Self-Love

Joanna’s POV

We all piled into Tony and Harmony’s car before we headed straight to the Shoprite mall.

In no time we arrived at the building’s parking lot, after which we then shuffled out of the separate cars and stepped into the air-conditioned interior.

”I fvcking missed this!” Dora exclaimed with a sigh as she took in the high shelves lined with shoes, clothes, bags, and many other accessories, this made Tenda break out in a laugh while Ifeanyi murmured something about how he forgot his jacket at my house.

”Let’s stroll and see if we could spot Elvis first,” Blake spoke, to which I lent him a questioning gaze.

”He texted me about it earlier,” He said in reply to the look I offered him before he swerved, and strode ahead, though not before Dora latched onto his arm like her life depended on it.

I shook my head in amusement as I stood rooted, watching them go.

”She’s into him right?” Ifeanyi inquired materializing beside me and nodded at the couple who sauntered forward.

”Bravo bro, you really are intelligent to figure that out.” Harmony scoffed sarcastically as he came to stand at my other side.

”Thank you.” Ifeanyi beamed in response, oblivious to the hidden sarcasm of Harmony’s words.

”Anyways.” Harmony rolled his eyes at him before he continued.

”How’s he treating you so far,” he uttered, referring to Frank. ”Because I won’t hesitate to break his bones.”

I rolled my eyes at his remark, a genuine smile resting on my lips as I answered. ”Don’t worry, if he messes up, I would deal with him myself.”

”Hey, hey, hey,” Ifeanyi called, panic evident in his voice. ”Hold up guys, that’s my cousin you’re talking about.”

”We know.” I snickered as I folded my arms.

”And, I know you, and you.” He blurted, pointing at Harmony and me.

”I’m scared of what Harmony would do, but on the other hand, I’m more scared of what you will do, not to talk of when Tenda and that Dora of a girl is involved, y’all might kill him.” He ended in a shiver that caused the both of us to break out in a laugh.

”Speak of the devil__” Tony gritted. I lifted my head a bit as said this to spot his eyes focused ahead, a scowl taking shape on his face.

”Wait where have you guys been?” Harmony queried a tad perplexed as he stared at both Tenda and Tony who were hugging each other as they stood behind us.

”We were here, you just didn’t notice us and we hadn’t said anything till now.” Tenda shrugged in response.

”Because you two were eating each other’s faces,” Ifeanyi smirked.

I didn’t say anything or join in their banter because my eyes were trained on Frank who was a few feet ahead. He was donning tight-fitted black ripped jeans and a white shirt which had color splashes on it, he looked hot, and that was why I couldn’t look away.

He did a weird handshake with Blake who still had Dora fastened on his arm whom from what I observed was analyzing Frank in that crazy way of hers.

I noticed him nod at something Blake said while he glared at any girl who glanced at him in a flirty way.

Please don’t ask me why he glared at those girls because I didn’t know the reason why he did that but if there’s one thing I knew, it was that I loved it.

”Yo Frank!” Ifeanyi called, his loud voice startling me out of my thoughts.

”Always the loud one,” Tony muttered under his breath.

Till this moment, I still don’t get why Tony took Frank as a rival, sometimes I think maybe it was because they had things in common and you know, want to prove who’s better, but other times I felt it was something deeper.

”Sup bro,” Frank spoke giving Ifeanyi a bro-hug after he caught up with us and nodded at Tony to which he stiffly reciprocated due to the glare Tenda sent his way.

”We brought you Mr hot stuff,” Dora smirked at me from behind Frank.

”I know, and I’m glad.” I nodded in reply.

”Hey Ana,” Frank murmured in my ear after he skillfully pulled me to him.

”Hey Francis,” I mumbled in his chest, a sigh leaving me as that contented feeling his arms always gave me settled in.

”Bro,” Ifeanyi whispered, maybe I should say tried to whisper because I was sure almost everyone heard him except Tony who was discreetly frowning at Frank.

”Please for your sake,” Ifeanyi continued. ”Don’t ever, and I mean ever mess up or break Joanna’s heart because I won’t be responsible for what happens to you.” He ended dramatically.

Frank didn’t utter a word, instead, he simply rolled his eyes in retort and pretended to seem nonchalant though I could see the slight fear in his eyes due to how close I was.