𝐈𝐧 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EIGHTEEN

MAIA

Three!

Larisa.

Two!

Larisa.

One!

Larisa.

Why did everything have to be about Larisa?!

I winced as my foot came into contact with the freestanding heavy bag one final time, being the hardest kick I'd thrown. Of course, I'd be pleased if she were the one I'd kicked like that no matter the pain it caused me. Bending low, I gently squeezed my ankle, twisting it from side to side to ensure it wasn't sprained.

"Woah, Mai, take it easy" Maina's voice had me turning around to face him. I didn't know when he'd gotten here. Letting out a breath, I pulled the boxing gloves off my hands, letting them fall to the floor as I stepped towards my brother in a bid to hug him.

My only source of comfort.

"I hope you're not trying to hug me oh" he laughed knowingly as I wrapped my arms around his torso, before placing my head on his chest. Shrugging me off dramatically, he laughed, taking his hands up to cup my face.

"Quel est le problème?" {What's the matter?} He asked me in French, and I furrowed my eyebrows at him before bursting out in laughter. The boy never ceased to amaze me. French we've been begging him to speak since, he's suddenly speaking it all of a sudden.

"Since when did you start speaking French?" I teased with a smirk. "Abi, Iris said she likes boys who speak French?"

The look on Maina's face was something else. If only I'd gotten a picture. His mouth dropped open in shock, as he stared at me for a second or two, before his emotions betrayed him by splitting his lips into a very wide and bright blush, as a matter of fact. Nah, my brother was way too whipped. Honestly, I felt sad for him because she was an A Class celebrity. Way out of his league based on societal standards. Also, she had a boyfriend. Yet my brother was so adamant on "getting to know her". They'd even snuck away into darkness last night.

Hah. The girl sef was finding trouble.

"Y'know, it's so obvious that you like her oh" I decided to tease a little more, twisting my back sharply in an attempt to ease the slight discomfort I felt in my lower back. It worked.

"Eh?" My brother stared at me, looked around the gym, then back to me. "Is it? Do you think she knows?"

"Well, from the way you stare at her, to the way you follow her like flies to poo-poo. I bet she knows, joh" I smirked after my statement, amused by the look of worry on my brother's face. I don't remember the last time I saw him this worked up about a girl.

I could swear I heard him mutter "Christ" under his breath, as he ran his hand over his face once, twice, thrice. Taking his left hand, I straightened out the round neck of his shirt, then looked at him sternly in his eyes.

"Calm down, Mustapha. You are an amazing young man. It's nothing to worry about, just be yourself, and you'll earn more than just her love real soon. And it's okay if it doesn't work out, you'll move on nau, shey ?"