(012 - Her Attraction)

HAPPY NEW MONTH!
So, in the last update, there was some sort of moment where Semeeha kinda revealed to us by her actions that she has a thing for our hunk, Kizito. And then, some of you guys were like "That ship must sail" 🤣.

Well, I think this update might change your mind 🌚.

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𝐒𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐀
(Simisola André Jordan)

"You are staring, Gloria."

I said, alerting her senses back to the present. She finally turned away from who she was staring at and looked at me, her brows furrowed and her lips in a pout. I knew immediately that she was going to deny it... like she had done every other time before now.

"I wasn't staring at anyone, Simisola." She retorted and I scoffed, rolling my eyes. She noticed that. "I swear, I wasn't staring. I was just... looking?" Her tone was unsure, and she punctuated her claim with a shrug.

"Sure. As if I'm blind." I answered in sarcasm, then leaned back against the concrete seat under the pavilion, watching some of the guys on the field playing soccer. Gloria didn't say anything, but I could feel her steady gaze burning to the side of my head.

It was just a matter of time before she starts giving me an explanation I didn't ask for.

In 3...

2...

1.

"Okay, maybe I was staring." She rapped out and I smirked knowingly, turning to look at her. The skin of her face looked flushed and it seemed like she was blushing. It was pretty obvious because she's fair in complexion.

"I mean, why won't I stare?" She continued, turning back to look at her object of fascination and I followed her gaze. "He's Hot." She muttered, more to herself than me then took her button lip between her teeth.

Wow, she is completely whipped.

We were - or she was staring at the Kizito Alade-Martins, a boy with the body of a man. He was on the field with the guys playing soccer, acting as a referee for the two classes. Since it wasn't officially time for the Paragon, he wasn't at the American Football pitch at the other side of the sports complex. That's why he was here and Gloria could stare at him freely.

Whipped!

I've known about her attraction for Kizito since, well... probably before we even got this close and I was pretty sure I was the only one that knew about it. She was very subtle, the most subtle person I've ever met when it comes to emotions or feelings. She talked to this guy almost every day and would give away absolutely nothing.

Maybe that was why Kizito hasn't noticed.

Gloria was very difficult to read outside of our little circle.

"This is not about him being just 'hot'." I started, getting her to focus on me now. "This is even more than an attraction now, Gloria. You like this guy." I said. She seemed pretty shocked by how point blank I was. But the shock was gone almost immediately, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"You don't know what you are talking about?" She denied, looking back at Kizito again. My brows furrowed in a slight frown.

I can't believe she's being in denial right now.

"Denial doesn't help, Gloria. Accept it. You really like Kizito." I told her and she gave me a weird look in return.

"You can as well shout it over the rooftop, Simi." She fired back in sarcasm and I quickly muttered an apology for being too loud. Thankfully, no one was passing or seated close to us, so no one could have heard.

"Why don't you just tell him?" I asked, nodding my head towards the subject of our discussion. "We have about ten months before Graduation. It will just fly by."

"That's exactly why I don't want to tell him." Gloria countered, turning to face me. "I tell him, and then what? He probably doesn't even feel the same way. Do you know how many girls want him?"

"You are not just any girl..." I started but she cut me off.

"To him, I might be." She said and I sighed, not knowing what else to say. "Look, it's not that deep. I've been doing this for almost four years now. Holding on for another ten months will be a cakewalk." She added, her lips stretching in a smirk.

Well, she seems to have this all figured out.

I looked back to the field, my eyes settling on the guy. Kizito was one of the very few people I was very much comfortable with within this set.

We don't talk much, except when it's very necessary but I was observant enough to know that he was principled and mature. The only thing I didn't like about him was the fact that he had a pretty short temper. But then to the best of my knowledge, his anger is always justified and it's not like he gets angry every time.

So Gloria having the hots for him wasn't a big deal to me at all.

Turning to look at Gloria again, I saw that she was focused on her phone like we didn't just have the previous conversation. Deciding to let her be, I looked back to the field to watch the match, but instead, I saw Kizito running off the field and coming to the pavilion.

Towards Gloria and I.

"Gloria, he's coming here." I quickly whispered to her, trying to be discreet as possible as the hunk made his way towards us. She looked up slowly, though I knew with the way her fingers tapped against the concrete that she was nervous as hell.

Soon, Kizito got to us and I legit heard Gloria exhale while I tried my best not to laugh.

Mehn, this will be so sweet to watch.

"Hey..." He acknowledged me first, nodding at me and I nodded back in greeting. Then he looked at Gloria, his lips stretching in a smile.

"Gigi," He called and I watched as Gloria took a deep breath and in a nanosecond, was back to her usual audacious and brazen demeanor. Hands folded across her chest, her lips quirked in a smirk. I had to catch myself when my mouth wanted to hang open in shock.

How does she change character so fast?

"What do you need, Kizito?" She asks, rolling her eyes animatedly. The guy in question chuckled, folding his arms across his chest in a way that made the muscles of his biceps bulge out. I swear I saw Gloria's eyes trail there for a second before they settled back on his face.

I couldn't help but watch them with keen interest.

"Why are you making it seem like I only come to you when I need something?" He asked incredulously, laughter in his voice.

"And when you are in trouble. Let's not forget that one." She chipped and Kizito laughed, really laughed.

"Touché." He muttered, eyes settling back on Gloria, lips in a wide grin. Gloria rolled her eyes again, a smile playing on her lips.

"So you need my help?" She inquired and Kizito's grin became extra goofy.

"If I say I've missed you, will you believe?" He asked, wiggling his brows. Gloria scoffed, throwing her bottle at him.

"Are you ever serious?" She snapped at him and he laughed again at her expense, catching the bottle she threw at him.

Why are they not dating again?

"Okay, fine." He rose his hands in mock surrender. "I need you to help me with something actually, that's why here." Kizito continued and Gloria nodded.

"Shoot, I'm all ears." She answered. How she was still able to remain so subtle was a shock to me. But then, she has been subtle for almost four years like she said.

"We need more medics in the American Football Team." He started and Gloria cocked her head to the side as if to tell him to explain. "Adela is busy with the basketball team. Tochukwu is with the swim team and we are pretty short for my team." He explained.

"So you want me to be a medic?" She asked him and he nodded. "I'm not even in science class. I know nothing about... well, being a doctor." She said, somewhat teasing and he chuckled again, shaking his head.

"It's not that big. All you need to do is administer first aid and give us water when we need one. Or at least, give me water... as per, I'm your favorite person in the whole world." His lips stretched again in a goofy smile while I shook my head.

Guy, you have absolutely no idea.

"I don't know..." She wanted to decline.

Not on my watch.

"Don't worry, she'll do it." I quickly chipped in, causing the both of them to look at me. Kizito had a smile on his lips but Gloria was glaring at me, hard. I didn't care, she'll thank me later.

"Gigi..." Kizito drawled persuasively. Gloria rolled her eyes for the third time since Kizito got to us.

"Fine. I'll be there when the bell goes off." She finally agreed and Kizito's smile stretched out into a wide grin.

"Thank you so much. You are the best!" He called out tremulously, his right going to rest on her shoulder for a minute before dragging down to the tip of her fingers in a form of caress.

But before he could take his hands away, Gloria caught it, holding it in hers. With the way she held it, it seemed like they were both holding hands, not Gloria holding Kizito's hand.

Oh wow.

"How's your hand by the way?" She asked, looking at his hand like she was inspecting it. I looked at Kizito to see him looking - really looking at her, a lazy smile still tugged at the corners of his lips.

And... is that a sparkle I see in his eyes?

"It's better." His voice had gotten deeper and Gloria was already looking at him. "At least I can throw the ball with it." He teased and she giggled. Gloria giggled!

"Of course you can." She answered and he chuckled. Their hands were still locked. I watched as Kizito ran his intense gaze over her as if taking in her dressing for the first time since he got here.

Gloria was wearing something pretty simple. She had on what almost everyone, including me, had on; joggers and sweatshirt or hoodie, but still managed to stand her out in the most attractive way. She was wearing grey joggers that were rolled almost to her knee, giving a clear view of the legs in black and white sneakers.

She also had a matching hoodie on, instead of zipping it up, she decided to fly it, giving everyone a show of the black sports bra she wore inside. Believe me, she came to school like that, turning heads right from the assembly. Gloria didn't care. Like I said before, she had confidence the size of a skyscraper.

But seeing her tug the jacket together with her other hand, she seemed rather self-conscious that Kizito was looking at her the way he was looking at her. I wasn't sure what she interpreted the look to be, but I knew that look very well. Or at least, I've read enough books to know what it means.

I didn't want to jump to conclusion but, it seemed like Kizito was into Gloria as much as she was into him. The sparks, the attraction, the chemistry... everything, was right there.

How am I the only one feeling this intense chemistry!

Or, maybe I'm overthinking it. I've always been an overthinker anyway.

"So..." Kizito drawled after what seemed like ages of staring at Gloria, her hands still clasped in his. "I'll see you when the bell goes off?" He asked as if to make sure she's come to the stadium. Gloria bobbed her head slowly.

"Of course." She answered, her voice sounding rather hushed and husky. If Kizito noticed the change in her tone, he didn't act like it. He only nodded too, finally letting her hand go. Then he turned to me.

"Simi." He nodded, the smile not gone from his lips, a smile I knew wasn't for me. I gave him a mock salute as he walked off and then turned to look at Gloria, who was finally letting out the breath she has been holding since Kizito was here.

Whipped.

She found me staring at her.

"What!" She fired at me, her tone suddenly high-pitched and modulated that it made me burst into laughter.

"Wow, Gloria..." I started when the laughter had subsided. "Way to be subtle," I added and she glared at me, shaking her head.

"I'm done talking about myself." She quickly said, obviously wanting to change the subject. "How are you going to fulfill your end of your Dad's bargain?" She asked and I felt my mood dampen a bit as I remembered the compromise I had with my Dad just so I could participate in the Paragon.

"I don't know," I told her, suddenly finding interest in undoing and retying the lace of my sneakers. "I'll figure something out," I added monotonously. I heard her sigh.

"Why not ask one of your classmates to tutor you?" She suggested and I looked at her, a deep frown marring my face.

"So that they can ridicule me even more? No, thank you." I answered, going back to undo and retie my lace. When I was done with the left sneaker, I went to the right, repeating the same process.

"Kizito is in science class. He could help." She offered.

"Kizito is a very busy guy," I answered.

"What about Jidenna? He's the best in that class." She offered again and my head shot up, an even deeper frown creased across my forehead.

"I don't like him." My answer was plain and simple. Gloria rolled her eyes and folded her hands across her chest.

"Because of what he did to Hilary? Trust me, I'm not a big fan of the guy either, but I have to tolerate him."

"You have to tolerate him because you guys are working together as Head Boy and Head Girl." I countered and she kept quiet. "And it's not just because of what he did to Hilary. I've never actually had any reason to like him. What he did to Hilary was just a bonus." I told her and she shrugged, staring at me. I wanted to go back to fixing my lace but then, I felt the need to clear the air.

"Not that Hilary is anything to me, I barely even know the girl." I started and Gloria nodded in understanding. "But what I don't understand is why you'd put someone you claim to care about through all of that. Because of what?"

"Because he doesn't want to lose." She answered and I looked at her, confused.

"Lose what?" I asked and Gloria sighed, sitting up.

"Listen to me," She began, looking right at me. "Every school has its social hierarchy. There are students on top of the food chain and there are others. Apparently, Crestview isn't immune to frivolous popularity contest... even between friends and couples." She stopped and I looked on.

I was still very much confused.

"Can you repeat that? This time in a way I'd be able to understand?" I had to ask. She chuckled, shaking her head.

"You of all people should know what all of that means." She said and I shook my head, trying to tell her I didn't. She sighed again, "Okay. Let me explain this to you."

"Hilary and Jidenna are pretty much one of the most popular students in this school. They were friends before they were dating. They broke up, and with what Kizito told me, Hilary was the one who broke up with Jidenna not the other way round as the rumor states. Kizito didn't tell me why, he only said Hilary never cheated on Jidenna and she was the one that broke up with him. I believe him, one hundred percent."

"I'm not one to easily believe people, but I'm with you on that one," I said and she took a breath before she continued.

"Now, from what Kizito told me and what I could deduce, the reason the rumor started was because Jidenna wanted to do damage control. He wanted to own the story and make it seem like Hilary is the bad guy. He doesn't want to be at the losing end of the break-up, hence losing his position as a top dog in this school." She stopped again, trying to see if I was getting it.

I wasn't.

"Hello..." She drawled, "Popularity Contest." She threw her hands apart in emphasis. I immediately got what she meant, but then, it still didn't make any sense to me.

"That's stupid. It's just a break-up." Gloria chuckled, shaking her head at me.

"A break up between two-star couples in this school is like when Celebrity couples have a divorce. It spreads like wildfire, everyone wants to find out what happened. Jidenna knew all of these and used them to gain an edge over Hilary. Obviously, he cares more about remaining popular than he cares about Hilary." She concluded and I stared at her in complete awe.

All she just told me made perfect sense.

I did say the students of this school do bizarre things just to remain significant. I just didn't know how prominent it was. This was the first time I'd be seeing it first hand.

"How were you able to deduce all these?" I asked and she laughed, shrugging.

"Being the Head girl of the entire student body, you tend to become very observant and super sharp so that you can predict things like this. There are other scenarios in my head about this situation, but this just seems like the most logical explanation." She answered and I nodded.

"But then it's not any of my business." She quickly added with a shrug and I chuckled. Gloria and I were so much alike in more ways than one. Maybe that's why we were best friends.

The bell went off, signaling the time for practice. I stood up, picking my bag, and swung it over my shoulder.

"I should get going," I told her and she nodded, packing together her things too. "You should too. You don't want to be late for your medic duties." I teased, a lopsided grin playing on my lips. Gloria scoffed and threw a stone at me.

"Shut up."

I laughed.

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"Simi," Uncle Danny called with a small smile playing on his lips when he saw that I was the one that had knocked on the door of his office that was situated inside the same building where the pool was. I flashed him a smile of my own, making my way in.

"I take it that my mum called you," I stated and he nodded, his small smile stretching into a big one.

"I don't know what you did to change their mind but thank you so much for what you did." Then he leaned closer to me. "Don't tell the others I said this, but we would have been nothing without you in the games." He whispered and I felt my lips stretch wide into a big grin, my chest swelling with so much happiness and pride in myself.

"My lips are sealed," I assured him and he chuckled, beckoning for me to follow him out of the office and to where the others were waiting already. I did, the grin still playing on my lips.

A constant reminder that I was at least good at one thing was enough to keep me going. Uncle Danny didn't fail to fuel my ego, whether he knew it or not but I wanted him to keep doing it. If at all I was only known for being a good swimmer I didn't mind at all. It was very liberating to know that I wasn't completely a failure.

"Alright, gather round!" Uncle Danny's voice pulled me out of my thoughts as he called for everyone to come together. We all settled on the bleachers, me settling in front close to Uncle Danny.

"Hey, what's up." The guy seated beside me, Isimeme called to me and I turned to him. He was raising his fist for a bump, so I bumped mine with him. Even though I wasn't close to everyone, I was pretty much comfortable with most people on the swim team. If I wasn't, working with them would be hard.

"So, the Paragon is coming up, which means there is a lot of work to be done." Uncle Danny started, calling everyone's