"We are here! Don't forget! We are representing our school! You must be in your best behavior! Clear?" Anita announced.
"Yes!" the students in the bus chorused.
"Okay! Let's go! We must win all the competition we participate in today!" Daniel declared. Students hopped out of the bus. Freddy and I were among them.
Holy macaroni! Their school building is fine oo! Well...it might be finer than ours but who cares! It doesn't mean their school is the best.
I scrunched my brows when I saw a familiar face. The person recognized me and frowned.
Does anyone remember Sandra? Cos I do! She was that annoying girl I met in Shoprite! You can call her a boyfriend snatcher!
Sandra and some of her school mates were welcoming us with a handshake. Sandra shook my school mates' hands politely. When it got to Freddy, she threw herself on him and embraced him.
"Oh my gosh! Freddy!" she hugged him. "Do you remember me?"
"Err..." Freddy scrutinized her face. "Oh yeah! You are that birthday celebrant in..."
She cut in, "Yep! That's me! How are you?"
"I'm good!"
"Maybe we can talk later!" she winked. "Bye!"
"Sure!" Freddy waved and walked into the school building.
As soon as Sandra's eyes fell on me, she grunted.
"Oh! You!" she spat with a venomous hiss.
"Yeah! I am sure you have seen my boyfriend too! How are you?" I sneered and eyed her. I froze when I saw her uniform.
It fit her die! See how she looks in it. Geez! If I was the one wearing it, I am sure I would have looked good.
I looked at all the female students' uniform. They were wearing a light blue long sleeve top with a royal blue tie. Their royal blue skirt was pleated. Most of the females' skirts were above their knees and to sum it up, their black shoes reached their knees.
It kinda looked like those uniform you see in korean movies! Geez! I am so jelly about those kind of uniform! It makes a person look hot. And that's how these girls looked.
"Your uniform is not that bad!" Sandra whispered, pulling me from my thoughts. "It's just that ours is far better. Welcome to Charisma High!"
She stretched her arm for a handshake. I took it and shook it lightly. I yanked my hand off hers and walked away.
Okay! The school building and uniform is nice but that doesn't make this school the best.
I got to their hall and choked on a lump that had developed in my throat.
I should have known!
My breathe hitched after seeing the large crowd. The hall was spacious and it was filled up. Students from different schools in our community were there. Saying that there were hundred students would be a big understatement. The crowd was huge.
Some students of Charisma High led my school mate and me to our reserved seats. I sat on the wooden chair and cleared my throat. For some reason, I felt dehydrated and suffocated.
I tapped Freddy's shoulder. He turned to me, "Yes?"
"Can we talk?"
"Yeah! We are talking now!" he chuckled.
"Come!" I pulled him to his feet. We walked out of the hall and sneaked into an empty room.
"What's wrong, Cupcake?"
"I should have known! Aargh!" I exclaimed. "Had I known that the crowd was this large, I won't have participated in this debate!"
I was breathing at an abnormally rapid rate. My chest heaved and perspiration soaked the collar of my shirt.
"Are you giving up?" Freddy gasped.
"Yes! In fact, I am freaking out right now!"
"Cupcake," he slipped one hand into mine and placed the other on my shoulder. "Do you remember the time I asked you where you left your sense? Now I am asking again, where did you really leave your sense. I want to get it for you".
"Haha! That's very, very funny!" I replied, sarcasm soaking my quavering voice.
He laughed a little and his face dropped into a serious look.
"You can't give up now!" he stated.
"But..."
"No buts! You prepared for this moment. Giving up is not sensible"
"But the crowd..."
"You can still conquer that!"
"How?"
"Hmm..." he rubbed his chin. "Okay! I think I have an idea. Maybe you should just fix your gaze on us!"
"Us? As in the crowd?"
"No, Cupcake! I mean our school mate or maybe on Anita or me! Just look at the people you are familiar with. It will help you. You can also fix your gaze above their heads!"
"Freddy, how do you know all this? How sure are you that it will work?"
"I am so sure!" he made circles with his thumb on the back of my hand. "Beside, during my bad boy phase..."
"You had a bad boy phase?" I shot a brow up.
"Yeah! In my former school!" he chortled. "I was usually called to stand in front of the students in the assembly. I used to look at my friend's face or above their head!"
"So you used to break rules eh?"
He sighed, "I used to hang out with bad friends!"
"Do you still do that?"
"Of course not! I am a changed guy!"
"Mmhmmm!" I eyed him.
"This one that you are eying me, does that mean you are better? Are you ready for your debate?"
"I am kind of calm though. I will use your idea. It sounds promising!"
"Cool!"
"Let's go!"
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
"I don't think so!"
"Babe, you are forgetting your goodluck hug!"
"Goodluck what?" I giggled.
"Goodluck hug from your awesome boyfriend!" he pouted.
"Okay! I think I really need some good luck!"
He stretched his arms for a hug and I wrapped my arms around his waist. His hands settled on my back and he pulled me closer to him.
His warmth seeped into my tensed body and I sighed in relief. I snuggled him.
"Someone is enjoying my hug!" he chuckled. His body vibrated and I blushed.
Now I understand why people hug a person for comfort. A hug can really be comforting.
Freddy's cologne flooded my nose and I secretly sniffed him.
Such a yumtastic scent!
I placed my head on his chest, enjoying his hug. Dragonflies decided to pay my stomach a visit. I could feel them flying around, blasting fireballs. My heart slammed my ribcage and a weird emotion exploded within me. It was so unusual. Something I had never felt before. It sent shivers up my spine.
Am I starting to fall for Freddy? Nah! I don't think it's that!
"What is going on here?" a deep voice echoed in the room.
I pulled myself from Freddy and cleared my throat. I looked at the direction the voice came from and I felt like slamming my shoe on the individual's face.
"Naomi, I didn't know you were this kind of girl?" Chigozie scolded.
Oh! See this fool! This classic idiot! If you have a sharp memory, you will remember who Chigozie is! He is that fool I met when I once went to buy airtime.
"If I touch you, you will complain! Now you are hugging this guy!" he snarled.
"And who are you?" Freddy bellowed. His brows were knitted.
"I'm her boyfriend, dude!" Chigozie was quick to answer.
"Eh? Who's boyfriend?"
"You, baby!" Chigozie purred.
"Hey," Freddy called and wrapped his arm on my waist. "She is MY girlfriend! I am not the kind to share and it won't change. So, never call her your girlfriend!"
"See this one oo!" Chigozie sneered.
"Chigozie, if I slap you eh! You will see stars!" I hissed.
"Shut up!" he snapped.
"Don't talk to her that way!" Freddy defended.
"Dude, don't mess with me oo!"
Freddy chuckled and narrowed his eyes at him.
"Then, don't touch my girlfriend!" Freddy threatened. He turned to me. "Let's go, Cupcake!"
I nodded and followed him.
"Stay away from that guy!" Freddy warned.
"Sure!"
"I'm serious! He looks like the kind of person that smokes and drinks!"
"Well, you are right about that!" I replied.
"How do you know that?"
"He lives in my neighborhood!"
"If he ever touches you, just tell me!" he stared into my eyes.
"I will!"
We got to the hall and I was ushered to the hot seat. A.k.a the seat for the debaters in front of the large crowd!!
The competition began.
Lord help me please! I don't want to fumble!
The debaters spoke with confidence and they had valid points to defend themselves. The first and second speaker of my school had spoken.
"It is soon going to be your turn. You can do this!" Amaka, the senior who was the second speaker whispered to me.
I nodded. It seemed as if everything went in slow motion. I could hear my own heartbeat. My heart kept slamming my ribcage. My perspiration had soaked my shirt. My eyes were wide open and my chest moved up and down. Soon, my stomach churned and I wanted to vomit.
"Next," the M.C began. "We will have the third speaker of Golden Sun College!"
Gosh! Have your heart ever dropped to your stomach? Well that's what happened. It was as if I had stopped breathing!
I rose to my feet and walked to the stage. My heart was running a marathon by that time.
"Good day Mr Chairman..." I began my introduction. I turned to the judges and gave a confident smile. I started my speech and focused my gaze on Freddy, Anita, Ken and Daniel. I had blurred the image of other people in the hall. I spoke with the exact confidence I had used in class the other day. The hall was silent as they listened to me.
I guessed my luck ran out because my gaze unfortunately fell on Chigozie. His eyes ran on my body as if he was undressing me. This made me so uncomfortable that I had to look at my skirt to make sure it wasn't transparent or torn. The moment I looked back at the crowd, I realized I had completely forgotten my speech.
I couldn't even remember one word. I stood, frozen as I stared at the large number of students.
"Your time is running!" The timekeeper for the debate announced.
The M.C walked in and said, "Let's all clap for her. It's not easy to address a crowd".
The hall echoed with their applause. I dragged my eyes to Freddy and sent a 'help me' note! He gestured that I should continue.
Continue? What should I say?
I sighed and began saying anything that came into my mind.
Why do I think a woman can be the president of Nigerian?
I said what I personally thought about the debate topic. To boost my score and confidence, I had looked into the eyes of the judges. I gave them a confident smile and added some sass to impress the crowd.
Luckily, all my efforts were not in vain because when I concluded, the crowd rose to their feet and applauded. I turned to the judges and they nodded their heads in approval. More like a 'You did well' nod!!
To be sincere, I don't know what I said. I just rambled but I am happy it impressed everyone.
I went back to my seat that was set at the corner of the stage. Amaka squeezed my trembling hands and whispered, "You were amazing out there. Well done!"
"Th...T...Thanks" I stuttered.
My heart was still racing and my breath was unsteady. I looked at Freddy and he did an unbelievable act.
He blew an air kiss at me. My eyes widened and then, I.......BLUSHED! My cheeks ached from the hard way I had blushed.
I guess I kinda like Freddy now!
~~~Author's note~~~
What do you think of this chapter?
Who felt tensed when Naomi almost flopped?
Who was happy when they hugged? Me: I was super happy ððð
Was Freddy acting possessive earlier? ð§ð§
Did Naomi just say she kinda likes Freddy? Who supports her theory? Does she kinda like Freddy or actually really likes Freddy?
Did you enjoy this chapter?
Thanks for reading. Please VOTE! I would really appreciate it. Love ya guys ðððð
Stay healthy,
From your sweet babeð