one thing that still lingered on Aramide's mind was why does her life keep having several issues? Jamal could tell she was deeply worried. He gently placed his hands over hers as she stared at him in shock.

"Everything will be alright Aramide." He assured. She stylishly retreated her hands back slowly because she wasn't used to the feeling her hands received just now. His calloused hands were like a tease on hers. Her stomach was in a turmoil as her mind went haywire.

Jamal is very close to me! my main celebrity crush is close to me! He spoke to me finally.

And with that, she smiled at him as they both basked in their own silence. Their breathings were the only sound heard as it mixed evenly and their stares bore into each other soul as if communicating a silent message, a silent message meant for unforseen emotions to come before the nurse interrupted their little moment.

~A/N~

Hehe I didn't know I'd write it in a third person's POV, but hey its good abi?

What do you think is happening? Lemme hear your thoughts📢

Its your favourite girl;

-Jasmine ©️