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73: An open secret (Part I)
Eighteen (18). The golden age every teenager awaits. The age where freedom is believed to be offered on a platter of gold. A time when smoking and drinking is allowed; and decisions are to be approved of, even if disagreed with.
Emily had been anticipating her eighteenth birthday; but even after it came and passed, she felt nothing. She felt blank. Hollow.
Her best friend hadn't gotten her anything and had only come with buckets of apologies. Even her parents, whom she despised, had gotten her gifts as requested. It was obligatory, but at least they had done it.
The door opened and she looked up from her phone — where she had been dialling James' number countless times — to see Jide enter through the door with two glasses of wine.
Once normal classes had ended, Emily called Jide to pick h
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ISSY (easy) 74: An open secret(Part II)
Even in school, Emily did her best to avoid Isabelle.Since she couldn't stand Isabelle's gaze that weighed like tons on her shoulders, she started to sit at the back. She didn't need her best friend of over ten years to feel complete or get through the tiring hours of school.However, the story changed whenever she saw Isabelle laughing with her friends — Jemina, Isaac and surprisingly, Joel. It made her angry, sad and disappointed even.She should have got used to being loved and then abandoned all of a sudden, but each time the pain felt raw and was unbearable.Because Miss Vivian had resigned and the current disaster had made it even harder for the school to find a new lab technician, Mr Jude— their Chemistry teacher — had to take over.The class had ended after the bell buzzed and Emily was still packing her books in her bag when she noticed the sudden quiet t
ISSY (easy) 75: Something new (Part I)
The more time it took for Joel and Isaac to arrive, the more water Isabelle gulped down to ease her tensed state.It was finally Friday afternoon, and the girls had come over to wait for the guys, who said they'd come to pick them. Isabelle knew Joel didn't have a car but wasn't sure about Isaac (since he also took the bus to school), so she wondered why the wait.Loveth, who had been watching her gulp down water from the glass cup in her hand, started laughing. “Relax. You look like you're going to the altar.”Isabelle scowled at her.“Should I wear my hair up or down?” Jemina asked as she packed up her braids and then lowered it.“Down. And lose the glasses,” Loveth said and took off Jemina's glasses.“I can't see without it!”“I'll guide you. You're not ruining my swag with this.” Loveth kept the glasses in her purse.Isabelle had tol
ISSY (easy) 76: Something new (Part II)
It was like the calm before the storm. There was a storm, alright, and it brewed in the confines of Joel's home. From the stories they've heard, everyone felt they needed to buckle up and be there for him.“Joe,” Isaac called.The car had rolled to a stop and everyone was waiting for Joel to get down before they did. Joel had been caught up in his world of dark memories as he stared at the house before turning to look at Isaac.“Are you okay? You sure you want to go in there?” Isaac asked, ready to turn the car around if Joel should change his mind.Joel nodded, grabbed the box containing the gift he had got his brother, and took the house in with a deep breath. “I have to.”Isaac drove in and found a parking spot among the various expensive cars parked in the compound. Joel's house was simply breathtaking.The security men welcomed them and an older woman on her way through t
ISSY (easy) 77: Something new (Part III)
Loveth's loud voice had attracted curious glances from a few of the guests.“Loveth, it's okay,” Jemina pleaded.“Daniel, I suggest you leave before you call for a crowd,” Joel stated.“I wasn't planning on staying.” Daniel eyed them and left.“Oh, God.” Loveth bit her finger and pointed at Joel. “It's because of you I'm calming down o, if not! Isaac, you know me na.”Isaac nodded and came to her side. “And that's why we're begging you to calm down. You know what? Let's step outside for a moment.”She was still eyeing Daniel's back when he turned her around and headed toward the door.“I'm truly sorry about that,” Adam said as the maid arrived with their water.The girls collected theirs and directed her to Loveth outside.Joel sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “This is why I didn't want you guys coming here.”
ISSY (easy) 78: Something new (Part IV)
Joel hadn't been expecting Opeoluwa at his doorstep. However, she mistook his state of surprise as her presence as being unwanted. The fact that Isabelle and the others were around did nothing to help his case.After the others had left, she had stated how worried she had been, only to find out he was busy having fun with his new 'friends'.“It's not what you think, Ope. Just let me explain,” he begged.“Explain? Explain?! Okay, go ahead. Explain to me why in the world you're hanging out with those three girls? Explain.”He had wanted to start from the very beginning, but the promise he had made to Loveth not to tell anyone about what happened made him stutter.“I thought as much,” Opeoluwa scoffed and started toward the door.“Ope, please wait.”She turned abruptly and he stopped short in his tracks.“You know, you really mes
ISSY (easy) 79: Something new (Part V)
Cosmos had sent his sons to the study, except Joel, who was seated on the bed, trying to catch his breath and get his heart to beat normally."Why didn't you tell me about this?" Cosmos asked, standing by the table.Joel shot him a sideways glance and scoffed in disbelief. "Like you cared."His knuckles still hurt from hitting Daniel and he flexed them. It was the first time he had ever thrown a successful punch at someone and the fact that it was his brother made him feel good about it.Cosmos sighed heavily. "How many times has this happened?""'Cause I'm supposed to be keeping count. Can we just call off this bullshit and finish the party, so I can go home.""God," he heard the man breath out and saw him rub his hands down his face. "This is all my fault. I caused this.""Damn right you did," Joel said as he stared at his scarred palms.The scars
ISSY (easy) 80: Attacked (Part I)
Since Loveth left, Jemina has been sitting alone and Isabelle didn't like that, especially because Olabisi and Nneka wouldn't stop taunting her. It was a tough decision — sitting with Jemina — considering her misunderstanding with Emily. But she just couldn't allow Jemina to sit alone."You and Joel; are you guys fighting?" Jemina asked Isabelle.Isabelle had been jotting as she was reading her Chemistry note when Jemina’s question caused her to pause. "Why do you ask?""Because you look like you're avoiding him."It's been exactly two weeks since Joel kissed her and she still hasn't been able to make sense of her emotions.She had come to realize she liked being around him; she liked the way he laughed (although this used to be a rare occasion). She liked how after a long day, he'd lean back and pinch his eyes closed while his Adam’s apple bobbed. I
ISSY (easy) 81: Attacked (Part II)
Isabelle had begun to take the bus home with Isaac and Joel, so they were on their way to the bus-stop as the boys wanted to confirm she was okay from her fight with those girls.Jemina had gone home immediately after the fight and her parents hadn't hesitated to call the principal. Isabelle hadn't sustained any major injury, except a headache and a scratch on the left side of her cheek. Jemina, on the other hand, hadn't looked so well.They were approaching the bus-stop when one out of three boys coming their way bumped shoulders with Joel.“What the hell?” Joel turned to say.Suddenly, the one who bumped into him landed a blow on his face, causing him to fall to the ground, and they pounced on him.Isaac had been too shocked that he reacted a few seconds later by pulling one of the guys off Joel. To their greatest surprise, this person was Kelechi.“You,” Kelechi point
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