"Hi!" A voice found it way through the headphone in my ear, down to my eardrum.I sat down at the back of the class watching a video titled #defendher on YouTube by artist maria such a damn self defender.I gazed up to see a chubby figure in front of me. "Hey hello," I smiled at her."I wasn't expecting to see you here sitting all alone. It is not always like you, so I just wanna check if everything is fine with you." Dora could be called a dumb one always, but she was caring and if she was given the chance to befriend anyone, I am pretty sure she would do it well without regret."Are you busy?" I asked her."No. What could I be busy with after the end of an exam." She adjusted her glasses as usual as if it wanted to fall off."Alright. Why don't you come sit with me, let's enjoy this together." I swayed my phone across her face."Sure, thank you. I still don't know how to describe how much you amaze me always," she plopped down beside me. "Aside from Akila who teased me, you are the
"Ibadan city, I have once been there for a business trip." Dad picked a sliced of apple dished on a flat white plate."Really? Hmm, interesting." I said in a mouth filled with sliced of watermelon."Why am I not aware of that?" Mum had a toothpick in her mouth as she said."Hmm!""Hmm! Your dad could be lying about that." She focused on her plate of fruits."How did I came across you? I am still wondering." Dad talked back to mum. "Dad, so you never – gosh, you are telling lies now." I laughed out."Your mother is something else. She could have kept the secret that I have never been there." He gestured."I love the truth, yah truth," she chuckled. "By the way, I love the idea of the IB city""How come you guys never went there? Where have you spent your entire childhood?" I fisted my both hand on my cheek."Lagos and USA. It is never fun right? I agree, but we met with amazing people though. The likes of Amy – I missed them a lot." Mum smiled, and looked back at the plates."Wow! I ne
It was a 2hrs spent journey from home to the vacation center. Few sound already overtook the silent before. "Wow! We are here." I peeked outside the window as I saw the same bus as ours packed outside a silver gate."Come on, let's go." Brad stretched his hand to me.I glared at his palm, his black watched on the wrist became noticeable. "Oh–" he dipped his hand into his pocket. "Okay, shall we?""Yeah, sure." I flicked my bag onto my shoulder and followed the route of students' as they hopped down."Enjoy your vacation!" The driver hollered, then few students' waved their hands at him as he started up the bus.Not even a bit of rest?A few sounds of car from a distance brushed my eardrum. The bushes blocked our view from seeing the cars that passed by.Another bus arrived just immediately, at the front of the bus was a flier written SS3 students'. Close pals shook each other hands, few hugged, that was how the place buzzed with noises.I stretched my hand up to the sky making few so
I strolled outside the garden thinking about everything that happened in there. Lina pushed me away from her. Vivian wanna be friends with me and – geez! What is the misery behind all this."I found you.""Is that you Brad?" The sky in its blue colour seem so closed to us. "Who vexed my baby dull. You are not looking good." He stood beside, traced my gaze up to the blue cloud."I hate it when you notice that."He chuckled. "If you don't mind telling me.""It is Lina again. I don't know her problem with me. I don't just know." "What if she is just jealous of your personality. I saw what happened down there in the bus and she is still angry about that? Right?" He inserted his hand into his short knicker pocket."Oh my, you really saw that? And yes, she was angry with us. She is the same person that asked me– " I threw my hand up to the sky. "What is going on?""I don't know. That is her behavior I guess. You don't need to work yourself up because of that. She will come back to you.""Y
Perspiration escaped on my face as the same pictures came into my head, in my dream. I gasped out repeatedly as my head slipped from right then left. My eyes opened up widely. I sat upright as the breathing came out heavily.Gosh! It's morning.I tugged into my hair, wiped the balls of sweat on my forehead then I moved down to the bathroom silently as my roommates were still on bed. We were six in the room with three bunk bed attached to each angle of the room. The ceiling fan made the noise silently, and the morning cock crows loudly.I came out after I was done with my business, then got dressed for my morning exercise. Ayah made a few sound up there."Ai!" She called out reluctantly. "Where are you going early morning?""I am going for my usual work out," I reached for my phone on the bed. "I hope I didn't wake you up." I whispered.She smiled a little. "No, I woke up by the cock crows, but do you know their gym center? You are -" she yawned. "You are not so familiar with this plac
The beat of music enveloped the hall that was already decorated and lightened with disco light. It is called a 'welcome party'. According to the rules of the party, each and everyone had to have an opposite partner even if it was just for the night, postulated by our dear Ayah and saleem.Mr. Tobe walked in with Miss Anna in there black dresses. Her teeth made her dress colorful as she opened it widely to everyone."Wow! You look so good together." I gave her a tight hug."Thank you Ai. It is just for the night." She rolled her eyes playfully to me."Don't tell me that. You are still single master," I whispered to his ear. "This is an opportunity. She is so beautiful.""Hmm hmm!" Mr. Tobe cleared an unreal throat. "Go find a partner.""Well, I have none." I giggled.Miss Anna laughed out, then they both left me standing at the entrance."Then you won't be at the party." He squeaked."Ayah has no where to –"I felt a captivating touch on my waist. His body kissed mine, and his cheek tou
Brad! What more does he want to hear? I am not interested. Like really! First it was Kelvin, now he is my problem."Come on girl. Go to him." Ayah persuaded."Dora, can you please do me one more favour?" She nodded her head. "Tell him whatever you think it is best 'cause I won't be showing up. If 'she is asleep' that comes to your mind, say it. Or 'she don't wanna come' it is fine by me, 'she doesn't want to see you' whichever way. I am not just coming.""Okay then.""Thank you as you do so," I plugged my earpiece, then laid back on bed. "Goodnight."****(No! Whimpering! Darkness! Fire! Tears!)Noo! Not again! I pressed my back against the wall, folded up a leg, then I dug my finger into my hair. This is beyond me mum, dad! I can't handle this all alone.What is the secret behind this nightmare?***The shadow was moving closer. It was following me all over again. This couldn't be Brad. That was not Brad. So who?***Mr Tobe hollered at me as I thought I had succeeded in sneaking in.
I squinted my eyes patiently as he unveiled himself slowly, then just slowly, his face was all shown to me as the cars headlights reflected on his face."You!?""Yes, me. Did you think I will let you off so easily?"It was Kelvin all along. He still had a wicked motives against me? For what exactly? What have I done to him so much to deserve all these from him. But, he won't ever find his way to deal with me.He tightened his gripped onto my neck. I groaned and tried my best to push his hand off me. The more I tried, the more it got tightened. My tongue rolled around my throat, finding its way to settled in my throat as my mouth was widely opened."Arrgh!" My face welled up with liquid now as it must had turned red. My both tiny hands struggling to remove his one huge hand.No, I mustn't got defeated just like this. My eyes that had almost came out weak and hopeless had ju
"Woahhhhhhh! Babyyyyy!" Akila screamed as I walked inside the club house dazzling with different kind of disco colours to make sure her voice was heard through the music playing loudly."Yeahhhh!" I scurried down to her in my black heels, clad in a nude gown that exposed half of my lap. I threw my hands up as we both dance playfully to the music."I miss you so much baby."We both cackled then I tug my hair dangling on my cheeks to my ear."I miss you too."A welcome party was organized for the SS3 students' one month after the completion of our mock exam, looking forward to writing WAEC.Everyone dancing away their sorrows in their different kind of sexy dress. I was never used to dressing girlish, but I have to this night, to look different at least and mum actually complimented that."Look who we have here. Thought you are never coming." Daniel showed u
"Ai!""Yes, yes mum!""You realized your phone is ringing right?"I looked up at dad to meet his gaze on me."Go pick up in your room if you are uncomfortable picking up in our present." Dad uttered."No dad! I am just – I am –" I stuttered.That wasn't a good thing!"Go on and come back." It sounded like a command and I just have to obey that."Ok!" I got to my room to switched off my phone. I threw it on the bed in anger and paced around my room.He should have just stop calling, why does he had to call continuously. Just be positive Ai. Dad will trust you. What if he didn't?I got back to the living room and acted like nothing was wrong. I could feel his gaze on me, but I fixed my eyes on the T .V show even though I wasn't fully concentrating."You
"What is Victor doing here Ai? Arnold? I mean, how did you came across him?""By chance mum. Please move forward." I demonstrated with my hand like he knew not what that meant.Brad moved forward with his dad reluctantly."After everything he did to our family. I almost lost Arnold because of his wicked act. I almost lost my own life. You wouldn't have been here if not for God Ai because both of us would have been dead by now all because of him. So what is he doing here? Why are you here?" Mum raised her voice higher at him."I am aware everything I did in the past could cost your life and I still kept doing it out of my own selfish motives even after I had a son already." He said lowly.I never knew the cold hearted man I met yesterday could be pitiful."What! You had a son during those times?""Yes, I impregnated a lady during my NYSC. I told her to go abort th
A I's P O V."Do you wanna talk to me about your father?" I looked back to his eyes which suddenly filled with sour. "If you wanna forget your whole past then you have to let it out.""You are right Ai, but I don't even know what to talk to you about than to let you know the wicked of a father I have.""His action could be of the past. Why don't you just make a good relationship with him and forget it ever happened."The journey was a silent one with little breeze hovering the little dirt around."I wish I could but he is not even ready to accept his past mistakes. He never sees it as one. My mum still have yo beg my father for love. I just want him gone forever.""Why would you say such?""I am already used to living without him before he came around to add more salt to the wound. I wouldn't have allowed him back in our li
I lifted up my head to let the liquid stayed in my eyelids. I turned back to him as he stared at me curiously. I looked down to the floor than back to him."Brad,""Yes. I am listening.""I – I was never –""Children, Brayd! Ai!" Brad's mum distracted with her call on us. "Come down and eat. I prepared something.""We should go to your mum now." I said as I stretched my thumb to the door."No! I want you to talk to me first. Is it about what happened to you or there is more to it?" He held up my chin, made sure his eyes was directly into mine."Will you still love a liar like me?" The tears flipped down my eyes unknowingly."Ai, you are scaring me right now. Liar? How?" He quickly pulled me into a hug, and rubbed down my hair."I was never raped Brad. It all lies. He never dig the strange thing in, but he never stops – stops scratc
I staggered down to the living room in aimed to go into my room as I was saved by my dad from falling. I looked into his eyes and tears escaped from my eyes."Are you okay love? What happened?"I cried out then I quickly embraced him. "I am sorry dad, and I miss you," I whimpered. "I am sorry. I have made a mistake. I committed an unforgiving crime dad.""You haven't committed a crime my dear and you deserve to be angry at me. I am sorry love. Just have it in mind that I love you and your mother a whole lot." He stuck my head on his shoulder."Dad, I – I was never raped. I am still a virgin. It was confirmed by a doctor dad. I –""Are you serious?" He disengaged from me to stare into my guilty eyes. He smiled and embraced me back just again. "You should be happy love. You don't deserve that punishment.""But dad, Lina and Kelvin?""They are in
Dad moved out of his room as I was about walking out of the house to school. Our eyes on each other. His sympathy gaze caught my attention, calling for forgiveness. I still can't help to think of it, that my dad was actually responsible for my mum misfortune."Hi love!"I nodded my head and stared at him with strong gaze. "I wouldn't want to be late for school dad. See you later.""I know my Ai didn't care if she got late to school or not. She just wanna avoid her irresponsible father."The word struck my hearts. My father was never irresponsible in his duties as a father. Why didn't I got the fact that all was in the past now, and my mum was finally happy."What if she is just acting like she is happy," I raised my glare at him. "Dad, I know mum said she is happy, but deep inside, what if – what if she is never happy. Dad, did you think I will forever be happy for what has b
I and my family having dinner at the dining table as my mind trailed off to the conversation I had with Brad.How can he expect me to fix his broken hearts while I have mine too?It was so much to ask for."Is this about Lina or your neurologist?" Mum brought me back to life."Huhn!""You have been toying with your food since. Why aren't you eating?" Mum said in a mouthful food.I looked down at the rice and plantain that was dished in front of me."What happened dear? Are you okay?" Dad gained my attention to him."Do you have your past too dad? And," I shook the meal with my spoon. "Does it still haunt you?""Why are you asking such questions?" Dad reached for the glass of chilled water in front of him."I just wanna know. Why must everyone has a past? Can't we just live a happy life without no
"My child, go meet Brad in his room." She said in a more requested tone, with a slight must do voice."But –""There is something between he and his father that haven't been sorted out up until now. I don't want him to have such feelings of sadness about his father anymore." She had my hand on hers with her eyes fixed on it."Okay, I will go ma'am." I smiled in a tight lips then she did the same with a small of her teeth exposed out.I watched my steps carefully as I moved up the stairs like they told me not to put my foot on ground. There was only one room with a black door at the right hand of the corridor. I opened up the door slightly and peeped into the room after a little dramatic action – my fingers on my head then my left and right chest.So boring! Guys don't fantasize their interior decor like we girls. I love it colorful but it wasn't that