The girl called Angel

~ TILDA'S POV ~

"Aye, take a look at you," He burst into laughter and moved back to create a decent amount of space between us.

At first, I was too dazed to speak from what had just transpired. My heart was still pounding in my chest and I had no idea of what could keep it calm.

"Y-you are not serious," I finally found my voice.

Immediately after, I pushed him by the chest with my left hand and quickly walked out of the classroom.

Deep down, I knew had quickly walked out not because I was angry with him or simply wanted to walk out on him.

It was something else. My hands trembled as I walked down the lobby, with increasing pace.

His face coming close to mine...his breath gently caressing my face... his eyes staring so deeply...his voice...

God, this isn't normal!

"Get out of my head for crying out loud," I muttered helplessly, all to no avail.

It was a relief when I saw Kiki. She had gone to the principal's office and was heading downstairs to the cafeteria, probably with the thought that I was waiting for her there.

"Kiki," I found myself calling out to her like someone who had seen a ghost.

I didn't know when I threw my arms around her and pulled her for an embrace.

"Kiki," I gasped for breath.

Her widened eyes remained on me while I hugged her tightly.

"Wetin happen?" Was the first question she asked. "Why is your body shaking like this? Are you fine?"

"Yes," My breath was becoming steady but I felt that this feeling wouldn't just go away - seeing that blue-eyed boy was going to trigger it again.

Why would Miles even do something like that to me? Only someone I love has the right to come that close.

"I'm just so glad to see you," I sighed and finally released her from my embrace. "Let's go please."

We were both already eating at the cafeteria when Miles came to join us.

God, what have I done to deserve this nau? Ehn?

"Hey ladies," He greeted us with a bright smile.

"Hey handsome," Kiki playfully greeted and used her hand to pinch me from under the table when I was yet to respond to his greetings.

"Hi," I mumbled and stared hard at my plate of spaghetti.

Only God knew how much I felt like squeezing myself into the plate and becoming one of the spaghettis without either of them noticing it.

"So Miles will you be going for the excursion? Tilda and I will be going," Kiki began, popping small pieces of meat into her mouth afterwards.

I had literally forgotten about the excursion that would begin next week Tuesday and would last for four days. It was a trip for only the SS3 students.

It had been organized by Uncle one-shirt for the purpose of letting we, the SS3 students make memories before it would finally be time for us to leave the school.

If I must say, that was the smartest idea that man had ever bought up in our school. Ever since his wife gave birth, things have been better with him.

His favourite red shirt that he liked to repeat was not seen on him as frequently we used to. We now saw it on him three times a week than the usual five times a week. That's progress, right?

"I don't know yet," He hesitated for a moment.

"Ah you should come o. Our school trips are always fun, especially when it's just our class on the trip," Kiki tried to hype him up.

"I'll see what will happen," He nodded and proceeded to eat his food quietly.

From the spaghetti I was eating, I stole glances at him.

Can someone really be this flawless? Was that the charm he had used against me?

Just so he could know sha, It won't work.

As always, I didn't know when to cut it out with the quick glances I stole and yes, he caught me like he always did.

I quickly looked down at my food, feeling too embarassed to look back up. Then, the images of what he had done to me in class started returning with full force.

Matilda Olusegun can't take it any longer. I suddenly stood up, much to him and Kiki's surprise.

Kiki quickly slurped the spaghetti dangling from between her o-shaped lips.

"What's it?" She asked me.

Miles didn't say a word to me. His gaze was simply on me.

You know why I love God so much, he always gives every one of us an advantage over things in specific cases. If I had not been dark-skinned, I bet I would have been showing this boy how red I had become.

"I-I'm full. My stomach hurts and I'll just head back to class, ok?" I said to Kiki.

"Ok," She nodded and resumed eating while I left.

"Calm down, Tilda. Have you not seen him before?" I said while huffing loads of air as I sat alone in the empty class.

Why did Miles have to do that to me nau? Remembering it was giving me a pretty hard time.

Just as I was busy calming myself down, I heard someone step into the class.

"Oh God, why are you pestering m-"

It turned out to be Tobi, who stared at me as though he was tongue-tied.

"Oh hi," I quickly greeted.

"Hi," He greeted and walked to his seat to retrieve something from his bag.

He glanced at me from what he was doing only to meet my gaze.

"What are you doing in here? Aren't you going out to eat something?" He asked. He had taken what he wanted from his bag but was still standing and talking to me.

Did he...like me that much?

"I-I have eaten. I'm full already," I placed my hand over my stomach in demonstration.

"Ah I see," He slowly nodded.

He wasn't going out yet. He didn't seem like he wanted to go back out any longer.

"Well, Tilda...I..." His voice trailed off and the Mr. Shy in him suddenly came out.

Who would have imagined that this six foot tall boy could feel so small in front of a mere five foot girl like me?

Honestly, Tobi deserved better than this.

He sighed and started walking up to me. My heart that had once calmed down, started pounding again.

But this time, it was because of fear.

Fear that someone would walk in on him acting this way towards me, and fear that, that someone would be Kiki.

He stopped once he was in front of my desk.

"I saw this at a store and I thought you would like it," He held out his closed fist to me.

Was that what he had come to get?

When he opened up his fist, there was a pretty hair band resting on his palm.

Oh my goodness!

His sweet gesture tugged at my heart but I knew that no matter what he would do, I just couldn't like him the way he liked me.

"Tobi," I sighed. "I can't accept this. You should give it to someone who deserves it and not me."

"It's a gift from me to you. Please just take it," His eyes pleaded with me more than his voice did.

He had gotten it with money and I didn't want to waste all that money so I took it.

"Thank you," I managed to smile. "It's really pretty."

He smiled at my words. "I'm glad you like it."

*.*.*.

~ ANGEL'S POV ~

My mind wasn't at rest as what happened in the morning before school, constantly flashed before my eyes.

"Where did she put those savings from the past week? It used to be here," I muttered to myself while opening the cupboards available in her room, in obvious search of something.

"Oh God," I was beginning to get frustrated and beads of sweat were forming on my forehead.

While I was still busy going through cupboards, I heard my mum's voice behind me.

I froze and my eyes widened. When did she get into the room and how did she not even make the slightest noise?

"Angel, what are you looking for?" I heard her ask.

"Ma?" I swiftly turned around to see her standing at the door. "I was looking for my biro. I left it here the day before yesterday."

"Why are you always so careless?" She scolded and moved to sit on the bed. "I'm so tired."

"I thought you weren't coming back today. Why did you stress yourself so much?" I asked. Inside of me, I was bitter. Why did she have to come back now of all times?

"I had to, my dear. I need rest," She sighed and reached inside of her bag. When next she pulled her hand out, she held a pen which she gave to me.

I mumbled a "Thank you."

Operation get some money from mum's cupboard had failed. Well, today it had.

I would try again next time.

"Oya now run to school so you don't be late o," She started taking off her light jewelry and clothes. "I will sleep and go to see your dad later today."

"Ok ma," I nodded and headed out of the room.

My parents weren't rich. Our status was well, lower than that of the middle class but we weren't poor poor poor. We were just poor.

There were days I could get to school with a bus. There were days where I trekked and today had been one of them.

My mum was the breadwinner of our family of three. She didn't always sleep at home so I wondered what kind of job she did because she never felt the need to tell me.

My dad was down with stroke and automatically lived in the hospital. Mum had to spend every little penny we had, to treat him and I strongly believed that we would continue to face financial problems until that man was dead.

Mum was still beautiful yet, she refused to marry those wealthy men in neighbouring streets, who flirted with her and could change our lives for the better. No, she wanted me to suffer in school and every other place where my mates were.

"Please make sure to submit your project works after this class," Mrs. Cynthia, the English teacher's petite voice pierced through my thoughts.