Chapter 3 Goodbye Ribs

Joanna's POV

I was still muttering profanities under my breath and worrying about my plans already failing that I stopped abruptly after I heard a loud voice or should I say a scream.

"Alex," A deep voice cried.

"Oh no," I groaned as I could recognize that voice anywhere.

"Alex!" It sounded louder this time.

"Shit," I grumbled and sent a silent prayer to GOD. "Please don't be him, please don't be him" I kept chanting while I slowly turned around, praying that I was wrong, but no, I was right.

For once in my life, I was right, and this wasn't for my good, because as I completely turned, I spotted him running down the hall at top speed.

"Please don't notice me, please don't notice me," I prayed. Idiot if he hasn't noticed you why would he be screaming your name? my subconscious taunted to which I ignored her.

I know most of you are already wondering who this is, hence he was causing me inner turmoil, *sigh* well that was my one and only real friend I told you about, in fact, he was and still is my best friend.

I'm sure you recalled Harmony? The one who told me about the teachers in the school? yes that was him.

I also know you have another question and that should be why was I praying he shouldn't be the one, when I was the one wishing a few minutes ago that he was there with me.

To answer your question, the reason was that, the guy headed straight for me at top speed hugs like a hulk.

I mean it literally, because he had huge muscles, a broad chest, and a pair of athletic legs. Yes, he was hot with his well-trimmed dark hair, chocolate skin, brown eyes, should I also include a sharp jaw and great smile? Hope you get it now.

I would have to hold you up there though as I'm sure your brain is already going haywire with theories. "No I didn't fall in love with him, so there isn't going to be a romance between us in this story.

I won't lie to you though, we actually dated once, it didn't work out. He began having an eye for someone else while we were dating. Before you hate him, I wasn't heartbroken or anything like that because I didn't love him more than a friend, so I let him go and we stayed friends after that, even though they broke up a few weeks later.

Well back to the present, "Ooomph." My breath hitched as he slammed into me at full force.

"Here goes my ribs, goodbye ribs, thank you for your good work, you served me well, I will never forget you, I love," I mumbled to myself as he engulfed me in a bone-crushing hug while I prayed my ribs survived.

"I missed you," He voiced out and kissed my cheeks.

"Harmony." I wheezed, struggling to get words out. "Can't breathe."

"Oh, sorry Alex." He chuckled when he noticed my discomfort. "I missed you but that doesn't mean I should kill you." He smiled after he released me.

To your silent query, I don't know why he called me Alex which was my surname. I tried to make him stop severally all to no avail. I still hoped I succeeded in that one day hence it confused people around me.

"Thank God my ribs survived." I sighed when my breathing had gotten back to its normal pace. "I missed you too hun."

"So you opted to come back?" I asked, confused because he had relayed to me he would be staying back at Enugu to complete his Senior Secondary Education.

Or did I get it all wrong? I asked myself.

"Yeah," he replied. "I wanted to be close to home, plus after you told me you were attending my school I decided why not? I also know how awkward you are, so---

"Shut up." I cut him off and pulled him into a hug of mine with a wide smile. "Thank you so much hun, I love you."

"Love you too and before you get emotional which I know you already are, let's go to class, I saved you a sit." He winked, and made a grab for my hand, after which he dragged me to class where I found out he saved me a seat beside him.

I mouthed a "Thank you" to him since I didn't want to cause any more commotion than we already had, by barging into class without greeting and an introduction from me, especially as class had already started.

I sat down and produced an exercise book, from my bag before I placed it on my desk. I then zipped the said bag and kept it beside my right foot.

PS: There were no lockers at the school as Harmony had told me before, even though there was a sign of the management building one from the incessant sounds of metals that could be heard lightly from the classrooms.

So due to this fact, books were brought according to a timetable and your bag had to be kept with you at all times if you didn't want your stuff stolen. Yes, some students can be wicked, or so I heard.

"Thanks again hun," I whispered again in his direction, my voice filled with emotion after he glared at the nosy students who stared at me.

Why don't I love this guy, I wondered to myself, seeing he was cute, hot, and caring.

Maybe it's meant to be, my subconscious replied, to which I shrugged and concentrated on the economics class that was going on.

I was not an arts/business student, but in my school, it was required to offer one art/business subject if you are a science student and one science subject if you are an arts/business student. So that was why I was sat there learning freaking economics that I hated badly.

*****

The bell rang about an hour later, and I headed out of the class with Harmony. We were walking down the school's hallway when the place suddenly grew quiet.

I searched around for the distraction with my eyes and gasped as I saw them. Three guys dripping in hotness.

The one in the middle was the tallest who I guessed was Tony, from Harmony's earlier description. He was chocolate skinned with black hair ruffled in a rugged style, a sharp jaw paired with dark blue eyes that could be mistaken for black if not observed well.

His beautiful face, kissable neck, lips were sitted on broad shoulders with muscled arms which were not too buff like the one on bouncers, and bodyguards but thick enough to make you wanna touch and try to squeeze it.

The one on the right was also tall with dark hair and brown skin, add that with light brown eyes that matched his complexion, a serious expression and some muscles, though not as thick as Tony's but was enough to make girls swoon.

Lastly the one on the left. He was not so tall as the others as he was the shortest among them and just a head taller than me. Dark hair tinted to a blonde color at the tip framed deep brown eyes sprinkled with golden flecks, light pink lips that were always stretched in a smile, a pointed nose, and high cheekbones.

He had darker skin than the rest, a nice pair of shoulders, and simple muscles. From this description, you could tell he was the goofy one in their midst. If there was one thing they all had in common, it was their sharp jaw and their ability to make girls swoon wherever they went.

They trudged down the hallway with their buttons half opened, giving a view of their wide expanse of chest and a tight six-pack. Their shirts were tucked out of the waistband of their trousers breaking the *no flying of shirt* rule.

It was no longer a wonder why they were described as "the headaches of the school" because they all looked like bad boys to me. Tony, Blake, and Ifeanyi.

When they got near close, I Joanna being Joanna got nose tickled by the strong smell of their cologne, and guess what? I sneezed. I fucking sneezed hard and loud in the already quiet hallway.

All eyes turned to me and mostly the black and angry eyes of Tony.

"Oh ground please could you open up and swallow me right now," I muttered, silently dying of fear and embarrassment.

"Oh shit, you are in trouble," I heard Harmony whisper in my ear before he stepped back.