Chapter Eight

I kept nurturing these unsure feelings inside me and I felt torn. The exams were fast approaching and I had this nervousness within me that I wasn't going to exceed the probation grades. 

I was having lunch with my friends when all of a sudden a commotion ensued at the entrance of the cafeteria and drew the attention of everyone.

It was Joe and Emmanuel who were mid-argument and I was about to head there when Aisha held my wrist and gave me the look signifying I should hold on.

"This is a year old beef, hold on before you dive into it." She said and I nodded in response.

"You really think you're the real deal huh?,the perfect boy with the perfect family and perfect wealth. Well news flash, you're not the only here with those same qualities. Joe sneered.

"At least, I don't go after everything in skirts since I was in jss3. I have principles and class, I doing you'd understand this statement Joe. There's a difference between having money and having class. That difference is brand new info to you." Emmanuel smirked.

"What are you insinuating?" Joe replied more pissed off than earlier.

"That you little man, has money but no class. You have a brain but it's empty, you have a family with loads of mummy issues." Emmanuel spoke, that was the last straw.

"You brought my family matters into this?" Joe barked before attacking Emmanuel,who pulled his own weight well enough too.

My restraints were broken when they started dishing each other punches, I ran into their midst and it was unexpected because the next thing felt was a fist colliding with my face.

Ohhs and Ahhs were the next sounds I heard from the onlookers of the match immediately the fist hit me.

"Oh fuck!, baby are you okay, Attracta please say something."

Did he just call me baby?

I felt everywhere spin but the last face I saw before I blacked out was that of Emmanuel looking guilty and a little disheveled.

I woke up an hour later and didn't quite recognize the room I was, but it smelled nice and with a hint of antiseptic. This was definitely the sick bay. I'd never been here before, but again, there was a first time for everything.

Both faces of Emmanuel and Joe came into view and as weird as it sounds, I had to let out a laugh at how funny they looked when they were worried,  earning me strange looks from both of them.

"Nurse can you come check her please?, she's staring at us in a strange way and even laughing." Emmanuel said with a mortified expression and a little quiver to his voice.

The nurse pointed a bright light in my eyes and told me to follow the direction of her finger and a few more checks before giving them relief by telling them I was okay.

I was ready to return back to class and both boys offered to help me. They were acting like I was crippled due to the guilt eating them up.

I was already on my way to class with them both when a junior student told Joe the biology teacher needed his attention in the lab making him reluctantly leave me with Emmanuel.

"Don't take this as an opportunity to say something nasty to me, I have a very bad headache." I warned.

"I'm not saying anything stupid I swear, can I talk to you please. In private." He begged. He had no right to get a positive answer but I really wanted to hear whatever he had to say.

"Ok, let's hear it. Or where's the private place?" I asked.

"Follow me." He said as he held my wrist.

We were at the students art studio where we did the surprise party for the twins.

He locked the door making me shoot him a nasty glare.

"I'm not doing anything, I promise." He assured and cleared his throat.

"Attracta, I'm sorry for the way I acted to you these past few weeks and I wish I could take it back but it's not physically possible. Attracta I've felt something for you since the first time I saw you. I refused to believe in my feelings because I'm still trying to heal and learning to trust people. You'll know the reason later on. I felt pushing you away would make it go away but it gets worse everyday."

"You have a good heart and you're amazing in your own way. I have proof of this because if it were to be someone else I asked to give me a chance to speak after all the ways and manner I exhibited my immaturity and insensibility, I'd have received a slap or a few insults by now. I'm still very sorry Attracta." He continued.

"When I saw you fall to the ground unconscious, I was scared because I thought I had lost you for a minute there. Attracta can you please find it in your heart to forgive me?" He pleaded.

"I forgive you." I said with a smile as obvious relief crossed his features. "So you've had a crush on me since my first day." I asked with a teasing smile.

"No dear, I've loved you since I returned your lost phone at that bus stop." He said making me freeze.

"You...were the guy that helped me get back my phone, no wonder you looked so familiar." I said awe evident on my face.

"Yes and the reason I wanted to avoid you was because I thought you pretended not to remember me but later on I figured you weren't. Thanks for forgiving me, you're a beautiful soul Attracta." He said as he stared into my eyes.

"Emmanuel all is forgiven, I have to start going." I said with a smile and made to stand up before I realized my hand was in his making him get up too.

I felt us getting closer as I could feel myself basking in his body warmth and the moment was sealed as he placed his lips on mine making me wrap my hands around his neck on instinct as his thumb drew hot circles on my hips. The sound of the bell drew me out of my reverie as I untangled myself from him and ran out.

My first kiss! And from the guy I liked.

'You finally admitted it!' my subconscious mocked.

I walked into the classroom and grabbed my bags before bolting out of the classroom and walking towards the gate like my ass was on fire.

All I could think about throughout that day was the kiss and each time, I still felt giddy. Even the bus conductor kept on staring at me over and over again in the bus, puzzled as to why I kept on smiling. I was beginning to look crazy. He looked relieved when I alighted.

I was laying on my bed when my phone pinged making me pick it up and click on the WhatsApp notification.

I had a ton of unread messages but the first on the list was from an unknown number. I clicked on the profile picture and there was none there. Maybe I needed to save the number first.

'Hey, how are you doing?' It read.

'I'm good. Who am I speaking to?' I replied.

'I'm sorry about today, and I'm sorry for barging into your dm this way. I just really needed to reach out to you.' He replied.

'It's okay, I have to go now, goodnight.' I dismissed,

'Okay. Goodnight.' He replied.

It was strange chatting with him for the first time and our first conversation was because of a kiss. It was really weird. I touched my lips and could still feel it tingle.

Joe also sent me a text message explaining he couldn't find me after answering the teacher and even after school and if I was okay. I replied him and switched off my phone. Today was a long day. I got my first kiss.