✔ DANIELLA
📝 EPISODE_13
It was break time and many students were scattered around to take a break from clas-s work. I was on the first floor, heading towards my clas-s from the female restroom, when I heard Peter’s voice from behind me.
“Hey Daniella! Wait up!” I turned back and saw Peter trotting towards me. I rolled my eyes and faced forward to continue the journey to my clas-s, but quic-ker than I expected, he held my arm and his feet slid forward on the cemented floor.
“Hey, I told you to wait and you just wanted to ignore me like that.” He said with a frown marred on his face.
I exhaled and held my arms in akimbo. “What do you want?”
“You.” He replied sharply. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“Okay, now that you’ve seen me, what do you want?”
“Uh, I want to give you back your gala.” He said and suddenly I remembered the chocolates that were s£nt to me earlier today. I wanted to ask Peter if he was the one who put it in my locker, but then I thought against it. It couldn’t have been him, because if it was, he wouldn’t be talking about giving me back my gala. But if it wasn’t him, then who was it?
I looked at his hands, expecting to see my gala but he wasn’t holding anything. “Where’s the gala?” I asked.
“You’re going to follow me to the cafeteria outside to buy it.” He gave me a duh look.
I chuckled, b!tt!g my lowerl-ips. “Wait let me get this straight, you’re expecting me to follow you to the school cafeteria to go and buy the gala that you’re supposed to buy for me as a sorry for stealing my sp©tlight in the clas-s pres£ntation?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Think again.” I said, brushed past him and headed to my clas-s. ha-rd ly had I taken four steps when he appeared in front of me again.
“So now you’re forming for me because I want to buy you gala?” He sm-irked.
I rolled my eyes. For some reasons, I actually liked being with Peter because he was the only guy I get to form for. “You know you don’t have to buy the gala right?” I said.
“plea-se just follow me . ” He pleaded and the fact he just used the word “plea-se” with me made it sound like music to my ears
“If you can’t go by yourself, then don’t bother buying it.”
“And you’d forgive me?”
I hissed and I was about to walk away when he stood in my path.
“Okay, okay, I’d go buy it. But plea-se wait here. I don’t want to look for you.”
I didn’t say anything and Peter ran off to get the gala. It was so ha-rd to believe that Peter was actually running to get something for me. It was too good to be true. It made me feel like a princess. Was that how much me forgiving him actually means to him? I wondered if Peter was crushing on me. The thought made me smile and I couldn’t help but wait patiently for him.
While waiting, Charles approached me. “Hey Daniella!” He said, his voice sounding very nice.
“Hey Charles.” I said, looking up at him. Charles and Peter were both tall— like 6ft, but Charles was taller, or maybe his slimness just made him look taller.
“Did you get the chocolates and note I put in your locker?” Charles asked. Wait, what?
“You are the one?” I asked surprised.
“Yes I am. Are you surprised?”
“Of course, I am. It never crossed my mind that it was you. Why didn’t you put your name on the note?”
“I didn’t want anyone to know it was me.”
“But you put it in my locker yourself.”
“Anyone could check your locker.” He said, shrugging his shoulders.
“Okay anyways, thanks for the chocolates.” I said, “But why? I mean why did you give it to me?”
“Uh…” He scratched the nape of his n£¢k and smiled sheepishly. This boy was so charming. “You look like someone I’ve met before and I kind of like you.” He said.
Did he just say he likes me? “Oh, who’s this person if I may ask?” I inquired, pretending not to have heard the ‘like’ p@rt.
“You really don’t have to know the person. It’s unnecessary. Can we be friends?”
It took every strength in me not to bur-st out laughing. For some reason, he was funny. I said nothing but stared at him and contemplated whether I should say yes or no.
“Huh?” He r!pp£dme off my thought.
“Aren’t we friends alre-ady?”
“So that’s a yes?”
I shrugged, “So you were going to tell me something the other day? What was that?”
“That you’re so fine!” He deadpanned. If before I was able to control my laughter, this time around I couldn’t. He was just so hilarious that I laughed so ha-rd .
“Hey dude! Get out!” My laughter immediately subsided when Peter pushed Charles, causing him to stagger backwards. I sh0t Peter a glare and he looked furious. “Now!” He said menacingly.
“Hey dude, what the fv¢k is your problem?” Charles spat out, emphasizing the F-word. I was surprised that he could cuss. “She’s not your babe, so why are you always worked up when you see me around her?”
Peter lunged at him, but two guys that were close-by immediately st©pped him. I wondered what would have happened if they hadn’t st©pped him. What even surprised me was the fact that Charles didn’t budge. It seemed like he was re-ady to fight Peter.
“Make una leave the guy jare. He wan fight. Make e con fight na. ” Charles said and once again, I was surprised he could even speak pidgin, which means, there was more to him than what he was letting on.
What Charles said seemed to have instigated Peter’s anger the more and as Peter wanted to attack him, the two guys st©pped and begged him not to. Peter glared at Charles and Charles returned the glare. The tension between the both of them escalated pretty fast.
“Charles, just leave. plea-se.” I advised and Charles looked at me. I nodded my head pleadingly.
“Because of her, that’s why I’m leaving oh. Just know that one.”
“Dude just dey go abeg. ” One of the guys that st©pped Peter from attacking Charles said.
Charles spun around and walked off, followed by the two guys, leaving only Peter and me. Peter walked to where he dropped what he bought, which was in polythene, and picked it up. He handed it to me but I was angry with him for what he just did, so I rolled my eyes and walked off to the clas-s.
I was surprised that he didn’t call me back.
💖💖💖
“Ah we missed o. ” Gbemi said once I was done telling her everything that happened between Peter and Charles.
“I really don’t like that Peter of a guy.” Adam said, “I thought he had changed. He’s still the same bully he has always been.”
“Right? I thought he had changed too.” I said.
“But it looks like this Peter guy really likes you
Daniella.” Said Gbemi.
“Yes, I agree. Daniella you know you once told me that he got angry when he saw you with Charles the other time, and now again, he almost got into a fight with Charles just because you were talking to him. That means he’s jealous—”
“Which also means he likes Daniella.” Gbemi added immediately.
“That’s his business . He should better not like me, because I don’t like him and I never will.”
“He’s a fine boy sha. ” Gbemi shrugged, curving herl-ips downwards.
“With a nas-ty and obnoxious attitude.” Adam added.
“Yeah, yeah, and Daniella be careful oh. Don’t let Prudence catch you. She’s actually crushing on Peter but Peter’s not looking her way. If she finds out Peter likes you, she and her yeye minions would come after you o. ”
“What’s my business with Peter and Prudence? See abeg, I’ve had enough drama in my life alre-ady. I don’t want any more with Prudence or whatever her name is.”
“And so Charles was the one who put those chocolates in your locker?” Adam asked rhetorically.
“Yes oh. I was surprised also. I didn’t think it was him.”
“I think he likes you too.” Adam said.
“So that means you’re caught up in a love triangle with Peter and Charles.” Gbemi said, grinning from ear to ear.
I sighed heavily
“Since I know Daniella’s house alre-ady, I’m going to be following you to your house today Adam.” Gbemi said as we got to the juncture where we usually p@rt ways.
“Must you go to everyb©dy’s house?” I tapped Gbemi’s shoulders as I asked.
“What?” She looked at me with a frown on her face. “Can’t I know where my best friends stay again?”
“Okay o, bye! Don’t disturb Adam too much with your talk sha. ” I tea-sed, looking at Adam, who seemed quite exhausted and probably could not wait to start walking to his house.
“What do you mean by that Daniella?” Gbemi placed her right arm akimbo. “That I’m talkative?”
“I didn’t say so. Let’s not keep Adam waiting before he faints here.” I said when I noticed how withdrawn Adam was.
“I’m tired my sister.” Adam said, one arm akimbo and running his other hand over his face. “Today was tiresome and now the sun is blazing h0t.”
“Eya, sorry.” Said Gbemi and I didn’t fail to notice the mockery laced in her utterance. “Okay, let’s be going before someone come and faint. I don’t have that energy to carry an unconscious b©dy. Bye Daniella.”
“Bye.” I waved at both of them. They reciprocated my gesture and walked off.
✏✏✏
💥💥
As I trekked back home alone, I couldn’t help but think about Peter. Could Adam and Gbemi be right? Did Peter have a crush on me? His reaction today when he saw Charles and I talking was shocking. He almost got into a fight with Charles. Could it have stemmed from the fact that he was jealous? I don’t think so. I don’t want to believe so. What was I thinking? There was no way Peter could have a crush on me. I was just a local village girl and he… he was a rich city boy. I wasn’t his type.
An arm going around my n£¢k r!pp£dme off my thought and made my heart skip a bit. “Boom!”
I was accustomed to that voice and that smell, that without even turning back I knew it was Peter. To be sure, I looked up at the person whose arm was around my n£¢k and indeed it was him.
With the back of my palm, I swatted his che-st. “Hey, you startled me!”
“Ow!” Still placing his arm around my n£¢k, he placed his other hand on his che-st. “Your hand coming in contact with my che-st feels so s-en-sational. Hit me again.”
I rolled my eyes and threw his arms off my n£¢k. “You’re crazy.”
“Crazy about you.” He retorted.
I chuckled softly. For some very weird unknown reason, I found his reply funny. Adam and Gbemi might have been right after all. Peter might have a crush on me.
“First time in history I made you laugh baby doll.” He said, grinning toothily and his dimples appeared.
My face morphed into a serious look and I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t laugh and what did you just call me? Baby doll? plea-se don’t call me that ever again.”
“Why? I like it?”
“And I don’t.” I was walking fas-ter now.
“Okay, what about Cutiepatootie?” He asked, keeping up with my pace.
I chuckled at how funny the name sounded. “No!”
😘”Sugarplum?”
“Worse.”
💞
“Damsel?”💞
I sighed exasperatedly, “Just call me by my name, thank you.”
“But Daniella is such a bore.” He sounded a tad bit whiny.
“Peter, plea-se leave me alone.”
He jumped in front of me to st©p me from walking further. “Why?”
I stood to a halt immediately. “Duh! Because you’re boring and irritating.” I replied tartly, swept past him and continued walking. To be honest, I didn’t want him to leave me alone. For some reasons, I enjoyed being around him.
“Ouch! That hurt so bad!” He drew abr£@st me, placing his hands on his che-st as though he had a heart ache. “But I’m sure you don’t get bored with that Charles guy, because I saw you laughing with him today.”
Was that jealousy I perceive? Could it have been because Peter was jealous that he acted in that violent way towards Charles?
“Were you jealous?”
“Of course…” He trailed off, “Not! I mean I wasn’t jealous.” He said, looking away. He couldn’t even lie. His demeanor and the way he sounded betrayed him completely.
“Hmm.”
“Okay yes I was.” He sounded like it was difficult for him to say. “I was jealous that you were laughing with him, but you’ve never laughed with me before.” He looked away and his tone was close to a sad one.
I fought the urge to go all “Aw” on him. I didn’t want him to think I pitied him or felt for him or something like that, even though I actually did.
“You want to know why?”
“Why?”
“Because you’re an annoying, arrogant, boring stuck up! That’s why!” I almost laughed because from the look on his face, he didn’t see that coming.
“Thank you Daniella, thank you.” He rolled his eyes.
“You’re welcome.” I smiled with an intention of getting him angrier. “While Charles is so funny, so—”
“Enough!”
“Charming, so—”
“Shut up Daniella!” He raised his voice a bit.
“What? You don’t own my mouth.”
He looked at me, rolled his eyes and looked forward. I stifled my laughter that was about erupting. He was so cute when angry. We walked silently without speaking to each other and I walked a bit slower than he was walking, which left me a few steps behind him. I watched how he walked with one hand in his trou-ser pocket and the other was holding his bag stra-p. He walked like his father owned the street, that anyone pas-sing would definitely know he was an arrogant snob. The silence was getting uncomfortable so I decided to break it.
“Are you angry?”
“Of course, I am.” He snorted with a chuckle as he said that.
“Yes, I’m happy that you’re angry. You deserve it. Just remain angry like that . ”
“If I’m stuck up, then you’re mean.” He said and his words stung me. Now I was also angry.
“Wait, why are you even following me?”
“To know your house.” He gave me a duh look.
I st©pped in my tracks immediately, but he kept walking without turning back. “How rude! You didn’t even ask for my permission before following me. You’re just following me like a lost course.”
“Yunno, you’re low-key savage.”
“Now you’re veering off course.”
He st©pped and turned to look at me. “I don’t nee-d permission to follow you pretty damsel.”
“Oh you do mister man! And let this be the last time that you’d call me by any nickname. My name is Daniella, call me that.” I said firmly.
“Okay ma. You know you’re really pretty, right?” He sm-irked and c0cked one of his eyebrows. His compliment s£nt shivers down my spine and if I weren’t caramel skinned, I would have flu-shed red.
I hissed and continued walking.
“Yunno, thank you is not that ha-rd to say.” He said, facing me and walking backwards. “So who’s the snob now?”
“Okay thank you. Are you satisfied now?”
He sm-irked smugly. “Not yet. Add my one and only.”
I bur-st out laughing. I couldn’t help it. This boy was such a dreamer.
While walking backwards, Peter hit a woman coming from the right turn. She was hawking oranges. As he hit the woman, her tray of oranges fell to the ground, the oranges rolling over in different directions, some entering into the gutter by the roadside.
“Ah! Egbami o! ” She threw her hands up in her head. “My orange! This boy, you must provide my orange today!” She dragged the w@!st of Peter’s trou-sers. “I don’t want to hear anything. Just provide my orange.”
“I’m so sorry ma.” His voice was higher as he said that. It took me a lot not to laugh. But I giggled anyway. Good for him. Serves him right! I whistled and walked past. Then I noticed that the ruckus between Peter and the orange seller was beginning to gain attention from a few pas-sersby.
“You’re speaking English o. Better provide my orange!” She shouted.
I walked quic-kly away from the scene so that nob©dy would look at me as Peter’s friend, because we were both wearing the same school uniform.
When I had walked a bit far, I turned back to see what was going on and surprisingly, I saw Peter running towards me. I laughed and ran fast so that he wouldn’t catch up with me. Laughing and running at the same time made me exhausted, so Peter was catching up with me fas-ter than I expected. When he eventually did, I ducked in order for me to go un-der his arm but unluckily for me, his arms went around my w@!st. He gave me a hoist, spun me around and I laughed hysterically. Then he dropped me down and we both bur-st into a peal of laughter.
“You know you deserve sp@ñking right?” Peter said as his laughter subsided. His voice was dee-per than usual.
As I st©pped laughing, I started to cough.
“Sorry.” He said.
My cough subsided and I cleared my throat before speaking. “Thank you.” I said and snorted with laughter. “How did the woman re-lease you?”
He sm-irked smugly, “I always have my ways.”
“Tell me what you did joor!” I swatted his arm.
“I just gave her money to cover for her fallen oranges.”
“Wow! You paid for all of it?” I asked, surprised.
“Uh-huh.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“How much?”
“I just gave her two thousand naira, even though her oranges were not up to that amount.”
“Two thousand what?” My eyes wi-de-ned in surprise. “You bring that amount of money to school?”
“I’m a rich guy.” He shrugged his shoulders again.
I scoffed, rolling my eyes at him. “Get over yourself Peter. You’re too proud.”
“It’s not a bad thing.”
“God resist the proud and give grace to the humble . ”
“Preacher!” He chuckled as he said that. “Anyways, why did you leave me back there alone? You know it was all your fault. You should have told me that someone was at my back.”
“What do you mean it’s my fault? Who told you not to face forward while walking?”
“You really deserve some as-s whooping girl.”
“We’re close to my house , so plea-se behave yourself and mind your language. People could be watching us.”
“Where’s your house?” He asked, looking around at the duplex houses in the street.
“That house with a black gate.” I indicated the house by pointing and he traced my f!ngerswith his eyes.
“The one that has a red car in front?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, so give me your phone number before you reach your house.”
“I don’t have a phone.” I said.
With the way he looked at me, I’m sure he was shocked by what I said, but he immediately masked it up with a smile. “Okay, anyways bye Daniella. See you in school tomorrow.”
“Bye Peter.” I said and made my way to the house. I had not reached the house when Peter called me and I turned around to see him walking towards me with a polythene bag in his hand.
“It’s yours.” He said, handing the bag to me.
“What is it? My gala?” I asked, collecting it from him.
“Yeah and some other things.” He said and walked off. I put the stuff in my bag and smiled as I watched him kick a stone while walking and he turned back to look at me. We both smiled at each other before I entered into the house.
💞💞💞💞
Story Continues✔