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Chapter 13 - ⚘✾The Challenge ⚘✾

We made a list—a list of things we longed to accomplish throughout the week in the absence of a phone and without the interference of the virtual world.

I had to pick up a pen this time to do this; no phone.

✧・゚: *✧・゚:*

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𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔.

𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔.

𝑾𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒑𝒐𝒆𝒎𝒔.

𝑯𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒏.

𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏.

𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔.

𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏

𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔.

𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆.

𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔...

✧・゚: *✧・゚:*

Surprisingly, I had a thrilling time creating the list!

We looked into our schedule for Monday—a splendid time at the mall, the cinema!

・❥・Monday・❥・

I was up as early as 7:00am—that early given that I didn't stay up late chatting the previous night.

It felt weird not being able to see into the virtual world so early when it usually felt enjoyable.

I could have been depressed that my phone remained undiscovered but I wasn't willing to mourn over the broken phone just yet; I was waiting on Aisha's wallet for restoration anew. Plus, I had backed up every file, document, contact, and useful materials so why worry?

I packed my dense hair in two with a braided piece of it curling down my face on both sides. Remi thought it was really cute.(●'◡'●)

I wore a pink jumpsuit covered in flowers and black flats and a blue denim jacket.

We transported to the cinema in no time.

"Hey, aren't we supposed to use our phones to take pictures and p—" I ate my my words.

"P—what?" asked, Remi.

"Paint?" I grinned.

"Nice try," Remi smiled, "Well, I brought my camera." He reached into his bag and took out a camera. "Smile," he said and took a quick shot of my irritated look.

Out of nowhere, a boy and a girl ran to us with all alacrity.

Their faces beamed with a perfect smile and they said, "Are you Aisha?"

"Yes?"

"Like 'Talk The Topic' Aisha?" The girl asked, her legs seemed to be jiggling in over-excitement.

"Yes," Aisha smiled at her fans.

"OMG! I love your show! I'm your biggest fan! I'm all over your YouTube, IG, Facebook, and TikTok."

"Can we take a picture?"

"Why not?"

I and Remi watched from a distance, observing Aisha please her fans. My demeanor read indignation for even when we tried to stay off the virtual world, it found its way back to us.

"This isn't fair and it's not right. She's not supposed to be taking pictures with her fans—it's an off social media challenge. They're definitely going to post this online." Remi turned to give me a dirty look. (ಠ_ಠ)

"What?" I asked him.

"Drama Queen."

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The lights were killed and I sat relax'd in the coolest atmosphere and serene environment. It felt like I was in the movie itself. The whole place was silent as a graveyard but the intense sound of the movie pounded its way into our hearings.

It was enlivening and I had an enjoyable time looking into a massive screen in the dark with a crowd of people. I stared into the screen in an entranced manner. The activities in it generated chill bumps.

Thereafter, we visited other sections of the mall. We got ourselves some ice-cream and popcorn.

We stopped by a statue and rested on a part of it.

"Remi, look at that chick over there, she's your spec," I said.

"What? Well... She's kinda cute." ツ

"Ooooooh," I and Aisha chorused.

"I'll go help you talk to her," I winked at him.

"No, don't! Seriously, don't do that."

"Okay," I replied, heading straight to the dark-skinned girl in glasses.

" Hello," I waved. "My name is Temi. What's your name?"

"Chioma."

"Nice name. So my friend over there," I pointed at Remi as he shyly covered his face, probably saying, "oh no."

"...wants to know if he can have your number."

"Um, sure."

"Uh... can I just type in his number into your phone? He's currently not with his and I'm not with mine either."

"Oh. I'm participating in this online challenge so I'm not with mine either. It's off social media for me so no phone."

"Really? Me too! I and my friends invented it that challenge! You must know Aisha."

"Seriously? How? And who's Aisha?"

"That's her over there," I pointed at Aisha whom arched her eyebrow in question. "She's a YouTuber, a popular YouTuber."

"I don't think I know her."

"Well, we created that challenge." We walked towards the rest. "Her father is also a very renowned and wealthy Alhaji in the north." 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡.

"Wow."

"Guys, say hi to Chioma." I turned to Remi and my eyebrows danced. He fell on his hands, "Ah jeez."

"I'm Aisha. Pleasure to meet you."

"I'm Remi. Nice to meet you," they shook hands.

"So, you said you wanted my number."

"I never said that… but I'd be happy to have it."

They smiled while I and Aisha  communicated silently and giggled behind.

"I love your glasses. Is it medicated?" Chioma asked.

"Oh, yes."

"Too much books?"

"Why does everyone always assume that? That's just a myth. Reading too much does not affect your eyes. I wear glasses in order not to worsen my nearsightedness. How about you?"

"Too much screen damaged my vision." 𝐀𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞. (¬_¬)

"Ask her around," I whispered into Remi's ears.

"What? No!"

"Ask her AROUND, not ask her out." 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐳𝐳𝐨.

(-‸ლ)

"Oooh."

He turned back to her, "so would you like to take a walk around?"

"Sorry, but I have a boyfriend. I need to go now." She turned to leave, paused, then looked at our puzzled faces and said, "It's a nice challenge you guys created. I really wish I could stick around but my guy could be looking for me right now. See you around."

"Wow!" Aisha laughed.

"Why are girls like this—with such mentality? I didn't even ask if you have a boyfriend or anything. A simple 'no' would be okay. Which one is 'I have a boyfriend'?" he mimicked her tone.

I and Aisha burst into laughter.

"Why are you so bothered about it?" Aisha said.

"She no even fine 𝑠𝑒𝑓," I added.

"I was on my own 𝑜𝑜, you went to bring her. Sorry 𝑜𝑜—damsel with a boyfriend."

We burst into laughter again.

We sat at a spot, chatting when all of a sudden, a 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 song filled the air. I hopped up from where I was sitted with agility. I made a sequence of rhythmic steps and twisted my legs.┗(^o^ )┓

"Temi, do not embarrass us here," Aisha remarked.

"Well, my 𝑜𝑓𝑓-𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡 includes me having fun—this is fun!"

I swung both arms from left to right, did indian moves I had seen in their movies then Michael Jackson's. 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭, 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬.

People actually slowed down to watch.

Shortly, a boy joined in saying he wanted to compete!

We danced together; he threw moves that I imitated and the audience cheered along with their phones on record. 𝐎𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞!(-‸ლ)

More people joined us. These were actual dancers and they took the spotlight. Man, were those dudes breaking every bone in their bodies! From a moon walk to cupid shuffle, to the reverse step... Most of their moves were from TikTok.

In a short while, Remi said, "I won't allow you guys beat my friend. Not on my watch." Remi slid to the dance floor and threw his own dance moves. "Go Remi! Go Remi!" I and Aisha cheered.

Remi was a good dancer secretly, I had always known that. But this time, he blew my mind.

¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•° ¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•° ¶•°¶•°¶

I took a shower and layed on my bed. The day experience played and re-played in my head. I wished to have access to a phone to tell the virtual world about it. Staying away from the socials was no doodle task.

I read a nice literature piece and then I snoozed.

I awoke thinking about Oliver and how he hadn't texted or called yet. I had been anticipating his call on Remi's phone since the day I lost mine. I thought he cared so much that he'd be bothered about my absence.

・❥・Tuesday・❥・

"Guys, Oliver still hasn't called," I had told them. "I feel so sad."

"Forget about that. Men are scum. Right Remi?" Aisha smiled and poked him. Remi was unusually quiet.

We were inspired by troublemaking Remi to go into the compound of a nutcase to pluck some mangoes from his attractive tree. We invaded the territory of the 𝑔𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑛𝑒 man and Remi climbed the tree while Aisha took pictures with his camera.

Abruptly, a shout knocked us out. It was him.

"Who is on my mango tree?!"

"Eek!" Remi exclaimed and as he tried getting down, he fell.

Out of nowhere, a bulldog came running out.

We raced out of the gate in a swift pace. The ferocious creature ran with the speed of lightening, chasing us weaklings. I took some mangoes from my bag and fired them at the dog to slow it down when instantly, the dog caught up with me. I 𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑑 myself and quivered. I almost peed on myself. I faced the dog, my eyes imploring for mercy. It snarled and drooled. It was hungry and I looked tasty.

Aisha and Remi tried to defend me with sticks and threats but the creature would not back out. It was bent on ripping me especially.

They gave up and we continued to run until we reached another street and mindlessly entered into another compound and shut the gate. We reclined on the gate with great panting.

Without warning, three german shepherds came out of nowhere, barking angrily at the intruders.

We screamed and tried opening the gate only to find the bulldog awaiting us; when we turned, the other three snarled.

"I've seen this in a movie once," I managed to say.

We were rescued that day by some neighbours from the hands of four creatures known to be "man's best friend."

We arrived home that day in mirth and laughter.

・❥・Wednesday・❥・

My research on flowers was going really great! I and my aunt had visited certain places in the past to obtain more knowledge on certain species of flowers and I thought of completing the research this particular week. I visited the library for more books, conversed with a botanist and I watched more television.

I was proud of myself for being able to do a research offline. It was no easy thing but it was fun and it was worth it. I hoped to conduct more offline research on different topics on my own.

༻༺༻༺༻༺༻༺

❉✳𝑇𝒉𝑒 𝒉𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝒉𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔𝒉𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑡𝑜

𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑛

𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑠𝑡.

❉✳𝑀𝑜𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝒉𝑎𝑡

𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑡𝒉𝑒𝑦 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑚 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦

𝑎𝑡 𝑛𝑖𝑔𝒉𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑦.

❉✳𝑇𝒉𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝒉𝑎𝑛 400,000

𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑤𝒉𝑖𝑐𝒉 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑        

𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑.

❉✳𝐿𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑠

𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝒉𝑒𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝒉𝑖𝑔𝒉𝑙𝑦 𝑡𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑜𝑟    

𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑠.

❉✳𝑇𝒉𝑒 𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑠𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠

𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑚𝑒   

𝑔𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝒉𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑠.

❉✳𝑇𝒉𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑎 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓    

𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝐶𝒉𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒

𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑚𝑜𝑠 𝑤𝒉𝑖𝑐𝒉 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦         

𝑠𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑐𝒉𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒.

❉✳𝐼𝑛 2010 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 19

𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑

𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑒'𝑠 𝐷𝑎𝑦.

❉✳𝑂𝑓 𝑡𝒉𝑒 400,000 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓        

𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑡𝒉𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑

𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑, 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 35,000

𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑠.

❉✳𝑇𝒉𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝒉𝑒       

𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑢𝑝 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡  

𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝒉𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑒,

𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑢𝑝 𝑡𝑜 24 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠.

𝐼𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑇𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑢𝑚

𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝒉𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒

𝑠𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑠𝒉.

𝐻𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑑

𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑠 "𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑝𝑠𝑒 𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟."

༻༺༻༺༻༺༻

I was writing some notes and Remi was just next to me, beseeching that I listen to him.

Just then, Aisha came in without even knocking.

"It better be that you are proposing to her and not begging her. Don't stoop that low and make it seem like we are guilty."

"I slammed my palm on my desk with a fierce stand, "what the hell?! You guys hid my phone just to teach me a stupid lesson."

"Aisha, please stop," Remi interfered in order to allay the contention.

"Excuse me!" Aisha shunned him in the face and his mouth was shut instantly.  "We didn't hide your phone or anything. I've got better things to do than to hide the phone of my best friend and you'd know that if you weren't being so obstinate and listened to us."

"Temi, I received a call on Sunday evening from your phone's thief. I don't know how he managed to get my number but he must know you really well. He told me he'd return the phone only if I pay 70% percent of the phone's price. I told Aisha about it and she was willing to give him all he wants for the return of the phone but we then agreed to keep this away from you until the challenge is over. Cause if you get your hands on that phone right now, you'd break."

"Because you're chronically addicted to that thing!"

"I am not!"

"I don't expect you to agree. Anyways, you'll get your phone back by the end of this week."

"What do I tell my parents once they find out? What if something happens to the phone before then."

"They won't find out—because of this challenge. You'd simply tell them you hid it out of your reach. Nothing will happen to it and if something does happen, I'll get you a new phone."

・❥・Thursday・❥・

Briskly, I dumped my art journal and other art tools in the trunk of Aisha's father's car and entered to sit beside my friends.

All three of us were scared-stiff of him therefore we couldn't dare exercise the usual banter, only listen to him crush kola nuts in our ears.

We appeared at the beach by 4:00pm and surprisingly for a weekday, it was packed with people.

I got my art tools and painted the beach. It was an exhilarating view for an excellent inspiration. I drew and painted so many stuff and in total, I made 20 artworks in one day and in few hours!

"Madam, we didn't bring you here so you can abandon us and focus on drawing," Aisha said to me.

I hopped on a horse and it carried me about. I felt like a princess. ❉ *.¸¸.*✳

Aisha and Remi hopped on theirs and together we acted British monarchic scenes. It was a lot of fun!

Remi was so good at horse riding and his horse loved him. Mine was just boring and headstrong. Aisha's was tired and lazy.

After swimming, we ate a variety of lip-smacking food.

When it got to 6:30pm, Aisha's father arrived to take her elsewhere while Remi had called his brother with his G.S.M phone to come pick us up by 7:00. Aisha left with her father as soon as the information was confirmed.

"Why are we staying back anyway?"

"Cause I need to spend more time with you," a smile-smirk came up on his face.

"Okayyyy."

Remi was quite an amicable friend with an easy going smile.

"So, tell me about her."

"Her who? Who her?"

I laughed.

"That special girl. Perhaps Victoria."

"That girl at the movies? Nah, we only met once plus I never got her number. But there is someone—though I'm still contemplating on it. She's pretty, lovable, creative, and smart," he said to my face.

"Those are typical qualities."

"Oh, shut up."

The evening grew gloomy and the atmosphere was made pleasing by the smoothness of the wind and slow music.

"You're changing, Remi."

"What?"

"You are. You never used to catch feelings for anyone. Well, I guess you're growing."

"You're right. I have changed and not just in that aspect. Remember when I went to camp?"

"Yeah, I remember."

"That's where it all started. I wish you had gone with me, then we'd have experienced the change together. To be honest, I don't like how I'm a Christian and my best friend is not. Remember when people used to refer to us as twins? Now I've experienced such great change in my life while you haven't—makes us seem a lot different now. It's not just as if I want you to change too and become a Christian to fulfill our sameness, I just want you to also experience a positive change."

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧—𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭!

"Why do Christians try to force people into believing what they believe in? it's always like that on social media, like everyone must believe in Jesus."

"You really don't get me, do you?" He looked me in the eyes.

"See? You're pissed already."

"No, just disappointed. It's a shame that you'd walk into that church building on Sunday, identifying yourself as a Christian. You are lukewarm."

"Now, Christians don't 'force' their beliefs on people as you may think. We are simply people with so much fervor and devotion that's being activated by the Holy Spirit, who are out to do the Master's bidding. We don't point a bullet at people or treat them harshly or deprive them of certain deserved good because they've got different beliefs, do we? Well, except the corrupted ones as it is likely to be in every society and religion—yup, even in Christianity. Christ taught us love and that we tell others about Him but if what we preach is unacceptable to you, we don't force it. Most people in today's world feel like the Christian doctrines are way unacceptable that's why when we preach it, they feel we're forcing it on them."

"Touché."

"We can liken this whole thing unto when you watched that certain anime series and tried getting I and Aisha to watch it too. You tried every means possible. You were so fiery and passionate about your actions in order to convict we non-anime fans."

"Oooh, yeah," I laughed. "By the way, have you seen it yet? New episodes..."

"That is not the point!"

"Gee, sorry," I pouted. (•︵•)

He smiled and touched my cheek.

"Now I wouldn't then say you were forcing your belief or interest on us; you just wanted so much to share your interest with others. Don't take our vigour for violence or passion for compulsion. Though some Christians can be extremists, I won't deny that."

"I think even in some other religions too. Some people are simply extremists so they act that way towards even their religion."

"Yeah. Extremist Christians are religious Christians but Christian-Christians are those who have truly met Christ."

"Okay, I'll pretend like I understand what you just said. Just don't get involved in religious arguments online. I read their comments sometimes and even me feels the war. And please, why are we dwelling so much on religious stuff? I'm getting bored already."

He sat up and looked closely into my eyes. There was a weird stare. His smile triggered a wide smile from me and I punched him playfully.

"There's something I've been intending on telling you."

"You sound so serious. Is it bad?"

"Well... Just promise me you wouldn't get upset."

I was tentative, yet curiousity-filled. Not get upset? To me, that felt like asking a dog to sit together with a teasing cat; the chances that the dog wouldn't rip the cat apart is like the chance of hitting the one good option on a spinning wheel...

"Well, Oliver called on Sunday. He called so many times but I was never with my phone so I didn't pick up, while some calls I bounced intentionally. He then called on Monday. He complained that he's been trying to reach you but your line seems disconnected, it's either that or someone weird picks up to threaten him about you. He sounded so bothered."

"And?" Curiousity fed on me.

"I told him just three things."

"What?" Curiousity swallowed me.

"Stop pestering her, she's not interested in you, and she wants you to just back off. Then he stopped calling ever since."

I was taken aback. I wasn't certain of what I had heard from my claimed best buddy.

"I'm sorry," he added.

"You're sorry? You're sorry?!" 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐭! "How could you have done that? I've been dying to receive a call from this one person and he called you but you never informed me? Not only did you not inform me, you told him to back off? You really did this to me?"

It was a rhetorical question but I awaited an answer or something pacifying.

"You're not even a Christian. You're just a preaching hypocrite!"

I picked up my stuff and walked out on him.

"Wait! You can't go!" He clutched my hand.

"Watch me," I managed to say calmly and I withdrew my hand, heading back home on my own.

⚘𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙇𝙀𝙓𝙄𝘾𝙊𝙂𝙍𝘼𝙋𝙃𝙔⚘

*𝐃𝐔𝐍𝐙𝐙𝐎*

ΩA clueless person.

∆"Ask her AROUND, not ask her out." 𝐷𝑢𝑛𝑧𝑧𝑜.

*𝐎𝐅𝐅-𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓*

ΩA list of activities one makes and writes down when they intend on being away from their phone for a period of time.

∆"Well, my 𝑜𝑓𝑓-𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡 includes me having fun ..."

*𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆*

Ω(Of a song) loud and rhythmic.

∆A 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 song filled the air.

*𝐈𝐂𝐄*

ΩTo ice oneself is to halt or pause in motion.

∆I 𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑑 myself and quivered...

*𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄*

ΩA huge, intimidating, and aggressive male.

∆We invaded the territory of the 𝑔𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑛𝑒 man.

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