Chapter 11

Hiroshi came to school earlier than usual. It was time that he surprised his girlfriend. He had not seen her over the weekend, his father had made sure that he did not leave. He made mention of things like everywhere not being safe. 

Hiroshi understood his father even though he doesn't want his father's lifestyle to judge him. 

When he got to school, he went straight to the boy's dorm and met with his friends.

"Is it the end of the world?" Daniel asked with a smile on his face. 

"I bet it is," Manny replied. 

"Stop it," Hiroshi defended himself. He shook and hugged both of them. 

"Yeah, but why are you in school this early?"

"Nothing. I just had nothing to do at home, so there was no reason for me to come late," he lied. 

"You never had anything to do, yet you still come late."

"Man's changed, I guess," Hiroshi replied. 

"Hmm. More of this," Daniel replied. 

Hiroshi could not tell them the reason he chose to come early. For the whole week, they would call him lover boy and all sorts of embarrassing names. It would be awkward. And most times they would do it when he is with Anna. So he knew he had to avoid telling them the truth. 

After staying with them for a while, the bell rang, and it was time for classes to start. He knew Anna would already be in class. And she never misses school. Also, she texted him minutes ago that she will be in school. 

"Let's go boys," he called his friends. 

Hiroshi and his friends entered the class just before the biology teacher came in. He looked at Anna, but she had her eyes glued to her biology textbook. He knows better than to disturb her. But he was going to do it regardless. 

"Boy, the teacher is here. Let's just go settle down, you know how he can be," Manny advised Hiroshi. Manny knew Hiroshi was going to talk to Anna, but that would mean till the biology teacher comes in. And that would mean Hiroshi and everyone else will hear how none of them have a love for each other. That it was just hormones or pheromones that is making them react in such a way. 

The biology teacher would term it a chemical reaction and list not love. He once told two lovers that they haven't gone through any real-life challenges, and he was sure with any difficult situation, no matter how little, they would break up. 

This has strained their classmates' relationships, and people broke up for fear that none of them love each other. It took the school counselor lots of time to convince them that the biology teacher was wrong. And it was only after then, that some people reconciled, and people started dating again. 

The biology teacher never apologized for what he did, and no one was eager to find out if he has new opinions about relationships or if he was still the same man. Generally, everyone just ignored him and avoid letting him see them with their lover. 

So Hiroshi understood Manny's concern, and he walked past Anna's table. He only tapped her table. He was sure she raised her head to look at him. She must have smiled. 

The biology period went over quickly. All thanks for the 10 minutes wasted by the principal and the new students. It felt nice that the man left. 

And then the maths teacher came in, Hiroshi was a bit more fluent in maths class than biology and after some time too, it ended. 

Hiroshi was about to go to Anna when the new student brushed him quickly, he turned back. 

"Hey," he frowned

"I am so sorry," Mark apologized. 

"Be more careful of where you are going mate," Hiroshi advised Mark. Mark smiled and walked away. Hiroshi felt the new boy was being too cocky. He seemed like he had all of life's energy within him. But he wasn't concerned. 

Hiroshi only became concerned when Mark knelt before Anna. He was surprised. Anna didn't push him away. She listened to him. Manny and Daniel were surprised too. A new student, talking to Anna so casually, and Anna giving him attention? That's a new one. 

It got worse when Anna stood up and walked with him. They left the class quickly, and the whole class roared in laughter, except Daniel, Manny, and Anna's friend. Everyone was as surprised as Hiroshi, but they had to spice things up. They had to make him feel jealous. 

Hiroshi turned back and look at Maryanne. Anna's best friend. He raised his shoulders in a manner that seemed questioning. 

"I have no idea what's happening,* she mouthed back to him amidst the whole noise. Hiroshi returned to his seat. He was confused and embarrassed. 

"Hey man," Daniel tapped him. 

"What was that for?" 

"You just gotta calm down," Daniel replied. Daniel winked at Manny. Manny left the class in hope of tracing Anna and Mark. 

"Bro… they went to the canteen," Manny returned and gave feedback. 

"I have to talk to her," Hiroshi said out of embarrassment. He would not have been concerned or flustered if the whole class had not laughed at him about it. He stood up and walk away. 

He began calming himself after he left the classroom. He felt he must know her as either a family member or something. But then, according to the narration given to him by her, he knows every single member of her family, even though his father told him to stay away from them. 

Hiroshi had seen their pictures. He knows how they look. And Mark, the guy she just left with is not part of them. And even the few distant family members she knows don't look like that. 

Hiroshi rushed down to the canteen. He peeped and saw her paying for the food Mark bought. He was a bit surprised by the amount of food Mark has on his tray, and that convinced him Mark could never be a family friend. 

He waited till Anna was done paying, and she was coming outside of the canteen. 

"I trust you, so I won't make accusations. And because of that, I will like you to tell me who that is?" Hiroshi said. Anna stopped walking and smiled at him. 

"Hey boy, be calm. He is family," she replied. 

"I have seen every member of your family, even though you won't introduce me to them, but he looks nomenlime those I have seen."

"When I said family, I mean a family friend, alright?" She defended herself. 

"He is new around here. My dad brought him home and said he will be attending the same school with me, and here we are," she said. She moved closer to him. Gave him a light kiss on the lips and hugged him. 

"Really?" 

"Yes."

"Both of you had the whole class fooling me. They laughed at me when both of you left," Hiroshi said. 

"I am sorry I made you feel that way," she apologized. 

"But for a family friend, he is one handsome son of a gun," Hiroshi said. He held her closer. She also leaned towards him. 

"Is someone jealous?" 

"Should I be?" 

"Of course not, it's nothing," she replied. Hiroshi felt a lot calmer after hearing her. 

"So wanna eat?" 

"I could use some good food right now."

"Bet you can eat as much as him," Hiroshi joked. 

"Hell no, I was so uncomfortable having him beside me."

"Sorry. I saw you pay for the food too," Hiroshi said. 

"Well, father couldn't give him a card yet."

"Of course, he won't. He isn't a Dandelion," Hiroshi teased. Anna scoffed. She did not reply. He was expecting her to at least call his father too, but she did not.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing babe," she replied. 

"Hmm. Seems like something is wrong, but let's go eat first okay?" 

"Sure."