rofemiguwa:
Audrey I carry God beg u. Don't let nkiru catch dem like dt. Abeg. Dir luv is too sweet to be broken by dt idiot jessica. Remember gio has seen her make out in the school before! I don't tink he shud fall for her thrash.

Good work dear.

Lol. Let's wait and see. Thanks dear

johnkennedy18:
all I can say is good work.pls try and make de post longer dan dis.first time commenting. love ur work..

That wasn't long enough? Thanks dear

adefunke62:
Gio, plssss come back, Audrey, y did you stop there? y

Lol. For the sake of suspense

Bb4u:





tnx ma'am for d dedication and wishes, I'm more than grateful

You're welcome, dear

**********

Nkiru was beginning to feel like a wallflower as she watched boys and girls dance to the rhythm of the music of the invited guest; Dbanj. She watched from her seat as girls paraded in the skimpiest swim suit she'd ever beheld. Most of the guys had their eyes fixed at the pool area. Almost every guy had eyes on a particular busty female whose bikini left nothing to the imagination -- Jessica. She swam like a mermaid and hauled herself out of the pool. Water glistened all over her body. A guy rushed forward to offer her a towel which she seductively used to clean her body after seating on one of the white wrought iron chairs. Nkiru noticed some guys around the pool exchanging money. She guessed they were placing bets on who would sleep with her that night. They all had the hots for her. Nkiru sighed.

It was Gio's graduation party. He had kicked against it but his dad had won eventually. It was a thing of pride to him to have his now first child a graduate without any issues and a first class holder at that. Gio however was nowhere to be found. He had showed up for the congratulatory messages from his dad and others but had disappeared after that but not before he'd gone round to make sure everyone knew she was his girlfriend. He'd forbade her wearing a bikini. He didn't want the eyes of his cousins and other guys there ogling her. Nkiru knew only a few people there from school, the rest were strangers to her and treated her that way. 

She took a sip from her drink which she didn't even know the name other than the fact that it tasted like pineapple juice with a twist of lime. She eyed the pieces of chicken on the table. She stared at the one Gio had been eating before he'd left to go and get his aunt. She picked one and munched on it. There were assorted food and drinks for everyone to eat. The ones who came to the party only to eat could be seen around the long tables that carried the different meals and small chops. They kept going to sample the different dishes there. Nkiru had heard from passersby that the large turn out was due to the odd but unique way the senator threw his parties. His parties always had a foreign theme, mostly Italian. She got to know that his last party had had the Greek mythology theme and people had been made to dress like the Greeks of old to attend the party. They'd been amazed it was just a simple pool party this time around. They had Gio to thank for that. His dad had wanted a costume party but Gio had sarcastically told him to save that for Halloween. He had chosen a simple pool party when his father had given another suggestion of an Old School party. Nkiru cleaned off the piece of chicken from the bone, dropped it on the plate and took a swig from her drink. It was time to go and search for her lost boyfriend. Feeling like a third wheel, she rose carefully and skimmed an intimidated glance round the huge compound and the numerous people around it. She clumsily made her way into the house praying she wouldn't fall flat on her face from the numerous stares she was getting.


**********


Jessica was Hot as hell. She knew it was just one person she needed to quench the fire consuming her body; Gio. But the handsome stud was nowhere to be found. She took consolation in the fact that he'd abandoned his so-called girlfriend as well. She ignored the guys around her who were actually talking to her b.reasts not her and looked around the party. Was Gio getting down somewhere? Was someone giving it to him in a hidden spot? She excused herself from the guys who moaned their disappointment at her inherent departure. She wrapped her waist with a flowery linen wrap and went inconspicuously to the hidden and dim lit areas around the huge compound. The palm trees and areas around the fence and cars accommodated guys and girls who in the various stages of UnCloth were in the art of coupling but none was Gio. She heaved a sigh of relief and decided to go into the house to search for him.


**********


Her high heels clipping on the smooth marble floor, Nkiru entered the house from the back door due the fact that the grown ups; the senator and his friends were having their own party in the large living room. Dressed  in a pale gold short halter neck Gucci dress with gold Christian Limboutin shoes and a black clutch, she didn't realize how beautiful and sexy she looked coupled with her jet black long and curly weave. She wasn't aware that no one had asked her to dance because Gio had used his eyes to communicate to his relatives and friends that she was a no-go area. He'd silently urinated on her as a mark of ownership and the guys had not only understood but respected that and stayed away from her. She'd been feeling so bad at being alone, she hadn't noticed the surreptitious glances she got.

She made her way up the back stairs to Gio's room. She pushed the door open and was shocked to see her boyfriend on his bed, designer clothes and shoes and all. She entered the masculine furnished room and shut the door behind her. She walked to the bed like a model on the runway and sat down beside him. 

"Mi amore, what's the problem?" She placed a soft hand on his folded ones across his chest but drew a blank. He slowly opened his eyes. He unfolded his hands from his chest and brought his right hand to cup her cheek. She smiled at the love like an ocean she saw in his dark eyes. He sat up and stared at her.

"What's the problem, chere?" she asked again. He swung his legs from the bed and used his hands to rub his face.

"You can't begin to imagine what I saw about thirty minutes ago," he finally whispered.

Her interest was piqued. She bent her head to one side and studied him. "What did you see?"

Gio got up and went to stand before the huge portrait of his mother and late twin brother that graced one part of his wall.

"I saw my dad and my aunt making out in his room." His quietly spoken words made the atmosphere in the room tense.

"What...which...aunt?" Nkiru stammered in obvious disbelief. Gio turned to stare at her.

"How many of my aunts do you know?" He made her question sound stupid.

"Only one. Aunty Peace," Nkiru supplied and Gio turned to stare at the people he'd lost in his short life.

She rose and went to put her arms around him. They were locked in an embrace for some minutes before Nkiru asked, "How did you find out?"

"Remember I went in search of her to inform her a friend was looking for her since her number wasn't going through?" He continued when she nodded slowly. "I went to her room but didn't see her there. I went to the kitchen where a maid I've always considered nosy told me she was in my father's room. It didn't click in my head at first until I was in front of my father's room. What would she be doing in my father's room? I don't know what got into me but I opened the door without knocking. They...they were locked in each others arms like we are presently and...kissing!" His last word was said with fury.

Nkiru tried to make light of it to calm him down. "Hope you excused yourself and told them to continue." She however failed in her quest when Gio left her embrace and went to sit on the bed.

"I banged the door shut!" he informed her. She went to kneel in between his legs, though awkwardly because of her high-heeled sandals and held his face with both hands.

"Sweetie, it's been six years. Six whole years. Your father has tried. Some men would have remarried by now," she softly told him but he jerked his head from her hands as his eyes darkened.

"What the hell are you saying?"

Nkiru got up and sat beside him. She took a cold hand of his in her warm ones.

"I'm telling you to let it go. I don't know why it had to be your late mother's sister which actually looks terrible now but I feel your dad is old enough to have a relationship with whomever he chooses."

Gio speedily removed his hand from hers and got up to tower over her.

"If you don't have anything sensible to say, then shut the fu*k up!"

Nkiru's jaw dropped. "Gio!" Her raised voice carried far in the room. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing is wrong with me. I can see it was a mistake telling you about it." Gio turned his back to her. She got up and placed a hand on his shoulder but he shrugged it off. She put her hands around his flat stomach and rested her head on his muscular back.

"I'm sorry if you're angry about what I'm saying but it's the truth. I've been meaning to talk to you about your hold on your mother and brother. You've got to let them go, amore. It's unhealthy for you to hold on to them like this."

Gio angrily flung her hands away and turned on her with blazing eyes. "Are you drunk or something?" Nkiru stared at him, wide-eyed. "Please don't use me in practicing amateur psychology. If you don't have any sensible thing to say, get the fu*k out of my room. When you've thought of something sensible to say, come back. Otherwise, leave me the hell alone!" He turned his back on her when he saw hurt in her beautiful eyes.

"You're a first class jerk!" his girlfriend yelled, tore her gaze from him and forced herself to walk straight-backed towards the door to yank it open. The sooner she removed herself from his orbit, the better. She banged the wooden door after her. In her blind haste to get to the girls wing with tears streaming down her eyes, she didn't notice Jessica beside the stairs. The latter smiled and pushed down her bikini top a little.

Nkiru flung herself on the bed when she got to her room and wept. She missed Hassana dearly. Her friend was living it up in Dubai with her twin brother, courtesy of her dad and fiancée. Nkechi had wanted to come along but a neighbour of theirs who was getting married the following day wanted her to be the one to make her wedding hair and that of her bridal train. Nkiru felt so alone.

"You really are a jerk of the highest order," Dano said and frowned as he appeared beside his living twin.

Gio sighed. "Look who we have here. What brings you here today? Can't remember the last time I saw you."

Dano chuckled. "You're just pissed I'm not always around anymore. I believe you saw me this evening before you took Luna down to the party in your honor."

Gio frowned. "Don't call her that. I alone have the right to call her that."

Dano laughed. "Really? My! My! Someone is in a foul mood tonight."

Gio rounded on him. "Why didn't you tell me? How could they? How long has the affair been going on? Before Mum died?"

Dano moved away to stare at his portrait and that of his late mother. "Now I know for sure that it isn't your interacting with me that makes you sick. You're really sick in the head."

Gio's fist clenched. Dano noticed and laughed. "You want to throw a punch at me like the good old days?" Dano put up his fists and motioned to his brother with one hand. "OK. I'm ready. Have a go at me," he jeered.

Gio hissed and went to lie on his bed. 

"Gio, let us go. You've got her now. She makes you happy. She's mending your broken heart and filling the void our deaths created."

Gio sat up with a look of perplexion on his face. "What in the world are you talking about?"

Dano scoffed. "You're so daft! You still haven't figured out why I've been with you for the past five years?"

Gio raised the five fingers of his right hand and pointed them at his late twin. Dano chuckled but became serious. 

"Gio, let me rest in peace. Let mum rest in peace. Your refusal to let us go is making us hang in between both worlds. I've been trying to understand without success why you're so strong in the spiritual realm. Your grip is very tight."

"What? Mum is also around? How come I haven't seen her except in my dreams?"

"Dad's hold on her was stronger than yours but she kept telling him to let her go. Dad used to see and interact with her." Gio's eyes widened. "Yes, but he never told anyone. You should tell Dad to tell you the history between him, Mum and Aunt peace. Mum isn't upset one bit about his relationship with her. She's very happy about it. It means Dad has finally stopped blaming himself for her death. She's half way to the other world but you're the one still holding her back."

Gio couldn't comprehend all Dano was telling him. "So what are you saying? How do I let both of you go?"

"Be happy for Dad. Accept his relationship. He has found love again. Let Nkiru in. That place you hold dear for Mum alone, give her that place and lastly," Dano sat beside him on the bed and looked intently into his eyes. "Brace yourself to stop seeing me."

A look of sheer horror captured Gio's face. "No!" he denied vehemently. Dano sighed.

They both heard a knock on the door. Gio hung his head. He really didn't want his Luna to see him in his most vulnerable state. He'd been rude to her earlier in order for her to leave him alone to his thoughts. He knew she wouldn't have left had he asked her politely. He prepared himself for some drama and told her to come in. However it was Jessica in a bikini that would tempt a monk who came into the room. He never knew she was so endowed on her chest and the melons were straining her bikini top in such a way that any sudden movement from her would reveal her n.ipples. Before he could say anything, she quickly untied the knots of her bikini top from her back and allowed it to drop at her feet. Gio and Dano exchanged looks of disbelief. Jessica ran to the bed and saddled him. Gio closed his eyes as she rubbed her bosoms against his chest. He couldn't move a muscle. Nkiru was the cause of this. Lately, he'd been lusting after her but had noticed she wasn't ready to engage in such with him so he'd resorted to controlling himself but he was a full blooded male with a very willing and half naked female trying to kiss him.


When the cat is away, the mice will play.


*To be continued on Saturday.*


Thanking you.

**********

Felix surreptitiously watched his girlfriend as she pressed her phone buttons. From the look on her face, he was suspecting that she was exchanging messages with someone. Someone so important she had stopped participating in the conversation going on.

They were at Obehi's compound. Her parents were not at home so they had the whole house to themselves. The power holding company seized power about thirty minutes ago and as a result of the heat in the living room, they'd moved outside under the large mango tree in the compound with white plastic chairs and a table to hold their drinks. He was having a canned Star larger along with Ose while Ivie and Obehi were sipping malt drinks. Obehi was dressed provocatively in a cream spaghetti gown stopping above her knees with obviously no bra as her n.ipples were clearly visible. He wasn't moved but irritated. Why would she dress in such a way? Was it that she had a thing for Ose or what? It definitely wasn't him she was trying to seduce because she'd never given any indication whatsoever that she wanted to sleep with him. He didn't do fat girls even though she'd lost some pounds in the last couple of months. She really ought to take a cue from her friend, Ivie who was dressed decently in an ankle length blue jean skirt and a yellow cotton blouse. Her beautiful hair was tied in a knot at the top of her head and her face fresh and natural. She was still the most beautiful girl he'd laid his eyes on, even in her casual state. Unfortunately, he felt as if he was losing her these days. Rumors had filtered into his ears that she was cheating on him with Obehi's elder brother. The dude wasn't anything to write home about but he had a car and was working in a bank. Of course, he hadn't believed such nonsense but suspicion had begun filling his heart when he got home for the hols and rushed to her house, longing to see her only to meet an empty house. About leaving the compound that fateful evening, his eyes had narrowed to slits when he'd watched Ehis's black Audi vehicle pull up in front of the house with his smiling girlfriend in it. Though Ivie had been estactic at seeing him, rushing out of the car to hug him, before introducing him to Ehis who he already knew, with the excuse that he'd picked her after she'd closed shop for the day and was waiting for a bike to take her home; that evening had left a mark on his mind. He'd watched her every move from then on believing she'd make a slip soon but nothing thus far. He'd even broken his rule by picking her phone to scrutinize it in her shop when she'd gone to attend to a customer. The phone was as squeaky clean as if she washed it in Ariel detergent. She was a brilliant girl; she'd probably deleted any incriminating message. What was she doing with him then? Not that his father couldn't have gotten him a car, had been planning to do just that in fact until his son had caught him with that teenage girl and their war began. Was his innocent Ivie now after wealth?

Filled with irritation, he touched her hand to get her attention. She lifted her eyes from the phone and gave him a dazzling smile that pulled at his heart strings. He loved this girl! He hadn't looked at another girl since he fell in love with her. He had to at least give her the benefit of the doubt.

It was unfortunate that despite how hard he'd tried, she'd not been given admission in his school. She'd finally gained admission at her second choice which was Ambrose Alli University located at Ekpoma. He'd supported her the best way he could financially but her fees weren't complete yet hence her delay in going over there. Her aunt was working tirelessly to get it together while her useless lump of a grandfather was gulping money due to his medical bills at the specialist hospital in Irrua. Rumor had it that he had enough money to feed the whole village in his Union bank account but was too stingy to want to use it to help his only surviving granddaughter get tertiary education. Felix's mother was particularly on his neck these days to run away from Ivie because of her grandfather's illness. It was said that whenever he was sick, it was time for another human sacrifice to keep him alive. After another death in the family, he'd regain his health. But Felix didn't believe in all that superstitious thrash.

Felix trailed Ivie's hand slowly with his forefinger, letting her know what was on his mind. Since he got back, there'd been nowhere to let off steam due to his forced celibacy in school. She'd wanted them to do it that evening he got back in her house but the sight of her with Ehis had killed his appetite for her. And since then, there'd been no appropriate place. It was either her aunt was at home or her grandfather. He didn't dare bring her to his own house because the last time she'd been there, his mother had embarrassed the h.ell out of her. Taking her to either Ken or Ose's place was out of the question. This was his special lady not those tramps he used to do such with.

Ivie smiled as she watched her handsome boyfriend's finger trail her hand. He wanted her. It was simple and clear. She wanted him too but she had to be wise. She'd been hearing rumors about his exploits in school. Obehi had mentioned it to her a time or two but she'd refused to believe it, but when she'd eavesdropped on a conversation between Obehi and a girl boasting of how she'd slept with Felix, doubt had started creeping into her mind. The girl had described in accurate and brazen details how Felix was in bed. Ivie had tried telling herself that maybe the girl was one of Felix's cast-aways but the girl had spoken of a recent encounter with her boyfriend. She had wept silently in her room that day and slowly her heart had begun to believe Felix was cheating on her when she called him and a girl answered the call. Of course, he'd called back to say the girl was a naughty course mate of his and she was even married. Stories that touch the liver!

And there was Ehis, Obehi's brother asking her out whenever he came home from Benin every other weekend. She'd tried her best to dodge him but since they were neighbours and he knew where her shop was, she couldn't avoid him. He picked her everyday from the shop no matter how much she resisted. To worsen matters, Felix had witnessed one of such occasions. Her boyfriend had been cold to her that evening and hadn't spent even thirty minutes with her before claiming he was tired and needed to go home to sleep. She'd teased him that he could sleep in her bed but he'd merely smiled and kissed her good night. She hadn't pegged him to be a jealous guy because the Felix she knew would have capitalized on their being alone in the house that evening and before she knew it, she would have been naked and panting under him. She'd eventually stopped cringing at the thought that she was having premarital s.ex, something she'd sworn never to do. Sometimes, after the act, she felt as if God would send thunder to strike her along with fire and brimstone. At such times when she was guilt-ridden, she would pray fervently for forgiveness and promise never to do it again but one touch from Felix, she would lose all sense of reasoning which his finger strokes was doing to her right now.

She stared at her phone as a message came in. She assumed it was her secondary school classmate she'd been exchanging messages with for about thirty minutes. They'd renewed their acquaintance through the help of another classmate she had met when she went to write her post UTME in AAU. They'd already said their goodbyes so she wondered why she sent her a message again. She opened the message and it blew her away. It read,

You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you with every fibre of my being, every cell in my body. Please be mine forever. I promise to treasure you always because you are my life. I love you. Your humble, unworthy boyfriend.

When she lifted her head, her eyes were locked in his dark ones. Their fingers entwined and they were lost in each other, oblivious of the other two at the table.

Ose smiled and cleared his throat before taking a sip of beer but Obehi's heart broke as she saw the obvious love radiating like a force field between the two love birds. She'd never seen Felix like this with anyone before. Would he ever look at her like this in this lifetime? The look of such pure love, as if Ivie was the only one in the planet with him. Wasn't she fighting a lost cause? It was obvious Ivie loved him too. Why would she even try to break such love? It looked like a match made in heaven. Was she such an embittered person? Shouldn't she pray to God to bring someone to love like this and have him love her in return also? Hmm...it was time to get Ehis to stop pestering Ivie even though he genuinely liked her. She didn't want karma to visit her twice. In her secondary school days, she'd made a couple break up because she'd wanted the boy but when she'd met a boy who genuinely liked her during her Jamb lessons, a girl had lied and plotted just to make their relationship hit the rocks. Who was to say the same thing wouldn't happen to her again if she succeded in making Felix break up with her? Time to have a rethink.

As she was about opening her mouth after her epiphany to apologise to the couple and set the record straight that Ivie wasn't dating Ehis and she'd told the girl Ivie had overheard talking about sleeping with Felix to lie about a recent escapade with him knowing Ivie would visit her house that morning before going to her shop, the white iron gate burst open and Felix's mother came into the compound. She looked at the locked front door and looked sideways where the youngsters were enjoying themselves. Immediately she sighted Ivie, she removed her her head gear and tied it around her wrapper-claded waist.

Felix groaned. Oh, God, not again! What was it with this woman and her troublesome attitude these days? Was it a mid-life crisis or what? Or a sick symptom of menopause? He rose fluidly and gently pushed his frightened girlfriend behind him.

"You this useless granddaughter of the devil. Didn't I warn you to leave my son alone? Felix, oyehor, (deaf person) do you want to die? I know what I did before I got you. I won't allow one useless girl and her useless family kill you. E ya ka (I won't agree)" As Mrs. Eromosele raved, she tried to get her hands on the scared as a rabbit girlfriend of her son. A sort of maiden dance began as she tried to get to her but Felix would keep moving his girlfriend behind him left and right while at the same time trying to keep her from grabbing his balls again. The last incident was enough to teach him wisdom concerning his erratic mother.

Ose tried to contain his laughter while Obehi had tears in her eyes because she'd been the one to send a text message to the angry woman, telling her that her son was at her place with Ivie. Now she regretted the action seeing the way Ivie was crying and the break dance Felix was performing to protect his girlfriend.


When there is peace in the country, the chief does not carry a shield.

Chapter Seven


Letting go is the willingness to change your beliefs in order to bring more peace and joy into your life instead of holding onto beliefs that bring pain and suffering…
—Hal Tippe


Episode 12


Time flew by like the wind and Gio graduated with first class honors while Nkiru maintained her second-class-upper class of degree till the end. Her mother wept for joy when she went home after defending her project topic saying, when a man says yes, his chi (personal god) says yes also. Nnamdi came home from Aba with his fiancée and the twins came home also. It was a lively affair. Nkiru's mother killed her hens, which she'd been saving for such an event. Even their father made sure drinks flowed that celebratory night. Every member of the family got up to say a word or two about Nkiru. They were all proud of her for being the first graduate in the family. When it was her turn to say something, she couldn't utter a word for tears had clogged her throat. They all got up to hug her and she burst into tears. The love she felt emanating from her family made her highly emotional. Nnamdi who had made way for her to go to school even went as far as buying her a gift. He was very proud of her and promised to try his best to sponsor her masters degree programme if she chose to go for it. His fiancée who ran a boutique also brought some clothes for her. They weren't of the same quality with the ones she had courtesy of Gio but the gesture made her heart melt towards her prospective in-law. Nkiru was joyous that day to say the least but her joy was dented when Gio called her later that night. He was home alone. She wished she had the wings of an eagle to fly to him. She regretted not inviting him to her house. It couldn't be compared to his by a long stretch but he would have felt at home because she was a hundred percent sure her family would have welcomed him like he was one of them. She however promised to visit him soon.

The young graduate braced herself for a long talk when her mother sent Njideka to call her to her room two days after she returned home. She passed the twins and Nnamdi watching wrestling and shouting at the top of their voices on her way to listen to the sermon on Mount Olives by her mother. She wished then that she'd gone with Nkechi to her salon. She thought of sneaking out with Njideka to the tailoring shop where she was now fully an apprentice since she didn't make her papers but thought against it. She was sure her mother would come in search of her there. 

She met her father at the corridor on the way to their room. Her father rarely spoke but when he did, everyone listened. The man was tall, lanky and chocolate skinned. His children had gotten their hazel eyes from him which he'd gotten from his maternal grandfather. The ever quiet man was on his way to the living room to tell his sons to tone it down a little. He'd probably just come out of the spare storage room he'd turned into a make-shift library. Her father loved reading. She'd probably gotten her reading habit from him. The man could read anything. He had rows and rows of books ranging from adventure to crime to thrillers to espionage. He however had nothing to do with romance. He felt they were too sucky for him. Nkiru spent time in the room with him whenever she had the chance. She promised to check out his latest entries when she was through with his wife. The man still had old books sent to him from a website he subscribed to years ago through the help of a friend who resided abroad on one of his many sojourns over there.. He'd continued the reading habit after their relocation to the village to while away his time but now he was an addict.

Just as Nkiru knocked and opened the door to her parents' room, Nwaibiakpo rushed past her to tell their mother that her friend, Mama Precious was at her shop waiting for her. Nkiru nearly danced alanta in jubilation. Her mother postponed their discussion and her daughter practically ran to her room to take her bath. She dressed hurriedly and ran out of the house. She greeted Njideka who was holding forte for their mother in the shop till she was through discussing with her friend. She'd decided not to go to her tailoring shop that day. Nkiru strolled down to Nkechi's salon even though it was quite a distance from the house. She greeted people along the way who stopped her for small talk. The graduate met her sister weaving corn rows on the head of a customer and sat down close to one of the dryers. She hadn't been there in awhile. Her sister was really making an effort in getting the place successful. Nkiru stared at the different kind of weaves and attachments hung on the walls. She kept looking around from the various combs, weave brushes, make up kit, bottles of nail polish inside the show-glass to the washing area until she caught Nkechi's eye at the mirror. She winked at her and grinned. Nkechi finally finished her customer's hair, took her money from her and put it inside one of the drawers of the mirrored dresser.

"Na bank your mate dey put their money," Nkiru teased when the customer had departed. Nkechi hissed and took the towel she'd placed around the woman's shoulders to hang outside on her clothes hangar.

"Fancy seeing you here today. I thought you were going to spend the day with Mummy," she said when she got back to the salon.

Nkiru sighed. "Lucky me! Mama Precious came to see her."

Nkechi sat down on the chair her customer had vacated and turned to face her elder sister.

"Nk, when will you tell Mummy about Gio na?"

Nkiru slumped on the chair and stared at the ceiling. Her gaze moved from one end of the ceiling to the other as she irrelevantly noticed some patterns on the ceiling made from rain.

"Your roof dey leak?"

Nkechi eyed her. "See question."

She laughed and sat up. "I don't know o, Chichi. I really don't know how to tell her."

"You better tell her now. Two men have come again to ask for your hand in marriage." Her sister put a hand on her ear in warning.

Nkiru rolled her eyes. "Na by force to marry again?"

Nkechi shook her head and laughed. "Mummy is h.ell bent on getting you engaged if not married before you go for service next year."

Nkiru groaned. "Lemme start sleeping in church then for my name to be out by November, this year, so I'd be among batch C corpers."

"We're in August. Mummy can pull that feat before November o!"

Nkiru hissed. "What is Daddy saying about it sef?"

Nkechi brought out a comb and started combing her black hair. "Daddy isn't with Mummy on this. You know Daddy likes education. He doesn't mind you going for your masters degree first."

Nkiru grinned. "That's my father!"

"See you." Her sister waved a hand mockingly. "Mummy quarreled heatedly with him. She said you'd become old cargo by then."

"Old cargo? But I'm just twenty na. After my youth service if I go this November, I'll be twenty-one. Masters degree programme is roughly one year if ASUU no do their thing. Give or take when I'm through with everything, I'd be twenty-three. Is that old cargo?"

Nkechi laughed. "Mummy has planned everything o! She wants you married before then because of Njideka and I."

"But you're only nineteen and Njideka seventeen na. Make Mummy free me abeg." Nkiru hissed.

"She's also afraid no one will marry you by the time you have your masters degree."

Nkiru hissed again and frowned. "Does she think I'm going after any village champion? Me, I want a man who understands my love for education o!"

"Then tell her about Gio," Nkechi proffered

Nkiru's shoulders hunched. She was crestfallen. "I'm scared she might be overwhelmed by him. She might tell me to forget about him since we aren't in the same class. A senator's son. You know Mummy isn't moved by money and status at all."

"I know. She wants God fearing and humble men for us but you love Gio and he loves you. Besides, his father has accepted you. So I don't see where the problem lies."

Nkiru was lost in thought for some minutes before letting out a deep breath. "Alright. I'll try my best to tell her about him when I get home."

But Nkiru never found time to tell her mother about her boyfriend. Her mother fell very sick that evening and had to be hospitalized. Nkiru later went back to school to submit the final draft of her project. She later spent a week in Abuja with Gio and Hassana.

**********

"Meh tamu weh fo (I've told you). Ears that do not listen to advice, accompany the head when it is chopped off. " Felix's mother told her angrily pacing son. She eyed him and continued folding her clothes inside her wardrobe.

Felix felt like looking for the devil wherever he was and beating the bejeesus out of him. What did he ever do to that horn-headed, pitch-fork-carrying bastar.d that he had to put sand in his garri? Why had his mother changed her mind all of a sudden? She who had been singing Ivie's praises suddenly didn't want him to have anything to do with her. What the h.ell!

After getting through to his girlfriend that fateful evening, he coerced her to pass the night since it was late, by offering to sleep on the floor which he did. But some time in the night, he'd woken up to see her standing beside him, still fully clothed. She'd told him to come and join her on the bed as she couldn't sleep and she noticed he was shivering in the cold night air. Not one to look a gft horse in the mouth, he'd accepted her offer after telling her thrice that he was comfortable on the ground. This time around, she'd made the first move when they were both comfortable on the bed and that was how their sexual relationship began. He was even more head over heels in love with her now and had even decided to come home to Ubiaja with her to make sure she got there safely. Only for him to get home to hear his mother ranting that he shouldn't have anything more to do with her. Why? Because of the home she was from. She didn't want her only son to be used to sustain an old man's life. Such barbaric and superstitious reasoning was beyond his comprehension. That his church-going mother could believe such an outlandish shi*t astounded him. Who had even told her where Ivie was from? She refused telling him.

"Mummy, I love that girl and we're going to tie the knot in future," he pronounced squarely. No need goofing around.

His mother dropped her dress on the ground and rushed to where he was standing by the door, about to leave the room. She gripped his shirt with both hands and squeezed it tight.

"Gbe meh ah (Kill me) You must kill me before you marry that girl," she yelled at her astounded son.

"See me see trouble o. Maale, abeg free my shirt," he pleaded calmly.

"No. You must kill me today. Kill me now because I won't use my eyes to see you marry that girl and later be used to sustain the life of that useless, wicked, foolish, ugly, old man. Never!" Her voice went an octave higher.

Felix was pondering what to do when his dramatic mother lifted one hand and gripped his private part through his trouser.

"Is it because of this thing you have been using on her that makes you think you love her? I will remove it for you. I'd rather watch you become a reverend father or a monk or even a guard in the Oba's palace than watch you marry from that evil family. The old woman looks after the child to grow its teeth and the young one in turn looks after the old woman when she loses her teeth. My own case won't be different." She squeezed harder with every word.

"Jesu! Maale, stop na." Felix tried getting his mother's grip to loosen on his sensibles but her hold got stronger and he didn't want to manhandle. Just then his father opened the door and sized up the scene from there.

"Felix, useless boy. What are you doing to your mother?" he asked, scandalized.


Felix could only stare at his father. Who did it look like was doing something to the other? The man get high fever abi na colour blindness?

"My friend, come on leave your mother alone!" His irate father moved closer.

"Tell her to leave me alone," his angry son replied.

"No, I will not leave him alone. He wants to go and throw his life away on that useless girl from an even more useless family." Mrs. Eromosele tightened her grip again.

"Felix, I said leave your mother alone."

Felix nearly shouted at his father. What sort of thrash was this? Here his mother was, trying to castrate him and his father was there accusing him of holding her. All because of Ivie. He felt like going over to her house to throw her inside a drum of water to see if she'd change into a mermaid, because the drama in his life since she came into it was just too much for an ordinary girl.

"Felix, for the last time, leave your mother alone."

Shuo! Abi blindness don come for this man? How was he going to escape his angry parents now?

Oh, God, please save me, he muttered.


*To be continued.*

*Continuation of episode 11*

The young man at the door stared with despondency at the weeping girl on his bed. She'd been like that for about an hour or so. He'd pleaded and pleaded for her to stop but she'd remained adamant in her tears. He was at his wits end at what to do. Dammit! It hadn't been planned. He couldn't seem to get that through to her. It wasn't his style to take a girl in such a rapid and clumsy manner. Shi*t! Maybe it was due to the fact that he'd been without a girl for about three months now. What was he to do? He was almost freaking out. Dam.n his third leg! Why couldn't the blasted thing listen? Maybe he should heat up a very sharp knife till it was crimson red and cut it off! Or hang himself on a tree with it. Or better still, go to Ogba Zoo and put it in the mouth of a lion. That would teach the lecherous thing a lesson! What was he saying? All those options would cost him his life as well. No need cutting his nose to spite his face.

Felix slowly made his way to the bed where Ivie lay, still weeping and sniffing with her head bent. She'd tried to flee his room earlier but he'd been able to overpower her with his stength and pleas. His room key was now in his pocket. There was no way he was going to let her go like this. She had to understand that when he'd invited her into his room after her post UTME exam, it wasn't with the intention of ravishing her. It just happened.

Placing his jean-clad knees on his carpet-covered floor beside his huge matress, he placed both palms together in a desperate plea.

"Please, Ivie, sweetheart, please I swear I didn't mean for this to happen. Please believe me. I don't know what came over me. Please stop crying. I beg of you."

Ivie cried on, unheeded. Felix felt like shaking her. His old self wanted to ask her if she had not participated in the act as well? Had she not enjoyed it also? It wasn't as if he'd raped her, so why was she laying the guilt at his doorstep? But that was his old self. The new Felix who loved Ivie to distraction was broken to see his girl weep profusely. This wasn't how he'd planned the day.

He'd woken up very early, nearly dying with anticipation of Ivie visiting him in his hostel after her exam. He'd known two weeks earlier that she was coming for the exam and when she'd called him the afternoon before to tell him she was in town, he'd rushed to his former lodge at Uncle Sam to go and see her as she was staying with some girls Obehi had hooked her up with. Having eyes only for her and ignoring every other person, he'd taken her out.

When morning came, he'd done a make over in his room. He'd washed his beddings twice, scrubbed his carpet thrice. Washed his bathroom four times and emptied his air refreshner in it. He'd sent text messages warning all his friends not to even come near his building let alone his room or else he'd deal with them. Two vim containers were emptied in trying to get his pots squeaky clean. Whenever he saw any dark spot anywhere on it, the iron sponge suffered for it. No wonder when he was through, he found holes in two of his pots and of course, cursed them to high heaven. Angrily flinging the pots through his window, unfortunately for him, both had landed on the head of the caretaker. That had caused him begging and a bottle of expensive red wine.

Later on, when he was sure his room was squeaky clean and smelt like a perfume factory, he'd gone to get goodies after picking Ivie from the exam venue when the exam was over and taking her to his room. They'd devoured the food, talked and watched movies without them feeling awkward at being alone in a room together. Until the devil had struck and had made him move to join her on the bed. And of course, that hadn't been enough, the dam.n diablo had frightened Ivie with a sudden scene from the thriller they were watching which made her jump and the motion had ended with her sprawled on his athletic body. Time had paused, he was sure the moment their eyes meshed and before they could say Jack Robinson, their lips merged ravenously and they'd started kissing each other as if oxygen could be found in their respective mouths. Clothes had been flung helter skelter and only Ivie's sharp cry when he penetrated her had brought him back to his senses. But it had been too late to stop himself. Ivie had burst into tears when he finally rolled over and tried to cuddle her. She'd continued with the tears even while they wore their clothes and he begged her to stop. He didn't know what to do anymore. He'd never found himself in such an incongruous situation before.

Ivie had inwardly been calling for thunder to strike her dead for the past hour but the thunder was nowhere to be found. How could she have been so stupid? So careless? Giving herself to a guy like Felix was stupidity at its highest order. Oh, God, but the kiss had been searing. It had scorched her. Scorched her so badly that all she had wanted at that moment was Felix's heat on her. And she'd gotten it hot and spicy. So hot that only when coldness enveloped her as he pulled away did she realize the folly of her actions. Her tear ducts hadn't been able to take it and it had poured forth its juice. Nothing had been able to stop it, not even Felix's desperate plea for her to stop. It had surprised her to see him begging and looking so depressed. Maybe he really did love her. But what where all those pictures Obehi showed her two days before of Felix and the numerous girls he'd dated? It had made her very suspicious. It was one of the things she'd planned on tackling with him, not jumping on his bed and allowing him to take her virginity as if it was nothing. A harsh sob caught in her throat.

At that wretched sound, Felix moved closer to his girlfriend. His gaze landed on the bed and the bloodstained sheet and he hastily moved it to his weeping girlfriend. He'd definitely bitten off more than he could chew.

"What do you want me to do, honey? Should I slit my throat? Will that convince you that I didn't mean for this to happen? Ivie, I love you and I want you to be the mother of my babies, my wife. I treasure you." His voice was laced with distress.

His passionate plea got her to lift her head. Fresh tear drops mixed with dried ones on her beautiful face.

"Do you really mean that?" she whispered.

"With every blood in my body," he affirmed with a straight face.

"I'm not just a conquest to you? Just another notch on your bedpost?" She blinked rapidly.

"That was my past, honey. You are my present and my future."

"Oh, sweetheart." More tears dropped as she put her hands around him. Felix heaved a heavy sigh of relief. God, he loved this girl. He was beginning to believe what Oghenro had been telling him. Either she'd charmed him or she was a mermaid in human form. He couldn't believe he was going to pieces over a girl, a girl from a specie he'd toyed with and viewed as playthings all his life. But this girl was different. She was special.

The moon moves slowly, but it crosses the town.


**********

Jessica paced her small room in a deep thought. She twined her hands together, dropped them, then used them to rub her face. She was almost going crazy with worry. What was keeping her mother? She sat on the bed but quickly got up when she heard their gate open in their compound at Ikeneagbu layout in Owerri. Rushing to the window, she felt like running from her room to pressurize her mother for details but decided not to. Her mother would come to her. She tried to gauge her mother's state of mind when she got out of the grey colored Peugeot 406 vehicle in a black maxi dress but the woman's face was blank. Jessica sat on her bed, held her phone and pretended as if she hadn't spent the entire morning worrying. Her mother came into the room, sighed and went to sit beside her daughter on the bed.

"Go and get me a glass of water." Jessica rushed out of the room. She missed her step on her way to the kitchen and fell. She got up, brushed herself and ran into the kitchen. With shaky hands, she opened the fridge, took out bottled water and went to the cupboard above the sink to get out a glass cup. She poured water into the cup and hissed at the drops that poured on the cabinet. She replaced the bottle in the fridge without refilling it and took a small tray from the plates rack and placed the glass of water on it while trying her best to make her steps slow lest she upset the content of the tray. She barely managed to achieve the feat. Her mother smiled her thanks, took the glass from the tray and emptied its chilled content down her throat. Jessica dropped the tray with the empty glass on it on her dresser and sat beside her mother. Her mother shook her head slowly.

"It can't be done."

Jessica shouted. "Why?"

"There's a force surrounding him. There's something protecting him. Mazi Atafia couldn't penetrate him."

"Ooooooh!" Jessica slammed her hands together and got up to pace the room. She'd thought getting Gio through the powerful native doctor was going to be as easy as ABC.

"Can't we try another dibia?" She paused to look at her mother who shook her head slowly.

"Uzodinma, he's the best. He's tested and trusted. I used him to get your father and other things. Why do you think your father is still with me even though we have only you for a child? You just have to forget about this guy and try to snag another rich one." Her mother watched as she paced the room, lost in thought. Jessica put both hands on her head like one in deep misery. She paused and shook her head.

"No, Mummy. I can't let him go. You need to see this guy, Mummy. He's...he's...I can't even describe him." She dropped her hands by her side and went to sit beside her mother. "Besides, I can't allow the rag he's dating to get him for keeps. I have to do something. I made them break up before. I'll do it again."

"Calm down, Uzodinma." She held her daughter's hand. "Don't take matters into your hands. If you want this guy badly, can't we remove the girl from the picture?"

Jessica's countenance lightened up like one who'd just received an alert. "Waoh, Mummy. That's a good idea. I can get him that way. Mummy, not only is this guy very handsome, he's rich as well. I can't afford to lose him o! He must marry me. We have to think of a way to remove Nkiru from the picture permanently." She worried her bottom lip. "Thanks, Mummy, for your help." Her mother smiled in encouragement.

When you follow in the path of your father, you learn to walk like him.

Nkiru nodded, and curtisied again before she could stop herself. She stumbled to the door and shut it behind her. She grimaced outside the door. Fi hadn't spoken to her in the whole week she'd been there. She'd tried her best to get close to her but Fi always looked at her like something disgusting that she had thrown up. She'd given up eventually.

Whew! Nkiru let out a breath. Had she just met a senator? She hurried up the stairs. It was time to start putting her things together. After their reconciliation, Gio had convinced her to come stay with him during the hols in order for him not to miss her too much and as a cure for his loneliness. He also bribed her with helping her out with her project. She'd lied to her parents that she was staying with Hassana in order for her to get materials for her project. Hassana had decided to come and spend the hols with her married elder sister in Abuja because of her. When her parents had called the first day she'd arrived Abuja to confirm if she had arrived safely, Hassana had gladly answered their questions. She'd visited her thrice in Gio's house since their break began. Only Nkechi was aware of the true situation of things. Nkiru felt bad about having to tell such a whooper for the first time in her life but three weeks without Gio was like a lifetime to her. She'd never try such again but for now, she'd enjoy her remaining holiday with her boo, that was if his father didn't ask her to leave.

The past one week had been the happiest in Nkiru's life. She didn't get to do anything. They had servants who cleaned, washed, cooked and did practically everything in the house. Nkiru had taken exception to them washing her clothes though. Gio had told her had his mother been alive, she wouldn't have allowed them to be so lazy. Maids came to their room every mealtime to ask them what they'd like to eat. They even made Italian dishes for her at Gio's request. Amazing! The head chef had told Nkiru not to bother when she'd gone to ask if she could help with anything. Gaetano, the naughty boy had laughed her silly. She'd found herself warming up to the small boy. They did practically everything together if she wasn't with Gio. They played chess together even though he cheated. He'd taught her how to play tennis while Gio was teaching her how to swim even though she was scared of the water. She'd had fun but it was time to leave now that the owner of the house was around before he threw her out.

Her first sighting of Gio's house had been awe-inspiring. So freaking amazing that she'd cringed at the thought of him ever visiting her house. The house was big, deeply situated in Asokoro area of the federal capital. The hall was large and light and airy, the rooms leading off from it furnished with a clever mix of classical, old and new. Nothing offended the eye. There were formal rooms used only for entertaining. The kitchen was a cook's paradise, all three wings designed to co-ordinate with the pastel colours applied to the walls. And everywhere you went, you walked on the very best in Italian ceramic, passing between priceless works of art that made one stop and stare. The house was simply amazing.

Her thoughts were on Gio's father as she got to the top of the stairs. He was an older version of Gio. She knew now how Gio would look at that age. Oh, how she wanted to grow old with him. She'd wanted to tell the senator kudos for all he'd done for them in their constituency but had been too shy and tongue-tied at his intimidating presence. He had a charming smile though.

Nkiru moved towards the female wing. She opened the door and walked down the corridor to Fiorella's room. She crossed herself before she knocked. She knocked two more times but got no response. She called the petite beauty but got no response either. About to walk away, she heard a noise. Holding the door knob, she slowly turned it. The door opened without a crack. She marveled at the beauty of the obviously feminine room. She stopped her musings when she heard the sound of someone throwing up. She rushed to the door of where the sound was coming from and paused. Remembering all the insults Fi had hurled at her both in school and in the house, she opted for calling her name instead. There was no need setting herself up for Fiorella to cuss her out. After a series of throwing up, her boyfriend's sister weakly told her she'd be out soon. Nkiru walked to the door and stood there.

A very pale-looking Fiorella came out of the bathroom and sat heavily on the bed.

"Fiorella, are you alright?" Nkiru was alarmed at Fiorella's sickly pallor.

Fi laid on the bed and put a hand across her eyes. Nkiru took tentative steps forward. She asked the question again.

"What do you want?" Fi didn't even bother raising her head to look at her.

"Your dad wants to see you. He's at the gym."

Fi immediately removed her arm from her eyes and stared at her.

"Dad is back?"

Nkiru nodded. "He came back last night."

Fi put a hand across her forehead.

"Fiorella, are you sick?"

"What do you care? Please leave."

Nkiru felt the hot color of embarrassment flood her cheeks. She retraced her steps to the door but paused when she got there.

"Why don't you like me, Fi? What did I ever do to you?" Her voice was broken.

Fi sat up slowly on the bed. "You're just a gold digger coming to reap where you did not sow. I won't allow you put wool over my eyes."

Nkiru placed both hands on her chest. "I love your brother. I swear it's true. I'm not after his money or anything. I just want to make him happy the way he makes me happy. I don't intend being a kept woman. I intend pounding the pavements to get a job and make a lot of money." Her eyes pleaded desperately with the girl on the bed.

Fi pointed at the window where the sun was just rising. "Go and tell that to the birds."

A literal slap wouldn't have shocked Nkiru more. She nodded slowly and opened the door. Behind her she thought she heard Fi say that she was responsible for the predicament she was in but when she turned around, Fi had laid on the bed again with her hand across her eyes. Nkiru left the room. She'd intended going to her room to pack her things but changed her mind after the verbal blow from Fi and walked quietly to Gio's room. 

Meanwhile, after the senator won the staring match between him and his son, he got up and sat on the bicycle and began cycling slowly. Gio watched him for a moment and headed for the door. His father stopped cycling then.

"Are you having s.ex with her?"

Gio froze. He slowly moved his body towards his father. He shook his head. 

"No, I'm not."

"Good." His father continued his slow movements. "You're too young to be saddled with a baby."

Gio smiled. "I happen to know a thing or two about condoms and contraceptives."

"They are not one hundred percent safety proof." He spared his son a glance.

Gio smiled again. "Why are we having this conversation?"

It was his father's turn to smile. "I feel you're too young to be married."

"Coming from a man who married in his early twenties." Gio chuckled.

The senator nodded. "Yeah, and I haven't regretted that for one day but you're not me and she isn't your mother."

"I know that but she's different. Besides, I'm going to come into my own money a few years from now."

"Is that why she's with you?" The man paused his cycling and his eyes held his son's identical ones.

Gio's face tightened. "She doesn't know anything about it. She isn't like that. You should chat with her sometime. You'll find out she's all about making her own money and changing the world."

His father nodded. "I'll do just that. Tell her to stick around 'cause I believe she's packing her things as we speak."

Gio nodded and pushed the door open. He halted but didn't turn around when his father called his name.

"I'm happy she's in your life." Gio smiled and left. The senator burst into laughter. That was the longest conversation he'd had with his son in years and Gio had smiled thrice. He looked up the ceiling and whispered thanks to his late wife and God.

Gio met Fi on the stairs. He tried talking to her but she walked past him as if he wasn't there. He was getting sick and tired of her attitude these days. He rarely saw her and even when he went to her room to seek her out, she wouldn't open the door. He never knew she could be so jealous. And he knew his Luna, bless her loving heart, had tried her best to get close to her. He shrugged as he watched her descend the stairs. He'd give her time. He jogged up the stairs to the guest room Nkiru was occupying but didn't see her. He was however glad that her travel bag was still empty in the wardrobe when he opened it. He'd been scared she'd packed and already left. He went to his room and saw the love of his life huddled under the sheets in his bed. He wasn't really sweaty since his dad had disturbed their work-out so he decided to join her on the bed without taking his bath first. He laid on the bed beside her and cuddled her with her back to him. He kissed her on her cheek. She turned to face him. He kissed her on her lips.

"What did your dad say?" She used a finger to trail his jaw.

"Nothing."

She moved her head back a little to look at him. "No be yesterday my mama born me o!"

He laughed heartily. She was fond of speaking pidgin English which she'd learnt from her time on the streets. She was even teaching him how to speak it.

"I know say you weren't born yesterday," he replied her cheekily.

"Haba! You've killed pidgin English." She laughed. 

"I'm trying, ain't I?" He pouted.

She rubedd her hand against his cheek. "Okay. I give you two over ten."

He burst into laughter and tickled her. She laughed and tickled hm too. They engaged in the exercise for awhile until Nkiru begged him to stop.

"Don't evade my question. What did your day say about me?"

"Nothing really. Just asked if we were having s.ex." He laughed at her bulged eyes. 

"He didn't!" she refuted in disbelief.

"He sure did." He chuckled. "He doesn't want a shotgun marriage for me in case you get pregnant."

Nkiru turned a rosy hue. "I really shouldn't have come here. It was so irresponsible of me. What would my parents say if they found out? Such an indecent thing to do! What must your dad think of me now?"

Gio chuckled. "Take a chill pill, Luna. He knows we aren't having s.ex. I told him so. He know's you're different. My dad knows I've never been a flirt or a player, so for me to invite a girl to his house without his permission made him realize how special you are to me. Just before I left the gym he told me he was happy you're in my life."

Nkiru's skeptical eyes stared at his cool ones. "You're not just saying that, are you?"

He placed a hand on his chest. "I swear I'm saying the truth, Luna. Have I ever lied to you?

She smiled. "No. Well, at least I don't think so."

Gio grinned. "I've never lied to you and I never will." Nkiru smiled and he kissed her cheek but suddenly straightened and looked at her solemnly. "By the way, when are we going to start?"

She was puzzled. "Start what?"

"Having s.ex."

"What?" Nkiru sat up with speed while Gio just gazed at her through lowered lashes. "Are you for real? I don't intend having s.ex until marriage."

Gio sighed. "That's so old school. It'll draw us closer. S.ex has a way of doing that."

Nkiru moved away from him a little. "Gio, sweetheart, I really don't want to start having s.ex now. I don't want to get scared whenever my period is late in coming. Besides, we just have one more semester to finish school. Then there's youth service, getting a job..."

"You want us to wait that long before being intimate?" Her boyfriend inquired with a raised brow.

Nkiru bit her bottom lip. Gosh! Was s.ex going to break them up? She loved him so much and had been dreading this particular topic. She'd been contented with the chaste kisses they exchanged but it seemed as if Gio wanted more. Could she break her promise to her mother for the sake of love? Could she give Gio her priceless asset? She closed her eyes and thought for a moment. What if it didn't work out in the end because of their different classes in life? She'd surely die that day. Her mind's eye went through all she and Gio had been through and she decided at that moment. When push came to shove, she'd give in. She'd give her priceless asset to her most treasured asset- Gio. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth to tell him exactly that when she heard him laughing. She opened her eyes.

"You should see your face." He continued laughing. He drew her closer and kissed her. "I was only joking. My mother made Dano and I promise never to engage in s.ex until we were good and ready. Frankly speaking, I'm not ready for such a complication right now. Let's just continue to enjoy getting to know each other more. I didn't mean to put you on a tight spot. I'm sorry, mia amore."

Nkiru smiled. "That's a relief. To think I just decided to give it to you no matter what."

Gio's eyes softened. "Really?" He broke into Italian and placed kisses all over her face. Nkiru giggled.

"So you've never done it before?" she questioned and he grinned.

"Let's change the topic, please." 

She removed the pillow from underneath her head and hit him with it. A pillow fight ensued with much laughter.

Fi paused and dropped her hand which had been held in a fist in the process of knocking. She flinched inwardly. She'd come to have a heart to heart talk with her brother but here he was having the fun of his life after ruining her life. Her face hardened. They were going to pay for the mess she was in. With a sob, she walked down the corridor on legs that didn't feel strong enough to support her.

*To be continued*

Dedicated to Bb4u. Happy birthday, dear.



*Continuation of episode 11*


Two weeks later, Senator Ekwe jogged down his spiral staircase on his way to the gym downstairs. He'd flown in from Brussels late last night and felt he needed to work out. He tried his best to work out everyday whenever he had the time. It was little wonder he looked younger than his age and as fit as a fiddle.

The handsome man smiled at the thought of seeing his kids again. He'd missed visiting them in their respective schools due to official duties but he was glad he was home. After gyming for about an hour, he would get one of the maids to awaken them and ask them to join him at the table for breakfast. Just like old times. Something was different about Gio. He couldn't place his finger on it but he knew something had happened to his son from the calls he'd made to him when he was away. The troubled boy hadn't sounded as cold as he used to be and had even relayed information about the school that he hadn't been asked. By God, if Gio was turning back to his former self, he would run to church for a thanksgiving. There was a time Gio had even chuckled. Chuckled! His cold as ice, hard as a rock son had chuckled on the phone. Miracles do happen!

Still grinning at the memory of that phone call, he strode down the corridor towards the gym. He was almost at the door when he halted. Speak of the devil! Was he hearing things? Was that Gio laughing? He hadn't heard that particular laugh in years. Was his son losing it again? He followed the sound of the music, moved quietly to the door like one in a slow motion flick and plastered himself against the wall beside the door before daring to have a quick look through the glass doors of the gym. What he saw brought him to a sudden stunned halt. His jaw automatically dropped. Gio, on black joggers and black singlet which clung to his well-toned body was leaning on a girl dressed in a brown and white tank top with pale blue joggers seated on one of the gym equipment and...kissing her. 

The senator blinked rapidly. Was he now the one losing it? Maybe he was still asleep on his bed and this was a dream. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to investigate. Gaetano dressed in a white and blue stripped swimming trunks was walking lazily towards him. He immediately removed his ear piece from his ears when he saw his father and with a big smile, came to hug him. The senator placed a finger on his lips and used his thumb to point jerkingly at the gym door. Gaetano smiled conspiratorially and moved quietly to the other side of the door and peeped into the gym. His smile broadened.

"What's going on?" his father whispered.

Gaetano shrugged and smiled mischievously. "When did you get back, Dad?"

The senator frowned. "Late last night. Now answer my question, young man."

His last child smiled again and the senator frowned. Gaetano motioned for him to follow him and they both took silent steps till they went out the side door to the swimming pool area. Gaetano placed his towel on one of the chairs and turned to look at his father.

"She's Gio's girlfriend, Nkiru Chiwendu." Gaetano grinned when his father's eyes widened. "Yeah, I was surprised too but she's the bomb. She's a nice person and fun to be with. The most shocking thing is that she makes Gio smile and laugh. He's returning back to his old self."

His father didn't know what to say. He was shocked beyond words. 

"How long has she been here?" he finally asked.

"A week. They both came here together from school."

Gaetano's father shook his head slowly and sat on a wrought iron chair beside the pool. He just couldn't wrap his head around the fact that his daily prayer was coming to pass.

He held his son's hand. "Tell me more, Tano. This is a huge shock to my system. I can't seem to take it in."

Tano grinned and sat beside his father. He had experienced the same thing. 

"I don't really know much, Dad. Gio didn't really talk to me about her. When I asked Fi, she refused saying anything. I gathered that she isn't happy about their relationship."

His father was amazed to hear that. "Why? This is a miracle! A dream come true."

Gaetano nodded. "Yes. From her inferences, I think she's just jealous of Nkiru. She called her a gold digger."

"What?"

"Nkiru isn't from a wealthy home. I think her parents might be poor. So maybe Fi thinks she's not in our class."

"Who cares about that?" His father scratched his head. "My son who hasn't smiled in years let alone laugh is doing that right now because of a girl. I don't care if she's from the slums. All I care about is him. If she makes him happy and he wants her in his life, who am I to come against such a relationship?"

"Awww, Dad. You're the best!" Gaetano hugged him. His father smiled and gave him a playful punch on the jaw.

"Let me leave you to swim while I go and interrogate her." The senator got up and stretched his stiff limbs. He really needed to work out.

"Dad, please don't be the intimating senator when you talk to her. Please be the cool dad that you are. I like her." Gaetano pleaded with both palms together. Senator Ekwe smiled and rubbed his son's head before departing from his presence. 

Gaetano watched his father leave with a smile. His fifty-five-year old father whom all the males in the house had gotten their looks from didn't look his age one bit. He looked far younger due to the fact that he was always on a diet, worked out and didn't joke with his health. He had been declared the most handsome senator in Nigeria much to his chagrin. Gaetano laughed when he remembered his father's reaction when he'd shown him a magazine declaring him the most handsome and sexiest senator the country had ever had. Gaetano smiled again as he put down his phone and ear piece. He was proud to have him for a father. Despite some insults from some unsatisfied people, majority said he'd done well for his people and should run for a third term. As Gaetano dived into the pool, he remembered his father saying he was tired of politics and wanted to retire to Italy, his favorite country in the world.

Senator Ekwe strolled into the house and wondered what face to put on. A frown of disapproval at Gio for having a female guest in his house without his permission or joy that his son had finally come out of his shell? He took a deep breath and let it out slowly before pushing the heavy door to the gym. The startled girl dropped the dumb bells at the sight of his intimidating presence at the door. Gio who had been riding the indoor cycle stopped and went to stand beside her. His dark gaze pierced his father's cool one.

The gymnasium was quite large. The senator had made it so because of the house guests he had at times. Some of his fellow senators, his very close friends usually visited and made bets on how far they would go on some of the exercise machines. There were various exercise equipment in the airy room, ranging from a stepper to a treadmill, to an indoor cycle to pec deck machine. He'd spared no expense because this was his favorite place in the whole house, where he could think and let go of his anger and frustration on what his family had become.

"Morning, Dad. When did you get back?" Gio engaged his father in a staring competition.

"Good morning, sir." Nkiru genuflected and looked down at the senator's lanvin-sneakers claded feet. She rubbed her palms slowly together in a gesture of unease. She could feel the tension in the room. Oh, boy!

"Morning," the intimidating man finally answered as he stepped on the rubber rug and came into the gym. "I got back last night. How was school?" He sat down on one of the flat benches and stared at the girl whose facial expression showed she wished she weren't there at that moment. 

"School was fine...err...Dad," Gio scratched his head and his father found that endearing. Gio who had always seemed confident and self assured didn't know how to introduce his girlfriend to him. A smile escaped his lips.

"This is Nkiru Chiwendu. She's...she's my girlfriend. I invited her over to stay with us during the break," Gio finally announced with his hands on her shoulders.

Nkiru genuflected again. "Good morning, sir."

The senator smiled inwardly. He'd better put her out of her misery. She looked ready to faint.

"Nkiru. That's a beautiful name." He wanted to add for a beautiful lady but thought against it. It stunned him that although beautiful girls been throwing themselves at his son, he had chosen to fall for someone unbeautiful. She wasn't ugly but she couldn't be called a beauty either. She was just pretty. He didn't mind at all. Beautiful girls had issues. See his own Fiorella for instance. 

"Thank you, sir." Nkiru genuflected again. Gio's father smiled.

"I need to speak to Gio alone for a minute. Please excuse us," his deep tones voiced.

Nkiru spared Gio a glance and he smiled reassuringly with a nod. She quickly walked to the door.

"Please on your way to your room, tell Fiorella I'd love to speak to her."

jaybiz007:

Happy birthday dear. Wednesday is here already Audrey sweet *ducks for cover*

You better run as well. Just heard hubby cocking his gun.

Bb4u:
Its ma bday at Aunty Audrey, pls show some love...tnx in advance

Happy Birthday, dearie. May the Lord God bless you real good. Cheers.

tijehi:
Audrey, please when are u publishing after the bouquet

I don't know yet, my dear. Haven't even completed this one.

kingphilip:
actually Gio is my carbon copy

I can do better than him

Hmm...

@mitchyy, lol. I always end my post for the day with, 'To be continued at a particular day.' Thanks dear.


@JojoBlue, I'm glad I made your day. Thanks dear.


@Izyyblaze, lol. Your Gio is coming. You're welcome, dear.


@Missmossy, thanks dear.


@prisomic, thanks dear.


@Jonathan2787, I'm glad you like the way it's turning out. Lol. Thanks dear.


@bummybummy, you're welcome, dear.


@djpaparazzi, thanks dear.


@pharmacistU, thanks dear. I appreciate you too.


@Amuj, it's less than twenty-fours away. Thanks dear


@Tife101, lol. It's a pen name though. Thanks dear.


@jessytra, thanks dear


@Loisemm, thanks dear. You should check out Unfulfilled Promises and Waiting For The Bouquet as well.


@all I apologize for the late replies. So busy these days. I will try my best to communicate better. See you all tomorrow by His grace. Thanking you.

**********


The senator walked out of his state of the art bathroom with a towel tied at his narrow waist. He trudged the oriental carpet to his wardrobe where he brought out a white terry robe and put it on. He removed his towel and carelessly placed it on his reading chair. Drawing out the mahogany chair, he sat heavily on it. From that position, he stared at the beauty on his bed. She had an arm stretched across her head towards the head board and the other hand beneath her cheek. She was the very picture of bliss and contentment while he was chaos and confusion. He didn't want to imagine what his kids would do, especially Gio if they found out the sort of relationship he was in. He sighed. They'd all be back soon on hols. He rose and went to his heavily draped windows. He pushed the drapes aside and stared at his compound.

His room was situated at the northeast end of the house, overlooking a deep lawn near an olympic-size swimming pool and cabana. Tall clipped privacy hedges marked the side boundaries of his compound and extended at the high iron fence. Clumps of palm trees, crepe myrtles, and giant hibiscuses were scattered about the grounds, with a tennis court situated on the far left. In the center of the lawn, a little flag fluttered from a short pole, marking the center of a putting green with short, dense grass that looked as if each blade had been clipped with manicure scissors.

The sun was high in the sky and shining brightly down the swimming pool whose ocean blue water seem to be dancing in rhythm to the rays of the sun. His gardener with his shears was pruning the shrubs. He sighed again. Today of all days, he couldn't get Cecelia off his mind. Cecelia, his warm, loving and carefree late wife. He gripped the drapes hard. She'd been a dream-come-true kind of wife. She'd created the perfect home for him; a loving wife with loving children too. She'd never for once complained about his incessant travels. His late wife had been so understanding. She'd practically raised their kids in his absence to who they were until she died. He couldn't fault her for anything except the way she'd raised Gio. Gio had been sickly as a child and had needed his mother's attention always. That was how they became so close, so close that the other kids, heck, even him had been jealous of their relationship. He felt Cecelia had made a woman of Gio instead of a man. He couldn't blame her though, had he been around instead of chasing political appointments which was his passion, he'd have stayed back and gotten a regular nine to five job to stay with his family. Cecelia, bless her soul, had noticed his passion for such things and had given him free reign. He would never forget the day he told her he was resigning his ministerial position to run for senate. Tears had gathered in her eyes before she'd quickly wiped them away. That was the only time she'd pleaded with him not to chase his political ambition. He hadn't been able to listen to her because his people had specifically asked him to handle their affairs at the federal level. He didn't fail them. He'd placed his career and people above his family. His face tightened. Had he known his wife was dying, he would have listened to her. Just two years into his position, he lost her to lung cancer. A pharmacist, a former minister of health and a senator of the federal republic of Nigeria had lost his wife to lung cancer. His wife who had been asthmatic hadn't even known she was dying until it was too late. She'd hated hospitals having spent a large part of her childhood in it due to the asthma and so never went for check ups until her inhaler stopped working for her and she had had to be rushed to the hospital in his absence. He'd come back home from a conference abroad to meet his wife in a sorry state. He'd wanted to fly her to India, Germany, wherever, to save her life but it had been too late. His wife had died a month after she was diagnosed. It had been fortunate that her twin boys were at home for the holidays from their school in Italy else she would have died without seeing them.



He strolled away from the window and put on his television. His vision blurred when memories of the mourning period flooded his brain. His kids, Giordano, Fiorella and Gaetano had cried in his arms but Giovanni had mourned silently in his room. Giovanni hadn't even been able to stay till the end of her funeral mass. He'd watched from afar as his mother was lowered to mother earth. He had become a walking corpse after then. Alarmed at his emotional state, his father had withdrawn them from their school in Italy to his friend's private university in Imo state. Gio had gradually been getting better until Dano had crashed his car into a pole one rainy night. Gio had started seeing things then and talking to himself. He'd had him flown abroad to various psychiatrists and psychologists but Gio had remained the same. Senator Ekwe would never forget the day he'd gone to visit his son in the hospital in a pychiatric hospital in Maryland, USA and with tears pouring down his eyes, his son had pleaded with him to take him away from there and take him back home because there was nothing wrong with him. With tears in his eyes, his father had signed his release form and had flown his son back to Nigeria but Gio had never remained the same again.



He flipped off the television, dropped the remote on the table and went to sit beside the woman on the bed who was now lying on her stomach. How was he going to tell his children he'd found love again? How was he going to tell them he'd found love again with their late mother's sister?



*To be continued on Wednesday*



Thanking you.

She attempted the two questions and her gaze moved round the hall. It was a pen-chewing and ceiling-staring festival. Her course mates stopped calling her name when she kept telling them she didn't know the rest. One naughty girl even told her to ask Gio. In her woes, she'd totally forgotten he was beside her. She was surprised that he was still there. She moved slightly to look at him and noticed he was murmuring to himself as usual. The crazy trait he had was still with him. She'd once asked him who he always talked to and he'd replied his brother's ghost. She'd taken it for a joke then but had gradually realized that either it was really his brother's ghost or he was the one conjuring up a non-existent ghost.

Gio's course mates who got up to submit gave him a queer look before walking to the front of the hall. This was highly unusual. No one had ever submitted before him in the past. They however smiled when they saw Nkiru beside him. The guy was probably trying to savor his ex-girlfriend's presence. Nkiru didn't even notice them on her biro-chewing expedition. When it was remaining thirty minutes for them to submit, her eyes bulged when Gio passed a question paper to her filled with the third and fourth answers. He got up and made his way to the front of the hall. Nkiru's eyes trailed him till he left the hall. How had he gotten a spare question paper? She gripped the table hard when she saw what he'd written underneath the solutions which blew her away. Wow! He'd just pulled a rabbit out of a hat.

"I'm sorry, Luna. These were all I could solve without Dano's help. I love you."

Nkiru had to take a deep breath and blink rapidly before she could pick up her biro again. Who was she deceiving? She loved Gio to pieces. She really couldn't live without him. She'd been fighting it but she couldn't anymore. She wanted her boo back. She wrote down the answers with quick strokes, blurred Gio's personal message to her with ink from her bic and passed it to her closest course mate who was seated behind her, who had been urging her to pass on what she'd seen Gio pass to her. Standing up, Nkiru rushed to the front of the hall to submit her answer booklet. She didn't bother about the fifth question. Her tests and assignments would cover for her. Worst she could get was a 'C'. Letting the grass grow under her feet concerning Gio would be major foolishness. She rushed out of the hall. It was time to kiss and make up.

Gio ignored Dano who was trying to get his attention as he walked to his hostel. Dano was fond of disappearing these days. He didn't stay with him all the time anymore especially when Nkiru was around.

"Stop ignoring me and talk to me," Dano finally said.

"What's there to talk about, Dano?"

"Gio, you still haven't figured out yet why I disappear whenever your Luna is around, have you?"

"I don't have time for this discussion," Gio murmured.

"You calling her your Luna is very appropriate. She drives away the darkness in your life with her light. Think about that."

Gio chuckled. "So you're my darkness?" Dano didn't laugh but stood in front of him which made Gio stop walking.

"Look at me, Gio. Can't you notice a difference in me?"

Gio wondered why Dano who had been an advocate of him never being made to look crazy was making it look that way by standing in the middle of the road staring at him when to others, he was staring into space. He wanted to say so but noticed something odd about Dano. Dano wasn't glowing like he used to. Infact he...he was fading! Gio's eyes widened. Dano was becoming blurry. When did this happen? How come he hadn't noticed it until now? He knew the answer to the million dollar question. His Luna, his Miss Hazel Eyes; Nkiru Chiwendu.

"Gio," Nkiru rushed out as she tried to catch her breath. She'd been running, in search of Gio.

Gio froze. She moved to stand in front of him, walking directly through his late twin.

"I can't pretend anymore. I can't live without you. If you'll have me, I want to be your girlfriend again. These past weeks have been miserable for me. I want you back. I love you."

A smile moved from the corner of Gio's lips that transformed his usually grim features.

**********

The whole hall was agog with complains. Gio ignored the buzz and continued solving Maths on his answer booklet. The students in the exam hall were complaining because some minutes ago, the examiners had told them to move places because some students were coming to join them in the hall. Gio didn't give a dam.n if the whole school was coming to join them in the hall. He had just two more sums to solve before leaving. He however raised his head a little just in time to watch two of his classmates exchange question papers. He smiled. He was used to seeing such. He did the same with Tosin sometimes. Tosin however always being the one to demand for answers from him. Then everyone else would get the answers from Tosin because they knew he didn't talk to anyone in the exam hall except his roommate. No one knew however that it was Dano who told him most of his answers. Dano was the genius not him but no one knew that except his late mother. She had caught on that Dano was the genius while Gio was just brilliant.

He had just one more sum to solve before leaving the hall when the other students started trooping in one after the other in a single file after they'd shown their clearance card to the examiner in charge of that. Gio didn't even lift his head as seats were apportioned to them by the examiners sequentially. Dano was telling him the answer to the last question when he suddenly disappeared as someone sat beside him. Gio continued writing what Dano had told him so far when a waft of the person's perfume got to his nostrils. No. 5 de Chanel . He tensed. He did a dramatic turning of his head and came in contact with what he considered the most beautiful eyes in the whole world; hazel eyes.

Nkiru quickly looked away and groaned inwardly. When she'd noticed she'd be placed to sit beside Gio, she'd tried to manipulate it but her course mates noticed and made sure she got her rightful place. How was she going to write this paper with Gio beside her? She sat back and allowed her eyes to waver without been obvious to his answer booklet and then his question paper. Good! He was in number six. The final question. He'd probably be leaving soon after all, he had the reputation of always being first to leave the exam hall. She thanked her stars. However, she was mortified to realise that their table was now the cynosure for all eyes around the hall. Even her course mates kept turning back with idioti.c grins and knowing looks. She ignored them and filled her answer booklet. When her question paper was passed to her, she thanked God inwardly. She'd something to concentrate on instead of her ex-boyfriend who was busy scribbling on his answer booklet without sparing her a glance again. She however cringed when she saw the questions. That sadistic bastar.d! The lecturer for the course 'Ordinary Differential Equation' had told them he'd only bring out questions from tests and assignments but here were questions from his text book. She looked around her at her course mates and noticed some grumbling while some where bringing out chips from their pockets and bras. The examiners were sorting out answer booklets in front of the hall. They however told them to face their work. Nkiru had never had any cause to cheat in an exam before. What had possessed her into agreeing to go into a relationship with Gio? This was why she'd stayed off guys; to focus on her studies. She knew without any doubt that she was going to fall below her 2.1 grade this semester and might have to give up her scholarship. Could her parents afford to pay her fees for an extra year? It was in millions. She grimaced. What was she going to do? She chewed her Bic biro. She looked at the questions again and realized she could attempt two questions from the five they were required to answer.  She cursed herself again for her carelessness. She usually didn't take chances when studying no matter what the lecturer said.

**********

Gio flipped through his answer booklet to make sure he'd answered all the questions correctly. He checked for his name and registration number in front of the booklet and got up. His seat mate looked at him in awe. He walked slowly to the front of the hall where the examiner was seated. The man gave him a queer look when he told him he wanted to submit his booklet. The man glanced at his wristwatch and looked at him in amazement. They'd started the paper about thirty minutes ago and this dude was saying he was through. He smelt foul play. He was about to tell Gio to empty his pockets when the second examiner who'd been going round the hall to check for those cheating walked up to him. He shook his head at him. He was used to Gio being the first to submit from previous exams.

Lifting his bag from among others outside the hall, the young man put it on a shoulder and walked away. He really didn't care if he made only 'Ds' this semester or notnmake the grade. His past grades would cover for him. He didn't even care if he fell from his first class position to third class. He didn't care about anything in this cruel world anymore. The moonlight that chased away his darkness was no longer with him, so he was willing to remain in the darkness forever. He couldn't believe he hadn't seen her in two weeks. Two weeks! Someone he used to be with every day. And those two weeks seemed like two thousand years to him. She'd turned herself into a hermit. Her number was forever switched off. His messages always came back to him undelivered and he was sure she never read his mails. Gosh! He never knew she could be so stubborn and determined. Hassana had done her best but Nkiru had remained adamant that it was best this way despite the fact that she was was deeply affected by the break up. Gio took consolation in the fact that she was miserable also. Hassana said his baby had lost weight and was getting gawky. He cursed the school for putting a ban on opposite sex visiting one another in their hostels. She would have nowhere to hide when he barged into her room.  If only she would give him five minutes of her time. He would tell her he was prepared to take on the world for her sake, to fight the greatest gladiator for her light in the darkness he called a life. He just wanted to hold her again, smell her and believe everything was gonna be alright. Loneliness and frustration was slowly turning into despair.

And that despair drove him to her hostel with the wish of getting just a glimpse of her.


**********

Eyes filled with glee, Jessica watched as Gio sauntered away after watching out for his ex-girlfriend in front of her hostel for some minutes. She felt like breaking into a dance and clapping her hands in euphoria. From her position at the saloon adjacent to the building, she watched Gio till he was out of sight. His sister who was under a dryer and flipping through Vogue magazine didn't see him. Busy bodies who saw him began commenting on how they were unhappy that he and Nkiru were no longer an item. They'd been so perfect for each other. Some felt it was inevitable while some really couldn't hide their satisfaction at the turn of events.

Jessica felt like telling them she'd masterminded the whole split but thought against it. Even though Fi couldn't hear them because she had ear plugs in both ears, she didn't want the losers to relay her statement to her somewhere else. She'd had help in the person of Brenda who had scores to settle with both Gio and Nkiru. Jessica had approached her knowing ever since the shameful incidence with Gio and the rumoured double slap she got from Nkiru, the poor girl had maintained a low profile in the school. Brenda had relished exchanging the love birds' cup of tea filled with sugar to the one filled with salt which would cause them pain and heartbreak.

The evil girl laughed softly. A fight between grasshoppers is a joy to the crow. She hadn't even needed to use her killer plan that would definitely have driven a wedge between them forever. Gio would be hers, come rain, come shine.

What is bad luck for one man is good luck for another.

**********

Angrily flinging her book to the other side of the room, Nkiru put her head on the table. There was no doubt about it. She was going to fail all her exams if she didn't put Gio behind her. But she missed him so so much! Tears burned her lowered eyelids and she fought them back bitterly. She left her reading table and went to the window. She pushed back the curtains and looked outside and prayed for a glimpse of him. She hadn't seen him in a week since their break up. The school authorities maintained that all lectures should stop a week before exams in order to give the students ample time to study and revise all they had been taught. They'd done revision in all their courses two weeks before their exams. Now all they had to do was hit the books. She had written her first paper "System modelling and simulation" the previous day and knew she wouldn't get an A in it. How could she study when she couldn't study with her study partner? She who used to enjoy cracking a book. How could she study when her heart was broken into two? Yesterday was the only time she'd left her room to the exam hall. Hassana brought her meals for her and she got info about what was going on in her department through her phone. She knew the whole school was abuzz about their break up but she didn't care. She hoped they were all happy about it. Hassana had talked her ear sore about going back to Gio but adamantly, she'd refused. There was no hope for them. This was just the first hurdle and they'd failed to cross it. What about his father? What about his family? Would she be accepted by them? Fiorella had already shown her a glimpse of what she would face in their hands. But she loved Gio so much, she wanted to wither the storm just for him but what about her family, they would suffer also. They weren't rich but they had their pride and would feel insulted that she'd been rejected simply because of her status. Oh, how bad her dad would feel! But wasn't she jumping the gun here, trying to put the cart before the horse? Shouldn't she wait to cross the bridge when she got there? Oh, God, she was so confused. Their relationship had been perfect, too bright, too dazzling, like a day in spring which promises sunlight, but ends in weeping rain.

Slow tears brimmed up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She swallowed back her sobs in the seething silence. Her heart felt as if it was aching. Her tummy muscles contracted in a sickening spasm of frustration, her slim shoulders hunching as she lost colour. She felt as if a part of her was missing and she was living someone else's life, in the shadow of hers. His smile, his voice, his gait, his beauty, his body, his brilliance, his sexy musky scent, everything about Gio swam into her memory bank.

"I miss you so much, boo," she moaned pitifully and turned away from the window to fall heavily on her bed as sobs racked her slim body.

He who fears the sun will not become chief.

"So this girl is gong to come from nowhere to just get the guy we have all been struggling to get? Lies!" Obehi mused as she watched Ivie trying on the things Felix sent to her through Kenneth who'd come home to get some food stuff and other things. The clothes were beautiful and clung to her like a second skin, bringing out her beautiful figure.

Obehi looked around her at the bare room which Ivie called her own. The tattered mattress was on the bare ground while for furnishings, the room could only boast of a very old cupboard, torn curtains and a half-broken mirror hung on the wall. The ceiling was yellow with age and had ugly patches at some places which showed signs that at some point in time, the roof had leaked. The whole place reeked of poverty. The three-bedroom, unplastered, unpainted house built by Ivie's grandfather in his prime had seen better days. Rumour had it that the family was cursed. The number of funerals that had taken place in the family was enough to make an undertaker a millionaire. Ivie, her grandfather and her aunt were the only surviving members of the entire family. Everyone had thought her aunt dead until she resurfaced with her niece in tow some months ago. People had also counted the number of years left for her to live for coming back to live with her father who they believed was the one responsible for the numerous deaths in the family. It was said that he offered his family members as replacement for his life to the god he served, in order to keep him on the earth longer. When the last family member had died, people had thought, now, he would surely die but then Ivie's aunt had foolishly shown up to give him more years on earth with her death and that of Ivie also.

Her thoughts came back to the present as she watched Ivie speaking to Felix on the phone, all smiles and twirling a strand of hair along a forefinger. Envy exploded inside Obehi. After she'd warned the silly gir not to give Felix a listening ear, she'd gone behind her to tell him yes after the playboy had played her like a song. What did Felix see in her anyway? Was it because she was stunning to look at? So stunning to him that he'd broken his rule and started dating. She, Obehi was beautiful too, wasn't she? A black beauty. Was it because her father's wealth showed on her body? Didn't Felix know Ivie was slim because she didn't have much food to eat? Keep Ivie in a house filled with food and watch her become a participant in the show 'Biggest Loser' How can she, Obehi, see good food and allow it pass her by? But, oh, she so wanted Felix as her boyfriend. She would be the envy of all the girls in Ubiaja as they all envied Ivie now. It was unfortunate that it was Ambrose Alli university, Ekpoma that she'd finally gained admission into, not Felix's school which she'd originally intended. But no hope lost. If she played her cards right, Felix could be hers. He was handsome and from a wealthy home. But first things first, she had to lose weight. After trying to catch Felix's eyes several times without success, she'd overheard him telling someone he didn't like girls on the heavy side. Time to change her size eighteen into size twelve, preferably ten. But first she had to go home to eat dinner of fufu (cassava meal) and egusi soup garnished with goat meat, pomo and, stock and smoked fish. Her taste buds salivated. Her last supper.

Ivie watched her friend go and wondered if she was imagining things. There were times when she suspected that Obehi wasn't really happy with her relationship with Felix. Sometimes, she even felt it was more than unhappiness, that jealousy was in the picture as well. Obehi tried to hide it but Ivie knew the difference between her genuine smile and her fake smile. Whenever she was talking to Felix on the phone or talking about him in general, the fake smile would be pasted on her face but when it was on other matters, she would smile genuinely. Her aunt had warned her about her relationship with the girl but since she was the first girl to befriend her, what was she to do? She noticed some girls stopped talking to her ever since she started dating Felix. Where girls that petty these days? He was just a guy for cryimg out loud. Some guy though, her mind corrected her.

She sat down on the tattered bed with the faded bedsheet and held her phone in her hands to stare at Felix's picture for the hundredth time that evening. Love was such a beautiful thing. Who would believe that she who had been locked up in one dead village some few months back would meet and fall in love with the best guy on earth? Now she knew all that had been said about Felix were fabricated stories. Maybe they all saw the attraction between them that very first day and decided to put a halt to them ever being together. Thank God fate had decided otherwise. Was there really another guy like Felix out there? So sweet, so caring, so understanding, so generous, so considerate? How come a womanizer who is rumoured to have slept with half the girls in the village had never asked her to bed, was contended with chaste kisses and respected her heart desire of keeping the marriage bed scared? Girls! They were devious and conniving. The earlier she stayed away from them, the better for her. She would keep an eye on Obehi as well.

When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk.

Oghenero could only shake his head as the tall, dark and handsome guy jumped to his feet and went to open his pots one after the other.

"Guy, why your pots be like say barber barb skincut inside dem? See as dem be like say you just buy dem." Felix threw the smallest pot he held on the rugged floor angrily. A cacophony of sounds was heard as the dropped pot hit the other pots and plates. Just as he was about raining abuses on his friend, he heard a knock on the door. Angela, Oghenero's neighbour, with a sexy bum short and spaghetti top covering her svelte shape, came into the room with a tray covered with a checkered napkin. A shy smile graced her face as she greeted the occupants of the room before placing her goodies beside the seated Oghenero. Without saying a word, she swung her luscious hips to the door and shut it quietly behind her.

"Jungle don mature," Oghenero murmured as he flung the checkered napkin away and opened the deep ceramic plates to peruse its contents. One contained starch, while the other contained banga (palm nuts) soup. He lifted his head and smiled at Felix who was still standing beside the door.

"Shebi you say you dey hungry that time. Go wash hand come," he invited with a wink.

"I dey mad? Even if i first craze. Otomokpor (love potion/jazz) is very real. God forbid make girl turn me to mumu." Felix moved closer to his friend.

Oghenero laughed heartily. "The one wey you dey no pass mumu. Leave matter for Matthais abeg." Oghenero rose and took water from a plastic jug to wash his hand inside a small plastic bowl while Felix folded his hands across his chest, watching his friend in bewilderment. In all the years he'd known Oghenero, he'd never seen him eat a girl's food before. They both maintained that they wouldn't eat from girls after they heard numerous stories of how guys parted with huge sums of money or sold everything they owned just to make the girls happy. He wondered why this particular girl was different.

He thanked God Ivie wasn't like that. A smile brightened his face as he remembered her. He'd thought at first that he would give her a week or two before putting on his deadly charms to get her into his bed but the more he'd communicated with her, the more he'd realized that he actually liked the girl. She was very shy, though she was quite a brilliant girl from his many conversations with her. He did all the talking while she did the listening. He loved the fact that whenever she opened her mouth, something sensible came out unlike the previous girls he'd known who spewed thrash out of their mouths. She wasn't demanding. Even as she didn't have anything since she was still waiting to gain admission into the university and her aunt was just a teacher, she never complained and always hesitated to take things from him. Even her aunt didn't know he'd gotten her the phone she was using. She'd lied to her that it was bought from her savings from the recharge card she sold close to the market everyday to keep body and soul together even though Felix sent her money regularly for her upkeep. Without battling an eyelid, he'd shared his generous monthly allowance from his parents into two and sent her a portion whenever it came. He was that crazy about her.

Two months down the road in his very first relationship, he realized he was in love with her and wasted no time in telling her the precious three little words. Ivie had replied shyly that she loved him too and for the first time since their relationship began, she'd allowed him kiss her on the lips unlike the chaste kisses he placed on her cheek, which she'd grudgingly allowed one month into the relationship. The fact that all he had to make do were little kisses on her lips when his loins were screaming and begging him for fulfillment didn't bother him. He felt like wrapping Ivie in a cocoon, to shelter her from the other side of him, his past and other ravenous guys. She wasn't the type one just took to bed and moved on. She was for keeps. He'd already been hinting to his nosy mother--who'd been asking after the girl who had shot down his eagle--that Ivie might be the one. To his annoyance, his mother had laughed and said till then. She couldn't however deny the fact that she'd seen some changes in her son. Her son who was so boisterous and down-right disrespectful at times was now calm amd listened to whatever she or his father said. She'd pleaded with him to bring her over to the house but he'd refused, saying he would bring her at the rigjt time. He didn't want his mother to think she was like those loose girls he'd brought home in the past.


Ivie was special.

"This girl dey plait my armpit hair daadaa o!" Felix exclaimed to his friend and kissed Ivie's picture on his phone's screen. Oghenero who was seated on his rug in front of his television, watching a movie, reached for the remote and lowered the volume of his home theatre system.

He was getting used to his friend's love outbursts. It was still astonishing to him that since Felix started dating Ivie, he hadn't spared another girl a glance. It was Ivie twenty-four hours of the day to Felix. He ate, drank and slept Ivie. At first he'd thought it was a fluke but the more his friend got into the relationship thingy, the more he lost his head over Ivie. There were times he thought that Ivie must have jazzed his friend. Felix went home twice a month now just to see his girlfriend, even though they spoke on the phone for hours every blessed day. Scary was the fact that Felix showered her with gifts. He never went home empty handed. Even scarier was the surprising fact that Felix, after about two months of dating his very first girlfriend, was yet to see her underwear let alone her unclothedness. The guy was so bedazzled that he didn't see it as an issue and was even talking about holding on to her and marrying her after his service year. Utter madness!

"Guy, your high fever don start again abi?" Oghenero asked his friend who was pacing his small room with a grin as wide as the pacific ocean.

"Oghenero, you no go understand. This girl is tight, as in she's complete. Beauty, brains,  good character...just name it." Felix couldn't contain the joy inside of him at discovering all these wonderful qualities in his girlfriend.

"Hmm...you sure say no be mammy water she be?" Oghenero lifted an eyebrow.

Felix who had taken off his thistle-coloured shirt and flung it on his friend's bed to reveal his ghost white singlet paused for a millimeter of a second before bursting into hilarious laughter. He even doubled over.

"Continue laughing, big foo.l. Until you see wetin pass you." Ogheneor hissed and faced his television, stretching forth his hand for the remote before Felix playfully fell on him. Oghenero pushed him away but couldn't help smiling when his friend fell beside him, still laughing.

"I pray make she be mammy water o. Make she come bless me with money make I no ever suffer for future," Felix announced to his friend as he sat up.

Oghenero hissed. "No be all of dem dey come bless o. Some come to ruin. Who knows if you haven't upset one of them in the past."

It was Felix's turn to hiss. "Make she come ruin me na. Wetin I get before? Am I not living at the mercy of my father? Na kill she go kill me? I'm not afraid of death o. I've enjoyed my life thus far. Any how e wan be, make e be."

His friend wasn't placated. "Do not say I didn't warn you. Do her and drop her like a hot plate. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. All these marriage and future plans you have in your mind towards her won't work. You go wake up one day discover say another guy don enter am while you dey form gentleman for corner. No be only you be sharp guy o."

For an answer, Felix looked towards where his friend kept his pots and plates. "Abeg I dey H. Anything dey make I take settle the worms for my belle?"

**********

Tosin from his room's window saw Gio walk slowly into the building and braced himself for a beatdown. He'd already made up his mind not to throw a single punch. Earlier on, he'd seen Gio walking down to his favourite spot with his sister. He knew the cat would be let out of the bag then. He cursed himself for his gullibility and stupidity again. He hit his hand against the white wall and turned towards the door from the window. He prayed Gio wouldn't land him in the hospital. Their exam time-table was already out and he had to travel the following day to get materials for his project. They'd just finished their seminar defense.

Gio quietly opened the door. As usual he didn't spare Tosin a glance. He went to his bed and sat down. He placed his elbows on his knees and held his head with his hands.

Tosin was taken aback. This was unexpected. Or was Gio trying to make him lose his guard before throwing the first punch? He swallowed thickly and scratched his head.

He cleared his throat.

"Ahh...emmm...Gio, it's not..." He immediately kept quiet when Gio raised dark eyes to look at him. Tosin involuntarily took a step back. His gaze transferred to the door. He mentally calculated the distance from his stance at the window to the door. Would Gio be able to get to him before he reached the door? He slowly directed his gaze back to his supposed tormentor. Gio's hung head made him rethink his escape. The guy looked more heartbroken than furious. He took a tentative step towards his friend.

"Gio..."

"She dumped me. She chose a week to exams to dump me," Gio muttered and looked up at the ceiling and closed his eyes.

WTH! So he'd almost confessed for nothing. Was this a joke? Nkiru who was crazy about Gio couldn't have dumped him. It definitely wasn't puppy love on her side. Tosin took a step back again. Was this Gio's way of leading him on before giving him a beatdown?

Gio laid on his bed, designer clothes, loafers and all. He brought out his phone and pushed it towards Tosin. Tosin hesitated for a fraction of a second before moving to take the phone. He saw a snapshot of Gio and a girl who was no doubt Fiorella and underneath it a message from Nkiru just below the inscription on the picture from the initial sender.

"I really can't do this anymore. I love you but it's over between us. I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore."

Wow! Because of this innocent looking picture? Something wasn't right here. Gio wasn't a love rat! He stared at his friend who looked as if he'd lost his dog.

"This is too flimsy an excuse to call it quits with you. What really happened?" Tosin took quiet steps to stand beside his friend's bed.

Gio sat up and placed his feet on the tiled floor. He shook his head slowly.

"I really don't know. She was pissed earlier on 'cause I didn't say hi to her so-called friends. That was before that scene at the restaurant. Fi and I went to talk and on my way to her hostel in order for us to kiss and makeup, she sent me this message. I tried calling her to explain myself but she kept rejecting my calls. I have sent her countless messages and emails but she hasn't replied any." Confusion and frustration were etched on his face.

"This is serious." Tosin sat on his bed. He picked up his phone and dialed Nkiru's number but it was switched off. He dialed Hassana's number. She picked and told him Nkiru was in the bathroom and refused coming out for them to talk. Tosin didn't know what to do then. He stared at Gio laid sprawled on his bed like a boneless figure. His heart went out to him. He prayed this wouldn't cause another psychological problem for the guy. He'd moved back to the room after he'd had weighed everything that happened and had realised that Gio really needed him. Staying alone would have pushed him back deeper into his shell. Typical of guys, he'd only apologized and they'd put everything behind them unlike ladies who would have continued beefing till they were grandmothers. Gio had even thanked him for indirectly bringing Nkiru into his life. The set-up, prank and all had been a blessing in disguise.

Da*n! He needed to see Nkiru. She might not realize the fact that she meant the world to his friend. Gio was head over heels in love with her. He would see her before he traveled the following day. He couldn't watch such a match made in heaven go down in flames.

"Hang in there, bro," Tosin comforted his friend.


As usual, Gio was talking to himself.

**********

Nkiru was still fuming in her room with Hassana trying to calm her down when her Iphone beeped to signify an email had entered her phone. She was so engrossed in moving from one end of the room to the other, muttering insults at her boyfriend, she didn't bother checking it. Hassana sat on her bed, yoga style, smiling. She'd never seen her roommate this angry before. She looked cute in a weird sort of way but dare not tell her so. Nkiru was definitely on a warpath. The hausa girl rose and went for her friend's phone, convinced the message was from an apologetic Gio.

"Does he think I like the fact that everyone calls my boyfriend a jerk? What is so hard in replying a greeting? What?" Nkiru hissed and continued pacing.

Hassana's jaw literally dropped when she saw the contents of the mail. She was about deleting it when Nkiru grabbed the phone forcefully from her hand. Hassana braced herself for an explosion from her friend. To her amazement, Nkiru slowly walked to her bed and sat down heavily on it. She dropped the phone on the tiled ground and used both hands to cover her face.

"It's over," she whispered brokenly.

Hassana picked the phone and looked at the picture again. It was Gio locked in an intimate embrace with an unknown female on one of the stone benches. The picture was captioned, "See your so-called boyfriend. If the cockroach wants to rule over the chicken, then it must hire the fox as a body-guard."

"You can't end your relationship over this. Maybe it's photoshop," Her roommate argued with passion.

Nkiru took her hands away from her face and eyed her friend. Hassana sat beside her and put an arm around her shoulder.

"A picture paints a thousand words," was the silent reply that came out of her Nkiru's trembling lips.

"Oh, please!" Hassana waved a hand of disgust in the air. "Please don't give me that. At least hear him out."

"There's nothing to hear, Hassana. It's over," Nkiru whispered and gazed ahead of her unseeingly.

"You don't know that. Maybe it's his sister. You know Gio isn't a flirt. Give him the benefit of the doubt. Like you always tell me, don't change horses in midstream. Please think about this."

Nkiru got up and paced the room again. She went to the window and looked out of it at the students moving up and down the school.

"I'm not breaking up with him because of the picture."

"Huh? Then why do you want to break up with him. Don't you love him anymore?" Hassana walked up to her. Nkiru turned to stare at her.

"I love him with every fibre of my being but I can't do this anymore." She went to her bed and sat down. Hassana followed her.

"Make sense, Nk. I don't get you." Nkiru fell back on the bed and nearly hit her head on the wall. She sat up again and used her hands to rub her face.

She narrated to her roommate the different but subtle plots by faceless persons to get her and Gio to break up. The secret notes she got from supposed lovers in Gio's presence, to setting her up with guys whenever she was reading or in the computer lab whenever Gio was around. In the two months plus since they declared their love for each other, they'd been over ten attempts to get Gio to break up with her. The recent one was last week when she got a parcel of an exotic perfume and a note for her to meet whoever he was at their secret spot behind the microbiology lab that night. Gio who had been amused by the previous attempts had for an unknown reason been pissed that day. She'd told him continuously that day that she had nothing to do with it. Someone was trying to set her up and now this. This was the last straw.

The heartbroken girl threw her hands up in helpless defeat. "I'm tired. I give up. Whoever is behind this has won. I can't fight it anymore. They can have him."

"Can you hear yourself. You want to give Gio up because of some losers?" Her friend yelled.

"Hassana, I'm tired." Nkiru pushed herself to her feet and went to the window again. "I'm not in his league so society is frowning at our relationship and doing everything possible to end it. Why not end it now than in future when it would be more painful?"

"Is he complaining? You claim to love him yet you can't fight to keep him. Nk, you're not playing with a full deck here." Hassana went to her bed and laid on it. Nkiru moved to face her, her back to the window.

"You don't get it, do you? He's the son of senator. I'm the daughter of a farmer," she growled impatiently.

Hassana shot up on the bed with disbelief on her face. "So? We find love in the strangest of places. Love doesn't care about status or position."

Nkiru slowly shook her head. "You from a wealthy family engaged to a man from a wealthy family also won't get it." She went to her bed to lift her phone and then she sent the same mail to Gio and told him it was over between them.

"He who is destined for power does not have to fight for it. If we are meant to be, we will end up together. If not..." She left the statement hanging and went to the bathroom with the phone and locked herself in. She put on the shower to drown all what Hassana was saying to her from the other side of the door.

Her tear ducts did what they were designed for.

"Oh, God!" With a hand to her mouth, Fiorella hunched, unaware that her brother was watching her from behind. Her teeth sank into the soft underside of her lower lip and she tasted the sweet tang of her own blood when what she most wanted was Tosin's to keep him from talking.

"Fi," came the soft call behind her. Her head snapped up and she took deep breaths in trying to steady her nerves while staring straight ahead without minding the students who were walking to and fro and wondering why she'd taken the pose of a statue.

"Fi," Gio called again and held her arm. He made to turn her around but she yanked her hand from his.

"What is it?" She pasted fierce eyes on him. He was to blame for everything.

Gio grew alarmed. Fiorella had never ever spoken to him this way before. Was it that time of the month?

"What's going on between you and Tosin?"

"Oh, so you've finally realised I exist. Nkiru no longer around to lick your a**, hmm?" she sarcastically threw at her brother.

"Don't talk to me like that, Fi." Gio's eyes were getting darker.

Fi put her hands on her waist and drew her head back  to look up at him and gave a soundless laugh. "Why shouldn't I talk to you like that? After all, you're just a stranger to me," she slammed back at him with angry emphasis.

Gio raised his hands to shake the nonsense out of his sister but thought against it. He dropped his hands slowly. His teeth were clenched however.

"Don't toy with my friends. You have enough dummies chasing you. Leave my friends out of it," Gio pronounced with care.

"Since you don't own my life, I'll do whatever I want," she responded curtly and tried brushing past him but he held her hand.

In dangerously low tones, he whispered into her ears. "Don't test me, Fiorella."

Tears wet Fi's eyes. She couldn't remember the last time Gio had used her full name. They hadn't had this sibling rivalry in a long while. She really didn't want to fight with him but she was so angry and bitter at him all because of his girlfriend.

A part of her heart cracked and along came the rest, piece by delicate piece. "Why couldn't I make you smile? Why wasn't I the one who brought back the musical sound of your laughter. Why wasn't I the one to soften the contours of your face? Ever since Dano died, I've been trying to be like Mum to you but you've never noticed but she...she..." Tears clogged her vocal cords. Gio dropped his sister's hand slowly.

Gosh! Two female tantrums in one day? How had his life become so dramatic? He brushed her tears away with his fingers, took her hand and led her to his favorite spot with his girlfriend-- the stone benches.

He sat down and made her sit also before putting his arm around her. She placed her head on his shoulder and snuggled closer to his warmth.

He kissed the top of her sweet-smelling artificial hair. "I never asked you to be Mum. You're my sister and I love you that way. I don't need another mother. Mum will always maintain that position in my heart."

Fi sniffed. "I just want us to go back to the way we used to be."

"But that's impossible, Fi. We've lost two members of our family. Things can never be the same again but I'll try my best to make it close."

"All these because of her? Is it any wonder that I'm jealous of her?"

Gio chuckled. "You don't have to be jealous of her, Fi."

"Why? She's just after your money."

"Dad's money you mean. She doesn't know anything about mine. Fi, Luna...I mean, Nkiru is...she's my Luna."

Fi lifted her head to glance at her brother. "Your moon?"

"Yeah."

Gio saw a flash and heard a click behind him but when he turned around, he saw no one. Fi snuggled closer to him and he rested his head on hers. Fi smiled. Just like the good old days. Well, she had something to thank that tramp for. This hadn't happened in years.

Essyprity:
OMG! The Felix part is such a comic relief. Got me rolling on d ground in laughter. Wherever is the toe nail of a chick born blind going to be found? Now to think of d first poo of a frog!
Its me Essydiamond now Essyprity. I miss my friends from 'unfulfilled promises' especially ToriEmanson. Glad to hv u back. There are inadequacies but that's for another day.

Lol. Good to have you here. Missed you too. Please i'm all ears concerning the inadequacies. I learn everyday. Thanks dear.

Finally it has been resolved. Thanks obinnau. Thanks Jonathan2787 for passing on my message. I hereby declare you thread prefect. Thanks everyone for your concern and patience.

CHAPTER SIX

It's hard to be clear about who you are when you are carrying around a bunch of baggage from the past. I've learned to let go and move more quickly into the next place.
--Angelina Jolie

Episode 11

THE posh restaurant was noisy. Students and teachers alike moved about the large place with trays containing different dishes and drinks. Soft music filtered from the plasma televisions placed against the wall from two locations. The two occupants of one of the round marble-top tables visible in the place were locked in an animated conversation while the third was silent as he watched the other two with narrowed eyes containing a mixture of anger, jealousy and misery.

Gio was miffed that his girlfriend was ignoring him. She was all smiles and laughter for Tosin who was seated beside him while he was being treated like an outcast, the proverbial third wheel. She scooped a spoonful of fried rice garnished with coleslaw in her mouth and chewed softly before continuing her lively conversation with Tosin. And the idioti.c roommate of his didn't notice that she was ignoring him, her boyfriend. Tosin lapped up her smiles like a dog enjoying a bowl of milk.

Gio's teeth gritted. He knew why Nkiru was ignoring him. After being his girlfriend in the real sense of the word for almost three months, he knew everything about her. Her mood swings when he behaved abominably--according to her--usually grated on his nerves. Didn't she realise that he'd ignored her so-called friends because they weren't really her friends? They'd scurried out of the woodwork and included her in their circle simply because she was connected to him and dressed better now. He couldn't tell her that for her not to feel bad. He'd fought a classical world war with her before she'd allowed him change her entire wardrobe and bathe her with gifts. She'd felt he was ashamed of her but he'd reminded her that he had fallen in love with her just the way she was. The clothes and gifts were just a way of expressing his love. He had to explain why he never got her anything when they were pretend dating; she would have taken it as payment for her kindness.

He called her name to get her attention. She paused in mid-sentence as if she was trying to remember something but continued as if he'd not spoken. Tosin, the foo.l, grinned as if he'd won a lottery. Gio's eyes narrowed to slits. Two wannabes who were dressed to test a man's libido walked up to their table. They greeted him, Nkiru and Tosin. Tosin and Nkiru replied. Gio, for the life of him couldn't open his mouth to reply them. When they left, Nkiru stood fluidly, picked her black Prada purse and her Iphone on the table, said goodbye to Tosin and walked away.

"Luna...Luna...Nk." Gio called but he might as well be talking to himself. Head held in a regal position, his girlfriend, who was looking resplendent on a dress top and lace leggings with flat gold and grey Gucci sandals walked out of the restaurant.

Gio sighed and fixed his angry gaze on Tosin who was grinning broadly.

"You do realise you're a foo.l, don't you?" he asked as a matter of fact.

His rommate gave a bark of laughter but sobered up quickly when he noticed Fiorella entering the restaurant. Fi, the diva, was of course looking sensational in a Mini Bodycon dress in all over stripe teamed with ankle-length Dunhill boots and a Saint Laurent medium monogramme croc-embossed shoulder bag on her shoulder. Tosin's countenance became that of one who was seeing his late ancestor. Gio looked from his sister who was about to sit with her whorish friend, Jessica at a table close to the restaurant's entrance to Tosin who was trying his best not to glance in her direction. Something was going on here. He couldn't place his finger on it but he knew something wasn't right. He had noticed the stilted way Tosin and Fi responded to each other's greetings recently. The air sizzled with tension whenever they were within two feet of each other. 

"Tosin," he began but was cut off by his friend who scrapped his chair back and got up. He unhooked his black jacket from the chair.

"I haven't finished my assignment and you know we're to submit it tomorrow. I'll see you later." Tosin put his hands in his pockets and tried his best not to look at Fi who was in his line of vision as he walked out. 

Gio's eyebrows nearly hit his hairline when Fi pretended as if she was talking to Jessica but her gaze followed Tosin to the door. His eyes widened when his sister rose gracefully and took rapid steps to the door. 

Tosin hit his hand against the wall of the restaurant when he got outside into the moonless night. He was in deep trouble. He took slow steps from the place until he heard his name being softly called and turned around slowly. His eyes roved the petite beauty with disgust.

"What do you want?"

Fi rubbed her wet palms together and with pleading eyes said, "You won't tell him, will you?"

With a deep frown, Tosin eyed her and was about moving away but she held his hand. When she beheld the smoking fury in his eyes from the streetlight, she let him go. Her heart was thudding a frantic drumbeat behind her ribcage. She felt charged with a sensation disturbingly akin to humongous fear.

"Please." The whisper was softly spoken.

With venom in his eyes, Tosin walked away and was soon lost in the crowd of moving students. 

"Oh, God!" With a hand to her mouth, Fiorella hunched, unaware that her brother was watching her from behind. Her teeth sank into the soft underside of her lower lip and she tasted the sweet tang of her own blood when what she most wanted was Tosin's to keep him from talking.

"Fi," came the soft call behind her. Her head snapped up and she took deep breaths in trying to steady her nerves while staring straight ahead without minding the students who were walking to and fro and wondering why she'd taken the pose of a statue.

"Fi," Gio called again and held her arm. He made to turn her around but she yanked her hand from his.

"What is it?" She pasted fierce eyes on him. He was to blame for everything.

Gio grew alarmed. Fiorella had never ever spoken to him this way before. Was it that time of the month?

"What's going on between you and Tosin?"

"Oh, so you've finally realised I exist. Nkiru no longer around to lick your a**, hmm?" she sarcastically threw at her brother.

"Don't talk to me like that, Fi." Gio's eyes were getting darker.

Fi put her hands on her waist and drew her head back to look up at him and gave a soundless laugh. "Why shouldn't I talk to you like that? After all, you're just a stranger to me," she slammed back at him with angry emphasis.

Gio raised his hands to shake the nonsense out of his sister but thought against it. He dropped his hands slowly. His teeth were clenched however.

"Don't toy with my friends. You have enough dummies chasing you. Leave my friends out of it," Gio pronounced with care.

"Since you don't own my life, I'll do whatever I want," she responded curtly and tried brushing past him but he held her hand.

In dangerously low tones, he whispered into her ears. "Don't test me, Fiorella."

Tears wet Fi's eyes. She couldn't remember the last time Gio had used her full name. They hadn't had this sibling rivalry in a long while. She really didn't want to fight with him but she was so angry and bitter at him all because of his girlfriend. 

A part of her heart cracked and along came the rest, piece by delicate piece. "Why couldn't I make you smile? Why wasn't I the one who brought back the musical sound of your laughter. Why wasn't I the one to soften the contours of your face? Ever since Dano died, I've been trying to be like Mum to you but you've never noticed but she...she..." Tears clogged her vocal cords. Gio dropped his sister's hand slowly.

Gosh! Two female tantrums in one day? How had his life become so dramatic? He brushed her tears away with his fingers, took her hand and led her to his favorite spot with his girlfriend-- the stone benches.

He sat down and made her sit also before putting his arm around her. She placed her head on his shoulder and snuggled closer to his warmth.

He kissed the top of her sweet-smelling artificial hair. "I never asked you to be Mum. You're my sister and I love you that way. I don't need another mother. Mum will always maintain that position in my heart."

Fi sniffed. "I just want us to go back to the way we used to be."

"But that's impossible, Fi. We've lost two members of our family. Things can never be the same again but I'll try my best to make it close."

"All these because of her? Is it any wonder that I'm jealous of her?"

Gio chuckled. "You don't have to be jealous of her, Fi."

"Why? She's just after your money."

"Dad's money you mean. She doesn't know anything about mine. Fi, Luna...I mean, Nkiru is...she's my Luna."

Fi lifted her head to glance at her brother. "Your moon?"

"Yeah."

Gio saw a flash and heard a click behind him but when he turned around, he saw no one. Fi snuggled closer to him and he rested his head on hers. Fi smiled. Just like the good old days. Well, she had something to thank that tramp for. This hadn't happened in years.

Jonathan2787:
am darn bored i wish Audrey can post a little something

Lol. Been busy all day. When i type in a hurry, i make a lot of grammatical and typographical errors. So i'm doing a little editing. Please stay tuned.

fruitfulwoman:

Thanks for making her do it. I wondered too.

Really?