Chapter 9

"Mikey, the hang out started 30 minutes ago and you're still not here"

Michael massaged the skin between his brows in irritation. "I'm waiting for Aisha and Bisi to get ready. The place isn't far from here, we'll be there soon"

"Wait, you're waiting for Aisha and Bisi to get ready? Where are you? Are you coming with Bisi?", Amarachi asked.

"Yes. She decided to go to your hang out so I, Aisha and her are coming together", he answered, blandly.

Amarachi instantly lost it. Her voice went up two octaves as she spoke. "You're at Bisi's house? What're you even doing there?"

Michael moved the phone away from his ear, instinctively. He stared at it like he was staring at Amarachi. "Are you okay? Why would you scream like that?"

"I just don't like the idea of you-", Amarachi began speaking into the phone again. But she had lost his attention.

Aisha and Bisi walked out finally and Michael's eyes were glued to her.

She had on a blue cardigan, very similar to the one he wore and a pair of black jeans that hugged her thighs and spread out at her shins.

A blue headband hugged her head where her long, dark hair was braided all back, her baby hairs, gelled at the front.

All in all, she looked very pretty. He stood speechless, his phone in his hand where Amarachi's voice squeaked out words.

Bisi noticed and nodded at his phone. "Stop staring and you haven't cut the call yet"

Aisha nudged her side. "You look really pretty, that's why he's staring"

Bisi rolled her eyes, walking towards the door so they wouldn't notice her subtle embarrassment at the statement.

"Let's go before the party ends. I honestly have no problem with that but that would mean I dressed up for nothing"

♤

The distance from Bisi's house to the club wasn't that far but after Aisha's insistence that she wouldn't walk, they still decided to take a keke.

Once they got to the hang out, Michael called Amarachi and in seconds, she was out to meet them.

Seeing Michael, a bright smile made its way to her face as she snuck herself to his side. She was wearing a pretty red, knitted, short gown that hugged her curves beautifully. A frontal, glueless wig was on her head and she had lash extensions on.

She didn't even look 15 anymore.

"I'm so glad you're here, Michael! Let's go in!"

She led them to where her little hang out was taking place. And Bisi noticed it wasn't just their classmates there, most seniors were present as well.

Their presence was noticed immediately they walked into the room and Amaka, Amarachi's elder sister was the first to notice the similar dressing between Bisi and Michael.

She smirked at them. "Nobody told me couples were matching"

The remark brought everyone's attention, including Bisi's to their matching blue cardigans and black jeans.

Bisi hadn't even noticed till now. She shot a look to Aisha, who shrugged at her with stifled laughter. "You little..."

"You're matching with her?", Amarachi let go of Michael's arm to ask.

Michael stood there expressionlessly. "What does it look like?"

Amarachi looked betrayed. She fumed, turning to bitterly size Bisi up.

Bisi took an intimidated step back unconsciously, her fingers coming to fiddle with each other nervously.

Michael noticed.

He side stepped, to block Amarachi's view of Bisi. "Is there a problem?"

"Why would you match with her of all people? If you wanted to match, why didn't you ask me?", she yelled.

Amaka barked out a mocking laugh. "I sense one-sided love, cough cough!"

Amarachi shot her a hard glare and she raised her hands in mock surrender in response.

Bisi stood behind Michael, unmoving. Why had she thought she could survive an evening out when Amarachi was there? It had barely been a minute since she had arrived and every one was already gossiping about her.

'So she and Michael are dating? And she's always treating him like she's better than him'

'She treats every one like she's better than them. And like a gentleman, Michael is always nice to her'

'If say na me wey be Michael, I for don show am. That her pride go disappear'

'Na fine girl na. How she no go get pride. I no go lie, I fit knack Michael babe o'

'She's always forming big girl but look at her, she can't even fight for her babe against Amarachi. Na so girls wey get pride dey fear'

'It's good for her to have a taste of her own medicine. She's too mean. Let Amarachi put her in her place'

Bisi tried to pretend the words didn't faze her. But she couldn't lie to herself. She knew those words affected her.

They were tormenting and adamant, refusing to let her shut them out. They were stubborn and accusing, like whispers of torment, exactly like how the demon sounded a few days ago.

Why did their words hurt now and not before?

Why was she listening to them now?

"Bisi?", Aisha's soothing voice cut through Bisi's thoughts and brought her back to the present. Her hand was holding hers. "Why are you crying?"

Bisi's free hand instantly went up to touch her cheeks and she was stunned to find cold tears there. "I'm crying...?"

She looked up and saw Michael staring her, a hard unreadable look on his face. She wanted to ask him why he was staring at her like that.

And then suddenly, he grabbed her hand and began dragging her towards the exit.

Amarachi yelled at him from behind them as she followed them but her words were incoherent.

She was too shocked to react, until Michael turned the knob of the door. She yanked her hand back, making him turn to look at her.

"Where are we going?"

"We're leaving", he said, his voice, cold and calm.

"Ah- why?", she asked back.

Michael opened his mouth to reply but Amarachi beat him to it. "Please. Don't go. I don't have a problem with you matching with her. You're just friends after all"

Michael fixatedly had his eyes on Bisi. "You still want to stay?"

Bisi grimaced, aware of Amarachi's gaze on her. "Yes. I don't mind"

Michael stared hard at Bisi, as if looking for a sign of even the slightest discomfort so he would grab her and take her out of there.

When he found none, he turned to look at Amarachi. "If i see one more tear leave her eyes because of you, I'll make a thousand more leave yours"

Both Bisi and Amarachi stood there, frozen in shock at the threatening words that had spewed out of Michael's mouth without hesitation.

Michael? Gently, care free, easy going, good natured Michael? Threaten someone? Because of her?

Was she even awake?

Those phrases were strange next to each other.

The silence went on for a while, Bisi and Amarachi, staring at Michael with their jaws on the floor, and Michael coldly glaring at Amarachi.

Thankfully, Amaka came in between the two, handing Michael a drink. "Chill out, my guy. Have a drink"

She patted his shoulder before yelling to every one in the room, "How about a game of Truth or Dare?"

The room instantly brightened again. Bisi's eyes remained glued to Michael in shock and when he looked back, a zap of electricity shot up her spine.

Their eyes remained locked to each other until his name was called and he looked away from her.

He walked passed her and to the group of guys calling him over. Her eyes followed him until she felt a smaller hand slip into hers.

It was Aisha.

"That was intense", she spoke. "Let's get you a cold drink"