Chapter 1

Like I had stated in the beginning, it is not fair, life itself is not balanced. When reading those books about the new girl who steals the bad boy's heart, I had always rooted for her. There was just something about a new character who we had bonded with from the beginning, I mean the story is from her point of view that just made you want to support her through all the things she was going through.

Especially when you account for the girl who was plotting and scheming ways to stop her from getting with the dude. Who wouldn't support her? I did, I watched high school musical for Heaven's sake and through it all I supported Gabriella because Sharpay looked like a tyrant. I felt that Gabriella was better for troy. It was great supporting the new female, the protagonist, when it is in a story or movie. Still, in real life, when the protagonist isn't you, it's not a great feeling. 

This story begins four years ago when I was accepted into the secondary school of my mother's dreams, Graceland High School. Now I say of my mother's dreams because left to me I would have gone to the secondary school of my primary school. But she thought that a fresh start is always good when beginning a new chapter of your life. I couldn't argue or go against her because she was the one paying the fees. If I did want to get an education, I was going to have to suck up my pride and keep quiet about my reservations.

I didn't hate the school after joining but didn't like it either. The good thing was that we were all from different schools, so there were chances to form new friendships and forget about our 'childish days' as our parents called it. The downside to that, especially for an introvert like myself, is the fact that I hated talking to new people or even being friendly. So, in the first week, I had made only a couple of friends, and I stuck to them like glue, especially during lunchtime. Nobody ever wanted to sit alone at a table. So, I would wait until they were ready to get lunch before going downstairs to our hall.

Because of my unfriendly disposition, it came as a severe shock to me when Olumide, who was sitting in front of me, turned to my table after class to converse with me. Olumide for someone who had just entered secondary school was quite popular even if he was on the short side. I guess having an elder brother in a senior set accounted for something. He was usually in the middle of a crowd talking, laughing and generally being a source of light. There was also something I noticed, he liked being around girls a lot. He never discriminated which girl he would talk too, he spoke to those who were in classes above him and even spent time with his junior sister's friends.

'Hey, Victoria. Did you understand the algebra lesson we had now? I heard you mumbling about question seven. I could help you if you'd like.' He had a smile on his face as we said those words to me. You might be wondering how I remember his exact words; well, I may have had a diary during that time which I wrote everything down in.

Anyways, I was shocked into silence for about thirty seconds which was enough time for him to look confused and awkward. 'Sure,' I replied with a smile, and he turned his chair to my table and began explaining the question to me. This went on for quite a while, he'll offer assistance with class works and assignments, and soon we started talking about other things unrelated to schoolwork.

It was a beautiful transition, and honestly, I was happy with everything. Because of him, I was able to talk to people more, and my high school experience got better. Unfortunately, I didn't realize early enough that a guy and girl spending a lot of time together equates to them unofficially being involved with each other. And when Samantha accused me of having more than friendly feelings for him, I did all I could to deny them.

‘Admit it, you have a crush on Olumide. I can see it in your eyes and the smile that creeps on your face every time you’re talking to him and thinking about him. Don’t think we don’t notice. Wait… let me call Ire.’

‘Ire, do you think Victoria has a crush on Olumide?’

'Who doesn't know that she likes Olu should be the question? And I know for a fact, that he likes her too.', Ire was a good friend, but until today, I hate this statement because it brought me so much pain and even today, is still make me unhappy. I didn't know what a crush was at that moment, sure I had thought that some boys were handsome and looked 'cute', but I had never felt more than that concerning them.

From that day, 19^th September 2010, I began seeing Olu in a very different light. My eyes would follow him everywhere, I would itch to be around him and want to hear his voice. And in a time when phones weren't popular, and I didn't have one, I had to stick to stalking him through my laptop. Did I actually like Olu? I don't know, maybe not initially at first but as I grew and it was expected of me to like him, to be in love with him, then perhaps I did like him. 

I still don't know who told, or when they told everyone in our class, our set even teachers but it had to have been one of my friends. Or did I also tell anyone? I didn't know how they all knew; it wasn’t like there was a show made about the fact that they knew. But once they all did, oh they used it to torment me. Make fun of me every time he showed another girl affection or was off proclaiming his love for Ayomide and the likes. They wanted me jealous, tried to ridicule me for something I could not control. And Olu? Him? He was enjoying the attention I gave him; he was enjoying the love I showered him with without him ever asking for it.

In our school, they always served us snacks and lunch and the students were also allowed to bring snacks from home or bring a small amount of money to buy snacks from the tuck shop (a small kiosk run by a non-essential staff). Because of the type of mother that I had, I wasn't allowed to bring money to the school, I didn't even have an allowance so there was no way I could bring anything to school but actual snacks. And because of how picky an eater I was/still am, I was bringing juice boxes.

There was a particular brand I loved, Chi Exotic, a trendy brand if you live in Nigeria and I adored their multi-flavoured juice box, which was why I made sure to always carry one to school. And Olu would always find a way to get to my bag (which were hung behind our chairs because our lockers were practically non-existent), steal it and drink it. At a point, it no longer became him taking it but me giving him.

'Do you want it or not? I'd actually really like to taste my drink again.' Maybe I shouldn't have asked him when he was with his friends, laughing and smiling. Perhaps I should have kept quiet, waited till he was sitting in front of me during class and passed him a note.

'Victoria, can't you see he's busy with people now? Or are you so in love with him that you can't see even though your glasses?' That was Ayomide. Now Ayomide is beautiful, I wouldn't deny it. Taller than most girls with quite a skinny and well-proportioned figure. Her skin shone like newly polished wood, and her voice was apparently of angels.

It wasn’t difficult to see that Olu had chosen a beautiful girl to show his affections. And while she might not have reciprocated them, she never shied away from basking in them. Some of his other friends also spoke, but he said nothing. He didn't even look sorry. Instead, he was smirking at me and still ripped the juice from my hand.

This continued for months, and as I got tired of liking him, I started to talk to another boy in a higher level than I. Kehinde was funny, taller, smarter and most importantly (wink wink) older than I was. We had met while I was threatening to beat his twin up. Now I hadn't known that the boy I was threatening to beat was a twin until I saw him.

Taiwo had bumped into me during lunch while I was carrying my tray of food. Because of him, my meal which consisted of spaghetti and stew (lots of stew) decorated my blazer and shirt and turned me to a laughing stock that day. What made me even angrier was the fact that he didn't wait to say sorry or anything of the sorts. He chuckled and walked away with his friends. And after visiting the bathroom and trying but ultimately failing to get the stain off, I ran to his class to beat him.

I wasn’t a calm child; I wouldn't lie and say I was. It was easier for me to show how angry I was than to say it. When I got to his class, I saw him with his 'guys' and headed straight to his desk where I hit him on the head. He was shocked, they all were, which was my plan. 'Did you think you would spill my food on my clothes and walk away without an apology? Well, guess again, brother because I am here and expect one.' 

His friend had gotten up and probably was proceeding to hit me but upon seeing the anger in my eyes, stopped where he was and sat down. I looked back at him, and he hadn’t said anything but was looking at me still in shock. I raised my hand for another hit when his brother took my hand and led me out of class.

'I'm so sorry for whatever it is my brother did to you. And judging by the giant stain, I can guess exactly what it is.' Once he apologized, all my anger had left my body, and I was looking at the floor, embarrassed about my actions. He then introduced himself as Kehinde Fagboola. He still apologized and asked for my name before apologizing again and going back to his class.

And even though my clothes had a giant stain on it, I smiled when going back to class because he was cute.