millieademi:

Where

For my house na

Ann2012:
FantasticJ Adesina12
Join me

On the way babee

The door opening snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up and saw a timid Ashley entering her office.
That's a first, she thought.
Ashley was always the bold and never back down kind of girl. She never admitted wrong or apologized. The only people Dolapo had seen Ashley bend her will for were Charles and her late grandfather. She wondered what Ashley would say. Probably another justification for her treacherous act.

"Hi, can I come in?", Ashley's voice said a little above a whisper.
"You're already in. Please take a seat and let's get on with it. Not all of us run five star restaurants that get patronized by the creme de la creme. Some of us have to rack our brains before we make any money.", Dolapo sassed.

Why on Earth did I say that?, she chided herself for being rude.

"Inspiration's scarce?", she asked as she walked to the desk and sat on a chair in front of it. "Remember whenever you couldn't think of anything, we'd buy ice cream and watch animation or live action fairy tale movies.", she said hopefully.

"I doubt you left your chef's jacket and your hat just to come over here to reminisce. Let's cut the chitchat, Ashley. Why are you, here?", she snapped.

"Dolapo, I'm trying here. Meet me halfway.", Ashley pleaded with a soft voice.

"Oh! Were you hoping to come here and tell a few stories from the past and I'd sweep what you did under the carpet and you can go on merryway?", she whisper-yelled.

"Dolly, I..."

"No, Ashley! This isn't about you. This is about me. About what you did to me. I still don't remember what happened that night." A few tears ran down her face and she hurriedly wiped them off.

"Every night I re-live what that bastard did to me. But it's all vague. All I see are scary pictures. And you were there. You were sober. You knew I was drunk, you knew I was a virgin and you let me go with him. Friends are supposed to protect each other, to save each other. And you stood there and let me go with him.", she ranted.

"Dolapo, I'm sorry. I'd write it across the sky if I could. Forgive me.", she whispered.

"Wow! That's a first.", she said with her voice poisoned with cynism. " Are you dying or something?"

"No. I realized just how much I hurt my best friend and how much I'm miserable without her.", Ashley answered.

Feeling the ice and anger in her heart melting, she said, "All that mushy talk won't work on me."

"Yes, it will.", Lydia's voice piped up from the door.

"What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't miss the reconciliation and reunion of two friends.", she answered. "Plus, I need my life back."
"Ever since you guys fought, she's been working us to death like a slave master.", Lydia said to Ashley.

"That's not true. Get back to work. I don't pay you to watch reconciliations and reunions.", Dolapo answered.
"See what I mean. Slave master.", she muttered and left the office leaving Ashley giggling.

"It's not funny. I don't get why you're laughing.", Dolapo snapped, irritated.

"Because you haven't changed."

"Well, people don't change in the span of two months."
"I'd beg to differ. Dolly, I'm sorry and I miss you. Can we kiss and make up already? I'm sorry I left you with Julian or whatever his name was. I'm sorry for not protecting you or saving you. I'm sorry I proved unreliable. Please. I've said sorry 5 times already. You know how had it is for me to say that word. Please forgive me."

"I'd think about it.", Dolapo said and crossed her arms over her chest. "If that's all I'm very busy."

"Dolly, please."

"Ashley, I said I'd think about it."

Ashley sighed and left the room. She knew she could never tell Dolapo what really happened that night. She'd despise her. And if Charles found out, she knew she'd lose him.

Thanks for the update dear

Ann2012:
Izaray, skubido, Emex100, prudysara, toyhin123 come and read oooo

Thanks sis, lemme go get some popcorn.

Thanks for the update

***************
The elderly man looked at his wife and knew he was in for one hell of a night. He most definitely wasn't going to bend. He wasn't a child to be told to apologise for his words. He was in a perfect frame of mind when he said what he told his daughter-in-law.
"Tomi." Silence followed his call. "Tomike" Further silence. "I know you can hear me."

"Anthony, what do you want? Your dinner is before you. Your office is upstairs and the bed is well made. I've told you so long as you don't make up with Charles things won't be the same. I've been begging and grovelling for two years. You're so proud and wicked and selfish and right now I don't give a shit anymore. For your information, I'm leaving the house tomorrow on an indefinite vacation. You can have the house together with your gigantic ego. I hope it fits!", she snapped and left the dinning room.

He stared in shock as his wife left. He had been told that when women had been married for so long and were secure in the marital home, they practically began to call the shots. He had never heard Tomi curse in over three decades.

Well, she'd get over it.

*************
Dola looked at the tray in her hands and giddily pressed the doorbell again. She had finally gotten the hang of making chocolate chip cookies and she decided to share it with her neighbour's children Nothing gave her more joy than having people enjoy the meals she prepared and making children happy. And you could never go wrong with chocolate, right?

"Olori buruku wo l'on te bell bi eni ti o ri bell ri?", her neighbour cursed. Dola gasped and gulped and answered, "Sorry to disturb you ma, it's your neighbor."

"Were yen tun soro?", the woman shouted and pounded her way to the door and unlocked it.

Dola believed the woman didn't hear her and beamed at her. They had not quarrelled hence she couldn't possibly be the object of the woman's hostility but the glare on the woman's face was slowly convincing her otherwise.

"It's me, ma.", Dola greeted.

“I know it's you. Ehen? What do you want?”
Dola faltered a bit before continuing, "I was baking and I had excess cookies so I decided to give my babies."

"Ehn? Your babies? Abi what did I hear you say? Your babies ko, your babies ni. Go and get your babies from the coven you sacrificed them to. Oh, you want to donate my children too like you did with all the children you could have borne your husband. No thank you. I don't want.", the neighbor hurled.

"Mummy James, you…"

"Kini? Be doing like angel that cannot hurt a fly but your witchcraft doesn't work on me. Save it for your husband. Go and give him the poison you concocted. My children will not be sacrificed too. Go and find some other children.", the younger woman put in and slammed the door in her face.

Dola's heart wrenched and her lungs released all the air in them. Her knees buckled and her hands grew unsteady. Her brain managed to get her feet to move. Tears racked her body causing her to shake all over. The tray fell out of her hands. She bent and tried to pick the cookies but she couldn't get her fingers to move coordinately. Tears clouded her vision as tried unsuccessfully to pick the cookies and put them back on the tray. While her fingers kept on fumbling the assignment before her, she was in another time.

She recalled how her mother-in-law spoke to her just the day before. The woman had called her a basket, an unprofitable venture. Now her neighbor saw her as a witch. All she had ever wanted was a happy family. Like the one her parents had. A loving husband and one child. She didn't want to jinx it by asking for more than one. But now she felt like everything they said about her was true.

She didn't feel his arms encircle her or hear him call her name. All she heard was the voice of her mother-in-law and her neighbor saying ‘basket, unprofitable venture, witch.’ She was suddenly jostled out of her thoughts when he shook her.

"Dola…", he called concerned.

"They're right.", she answered and stood up.

" Who is right?", he asked hoping his thoughts were wrong.

"Everybody. Mummy, Eve, James's mother. Everyone is right. I am barren. I can't ever have children.", she croaked

"Dola, don't say that. We are to think positively.", he chided and stood to face her.

"Ofere, you don't believe that, do you? Think positively? Who invented that brain washing technique? I have to hand it to them. They're good. Think positively? Think positively about what? We've been thinking positively for 10 years! 10 years! I've not even had a stillborn, only pseudocyesis. I've been thinking so much that my brain goes on to deceive me and make me believe I'm pregnant.", she ranted. She paused for breath and continued, "I mean…." Her voice broke and fresh tears hit her. "I'll never forget the look on your face when we discovered that I wasn't really in labour but just my body making me believe I was pregnant."

"Dola…", he called softly.

"I'm just tired, Ofere. I'm tired.", she put in finally and broke into sobs. "One child, Ofere, just one and I'll be content. I won't ever ask for anything else. I want my arms to cradle and rock a baby too. A baby that I gave birth to. Is it too much to ask for? I can't count the number of times I dance at people's baby dedications and naming ceremonies. I see the way you play with the children when you come to check up on me in the children's department. The joy and the ecstasy on your face is something I never see here at home. I want to be able to give you that. I… I… feel s-s-so useless as a wife and…."

She broke down as sobs overcame her. He hugged her close.

Thanks for the update

*******************

Dolapo looked at the colour swatches and sample materials on her desk and decided to give into sleep's call. She walked over to the lovers seat she had brought into her office for this exact purpose and laid down.

Just for 15 minutes, she told herself.

Sleep claimed her as soon as she closed her eyelids like a properly orchestrated ambush. For the first few minutes it was just peaceful nothingness until inks of color began to warp into her consciousness taking her back in time to a few months ago.

She saw herself sitting at a bar. The bar was all too familiar with it's dark brown wooden counter and the sexy white bartender whose shirt had a few buttons undone. She looked at the different shapes and sizes of glasses in front of her.

She had wanted to try different cocktail. She had had a Negroni, an Old fashioned, a Margarita, a Pina colada, a Manhattan, a Sex on the Beach and now she was trying a Bloody Mary. This was her least favorite. Like clockwork, she saw herself cringe as she sipped the drink and the bartender stiffle a laugh.

"Are you mocking me?", she slurred.

"I, most definitely, am not.", he answered in mock deference.

"You are. You're mocking me. I could have you fired for this." she said trying to sound outraged. "Where is the manager?", she hollered.

"Now now dear. We don't need to disturb the manager.", a sultry voice from behind her called. She turned and met the owner of the sexy voice.

"Oh my God.!", she exclaimed. Right in front of her was one of her celebrity designer crushes. "Ok, Julian.", she turned to face the bartender. "I think I'm drunk and seeing things. I just imagined Leo Smith Anderson. Can you call a cab? If I'm already hallucinating, then my hangover is going to be one great one.", she said.

The man behind her burst into laughter. "You must have had quite a lot to drink.", he put in and slipped into a stool beside her.

“Somebody pinch me.”, she squealed and closed her eyes in anticipation for a pinch.

"I'd rather kiss you but then since you asked for a pinch.", he said and pinched her arm.

"Oh my God! I'm not hallucinating.", she squealed even louder. Julian was afraid the pitch would break the glasses hanging behind him.

Out of the blues, a blonde lady stormed up to Dolly and her companion. She stamped her feet so hard as she walked that it was a wonder that she didn't break the heels due to the impact.
"So this is why you cancelled dinner. To Bleep with some cheap black slut!", she screamed drawing attention to them.

"W-wait, did she just call me cheap and a slut?", Dolapo asked the bartender and turned to face the blonde girl.

"Stephanie, calm down. This is not what you think.", Leo stood and said to the blonde woman. He stretched out his arms and walked to her slowly as if she were a terrorist holding the detonator to a bomb.

"Leo, I trusted you and you did this. Why?!", she said slowly on the brink of tears. Dolapo was fazed as she saw the girl go from 100 degrees Celsius to 0 degrees Celsius in a nanosecond.

"And you've met Stephanie. She's a regular here. She's manic. She goes from 0 to 100 in a second. She can be in a relationship with you by eight, breakup with you before lunchtime and go on a first date with another guy before rush hour. Anything she says, blame it on her being psycho.", Julian explained as he wiped down the counter.

"Ok? Can I get something stronger?", she asked still bewildered.

"How about some scotch?", he asked.
"That'll be fantastic.", she answered.


Moments later, she was wasted and clinging onto Julian as they walked- no, he walked and she staggered- through the crowd on the dance floor to the VIP area where Ashley was having a conversation with a man.

"Yo, Ash!", she hollered.

"Hey, who's this with you?", Ashley asked.

"This here is Julian. He's a bartender. His shift is over and we're going to his place to continue the cocktail tasting. Do you think I should go.", Dolly slurred.

“Of course dear. Have fun.”, Ashley chirped and continued her conversation.

The terrifying part of the nightmare was seeing the people in masks and the bright light. They were so eerie. And she always woke up then.

Enjoying this story... well done OP

nice updates.. who's sharing the popcorn o..am siting right here..

Another masterpiece
Just started reading it
Thanks Milliademi

Chapter 4

Ofere watched his wife sleep after he had given her a tranquilizer and wondered when it would happen for them. They were faithful Christians. They had prayed, fasted and believed God for the fruit of the womb ever since they got married. All his life, the only woman he had ever loved and wanted to have a family with was Ayodola. She was the perfect illustration of the Proverbs 31 wife.

He smiled and remembered how he met her. She had rushed in late for her sister's Valedictory Ceremony. Apparently, her seat was the one reserved next to his. What caught his attention about her was her politeness. As she walked to her seat beside him, she kept on mumbling please, sorry and thank you till she made it to her seat. When she sat she greeted the older woman on her left and then him.

The first thing came to his mind was that she was way too young to be a parent. She whipped up her phone and started texting someone named Dolly ❤️�. He had smiled and thought women and emoticons. He curiously watched her text emphatically.

Dolly ❤️ �: Where are you? Are you still coming? Please make it down here. I will never forgive if you don't.

Lady: I'm here already. Calm down.

Dolly ❤️ �: Yippee!!! I love you mum����� Where are you sitting?

Lady: On the twelfth row, counting from the door. On the fourth seat.

Dolly ❤️�: Ok, I'm coming with my friends.


He had looked away before she looked up. She was a teenager's mother? She didn't look above 25. He shook his head and thought she was probably one of those women who looked way younger than they were. He looked at her left hand and saw no ring. She was probably divorced. She seemed nice. But then women could be one thing on the outside and a harpy on the inside. The next he heard was a band of giggling girls coming their way. He turned and saw his sister and some girls. He noticed that one of the girls was waving at him. He didn't know her. She was probably waving because he was her friend's brother so he waved back.

"Sorry but she's waving at me.", the woman beside him said softly.

"Oh. She was with my sister so I thought…. I'm sorry. I hope you don't think I'm hitting on your daughter.", he apologized quickly.

"No.", she said laughing.

"Mummy!", the girl he assumed to be Dolly called.

"Good afternoon ma.", the girls chorused.

"Good afternoon, sir.", they greeted again.

"Hey. Good afternoon girls. Happy graduation, Dolly. Happy graduation girls.", the woman said.

"Good afternoon ladies.", he greeted.

"Mummy, these are Mary, Onyinye and Eve.", Dolly introduced.

"It's nice to finally put faces to your names. Dolly has been telling me so much about you guys. I thought you guys were five. Where's Ashley?", Dolly's mother asked.

"Ashley had to travel for her campus tour schedule for Monday.", Eve explained.

"Mummy, this is Eve's older brother.", Dolly introduced.

"You don't say? It's nice to meet you.", she said and extended her hand.

"Likewise, Mrs…", he said as he shook her hand.

"Just call me Dola. Ayodola.", she said.

"Well, I'm Ofere then.", he said.

"Mummy, can we take pictures now?", Dolly asked.

"Sure.", Dola put in.

"Brother Ofere, see. Everyone is taking pictures. Please.", Eve begged.

"I don't take pictures, you know that.", he said quietly.

"Please.", the girls chorused and Dola joined them.

"She won't graduate from secondary school again.", Dola pointed out.

"I can't.", he said shyly.

"Yes, you can and you will.", Dola said and pulled him up as she stood. "Please, from one guardian to another.", she begged.

"Ok fine.", he said and the girls squealed in delight.

"Thank you ma.", Eve said.

"It's nothing, dear.", Dola said.

They walked out of the hall to courtyard. He noticed how Dolly clung to her mum's side. She had to be a single mother. She probably had Dolly as a teenager and luckily for her, she was able to pull herself out of the shame and make something out of herself. They had a photographer take pictures of them. They took close to thirty pictures. Ayodola offered to pay for all the copies of the pictures but he turned her down. She argued with him till they both decided to split the cost. She gave the girls money to get some barbecue and ice cream being sold in concessions stands.

He walked back to the hall with Ayodola and they got talking. She was an accountant and she owned her own firm. He wanted to ask her age but thought against it. He felt it might offend her. He mentioned that he was into business but his brother was handling the business as he was in medical school. She was impressed that he was pursuing his dream despite his age. He could remember he enjoyed watching her smile and laugh at his jokes. He loved the way her eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled and laughed.

He wanted to ask for her number but before he could Dolly came to drag her mum away for the dinner she promised her. He was bummed he lost out on an opportunity with a seemingly good woman.

He walked back to the hall with Ayodola and they got talking. She was an accountant and she owned her own firm. He wanted to ask her age but thought against it. He felt it might offend her. He mentioned that he was into business but his brother was handling the business as he was in medical school. She was impressed that he was pursuing his dream despite his age. He could remember he enjoyed watching her smile and laugh at his jokes. He loved the way her eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled and laughed.

He wanted to ask for her number but before he could Dolly came to drag her mum away for the dinner she promised her. He was bummed he lost out on an opportunity with a seemingly good woman.

He didn't meet her again till he helped Eve move into the hostel once she got admission. He had dragged her to lunch together with Eve and Dolapo. He made sure to collect her number before they parted ways that day. He made sure to keep a day free for her, a day he could take her out. She went out with him. While she saw it as a simple platonic friendship, he was bidding his time till he asked her to be his girlfriend. He wanted her to be comfortable with him enough to tell him about her previous marriage.

It never came up for the seven months he courted her. He was sad but he was even sadder when and how he found out.

Dolapo was in her second year in the university. She didn't get a bedspace in any of the school hostels and Dola was not comfortable getting an apartment or a space for her in a private hostel. Hence, she was going to school from home. He was about climbing into his bed in his apartment in Surulere when he got a call from Dola.

"Hello.", he sighed softly as he picked the call.

"Ofere, hi. Good evening.", she called with her voice quivering and laden with fear. Panic gripped him and sleep vanished from his eyes.

"Dola, what is it?", he asked in concern.

"I-I-I am sorry to disturb you. I know it's late but is Dolly over there?", she asked with her voice cracking.

"Uh, no. She's not back yet?", he asked in worry as he checked the time on his bedside clock. It was ten minutes to twelve.

"No. I… We …. I had a meeting that ended late. I got home late. When I got home, she wasn't back from school. The driver said she told him to go home without her that she was going to read overnight with her friends. I've been calling her since but she didn't answer any of my calls. None of her friends are picking too. Eve too. I hope nothing happened to her. I… We had a fight this morning and…", she managed to say before breaking down into soft sobs.

"It's okay, Dola. Give me a minute. I'll call Evie and find out where she is. Keep calm, okay. Maybe she's just angry and she asked her friends not to pick your calls. You know how these teenagers can be. Just be calm. She could probably be in school.", he advised soothingly.

"Okay. Please let me know as soon as you get in touch with Eve. Please.", she begged in desperation.

"Of course, Dola.", he said and hung up.


He dialed his sister's number and she picked up almost immediately. He could hear the mirth in her voice as she spoke.

"Hey, big bro.", she said.

"Hey, Evie. What's going on?", he said as he laughter booming from the other end of the line.

"My roomies and I were gisting. What's up? Did God reveal to you that your baby sis is broker than a church rat? Because I am. Bro Ofere, I'm broke eh. A church rat is like Bill Gates beside me.", she jabbered.

He chuckled lightly. "Me gan sef church rat. If you shake me, I swear even Herbert Macaulay will not fall from me.", he said.

"Bro. Ofere, don't do like this. If you don't take care of your younger sister, who will?", she whined.

"Abeg, baby girl, I will send you something small on Friday. Is Dolly there?", he said.

"Ehn….", she drawled in confusion. He heard the slight hitch in her voice before she spoke. "Did you say Dolly?"

"Ehnehn, Polly the scarecrow.", he sarcastically. "I know you want to lie so you better tell me the truth."

"Bro, I don't know what you are talking about.…"

"Evie, if you lie to me, kiss your allowance goodbye. Tell me the truth. She's there, isn't she?", he scolded.

"Bro Ofere, I don't want to be a snitch. Why are even asking?", she asked.

"I ask the questions, Eve. Where is she?"

"Bro. Ofere, she's not. I… She went to a club with some of her former roommates."

He sighed in disappointment. "Which club?"

"I didn't ask but I can call one of the girls she went with to ask.", she said.

"Do that and call me immediately, Evie. Evie, call me.", he said.

"Okay. But I still get my allowance, right?", she asked.

"Just call me.", he said and hung up.

Chai
Milli
Milli

Thanks for the update ma'am

Not long after Eve had called him back to give him the name of the club and the address. He got changed and left his apartment. He called Dola on his way to her place. He drove her to the club and they dragged her out of the club and he drove them home. As he pulled up in front of their house, Dolly jumped out of the car and stomped into the house grumbling and pretending not to hear Dola calling her back. Her impenitence compelled him to stay just so he could teach her some discipline. Apparently, Dola had spoiled the girl rotten.

"Dolly, I'm talking to you.", Dola's weak voice shouted.

"What do you want, Dola?", the girl shouted back and Ofere's head spun. How dare she call her mother by her name?

"Dolapo!", he said and slapped her. "Show some respect."

The girl had fired on as though the slap was fuel to the raging fire in her.

"Who are you to hit me?", she fired at him.

"You will not talk to your mother like that. Not in my presence.", he shouted at her.

"Mother? She is not my mother. How could she be? The first man that shows her attention and she's forgotten all about her little sister. She's not worthy to be called my mother. I thought it was the two of us against the world but it's obvious you don't really care about me.", Dolly hurled and ran up the stairs with tears in her eyes.

He turned confused to Dola. She was expressionless and sat on a step on the stairs. He sat beside her in the awkward silence.

"This is the first time she called me her sister.", Dola said in breathy sob.

"You're sisters?", he asked and she nodded and ran her hands up and down her legs in restlessness.

"I was ten when my parents had her. Six years later, my parents died. I raised her on my own and she's called me mum ever since. I… She doesn't see me as her mum anymore and…", she said and broke down into sobs and he hugged her. She sobbed onto his chest for a while and broke away.

"I…. Ofere….It will be better if we stay away from each other.", she said.

Her words stunned him.

"If our friendship is going to affect my relationship with my… with Dolly, then I'm sorry I have to pick my sister. I hope you understand.", she told him as she stood.

"You're welcome to stay the night.", she said and went upstairs.

He sat there staring into space. The woman he loved had broken it off all because of her sister. He couldn't blame her. It had only been the two of them for ten years. Of course, their friendship of seven months could be foregone. He left the house and went into his car and drove off.


At first, he had tried to stay away but he couldn't stay away from her so long. He had begged her to reconsider her decision but she didn't. And he gave up on her. It had been almost a year before Dolly had come looking for him in the hospital he was having his residency, begging him to return and come back into her sister's life.

"Weren't you the one who started this? Your sister decided to put you first. Why are you here?", he had told her.

"Please. She's not the same anymore. She doesn't laugh anymore. She doesn't smile anymore. She pretends to be happy but I know she isn't. She's worse than before. All she thinks about is work and me.", Dolly had cried.

"Your sister is a grown woman. She made you paramount in her life and I respect that. I can't change her mind. You wanted this. So, live with it."

See what Dolly caused

Thanks for the update

Hi Millie dear, I'm so sorry for what I'm about to say....
I love your write ups, in particular, ocean of secrets! But I don't have the gall to actually read this story.
Why, you may ask!
I don't know... but child birth, children, and miscarriages are kinda very sensitive to me at the moment.
The reasons are kinda personal, plus being recently married!
However, I trust ure gonna dish out delicious and yummy updates from time to time!

Thanks for the update Millieademi!

oghenekome51:
Hi Millie dear, I'm so sorry for what I'm about to say....
I love your write ups, in particular, ocean of secrets! But I don't have the gall to actually read this story.
Why, you may ask!
I don't know... but child birth, children, and miscarriages are kinda very sensitive to me at the moment.
The reasons are kinda personal, plus being recently married!
However, I trust ure gonna dish out delicious and yummy updates from time to time!

I understand dearie.

Congrats on the wedding, love. Happy married life.


I'll just ask you give it a chance.

Millie please..cease this updates i appreciate it but am not happy..i really what to read divide without breaks and stops..just like oceans of secrets so please..focus on oceans of secret 1st..

millieademi:



I understand dearie.

Congrats on the wedding, love. Happy married life.


I'll just ask you give it a chance.

I am already giving it a chance! thanks

At first, he had tried to stay away but he couldn't stay away from her so long. He had begged her to reconsider her decision but she didn't. And he gave up on her. It had been almost a year before Dolly had come looking for him in the hospital he was having his residency, begging him to return and come back into her sister's life.

"Weren't you the one who started this? Your sister decided to put you first. Why are you here?", he had told her.

"Please. She's not the same anymore. She doesn't laugh anymore. She doesn't smile anymore. She pretends to be happy but I know she isn't. She's worse than before. All she thinks about is work and me.", Dolly had cried.

"Your sister is a grown woman. She made you paramount in her life and I respect that. I can't change her mind. You wanted this. So, live with it.", he had told her and left her standing there in the middle of the hallway in the medical center in her university.

He mulled over her words for weeks and actually considered looking for Dola but he chose not to. Teenaged girls were fickle. One minute Dolly might want her sister's happiness the next she might resent the fact she wasn't the centre piece of Dola's attention. And if what happened was anything to go by Dola most certainly had Dolly on the top rung of her hierarchy of priorities. He didn't want to put Dola in that position again. She didn't deserve it.

Unfortunately, he didn't realise just how resilient teenage girls were. Dola had employed Eve to join her cause. While Dola nagged him at work, Eve pestered him at home. He eventually gave in to them and let them use him as a pawn in their little plan.

They orchestrated a happenstance meeting at the local mall cum cinemas. The two girls pushed them to sit together while watching the movie and while having dinner at the fast-food joint. Dola kept to herself through it all. He was sure he could count on two hands the number of words she spoke to him. They were about heading home when the girls said they had to head to school for an unplanned tutorial.

Dolly asked for her sister's car keys and took her car. Dola looked at him then for the first time since they 'bumped' into each other.

"Ofere, don't worry about me. I'll take a cab.", she said.

"Don't insult me, Dola. I'll take you home. My car may not be as high-end as yours but it does the trick.", he said feigning anger.

She looked flustered and blinked for a few seconds. "Ofere, I didn't mean that. I just don't want to bother you. My house is not on your way…"

"I have a full tank.", he answered.

"Ofere, I thought we agreed to stay away from each other.", she stuttered.

"Dola, I'm just being a friend. Please just get in the car.", he answered in exasperation.

"No. I'm not. Look, Dolly and I just mended our relationship and I want it to remain that way. If I accept your friendship, I'll have to share my attention and right now there's only room for Dolly in my life. Please, understand. A friend is too expensive for me.", she said.

"So what happens once Dolly grows up and gets married or something?", he asked and leaned on the passenger side of his car.

"It doesn't matter. If Dolly is happy, then I'm happy. Her happiness is the reason for my existence. My parents lost their lives because of me. The least I could do is make sure Dolly is happy. Ofere, I beg in God's name, don't try to be my friend.", she said in tears.

"That's impossible to do."

"Why?", she asked in alarm.

"Because I always pursue what I want. Be it business, an MBBS degree or the woman I love.", he said and pushed away from the car and towards her.

"You don't know what you're saying. I'm sorry but I have to go.", she said and turned away to leave. He caught her arm and pulled her to him.

"W-What are you doing?", she asked in panic as she pulled away from him. He locked her firmly with his hands.

"Mark today's date down, Ayodola Ibeereola. Come this time next year, you will not only be my friend but also my wife."

Her eyes widened as she heard his words. He released her and bade her goodnight and left her standing there in shock and curiosity. He could guess her thoughts. How would he get her to marry him? They were the exact thoughts on his but he knew with a conviction that he wanted to marry her and he'd do it before a year.

His ringtone jarred him out of trip down the memory lane. He looked at Dola and stroked her hair. He picked up his cell and walked into the bathroom.

"Hello, Dolly.", he greeted.

"Good afternoon, bro Ofere. How is she now?", she asked in worry.

"I had to sedate her. She was hysterical.", he answered and sighed. "I wish I could take away her pain and sorrow."

"Bro Ofere, I was wondering if I could come and stay with you guys for a bit. Maybe if she has someone to spend her time with when you're at work then she wouldn't feel the pain of what happened.", Dolly said.

"Okay. I thought you had a fashion show coming up. Won't you be busy?"

"The LFW is not as important as my sister. And I can work from the house. I'll come over tomorrow. Don't tell her. Let me surprise her.", Dolly answered.

Thanks Milliademi for the updates
You are simply the best ❤️� ❤️❣️

Thanks for the update

I just saw this story now, and it's another emotional rollercoaster.......... *hitting the follow button*

This is a good begining
And this is going to be a long ride
Ann2012 are you with me? Let's enjoy this popcorn together
OP sweet popcorn is on the ground ...ride on

Adesina12:
This is a good begining
And this is going to be a long ride
Ann2012 are you with me? Let's enjoy this popcorn together
OP sweet popcorn is on the ground ...ride on

I'm with you all the way

Ann2012:


I'm with you all the way

Happy New year bae.
You no even ask after me

Emex100:


Happy New year bae.
You no even ask after me

Sorry dear, my eyes no clear
Hope you're good?

Ann2012:


Sorry dear, my eyes no clear
Hope you're good?

You take sapele water?
Am good dear......just miss you