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CHAPTER 12 "SHOULD WE KISS?" © Opeyemi Akintunde As Inspired by the Living WORD Jide’s small smile lingered as he recalled the memory Nina had pulled him back into... ****** The classroom was quiet, save for the steady scratching of pens on paper and Mrs. Lydia’s voice  as she wrote on the whiteboard. The topic was Civic Education: Citizenship. Most of the students listened attentively, but Layo sat a few rows ahead of Jide, clearly distracted. Her gaze was distant, her mind wandering elsewhere. “Layo!” Mrs. Lydia’s sharp voice broke through the haze. Layo jolted upright in her seat, her heart racing as all eyes turned to her. “Yes...Yes ...ma?” Layo stammered, embarrassment written all over her face. “You’re distracted,” Mrs. Lydia observed, giving her a stern look. Then, with a slight smile, she turned to the class. “Now, let’s say, for example, Layo marries Jide here, who is also Nigerian...” The room erupted into murmurs and soft laughter. “What?!” Layo’s eyes widened as ...

CHAPTER 11 "SHOULD WE KISS?" © Opeyemi Akintunde As Inspired by the Living WORD Nina’s Probing question had sent him back to two weeks back… he remembered how alive the classroom had been and though they were about 15 in class, it felt like it was just him and Layo that were in class as Layo who sat a few rows ahead couldn’t resist glancing over her shoulder at him.  He also, though he sat with his two friends; Paul and Chinedu was stealing glances at her. Chinedu was the first to notice Layo’s glances, nudging Paul with a knowing smirk. “Speaking of staring,” he teased, “Layo can’t keep her eyes off Mr. Handsome over here.” Jide frowned, trying to appear indifferent, but his lips betrayed him as it broke into a tiny smile“What? Nah, nothing like that,” he said, brushing off the comment. Paul leaned in, grinning mischievously. “What what? Come on, Oga, do you like her or not?” Jide laughed, shaking his head. “Fashi abeg.” Paul wasn’t convinced. “Look at him, Chinedu. He’s blu...

CHAPTER 10 "SHOULD WE KISS?" © Opeyemi Akintunde As Inspired by the Living WORD Layo sat quietly on the field, her knees drawn to her chest.  Her teacher’s words kept playing back in her head. "Remind yourself of the Word of God… Remind yourself of the mistakes of the past and the consequences…" She reached into her bag, pulling out her phone. With trembling fingers, she opened her Bible app and typed Songs of Solomon 8:1-4. As the verses appeared on the screen, she read them softly to herself. “If only you were to me like a brother who was nursed at my mother’s breasts, then if I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me…” she read quietly. Her voice faltered as she paused to reflect. “Hmm, kissing someone who is not a sibling and I am not married to is wrong. It says here that kissing someone outside that context can bring shame and disdain. Hmm…” She imagined the scandal if she were caught kissing Zino. Her mother’s disappointed face flashe...

CHAPTER 9 "SHOULD WE KISS?" © Opeyemi Akintunde As Inspired by the Living WORD The flashback still lingered in her mind, a vivid reminder of her connection with Jide and how quickly emotions could spiral out of control. She wiped her eyes, her trembling hands a sign of her inner turmoil. “No more distractions, Layo,” she whispered to herself. “You’ve already learned your lesson not too long ago.” She said to herself trying to speak some sense to herself. She bowed her head, clutching her hands together as though grounding herself. “Layo… Are you okay?” Layo turned to see Mrs. Helen, her Biology teacher, standing a few steps away, concern evident in her kind eyes.  “No, ma,” Layo admitted quietly, her voice trembling slightly. Mrs Helen was no stranger to her 'feelings story'. “Thank God you’re here. You’re just the person I need to see... I think I’m losing it again.” Mrs. Helen stepped closer, her gaze softening with understanding. “What’s going on, Layo? You can tal...

CHAPTER 8 "SHOULD WE KISS?" © Opeyemi Akintunde As Inspired by the Living WORD Layo sprinted toward the field, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She needed a quiet place, somewhere to escape the chaos inside her heart. Finding a secluded spot by the coloured field, she paced. Her hands trembled, and her heart raced as though it were trying to leap out of her chest. She closed her eyes tightly, the image of Zino’s intense gaze still fresh in her mind. The pull she had felt...the strange and almost magnetic force...was unlike anything she’d experienced before. “God, what kind of temptation is this?” she whispered, her voice shaky. “I thought I had moved on from these feelings thingy, but they’re back... stronger.” Her breathing slowed as her thoughts pulled her back to two recent moments. ***** TWO WEEKS EARLIER Layo remembered how she had stood in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection. Her room, a teenage girl’s haven, was decorated in shades of pink and nude. Sticky...

CHAPTER 7 "SHOULD WE KISS?" © Opeyemi Akintunde As Inspired by the Living WORD The school hall was still alive with chatter, yet it felt like a bubble had formed around Jide and Nina as she continued to engage him. Nina leaned slightly closer, her playful grin never faltering. “You’re really good at this biology stuff,” she said, her tone light but deliberate. “Maybe we should hang out after the fair?” Jide gave a small grin, feeling his guard drop just slightly under her charm. “Maybe we could,” he replied, his voice cautious but polite. Meanwhile, further down the hallway, Zino’s flirtation with Layo took on a more calculated edge. His smooth demeanor, coupled with his persistent attempts to push her boundaries, made Layo uneasy. She sneezed again, her nerves betraying her. “So,” Zino began with a confident smile, “if DNA can be exchanged through something as simple as a kiss, does that mean I’m walking around with bits of a lot of people inside me?” He paused, flashing a s...

CHAPTER 6 "SHOULD WE KISS?" © Opeyemi Akintunde As Inspired by the Living WORD There was a lot of chatter amongst the students during the break, but for Layo, the noise faded into the background as Zino approached her. His gait was smooth, his presence commanding, and his eyes gleamed with intent. There was an air of confidence about him that seemed almost too perfect, too calculated. “Interesting presentation,” Zino said, his voice smooth, almost hypnotic. “Who knew science could be so... intimate?” Layo felt her guard go up, her instincts warning her of the undertone in his words. Yet, she couldn’t deny the strange pull she felt toward him. “It’s important to understand the consequences of our actions,” she replied, trying to keep her tone steady. Zino stepped closer, his grin widening as his voice dropped to a more flirtatious tone. “Maybe. But sometimes, the consequences are worth it.” He paused, his eyes scanning her face before landing on her lips. “You’re beautiful—tal...