A/N

I know that some of you have already started guessing how the book's gonna end 😹😹. Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but my book isn't a cliche kind of thing. Not everything ends with hugs and kisses okay?😂😂

And because of that I give you this chapter...

MINE.

★★★★★

It was official. Gabriel and Richard were going to be the death of me. Not. I called Kelechi that day and he kept telling me that I was crazy to think of having feelings for Gabriel. Yeah, Mathew finally admitted it. But I didn't. How can you like your best friend please? That's like having a crush on your brother. Disgusting.

I told the both of them to not talk to me for sometime, but Richard kept on sending me hearts on WhatsApp. You'd think I'm being too extreme, but hey, I grew up in a home where all I had​ to do was to study. My parents and KC were always there to make sure that I didn't have any bad relationship, so yeah, I was a nerd.

I thought of what I was to achieve: an international pianist, a renowned lawyer. That's what brought me back to my senses. My grades for this semester had to start well, and I didn't need to be distracted. Richard wasn't going to distract me.

I noticed that Lizzy went out more often. You'd think she wasn't going out before, but she seemed to have another place to crash the night apart from our dorm. Sometimes when I got so bored or felt so lonely, I called Travis, Bola or Sophie to keep me company. They were just the best.

"Mona," Travis said with some fries in his mouth, "You know that you're back to your 'I'm a nerd' self, right?"

"Yeah," I said grabbing some from his saucer, "Feels good," I said in that Henry Danger's voice. You know? From Nickelodeon? Never mind.

"Boring. Hey help me out then. I've been trying some pick up lines, you know, for the next partee. I'm gonna get a girl this time."

"Like you've gotten a girl before?"

"Shut up. I wonder why girls say I smell like meatballs. Apparently it turns them off."

"Meatballs? It's probably cause you got some meat in ya balls, ehh?" I said wiggling my brows at him.

"Stop. Please. Wasn't funny. At all," he said looking very serious. I almost got scared of him. I've never seen him this serious since I met him. So I stopped laughing and immediately he burst out laughing. "You could have seen the look on your face. What were you thinking? That I was serious?"

"Dick."

"Cunt."

"Bitch."

"Hoe."

"Ass."

"Hole."

"Fuck."

"You."

"Doddl-"

"God, you guys can't stay a minute without your useless arguments now?" It was Soph.

"He/She started it," Travis and I said that same time.

"Mona, be the bigger person as usual and end it here, c'mon? Travis is still living his teenage years, we all know that."

"Hey! I'm a grown man. You don't see these every day, huh?" He said, flexing his muscles and kissing them while saying, 'Ain't you a good girl'.  Stupid. I know.

"I see why the ladies run away from you."

"They love the muscles, baby. You want some?"

"Nehh. I'm cool."

Sophie was going through my photographs again. She said she didn't see all of them and she'd been itching to steal my laptop to view more. She said she was falling in love with Africa. Ha! Ironic, because it's the opposite with us.

"Hey Mona, see this. If a girl trips on something and I actually catch her, my pick up line is 'Hey, girl you can't just fall infront of me. Fall in love with me'. How's that?"

"Eww," Soph and I said simultaneously. We couldn't help laughing though.

"Can I take you to dick town? They sell a lot of arses."

"Stop, please," we begged.

"I think the weather is pretty hot today. But not as hot as that arse of yours."

"Travis," I said in a warning voice, but he didn't listen. He was about to say another disgusting line when I sprung up from my bed to him. I used my hand to cover his mouth, while Sophie tied his hands with a scarf. "Let's throw him out."

"Good idea." And we did, despite his muffled plead.

Minutes later, we had a bang on the door and a voice saying we'd pay for this. We laughed and made silly jokes about him till he left.

***

"... The Constitution is the basic laws and principles guiding our state. That is one of the powers of any renowned lawyer. When you have those laws and principles in your finger tips, there's no way that you won't win any case given to you." Professor Quest was telling us.

The class was very quiet, if I may add. I got to meet my fellow colleagues since we had taken our new schedule. My law courses had started, so hard work was needed as well.

"Everyone to chapter twenty-four, case nine." We all flipped the textbook to the assigned page. "A case is before you, if you read a little bit further. A girl of thirteen years, accused of murder. After the court sitting, the grandmother was arrested. You are to memorize this case and explain it to me, in your own perspective, how and why the grandmother was incarcerated. Class dismissed."

I packed my books into my backpack to leave the class. We had been sitting for nearly five hours. My butt hurt. Bad.

"Hey Mona, looking good as always," a guy, Jhamal, said. He was from South Africa, so we kinda related a lot.

"Thanks Jam." I said, hurrying out.

"I told you to stop calling me that!" He called out, but I was already outside the classroom.

Richard and I had started talking. I couldn't ignore him for so long. Besides, I missed our kisses. Yeah, I gave him rules too. It's always gonna be my books before bro's. He said he couldn't imagine that someone would pick books over him.

"Are we going out?" He asked, falling in step with me.

"No. I have an assignment for law class. It's really big."

"You hardly spend time with me anymore," he whined.

"And I will. Not today. Or this week."

"I'm hurt b."

"Me too." I turned to him and gave him a peck on his lips. I was still new to PDA.

"Mmh. Was that supposed to hold me? Cause it didn't work.'

"Sure?" I dragged him towards a dark corner with no audience, and put my arms around his neck to bring his lips to mine. He dropped the books that were in his hands, on the floor and put his arms around my waist. I missed this. Him. But studies always come first. So I pulled out.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too," I said, sincerely. "Can we go now? That had to hold you, right?"

"Mmh," he said, leaning down to kiss me more. Yeah right. He's not getting that, easily. I moved my face sideways and his lips landed on my cheek. "Mona. One more, please?" And I instantly kissed him. I didn't know when I got this attached to him. He sounded cute when he begged. Yeah, I'm a sucker for cute boys.

One hand was on my waist, while the other made its way to my cheek. My hands were on his back, but soon, I brought it to his hair. I always wanted to know what it felt like to ruffle a White guy's hair. That, and I knew how much Richard hated it when people touched his hair. Except me.

"I love you." And he stopped.

"Say it again."

"Mba(No)." I said in Igbo.

"What?"

"No."

"Please?"

"I love you." I don't know what happened to him, but he just started kissing me harder. I could feel my body was hot all over. He brought his hands to my ass and that's where I stopped him. I peeled his hands off and brought it to his sides. "No ass touching."

"Your call, baby. And yes, ma'am." We both stared into each other's eyes. His green ones were glowing in the darkness, and my hazel ones probably looked black. Not attractive at all. "I love you. Mine." I just hugged him, and he kissed my forehead continuously. I could relive this moment and never get tired of it.

***

By the time​ I got to my room, I couldn't believe the scenario. Gabriel was shirtless, on top of Elizabeth. On her bed. Making out.

By the time I entered, they both dispersed like some virus was there. "I'm really sorry to barge in." I apologized, and decided to walk out.

"No, we didn't mean to... Urm," Gabriel said. It's been long I heard his voice too. Shaa, I reviewed myself over the past weeks and figured that the only reason I had 'feelings' was cause he was the first to kiss me. But I didn't think he'd​actually ignore me.

"It's okay. Go on with your lives," I said, smiling sheepishly at Lizzy.

"Hey she's okay. Let's continue," Lizzy said.

"Mona, wait," Gabriel walked towards me, still shirtless. I closed my eyes, imagining Richard shirtless, so that I won't be tempted. Oh, Richard is gonna look hot when he's without a shirt. I made a mental note to remove his shirt the next time we kiss.

"Gabriel, put a shirt on. I didn't mean to interrupt. Honestly. I can be out for hours if you'd like."

"No. I didn't come here for this. Open your eyes. My shirt is on." And I did.

"Ooh, you wanted to do more? I'm sorry okay?"

"What? No. I'm not together with Elizabeth anymore. I came to talk to you."

"What?" I looked at Lizzy. Her eyes were sad. "You actually broke up after how many weeks? What's wrong with you?"

"What? I wanted to tell you, I didn't really like her, I ju-"

"But you used the L-word? And you guys are what? Having sex now? You're just mean Gabriel. To actually do that to Liz."

"It's your fault okay? Why are you so damn perfect? Why are you making me feel this way?"

"What?"

"I like you okay?! I thought you'd get the picture when I kissed you that day, but you didn't! Why does Richard always get what I want?  Every single time." Fucker. I slapped him. He needed sense okay? Don't judge me.

"And I like Richard, Gabriel! He's my boyfriend for Christ sake. Get that into your head. Why? Why are you acting like this? What's wrong with-" and he placed his lips on mine. I didn't think twice, I pushed him as hard as I could, but it felt like a long time before he actually let go.

"I'm- I didn't mean tha-" I punched him. Hard. "Mona," he tried to call out.

I was already making my way out. My phone in my hand. Calling Richard to pick me up.

I never knew that things with Gabriel will get so complicated. I don't have feelings for him, but I still care. He's still my best friend...

Richard was there in seconds. He drove me to his house. Off campus. With impending dangers...

______________________________
I hope I've cleared your misplaced thoughts. I've been waiting to write this chapter! I knew people would think that Mona will fall for Gabe, but that's only in movies okay? Not my book.

So if you like this twist of events, please boost my spirit with a vote. And tell me what you think about it with some comments.

Stay safe you guys,

Munaloves y'all ❤