√2: Derek Damilayo.

It seemed like forever, the way he slouched against the wall as if asking for permission to go to his seat. Everyone just stared at him with wide eyes, the whispers getting louder by the minute. "Keep quiet!" Mrs. Yetunde scolded, slamming the ruler against her table. "You see? He's present." She hissed at her students before motioning her ruler for him to get to his seat.

Janet watched, her mouth still parted in shock, as he silently strolled to his seat like he wasn't just absent for about four weeks. All the visible scars on his face made her almost believe the rumors of him going to jail. This wasn't just an 'I fell' injury, no, not at all. 

He looked more intimidating than she remembered.

Janet's fingers clutched tighter against his note, trying to muster up the courage to give him his note, weird, right? Once he was seated, Ada nudged Janet. 

"Give me, let me go and give him. If he tries any rubbish ehn, he's a goner."

This made Janet snap out of her silly trance, immediately hushing her best friend, how obnoxious could she be? "He can hear you!" She whispered back at Ada, biting against her lip as she twirled her pick and drop base. Badump, badump, badump, Janet's heart thumped loudly, she became even more nervous and Derek's eye scanned the class with a bored expression.

Derek's eyes stopped on hers, her lips dropped.

He didn't even spare her five seconds before he looked away, crossing his hands and looking straight forward. The tooth pick he got from his pocket in between his teeth.

Screech...

The loud screeching sound echoed throughout the class as people moved the tables away from him, like he had Ebola or something; it pissed her off. Why were they acting like a bunch of babies? Sure he looked like he could slap their heads off their necks, but he probably meant no harm!

Derek's uniform fitted him like a latex glove, the muscles he had gained while he was away made the shirt look like it was an extra small. The veins trailed down his arms as he did such a miniature thing like pick his teeth; Janet didn't fail to notice how tight his breeches were now. Wow.

"I'll give him jorh, leave me." Janet said as she did nothing but stare at him, his notebook still in her shaky hands, she gazed over at the scribbles he had written in the space for his name. What a hideous handwriting. 

Derek Damilayo.

SS3A.

Yes, SS3A. He fitted into the dubbing category, but his case was different. While others depended on each other, he depended on the textbook he hid in his sweater; which he used to wear or he would roll paper in the biro he took to write the exam-or even a phone with a calculator cover.

 She knew all his styles, because she watched him. Not in a creepy stalker-ish way, but just frequent stares; kay maybe it was a little stalker-ish. He was just so cute when dumbfounded. So, why on earth would she want to spoil that?

"Janet!"

"Present." She cursed under her breath at how hoarse and squeaky her voice sounded, clearing her throat right after; for some reason, she looked at him, only to find him staring right back at her with his head tilted. 

"Why he dey look you?" Victor cackled obnoxiously, loud enough for him to hear but he just kept on staring her way, specifically at her. This made little old Janet internally squeal and squeezed her legs shut in reflex.

"My book." He finally spoke.

"That's my book, shey?" He specified this time, which made the people near her side to hiss, looking away from him. Janet just looked down, embarrassed, for a moment she thought it was one of them romantic glances, not to pass his darn book! Janet stood up, walking towards Derek, who seemed to be confused with her actions alongside the rest of the class. He said pass not come.

When she reached his side, which was now spacious due to how people shifted their tables and chairs. "Here!" Janet grinned, handing him his book. People often commented on how pretty her smile was, so she thought, why not use it as an advantage?

"Thanks." He looked away.

Janet was unsatisfied with his response; he didn't even give her the time of day! She pursed her lips in annoyance, who thanks epp? 

She wanted a reaction out of him, why? She just did! So, she leaned in, earning a gasp from the class, the teacher oblivious to it all.

"Welcome back, Derek." 

She made sure to say his name as seductive as she could, but he just hummed and shifted his chair back which almost made her loose her balance. She clicked her tongue against her teeth before walking back, trying her best not to look it, but she was embarrassed.

Oh, she was dearly embarrassed.

He had acted like she smelt of poop or something, when she got to her seat, she sniffed herself quietly. Scented like candy. So why on earth did he act that way? Was he allergic to candy or something?

"Chere. Which one was that, biko?" Ada asked, her native tongue slipping into her words. Janet just shrugged, understanding a bit of Igbo since her best friend was from Anambra. "I was just greeting him, calm your big breasts abeg!" Janet hissed, still pissed off that she didn't get the reaction she hoped for. But then again, what did she expect?

"It was as if you wanted to kiss him." Victor chimed in as Ada and Janet looked his way, watching as he brushed his hair ever so carefully, making sure not to mess up his 'waves'. "If it is konji, you know I'm always here for you, baby" Victor grinned, wiggling his bushy brows at her. "Even if it's just..." Victor continued before raising his index and middle finger up before gesturing what he had meant with a sly grin. 

Oral.

This was the part where she would say if you know you know. Victor was 'big' according to Ada, they had done some stuff over the holiday and that was it; before she began chasing that other boy. No wonder he had such a big ego.

 He was the definition of a fuck boy, a proud one at that. "No oh, I don't want, abeg abeg!" Janet fake gagged before giggling at the look face he gave, before she turned around to face Mrs. Yetunde as the class finally began.

Throughout the class, Janet could see how confused poor Derek was, at a point, he just gave up and continued to pick at his nails; eagerly waiting for the class to be over when it had hardly began. What was he expecting when he came after almost half the term would soon be coming to an end. 

As soon as Janet and Ada made their way outside to ring the siren, she saw how Derek's face lit up, realizing the class had ended. This made her giggle, his expressions were so cute, she had missed spying on him. Okay, maybe she just admitted that out loud, big deal! 

"Why is this one blushing?" Ada hummed suspiciously as they made their way out, Janet could only shrug as she skipped towards the corridor, besides; she was dark skinned, how on earth could she even blush? Maybe the apples on her cheeks turned darker, who knew? What she knew was that her day had gotten a lot better now that Derek was back in school.

"I'm just happy." Janet smiled, before announcing that prep time had begun as soon as Ada pressed the siren. During prep in their school, the senior usually scattered to their preferred classes to hang out with their friends or some went to the library, they hardly ever stayed in their own classes.

"Anyhow babe, can you watch out for Subomi and I?" Ada asked.

"Okay, when?" Janet asked, slyly looking over her shoulder, seeing that Derek had nothing to do, he just put his head down, tapping his foot against the floor. "In about ten minutes."

 Ada said with a grin, making Janet sigh. Her best friend was at it again, they; Subomi and Ada wanted to 'give' (mess around) and they needed a stand guard. If not, egbami.

"Okay, sign me when you're ready." Janet shrugged nonchalantly as Ada squealed before enveloping her in a big hug before skipping over to Subomi, whispering into his ear what Janet had agreed to do.

Subomi's eyes lit up before giving the ever cool head girl a wink.

As if to say, thank you.

After she shot him a sarcastic smile, she sat down and picked up her pen; having a stupid idea. With a sly smile, she wrote at the front cover of her page; her phone number, making sure it was highlighted. He didn't seem like a type of guy to do such, but she just hoped he was. Strange...right? Hoping he would be a creep and save her phone number.

Janet grinned in satisfaction, closing the book before strolling towards Derek. He still had his head down, like sleep had taken him for a stroll. "Hey." Janet whispered, giving his left elbow a tap, her actions made him flinch, looking up almost immediately.

Oh, maybe he wasn't at sleep after all.

From annoyance to utter confusion, his mood changed gradually as he looked at her hands which were still against his rough elbow. "Oh." Janet said shyly, quickly retracting her hands, leaving slight goose bumps on her skin. Probably wondering why she was at his front, he raised one of his brows. That was talent, raising only one brow so smoothly. 

"Here, for you to catch up." She said, cringing at how high pitched her voice sounded. Derek stared at the book in a somewhat suspicious manner, like he wasn't expecting such a gesture from her. "Are you sure?" His voice! It had dropped a whole freaking baritone!

Her ovulation was knocking, that was the only answer to why her dang system was reacting the way it did, noticing every slight flex or jaw clench. "Ehn nah, sha just return in when you're done. Make sure nothing happens to it oh!" That sounded way cuter in her head. Giggling to herself, she handed him the note; almost awing at how small her hands were compared to his.

"Thanks." Derek chuckled; the ghost smile which appeared on his lips was soon replaced with an awkward look. His jaw clenched once more. What had she done now? He began looking anywhere but at her, which made a slight from appear on her face.

"What now?" She heard herself say with a bit of an attitude, unknown to what made him so uncomfortable. "It's your button." He coughed as she raised her eyebrows, still oblivious. Folding her arms, this made her breasts push against the open hole; she saw how flustered he looked but she still didn't catch on quite yet.

"Your shirt is open."

"Oh. Oh!"

Now, she was the one all flustered. Other guys wouldn't even alert her, or they would try to do it themselves, so they would feel it. Too embarrassed to continue her conversation, she shuffled away with her head down. Stupid! She should have known!

The worst part of this all? On all days, she decided not to wear an inner wear today, just her lace bra; because, hey! She felt a bit sexy.

Look how that turned out.

Even though she felt embarrassed, she couldn't help but giggle at her own stupid thoughts. Wondering what was going on in Derek's head, maybe now he wouldn't see her as just a baby. What on earth was this sixteen year old saying? Who knew what he saw her as anyways?

"Janet." She heard Ada call with a nudge, before walking out the door, Subomi following right after like a lost puppy. She knew what that meant, it was time.