chapter 7

"No, I haven't seen Janet."

Yinka huffed, this was the fifth person she had asked about the whereabouts of her friend; it wouldn't take a genius to guess that she was with Ada. That prostitute! Ada was such a bad influence on Janet, ever since they—Ada and Janet started hanging out like they were joined at the hip, it showed that Janet was growing tired of her, tired of Yinka.

The class was scanty; the only people present were the weirdos of the class and that ex convict. What was his name again? Damilare? Derek? Yes! It was Derek, that guy. Rumors had it that Janet leaned in to kiss him when he had arrived, but that wasn't like her best friend, kiss that scum? No way!

But maybe he knew where she was. Sucking up her pride, she strolled down to his seat; the guy had his head down, it seemed like he was writing something. She scoffed, she didn't know why she despised him but she just did. To make the whole situation worst, she had a feeling that Janet had a crush on him. On...on that!

"Guy." She spat, the disgust evident in her voice, he didn't even spare her a glance; he just kept on scribbling from a note. She recognized that handwriting from anywhere. 

Why the heck did he have Janet's note?

"Who gave you that?" She asked, this time it was louder, banging on his desk for exaggeration. Why was he wasting time to answer? Did this guy think that she would waste her time on him? After what felt like five minutes, he raised his head up, good thing he did because she would have cursed at him if he wasted anymore time. 

"What?" The tone in his voice almost made her flinch; Yinka rolled her eyes, trying to feign bravery. "Who gave you that?" He arched his brows. As if to ask how that concerned her. "Who do you think?" Oh, so the jailbird had a mouth, meanwhile she heard that he had been playing the quiet guy role.

"Who gave you that book, Mr. Man?" Yinka didn't know why but that thought provoked her, why was Janet acting all nice to him? When he didn't reply, she just pushed his shoulder, in less than a second, he sprang up; annoyance vivid in his eyes. Was he going to beat her? To be honest, that's what she thought. "Fimisilé." He spat, taking his belongings and storming off, out of the classroom; leaving the young girl in complete shock.

"What a bastard!" She coughed out, that was the only thing she could say, scoffing; she dialed Shalom's number, knowing she had snuck out of school during prep time with a bag. Yinka wanted to rant to someone about that guy, who did he think he was? No one ever walked out on her during a conversation. She vowed to make him pay.

-

"Ah, are you kidding me? See guts oh!" Shalom exclaimed in shock, bouncing up as the danfo bus sped through a speed bump. Yinka was telling her about what went down apparently five minutes ago, she knew that Derek was back, but she didn't know he already spoke with Yinka or exchanged few words according to the fuming girl.

"So, you think that Janet gave him the book and so?" Shalom asked, sure she was naïve when it came to guys, but she often spoke her mind, without sugarcoating it, just like Ada. Shalom still couldn't understand why Yinka was so pissed off with the fact that Janet was so nice to him, scratch that, Janet just gave him a book!

"But-" 

Yinka began to speak over the phone but as soon as Shalom saw that the danfo bus was approaching her destination, she cut her off. "We'll talk later, bye babes." She made kissy noises before ending the call. "I'm coming down here, oga!" Shalom yelled, before squeezing herself out of the bus, she was meant to stay at school for prep, but one of her guys begged her to visit. Alerting her account with ten thousand naira for transport, like hell she'd use that money for transport! What did he expect her to do? Order helicopter? 

Handing the driver a dirty 100 naira, she adjusted her crop top, pulling up her jeans; she had already changed her outfit in a public toilet. Her uniform was stuffed inside her duffel bag, it was good that the guy—Jesse had told her of his plans a day before. Shalom wouldn't want to look like a small girl in his eyes. 

After applying her lip gloss, Shalom approached his house, a story building which she was still in question to how he acquired it. Jesse was one of her many guys, but also one of her favorites. Standing tall at 6'0, Jesse was a handsome guy, his University was on strike so he had no choice but to stay till they resumed. 

This was his 6th year in the course Banking and Finance, when it was just supposed to take 4 years.

He had a full beard which he had trimmed apparently on her request, story! Anyways, his outstanding jawline made her forget the suspicions, they completed his look, and he looked manly. Well, at the age of 23, he was manly. Checking herself one more time, she rang the bell to the house, putting on her poker face.

Two minutes passed and no one had answered the door. That was unusual to say the least.

So, she rang the bell, pressing it harder this time, like it would make a difference.

Still, no one opened the door.

"Ahan, isn't he the one that said I should come, ni?" Shalom hissed, he literally begged her, she was willing to face her mom's scolding just for two or three hours with him, now he was doing her dirty. Mad oh. "Baby! Jesse?" She called out, huffing when she got no reply, Shalom checked the time on her wristwatch, impatiently tapping her feet against the floor.

"Abeg, that's his business." Shalom said under her breath, turning her heel and about to storm off, already annoyed at his silly behavior but before she did, the door finally cracked open, revealing a strange face.

"Who are you?"

The voice was deep, his tone almost sent vibrations to her chest, he stood as tall as the door; leaning his head against the frame. He arched his brows as if questioning the girl, blatantly staring her up and down. She would usually like the feeling, but she found herself shifting under his gaze.

"Oh s-sorry, I'm looking for Jesse..." Shalom trailed off, confused, herself. She hardly ever stuttered, but this guy's presence was...dominating. It was like he radiated a certain boss man aura. When he was done taking in his presence, he clicked his teeth and opened his mouth to speak.

"You be runs girl?" So casually, the question was asked, that was the more reason the question threw her back. How dare he call her a prostitute?!

"What? No!" Shalom gasped, not thinking straight, she raised her hands and shoved his hard rock chest. This made the guy stumble back, shock written all over his face.

"How dare you?" It was her that spoke.

The man just chuckled; a hint of annoyance was heard in his tone. The guy eyed her duffel bag, looking back at her with a suspicious look, then sighed and shook his head like he had already figured it out. "Don't tell me you're one of his secondary school babes."

Wait...his?

And, one of?!

"Who...?" She whispered, almost not wanting to hear the answer.

"Ahan, Jesse nah, oh sorry...Baby?" The man mocked with a stupid grin on his face, it felt like someone had knocked the breath out of her lungs, did that bastard—Jesse, just pull a Shalom move on Shalom herself? How could he? She knew she sounded like a hypocrite but, it...it hurt.

It was called karma, right?

Where was he anyways? The player. Yes, she had the audacity to call him that.

"I talk am, that guy ehn." The guy hissed bitterly, walking awake from her and entering a corner, which led to the kitchen; she knew that because she had been here more than twice, but never seen this...handsome yet blunt man. 

"Shut up!" The words erupted out of her like a volcano; she was pissed off and didn't need him adding to it. Shalom stomped towards where he strolled off to, like he hadn't just opened a door to a complete stranger.

"Come again?" He said, his eyes going dark instantly, she hadn't realized he had stopped walking until she ran into his hard chest.

What a sudden change of behavior...

"What..." Shalom was about to ask but was slammed into the wall, making her gasp, her eyes widening at the force he had used to push her. It remained for her to start coughing blood, what on earth was wrong with this guy?

"Watch your tongue, I'm not Jesse." That was enough to lower her head in submission; he stayed that way, hands on the wall and the other gripping her forearm quite harshly. Being too scared to withdraw, Shalom winced silently, why did he get angry over just a shut up?

Shalom was a 5'8, but she felt so little when he was close to her, Jesse never got angry when she spoke rudely to him or even pushed her back. 

"I'm sorry." So, she apologized, her voice shaking. This was certainly new to Shalom; her mother never laid a hand on her, just shouted till her voice broke, then her dad? They never spoke enough for them to get into a fight, just 'Hey daddy' and 'Goodnight daddy'. 

Immediately he moved back, she let out the breath she knew she was holding in, inhaling the scent of his Axe body spray. "Jesse is upstairs." That was the only thing he said, before pushing her out of the way before making his way to the living room. Oddly, she felt bad. It was the feeling that she was meant to have after a good scolding. But no, she felt really bad right now, for this guy she had known for just five minutes.

Pursing her lips, she tried to shake it off but she just couldn't. After dropping her duffel bag on the island of the kitchen, she made her way upstairs; Jesse had some explaining to do!

If this was a cartoon, fumes would be blowing out her ears and nostrils. Not patient enough to finish climbing the stairs, she widened her legs and climbed three at once; yelling his name at the top of her voice. "Jesse!" Silently hoping the man downstairs wouldn't shout at her.

"I know you're in there!" She yelled again before she heard shuffling behind the door and after about a minute, it burst open. Lo and behold, it was Jesse. Bed hair, still in his boxers and trying to suppress a yawn. He had just woken up. Jesse had just woken up at three in the afternoon! How?!

"Shalom baby! I didn't know you'd be here so early." Jesse said, finally yawning; opening his entire mouth as he rubbed his bare toned abdomen. "I hope my nonsense roommate didn't say anything to offend you." Jesse said chuckling nervously as he tried to pulled into his arms, but they were slapped away by her. "Say what? That you overslept because of your high school babes overworked you last night?" Yes she did that, which earned a cough from him before his eyes widened.

"Huh?"

"Huh, not only huh, see this guy oh, Oshi!" Shalom spat at him in disgust, sure she was a hypocrite, but she could care less. "What? It's not like that oh, Ola don lie on my head oh!" Jesse exclaimed. So that was the guy's names, Ola. She wondered what his full name was. She shoved his shoulders, now he was calling her brainwashed?

"Abeg!" Shalom scoffed.

"It won't happen again, I was just drunk." Jesse lied straight through his teeth, planting kisses on her cheeks as he whispered sweet nothings into her ear. "I promise' He said, rubbing circles against her hip. "You look edible, by the way." Jesse cooed, kissing against her pouted lips, oh now he noticed her outfit.

"Whatever." Once she realized that it was normal for guys his age, she shrugged her shoulders and cuffed his neck with her hands before getting on her tiptoes and pulling him into a kiss.

Who needed loyalty?

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