You know, most times authors know the readers that genuinely love their book(s), so I'm going to be dedicating this chapter to Kayla_fa and Liber_Tee for loving this book. It means a lot to me.

***

I sure as hell know that nothing prepared Peter for the resounding slap he got when he opened the door. I, for one, was also taken aback and immediately, my body was taut on the chaise lounge I was sitting on. Peter held his right cheek that had just been hit and a light skinned woman, who was dressed in a pink cooperate suit, a black stiletto heels and a black rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, walked into the house. She looked quite classy and awash in rage, I must add.

"Good afternoon ma." I mumbled nervously. I didn't know what time of the day it was— whether afternoon or evening. All that mattered was that I greeted the grim looking woman. I couldn't help but wonder who she was.

She paused in her steps and turned to look at me with a sneer, and then she averted her eyes to Peter. Nodding her head, her mouth curved in a scowl as she brushed past him and strutted upstairs, her heels clacking with the tiled floor. I caught a whiff of her perfume. I must confess, it was pleasant, but the tension that came with her presence wasn't. The question that bugged my mind at the moment was: who was this woman? Could she be Peter's mum? If she was, then she looked so different from her wedding picture.

I watched silently as Peter closed the door and bounced upstairs, with a frown on his face, leaving only me downstairs. What was I going to do now? I fiddled with my fingers and looked around the silent house awkwardly.

"Will yuh shut the hell'ap!" I jolted as I began to hear shouts from upstairs. "I don't wanna hear any flimsy explanation! I thought I made myself clear before leaving that you shouldn't turn on the diesel gen except in the evening, but no, yuh wouldn't listen, because you're nat the one buying the diesel. Plus I remember telling yuh that I don't want any visitor in ma house while I'm gone but yet again, yuh flouted my rules. I guess you're boss now. Yuh don't heed to instructions anymore. Yuh think you've grown wings that yuh can jus' do as yuh please! Well not in my house. I won't take that, Peter. Yuh hear me, I won't! By the way, who's that girl and what's she doing in ma house?" The woman spoke loud enough that I could hear every word clearly.

I vividly remember asking Gbemi earlier on if Peter was staying with his parents and she told me he was. If indeed he was, then his mum was apparently strict.

"Uh mum, we're both partners for a school project which would be due on Monday, so she just came to the house for us to do it together." Peter's voice sounded a bit hushed and higher than usual. That's what happened when you're with your parents. You lose your cocky side.

"So yuh guys had to do ya school project in ma house!" She yelled. Did I mention she had a black American accent? "What happened to the school? Why didn't yuh both do it there. Because yuh wanna fuck her, that's why yuh brought her to ma house, right?"

I grimaced as I heard her strong use of verbal language. For that, I became twice as uncomfortable and I had the urge to leave immediately, but I just wanted to let Peter know first before doing that, which was the only reason I was still in the house.

I didn't hear Peter's response but I could guess what it was from his mother's preceding statement.

"What d'yuh mean no! Then why didn't yuh both do it in school?"

Once again, his response was inaudible.

"Well that's ya business! I don't want her in my house. She's not welcomed, so please tell her to leave!"

"But mum!" I could hear Peter protest in a higher voice than usual. "We—"

"Do yuh want to receive another slap?" She cut him off before he could say any further. "Thought as much. So now do as I've asked. Obey me for once in your life Peter."

Hearing all of that, I stood up immediately and saved Peter the trouble by walking out of the house myself. I don't want her in my house. Those words played in my head and it nailed a deep hole in my heart. It hurt a lot and I made a mental note never to visit Peter's house again. Briskly, I made my way out of the gate, walked to the end of the street and left without bidding the security men goodbye.

Peter and everything that he represented always never failed to ruin my day.

***

"... Now you see, the drama we just acted is an illustration of how some children in Africa are being abused every day. Some aunties bring their nieces from the village to the city to probably sponsor their education and then the uncle begins to sexually harass them, without even the aunt knowing this. This is wrong and must be stopped! However, that's not the only way a child can be abused in Nigeria. Other ways by which a child can be abused is when a parent uses his or her child to beg for alms or when a parent deprives a child from his or her right and continually weeps him or her or when a parent neglects a child, to mention just a few. Now abusing a child has a lot of effect on that child. Why do you think some children make suicidal attempt? Or why do you think some can't express themselves confidently in public? Why do you think some children have insomnia? Or why do you think some children beg or sometimes, even steal from people? This is as a result of Child Abuse. Not to waste any more of our time, I'm sure my partner here has a thing or two to say about Child Abuse." Peter said, stepping aside for me to come forward and speak. We were the last pair to present our project.

The whole class applauded and praised Peter's short speech and I, for one, was shocked that he had all that in him. I wasn't expecting it being that we didn't really prepare. All that we rehearsed in his house was just the short drama. But surprisingly, Peter had gone an extra mile for our project. He had printed out and bound the manuscript, prepared a little talk for the drama and presented it pretty well before the class. What better partner could anyone ask for? Honestly, he made me proud. He sure deserved some accolades.

I stepped forward and the class went completely silent. I was so nervous that my palms suddenly turned warm and wet. After I left Peter's house on Saturday, I rehearsed all that I had read about Child Abuse and penned it down on a sheet of paper, because I knew there was no way we could only act a drama for our project without saying a thing or two about the core topic, but since Peter had said most of it, I just decided to talk on the last subtopic I had penned down on Child Abuse, which was how to stop it.

All eyes bored at me and I cleared my throat before speaking. "Good morning class."

"Good morning." Some students mumbled dryly and I felt completely discouraged to go any further.

"I would just be speaking briefly on—"

"Sorry we can't hear you." A male voice from the back on Peter's seat row said, cutting me off. He probably was one of those Peter's friends.

"Yes, we can't hear you." Most of the students muttered and noise began to ensue.

Mr Korede, who was standing at the back, hit his cane on the back seat, my seat precisely. "Quiet!" He shouted, "Allow her speak and you Daniella, be audible."

I took a deep breath and as I was about to speak, Peter interrupted me. "Let me speak for her. Her voice isn't audible." He stepped forward and Mr Korede nodded his head in a go-ahead gesture. He took the paper from my hand and I stepped back. He ran his eyes through the paper before speaking.

"Okay my partner was about to talk about the way forward to Child Abuse. She wrote down here that first of all Government should establish agency that deals with any form of abuses. Also public enlightenment is a way to stop Child Abuse. Yes, I agree, the public should be aware of the effects of Child Abuse and the penalty the abuser stands to get. That way, people wouldn't want to get involved in the act. Moreover, another way forward is that victims of the abuse should be properly counseled and treated if necessary. What else?" He said, looking at each sides of the paper in his hands. "Anyway, these are the few points we have for you today on how Child Abuse can be stopped. From my partner and me, we enjoin you all to say no to Child Abuse. That's our presentation, thank you." That said, Peter gave a small bow and a tumultuous applauds erupted from the students.

Some of his friends started to shout, "Your head dey there!" "jagaban!" blah, blah, blah. I'm sure some of us can relate to the moment when every student in the class said a thing or two about their project, but you happened to be the only one who didn't say anything just because your partner decided to steal the spotlight by saying everything you planned on saying. That was exactly the same case for me at the moment. Not only was I mad at Peter for participating more in our project, I was also jealous and embarrassed all together. Don't judge me, I'm only human.

"Okay, settle down class." Mr Korede quieted the class. "Settle down. Peter, you and your partner did a fantastic work, I must commend. So different from every other, and for that reason, I'm giving you a nine over ten." He said and some of the students that weren't jealous clapped. We were actually the only pair in the class that got the highest mark. Adam and his partner got seven over ten, while Gbemi and hers got five.

I feigned a smile and we both walked back to our various seat.

"That was a great teamwork." Adam whispered as I sat down.

***

"Adam, couldn't you see the way he stole the spotlight from me? That project was meant for both of us and he just did everything. The only part I played was just the drama. What nonsense?" I complained to Adam who was sitting beside me. It was break time and we were both sitting on the cemented bench under the mango tree, where Adam revealed his sexuality to me.

"Duh! You were given the opportunity to say something but you. blew. it." He waved his hands dismissively in front of my face with his last three words. "You needed to have seen how you looked when you were in front of the class though." He placed his hand on my shoulder and he sounded like he was on the verge of laughter. "You looked like someone who was about to poo on her body." He burst out laughing.

"Not cool!" I swatted his arm. "Okay but seriously, how did I look?" I drew closer to him eagerly and held his arm.

"Like shit." He shrugged and laughed. Embarrassed, I started to hit him on his arm. He stood up and moved away from me, laughing loudly.

"If I catch you eh?" I said and bit my index and thumb fingernails.

"But come to think of it," His laughter subsided. "You both rehearsed the drama together? That's cool. You rehearsed it in his house right?" He said, walking to have his seat beside me and I hit his arm hard.

"Ouch! That hurt!" He yelped, holding his arm.

"That's for telling me I look like shit." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"And you had to payback by hitting me?"

I shrugged nonchalantly, "Anyway, yes I rehearsed it in his house."

"For two people that hate each other's gut, you both seem to be working on a chemistry."

"Biko, I don't understand what you've just said Adam."

"Never mind. So tell me, how did it go in his house?" He asked, wiggling his brows and crossing his legs in a ladylike sitting position.

"You wouldn't even believe my experience in his house."

"Tell me something I've not heard before girl!" Adam looked at me curiously. I narrated my experience in Peter's house to him and he listened quietly. At some point he laughed, especially when I told him the part that Peter said I should give him a lap dance and twerk for him. Plus, I also told him what happened when the mum entered into the house.

"Mehn, the woman is over strict. Maybe wicked is even the word." Adam said.

"I know. I felt so bad when I heard her say that I wasn't welcomed in the house. It made me feel so—"

"Daniella." I heard a familiar voice call from beside me and I turned to see Peter standing a few steps away from us. I rolled my eyes and looked away.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw him walking closer to us and he cleared his throat before speaking. "Um, sorry please Adam can you excuse us?" I was surprised that Peter just used the word 'please' with Adam. I thought he used to bully him. Was it just me or there were slight changes in Peter?

"Uh Adam and I were actually having an important conversation before you interrupted us and we would like to end it, so just say whatever you have to say quickly and be going." I said coldly and looked away.

"Don't worry Daniella, we'd talk later." Adam got up and started to walk away.

"Adam!" I called him back, but he ignored me and kept walking away. Remind me to kill him when I see him. I shot Peter a glare. "Hey guy, why are you always interrupting people's conversation? Who do you think you are?" I asked angrily.

He dug his hands in his trouser pocket and inched closer towards me. His cologne hit my nose and it smelled a bit like baby powder. "What were you both talking about?" He asked indifferently.

"Excuse me?" I scrunched my face in a scowl.

"Calm down girl." He smirked, "He's your best friend right?"

"And what's your business with that?"

"It's a question."

"What do you want Peter?"

"Can we talk?"

"We're already talking." I gave him a duh look.

"Why are you so prickly towards me?"

I turned to look at him as if he had just asked the most obvious question. "You're just annoying!" I said and rolled my eyes at him.

"Haven't you gotten used to it?"

"See..." I gestured at him. "There you go again."

"Okay I'm sorry. I was just joking." He smiled and his voice sounded sexy. Just at that moment only.

"Then don't joke around me."

He sat down beside me on the cemented bench and I shifted away from him, so there could be enough space between us.

"Relax, I don't have any disease." He said, smirking and for the first time, I noticed the dimple on his cheek. It was deep. I must confess Peter was really cute. And annoying too.

"Is it by force I sit close to you?"

"A lotta' girls are actually dying to sit close to me."

"Such a peacock." I rolled my eyes.

"Look," He slapped his forehead with his left hand and ran it back through his Afro hair. "I'm sorry about what happened in my house on Saturday. My mum was in a bad mood. She actually traveled for two days and told me not to put on the gen, except for evenings, because she's actually the economic type but I flouted her rules. I shouldn't have. It was my entire fault. Anyways, why did you leave? She was actually sorry for disregarding you, so she wanted to apologize but you left." He rambled, ruffling his hair which made him so cute.

"I left because I overheard her saying I wasn't welcomed."

"That was said in the heat of the moment. She didn't mean it."

"How was I to know that? She's quite strict though."

"She's not. My dad is the strict one."

"Anyways, I'm not mad at you because of that. I'm actually mad at you for not allowing me to speak today in civic class. I mean, that project was meant for both of us. You should have allowed me participate."

"But you did."

"How? Just in the short drama? I wanted to talk too, just like everyone did. But you decided to steal the spotlight and I'm sure everyone in the class now sees me as a dullard."

"That wasn't my intention. I was just helping you back there. I didn't want you to emba—"

"I didn't need your help." I snapped a bit, cutting him off. "I don't need it."

"Okay I'm sorry about that."

Pouting, I moved my head as though I was listening to a slow music and I stared into space.

"Am I forgiven?"

"No!" I replied immediately he asked. I turned to look at him and his face was apologetic. He moved closer to me, but I didn't bother shifting away because that would just be childish.

"What can I do to make it up to you?"

I looked at him with surprise, "Why are you suddenly nice?" I asked.

"Sorry, what? I don't get. Is that what I can do to make it up to you?"

Rolling my eyes, I sighed exasperatedly. "Olodo."

"Still don't get." He feigned ignorance.

"Give me back my gala you took from me the other day." I said cracking my knuckles.

"Oh you still remember that." He smiled, snapping his fingers twice in a gesture that means what I said had happened a long time from now.

"Clearly, and I could never forget."

He took out a two hundred naira note from his pocket and handed it to me. I looked down at the money and looked up at him. "Did I say I wanted money? My gala, that's what I want."

"You're so difficult, you know." He said, putting the money back into his pocket.

"And you're so annoying." I retorted.

"Anyways, I would give you back your gala, if that would make you forgive me."

"Now can I go?"

"Uh, you were supposed to give me a hug in my house before my mum knocked."

I put on a fake smile, "In your dreams would that happen." My face morphed into a serious look and I rolled my eyes before walking out on him.

"Yes, it's already in my dream!" He hollered, but I didn't care to read meaning to his statement.

__________________________________________

Why do I feel like some of my readers are angry with me? Okay lemme explain, I was, in fact, I still am busy with studying for an exam so I just couldn't write even when the vote for last chapter hit 30. Thanks though for over 50 votes.😁 Also I wanted to write yesterday, but a long-time-no-see friend came over to my house, so I couldn't write in the afternoon. I had to schedule the writing of this chapter for evening. Guys I wrote this chapter in the night/this morning! Don't I deserve to be forgiven?

Anyway, how was this chapter? My apologies to those readers that don't like long chapters. I don't know what's up with me these days, long chapters are now my thing. But I could try and adjust sha.

Quick question: How did you discover this book?

Till next week,
Bye 👋