(040a - Family Dinner Part 1.)

So, you people almost murdered Collins in the last chapter, all because he interrupted the kiss 🤣💔. You all know me, if I want to write a kiss scene, I'd set the mood for it and the last chapter wasn't just the right time for their long-awaited kiss.

But is this chapter the right time?🌚

You'll just have to read to find out, hmmn😌.

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𝐃𝐀𝐖𝐍
(Dawn Damipe Dayo)

"Thank you," I said to the driver after we scanned our bus pass on the biometric scanner that would clear us for exit. The elder man nodded, smiling at me and I turned to get down from the bus.

Chima, who had already gotten down from the bus, stretched his hands out to help me down.

"Careful," He whispered cautiously, placing his hands on either side to my waist to hoist me up from the foot of the bus and bring me down. I steadied my hands on his shoulder and allowed him to carry me.

"Thanks," I smiled when my feet touched the floor, hearing the bus zoom off behind us.

I sighed, removing my hands from his shoulder and letting them fall to my side. I could see my house standing just a few blocks away from the bus stop, standing tall with other houses.

This is it.

"Here we are," I muttered, more to myself than to Chima but I knew he heard me because there was no distance between us.

"Here we are," He repeated. I noticed his tone was a little shaky and his voice sounded like they had come from a place of unease, which was strange because I've never seen Chima being uneasy before.

So, I looked at him and saw it all.

For someone that had control over his emotions, his expression looked rather conflicted, flashes of emotions running through his features that it was hard to read them all. But the one emotion that stood out, that I could pinpoint was a hint of Uncertainty.

"Chima," I called him and he turned to look at me.

From the way he turned, he knew I had been watching at him so he did not attempt to hide the emotions that clouded his face. I actually appreciated that, appreciated that he was letting me see him that way.

For someone that has always been transparent with him, him always being able to see right through me, I also want him to be transparent with me too.

"Are you okay?" I asked, worried.

"I'm fine," He answered, shrugging with a lazy smile playing on his lips. I didn't say anything to that, knowing that he was going to say more, which he did.

"It just seems like I'm a lot more nervous than I said I was." He added, chuckling afterward like he had said something funny, but I could hear the nervousness even in his laugh.

I felt my heart drop to the pit of my stomach.

Chima feeling this way was my fault. I shouldn't have shown him that I was nervous earlier on. I should have been more in control of my feelings just to keep him at ease. I shouldn't have said anything about my mum not taking it easy on him or drilling him with questions. Of course, that would have made him more nervous.

That would have made anyone in Chima's shoes decide not to show up at all.

"It's my fault," I voiced out my thoughts, folding my hands across my chest. "I'm so sorry, Chima." I apologized, causing him to turn completely to me, his eyes widened slightly in shock at my claim.

"What?" He sounded just as shocked as he looked. "Of course not, Dawn. I didn't even say that because I wanted you to worry about me. I'm fine, nothing is your fault. You have nothing to be sorry for."

"Of course I do. I fueled your anxiety by being nervous myself," I told him and he chuckled, shaking his head like he didn't agree with me. "No Chima, it's the truth," I said, maintaining my stance. "I should have been more in control of my feelings.-

If me - my mother's daughter is nervous, how are you - the guest supposed to feel? And yet, you still helped me get rid of the anxiety I was feeling. But now, I'm not even sure how to help you get rid of yours-"

"Hey," Chima gently cut me off. "You need to calm down and relax," He whispered, bringing his left hand to rest on the side of my cheek. "And you need to stop overthinking this." He said.

I sighed, my eyes fluttering close as I leaned into his touch.

I wasn't sure how after everything he said about being nervous, his voice still managed to remain calm and soothing... almost hypnotic. He told me to relax and I did, yet he was the one feeling nervous.

I should be the one telling him not to worry about anything, not the other way around. But here he was again, calming me down despite his own anxiety, gaining control over his emotions as he has always done.

"That should have been my line," I whispered, muttering more to myself than to him. But of course, he heard me, and he chuckled lightly.

"But you need to hear it more than I do," He chipped, but I shook my head.

"I should be the one telling you to relax, not the other way around, Chima," I voiced my thought, feeling quite bad and frustrated. "I'm not very good at handling this, am I?"

"No, Dawn. You are perfect," He countered me softly, crouching his head a little lower so that it was at the same level as mine and was able to stare at me right in the eye. I averted my gaze away from his piercing ones.

"Hey, look at me," He cajoled gently and I did, turning back to look at him. "You are handling this, whatever it is, the best way you can." He told me, his voice soft but had an undertone of firmness to it.

I didn't say anything, just listened to him while trying not to get distracted by the way his thumb kept brushing over the skin of my cheeks. The action seemed so simple, almost absent-minded like he wasn't even aware that he was doing it. Still, it didn't dissipate the calmness it brought to my whole being.

"I'm nervous, yes, but I am prepared for whatever tonight holds. I'm so ready for it, for anything that would happen," He continued, still holding my gaze in his.

He let out a deep, almost exhausted breath as he brought his second hand to my cheeks to cup my face, gently pulling my head closer to touch his till our foreheads were pressed together. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, gently holding on to his wrists.

We stood that way for a moment, right there in the middle of the bus stop, not sure if anyone was watching.

But then again, we didn't care if anyone was watching. No one mattered, just us.

"You mean the world to me, Dawn," He whispered, his voice low, almost inaudible, and it quivered a bit. But it didn't dispel the weight of his words on me.

"I meant everything I said that night. " He kept going, and I knew he was referring to the night of our first date. "I want you. All of you. And I don't mind your mum drilling me, asking me questions or whatever.-

-I'm ready for it all as long as I get to prove to her that I will never hurt you. That's all I want. You don't have to worry about anything else, and you certainly don't have to worry about me." He assured me, the desperation in his voice making his words more potent than it has ever been.

I quivered under his voice, his touch, and most effectively, his words. I quivered so bad that I had to tighten my hold on his wrist and push myself further into his body to stop myself from falling. His words made me weak to the knees, made me speechless.

I didn't know how to respond, couldn't find my voice. But one thing was certain.

I want him too.

I want Sochima Ansel Johnson.

"I'll be okay, alright?" He spoke again after a moment of silence. I nodded, trying to find my voice. "We'll be okay, Dawn. I promise." He added, and I felt my lips twitch in a small smile.

We.

Chima and I.

I liked the sound of that.

"I trust you," I finally spoke, my voice coming out hushed and somewhat croaky from all the emotions.

My eyes were closed but I felt Chima smile. I just felt it. Then I felt his lips press again against the crown of my head in a tender kiss before he pulled away slightly to properly look at me. By now, my eyes were opened, my lips turning in a bigger smile when I saw him smiling down at me.

"I think we have kept your mum waiting long enough," He stated and I smiled, nodding.

"I think we have," I answered and he grinned in response.

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We arrived at my house in a matter of minutes and I led Chima through the gates and towards the building. After giving his hand that was in mine a gentle squeeze and flashing him a reassuring smile, I opened the door to the house and walked in, with Chima right behind me.

Our entry into the house was greeted with child-like screams, courtesy of Daniel and Damien. Before I could blink, I saw a giant ball flying towards the door and in our direction.

The Twins.

"You have got to be kidding me," I muttered to myself, attempting to duck for cover before the ball would hit me in the face.

But before I could even crouch low to cover my face, Chima stretched his hands in front of me and caught the ball before they could hit me.

I didn't know when a sigh of relief escaped my lips.

He looked over his shoulder and asked. "Are you okay?" and I nodded in response, flashing him a small smile of appreciation for saving my face from impending doom.

Impending doom bawo? It's just a ball na. My subconscious said to me and I chuckled lightly. Okay, maybe I was being a little melodramatic.

"Dawn!"

The ear-piercing shrieks of the twins almost tore through my eardrum as they jumped off the chairs they were hopping on and ran towards me, finally acknowledging my presence. I laughed heartily, stretching my hands out to hug them as they got closer, even though they weren't tall enough to hug past my legs.

"Hey, little devils! How was school today?" I asked, lifting Damien in my hands while Daniel still clutched tightly to my legs.

I glanced at Chima who had a big smile stretched over his lips as he watched us in delight, hands shoved into the pocket of his joggers. I couldn't hold my smile as I looked back to the twins to hear if they had answered my question about school. But then, I noticed that they were both suddenly quiet, which was strange because the twins are never quiet.

And when I looked closely to know the reason why, I realized that it was because they were both staring at Chima, their small baby faces pitched with inquisition.

Time for an introduction, I guess.

"Uhmm guys," I began, dropping Damien back to stand on the floor before moving close to Chima to properly introduce him. "This is Sochima. He is my-"

"Is he your boyfriend?" Daniel cut me off, bringing the bullet-like question out of nowhere, placed it in an invisible gun, and shot it right at me. My eyes widened like a deer caught in a headlight.

He said what?

And as if that wasn't enough, he turned to Chima and shot the gun again.

"Are you her boyfriend?" He asked Chima, his big doe eyes blinking innocently because he wasn't aware of the weight of his words.

Chima turned to me, his lips tugged in a now amused smile and his eyebrows quirked slightly as if to ask what he should say back to them. I began to shake my head.

"See the way he is smiling at her. Of course, he's her boyfriend." Damien chipped in, folding his tiny little hands over his chest, nodding his head slowly as if he knew something we all didn't.

"Guys!" I lamented in frustration, almost face-palming

Who the hell is teaching these eight years olds about boyfriends and girlfriends?

I had one name in mind. Dean Dapo Damipe.

God, I'm so going to kill him.

"Okay guys," I heard Chima say and I watched as he squatted down to the level of the twins, who turned to him so eagerly like he wanted to give them ice cream. "My name is Sochima Ansel Johnson and no, I'm not your sister's boyfriend... at least not yet," He paused to glance at me.

I couldn't stop the heat from creeping up my neck to my cheeks and ears, couldn't stop myself from smiling hard even with the way I bit down on my lips, so I just resulted to looking away.

"But I want to be her boyfriend, if she'd let me," He still had his eyes on me as he said this. I could feel it even though I wasn't looking at him. "So, I need your help. You guys will be my wingmen, right?"

I looked back at the trio to see their response and a small laugh escaped my lips when I saw the twins vigorously nodding their heads in agreement to being Chima's wingmen and Chima trading high fives with them. I didn't care that he was indulging them, I just felt a lot relieved that the twins had warmed up to Chima without any hassle.

It made me a lot more confident that my mum would love him too.

I mean, what's there not to love? Even Dunni is completely smitten by him.

"Well, the King of the wingmen association has arrived," Dean's voice called out and we all looked up to see him descending from the stairs, clearly excited to see Chima.

When he got to a curve point of the stairs, he climbed on one of the railings and began to slide down on it. He's always doing that and Mum has warned him several times to stop it.

"Dean, get down from there!" I chided, but of course, he didn't listen to me. He kept having his fun till he got down to the foot of the stairs and slid off the railings. He landed unsteadily on the tiled floor but he got his footing before he could trip over and fall.

I wish he fell and broke a tooth or two. That would teach him not to be disobedient.

"Senior Sochima! The one and only Captain of the Crestview Basketball Team!" Dean hailed when he got to us, his tone laced with immense excitement as he gave Chima a mock salute. Chima laughed heartily, shaking his head.

"We are not in school, Dean. Keep the formalities, please." He said, mimicking the hand gestures as Chadwick Boseman's in that meme that said We don't do that here. I chuckled lightly, watching both of them.

"So this means I can shake and hug you?" My brother asked Chima, who shrugged.

"Of course," He didn't sound like he minded one bit. "Bring it in." He moved closer to Dean, who so eagerly went in for that boyish shake that ended in a bro hug. Dean looked like he was having the time of his life.

"Yo, Dawn!" He hyped when he pulled away from Chima, grinning from ear to ear as he turned me. "If you don't say yes to being his girlfriend, I'm going to murder you."

He legit said that in front of Chima, causing the latter to laugh out loud while I nearly died of embarrassment.

"Jesus, Dean!" I snapped, feeling my cheeks heat up even more. "Why do you have to be so dramatic?" I groaned. The idiot still rose his hands up in mock surrender like he didn't know he was embarrassing me.

"I'm a Dayo. We are all dramatic." That was his defense. "Besides I've been dying to be the first child for once. Your privileges are getting too much jhoor." He added, talking about killing me like he was taking candy from a baby.

"Oh, shut up, Dean." I chided and he chuckled in response.

This boy is never going to be normal again. It's not a curse.

I looked at Chima who has been quiet for a while, watching Dean and I go back and forth in a squabble. I mouthed an apology to him but he shook his head. His big smile told me he was enjoying himself.

"Mum has been waiting for you guys though," Dean chipped, and I turned to him.

"Yeah? Where is she?" I asked him.

"Where else would she be?" He asked rhetorically and in sarcasm. I rolled my eyes at him, but I knew the answer to that. Beckoning to Chima, I led the way to my mum's office.

AKA, The Kitchen.

"Mum, I'm home!" I announced, poking my head through the kitchen door to check on mum, but instead, my eyes caught everything else on the large ceramic table in the middle of the kitchen

And by everything, I meant the food. Lots of foods, and different kinds.

I blinked in shock.

"Dawn?"

I looked away from the feast on the table to the direction of my mum's voice, seeing her coming out of the large stall and into the kitchen. I walked further in, expressing my utmost shock with a wave of my hands around the feast table and complete silence.

Yes, I was speechless.

Mum was really doing the most for this dinner.

"Mum..." The rest of my words hung in my throat. Honestly, I wasn't even sure what to say and just resulted in walking around the table, checking out every kind of food that was on it.

There were different kinds, probably from different parts of the world.

"Why did you get home so late?" Her voice alerted me and I looked away from the table to face her. "You know I'd need help preparing everything for tonight's dinner. I still have to frost the cupcakes and we haven't made the frozen yogurt yet. It's getting late."

She rapped out in one breath, unhooking the mittens from where they were hanged and putting them on while I kept looking at her in astonishment.

Cupcake? Frozen yogurt? With all this food on the table? I couldn't help but ask myself.

"We had Dance Drills today," I answered after finding my voice.

And danced a steamy duet with Sochima that led to an almost-kiss. Don't forget to mention that part. My subconscious reminded me teasingly.

I bit down on the side of my lower lip to stop me from smiling, quietly watching mum move around to put one or two things in order. She was really doing the most.

"I'd have been here sooner if I knew you were preparing a feast Ma, because..." I trailed off, taking a glance at the table again, unable to hide my shock. "Mum, It's just a dinner." I chuckled in bewilderment.

"It's not just any dinner, Dawn. It's a dinner with your soon-to-be boyfriend," She corrected and I couldn't stop the low wow from escaping my lips. "It's a huge deal, so act like it." She wagged the whisk in her hand at me. I veered back, my mouth opening slightly as I stared at mum, dumbstruck again.

Why is everyone suddenly acting like I'm engaged, to be married, to Chima?

First of all, it was the twins asking if he was my boyfriend, two kids that I can bet didn't know the meaning of boyfriend till today. Then Dean legit threatened to murder me if I don't agree to be Chima's girlfriend. Now, mum was creating a whole feast, fit for an engagement party, all because of Chima

Remind me why I was nervous again?

"It's not like we are getting engaged, Mum," I told her, a slight chuckle in my voice. She stopped whisking to stare at me, her well-drawn brows quirked up and her expression contorted into a sly look.

"Well, this is one step to engagement. You better take it seriously." She maintained.

Is this woman serious? I asked myself, staring at her as she went on whisking whatever she was whisking, putting all her strength into it. Only heaven knew what she wanted to make again.

I sighed in resignation, allowing her mind to think whatever they wanted to think.

"Anyway, he is here," I told mum.

Immediately, her ears perked up, her hands halted on everything they were busy with and her lips stretched into the brightest smile I have seen on her since I stepped into this kitchen.

"He is?" Her entire face was lit up like a light bulb for reasons I wasn't exactly sure of.

"Yeah, we came home together. He's in the living room with the boys." I jabbed my thumb behind me to point in the direction of the living room.

Suddenly, mum dropped the whisk into the batter, pulled off the mittens, and dumped them on the counter. The same woman that hated it whenever we don't put kitchenware or utensil back to their original position. She just did that thing she has always warned us against.

All because I said Chima was in the living room.

That wasn't even all. She began to adjust the flowery maxi gown she had on, pulling on the neckline and sleeves just to make sure it laid well on her body. Then, she started patting down on her sleek low bun and brushed imaginary dust off her face.

Again, all because I said Chima was in the living room.

"What are you doing, ma?" I had to ask, hands folding across my chest as I stared at her.

"I want to go say hello to our guest, dhurr." My mum actually said dhurr. "How do I look?" She asked me, baring her teeth out at me in a wide grin while I kept staring at her like she has lost her marbles.

"What?" That was all I could mutter and she responded with a scoff.

"Oh, forget it." She dismissed me with a wave of her hand and began to make her way towards the living room, leaving me standing there, totally awestruck.

After all my anxiety, is this really the woman I was worried about?

I quickly followed behind her till I matched her steps, getting to the living room just about the same time she did. Chima was sitting down on one of the couches, Daniel seated on his laps while Damien sat down right beside him with Dean.

Daniel was talking to Chima about heaven knows and Damien was also imputing in the discussion that neither of them noticed Mum and I had entered the living room and were watching them.

I felt my lips tug in a smile as I watched them, watching Chima listen to the boys talk with keen attention, several facial expressions sweeping over his features, expressions that showed that he was enjoying whatever story they were telling him.

When I looked at mum, my smile widened further when I saw the way she was watching him too, an impressed look on her face.

That's a great start.

"Mum," Dean's voice cut through my thoughts, basically announcing our presence to the rest of the boys.

Chima finally noticed us. Or rather, he noticed my mum and quickly got up after gently placing Daniel down on the floor, pulling on the sleeves of his varsity jacket. He met my eyes and I nodded curtly in affirmation. The last time he was here, he had mistaken Dunni for my mum.

Even though Dunni had taken it quite well, better than well actually, no one wanted to make that kind of mistake again.

I quickly got into the introductions.

"Chima," I began, moving to stand in the space between them. "This is my mum," I introduced, trying to keep the smile on my lips from faltering. "Mum, this is Sochima Ansel Johnson. He is the one I've been talking to you about." I said.

"Sochima Ansel Johnson," Mum repeated his name like she wanted to test the pronunciation on her tongue while she kept her eyes trained intently on his. And as if that wasn't enough, she took a quick scan of his frame with one flick of her eyes.

If Chima was intimidated by the intensity of her gaze on him, or the way she gave him a quick once-over, he didn't show it. He only nodded to the call of his name, a small, yet charming smile playing on his lips. The kind of smile that can win anyone over with just a tug of the lips.

Yes, that kind of smile that can make women of any age weak to their knees.

"Yes, Ma'am," He answered, his voice as clear as day and as deep as the sound of bass, I almost swooned. "Good Evening," He greeted her, attempting to bow his head in respect.

"No, don't do that," Mum quickly stopped him, much to the surprise of Dean and me. She came down from where she stood and started walking towards Chima, skillfully bypassing me.

"Bowing and curtsies are for old people. I'm just thirty-nine. Hug me please." She stretched her hands out to Chima, who happily obliged and hugged her.

My mouth hung open like someone about to catch a fly.

What happened to my Yoruba mother?

"Mummy is in love. Just like the rest of us." Dean nudged me back to the present answering the unasked question in my mind. I didn't even know he was already standing beside me.

Nudging him back painful against his side, I looked back at Chima and mum who were now pulling away from each other. Though, mum kept her hands on either side of his arms, keeping him at arm's length as if to have a proper look at him.

I didn't miss the impressed smile on her lips, and the look of complete relaxation that was pitched across Chima's face as he smiled radiantly back at her. This was all enough to make me calm down to a puddle. A sigh of relief escaped my lips.

This was going so well.

"It's nice to finally meet you," Mum sounded very excited, more excited than she did in the kitchen.

"It's also nice to finally meet too, Ma'am," Chima answered, that irresistible smile still playing on his lips. "Dawn has told me so many amazing things about you." He added.

My hands went to rest on my waist as I stared at that sweet-talker of a boy stroking my mum's ego, my brows tugged up with a sly smile playing on my lips.

Oh wow. Smooth Chima, real smooth.

Apart from what I said at Wonder Coast about mum's cooking and multilingual-ness, I can bet anything I haven't said any more shit about her. But seeing Mum basking in the high praise, literally simping over Chima was something I enjoyed watching.

"Dawn," She called to me, finally paying me heed since she met Chima. I turned to answer her but saw her lips turn in a shrewd smile. I began to wonder what was going on in that head of hers.

"Yes, Ma?"

"Il est très beau et charmant," He is very handsome and charming, She told me in french, throwing an even slyer wink my way. I couldn't stop myself from bursting into laughter.

"Ma!" I chided teasingly between laughter, face-palming.

"What? It's the truth." Mum defended herself and I laughed again, knowing that this woman will just keep doing the most.

I wasn't looking but Chima must have been confused because I heard Dean interpret for him.

"She said you are handsome." He said, and Chima made an oh sound. I would have said he was blushing but I couldn't tell because of his dark skin.

"Very," Mum corrected. "I added very in front of the handsome and I also said he is charming. Don't sell me short, Dean." She waved her hand like a Diva. I clapped my hands together in astonishment.

What is this woman?

Chima, on the other hand, looked beyond flustered by all the attention and complement. I was quite shocked myself with how he averted his gaze to the ground severally, looking shy for the first time.

Chima is never shy.

If anything, he was the most self-confident guy I have ever met.

Maybe he is an introvert like he said he was.

"T-Thank y-you, ma'am," He was stuttering now, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "You are really pretty too." He added, complimenting my mum.

"Oh, I am?" She asked, feigning ignorance and acting like she didn't know she was one of the prettiest women on the planet. "Why, thank you, Sochima." She added with a giggle.

My thirty-nine years old mother of four kids giggled at a seventeen years old high schooler calling her pretty. She was legit acting like Dunni when Chima called her pretty the day of our date, just calmer and more mature.

Are all Gentry women, married or not, this thirsty?

Because...

In fact, I don't even know what to say again.

"Mummy has gone o," Dean muttered again beside me, but I heard him and chuckled, resolving to put an end to this introduction before Chima would die of embarrassment.

"Mum," I called her attention and she finally tore her gaze from Chima to look at me. "Don't you have cupcakes to frost and frozen yogurts to make?" I reminded her. Immediately, she switched from fan girl mode to seriousness.

"I totally forgot," She said to herself and I chuckled. Then she turned to Chima, her smile back on in a flick. "Chima, would you like to help me in the kitchen? Dawn needs to go freshen up anyway, and Dean will eat the entire dinner if I let him into that kitchen-"

"Mum! You are embarrassing me in front of my Captain!" My brother whined.

"Shut up!" She snapped at him and his mouth flew shut, causing me and Chima to laugh. Mum turned back to Chima, the smile back again. "Hope you don't mind?" She asked him.

Chima turned to me and I nodded.

"It's alright," I told him and he smiled while my mum scoffed.

"Of course, it's alright, Dawn. It's not like I'm going to eat him up." She sassed.

"Mum!" I chided, cringing at her extremely weird analogy.

She rolled her eyes at me, turned to Dean, and instructed him to take the twins up to freshen up before looping her hands with Chima's and leading him to the Kitchen.

This woman needs her husband back home, else she'd steal the one I have my eyes on. Too bad, he was away in Germany on a business trip and won't be back till next week.

But on the brighter side, She loved Chima and that meant everything to me. I had a good feeling about this.

A really good feeling.

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆

Why is it always so hard to pick an outfit when Chima is involved?

I groaned to myself, looking at the pile of clothes on my bed.

At least this one was better than the day of our date. I have narrowed down all my choices to three outfits, and they were all laid on my bed, each of them screaming pick me. But I still didn't know which one to pick for the occasion because they were all amazing outfits.

Should I wear the gown? No, that's too formal.

Jeans and turtle neck? Nah, might be uncomfortable.

Shorts and top? This would have been the best and most comfortable choice. It's what I'd normally wear when I'm at home but... do I want to show off my thighs?

When Chima is here?

Sighing in frustration, plopped down on my bed, running my hands through my face. I didn't know what to do. Mum would call me down for dinner any minute but I'd still be in my towel. I just want to look good for Chima, but I can't choose an outfit.

But suddenly, as if a light bulb went off in my head, I got an idea. Standing up from the bed, I grabbed my phone from the vanity table and dialed Semeeha's number. She's the fashion model. If I can't pick an outfit, she can help me too.

She picked on the third ring, and I heard quite a noise in the background.

"Hey, Semeeha-" I began.

"Dawn, can I call you back?" She cut me off, and I had to strain my voice to hear her because of the noise in the background. "I'm in the middle of something right now." She added hastily.

Oh shoot.

"Sure, of-" The line went dead, ending with a beep that indicated that she hung up. "Course," I finished to myself, taking the phone away from my ear to stare at it with a frown.

Maybe she's working. I concluded to myself, sighing. Now, who will help me pick an outfit?

I decided to video call Kizito and Hilary. I mean, they might not be Semeeha or have deep fashion insights like her, but they could still help.

I sent them similar messages on Whatsapp that I needed them. After seeing the blue tick that the message have been read, I put the call through and propped my phone up so that they'd see me and I'd see them. In a matter of seconds, both their faces came up on my screen.

"You just know how to ruin a moment, don't you Dawn," Kizito was the first to speak, running his hands through his face and I laughed. "It's not funny. I was in the middle of something very important." He complained.

"Were you sleeping?" Hilary asked, a chuckle in her tone. When I turned to look at her, I noticed that she was on the move. As in, she was on the road, walking.

I would have concluded that she went out for a walk but she looked a little too dressed up for a walk.

"No," Kizito answered, folding his hands over his chest. It was even then I noticed that he was shirtless. "But it was something more important than sleeping. Trust me." He added.

"What could be more important than sleeping on a nice Friday evening, Kizito Alade-Martins?" Hilary asked him, rolling her eyes at him.

"Apparently whatever you are also doing outside, Hilary Idara Eghosa!" He sassed back, clapping his hands together to imitate that he was clapping back at her.

And I thought my family was dramatic.

"Guys," I snapped my fingers together to get their attention, and it worked because they stopped their childish bickering and turned to me. "I'm the one who called you, remember? I need your help." I reminded them.

"Sorry, Dawn." Hilary apologized.

"Yeah, what do you need?" Kizito asked.

"Mum invited Chima over for dinner, I already told you guys about that," They nodded, urging me to go on. "But I don't know which outfit to wear out of these three," I told them, holding all the outfits up for them to see.

"Cute choices," Hilary nodded her head in approval and I muttered a low I know right. "Now, I'm just as confused as you are."

"Great." Note my sarcasm.

"I'm not exactly an expert on female outfits, so I have no idea what I am doing here," Kizito said. "Semeeha is supposed to be on this video call, not me." He stated laughter in his voice.

"I called her, but she was busy," I told them.

"Just choose an outfit you are very comfortable with. I'm very sure Sochima Johnson would be blown away by whatever choice you make."

A new, slightly familiar voice came from the phone, startling me. I peered at my screen, wondering if I had called someone else by mistake but the screen was divided into three; Me, Hilary, and Kizito. So that voice came from either of our sides. But then, Hilary looked just as confused as I was, which leaves...

"Oh, it's true. She can help," Kizito said, his lips stretched in a smile. Before I could ask what he was talking about, he spoke again. "Babe, come on." He beckoned and in a nanosecond, Gigi Esho's pretty face popped up on my screen.

My eyes widened.

Gigi was in his house?!

"Hi girls!" She chirped, waving at us with a big smile stretched across her lips.

"Gigi, Hi." I waved back, mimicking her big smile.

"Now it makes more sense," Hilary spoke, getting over her own shock with a knowing smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Gigi was the important thing you were in the middle of." She wiggled her brows teasingly, causing all of us to burst into laughter.

It definitely explains why he was shirtless too. And also why Gigi was a sleeveless crop top that left nothing to the imagination.

Only heaven knows what they were doing.

"Your mind is filthy, Hilary." Kizito queried between laughter.

"You are the one reading meaning to my words, Kizito," Hilary answered back, a sly smirk playing on her lips.

I laughed again and was low-key glad that Semeeha had been busy with work. No matter what she might have said, I don't think she'd ever warm up to Gigi, not to talk of warming up to the fact that her best friend was dating her sworn enemy.

Didn't know how she was comfortable with one-sided hate.

"Let me see your outfit choices, Dawn," Gigi said and I showed her, holding them up one by one for her to see. Gigi was a fashion person, so I trusted her to help me make a good choice.

"The top and shorts are a killer choice, Dawn. I think you should go with that outfit." She told me after assessing all the outfits with just a quick flick of her eyes. I bit down on my lips, looking at the red baggy long-sleeved top and white cotton shorts with uncertainty.

It was my best choice too, but my thighs...

"It's very comfortable too," Hilary piped in, agreeing with Gigi.

"Again, I don't know anything about female outfits, but I trust their judgments." Kizito also said his own and I chuckled, looking at the outfit again.

"Besides, you have killer legs," Gigi noted, a smile still playing on her lips as she nodded at them. I followed her gaze to stare at my legs. I was still in my towel so they were quite visible. "You should show them off more often." She added.

"Chima is in the house, Gigi," I told her, hoping she'd get the hint of what I meant. She did, but it didn't make her change her statement.

"The more reason why should show them off." She maintained and I sighed, not knowing what else to say. She must have noticed the look on my face because she sighed and then I heard her whisper to Kizito to excuse us, leaving just me, her, and Hilary.

For some reason, I appreciated that she did that.

"Dawn, listen to me." She began and I turned to face her. "You are a pretty, insanely talented girl with a killer figure. But you need to be more confident in your body because you are not, people will use your insecurities against you, even the people that are close to you." She stated shrewdly.

Trust me, Gigi. I know.

"Plus, you should have known by now that Chima's feelings for you aren't based on your body," Hilary chipped in and I turned to her part of the screen. "I mean, you wear all your uniforms baggy. There is a lot more you have to offer than your body, Dawn and those things are what drew Chima to you. You have to remember that." She encouraged me.

"And if he finds you sexy, it's a plus on your side," Gigi added, giving me an even more encouraging smile.

Her words reminded me of what Dunni had said the day she was dressing me up for our date. It was the same thing she said that Gigi said right now and it made me smile. I don't really talk to Gigi on a norm, just casual his and hellos. But today, I was seeing a side of her that she doesn't show anyone.

A side of her that I never thought she had.

Contrary to popular opinion, Gigi is a good person. The proud, arrogant bitch that people have always portrayed her to be won't have given me a heart-filled lecture on body positivity. She wouldn't have encouraged me to love my body, someone she doesn't normally speak to.

I don't know if she was doing it because Kizito was my best friend, but the simple fact that she did it was enough for me.

Kizito was lucky to have her.

"Thank you, Gigi," I appreciated her and she smiled at me. A simple, genuine smile that told me she appreciated my appreciation.

"Of course. Anytime." She answered. Kizito came back to say bye before they both went off, leaving just me and Hilary to talk now.

"She's such a sweetheart," Hilary said, a smile playing on her lips too.

"I know right," I responded, packing the pile of clothes on my bed back into my wardrobe. "If I wasn't in support of her and Kizito before, everything she just said to me would have changed my mind. She made me feel a lot better." I said.

"Did you see the way she stylishly asked Kizito to excuse us, so that it would be as if we were having a girl's talk? That's respect right there." Hilary was all over Gigi now, making me laugh. "I'm kinda glad Semeeha wasn't here though. This might have ended in a tug of war." She added and I laughed again.

"Tell me about it," I muttered.

"Does that make us bad friends?" Hilary asked her lips in a pout. I quickly shook my head.

We were anything but bad friends.

"Nah. We both know the kind of friend we have," I answered. "If she's in the same space with Gigi, or in this case - on the same screen, she'll never agree with whatever Gigi says," I explained and she nodded.

"Yeah, you are right." She agreed.

"Did you go out?" I asked her, changing the topic from Semeeha and Gigi. Hilary nodded, and I noticed that she was now walking through the gate of her house, obviously just getting home.

"Yeah, I just got home," She replied. "I was at Simi's, helping him with tutorials for second test," She added and I smirked knowingly. Hilary, of course, didn't pick the look because she just kept talking.

"Because of the latest development, my tutorial patterns have changed and the days for tutoring have increased. So, I'm going to be spending a lot of my weekdays with him."

"You sound like you are complaining," I noted.

She didn't sound like she was complaining at all. If anything, she sounded quite okay with the idea of spending time with Simi. She didn't sound tired or stressed, but a little excited. I just said that to tease her and to hear what she was going to say.

"Complain?" She asked incredulously, shaking her head vigorously. "I can never complain about something I enjoy doing. Simi is a fun person to be around," There was a longing smile playing on her lips as she said that.

"Yes, he might get a little frustrated when he doesn't get something, but he is already eager to learn. And that's why I'm there right? To help him." She finished, pausing her lips together to keep herself from smiling so hard.

Wow. Hilary is really passionate about Simi.

"I was just teasing you, Hilary. You didn't sound like you were complaining. Far from it." I told her, flashing her a knowing grin. She picked up on this one and rolled her eyes, a pfft sound escaping her lips.

"Go and get ready for your dinner, Dawn. We'll talk later." And that's was how she closed the discussion before it even started and ended the video call. I laughed, shaking my head as I dropped my phone on the table.

I was happy that Hilary was back to being herself. Her usual, happy self. I've noticed that she's always that way when she's with Simi or was talking about him. It showed that she was putting all the terrible things that happened at the beginning of this term behind her. Jidenna, the awful rumors, her brother's death.

It was growth. Good growth.

And if Simi was the one bringing back that side of her, then I appreciated him for making my best friend feel like herself again. And I'm guessing he also needs her too to grow in the ways he needs to.

We could all do with some growth at this point in our lives.

Feeling a lot more confident in myself and my body, I wore the outfit that was chosen by Hilary and Gigi. I slipped on the cotton shorts that stopped almost midway down my thighs and threw on the red baggy top over it. I didn't bother with make-up or anything, not even lip gloss, and I packed my hair up in a messy bun.

Staring at my reflection in the full-length mirror, I smiled to myself, appreciating the strong young lady that stared back at me.

(The outfit choice and the hair choice. Dawn be looking like a snack🌚🔥)

"You rock girl," I hyped myself since Dunni wasn't around to hype me.

After making sure that I looked okay, I picked up my phone from the table, wore a white fluffy flip flop, and made my way downstairs, heading straight for the kitchen because that's where Chima would be.

When I got there, I saw him standing by the counter, whisking more frostings for the cupcake. I didn't see mum in sight so I just concluded that she was in the store, getting something.

I turned my eyes back to Chima and smiled, leaning against the doorpost to watch him. He was so invested in the whisking that he didn't even know that I was watching him.

"Hey," I called out for his attention, but he was so engrossed in the whisking that my voice startled him. He dropped the bowl on the counter abruptly and some of the frostings splashed up and splattered on his face.

I clasped my hands over my mouth to keep me from laughing when he turned to me, eye closed with a frosted face.

"Hi," He answered.

I couldn't hold my laugh anymore, bursting out that same minute. He also found the situation funny because he started laughing too. I walked into the kitchen, picked up a hand towel, and started using it to clean his face.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." I apologized, cleaning the ones on his eyes so that he'd be able to open them.

"It's okay." He waved my apology off, chuckling. "At least I finally got some of it in my mouth. I've been dying to taste it since." He added, sweeping his tongue over his lips to taste more frosting.

I laughed again, using the pad of my index finger to scoop some off the bridge of his nose and tasted it.

Hmmm. I sighed at the taste.

"This is really good," I commented, tasting the rest of my finger. "Have you ever made frosting before?" I asked, and he shook his head.

"Never. Your mum just taught me the procedure." He answered and I muttered a small wow, reaching over to take a big scoop from the bowl. "I'm a fast learner." He added, his voice reeking with pride. I chuckled, nodding in agreement.

"That, you are. This actually tastes amazing." I told him.

"You know you can easily lick the rest off my face, right?" He whispered, referring to the frosting that was still on his face. I turned to him, my eyebrows quirked in surprise.

The smirk playing on his lips told me he was teasing, probably trying to turn me into a blushing mess. But I decided to indulge him, moving closer to close the remaining distance between us. The slight surprise in his eyes as he watched my steps close in on him told me he had not expected me to react like that.

Most likely because we were in my mum's kitchen and she could come out at any time.

Well, I don't care.

"Do you want me to lick it off your face?" I asked, my lips quirked in a slight smile of their own when I saw his Adam's apple bulb.

"Because I will." I dared him, sweeping my index over his face to scoop more frosting, and licked them off my finger while maintaining eye contact with him.

A light, strained chuckle escaped his lips as he watched me in surprise, obviously wondering where the boldness came from. But he caught himself quickly, his surprised expression fading away and replaced with a look that mirrored mine. Only that he's was more daring.

He closed the remaining distance between us till we were touching bodies, and crouched his head low so that it would be close to mine. His face was just a breath away from mine.

"Don't push it, Dawn," His voice was breathless, husky. "We are in your mum's kitchen and I'm hanging on a thread as it is, especially with you in that outfit." His eyes slowly swept over my frame before coming to meet my eyes again, his intense gaze trained squarely on me.

I knew he was talking about his self-control when he said that. But for me, hard girl-hard girl, I wanted to push it.

And I was going to.

But the universe said; not yet, baby girl.

"Ahem!" The aggressive throat clearing of my mum rang through the kitchen, making Chima and me jump apart. More like Chima putting nothing less than five meters worth of space between us.

Biting down on my lip to stop me from bursting into laughter, I looked at mum peering at us with a knowing look.

"You guys should continue o." She said, looking at us through side eyes with a smirk playing on her lips. "Do whatever you want to do. Just act like I'm not here." She added on a sing-song voice, basically teasing us.

A small laugh escaped my lips as I looked back at Chima who was trying his best to hide how embarrassed he was. He met my eyes, mouthing to me that this was my fault, but I could see a small smile tugging up his lips. It made me smile even harder.

Like me, he wasn't sorry for getting caught.

"Oya, since you guys don't want to continue, let's start setting the table." She instructed us and we got to work, Chima and I picking one tray of food each to take to the dining.

"Dean, come and help," Mum called to my brother.

"I thought you didn't want me to enter the kitchen," Came Dean's snarky reply.

"Será mejor que entres aquí antes de que te dé una bofetada la próxima semana!" Better get in here before I slap you into next week! Mum snapped in Spanish and in a matter of seconds, Dean came running in.

"Okay, Okay," He held his hands up in mock surrender. "There is no need to be aggressive." He muttered to himself, hoping mum won't hear. But the loud smack sound, followed by Dean's cry indicated that mum had heard him.

I laughed and Chima joined me.

"I don't understand what your mum said," Chima started when we got to the dining. "But Dean's response shows that he deserved that slap." He finished. I laughed again

"Tell me about it." I chipped, placing my tray on the table and Chima followed suit. "He is always at the receiving end of my mum's aggression," I added and Chima chuckled.

"I can't tell," He said, positioning his tray properly on the table before he turned to look at me, catching me staring at him. "What?" He asked all smiles.

"So far, how are you enjoying today?" I asked, curiosity getting the better part of me. He chuckled again, turning around completely to lean against the chair.

"So far, it has been amazing." He answered, honesty in his voice. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Even with my mum being all extra?" I asked and he laughed.

"Your mum being extra is basically the highlight of today." He said and I laughed. "Honestly, she's so funny and free-spirited. Kinda reminds me of my mum too." He smiled longingly and I mimicked, letting out another sigh of relief.

So far, so good.

"You have nothing to worry about, Dawn," Chima assured me. "Nothing is going to ruin tonight." He told me and I nodded.

"Nothing is going to ruin tonight," I repeated and he smiled at me, brushing his hands over my chin.

But I guess we spoke too soon.

I heard a car horn but didn't pay attention to it, concluding that it wasn't for our house. When the horn persisted, I still didn't pay any heed, wondering why our neighbors weren't opening their gate for whoever it is. Then, I heard the sound of our gate click open, and that alerted my senses.

I turned my head away from Chima and looked through the window, watching a familiar deep blue Range Rover Holland drive into the compound. My heart skipped a beat. No, not the good kind of heart skipping.

That was my Dad's car!

The same Dad that was supposed to be away in Germany on a business trip that wasn't meant to end till next week.

"Mum..." I started to call her just as she came out of the kitchen with Dean, tray in her hand. She looked just as confused as I was.

"Is that your Dad?" She was asking me. I was supposed to be asking her. She's his wife, he tells her everything.

"That looks like his car." Dean chipped in.

"Daddy!" The twins squeal in unison as they ran to the door to wait for Dad to come in. I turned to Chima who met my eyes immediately, looking confused as hell about what was going on.

Holy Shit.

𝐀/𝐍

Hehehe 🤣. Shall we share the grace?

Dawn didn't know her Dad was just going to show up out of the blues for the dinner. According to her, as you read, he was supposed to be away in Germany on a business trip, but boom! He's back home!

Is his arrival going to augur well for Chima? I mean, Dawn's mum obviously adores him but are we going to say the same for her Dad? Let's pray and hope.

Okay guys, I want to run something by you real quick. I don't know if y'all have noticed because I have pointed it out severally but I don't know if you have picked it up.

Dawn's self-confidence dwindles a lot and by that, I mean, sometimes she's very insecure, and sometimes she's very confident. Especially when it has to do with her body.

You should have known by now that Dawn is quite insecure about her figure and how it portrays her to everyone. She wants people to see her for something more than just her body. But then, as soon as someone hypes her about her body, she becomes very confident in herself again.

And when she gets confident like that, she tends to be a little... how do I put it... on the wild side. She becomes like a little seductress, testing the waters with Chima, pushing her limits with him. The same Chima that she doesn't want him to see her like that.

Or at least, that's what she says🌚.

I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I just want to be sure you guys have noticed that about her. So just imagine, if that insecure part of her finally gets subdued for good, how wild will she get🌚?

Don't overthink it o 🤣. I just want to work your minds a little, take your imagination on a wild chase😌. I actually dropped a lot of hints on this chapter that I hope you guys picked. If you picked any, let me know which.

The next update will come sometime next week, only heaven knows when. So till then, you know the drill. Kisses 😘.