CHAPTER TWO.

The bell rings for break, and students are soon seen rushing out of classrooms; among them is Bianca and Hannah, walking hand in hand towards the school cafeteria for their lunch, deep in conversation.

"I don't know Hannah; what do I tell my parents?" 

Bianca asks Hannah, scrunching her face.

"Tell them you are coming for a sleepover at my place; I'm sure they won't mind. You can always tell them we have to do some late-night studying or something. You have been avoiding this for too long. I thought you said you loved me. What are you really afraid of? I don't bite." 

Hannah says she is trying to make Bianca change her mind about coming to sleep at her place during the weekend.

"It's not that I'm afraid of anything; it's just that you know you are more experienced than I am. I have never done this before, and I am not sure what we are doing is right."

"The only experience I have had is with boys, so I am also new to this. I just want us to be together; what's wrong with that? I have been watching some videos online, and I think I know how to go about it. I am tired of sneaking around to kiss you; let's just be together all night for once without fear of people seeing us. I even got a dildo for us. You should maybe get a vibrator and a clitoris massager. I just want to experience what it's like with you, please."

"It's not normal, Hannah; it's not. I am supposed to be interested in boys, not a girl like myself. I love you, I swear, but I don't know. Where would I get a vibrator and a massager? I have no idea where to go."

"It's normal, I can assure you. Who says it's not? Society? What sort of hypocritical society dictates who to love for you? About the vibrator and the massager, you can shop for them online; just search and you will see them. Promise me that you will at least try to come. It would mean so much to me if you came, please."

Hannah stops walking and looks into Bianca's eyes in an attempt to get her to agree.

Bianca relents,

"Okay, I promise. You know I love you and would do anything for you."

"I love you too, Bianca. I can't wait to hold you in my arms." 

She says it excitedly.

Smiling at her, 

"I can't wait too."

"So, when are you coming out to your parents about your sexuality?" 

She asks casually.

Darting her eyes about to ensure no one has heard what Hannah said, she puts her finger to her lips. 

"Ssh! Do you want people to hear? Don't put me in trouble, please."

"No one heard anything; when are you coming out to them?"

"How about never? They would kill me if they got to know. You know how religious my parents are; it's the last thing they would expect. Have you come out to your own parents?"

"I haven't; I want to wait until I am legally an adult before I do; that way, they won't have a say."

"Are you sure you want to do that? I am sure they would have a fit if you told them such."

Laughing, she resumes walking with Bianca by her side.

"Have a fit because I have decided I don't want to be with any man? I doubt they would, and even if they did, who's going to stop me?"

Shaking her head regrettably,

"I wish I could be as confident as you are, but I don't have that luxury. You know I am the only child of my parents, and they would surely expect me to procreate."

"You can be confident if you want to; all you need to do is stand up to them whenever you are ready. No one has a right to tell you how to live your life. I, for one, am not giving anyone such power or control over me. I am who I am unapologetically."

"Yeah, I hear you—maybe someday, but not now. Right now, our upcoming West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) exams take precedence over everything else."

"Relax, girl. We still have a few months left to worry about that. We already know you are going to emerge at the top; quit worrying, my bookworm girlfriend."

"Stop saying that; someone might hear you." 

She says this nervously, looking around her.

"Who cares?" 

She replies nonchalantly. 

"I love you, and you are my girlfriend, and that's all that matters."

They are now at the cafeteria, and they join the long queue of students waiting to get their food, still engrossed in their conversation.

Damien, one of their classmates and a notorious playboy who has set his sights on Bianca for a while, strolls into the cafeteria amidst catcalls and hails by his fans to stand beside Bianca and taunt her as usual. He never could understand how she was able to resist his charms since he has had virtually every girl he wanted in the whole school.

Still, a man never gives up. His hands deep in his pocket, admitting a confident stance, he clears his throat.

"Hello, Bianca. You know, I was looking for you all around the school before someone told me you were headed here. How's your day going so far?"

Sparing him a disgusted glance for less than a minute, she resumes her conversation with Hannah, completely ignoring him.

Taking her silence as an act of playing hard to get, he smiles coyly and moves to stand in front of her, not paying heed to Hannah's presence. 

"I am talking to you, Bianca."

Sighing deeply in frustration, she stamps her feet on the ground impatiently. 

"What do you want, Damien?"

"I just asked you a question. I asked how your day is going so far."

"A question I chose not to answer: don't you understand when someone doesn't want to talk to you?"

Still confident that she was just putting up a front, he decides inwardly to dedicate more time to his pursuit of her. She might prove harder than he had earlier anticipated, but still, how could she resist his good looks and charms? He was actually the most handsome boy in school, as testified by many of his numerous girlfriends. So, what's to say he couldn't have her? Not like he was really all that interested in her; he just wanted to know how it felt to sleep with the most brilliant girl in his class. Besides, he couldn't bear to lose the bet he made with some of his friends that he couldn't have her. As beautiful and brilliant as she was, she abstained totally from boys and never did more than exchange greetings. She could only be found in the company of her best friend, Hannah. He couldn't have his ego bruised by her rejection, so he vowed not to give up. Assuming a cocksure posture, he crosses his arms around his chest, smiling in an attempt to disarm her. 

"Why wouldn't you want to talk to me? I came all the way down here to look for you, and you don't want to talk to me? That hurts, you know?"

Bianca is about to retort angrily when Hannah decides she has had enough of Damien's arrogance. 

"Look here, Damien. She has made it clear she doesn't want to talk to you. How about you make yourself scarce?"

Taken aback by her hostility, he recovers smoothly and addresses Bianca again, ignoring Hannah, who is fuming hotly. 

"Is she your mouthpiece? Why is she speaking on your behalf? Waving his hand in the air, he said, "Never mind that; I was wondering if we could maybe have lunch this weekend, just you and me, away from your mouthpiece and prying eyes."

"Why would I want to have lunch with you? Damien, make yourself scarce like Hannah said, or else I would embarrass you here." 

Reading the seriousness in her eyes, he takes a step back. Lowering his voice, he whispers something into her ears and leaves.

Bianca observes his departure, mouth wide open.

 "What a jerk!"

"What did he say?" 

Hannah asks biting her lips in anger.

"He said he can't wait to see the color of my underwear, and he knows I can't wait to see his too. The nuisance just ruined my appetite."

"Why didn't you slap his face? We should report him to the principal for that."

"No, let it go. I don't want drama. There's no reason to be violent, hopefully, we have seen the last of him."

"You and I know that's not true. Damien is a trouble maker and he doesn't give up easily."

"I would deal with him when the time comes, let's just go, please. I don't feel like eating anymore."

"You sure though? You shouldn't let him get to you, he's just an ass."

"I'm sure. You can eat if you want to, and join me after."

"It's okay, I would get something to eat later. Let's go."

Dropping their trays, they make their way out of the cafeteria, with Damien's eyes trailing lustfully after Bianca at a corner where he is seated with his friend.Lekan, Damien's best friend and co-conspirator, catches him staring after her, and nudges him gently.

 "I told you that girl won't fall for your tactics. You should know better than to place such a bet with Olamide and the other guys, everyone knows she's married to her books. I won't be surprised if she dies a spinster. You really have to admit defeat and let it go."

Shaking his head stubbornly, 

"I  can't, I won't."

"You didn't bet too much I hope. Just let them have it, this is one bet you can't win.""It's not about the money, it's about my reputation, I have been building a record for years, and I can't let her spoil it. Besides, who says I can't win? I haven't even started with her yet. This is just me warming up, making her notice me before I move in for the kill."

Lekan almost chokes on his food in laughter,

 "Your reputation? What reputation? The reputation of being a playboy? Just look at you analyzing how to get a girl to fall in love with you instead of analyzing how to pass your coming exams. Perhaps, if you analyze your books this well, you wouldn't nearly be at the bottom of the class."

His eyes darkening angrily, 

"Shut up man. Whatever I choose to analyze is my own business. You already know books are not my thing. I just have to restrategize, Bianca is mine.""Whatever man, don't say I didn't tell you. I wish you luck anyway."

Resuming his laughter, he attempts to keep it in check to no avail.

"You think it's funny right? Keep laughing. Just you wait till she's clinging to me for more when I give it to her."

"Give what to her exactly? From where I'm standing, she's going to be the one doing the giving, and as far as I can tell, it's going to be hell." 

He lets out a fresh burst of laughter to Damien's annoyance.

"I'm out of here, you are crazy." 

Damien stands up angrily and walks out of the cafeteria, bumping into tables and chairs.

Lekan quickly gulps his food and runs after him still laughing uncontrollably.Anita, the class gossip, stands up from where she is seated behind them taking notes and catching every bit of their conversation unknown to them.

She smiles satisfactorily at the amount of information she has collected, one never knows when such information might come in handy, like for instance, when one needs to stir the pot and set the school on fire. 

Bending down to carry her backpack, she leaves the cafeteria, glowing and whistling a happy tune.