Dedicated to chiomachris and mwicheb for being being cool friends on this medium and for supporting this book.

***

On a normal Saturday, I usually never woke up early to do the house chores, but today I just had to. I woke up as early as six o'clock in the morning to start doing all the chores in the house. Saturday's chores were usually copious; because that was the only day I get to wash all my dirty clothes. There was actually a washing machine in the house, but aunty Caro and her husband banned me from using it to wash my clothes, except I was to wash theirs. Not that I even liked using the machine to wash my clothes anyway. For me, my hands were more effective.

Once done with all the house chores for the morning, I glanced at the wall clock in the living room for the umpteenth time today and it was five minute after ten already. I rested a little before going to the kitchen to get myself something to eat. Earlier on today while I was doing the chores, I saw aunty Caro frying egg for the family to eat with the bread and tea, so I was expecting that they'd have kept my own egg for me.

When I put the four slice of bread, which was remained for me, in a plate, I opened the fry pan to take my own egg, but the pan was empty. I was sad, but I wasn't surprised. It was clear to me that this family hated me and that aunty Caro only brought me to the city to turn me to her housemaid. She didn't really care about me. But why? Why were she and her family treating me this way? For crying out loud, my late father was her younger brother so she was supposed to treat me with the same love and affection that she showed to her daughters.

Oh it was in times like this that I wish my parents were still alive.

With this train of thought, memories of mama and papa began to surge in my mind and my vision became blurry instantly. How were they doing? What were they up to at the moment? Those were the questions that came to my head.

Immediately aunty Caro and I got to the city, I expected her to give mama and papa a call and then give me the phone to talk to them, at least to even tell them how my first day in the city was, but she didn't. Since I left the village, I had not spoken to mama and papa and I was already beginning to miss them so much.

The clattering of plates in the sink ripped me out of my thought. I turned towards the direction of the noise and saw Amanda washing her hands in the sink. Once down, she dried her hands with the dish cloth. Then she made her way to the fridge, opened it and took out a sachet of water.

"Sorry, aren't you going to wash your plate? Or wait, who are you leaving it for?" I asked, looking at her with scorn. For obvious reasons, I didn't like Amanda and well, the feeling was mutual. Ignoring me, she gulped down the water quite fast and tossed the sachet into the dustbin at a corner in the kitchen. But instead of the sachet to enter the dustbin, it landed on the floor. I expected her to pick it up from the floor and dispose it properly, but she nonchalantly walked out of the kitchen.

"Hey can't you see that the water sachet dropped on the floor! This girl, who's your maid in this house? You don't do anything in this house apart from eating and pressing phone, leaving all the works for me. Lazibian!" I shouted angrily so she could hear me. I didn't care if aunty Caro was within earshot. I was really tired of the way the twins, especially Amanda, did things in this house. She did it with so much insouciance and carelessness. What was wrong with her? It seemed like she was deliberately doing it to frustrate me.

"What happened?" Annabelle asked as she got into the kitchen with the plate she just had breakfast with.

"Is it not that lazy brat!" I replied tartly.

"Which lazy brat?" She asked, dropping the plate on the sink and washing her hand.

"You too, you're not going to wash your plate?" I asked, sneeringly.

"I would." She replied and I knew she only said that to come across as a good girl. If I weren't in the kitchen, she would have also dropped her plate in the sink without washing it.

"Better." I said bluntly.

"Wait, what really happened? Why were you sounding like you wanted to die?" Annabelle asked a bit calmly as she washed her plate.

"Is it not that your sister. First of all, she finished eating and dropped the plate on the sink for her slave to wash it for her. As if that wasn't enough, she drank water and instead of her to properly dispose the water sachet, she just threw it on the floor. Is that not stupid?"

"Don't mind her jare. She's just like that. But I expect that since you knew the right thing to do, you should have just done it instead of complaining and stressing yourself." She said, rinsing her plate.

"I know you'd defend her." My pitch decreased, "She's your twin sister after all."

She faced me, "I'm not defending her. I'm only trying to say that instead of making a mountain out of a molehill, you were supposed to just wash the plate and dispose the water sachet properly. At least, that won't kill you." That said, she kept the plate in the shelf and walked out of the kitchen immediately as though she was avoiding my reply.

Rolling my eyes, I hissed loudly and took my bread and tea to my room. Few minutes later when I was done eating, I had my bath and wore a sky blue turtle neck top with a fitted jean trousers. I checked the time again and it was almost eleven o'clock. Good! I went upstairs to aunt Caro's room to inform her about my planned outing. I was more than glad that uncle Henry was not around because if he was, there was no way he would allow me go out. I took a deep breath before knocking on the door to aunty Caro's room.

"Who's there?" She hollered from inside.

"Daniella!" I answered.

"Oh, what do you want?"

Gritting my teeth, I grinned and clasped my palms together nervously. "Uh..." I trailed off as I didn't know how to tell her, but she immediately talked, coming to my rescue.

"Okay, you're ready to go to the market right? Come in, come in."

"No." I mumbled under my breath and shook my head before opening the door and entering into the room.

"So what soup should we cook?" She asked immediately I entered the room. She was sitting on her bed, with her legs wide apart and her eyes fixed on her phone.

"I don't know o. Maybe okazi soup." I responded indifferently, scratching my temple.

She took her eyes from her phone and looked up at me. "Ah ah who gave you this cloth?" She asked, referring to my sky blue turtle neck top.

"I brought it from the village."

"The top is nice. Who bought it for you?"

"Mama."

"Eh he, so you said we should prepare okazi soup, right?"

"Mmm." I nodded my head in affirmation. She seemed quite in a good mood today so I decided to tell her about it now, before her mood changed. "Aunty, we were given a project in school to present on Monday and each of us was grouped in pairs. So today I want to go to my pair partner's house to do the project."

She huffed silently, "Which time did that one start? When did they give you the project?" She asked, looking at me skeptically.

"Yesterday." I replied immediately, so it wouldn't seem as though I was lying. My vision became blurry instantly, something that happened whenever I was lying and nervous at the same time.

"Wait, did the teacher actually expect that you do the project during weekends or what?"

"Yes. Some actually did theirs yesterday during closing hours." I lied again and I wasn't comfortable with it at all.

"Why didn't you also do your own during that time?"

I swallowed before speaking, "Err, I wanted to ask you first. And besides, I didn't want to return late from school." My voice quivered a bit as I uttered those words.

Aunty Caro's lip curved downward into a scowl as she exhaled deeply. "Okay o. You can go." I was so happy that I was mentally squealing and dancing. "But wait, why didn't your partner come over to our house?"

"Uh..." what will I say now? "I thought you wouldn't like it." I said and I was hoping she wouldn't ask any further questions, because I was tired of lying.

"Is your partner a boy or a girl?"

My heart skipped a beat as she asked. "A girl." I replied too quickly and with the way she looked at me, I guess she didn't believe.

She narrowed her eyes, suspiciously. "Are you sure?"

"Yes ma. Girls were paired with girls, while boys were paired with boys."

Daniella why are lying like this?

I was hoping that I was able to convince her with my lie this time around.

"Okay o. Bring that bag for me." She commanded, pointing at the place where her handbags were kept.

Yes, she believed!

I walked towards the bags and touched one of them. "This one?" I asked, unsure of the exact one she told me to bring.

"No, the black one in front."

"Okay." I took the bag to her and she immediately opened it and took out a black purse. The one she usually took out her money from to give me to go to the market. School and market were the only place in Lagos I could go to alone without missing my way.

As she took out some money from her purse and counted it, she asked, "Your partner, do you know her house?"

Can't this woman drop this subject already?

"Yes, I do." I lied, "She showed me her house yesterday and it's not really far from our school."

"Okay, Good. Now take this five thousand naira. You know the stuffs you're supposed to buy for the soup; I don't need to tell you. And if change is remaining, better bring it back to me, unless you'd be in the soup oh. Now you can go?" She handed the money to me and I collected it from her.

"When I come back from the market, can I go to her house to do the project?"

"And who would cook the food?" She asked with a sneer on her face. "Abeg go to the market for me and buy what I sent you to buy!" She shouted, "When you're done cooking the soup, then you can go to your friend's house." That said, I walked out of her room quickly and rushed straight to the market.

I returned from the market later than expected all because onions decided to be scarce today in the market. A good thing I found some anyway, because if I hadn't, I would have still been in the market by now. I cooked the food in a hurry and when I was done, I checked the time and it was past two. Gbemi must be outside waiting for me already. Quickly, I made Eba that the family was going to eat with the soup and then I informed aunty Caro that the food was ready.

"Bring my food upstairs for me." She said and immediately I closed the door to her room, I stamped my feet on the floor and mumbled. Why did she just want to waste my time? I ran downstairs to the kitchen, dished her food and took it to her.

"Aunty, can I go now?" I asked gently, putting on an innocent face. I didn't want her to know that I was frustrated.

"Go where? Wouldn't you bring water for me to wash my hands?"

"Oh, sorry ma." I raised my right index finger, as if I just remembered something and ran downstairs to get her water to wash her hand.

"Aunty, please can I go now?" I emphasized on the please.

"Now you can go. If you like, come back by nine o'clock."

I thanked her and ran downstairs quickly to check if Gbemi was already waiting for me outside the gate. As I ran out of the living room, I glanced at the wall clock and the time was already three o'clock. Dang it! Time has passed. I just hope Gbemi would not have left, that's if at all she came.

When I got outside, I saw Gbemi standing opposite our house. She was resting against a car and her arms were folded around her chest.

"Aw Gbemi, I'm truly sorry. Please forgive me." I apologized as I walked towards her.

She shot me a glare, "This is not funny Daniella. You told me to come by two and I've been standing here since then. Now look at the time, it's past three."

"Aw, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to keep you waiting." I tried to pacify her, "I was cooking. Please forgive me."

She rolled her eyes at me and put on a stern face.

"Sorry na." I held her arms and shook her.

She shot me a cold look and I smiled at her in return. She forced a smile on her. How do I know? Because she rolled her eyes afterwards. "Okay, Okay, I've forgiven you. But please Daniella, let this not repeat itself again."

"Okay ma!" I saluted and stamped my left feet goofily. We both laughed.

I took time to check her out and she was putting on a red and blue vintage shirt, a tight black three-quarter length trouser, a black and white snickers and a black cap. She looked nice.

"Hmm, this one you're dressed like this, what's up? Are you going anywhere from Peter's house?" I asked, eyeing her.

"Of course." She answered, frowning. "Why was I now angry that you wasted my time? I'm going to my friend's house."

"Boy or girl?"

"Nawa for this question o. It's a girl. I don't go to guy's house." She said.

After her response, we walked silently and I could hear our feet making a noise. It was pretty awkward to me, because I wasn't really used to Gbemi. "Okay, so is this Peter house far?" I decided to break the silence.

"No, not really. Let's just continue walking."

Few minutes later, we got to Peter's street and the security men staying at the gate side decided not to let us walk along the street because we were girls and we told him we were going to a boy's house. They kept pelting us with questions and Gbemi kept answering them, while I was looking around, in awe, at the buildings in the street. They were big, exquisite and beautiful. Lost in the glamour of the houses, I didn't know what Gbemi said to the security men that they finally allowed us into the beautiful street.

"Wow! This street is beautiful!" I exclaimed, "I'm sure people living here must be very rich."

"I know, right!" Gbemi said, "The houses here are actually bought and not rented."

"How do you know?" I asked, taking my eyes away from the building and fixing it on Gbemi.

"I just know." She shrugged.

Later, Gbemi stopped in front of a pink and white house that had 'Hosanna Villa' inscribed on the wall. "This is Peter's house." She said, gesturing at the house.

"Wow! It's fine o. Does he stay with his parents or he's a houseboy?" I asked.

Gbemi chuckled, "You're funny. He stays with his parents. His dad is actually rich, according to what I've heard."

"Oh, I see."

"What?" She asked, cocking one of her brows at me.

"I see why he's so arrogant."

"I know, right! Anyways, I'm going. Bye." She waved at me and I waved back at her as she walked away.

I faced the gate and took a deep breath as I was about to knock. I was really nervous, thinking of the possibilities of his parents being around. What would they think of me? Would I be welcomed into the house? Well, only one way to find out. I knocked on the gate and when it opened by itself, I widened my eyes in surprise. I wasn't expecting that. How would they have been so careless as to leave the gate unlocked?

Tentatively, I entered into the compound and walked straight to the only door facing me. It must be the door to enter into the house. I knocked on the door and waited a while for someone to come and open it, but nobody did. I knocked again and...

"Who's there?" A deep voice from inside said. Anytime, any day, I could recognize that voice. It was Peter's.

"It's me." My voice sounded so faint and high. I don't know if it was out of nervousness.

I could hear footsteps approaching towards the door. Suddenly, the door cracked open and I was face to face with Peter. At that moment, the wind picked up and blew some imaginary strands of hair to my face. Don't mind me, I'm just kidding. I was on all-black plait. But for real, the wind picked up.

"Oh it's even you." He said like he was disappointed to see me, rolled his eyes and entered into his house. "I thought it was one better person." He mumbled under his breath, but I heard him. Much as I was slightly offended, I didn't say anything.

I stood outside and watched him as he was walking away. He wasn't wearing any shirt, so his upper body was bare. I ogled at how broad his shoulders were and how his biceps and pelvis flexed as he walked. His jean trouser was sagged, so I could see his green boxer short.

"Are you going to continue ogling at a fine boy or you're going to get inside?" Peter asked, looking back at me. I didn't even realize he had stopped walking. Daniella, what's wrong with you these days?

"You didn't tell me to get in." I said, entering into the house and closing the door behind me. Immediately, cold air from the AC hit my skin and the aroma of fried plantain hit my nose. There were two sitting rooms— one was minor while the other was the main sitting room. The minor was the one I was presently in. It had two chaise lounge and a mini plasma on the wall. I moved forward to where Peter was, which the main sitting room was. It was kind of dark. The only thing that made me see clearly was the light from the minor sitting room. The sofas were black and the TV on the wall was gigantic in the main room.

Peter walked out of the sitting room with an aura of shyness. My gosh! The ever bold and cocky Peter was shy that I was in his house.

I noticed the house was quiet. I guess he was the only one at home. Since I was the only one in the living room, I decided to look at some of the pictures on the wall of the living room. I saw Peter's mum and dad's wedding picture. They both looked gorgeous and I realized that Peter looked more like his mum. Light skinned and... well, fine.

"Can't you just seat your butt down?" Peter's voice boomed and I jolted. "You're here to prepare for a project and not look at my family pictures."

"Okay, so are you ready?"

"Are you?" He asked and I noticed that he was avoiding eye contact with me. Was he really shy?

"Of course." I said, having my seat in the three-seater sofa. "But you don't look ready. We can't talk about the project without you wearing a shirt."

"You're forgetting that this is my house and I'm free to do whatever I like."

"But that shouldn't include you being half naked in front of your female guest."

"Are you a guest?"

I sighed exasperatedly, "Just go and wear shirt Peter. Don't make this difficult."

"Just say you can't resist my six pack abs." He said and by itself, my eyes traveled to his stomach and truly, he had a six pack abs.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Whatever makes you sleep at night?"

"Just admit it."

"I can resist it, so what's there to admit?"

"Okay then," He shrugged, "There's no need to wear shirts since you can resist my abs."

"Okay, okay, I can't."

"Can't what?" He shrugged, looking around as though he was clueless about what I said.

I took a sharp intake of breath. "Can't resist your pack abs!" I almost shouted.

"Was it so hard admitting?" He smirked.

"You're wasting time."

"Okay, Okay," He lifted his hands in surrender. "I'd go wear shirt."

He made his way out of the sitting room and I exhaled deeply, plopping down my back on the sofa. Such a difficult boy! Not too long he came back, with a red T-shirt on and he sat down roughly on the sofa I was sitting on and placed his legs on my laps.

"Are you crazy? What's the meaning of this rubbish?" I snarled, pushing his legs away from my laps. This boy was damn rude.

"Calm down," He drawled, "Why so cranky? Someone cannur play with you?" He said in a singsong voice.

"If that someone is you, then no you can't."

"Okay, so let's get down to business." He said in a serious tone and his voice sounded deeper. Did I mention his Afro cut was messy?

We both became serious and I started to say what I had read about Child Abuse, but he yawned and gave off the impression that he was bored.

"I'm bored." He said.

"I'm Daniella, and don't ever distract me when I'm talking." I replied tartly.

He chuckled, "That was dry."

"It was not meant to be funny."

"I never knew you were like this. I thought you were calm and gentle." He said and I couldn't help but wonder where I had heard that before. Oh yes! That was what Gbemi said to me when we were both serving punishment. Was that really the impression I give people?

"That's why you were bullying me, right?"

"Whatever. Give me a lap dance." He deadpanned, folding his arm around his chest. Has this boy gone nut?

"Wait, Peter, are you okay?"

"Yes I am. And oh, it's so hot when you call me Peter."

Oh boy!

I slapped my forehead and shook my head exasperatedly. "I don't think you're okay."

"Okay, since you're shy to give me a lap dance, twerk for me."

Pervert!

"No! Never! What's wrong with you?" I said in a fit of rage. He was already beginning to annoy me. No he has always been annoying.

"I'm bored, that's what's wrong with me."

"Let's just talk about this project. Please I beg you."

Peter became serious again and I resumed back to what I was saying before he cut me off. I was hoping he wouldn't interrupt me this time around. And once again, he did. "Enough with the boring talks. Can't we just be different? Since everyone would be talking about Child Abuse, why don't we just act a short play about child abuse? I mean, it's a project. We can be creative with it."

As he chipped in that suggestion, I narrowed my eyes at him and nodded my head approvingly. "That's the most brilliant thing you've ever said since I knew you."

He scoffed, a smug smirk tugging at his lips. "I'm brilliant."

"And now his ego has risen to a hundred degree centigrade." I said more to myself than to him.

"So can we start the play?" Peter said, standing up from the sofa.

"Sure." I stood up too.

Peter first of all told me the idea he had in mind for the play before we started to act. I didn't know he was that intelligent until now. Basically the play was just about a young girl who stays with her aunt and uncle. Every night, the uncle comes to her room to sleep with her and threatens to kill her if she tries to tell the aunt. Playing the role of the uncle and the young girl were Peter and I respectively. We enjoyed ourselves while rehearsing. Let me rephrase that, I enjoyed myself while rehearsing. I didn't know about him.

"For my brilliant idea, why don't you give me a hug?" Just as Peter said that, there was a loud knock on the door and Peter ran to check who it was from the curtain. When he checked, he frantically gestured for me to move to the minor sitting room and I did that quickly, sitting on the chaise lounge. Then he opened the door and a slap landed on his cheeks.

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I spent half of my day drafting this chapter, so please and please, do not skip without VOTING. Just compensate me by voting. Thanks anyways for the support you've been showering on this book.

Cliffhanger! I love cliffhangers! 😄 once I get thirty votes on this chapter, I'd publish the next chapter soon.

Honestly aside from long, how was this chapter? I believe it was entertaining.

Quick question: What's your favorite Nickelodeon sitcom? Mine used to be Henry danger, but Thunderman has overthrown it.

Till I get enough vote,
Bye 👋