We were both in school.
At first, I was terrified—terrified of Bernard, terrified of Ann, terrified of facing everything that had gone down.
"You're the head girl of this school," Fred whispered firmly, taking my wrist. "You're not supposed to be frightened. Come on."
He pulled me toward his seat, and suddenly all eyes were on us.
Would you blame them? I mean, Fred and I had never gotten along before. And now here I was, letting him drag me across the classroom like we'd been best friends all our lives.
Nervous didn't even begin to cover it. My eyes were glued to my shoes. I couldn't lift my face. Whispers buzzed like bees all around me.
SUBCONSCIOUS: You idiot! Look up! You're a celebrity's daughter—don't act weak!
I raised my head, forcing my chin high, daring to meet everyone's stares. Confidence was armor. A slow wave of calm washed over me—until I saw Ann.
She was smiling.
What? Smiling? Mother goose, what parallel universe had I just stepped into?
When I glanced again, she gave me a thumbs-up. I blinked. Was I dreaming?
Bernard, meanwhile, looked… destroyed. His eyes were glassy, fixed on me with guilt dripping off every glance. Before I could even process it, he stood from his seat and walked straight toward me.
Fear froze me. My fingers trembled. My heart begged the chair to just swallow me whole.
And then—he knelt. Right there in front of me.
"Fred, Zizi… I'm sorry for last night," Bernard said, voice breaking as he clasped my hands. "I'm sorry for coming into your life at all. I was obsessed, but it wasn't love. It was lust. Infatuation. I'm sorry for everything." His voice cracked. "The truth is… I never loved you, Zizi. I was in love with Ann."
Fred and I both burst out laughing—genuine, relieved laughter that cracked the tension. Even Bernard managed a weak chuckle.
"Don't worry. I forgive you," I said softly, pulling him into a hug.
Tears slipped down his cheeks as he continued. "I gave you that scar. I'm sorry. At first, I thought I loved you. But watching you and Fred together… I got jealous. The truth? You were my second girlfriend. My first… she died two years ago at a party. Someone spiked her drink. I was sixteen. I never really got over it."
My heart twisted. Fred pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. "We're sorry, man."
I wiped at Bernard's tears and forced a grin. "Enough drama. I think it's time to link this lover boy up with Ann."
Before he could respond, the sharp voice of Mrs. Evelyn cut through the air. "Get ready for your exams!"
We groaned in unison.
"Now!" she barked, cane in hand like some warrior queen from hell.
Bernard muttered under his breath, "Ugh, seriously?"
Mrs. Evelyn's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me? What was that?"
He straightened immediately. "Nothing, ma'am."
She didn't look convinced, but she waved us all back to our seats. The exam began.
The second I looked at my paper, my stomach dropped. Biology. Simple, but I hadn't studied nearly enough. I scribbled furiously, trying to scrape answers from memory.
"Ten minutes more!" Mrs. Evelyn announced.
I panicked. My paper was barely touched.
Fred's pen was flying like he'd been born taking exams. Bernard, meanwhile, was blatantly whispering answers to Ann.
"Six minutes!"
I groaned and dragged my hands through my hair, making my afro wild. The stress was unbearable.
Then I heard it.
"Lollipop," Fred whispered.
I froze. What?
"Lollipop," he said again.
I turned to glare at him. Now? Really?
He flicked a crumpled piece of paper at me. My stomach clenched. Was he serious? My hands shook as I shoved it into my shirt before Mrs. Evelyn could notice.
Too late. Her shadow loomed.
"Zikora. Stand up," she ordered, eyes sharp as knives.
"What? Why? What did I do?" My voice shook.
"You were whispering answers. Don't lie to me. Hand over your paper."
I felt my entire body collapse inside. Still, I obeyed. She didn't just take it—she tore it in half.
My heart stopped. "What the—"
"Hey!" Fred shot up, fury in his voice. "What was that for?"
"Sit down, boy!"
"No! You had no right to do that!" His fists clenched.
"Fred!" she snapped. "Give me your paper too."
"No way." His voice was steel. "I'm not letting you humiliate her like this."
The tension cracked like thunder.
Mrs. Evelyn's face twisted. She lashed out, striking him across the back with her cane.
Something inside me snapped.
"Stop it!" I roared, gripping Fred's wrist. "Don't you dare touch him again."
"You're a student, you don't command me!" she spat. Then, without hesitation, she slapped me across the face.
The world tilted. My cheek burned.
Fred's POV:
That was it.
How dare she? Who gave her the audacity to lay a hand on Zizi—on my girlfriend?
I stood taller, my fists trembling. If she thought I'd just let this slide, she was dead wrong.