After teaching Victoria and Mary a lesson they wouldn't forget in a hurry, I went to class, and Ethan was waiting for me with his arms crossed around his chest looking angry, and as soon as I came into his line of view, he started yelling at me, "Why would you fight them, yeah the....."
"I didn't fight, I just gave three slaps and got one in return, no big deal, plus they deserved it", I interrupted him,
"They deserved it!????, fighting could get you expelled and blacklisted among all schools in the state, are you crazy???!!"
"No, I'm not crazy, I only gave those girls what they deserved, I'm not a push over, and they started it, if they didn't come to me I wouldn't have done anything to anyone"
Ethan was shocked at my calm response, I expected him to shout more, but he sighed and pulled me into his embrace,
"Never, fight again, if you get hurt, I don't know what I'll tell your parents, ok ??"
"Ok", I pulled myself out of his embrace as we walked back to class, and lucky for them, I didn't see Mary, or her gossip of a friend anywhere.
We had a new student in my class, his name is Samuel, and we became good friends, you'd usually see Favour, Esther, Samuel and I together, and we were really close, so close that people thought we were dating, 'people will talk, you can't control their mouths', I thought.
Over the past few months, I got busy, preparing for exams, and as usual, Samuel was reading with me. I actually enjoyed his company, he's not like other guys who have no sense of shame or boundaries, and like that and so does Ethan.
"So, I heard that, you and Mary were once the best of friends??", he asked, breaking the peaceful silence that enveloped us.
"Yes, we were, but I don't want to talk about her right now"
"Alright, you will eventually", he said, we shared a knowing smile, but that smile was misinterpreted as something else, and soon, rumours began to fly, "Have you heard, Ann and Samuel are dating and they're in love", people would say, and I was sick of it, why won't people leave me alone.
Esther once told me something, 'If people don't talk about you, then you're not important ', still, I don't like the comments coming from people, of course, the rumours died down quickly.
Later, Favour came to me, "Ann, what do you think of Samuel, do you like him?"
What do I think of Samuel?, he's ok, I guess, he respects my wishes and I don't know, wait!!!!.
"Favour, do you like him?", I asked as her face turned as red as a tomato, nodding shyly, she responded,
"Yes I do, but I won't tell him if you like him",
"No, I don't, if you like him, you're free to pursue him ok?, but isn't it supposed to be the other way round??", I asked, but knowing her straightforward nature, I already knew the answer.
"Ann, you know I'm a straightforward person and I don't like to conceal my feelings, I'll just tell him that I like him and if he doesn't feel the same way, fine, if he does, great, either way, life goes on, but I know his answer would be no, I can see how much he cares for yo.....",
"Sorry to burst your bubble Favour but I don't feel the same way, and it's true", Samuel said surprising us both as he turned to me with a blush on his cheeks, "I like you Ann, I always did, but I'm too shy to tell you, Ann, will you be my girlfriend?"
BOOM!!!, why????, Samuel why???, why can't I have a normal friendship with a boy without them liking me??, first Ethan, now you???, but I didn't want to hurt his feelings and at the same time didn't want him to get the wrong idea.
"Samuel, I like you.., but only as a good friend and a big brother, nothing more, please don't get the wrong idea, ok?, and I hope this won't ruin our friendship?", I said, waiting for his reaction and response, and as expected, his face fell.
"It's alright, we'll always be my friend..... and... sister", Phew,
"That's good to hear", how awkward, I thought, the three of us just stood there like statues, staring at each other, and the bell broke the awkward silence, I breathed a sigh of relief, we went to our, class, and I didn't speak with Samuel, neither did he speak to me.
We usually went home together, Me, Ethan and Samuel, we would usually talk on and on, but today we walked in silence, I was walking in front, while Ethan and Samuel trailed behind me.
"What's wrong, are you guys fighting?", Ethan asked Samuel
"No", came his reply.
"Well then what happened?", Ethan asked
"I asked her out, and she said no, that she only sees me as a friend and brother", he said, sadness evident in his voice, Ethan patted him on the shoulder,
"It happens", and they continued walking in silence.
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