Saved by my nightmare (A Nigerian Story)

CHAPTER 15

بسم لله الرحمن الرحيم
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Unfortunately, I had to cut the inauguration scene off.

Main point is there's been zero improvement in the relationship between Maliya and Rayyan.

P.S: For all you Maliya-Zayd shippers, you're gonna get a glimpse of your fav tall dark and handsome hunk.

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Lagos, Nigeria.
2012.

#One month later#

"Class sit-up" Maliya was solving her math assignment which she forgot to do over the weekend when the new asst class captain, Michael issued the command in reverence to the commandant.

"Seat easy" the woman said, making her way to the front of the class.

"Aye-aye sir" everyone chorused, and even though she always thought it nonsensical to address both male and female officers as 'sir', Maliya rather chose to keep her opinions to herself.

Over the weeks, she had got herself a group of people she could call her friends.

While it was nice to have people looking out for her, it was hard to come to terms with the idea of someone being nice to her without any alterior motives.

It was a relief for her to know that for the first time in years, she wasn't the weird girl who always kept to herself anymore.

Unfortunately, the adverse effect of her becoming more social was the incessant disturbance from some of the boys in her class.

It had started with the harmless pick-up lines, which she had to admit were rather amusing to listen to.

She would crack a smile at the boys' pathetic attempts at being gentlemen, unaware that they considered her gesture a sign to continue with their foolishness.

It was over a fornight ago, on the morning of Valentine's day that she had walked into class only to find some red flowers and cards underneath her desk.

She examined a rose--rather what was meant to be a rose--- and laughed.

A light skinned overly tall boy--one of the first boys to make advances at her--walked up to her, a dejected look on his face.

"I-I hope you don't mind that it's not as expensive as the rest, my mum cut off my allowance" watching the boy who exuded so much confidence when arguing with their teachers about the explanations they gave during lectures falter in his speech, something softened in her.

She had wanted to laugh at how unoriginal the senders of the flowers were, but seeing the way he was shuffling from foot to foot she couldn't help but smile.

"Thanks a lot, it's beautiful" gasps echoed around the class.

"Alright everyone, I know this is probably going to make it to international news, so I'm telling you upfront that I won't be signing any autographs" it was the first time she had really spoken to everyone collectively---a lame joke---but a sentence nonetheless, and it actually felt good.

More than half of the class burst into laughter, the rest just shocked that the 'ice princess' actually spoke.

She laughed at the expressions of her classmates, a certain lightness filling her heart.

Even more comical was the dumb founded look on the face of the boy standing in front of her.

"Why's everyone laughing" a deep yet velvety voice asked.