Chapter 6

          Bethel's Pov:

It so wasn't easy passing through the entrance as many people kept trooping in and out. If not for the face Nicole and I were holding hands, we'd have definitely been splitted. 

After jostling our way through the crowd, we finally got outside and I breathed out heavily as we did.

"Geez!" I mumbled and let go of Nicole's hand.

As expected, everybody around kept talking and dreaming of Ryan's performance. Shocking enough, I saw a lady crying while telling her friends how he almost touched her. 

"So, tell me, Bethel; how was it? Tell me you didn't enjoy it" Nicole said, smiling and I scoffed.

"You know me, Nicole; I'm not a music person' I replied. 

"And whoever said you needed to be a music person before falling in love with Ryan? Anyway, I know you're just bluffing. You're definitely crushing on Ryan more than I do' she said and I glared at her and she laughed. 

I just hope my driver's still waiting for me.

"Nicole!" We suddenly heard someone call from behind and we turned to see two ladies making their way to meet us.

"Agatha!" Nicole also called in surprise and ran into the arms of one of the ladies. 

Perfect. 

"Oh, my God! Look at you. I can't remember the last time I saw you" the lady said elated

"Yeah. How've you been?" 

I sighed and crossed my arms. I wonder how long this is gonna take.

Immediately, I heard my phone ringing and brought it out from my bag to discover it was Jackson calling. 

Gosh! 

I let it ring to an end the first time but it started ringing again and decided to move a few distance away to a place with lesser noise. 

"Hello?" I said when I picked the call.

Even where I stood was still noisy and I wondered if I'd be able to hear him.

"Hello? B...Bethel? Is that you?" He asked and it was obvious he sounded relieved. 

I just rolled my eyes and didn't say anything. 

"Bethel please, I beg of you; listen to me. I'm so sorry for what happened. I...I was just being carried away..."

"Really Jackson?" I cut in and scoffed.

"To be sincere, I never expected such act from you. I mean, I get it if we're dating but trying to force yourself on me, it's absurd" I said and heard him sigh. 

"Bethel please; just forgive me. I promise never to do it again. I swear, it's never gonna happen. Just give me another chance please. I promise to make it up to you".

I was so engrossed in the call that I didn't notice different horns of cars had been blaring at me.

"Bethel!" I heard Nicole's voice. 

"Hey!" I heard other people scream and it snapped me back to reality and that was when I realised I had been standing in the ways of some cars that had been honking at me from behind to move aside.

Oh, my gee! 

I quickly brought the phone down from my ear and jumped aside and gave way to the line of flashy cars to pass. 

They seemed to be special. 

The first vehicle was a police car and one of the policemen glared at me from the window, probably for the way I had blocked their passage the first time. 

They were moving slowly and since I was standing at a close range, I could have a clear view of them. 

The second car was also a police car and the third one was a black hard window SUV jeep and since the windows were hard cover, I couldn't get anyone in it.

The fourth one had its window slightly open and hah! It was Ryan!

Oh my gee!

Ryan! He was the one in the fourth flashy jeep! And Lady k was sitting beside him.

"Ryan!!!" Some of the ladies around started calling after him when they noticed he was the one in the car.

He stared at me from the window as they cruised pass and it made me freeze at that moment. I was looking at him from a close range and damn! Indeed, he was handsome. 

He kept staring at me until they passed where I was and then fifth car was also a black SUV jeep with hard cover windows. Then, one more police car followed behind. 

"Bethel!" Nicole called as she ran up to me immediately. 

"Were...were you hurt?" She asked, taking her eyes round my body.

"I'm fine" I replied and tucked my hair behind my ear, trying go get over it.

"Was Ryan really the one in the car?" She asked and I nodded.

"Oh, my gee! You mean you saw him at a close range? Oh, my God Bethel! What did he look like?" She asked dreamily and I scoffed. 

"I don't get it. Didn't you just see him on stage not long ago?" I asked. 

"I know. But..."

I didn't let jet finish up her statement as I started walking away and she came scuttling behind me.

We got to where my driver was meant to wait for me and luckily, he was still there. Nicole and I entered the car and sat at the backseat.

"Josh, you're gonna drop Nicole off at her place before taking me home" I told the driver ane he nodded and took off.

Immediately, my phone started ringing - Jackson. 

I had actually forgotten I had been on a call with him. I sighed and picked the call. 

"Jackson, I'm busy okay? I'll call you when I get home" I said and dropped the call, not waiting for his reply. 

"Oops! Isn't that our anonymous boyfriend?' Nicole asked in a teasing tone and I gawped at her and she laughed. 

"So, why don't you wanna talk to him huh?" She asked but I didn't say a word. 

"By the way,why did he ask you to come over today?" She asked. 

"None of your business" I replied with an eye roll.

Well, I couldn't tell her about it. It'd definitely make her dislike him more. 

Knowing she wouldn't get me to talk, she changed the topic and began talking about other little things which didn't really interest me.

Somehow, as I looked through the window, I recalled the moment. 

I had seen Ryan at a close range. It was so beautiful - when he stared at me with those dazzling eyes of his. No wonder all the ladies are crazy over him. Indeed, he's as handsome as a god. 

I snapped out of my thoughts when Bethel tapped me. What am I even doing? 

"Hey; have you been listening to me?" She asked and I just itched my nape. 

What was she saying? 

She resumed talking and in short while, we got to the gate of her house. At last.

"Don't forget to be early in school tomorrow okay? Good night B" she said as she hugged me.

"Goodnight" I replied and she alighted from the car.

I waved at her from the window and Josh took off again. 

I kept admiring the lively streets as we drove by and along the way, when the car had slowed down due to a little hold up, I saw a man by the roadside selling some spicy stick beef.

Wow! That was when I actually remembered I hadn't eaten.

I quickly asked Josh to pull over and he did and i came out of the car and went over to the beef spot. 

"Good evening Mr. How much for the beef please?" I asked. 

"it's just $2 dollar per stick ma'am" he replied while working on some of it.

I took a stick and had a taste and wow! It tasted so great! 

"I'll have three more" I told him and took three more sticks from the fire and after that, I payed him. 

Gosh! I was so hungry. 

Like...I was just realising that. 

I was about heading back to the car when I saw something that caught my attention. I saw some kids playing with toy ponytails a distance away and I slowly went to them. 

I stood and watched as they all went round in circles, riding on the ponytail, laughing happily. I smiled wistfully. 

Well, I always enjoy watching children play and that's because I never heard a fun childhood. 

Mum never had time for me. So all I did back then was go to school, come home, eat and sleep.

There was actually a time she had forgotten my birthday - yeah. My 10th birthday. I'll never forget that experience. 

She's always too busy and I get it if she's just trying to pay attention to the company, but she should also try to pay attention to me as well. 

I watched them for a little more while and sighed, deciding to go back to the car. 

But just when I was about leaving, two dowdy looking boys came up to me.

"Hey miss" one called with a cranky smile.

The other just smiled and took his eyes to my legs. What the heck? 

"Um...hi" I said perfunctorily and tried walking away, but they stood in my way. 

What the...

"Sorry , pretty miss; but our boss over there would wanna have a word with you" the same guy said and looked to a particular direction and I traced it and saw some other boys under a shade.