"I'M SO GONNA MISS  you guys"Anna said sniffing

"Same here!"Joy said hugging her "I'm so sorry for the other day"she apologized,she haven't had enough time to apologize for the way she reacted when she called her to ask about what's going on between her and Jonah

"It's fine dear,you're forgiven and please sort out whatever it's wrong with the both of you,I can see it on Jonah he have been cold recently"Anna said

"I will thanks"Joy replied

"What's up with you guys?"Bisi asked

"I rather not talk about it"Joy replied

"We are friends and you're free to share your problems with us"Bisi replied folding her hands

"Well I'm not so in a great mood to talk about it"Joy replied

"It's okay Bisi I'm sure she will tell us when she feels the time is right,we don't need to pressurise her"Anna said and Joy gave her a grateful smile

"Okay then,enjoy your holiday and send pictures to us,will ya?"Bisi said

"Sure I will,you can always go on a vacation you know,we can always meet in South Africa"Anna said to them and they chuckled

"I will be going down to Ondo state to check on my uncle,I don't think I can fly over to South Africa"Bisi replied

"My Nana have been ill for some times now I don't think it's the right time for us to travel,I will be spending the holiday here in Lagos"Joy said and Anna nodded

"It's fine,see you guys soon and don't forget to chat on the group always,we will be having video calls regularly"Anna said waving then goodbye and they did thesame

"Have a nice holiday"Joy told Bisi

"You too,enjoy it while it lasts"Bisi replied winking at her before walking away

*********

Anna looked for Dami around the school but she couldn't find him,she wanted to see him before leaving for the holiday,she decided to visit his house maybe he is already gone,she boarded a cab and went straight to Dami's house

She knocked on his door and no one answered but she was sure someone was inside the house due to the blasting music,she knocked once more but the door didn't open and then she tried it again but still the result remain the same, so she decided to open the door and there she met the most shocking scene of her life

"Dami! Damilola!"she called surprised,she always thought Damilola is the most perfect man on earth and had no flaws but here he is with some goons smoking away their lives,on hearing his name Damilola raise up his head to meet Anna's and smile slightly

"Babe!"he called pulling Anna closer and kissed her,Anna could smell the drink on his mouth and got angry pushing him away

"What the hell Dami! You're drinking and and and smoking"Anna said spilling a very hot tears from her eyes,she was so heartbroken like Dami decided to end their relationship,this is the last thing she expected from him

"Babe calm down"he slurred a little and blink several trying to maintain his eyes focus "what are you doing here?"

"I didn't see you at school after the term ends and decided to check up on you before traveling for the holiday only to meet you doing something I would never picture on you"Anna said brushing away the angry tears in her eyes with the back of her palm

"Don't cry please,I do smoke and drink I swear that's the only flaws I got,you won't break up with me because of that right?"Dami asked in a pained manner

"I will be leaving"Anna replied turning around walking away but he stopped her by grabbing her right arm

"Let's talk Anna,you oath to listen to an explanation"Dami said

"I'm in no such mood right now,see you after the holiday ends"Anna replied pulling her hand away from Dami before walking out,half of her wanted him to follow her and beg like the way it happens in movies but Dami didn't do that she let her go and she got so angry and started crying while walking on the road not minding the people watching her

"Johanna!"she suddenly heard her name and she raise up her head to see Desmond flinging his bag to the other side of his shoulder before rushing over to meet her "what's up?!"

"Nothing"Anna replied trying to side step him but he stopped her

"I'm your friend and you know you can tell me anything,it's not normal seeing you crying on the road"he said

"It's fine"Anna replied wiping away the unstoppable tears in her eyes

"Let's go to my house"Desmond says helping her to wipe away her tears,she was able to control her tears on their way to his house and suddenly they stopped at the front of a regular bungalow house

Desmond stepped closer to the door knocking on it and the door opened revealing a boy of her age

"Ade you brought someone home?"The boy asked

"Tony get out of my way"Desmond replied back and the boy smiled

"Hey! My name is Tony and sorry for how I reacted just now it's just surprising seeing my brother bring a girl home"The boy said smiling,he look exactly like Desmond,he is light in complexion with the albino kind of hair Desmond has too

"Hi I'm Johanna,I'm your brother's friend and class mate"Anna replied smiling

"It's obvious,you wear thesame uniform"Tony replied

"Will you get out of the door let your brother come in?"Anna suddenly heard a woman's voice and she stiffened immediately

"Relax she's my mother and she don't bite"Desmond replied going inside the sitting room and Anna tagged along

"Ade how was school?"Their mother asked hugging him and he smiled before the woman eyes landed on Anna,Anna also learnt the family calls Desmond Ade

"Hello ma!"Anna said meekly

"How are you?"The woman asked

"I'm fine"She replied trying to smile while she's obviously nervous

"Mom this is Johanna,she's my classmate and friend"Desmond introduced

"Ok dear,I'm Ade's mom"the woman said sweetly

"So mom we will be heading to my room"Desmond said pulling Anna along and they went inside the room

The room is a bright room coloured butter,a queen size bed at the other side of the wall with a window above,a wardrobe at the other side and a chair and table at the other side too

"You have a nice room"Anna commented looking around

"Thanks anyways it's for me and Tony"Desmond replied sitting on the bed and Anna did thesame

"Is she really your mom?"Anna asked

"Yes! Oh I get it I always got that question"Desmond replied laughing, Tony and Desmond don't look at their mom at the least,while they are light skinned with an albino kind of hair their mother is a very dark skinned woman with black hair and their facial looks don't even have anything similar

"You and Tony don't look like her at the least"Anna said

"Yeah we don't,we look like our dad"Desmond replied

"Where is he?"She asked

"He died few years back"Desmond replied

"Oh so sorry,how have you been coping?"Anna asked

"It's been more than seven years he died I was just ten or eleven then I think and Tony was eight or nine we have been coping fine"

"Wow, I'm thesame age with Tony wow! What class is he?"Anna asked genuinely curious

"He will be writing WAEC next term and don't ask me how come my younger brother will be finishing school before me so enough about me and stop trying to divert my attention,why were you crying earlier?"Desmond asked folding his hands across his chest

"But it was working"Anna whined

"Ahah! No diversion"Desmond warned and Anna sighed

"I went to visit Dami and I caught him smoking and drinking with some guys"Anna said and Desmond smiled pitifully "you know this before?"

"Yeah I do,Dami is a bright student we all know that and it's obvious the boy has a future but he doesn't wanna grow"Desmond replied.

"I don't understand"Anna said scooting closer

"Well I knew little about him,I know he has some family issues"

"I always wonder why he only lives with Rachel,can you tell me what the problem is?"

"I'm not the right person to tell you that,Dami have to let you know when he feels like it,he doesn't wanna grow and that's the problem"

"Grow?"

"Yeah still living in the past and indirectly destroying his life,he use to be a very nice kid,I knew him right from when we were little"

"Wow! I don't like him drinking or smoking"Anna said

"Well he didn't always smoke and don't start thinking like a heroine thinking about changing him,this is not a movie Anna and bad boys don't change"Desmond adviced

"I love him and I'm willing to help him"

"You're young to say such Anna,you're just sixteen and have a lot to focus on, I'd just advice you to let him go don't let him taint you,he is already a virus and far too gone to be saved"Desmond said

"This is not what I wanna hear,can we stop talking about Dami?"

"Okay"Desmond replied shrugging

"Well what happened between you two?"Anna asked curiously

"You said we should stop talking about him"

"Please! Just tell me already!"

"Okay! We fought so is that enough?"

"Nope what caused the fight?"

"Anna! Curiosity killed the cat you know?"Desmond said narrowing his eyes down at her

"Cat have nine lives so tell me?"she said smirking and Desmond laughed happy that her mood had drastically changed

"Well I have no right to tell you,Dami will tell you when the time is right"Desmond said smirking

"Oh please!"Anna replied rolling her eyes

"I'm happy your mood had changed"Desmond said

"That doesn't mean I'm not still angry finding out Dami drink and smoke,he is just destroying his organs"Anna complained

"Well you know you can always talk to him"

"I will when school resumes"Anna said smiling

"That's cool,can't believe this term came to an end"Desmond said chuckling

"Well we still have four more terms to go before we say bye bye to high school"Anna replied

"Yeah you're right!"