Chapter 31: Mind your own business!

Rizvan scoffed, shaking his head. "Come on, man. You're a terrible liar. Seriously, what's going on?"

Jiko sighed, frustration mounting. "It's nothing, alright? Just leave it."

Rizvan's expression turned amused. "Alright, alright. I won't push. But you might want to watch out—rumors are flying around. People are talking."

Later, during a school assembly, the rumors reached a boiling point. One of Jiko's classmates, clearly emboldened by the gossip, couldn't resist taking a jab.

"Hey, Jiko," she called out loudly from the back of the auditorium, smirking as she leaned forward. "How's Julie? Still hanging around you all the time, huh?"

The sudden attention made Julie stiffen next to him. Her face flushed a deep shade of red, and she avoided making eye contact with anyone. Jiko could feel the heat rising to his face, anger bubbling beneath his skin.

Without thinking, he snapped. "Mind your own business," he shot back, his voice firm and sharp enough to cut through the growing chatter in the room.

The assembly hall fell silent for a moment. Everyone turned to look at Jiko, some surprised, others amused by his outburst.

Julie's eyes widened, and she glanced at him with a mix of shock and gratitude. "You didn't have to do that," she whispered quietly once the commotion died down.

Jiko turned to her, his expression serious. "Yes, I did. No one gets to make you feel like that."

Julie's eyes softened, and a small smile tugged at her lips. "Thanks... I appreciate it."

The main reason they were keeping their relationship a secret—things like love just weren't accepted easily by their community. It was seen as something taboo, something to be hidden. That's why they were trying so hard to keep it under wraps. But now, keeping it a secret was starting to cause more problems than it solved. It even seemed like some of the teachers were starting to suspect something. The main reason they just couldn't hide their feelings for each other at school. They both sighed, wishing there weren't any nasty rumors going around.

Another reason they were keeping their relationship a secret was that they were both underage. Even though Jiko was an adult mentally, legally he was still a kid. That would definitely make their relationship look bad in other people's eyes.

The next few days were filled with cautious glances, whispered words, and the unmistakable weight of suspicion. Julie started pulling back slightly, nervous whenever anyone glanced their way. Jiko could tell she was uncomfortable, and it gnawed at him.

The annual school cultural event was fast approaching, and the campus buzzed with excitement. The event showcased students' talents in singing, dancing, and theatrical performances, and it was one of the most anticipated highlights of the year.

Julie, who had once been a star dancer in middle school, had stayed away from the stage in recent years. The spotlight didn't feel the same anymore. She had loved dancing, but as she got older, she began noticing the way people—men of all ages—would stare at her during performances. Their gazes made her skin crawl, and over time, her enthusiasm for dancing waned. It wasn't a passion so much as a hobby, and giving it up didn't feel like a great loss.

This time, though, she decided to make an exception. It was her last year at school, and part of her longed to say goodbye to dancing on her terms. Still, she didn't want to do it alone.

That's where Jiko came in.

Jiko, who had no rhythm and no interest in public performances, was the furthest thing from a dancer. Yet when Julie asked him to partner with her, his refusal got stuck somewhere between his brain and his mouth. She'd asked him with such sincerity—her voice soft and almost vulnerable—that he couldn't bring himself to say no.

"Why me?" Jiko had asked the day she first brought it up.

Julie had shrugged with a small smile. "Because I trust you. And of course, you are my boyfriend, so I will dance only with you."

Those words had haunted him ever since. Trust? How could she trust someone who couldn't even figure out the difference between a waltz and whatever it was he'd been doing in his living room last night? But now, here he was, standing in Julie's backyard, struggling to keep his balance as she tried to teach him a basic step.

"Jiko, you're overthinking it," Julie said, her tone laced with both patience and exasperation. She stood across from him, barefoot on the grass, her hair tied back into a loose ponytail. She wore comfortable workout clothes, but somehow she still managed to look elegant, like she was born to dance.

"I'm not overthinking it," Jiko replied, his arms flailing slightly as he tried to mimic her movements. "I just don't think my legs bend that way."

Julie stifled a laugh. "Your legs don't need to 'bend that way.' You're not a flamingo." She stepped closer and placed her hands lightly on his shoulders, guiding him into the correct position. "Relax. It's just one-two-three, one-two-three. Like this." She moved in time to her own counting, her steps fluid and effortless.

Jiko tried to follow her lead, but his feet felt like they were glued to the ground. "Why are there so many numbers?" he muttered under his breath.

Julie couldn't hold back her laughter this time. "It's literally just three, Jiko. Three. You know, like one less than four?"

"Yeah, yeah, math genius," Jiko grumbled, though he couldn't help but smile at her teasing.

They tried again, and this time, Jiko managed to stumble through the steps without tripping over his own feet. He glanced up at Julie, who was watching him with an encouraging smile. For a moment, he forgot about how awkward he felt.

"You're getting it," she said softly.

Jiko raised an eyebrow. "You're just saying that to make me feel better."

"No, I mean it," Julie insisted. "See? You're not hopeless."

"That's the highest compliment I've ever received," Jiko deadpanned.

Julie rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. "Okay, let's try it with the music this time."

She pulled out her phone and queued up a song—a slow, melodic track that she'd picked specifically because it was easy to dance to. The music filled the air, and Julie took her position again, holding out her hand for Jiko to take.