K A I R A

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"Nsogbụ adịghị (no problem)." I smiled.

"Wahala (problem)."

"Instead of you to say that I tried." I rolled my eyes. Though in a playful way.

With a mocking tone she said, "Sorry, you tried." Her pitch increased even further. "Bravo! Excellent! Superb!"

I couldn't help laughing.

"Asshole."

"Resorting to English too soon, aren't we?" She arched her eyebrows.

I lifted my shoulders in a shrug. "Couldn't help it."

Taking a quick glance at the centre of the classroom, I noticed Mr Odebode and Miss Martha had already finished their private conversation. With Mr Odebode already out of the class, the new dude stood beside Miss Martha, hands carefully inserted in his pockets, as she opened her mouth to speak.

"So, class, as Mr Odebode told me, we have a new student in our midst." She began, using her hands to refer to the new dude. "Do very well to welcome him into this great school."

"Welcome!" A random voice, whom I recognized to be Folashade's, was the only sound needed to make my classmates lift their hands in a thunderous applause.

"Wow, he is going to be in our class." Amara said and I looked at her. She seemed happy.

"Yeah."

She frowned. "Why aren't you saying more? I expected you to make some notes on his looks and how they relate to some of the novels we've read. Like, Noel from A Million Heartbeats. That mixed guy with his charmingness-is that even a word? Meh, even if."

"I know him already." I sunk into my seat, lowering my head to rest it on my physics textbook.

"What?"

She shifted closer and we ended up having half of our butts acquiring the little space provided by my chair.

"I mean we talked for like a brief moment." I clarified. "Besides, what a fat bumbum you have."

"Forget that. Elaborate. Now."

"You know I came late, right?" I shifted, still adjusting in my seat.

"Yeah, go on."

"In the hallway, not too far from the door of our class, I stopped after dashing up the stairs and I saw him there. I kinda-"

"Don't tell me you embarrassed yourself." She facepalmed herself.

"I kinda did."

She sighed and wrapped her arm around and said, "Aw, my baby. It's okay."

"So, that's enough class." Miss Martha clapped, bringing our conversations to a halt. Looking at the new guy, she continued, "Do well to introduce yourself, dear."

Dear? Wow.

He stepped forward, removing his hands from his pockets. He made sure to look around and I watched him take in a deep breath. "Er, so hi, everyone. I'm Nathan O. Smith and I'm from Lagos State. My hobbies are playing soccer-football-basketball, volleyball; listening to pop music, and reading books. I hope I'll feel welcome here and nice to meet you all."

"I won't lie, he seems cool." Amara whispered.

I whispered back. "Yeah."

"Sounds like a foreign kid."

"Now that I think of it, he does." I nodded, facing her.

"Can I sit here?"

The new guy's-Nathan's-voice startled me as I nearly jolted. How did he get here so fast and why the heck did he choose this place?

Still trying to find my own voice, I only managed to say, "Em..."

"Why are you wasting time thinking?" Amara suddenly spoke. "It's not like anyone else is going to stay there." She looked at Nathan, nodding her head. "Of course, you can sit there, Nate."

Nate? Already?

"Thanks." The corners of his lips lifted to form a smile. Why did the smile look so practised? "Oh and I might end up bothering you guys since I'm new here and I need to catch up on things as fast as I can." He took quick glances at me and I couldn't help recalling how I had met him in the hallway.

Thanks, destiny.

"I..." Again, my voice was nowhere to be found.

"No worries. Fine by us. You came to the best place ever existing." Amara pinched me from underneath my desk perhaps because I've been made temporarily dumb.

"I like you already." Nathan told Amara, making her chuckle.

Of course. Perfect, new guy. Just perfect.

Daniel turned where he sat with narrowed eyes. "And so does the rest of us here. We like her. We adore her. We all love her."

I stifled a laugh, finally finding my voice. "Daniel, chill."

Kaira, chill.

"Oh, shit. Dude, I didn't know you two were...I'm sorry."

"There's no reason to apologize actually." Daniel shook his head.

"So, are we cool?"

"We're cool." Daniel nodded.

⇔

This chapter came late but I hope it's worth the wait (ꏿ﹏ꏿ;)

{My words didn't rhyme ;) Or did it?}

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