CHAPTER TWELVE: MY FIRST LOVE
"Hey, Floral!" he called my name, smiling.
"Do you two know each other?" Victoria asked, baffled by how Daniel called me so easily, without hesitation, and even with a smile.
Flashback…
Seven-year-old me walked into class since it was the day to collect our report cards.
The kids in my class suddenly decided we should play a lovers' game.
I sat quietly at the edge of the room, puzzled, until one of the boys explained, "It's a game where you pick someone you want to date, then we pretend to play as couples."
"Aren't we too young for that?" Gabriel asked as he sat beside another boy reading Manga.
"Nah, my mum told me that when she was seven, she met my dad," the boy replied.
Jeez… What kind of parent encourages that?
"Let's do it!" Gabriel grinned and went straight to a girl called Hannah. "She's my girlfriend," he declared.
"Aww, nice!"
One by one, they paired off until everyone had someone—except me.
"I said it, no one ever chooses her because she has too much pride," Hannah sneered, and the whole class laughed.
Jeez… I was never proud. I'd always been kind, even to her. She was just annoying.
"Have you forgotten I haven't chosen yet? I'll pick her—I've always admired her from afar," Daniel suddenly said, standing and walking towards me.
Daniel, the boy who was kind to everyone, popular everywhere he went, half-Asian and half-Nigerian, and to top it all, effortlessly handsome.
"Florida's sitting right there, go to her. I prefer being alone," I muttered, looking away.
"I said it—she's too proud. Why pick her?" Hannah scoffed, her expression screaming, Don't come crying when she insults you later!
"I know we're young, but I think I like you," nine-year-old Daniel confessed, his voice soft but steady.
Jeez… My heart melted instantly. He had stolen it in a single breath.
"Okay… I'll take you," I answered, smiling as I stood to follow him.
"He never listens," Jessica sighed.
Kunle eventually picked Florida since no one else was left.
…----------------…
Daniel was always there for me, even when others insulted me.
But just as we were about to be promoted to grade five, Daniel broke the news—he was moving back to his hometown in China.
I almost cried. He stopped picking my calls and never replied to my Roblox chats.
Back to the present…
Now, of all days—why him? Why did it have to be my first love Joan took?
"Yeah, we were just classmates back in elementary school," Daniel said, each word breaking my heart further.
So he didn't truly mean it back then?
"Yeah, just classmates," I forced out, swallowing hard as I turned away so he wouldn't see my face—already flushed red from holding back tears.
"I'm glad you came back," I whispered before walking away quickly.
Victoria and Morayo caught up with me.
"Why did you just leave so suddenly? Daniel looked shocked at your behaviour—you should have spoken to him instead of saying only those seven last words," Victoria scolded gently.
"You won't understand… all I know is at least I've spoken to him," I replied, faking a smile.
"What exactly won't we understand?" Victoria pressed, touching my shoulder.
I stopped, facing them.
"Floral, your face is red. Are you crying? I don't get it!" Victoria gasped, pulling me into a hug.
"Talk to us!" Morayo pleaded.
"He was my first love back in elementary school and… and… I don't even know how to explain what I feel," I murmured, hugging Victoria tightly, desperate not to break down.
"Jeez… He's dating Joan," Morayo said softly, patting my head.
"I know… I know. Maybe he thought we'd never meet again, and the fact he's forgotten how we once crushed on each other—it hurts so much," I whispered, my voice trembling.
"If you act this way, Daniel will think you're weak," Victoria said firmly, pulling back to meet my eyes.
"I've already forgotten about him… I've moved on," I said, forcing a smile, hoping my face no longer betrayed my pain. Inside, I was shattered.
Jeez… That's the curse of being fair-skinned. If I were dark, my pain wouldn't be written so clearly across my face.
Brrrrrrriiiingggg!!! There went the bell.
"Let's head to class—Mrs Lawal will be waiting," Victoria urged as we walked.
"Have you done the assignment she gave us?" Morayo asked.
"I'm not like you—I've finished mine," Victoria teased with a smile.
"Girl, I was only asking. Doesn't mean I haven't done mine," Morayo shot back.
I just prayed I wouldn't run into Daniel again. I wasn't ready—I felt too weak around him.
We got to class just in time. Thank goodness Joan wasn't sitting beside me, but her brother was.
"Hey," I said, though I wasn't even sure why.
I was glad he didn't reply. Maybe it was better—whatever he said might only annoy me, just like his sister always did.
They were both attractive, no doubt, but equally annoying. Except Joan wasn't just annoying—she was unbearably cringe. Worst of all, she was dating Daniel.
"You want your answer about my relationship with Sunshine?" John finally spoke, his voice calm, steady. He looked me straight in the eye.
"She's my girlfriend."