chapter thirty nine
Convocation day
"So you mean kelvin asked you out and you kept him pending?" Val said after which Bella explained everything to her.
"Something like that... I sucks when it comes to relationships and you know that" she replied.
"I don't know anything sis, relationships that are real just have to be about being transparent and being your natural self" she admonished.
"Also he is famous, he is brilliant and I heard he is also a flirt and has a lot of people crushing on him in the institute"
"Have you ever seen him flirting? He is partially a nerd because he is focused and aiming to become a doctor in the meantime, ``Val said.
"No but..."
"No buts sis, even if he is, he can give that all up for your sake,c'mon... I know he loves you truly" she whined. Bella stared at her for a while.
"what" she demanded when she continued staring at her
"Nothing. I'm just surprised Val, when did you become a relationship counsellor?" she teased.
"Maybe tonight sis" she replied smiling.
"Alright...I will think about it. I decided to prepare your favourite meal tonight. ``Val looked at her and Jumped on her happily.
"Minute ago you were acting like an adult," she smiled.
"I act this way only when I'm at home, let's go because I'm starving," Val said.
"Next week is Charlotte and Alex's convocation, will you attend?" Val asked and she said yes.
"You mean Bella prepared this food? she is such a good cook just that she is too arrogant and annoying" they heard Kelvin say and Bella and val stopped.
"The Bella I know is humble and nice. Maybe you offended her," Alex said.
"She knows Bella?" Courtney asked, looking up.
"Yes aunt, she attends the same school as me," he said and she nodded.
Bella and Val entered afterwards and they sat beside Alex.
"I heard you cooked the food,it's salty" Kelvin fumbled facing Bella. "It's salty and you still finished a plate?" Val snapped, serving herself "such a Jerk" Bella muttered but he heard her.
"Racoon," Kelvin said aloud. Bella glared at him and he smirked. Alex and Val just smiled and continued eating.
"It seems you two don't get along well in school" Courtney was the only one left out but she could feel there was a kind of connection between them.
☆☆☆
"That's okay Charlotte" Jaz said tired already as Charlotte applied blush on her face. It's finally their convocation day.
"Maybe it is not that you need to look beautiful for Josh Yunno," Donald teased.
"Don't you even dare touch your face" Charlotte screamed and her hands hung half way then came down.
"Jasmine is blushing aww" Donald teased her the most and she smiled.
"You guys should stop," she said laughing.
Donald is dressed in a blue tuxedo. He had a haircut and is looking hot. He wore a black turtleneck underneath to compliment the colour Code while Jaz and Charlotte wore blue short gowns. The gown was ordered from the best fashion designer in Nigeria. A black shining bead was placed on the shoulder. It was off shoulder. It was pencil style from their waist to their kneel with a princess dart downward. The design is the same and unique. They just want something different. Jasmine and Charlotte fixed their nails.
"Ladies and wasting time?" Donald Continued grumbling but they paid deaf ears.
"Not like we will be going in the Same car" Charlotte said when he continued grumbling. charlotte Plaited her hair in a bob marley with attachment and Packed it up in a donut.
"And we are done, '' Charlotte said, carrying her handbag. Donald rolled his eyes and they left the house.
Immediately Charlotte entered her car, she remembered the dare and sighed. She continued thinking if she can really kiss a stranger, maybe she should have just gone for the Punishment instead of all these problems. She wasn't even thinking straight when she accepted the dare. She doesn't want to feel weak in front of them.
In the Blakes' household, everything is bubbling. Alexander wore a black tuxedo with a blue round neck. He combed his hair.
"such a cutie, every girl's dream husband" he boasted.
"cuter than kelvin? then you're making a big mistake bro" kelvin muttered.
"Just tell me you're done," Val said entering the room.
"cultivate the habit of knocking val" Alex said and she eyed him.
"I think we are, where is Bella?" Kelvin asked,
"Right here," Val said, pointing at the door. He looked up and stood there transfixed by her look. Oh my! She is damn beautiful and natural. He thought, still staring at her, almost drooling.
"Can you please stop staring? You're making her feel uncomfortable plus getting her to use that make-up wasn't a child play" val said and he lapsed back to reality.
"Wow, first time seeing a cute raccoon," he said and Bella frowned at him.
"You have always been a jerk and I doubt if that can change in you," she said, sitting down on a couch.
"He meant you're beautiful" Alex said and kelvin gave him a hard glare.
"Anyway bro, don't forget to tell me about the dare," Val said and he scoffed . They got to the sitting room and met Courtney already waiting for them.
"I got my charming look from mom" Alex said Pecking her cheeks and she smiled.
"Let's go there "val said aloud and they left for school. Val Plugged her ears and continued shaking her head to the music's rhyme. "South of the border by Edisheran"
"jump in that water, be free , come south of the border with me" she screamed, scaring everyone. They all stared at her weirdly.
"So damn sure she got that voice from Mr. Blake,'' Alexander muttered and Kelvin chuckled.
"huh? Are you talking to me?" Val said, blinking her long lashes.
"He said in a good voice you've got there sis" Bella Joked and they laughed.
Val frown deepened and she hit Alex's head lightly "I heard what you said Alex" she glared at him.
"Think I need to remind you I'm four years older than you, that is I ain't your mate af all" he said and val smirked.
"Age is just a number dummy" she stuck out her tongue and he just shook his head and let her be.
Everyone in school is looking dazzling and the school itself is not an exception. Jasmine came out of her car and met Josh also parking his car. He stared at Jasmine and his gaze couldn't leave her. she blinked.
"Josh?" Jaz called the fourth time and he came back to consciousness.
" my gosh Jaz, your face is totally transformed".
"Charlotte's work, she kept on forcing everything on me" she smiled. "But you're still beautiful with everything," he said, still staring at her. "Thanks" she giggled and was almost going when Josh called her back.
"After today,we will not get to meet more often, and I'm afraid many guys will ask you out today and you will give one of them a chance in your life, how about mine?" he said, squeezing her hand softly.
"Maybe I should just give the relationship a chance so it is a yes Josh" Jasmine said smiling and he kissed her on the forehead then later hugged her tight.
"wooh" the people kept shouting and started taking their pictures. "isn't that Jaz and Josh, she looked really beautiful" the crowd said.
Some of the ladies were Jealous she's with Josh.
Charlotte got out of her car and the student wowed at her beauty. She plugged her ears so as to ignore the crowd that kept calling her. All who played the game were just laughing knowing she is ignoring everybody because of the dare. she breathed out a sign of relief when she got to the restroom.
"Phew!" she said bring out her phone. It was a message from her mom wishing her happy convocation and apologising for not attending. she smiled.
"Charlotte?" someone called her and she looked back and was surprised to see Alex. "What's he doing in the female restroom?" she thought. Alex. stopped on his track and continued staring at charlotte. "Alex?" Charlotte called repeatedly but got no reply. Maybe it's not him because the person she is seeing is cuter than him.
"Alexander Blake?" she called fully to be sure it's really him and gasped.
"I'm sorry" Alexander stared at her as the dare game continued playing in their head. He gave her a quick kiss and all the crush she once had on Alex stared inside of her again. The weird heartbeat, the strange feelings staring inside of her. His lips tasted like strawberries. She could feel the butterfly roaming in her tummy. Those tingling sensation...she wished the kiss could last a little longer. His lips were so soft on hers. She couldn't do anything, not even reciprocate the kiss because she was naive. She came back to her senses and pushed him away.
"I'm sorry" Alexander said, stepping back.
"What! You took my first kiss and you're sorry???" she flared up at him. she doesn't even know what to feel at the moment.
"Why are you annoyed? You will still lose it today but it might be someone else" Alex said and she calmed herself.
"Let's just forget this, I will leave first," she said but Alex held her back. She gave him a questioning look.
"Be my partner for today?" he said and they left for outside and met Donald. He stared at Alexander's hand entangled with that of Charlotte and felt a little bit of jealousy in him.
"Oh..I have my partner here" she said and left with Donald and he smiled.
Now I get why she hated the game. It was because she was naive in kisings. Alex thought and also left.
"Am I seeing stars? Bella Floyd?" She hurried up and embraced her. "I miss you baby, I really appreciate your coming...What's up everyone, Hi mum" she said, hugging each of them.
"kelvin! You guys are too much" she said and he looked surprised. "Alex told me about you" she said and he breathed out a sign of relieve. he just hoped Alex told her the good part of him.
"nice meeting you.. let go collect our ceremonial gown" she said and they left.
"Charlotte?" someone called softly behind her and she looked at the person and waved at Andrew but he snubbed her. she walked up to him.
"Jerk" she muttered, hitting him hard.
"ouch, are your hands Made of rocks? I don't like that name at all charlotte" he frowned and she smirked.
"If I should be sincere then I must say it really suits you" she said smiling. Andrew is really cute. He will be cuter than a demi-god if only he can smile. She pulled him with her and they left for the auditorium .Many of the outgoing students were outside doing one or two things. They sat at the second roll. Maybe she should just give it a try.
"Even if it's your manner to always act like a sadist, can you please cheer up even if it is today, you look cuter when you smile Andy" charlotte whispered and he smiled
"cuter than your boyfriend" he whispered back smiling.
"wrong thinking doll!" she hit his head and he laughed.
"You have a visitor charlotte" A black guy said. Probably a Nigerian. "A girl or…" he cut her off.
"It's a man," he said and left.
"A man, maybe it's Mr Ray" she said standing up and they stood up also.
"You mean your dad?" Donald raised a brow and she rolled her eyes. "Dad my left toe...the dad that failed to play his fatherly role in my life can never be my dad" she said and they walked out of the auditorium. Her mind drifted back to the kiss and she touched her lips again and blushed
"Damn that stupid game" she thought.
"That guy's face looked really familiar but I can't recollect where I knew him and how come he even knew my name? I hope this isn't a traps" she said opening the door leading out
"Don't worry we will protect you" Andrew gave her a reassuring smile and she smiled back.
She looked narrowly and saw someone beside Courtney. They were embracing each other like a new couple.
"I think I'm seeing real stars now" she moved nearer and screamed, getting everyone's attention.
"Mom," she said and hugged her really tight.
"Is the cloth not too revealing?" her mom asked and Charlotte groaned. That's Nigerian mom for you.
"No it's not," Charlotte replied.
"You're glowing," she said, scrutinising her.
"All thanks to Alex's mom, Donald, and my friends…guys this is mom, mum this are my best friends" she said and they greeted her. "Mom" Alex called and hugged her. Charlotte looked back and noticed all eyes on her. Who cares anyway? She is used to that already. Val, Kelvin and Bella greated her.
"Thanks for taking good care of her ...hope she didn't cause you any trouble?" she said and charlotte just rolled her
"Sometimes, she is also annoying" Alex Joked and she glared at him. if not for her mom's presence, she is so sure she would have knocked his head.
"Jerk" she muttered and they laughed.
An hour later, the Mc came forward again. "Ladies and gentlemen, we will call on the chancellor to give her speech before we call on the names of best students of the year". The students applauded till the chancellor climbed up the stage. She adjusted her glasses and smiled.
"I want to say a big congratulations to all our students who tried their very best to get good grades. Your Set is quite impressive and I'm proud of you all, this is another level of life and this stage is easy and also hard but always remember your source. Be conscious, always be thorough in your relationship with others. Let your good attribute be your watchword in your dealings ..congratulations once again . I will miss you all" she said and they said..
"We'll miss you too" they say as she leaves the podium. They stood up clapping continuously. It's time for the calling of the best students.
"The name of the overall student in the medical department is Andrew kendrick" The man said and everyone applauded.
"Is he not here?" The man said when no one was coming out. "Andy?" Charlotte hit him and lapsed back to consciousness. "huh?" He furrowed his brow.
"you're being called for the best student award, please smile and surprise people for once" Charlotte said and he stood up reluctantly. He went to the padiom smiling and the people were astonished. They have never seen him smile until today.
"And the first position in the music department is…" there was silence in the auditorium. The People couldn't guess because both Alex and Joshua are brilliant. He stared at the paper and smiled.
"The best student is..."
T. B. C
Do you think the relationship between Josh and Jasmine will work out Well?
who do you think the best student will be? Alex of Josh?
Find out in the next chapter