"Hey kolo"Ome called out to Afo from the distance.
"What's up tiny how did you get all the way up here you wanna get lost or something" Afo asked with a really surprised expression.
"I wanted to pee" Ome replied.
"im sure the lady's restroom was along the hall on your way here---, fine let's go" Afo replied.
In the restroom IJ is surrounded by the boys.
"I thought I warned you last time to stay away from the hockey team you ugly whore."
"I guess dummies are always dummies" IJ keeps her face down as one of the girl's rains insult on her.
"I mean what kinda 19 years old is still in her second year I mean get a job or something."
"girlfriend aren't you forgetting something, she already has a job she's a whore remember." They all burst into laughter.
"here it is go in I'll be waiting for you here" Afo said pointing to the restroom.
"I want you to follow me" Ome said pulling his hand.
"what they'll kill me if they--" Afo paused to listen to what was going on inside, he decides to step inside on hearing loud laughs of males inside.
"c'mon girl she can't be a whore wo would want to fuck a whore like her." They all laughed louder.
"babe she won't understand until she is taught a lesson" one of the girls said while pulling her boyfriends hand.
"so what should we do to her to teach her a lesson"the boyfriend asked with a grin on his face.
"take nude pics of her so the next time she shows up in the hockey team we post it all over school" the girl replied with an excitement in her eyes.
"well you heard my girlfriend, take of your clothes" he takes out a pocket knife meanwhile Afo watched from the door.
IJ still kept her face down as she by herself began to gently take off the buttons to her top, Ome pulls the jersey Afo was wearing urging him to go and help but Afo kept standing.
"boss this is taking forever let me just cut open her shirt" one of the boys said.
"do it, I mean what's taking her so long" the boyfriend who seemed to be the boss ordered.
he collected the knife from the leader and grabs her shirt by the chest and pulls her to himself about to cut open her shirt.
"don't worry at least you might end up being some kinda turn on to me."the boy said with lust in his eyes.
Afo grabs Ome by her hand and takes her outside, Ome was confused at his actions, this wasn't the kind of person he had thought Afo was the whole time.
she looked at his face and his face was full of rage so she wondered to herself why was he taking her outside if he was angry, why was he ignoring something like that.
she couldn't wrap her head around it because he was obviously taller and bigger than them in size and even though he turns out to be weaker she never really Imagined him to be one of the persons that would ignore a situation like that.
"hey tiny I want you to stand here ok, I'll be back!" he ordered as he went back into the bathroom leaving her in the hallway by the restrooms entry.
"you know I really hate bullies." one of the boys turns back as Afo approached them.
"who the fuck are you??" Afo ignored their questions as he approached them.
"let me ask you girls, you say she's a whore and yet your here with a group of four college boys, and you are in your high school second year, tell me who really is this whore you're talking about."
Ome who couldn't just stand there in suspense heads take a peak, one of the boys attempted to punch him but he uses his left hand to deflect his punch held his lower arm as if a pro in judo and flips him over.
without wasting time rushes to grab the leader by his shirts collar and pulls him to his face while placing his right thumb pressed into his throat.
"I assume we have an understanding" Afo asked. while he looked into Afo's eyes for a while.
"let's go." he ordered them as he left angrily.
"babe what do you mean let's go" the girl asked in anger.
"let's go damn it."
he shouted and they all obeyed and left, while Ome stood by the end still peeking from the side watching as they all left.
Afo lets out a huge bag of air from his chest to relief himself from the anger he felt and puts on a smile leaving no trace of the previous emotions as if he was bipolar.
"you alright." Afo asked.
"yeah thank you. "she replied.
the next event surprised her and Ome as Afo gave her a slap, a slap so loud it echoed into the hallway and left her cheeks red.
"next time you don't take your clothes off because they told you to like you're some lifeless puppet" he said and once again with rage in his eyes.
"and don't take bull from no one" he added and once again as if bipolar went back with a happy expression.
she looks up to the face to see a face with a smile that made her forget that she was just being bullied and slapped, she felt a thump in her heart, her whole sense felt like she had been left alone in the world with just them both she had seen this face before but at the moment it felt different for some reason.
"yes I'm sorry" IJ replied like a child being reprimanded by her parent.
"what was that all about anyways ??"
he pauses and looks into her eyes as she turns her face away so not to make eye contact with him.
"nothing Important." She stutters as she spoke.
"ehhhh seriously" he attempts to tease her as he stretches out his hand to help her up.
she neglects his hands and helps herself up after she rose up Afo grabs her shirt trying to help her arrange her clothing, he firsts starts to properly place in her buttons.
"you're missing some buttons, looks like you'll have to go home like this…" Afo said, he continued speaking without looking at IJ'S red flustered face.
"what the hell are you doing big brother." Ome screams out.
"what do you mean what, im helping her out." He then turns to look at IJ and the way the situation was looking like to an outsider.
"no t-that's not what this is im sorry!!" Afo said.
"no its ok I mean…" she spoke with a flustered tone.
"hey Ome right where is your big brother---" he pauses at the scene he meets a while later they were all standing in the hallway.
"can you wait with her so I can walk you home as thank you for last time." Afo offered.
"last time??" the coach asked.
"coach that's not what it is, plus Mrs. IJ we'll be getting ice cream, please don't say no maybe I'll take this opportunity to apo--" Afo asked once more.
"it's alright I'll be here till then…" IJ interrupted him.
"boy we need to go you're keeping Important people waiting" the coach hurried Afo.
"yes sir"Afo responded.
"I'll be back tiny." Afo said as he waved at her.
"I'll be waiting." They both rushed off to meet up with whoever was waiting.
"hey Afo meet Mr. Ramsey he's the one I told you wanted to see you he's part of the NBF and the coach of d'tigers" Afo's face lit in surprise as he recognized who was in front of him.
"good evening sir IM Afo, Afo Iruo"
"well like he said IM Ramsey" they both shook hands.
"and this is the captain of the d'tigers, he was the one who brought my attention to you".
"hi Mr. Ike the ike" Afo said as if just meeting his biggest celebrity.
"nice to meet you Afo" Ike replied.
"you mind if we have a little chat with for a brief moment" a while later they all came out of a room along the hallway.
"thank you once again Mr. ike" Afo said with gratitude.
"anytime boy" he replied.
"Mr. Ramsey too and coach."
"it's nothing see you soon in d'tigers" they said to him in anticipation.
"I'll keep working hard sir." afo leaves in excitement.
"you really got a nice kid" Mr Ramsey said.
"thank you sir." Afo's coach replied.
"what about the other one." Mr Ramsey asked.
"you mean jete" the coach replied after a few seconds of thinking.
"yes what was the problem with him, he seemed a little off his game." They continued their discussion as they walked along the corridor.