Chapter Eighteen

"Joshua Bakare. You're hereby suspended for a month as you have been found guilty of breaking one of the most important laws guarding this noble institution." The Principal announced in the meeting room. Although she wasn't happy about the board's final decision to have Joshua suspended, it was better than having him expelled.

Infact she had deemed him somewhat lucky. The board was know for it's ruthlessness when it came meting out punishment and the only reason Joshua hadn't been expelled outright was because of his outstanding academic performance. She had been the one to remind them about how valuable he was a student and have proven his worth constantly during the meeting.

If Joshua had just been some average student, she had no doubts he would have been expelled immediately because the Williams connections ran deep. Deeper than she had imagined and the results of the meeting revealed this fact.

Clearing her throat, she continued reading the verdict, "On no account should you be found on the school permisis during your one month suspension as such action would lead to an immediate expulsion from this Institution. Your punishment takes effect as of tomorrow and ends on..."

Kamji frowned as she listened to the verdict. It was so unfair that Joshua had to be punished while the very culprit walked scott free pretending to be hurt and wrapped in a cast he didn't need. Kamji could feel a chilling gaze directed towards her and her eyes turned to met Buchi's pitch black ones. There was an unpleasant frown on his face and she could tell he wasn't happy with the verdict either. He had wanted Joshua expelled and thought suspension was a light punishment.

The meeting was soon over and everyone had begun to leave. Kamji was happy that it had ended as she had been under intense pressure being the only female student present in a meeting room with adults. Earlier, her Aunty had informed her that her presence was not needed but she had been eager to help Joshua and had agreed to give her testimony when she was summoned.

Joshua's expression had remained unchanged throughout the entire meeting and the only time he spoke was when he was asked a question. An imposing looking man who went by the name Gideon, had kept trying to intimidate him by asking him probing questions about his background. He even went as far as bringing up Joshua's mother being an ex-convict and having mental issues stating that students like Joshua would only end up polluting the rest of the populace with their bad character. Kamji didn't know if Gideon's hatred for Joshua was natural or if he had been bribed by the Williams to say such things against him.

For the briefest of moment their eyes met and she casted him an apologetic look. He was being humiliated because of her and she wanted him to know that she was deeply sorry and didn't think of him as a monster like everyone did. But before she could reflect those emotions she felt with her eyes, Joshua had already stood up to leave the room.

She was conflicted for a moment on whether to go after him or let him be. He did look like he wanted to be alone at the moment.

"I see your boyfriend still gets to stay at Westlake." Buchi sneered beside her. "It won't be long before he finally gets expelled. Bad eggs like him is what spoils the whole crate." After delivering his message, he walked towards his parents that were waiting for him.

Kamji stood up to leave the room as her Aunty was quite busy talking with some of the board members. Joshua wasn't in class when she arrived and she guessed he must have left already.

"A month suspension! That's a steep punishment." River tutted when she heard the news. "Our end of the term exams are starting in a month too. He is going to miss out on all the Revision classes and AOC's the teachers are going to give."

Kamji felt even more depressed after hearing this, "I want to help him but I don't know how? I am the reason he got stuck in all this mess in the first place."

River inched closer to her cousin and wrapped her hands around her, "Don't be too hard on yourself Cuz. Joshua is a genius, skipping school for a month won't make him fail. And you can always help him out by emailing the topics and assignments from the teachers."

"That could work," she said liking the idea. "But do you think Joshua has an email. I mean, I have never seen him with a cellphone."

"This is the twenty-first century for christ sake, ofcourse he would have a cellphone," her cousin replied.

"But I don't even have his number. Maybe I should just pay him a visit. I remember seeing his address in his files."

"There's no way you're going there? Have you forgotten what happened the last time?" River whispered.

"You don't have to worry about that. I will use an Uber this time around." Kamji assured.

Her cousin frowned, she still wasn't comfortable with the idea. "I will go with you. To make sure you're safe," she added. "When are you planning to visit him? "

"Every weekend should be ok. I don't want him to fall behind in classes so I will give him a rundown of everything taught each week."

"Sheesh, Are you sure you two aren't dating behind my back? Why go that far for someone who is not your boyfriend." she gave her cousin a sly look.

"Because I am the reason he got suspended. I feel guilty." Kamji replied in an exasperated tone.

"Are you sure you're doing this because of the guilt or some other emotions." River grinned, lifting her eyebrows.

"Yes." she replied, her cheek turning to a shade of red.

The air inside the car was hot and smelly and Kamji was relieved when she heard the driver announce their arrival. She quickly paid for her transport fare and scrambled out of the car, happy to get a breath of fresh air. Why was it so hard for people to keep the inside of their vehicles clean? She thought to herself as she watched the man drive off hoping the next Uber she would enter would be in a much better condition.

She looked at the address of the house that was Infront of her. Sure enough it was the same address she had seen in Joshua's files and her Aunty had willingly given her Joshua's address when she told her about visiting him. River had been down with a flu and couldn't tag along.

Kamji spotted a small kiosk set up beside the house and old woman sitting inside reading a devotional book.

"Hi, Good afternoon." she greeted, drawing the woman's attention. It seemed to work as the woman removed her eyes from the book and looked at her.

"Good afternoon dear? How may I help you? Do you want to buy anything?" the woman asked politely with a smile.

"No," Kamji shook her head, "I was wondering if this is the place Joshua lives?"

The woman's friendly expression had turned to one of suspicion. "Who is asking?" she demanded.

Kamji seemed to have noticed this and quickly assured the woman, "I am a good friend of his. We go to the same school together." she said wondering if the woman before her was Joshua's mother. But then she looked too old to be his mother and didn't look like someone suffering from any mental disorders. Maybe being stuck in a psychiatric center for years make you age faster, she thought.

"Oh so you're a friend of Joshua," the smile was back on the woman's face, "I was a bit worried that he didn't have any friends. I am so relieved to find out he has one. A goodlooking one at that"

Kamji smiled and nodded accepting the compliment.

"I am his landlady. My name is Agnes." she introduced herself, "Joshua should be at home. I heard from his mother that he got suspended. He is a good lad, I don't know what offense he did to get himself in trouble."

"It was a misunderstanding, Joshua got into trouble while helping a friend." Kamji felt obligated to explain. She didn't want Joshua looking like a truant in front of his landlady.

"I know he is a good kid and I am glad to know he has a friend like you." she smiled "Joshua's lives in the apartment at the top." she pointed towards the one-storey building beside her shop.

Kamji thanked the woman and headed towards the building. After climbing the flight of stairs she arrived at the door and knocked. She didn't know how Joshua was going to receive her. Would he be mad that she visited without informing him?

"Who is it?" Kamji could hear his voice at the other side of the door before it slowly creaked open.

Her eyes almost fell out of her sockets as she stared a shirtless Joshua that stood at the other side. As much as she tried to close her eyes, her sockets refused to budge. Not even to blink. There was only one word she could used to describe the stud Infront of her. Delicious. He had the body of one of those ancient Greek gods she saw in the books. Starting from his broad muscular shoulders to his smooth narrow torso. Kamji imagined what those taunt chiseled muscles would feel like if she ran her hands through them.

"What are you doing here?" he asked her. Just like she had imagined, he wasn't happy to see her.

His hair was still damp and Kamji could tell he just came out of the shower. it was 1pm in the afternoon and although she found it strange to bath at such hour, it was a really hot afternoon.

"Can I atleast come in?" she asked, trying to regain her composure and not give into the temptation of drooling over his body.

"No. Go back home." Joshua said and made an attempt to close the door at her face.

Suddenly she heard a woman's voice. "Joshie, Are you being rude to my guests again?" The woman poked her head to take a look at Kamji. "Who are you?"

"She a classmate from school Mum and she was just leaving. Can you go back inside?" he told his mother. The last thing he wanted was her embarrassing him Infront of Kamji.

"How about you act like a gentleman and invite your friend inside," she scolded him. "And go put on some clothes."

Kamji felt her heart break at the last statement. She wondered if she was ever going to feast her eyes on that killer figure again but her sadness soon turned to an open mouthed shock when she stared at Joshua's retreating figure. Although his back was as broad and impressive as the front view, there were multiple scars grazed all over it. Some were so prominent and hideous that she could imagine the how brutal the wounds must have been to leave such scars on his skin.

Joshua's mother had invited her in and gestured for her to sit down on one of the tattered sofas. She gazed at the woman warily. Had she been the one that inflicted those brutal wounds on Joshua. Looking at her now, she didn't look like someone that could hurt a fly. But what was that saying about not judging a book by its cover? And she was a bipolar patient afterall so it was possible she lashed out and took it out on her son.

"So you're friends with Joshua. What is your name?" the woman asked.

"Kamji Ubah." she answered timidly as she noticed how the woman's eyes scrutinized her. Now she knew where Joshua got that ability of unnerving someone with his gaze. "Thank you for accepting me into your home Mrs Alade."

Kamji saw the woman's eyes widen in surprise, though it had only been there for some seconds she couldn't have imagined it. She knew she was meant to address the woman as Mrs Bakare which was Joshua's last name but then she had opted to call her Mrs Alade instead to see if she could get a reaction from the woman.

"My name is Shelby Bakare. You must have mistaken me for someone else." she beamed at the girl, ignoring what she called her earlier. "And there's no need to be so formal since you're a friend of Joshua. You can just call me Shelly."

This was definitely not a mistake, Kamji thought as she recalled the surprised expression on the woman's face. Why did she have her last name changed? Or did she go back to using her maiden name after splitting up with her husband? All these questions raced in her head but the one that bugged her most was the fact that Joshua had no idea of what happened.

Kamji had wanted to confront the woman but later decided against it. She hadn't come here to unveil some hidden family secret but to give Joshua some notes she had written for him. But the thought of Joshua possibly being abused by his mother was something that didn't sit well with her, "I know Joshua has a twin brother Mrs Bakare and stay at Lagos with his dad. I don't know you're reason for keeping it a secret but it's not too late to make things right."

Shelby's lip was set in a thin line as she realized the girl Infront of her knew too much. Just where had Joshua picked up this girl that came to their house and is threatening to disrupt their peaceful lives by revealing her secret?

"I still have no idea what you're talking about girl. Like I said you must have mistaken me for someone else." she placed clenched her hands to stop her fingers from shaking, "And I am not keeping any secret from Joshua."

"Who is keeping secrets from who?" Joshua asked suddenly stepping into the room.