DANIELLA✔

Chapter twenty

Dedicated to ayomikun03 and abidemi42 for their sweet words on this book.

"You and Peter be giving us crush goals." Gbemi said the next day. We were sitting on the cemented bench under the mango tree. By we, I mean Gbemi, Adam and me. It was break time.

"Crush what?" I asked, drawing my ear closer to her. I was sitting between the both of them.

"Crush goals." Gbemi replied. "You both are so cute together that I just feel like having a crush that would crush on me back."

"First of all, I've not told you that I'm crushing on Peter and secondly, speaking of crushes, do you have one?" I asked Gbemi.

"Nah!" She dragged it, scrunching her nose and the side of her lips curved upwards. "I'm so over guys."

"Why?" Adam immediately asked. He had been quiet since we had our seat on the cemented bench.

"All of them are the same — cruel and heartless. I don't trust them. Look, I just hate boys. End of story."

"Wow! That means you hate me?" Adam asked, placing his hand on his chest as though he was hurt.

"I said I hate boys." Gbemi stated again and it took some seconds before I could get what she actually meant. "Are you a boy?" She asked and I swatted her arms as we both laughed.

Adam didn't. He looked slightly offended.

"I was just joking Adam. Someone cannur play with you?" Gbemi asked in a singsong voice.

Adam rolled his eyes. "You indirectly insulted me Gbemi and it's not funny. I don't like that kind of play." He said with a serious tone.

"I didn't know. Oya sorry." Gbemi apologised. I, on the other hand, was still trying to stifle my laughter.

"Whatever." Adam rolled his eyes and looked away.

Gbemi stood up from where she was sitting and walked up to him. "Oya sorry na. You're a boy. What am I saying? You're a man, a real man." She said, touching his cheeks and then she looked at me and we both burst out in a peal of laughter.

"Daniella, stop making me laugh na." Gbemi said, trying hard to stop herself from laughing.

"Who's making you laugh? Abeg, I dey laugh my own o." I defended.

"Your laugh dey make my laugh to dey laugh." Gbemi said in a pidgin English that I didn't quite understand and the three of us burst into a peal of laughter.

Adam's laughter was the first to subside. "You're so funny Gbemi." He shook his head.

Gbemi walked back to have her seat and our laughter died down. "I hate boys, but you're not inclusive Adam because you're different." Gbemi said.

"But why exactly?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. The mood was now sober.

Gbemi exhaled deeply and fiddled with her fingers. "I've never told anyone this before, so what I am about to tell you guys should remain a secret between the three of us. Is that clear?" She asked.

"Yes ma!" Adam and I said simultaneously.

"Okay when I was very little..." She trailed off as she squeezed her eyes closed and exhaled. "I'm not so sure I can say this."

I placed my hand on her thigh. "Talk dear. Your secret is safe with us." I reassured her.

"It's not really about that. I trust you guys but... I just don't like thinking about it. I try so hard to clear the thought from my mind."