Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Jade's POV

When I think of the perfect marriage or the perfect love story, I think of my parents. How possible is it for couples to still look at each other with awe and love even after almost 24 years of marriage. I mean how many new couples these days even call themselves endearment like sweetheart, honey, Darling and Co. I can't keep gushing over my parent's love. I just can't wait to grow up and fall in love but love comes with a lot of responsibilities. Zee will shake her head at our parents and say

'See these old people acting all lovey dovey oo. May God save my innocent eyes oo.'

And I'll shake my head at her and laugh. It was love, what my parents shared and I believed it. But what birth the other? Is it love or is it Responsibility?

Zee attended the wedding Dad had prohibited her from attending. I knew this because she told me and she swore me to secrecy. I'll do that for Zee, infact, I've always done everything for Zee as long as it keeps her happy.

******

'We can switch Uthman with Daniel, that's if you want.'

Hana said not so casually, turking her hair behind her ear. We were sitting in the cafeteria and it was the next day after we picked our partners and while other students were already finalizing work on their project, Uthman and I have still not said a word each other.

'Why? You want to work with Uthman?'

'No oo' She said, a little too hurriedly and then shrugged 'I was thinking about you. I don't know how you guys will be able to work together so I just.........'

She trailed off as she picked her fork and started to eat. I kept looking at her, everything was normal but something seems off about my best friend. I can't really place my finger on what's wrong but something is definitely going on. I've noticed that since morning, she has been kind of sullen and quiet all day.

'Are you alright?'

She looked up hurriedly.

'What? Of course I'm alright. Why are you asking anyways?'

She replied hurriedly and returned to eating.

'Because you look off and you've been too quiet since morning.'

She laughed.

'God! Jade, I'm okay. I'm on my period so I guess it's just mood swings.'

'okay' I replied her and went back to eating. I knew she was lying though.

When we were done with eating, we went to see our class teacher about swapping partners but she turned us out before we could even say anything.

'So, how are you guys going to go about working together?'

Hana asked when we got to class. The next period was English Language and our teacher was yet to arrive.

I shrugged

'We'll see. I guess we have to put our differences apart for once and do something creative for the first and very last time.'

Hana laughed.

'And how are you guys going to do that?'

I shrugged again and I was about to answer when Uthman and Daniel walked inside. Daniel said something to Uthman and came over to Hana.

'Hana, I wrote down my points for the project, you can write yours too and we'll compare them.'

He said, handling a torn out note to Hana. She collected the note from him without a word and he returned to his seat. The whole exchange was bizzare and off but whatever it is that's off about it, I just can't place my fingers on it. Maybe it's just really awkwardness, Best friends of Arch Rivals working together but what are we, the rivals supposed to do now?

The day went by quickly and the next day, Friday, we still said nothing to each other. Now, majority of the other groups already finalized works on their project and we never even started. I've never joked with school work and I wasn't about to start because of someone's stupid ego. During the lunch break, I've decided to go over to him to ask him but as fate would have it, we all ended up sitting together again and right now, we're still sitting in front of each other.

'How the fuck do we end up with the bitch and her gang again?'

Michelle said underneath her breath but we all heard anyways and nobody answered, apparently, we all don't think of her as worth our attention. I wonder how she and Akin were getting by with the project.

'Uthman, are we not..........'

I was interrupted by the sound of a heavy slap and we all turned towards the direction of the sound of slap. Damn. It was K with the ass that just slapped a SS2 girl. Rumors have been flying around the school earlier that Caleb is dating some SS2 girl even though he's dating Keji. I have a distinct feeling that's the girl Keji just slapped. Did our class teacher not say, the rules can be broken for some people, but the person they broke the rule for is just not worth it. Apparently.

The girl that was slapped, slapped Keji twice consecutively. There was a collective gasps in the cafeteria.

'How dare you slap me, you this smelly fat good for nothing pig?'

Keji was still holding her two cheeks in her hand, apparently shocked the short, almost timid looking girl could have mustered the courage to slap her.

'And if you've slapped me because of Caleb, then you're are really as mad and stupid as he had painted you. Can't you even see that the boy only enjoy what you have between your legs?'

The whole cafteria burst into laughter. Wow, I thought Lakeview raised us to be better role models and never to speak vulgar in public. Well, the Senior prefect boy did something similar some weeks back so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

One minute, they were hurling words at each other and the next minute, the were beating each other and rolling on the floor. Their skirts were rolled up and everybody could literally see their thighs and even parties. Someone from the crowd shouted mad oo and I couldn't have agreed more. Uthman was looking at the duo with a bored expression. Daniel was grinning from mouth to mouth because of the sight in front of him. My best friend was eating and watching at the same time. Akin and Michelle were also looking, mouth almost agape. Caleb the supposed cause of the fight was talking to and almost touching another girl in a corner. I laughed in Korean. I stood up just as the same time Uthman stood up. We both got to the lover girls at the same time.

'Will you guys have some sense and stop fighting?'

The two girls seems oblivious to whatever it is we were saying until Uthman ordered two boys to drag them apart. The two boys weren't enough to drag them apart and two other guys joined, each holding the girls who were still swearing at each other. Their hairs looked messy, torn bottoms, ripped skirt. What a shame? Should I be embarrassed for these girls? I guess not. Some teachers arrived and dragged them off to the principal's office. It was a pretty huge fight, which might even earn them suspension. Everybody went back to their food admist whispers about the fight.

'But na small remain for us to see Keji yansh. I swear, that would have been the highlight of the whole fight.'

Someone said behind our table and Daniel muttered 'Aswear'. I glanced at him. I was meant to be mortified but seriously, it was funny. The whole fight. I did not even when I started laughing, Hana looked at me and started laughing too. Akin joined in and the strangely, the whole table started laughing except Michelle whose lips was set in a tight grin.

'That fight is definitely mad oo.' That was Akin

'A major slap on Lakeview's face. Students beating each other because of a boy? Wow. Really?' Hana said

'The best fight that has ever happened in Lakeview.' Daniel said

'The most senseless and brutally stupid fight ever.' I said

'Roger that' That was Uthman

'Can we just talk about something else? The fight happened and it over already.'

That was Michelle and the whole table kinda ignored her.

********

Uthman's POV

Daniel asked me if I could swap Jade with Hana for him for the project on Thursday morning.

'Why? You're interested in working with Jade or you are not interested in working with Hana? I thought you will be, considering all her beauty and all.'

He groaned. 'Well, beauty is not everything and besides, I was just considering you guys. How will you and Jade pull working together off?'

I shrugged

'We'll see it through to the end'

But Daniel kind of forced us to go see our class teacher anyways but the woman did not even listen to us at all. Thursday went without the both of us saying anything to each other even thought other people were already finalizing works on their projects. She sure wasn't ready to initiate a conversation with me. After I had talked down to her because of the way she looking at me, we've not said a word to each other.

Friday lunch break has us sitting in front of each other. She was about to say something when the stupid stupid fight broke up. I never liked the crazy K with the A or whatever name they've given her. I just think she's a bad blood really and I think she will be the one who will cause a dent on our set's image. After the whole malady was over, Dan's reply to what the guy behind us had said has gotten everybody laughing except Michelle who basically ordered all of us to stop making jokes about the fight. I had a feeling she would have done something like that too, because of me.

******

Jade and I still did not say anything to each other even after the school closed at 1. I was in the locker room changing into my football wear when I heard someone open the door. I did not turn, thinking it was one of the other guys.

'Hey'

I was shocked at the feminine voice. I turned to see Jade leaning on the opposite locker.

'What the fuck are you doing here?'

I asked, if she has entered minutes earlier, I would have been naked. Well, almost naked. I shrugged on my top and crossed my arms over my chest.

'well, what do you want?'

'What a stupid question that is? The last time I checked, you were the one that picked my name as a partner.

' And you think I would've picked your name if I had known.

'Well, I don't know and I don't care. We are partners now and we have to pull this off one way or the other.'

'well, you say your point and I say mine when we are presenting. Period.' I replied her and sat down to put on my boot.

'Dude, this is meant to be a project between the two of us. I'm not ready to lose 10% of 100% because of someone.....'

She did not add stupid but I could literally hear it. I did not say anything until she said

'Can we at least talk about it now?'

Was this Jade? Because the girl in front of me wasn't the Jade I knew.

'I have a match now so we can't......'

'After the match nko?'

She interrupted.

'I'll be tired when I'm done playing so that's a no no.'

'wow. So what are we supposed to do now? We are presenting this thing on Monday Morning. I can't lose 10 points that is bring offered to me on a platter of gold.'

You are not the only one who doesn't want to lose 10 points dear. None of us said anything for a while till I was fine tying the lace of my shoes.

'There's tutorial tomorrow so we can meet up to discuss the project after the tutorial.'

She did not say anything as she left the locker room. Can this girl be any less bitchy? I guess not.

And strangely enough, a part of me was kind of looking forward to tomorrow.