etrified of what was goi

t hear me,

trying to confront a bully. If Gr

liant girl for a long time while I'm a c

to him, my desk between us. "Now, tell me wh

ately and incoherently

or I'll show you hell! And do mine f

yes," I s

od..." Seun was saying befor

o did it and saw Vict

r bothered Victoria nor gone near her and I didn't think he knew she existed. But now,

to bully, coward!" she said, sw

to Seun and the word coward

hands on you, whatever your name

my arms as Seun stood in front of me. Beads of sweat were already

ommanded, moving his index a

s. It won't happen

He shook his head and pushed me hard to the floor. I s

ng words got stuck in his throat because Victoria had managed t

should consider as a friend. She stoo

th clenched teeth. His two friends, Hassan and Eze ran to him and help

elled hastily and I com

meat!" Seun said and freed himsel

ass with Seun on our tail. We ran through the silen

here?" she scream

ho was a businessman. She had her dark hair down, wearing a black and white suit with high heels. She w

d right on the spot

eth. "This is the second period and you're su

ghteningly at Seun who was breathing and glaring at me

hed me to the floor. I did

e!" Victoria

t..." Seun s

you supposed to h

y," I r

Follow me to my office," she said and walked away but we st

r, she looked back, and shouted that

orward and Seun walk

documents and her computer too. Beside her were a waste bin and a small refrigerato

three are annoying, now detention! Here is what you will do, pick up your biology book and straight to the detention room. I'm coming there to check o

us and now we have a teacher at the

Johnson. I should be out! Da

s and two girls. And one of the girls was chewing gum loudly. I didn't k

the girl. "If I hear you chew the gum loudly again, I will send you to the

d calmly and r

s magazine back and the girl r

?" Victoria asked as

hought back to how she stood up for me when no one i

fine." I sm

ow Seun won't stop bullying. I'm scared of wh

keep our

ll Bisola and Toyin. Wh

n't k

re their b

, I k

will be a good

ed I could deal with this issue myself, instead of relying on friends. I didn't know why I was this fearful. Damn! But they were gre

hands, saying,

sly, th

s okay, that's w

? Are we

nds?" Victoria said disappoin

alking to me since I

.. I... I just wanted to b

e you think

riends with you, that's all. And y

n't your

o be thei

t even k

nd Bisola and Toyin. I get it, they are your best friends.

ding up for me but I just wanted to know how she was going to feel. "I want you to be my friend because you de

toria hugged

e I report you two to the propr

tear his lung out be

ng and soon we will be out of high

intervened when my life was miser

note when I heard the bell

good to be

___

um was teaching instead of going home. I still wore my hoodie because I couldn't risk seein

give any sign at all. If I had known it was going to rain, I would have made my way home. I walked faster to Bel

hool gate. I saw my Mum entering a car while a man opened the door for her and... And they were smiling at each other? I ran q

were coming. Are you okay?" Sh

d to talk t

ut w

opened the car but I didn

you and I?" I asked as

me. "Tosin, I want you to meet Gideon," she said and lead the way to w

deon waved at me w

y, Gideon was muscular and tall but not extreme

ughter alone, so I won't b

come wi

" my Mum

ming to the restaurant with us? Say yes, please. There y

I said yes, earning a smile from my

ilence as we listened to music titled Boo'd up by Ella Mia. A

anything but we said not yet. Not after we were done talking. Later Gideon ordered what he wanted and went

I had been keeping from her. "Mum, I'm

d. "When did this start? T

I didn't tell you this because I didn't want to bother you. You have enough on your plate to worry about

u should have told me. I am your mot

ow if coming to tell her was the right decision but I needed someone to talk to. Bisola and Toyin weren't around a

you had been a coward, you wouldn't have come for me when

hy couldn't I stand up for myself in the presence of

etress of yours. Looks like she isn't doing her job

d me a tissue and I smu

be fine,

n't tell you ear

ill do somethin

nough on your

will try my utmost best," my Mum said with a distressed tone. She wiped my tea

t of me and I hoped my Mum didn't say a

gave me a big

i.

are y

rma

u reall

. I'm

d you s

rsonal,

id and relaxed b

and gave us snack

Rachel," Gideon sai

didn't kn

tly, but

her dad's complexion while Bayo took after Mum's dark skin. I was a dar

romised to tell people of the photography work my Mum was into and I i

yway. And I better get going." He stood u

an opportunity to let out what was

you clearly heard him when he said

he

. Nice and friendly. And

ty-two, Mum. So no gir

f. But I guess he s

r Johnson to be wi

o, I love your

and an abuser," I

like that

d. There was no point in

the restaurant. We hailed down a cab and we got in, telling him our address. B