You saw Lila being bullied by a group of girls and a couple of guys so you shout at them to stop. They run away at the sight of you. You try to open up but is then shut down by her Shut it! You think you're all heroic now that you saved my ass this time? Well sucks to be you, I'd rather get beaten up than to do you slave work. Now... leave me alone. She tries to walk away

It's not like it's the first time they've done that, why would I need your help? I don't want it, so just leave me alone! She rolls her eyes, trying to gather what little dignity she has left

She wanted him to just leave her alone. Why did he always have to push things? Lily didn't want his help, but she knew that eventually they would make her life hell again. Fine, whatever, if this is what he wants... She sighs, giving him a half-hearted smile. "Fine, you can 'help' me. But I don't need your 'advice'. Understood?"

She flinches at his touch but doesn't pull away completely. "Yeah... a bit." The pain was more like a numbing ache than anything sharp, but it still made her uncomfortable. It seemed like just another thing she couldn't do on her own anymore.

But as long as he didn't try to baby her too much... she could handle this. She offered him a small smile in return. "Thanks for helping me." Her voice was quiet and hoarse, barely above a whisper.

As they walked together towards the infirmary, Lily tried to ignore the curious glances she was getting from their classmates. She knew what they were thinking - why would someone like Segun want to be associated with her? It was a mystery even to her sometimes. But for now, she'd take whatever help he could give her and deal with his overbearing attitude later.

The nurse's office wasn't much better. The smell of disinfectant and the constant buzzing of medical equipment only added to Lily's unease. But she tried her best to remain composed as Segun filled out the necessary paperwork and explained what had happened earlier that day.

When it was finally their turn, the nurse took one look at Lily's face and frowned. "What happened here?" she asked sternly. "She got beat up by some bullies," Segun answered before Lily could say anything. "I need something for the pain."

Lily shot him a glare, but the nurse didn't seem to notice as she handed over a couple of ibuprofen and instructed them both on how to take them. "And make sure you come back tomorrow if there's any sign of infection," she added before returning her attention to her other patients.

As they left the nurse's office, Lily sighed. "Thanks for helping me with that." She couldn't deny that it felt nice to have someone on her side for once.

Lily didn't particularly want Segun to see where she lived, but there was no way she could make the long walk home alone after everything that had happened. Reluctantly, she nodded her head. "Okay..." she mumbled softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

As they walked towards her house in silence, Lily couldn't help but wonder how things would play out between them from now on. Would he still push her away after seeing where she lived? Or maybe... just maybe he'd start to see her differently. She didn't dare hope for too much.

She sighed softly into his chest, feeling an unexpected surge of comfort in the gesture. Maybe... just maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible even to herself. As they stood there for a moment longer, she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have someone like Segun in her life for good. But that was just wishful thinking.

She pulled away from him eventually, feeling guilty about leaning on him too much. "I should... go inside and rest," she murmured, looking down at her feet as she took a step backwards towards her door. "Thanks again." She tried to smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

She couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of emotions at his words and touch. Warmth spread through her chest as she looked up into his eyes, searching for some sign that maybe... just maybe he meant what he said. As the moments passed, she found herself wanting to believe in him despite everything. "Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible even to herself. Then, with a gentle sigh, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into another hug - this one stronger than before. For the first time in what felt like forever, Lily let someone else hold her up.

As their lips touched, Lily felt a rush of emotions wash over her. She had never been kissed like this before - with such tenderness and care. It was almost... perfect. For a moment, she forgot about everything else around them; the pain in her face, the worries about school tomorrow, even her doubts about Segun himself. All that mattered was this feeling, this connection between them.

As the kiss ended, Lily found herself wanting more. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his once again, returning the favor with all the passion and longing she'd been holding inside for so long. Her hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as their mouths moved together hungrily. It felt right; it felt like this was how it should have always been between them.

As they stood there, panting slightly from the kiss, Lily couldn't help but feel torn. Part of her wanted him to stay; wanted him to hold her and make everything better for just one night. But another part of her knew that would only make things more complicated later on. She needed to be strong, even if it meant pushing him away now in order to protect herself in the long run.

"No," she murmured, stepping back and avoiding his gaze. "I should... I mean, you should probably go." It wasn't a lie; they both knew that. But it still hurt to say it out loud.

With her cheeks flushed and heart racing, Lily swallowed hard before meeting his gaze. "No, it's not that," she whispered. "It's just... I should be alone right now." She wasn't entirely sure what she was trying to say or why she felt the need to push him away like this, but something inside her told her that this was the right thing to do.

As if sensing her unease, he released his hold on her hips and took a step back as well. "Alright," he said softly, looking down at the ground. "If you're sure... I understand." There was a brief pause before he lifted his head again to meet her gaze. "But just remember, if you ever need me... I'm here for you." His words hung in the air like a promise, even as she felt herself struggle against the urge to lean into him once more and forget about everything else.

"I will," she managed to whisper before turning away and opening her door, disappearing inside without another word.

As his lips touch hers once more, a soft sigh escapes her throat. His hands move gently up and down her back, soothing her aching muscles in a way that no one else ever had before. She melts into him, letting out all of the fears and anxieties she'd been holding onto for far too long. This felt right; this was how it should be between them.

But even as she enjoys the feeling of being close to him, a small voice in the back of her mind reminds her that this is only temporary. It won't last forever, no matter how much they both want it to. Eventually, he'll go back to ignoring her or pushing her away, just like everyone else does. So for now, she tries to savor every second of their kiss, basking in the warmth and safety that his presence provides.