Chapter Twenty-One

"You would be a fool to think Joshua is going to fall for your petty tricks," Kamji sputtered in a bid to dissuade him. "You would need to come up with a much better plan."

"You may be right about that. He is quite clever." Buchi crossed his arms, appearing to be deep in thought. "Maybe I will have to kidnap you and send a picture to him as proof. That should be enough to persuade him, don't you think?" he casted her a sinister smile.

"I would love to see you try. That's if you want to get that ugly face of yours maimed with my fist." she snarled, clenching her fist while positioning herself in a defensive stance.

"Easy there princess. You wouldn't want to hurt your hands again," he chuckled as he watched her. "Do you really think I am crazy enough to kidnap the principal's niece on school grounds just to get some photos?"

"Yes. I think you're that crazy." she replied not letting her guard down for once. "I think you're nothing but a crazy self conceited psychopath that enjoys making other people suffer for their own benefit."

The grin on Buchi's face seem to grow even wider like he just received a compliment, "You're absolutely right princess. I get whatever I want and I am willing to eliminate whatever stands in my way."

There was something about the way he looked at her when he said those words that sent her skin crawling. The way his eyes lit up as he stared at her was like that of a kid getting a new toy. And even though she had mustered up the courage to stare back, she couldn't help but feel the hairs on the back her neck stand.

He leaned forward, that his mouth was just a few inches away from her ear and whispered. "I want you Kamji. And what Buchi wants, Buchi gets."

"I am not a piece of object you can just have when you wish," she said quickly backing away from him.

"Name you're price. I am willing to pay double."

"Did you just offer to buy me?" she raised a brow.

"Everything has a price. I am simply asking you to name yours," he probed. "What would it take to make you mine?"

"Get lost Williams," she brushed past him and headed for her classes.

"You will be the one to come back begging Kamji!" he called after her. "Mark my words."

Joshua was doing the last set of push-ups when his phone buzzed on the table. Rounding up his exercise he unlocked the device and read the text that had popped on the screen.

IF YOU DON'T SHOW UP AT THE BACK OF THE AUDITORIUM AFTER SCHOOL, YOU'RE LITTLE GIRLFRIEND WILL BE TOAST.

Although the text revealed it was from an unknown number, Joshua could tell it was from Buchi Williams and his supposedly girlfriend who was in danger was Kamji. The boy was probably trying to trick him into showing up to school and violating his suspension.

"What an idiot," he muttered as he tossed the phone back on the bed and headed for the shower. Did Buchi really think that the possibility of Kamji, being in danger was enough reason to make him show up? Shit, he cursed as he realized the answer to his own question.

Hurrying the rest of his shower, he got dressed and headed out of the house with Snow trotting behind him. His mother had gone for her appointment with a therapist that afternoon and he wouldn't want her to stay alone in the house when she returned. After dropping the dog off at Agnes place, he slowly walked on the tarred road leading to the nearest bus station.

It was a almost two o'clock in the afternoon and school was going to be over in few minutes. He couldn't believe he was boarding a bus all because he was worried about getting to school a few minutes late and that was to him enough time for Buchi to hurt Kamji.

The fact that he was breaking another yet another rule all because of one girl felt so alien to him. He had always walked to school. Not because it was close or because he couldn't afford the transport fare but it was simply because he hated being around people. And most public bus had lots of people. It was quite obvious that Buchi's text was just a bluff and Kamji wasn't in any danger but he couldn't seem to rest easy until he confirmed it himself.

It was just some minutes after the final bell rang that Joshua arrived at Westlake. After putting on a face cap and pulling over his hood to cover his face, he waited at a distance observing his surroundings. He needed to come up with a plan on how to get into the school safely without being recognized by any of the teachers or students knowing that he would be expelled if he got caught.

The idea of acting like a parent or an older brother seemed like a great plan, but the face cap and hoodie he had on would definitely seem suspicious and make him stand out like a sore thumb. Maybe the best thing to do at the moment was just to wait for Kamji to come out from the school and God help Buchi if he sees a scratch on her body. Woah! where did the territorial attitude come from? It's not like she's your property or anything, he scolded himself, surprised at how strongly he had reacted to the thought of her being hurt.

He had been waiting across the sidewalk for some minutes when he spotted a figure at the second floor of one of the school buildings. The student was leaning dangerously across a window frame while peering towards the direction of the school entrance with a pair of binoculars. He could tell it was Buchi even though he quiet far off from to see his features clearly. No doubt the little prick was waiting to capture him the moment he steps foot into the school and send a proof directly to the principal office. He imagined how satisfying it would be if Buchi were to fall of from the window and crash his empty skull on the floor below.

Drawing his cap even lower to cover his face, he backed away from the sidewalk. At that same moment he saw a girl frantically burst through the school gates and run towards the nearest bus station. It was Kamji. Although she looked somewhat tensed, there was no sign of any physical injuries on her body. He had wondered why she was in such a hurry? Was anyone chasing her? Quickly deciding to follow the girl, he hurried after her and managed to get inside the same bus she had entered.

Kamji had taken a window seat and Joshua could clearly see the fear and anxiety written all over her face. He had wondered what on earth had gotten her so worked up that she completely ignored her surroundings. It was a good thing, he thought. Atleast she wouldn't catch him tailing on her. Settled on a seat behind her, he observed her quietly. The girl was looking outside the window now, her feet tapping the floor rhythmically as if willing the bus to move faster and her brow furrowed slightly whenever the vehicle seemed to lose speed.

As soon as the bus was reached the first stop, she got out after paying for her fare. Joshua was quick to do the same and alighted with her. A frown crossed his lips when he saw the direction she was headed. She was going to his house.

Kamji knocked on the door again but there was no response. What if she had come too late and Joshua had already gone to Westlake to look for her? She had somehow managed to skip serving detention with the excuse that she had dislocated her knuckles and had come as soon as school was over to warn Joshua about Buchi's trick. Just as she was about to knock a third time she could feel someone grab her hands from behind.

"Are you trying to break down the door with your incessant pounding?" Joshua said behind her not letting go of her hand.

Kamji slowly turned around to meet his gaze and without thinking, she wrapped her hands around him and hugged him tightly.

"I am so glad you're here." she whispered feeling a sense of relief. "I was so worried that you would fall for Buchi's trick and show up in school. He is trying to get you violate your suspension by stepping into the school permisis and that's why he sent you a text stating I was in danger so that you would show up." she explained in one breath, with her hands still clasped around him.

Although it was her first time hugging him, it felt quite natural as she did. As if it was something she had been doing over the years. Maybe she felt that sense of familiarity because she hugged Michael quiet often and there was no difference in their physical attribute. The only difference was the sweet smell of lavender that had invaded her nostrils as she held him. She almost didn't want to break away, it was as if she had been hypnotized by his heavenly scent.

"I appreciate the fact that you came here to warn me about that but you're hugging me to tightly." He pointed out.

"Oh, Sorry about that." she apologized shyly releasing him from her grip and refusing to meet his gaze. She had been so relieved that was here and had hugged him out of pure happiness.

Joshua could see the agitation that was once on the girls face few minutes ago slowly disappear. The fact that she had been genuinely worried about him seemed to tug a part of his chest that didn't want to be tugged. He hated the way she was making him feel and hated himself more for letting himself feel that way. Over the years he had detached himself from the tides of emotion and had gotten rid of any compassion he felt towards people with exemption of his mother. And now this girl just walks in and is threatening to destroy those walls he had used to isolate himself.

"What happened to you fingers?" he asked, noticing it was wrapped in bandages.

"I accidentally hit it on a hard surface." she replied, too embarrassed to say she had punched Buchi for his sake. "It's just a minor fracture, The doctor at school says it would be completely healed in a few weeks. I really hope it gets better before the exams else I better start practicing how to write with me left hand," she joked.

He brushed past her and unlocked the door to the apartment, "Come in and Let me take a look at it."

There was a slight edge in his tone that told Kamji that it wasn't at all a request. Stepping into the apartment, she tried as much as possible to still her beating chest. A gulp went down her throat as she heard the click of the lock as soon as she stepped in. It was obvious that they were the only ones present in the apartment. Snow would have come out running to greet them by now and so would his mother.

Although she trusted that Joshua wouldn't do anything bad to her, she couldn't just help but feel jittery. Maybe because it was her first time being in alone in a locked apartment with a guy or the maybe because of the fact that she had been taken advantage of twice by men who had tried to sleep with her against her will. Either way she tried to keep her composure and forced herself to think of something else. There was no way Joshua would do anything to hurt her. He had always been the one to come to her rescue whenever she was in danger.

Joshua had disappeared into one of the rooms and return shortly wearing only a pair of Jeans and the upper part of his body completely was completely bare.

Kamji felt her heart beat faster. How did she end up all alone in an apartment with a shirtless guy and the doors locked. And the way he stared at her did nothing but intensify the moment. His eyes lowered as he gazed at her longingly, like a hungry lion that hadn't fed in years and just caught a prey.

"Well, What are you waiting for?" his voice was incredibly deep and sultry sending shivers to her spine. "Are you going to take those off or do you want me to strip them off you?"