Self-Love

Copyright: 2020

No remodeling or reuse or copying of this work for any purpose is legal except authorized by the author.

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Joanna's POV

"Joanna, get up." I heard someone yell.

"Could someone help me stop that noise?" I groaned, closing my ears with the pillow. "I really need this five minutes of extra sleep." I silently prayed.

"Joanna!" The voice came out again. This time it sounded clear and like --

Oh shit. I jumped off my bed immediately. Where could I hide?

"Joanna Gore Alex. Get the hell up or I swear, I will unleash hell on your head!" My mum shouted as she pounded on my door.

There went my delicious sleep people. Yes, I called sleep delicious. Have you tasted it? Trust me, you should. I hope that you would understand my current situation.

"Oh, you don't want to get up? She questioned. "Suit yourself then," she scolded and a few seconds later I heard her footsteps retreat.

"Thank God!" I sighed and did a happy, booty shake afterward. PS: it's a thing where you like roll your hips and twerk a little.

The booty shake was short-lived when I felt something cold and wet sting my skin. "What the --

My eyes flashed opened to see a Elvis who looked down at me with a smirk on his lips.

Wait. How did he...? Nevermind, he's so dead. I mused.

"Elvis!" I shouted before I hopped off my heavenly bed. Yes, it was heavenly - its features could agree.

He took off running immediately when he noticed I had gotten out of bed. "Get back here you coward!" I blurted, while I tried to catch up with him.

He was fast but since luck was on my side, I caught him in no time. Taking him unaware, I jumped on his back, my fingers going straight for the target.

"Oh no. Not the face. Not my face!" He screeched as he made attempted to remove my hands from his face.

Satisfied with my artwork, I got off him and sauntered to the kitchen. Where mum was making breakfast.

"Morning mom," I greeted, kissing her on the cheek. She turned around to smile at me as her brown skin stood out the same way the smile did. She was taller, like way taller than dad. Maybe it was because she was from Sudan, the southern part to be specific, and not from Nigeria.

Mom worked as a Lab scientist at a specialist hospital close to us so she was always around hence she was only called to work when there was a need for her services.

She was a full-time Christian who spent most of her time with God and her Bible. She had met dad in India, where they both attended college. Basically, I'm a half-cast.

"Did he succeed?" She smirked, returning to what she was doing, making breakfast.

I shrugged. "He did but I got my revenge," I replied as she swallowed hard. "Mum, don't worry. I didn't hurt your baby."

I rolled my eyes as she released the breath she was holding. Elvis had always been Momma's boy and I was Daddy's girl. So you get my drift? You better do.

"By the way, where's Dad?" I asked while I munched on an apple.

"Over here," he answered, coming down the stairs. He then kissed my cheek when he reached me to which I responded with a happy smile. See, this was what I was talking about.

Dad himself had a fair complexion with an average height, hence why mom was a head taller than him. He was a professor at a university here in my state.

Though he worked part-time he was always in school so his students could meet him anytime for questions and some advice. Some even come to our home on Sundays for meals and other issues, they see dad as their father and dad always took them as his children.

"How are you preparing for the first day of high school?" Mom questioned, trying to rile me up which definitely worked as I frowned.

"Mom, why do you ask?" I groaned to which dad laughed and mom rolled her eyes with a smile, knowing her plan was working.

"Come on, let's eat," She said after she had set the table and placed the kettle that contained hot water on it for us to use in making our tea.

"Elvis!" I called out.

"I'm coming, chicken," he blurted out as he too came down the stairs in his tall, glory. All dressed up and ready for school. He took dad's skin color but mum's height rather, with his lean muscular body, a sharp jaw, light pink lips, piercing black eyes that made the girls run around him all the time.

"Well at least, someone's excited about school" I grumbled, with a hint of sadness as I stared at him and noticed plain looking I was.

My skin was brown like momma's own just a little fairer and I took my dad's height - I'm average too with a slim figure, I'm curvy in some places but not in parts that make guys run around me, not that I was complaining that much but you get my drift.

I also had brown eyes with black flecks in them, a pointed nose, brown pouty lips, and high cheekbones.

What the hell happened to your face?" Mom screeched and quickly rushed over to Elvis when her eyes spotted the little mark I gave him on his neck. She should be thankful it wasn't his face though.

"Momma's boy," I whispered with an evil grin.

"What did you do?" Dad questioned, giving me a weird glance as he too noticed the slight mark.

"Just a little payback for dumping a bucket of water on me in this cold. Besides, it's a harmattan morning!" I shivered, as I remembered the event.

I know some of you might be asking what harmattan is. Well, it's a season here in Nigeria like you have winter, spring, summer, raining season, and things like that. This harmattan season comes from October and lasts till February. It has a dry harsh feeling with its dry and dusty breeze that swings from the Sahara desert, it's a rare season as its mornings are freezing, afternoons are blazing hot and evenings windy with dust particles flying in every direction.

"I thought you said you didn't hurt him?" Mom asked after she sent a glare my way.

"Sometimes I lie," I replied with a shrug.

"Remind me not to wake you up again." He sighed as he nodded continuously. "But on a serious note, why the face?" He whined. "Even though you didn't succeed on that"

"Awn. Is someone a baby?" I teased. "I didn't really do much harm." I winked as I ran to my room to get dressed.

Wow! First day of school. I mused as I thought of those teachers, with their foolish gossips. They always look for things to talk about. Plus I was sure I was gonna meet some shitty teenagers.

Nothing was going to change, it was the same as junior high school. And hm..., my ex. I was going to meet him in this school because it was the same school he had moved to. Well, that was what Harmony, my best friend told me.

I mean, why did he choose this school out of the many schools around. Even till now I always asked myself, what got me attracted to him? Was it his big ears or pimpled face? Or his dumbass?

Sorry if I was sounding harsh but that was just the truth. The guy was a total douchebag and I doubt it was love. Maybe it was just the excitement of having a boyfriend back then.

If you're wondering, he was my first and I thanked God that shit didn't get real. That's if you know what I mean.

I made a vow to stand up to shitty friends and ignore the teachers and students gossip.

I got dressed, said goodbye to mom and dad but not Elvis because he had left already. I headed outside and started my trek to school. It wasn't far from home.

In case you're wondering, Elvis and I didn't attend the same school. I'm happy and sad at the same time. I sound bipolar, don't I?

"Well, school here I come. My favorite place in the world," I muttered to no one in particular. I hope you noted the sarcasm behind my words.

Joanna's POV

Playing my favorite song, 'If I were a boy' by Beyonce, my mind stayed afloat. Alone with my thoughts and nothing else. I didn't even realize that I was at the school's entrance until I heard voices from inside the school - people were shouting and doing their daily stuff.

I immediately put my phone away to hide it from the authorities before they seized it. Phones weren't prohibited at this school but are not used except in the cafeteria, nowhere else.

Entering the school's premises, I knew that I was late because classes had started a while ago and guess what? The gossiping teachers Harmony told me about were attending to latecomers and at the same time, searching for interesting topics to gossip about.

I knew how schools like this worked. I've heard stories from Harmony and Elvis. Harmony was my childhood friend, he attended this school but he decided to search for another school in Enugu, where he traveled to for the holidays. Apparently, he couldn't imagine facing the same bullshit in his last three years of Secondary School, and from what I was seeing, I didn't blame him.

Since I was late, I knew that I'd be the top person of all their gossips.

A teacher noticed me and I guessed she was Harmony's worst teacher in the whole school from his description of her, plus the fact her shirt indicated business studies teacher in a thin line.

My life is going great. I thought, sarcastically as I trudged towards them.

"Hey there!" She called out to me but I pretended not to have heard her and just dragged my feet in a bid to prolong the moment.

"Didn't you hear my voice? Come over here!" she yelled which indicated my plan had failed and I was now in trouble.

"Hey! How can you afford to be late on your first day of senior secondary school? Teenagers nowadays." She scoffed, rolling her eyes as I was now in front of her.

I kept silent and didn't utter a word while she ranted on, instead, I took an interest in the grains of sand below my black sandal-clad feet.

"Idiot. Are you even listening to me?" She asked, after which she poked me with the end of her cane.

"Don't mind the delinquent." A new voice said.

Did she just call me delinquent? I thought as I gazed up to find the famous sugar mummy of Comprehensive High, (the name of the school) who taught home management according to what the thin line on her blouse said.

She stared down at me her eyes blazing in fury. If you've not pieced this together, Harmony had also told me about her.

"Her skirt is even short and is that makeup?" She scoffed and tapped my cheek. "So, because your breasts are fully developed, you want to seduce the guys of this school."

"You now want attention from them, right?" She questioned, coming closer. "Let me tell you. You're ugly, you're like a stick, you're shapeless and no one will love you--" I turned her off, and stared straight ahead.

"Hey!" She yelled when she realized that I had stopped paying attention. This made her frustrated that she grabbed the cane from the other teacher and the next thing I heard was a whip sound as it stung my skin harshly, causing me to groan in pain.

"What the--" I looked up and saw the woman glaring at me. My breathing accelerated as I came to terms with the fact that she actually hit me with the cane. I saw red. Pure freaking red. I suddenly had the urge to bash her on that wall beside her.

Breathe Joana. Breathe. I willed myself to calm down and took deep breaths. In. Out. In. Out. Slowly, slowly, pea--

"Come on, get that mop and do your portion of cleaning, you latecomer." She poked me with the end of the cane again.

Was she still talking? Hm. Just ignore her. Ignore her, I kept telling myself as I went to get the mop.

The next thing she said, made her smirk like a maniac "Move that free ass, slut."

Omg, she did it. She fucking actually did it. No one ever called me a slut, like no one. The red light I was seeing was increasing and then I exploded.

I sharply turned and faced her. "What did you just say? You called me a slut?" I laughed.

"I mean, the sugar mummy is calling me a slut. Look everyone, she's calling me a slut. The old hag that fucks around with her male students is calling me a slut." I chuckled.

"You think I don't know what you've been doing in this school. You think I don't have ears?" I questioned, glaring at her.

"Listen here woman, before you call me a slut, kindly ask yourself who you are because I think you're the slut here." I scoffed. "You're the slut, got that?" I spat on her face and stormed out of the hall in anger with shocked faces and eyes behind me.

I was so busy trying to calm my nerves that I wasn't paying attention to where I was going until I bumped into a fluffy pillow, wait how is that even possible, I mean who keeps a big fluffy pillow standing in a school hallway.

Still confused and wanting to make sure I was right, I wrapped my arms around the said pillow and squeezed tight, sighing at its softness, I rested my head on it before I closed my eyes.

I know you think am weird because only a weirdo would hug a pillow in the middle of the school hallway, the way only a weirdo would place a huge pillow in the middle of a school hallway.

I felt myself drifting off to sleep and yes I was still standing, It was so blissful until I heard a voice, a voice I despised, a voice which made me jump away from the pillow immediately.

"Are you done using me as a pillow?" The voice said, which made me glance around to find where it was coming from. "I'm right here, look up," The same voice said.

I complied and looked up. Guess what, It was the pillow who spoke.

It was really strange that a pillow could talk, I wondered. Oh, wait it didn't just talk.

I then examined it closely, to notice it had a head, arms, legs too.

Wait it's a person? And is that not James?* I asked myself as I my vision came in contact with a sorry face.

"James?" I called, trying to confirm my suspicions.

"The one and only." He grinned

"When did you turn into a human potato?" I questioned with a frown.

"A potato whom you once cuddled and who still loves you," He smirked and pulled me in for a kiss.

"Get off me you a disgusting human-sized potato," I screamed and pushed him away, making a beeline for my class while I muttered profanities under my breath.

Dear ladies and gentlemen, if you haven't put two and two together yet then let me do it for you.

That human-sized pillow or potato which I just cuddled is none other than my ex which I told you about. He had some nerve trying to kiss me.

"Asshole" I cursed internally before I walked into class.

I guess I failed at ignoring hoes and bitches. it was still my first day and my plans were already failing.

Yay life

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.