ANNA AND BISI RAN for their lives and luckily they didn't hear the gunshot again,they fell on the ground heaving heavily

"What's that?"Anna asked trying to catch her breathe

"He is after me now"Bisi said her eyes moistening fear taken over her body "he wants to kill me"

"Bisi what's happening,what's wrong?"Anna asked getting worried

"You don't have to bother"Bisi said standing up "go back your brother might be waiting for you"she added before walking away

She knows she needed someone to lean on, someone to tell her everything will be fine but she doesn't want to be selfish anymore,she's been selfish enough and that alone had made her feel one emotion she hates. Guilty

She took her phone from her bag calling her uncle's number,he picked on the second ring

"Bisi"her uncle called quietly

"He sent gunman out to kill me"Bisi said sobbing

"I will send a location to you right now,don't bother going back to his house"

"Okay uncle"

*****

Anna went back home feeling drained,she had never encountered something like that and she was practically shaking.

She called Desmond to talk to him

"Hello Desmond"she said falling on her bed. She put the phone on the speaker placing it on one of the pillows in her bed

"Anna! What's up?!"Desmond said

"I'm not fine,I met with Bisi earlier"Anna said and silent ensued "Someone is after her life"

"Don't get involved Anna,this is dangerous"Desmond said

"I know,I'm just scared for her"Anna replied

"I am too"

"Everything is going wrong Desmond! Joy is dead, Bisi's life is in danger, everything is not like how it use to be,Dami got shot too"Anna rants

"Dami got shot?"Desmond asked surprised

"Yes! He got shot,I'm scared for him"Anna said

"This is getting scary Anna,stop being involved with Dami,I have warned you before"Desmond said sternly

"Come on Desmond! He just got some issues,he will grow over it,he will be fine"Anna said

"Fine my foot! You're my friend Anna and I will always tell you the truth,ever heard the name Fransisca,does it ring a bell?"Desmond said and Anna stilled for awhile

"Yeah"Anna replied quietly

"She's Dami's ex and do you want to know what happened to her?"Desmond said anger obviously lacing his voice. It's quite obvious he's getting riled up by Anna's immature behaviours

"Why tell me this now?! You told me once you will let Dami tell me himself"Anna yelled also frustrated

"I have to tell you now before you make mistake like her,I have to bring you back before it get deeper"Desmond

"I'm already gone Desmond,it's already deeper and I'm not going back on my promises,I will prove you wrong"

"Bad boys don't change"Desmond said calmly

"How sure are you you're not one of them"Anna said ending the call. She rubbed her hands on her face angrily. She's tired of everyone trying to tell her what to do. She can't give up on Dami now not when everybody already gave up on him,he has a good future ahead of him.

*******

Days went by without anyone seeing Bisi,the terms examination came to an end and Anna decided to check up on Dami.

She left the school without Jonah's awareness and took a cab which took her to Dami's house. She went inside his house and met him helping Rachael braid her hair

"I never knew you can braid"Anna said and he smiled

"Anything for my baby sister"Dami said and Anna smile grew wider.

She stayed in comfortable silence with Dami before she decided to break the silence

"Who is Francisca?"Anna asked and Dami stopped what he was doing

"Who mentioned her to you?"he asked his eyes turning into a shade of anger

"You did"Anna decided to take the safer route

"I did?"

"Yes you did so who is Francisca to you"

"Can you forget about this"Dami said frustratedly

"I have the right to know Dami! Tell me the truth!"Anna yelled angrily

"She's my ex girlfriend, are you okay now!"Dami shouted

"What happened between you two?"Anna asked and Dami sighed

"I caught her cheating on me with Desmond"

"What?!"Anna asked getting confused,she knows Desmond is gay so how come he dated Dami's girlfriend

"Yes Anna! That's why I hate seeing you with him,it reminds me of how he took Francisca away"Dami said and Anna open her mouth to defend Desmond but she knows there's no way she can without revealing the fact he is gay

"Do you still love her?"Anna asked

"No I love only you"Dami replied hugging Anna and she let him hug her. They stayed in a comfortable silence for awhile and Anna decided to check on Desmond. She needed to hear the truth because everything is confusing right now

An hour later with so much pretence that she's happy and Dami not able to see through her facade,she announced her departure. Dami decided to see her off but she kicked against it. She didn't want him to know she's going over to Desmond's place

"We will talk Dami"Anna says

"Let me see you off"Dami says too

"Don't bother yourself Dami,just stay at home and get better"Anna said kissing him. This silent him and Anna left going straight to Desmond house.

She stood on the front of the door too nervous to knock on the door,she remembered the fight they had and that scared her a bit. Nevertheless she knocked and a minute later the door open revealing Desmond. Desmond frown immediately trying to close the door on her but Anna pull her leg out

"Hear me out"she said her voice pleading

"Why should I?"Desmond asked frowning

"For God's sake Desmond! Hear me out!"Anna yelled and Desmond close his eyes momentarily

"Come inside"he said opening the door wider for her. Anna noticed no one is at home

"Your brother and mom?"Anna asked

"They're not around"Desmond replied and they walk over to Desmond's room. They sat on his bed and silence reigned. Desmond decided to break the silence

"What is it?"he asked

"It's about Dami. He told me Fransisca cheated on him with you"Anna said and Desmond shot her a look before bursting into laughter

"Are you serious? He told you this?"Desmond asked and continue laughing

"I'm serious Desmond! Be serious"Anna said frustratedly

"God! Now I know why he is always acting cold towards me yeah I know it all revolves around Fransisca but I never thought this is what he thinks"Desmond said and Anna sighed

"Can you tell me what really happened?"Anna asked

"I will tell you. Like you already know, Francisca is Dami's ex girlfriend. They were in a toxic relationship"

"A toxic relationship?"Anna asked her brow quirking

"Yes a toxic relationship,you know what toxic relationship is don't you?"Desmond asked

"Yeah yeah like physical abuse, emotional abuse and so on. More like a bully"Anna replied her interest on its peak

"Yeah something like that. The relationship started off fine,then Dami started restricting people she should talk to,he hates seeing her with boys and doesn't waste any opportunity to hit her when she do something he doesn't like. Initially she tried putting up with everything but she couldn't hold it any longer,the abuse is getting too much for her and as the friendly person I am. She talked to me about it and I told her to quit,she's too young to start relationship anyways talkless of an abusive one. She heed to my adviced and broke up with Dami. That's how I became his enemy and we fought once because of her but at least Francisca is happy where she is now"Desmond said and Anna remain quiet

"That's why I'm advising you Anna,Dami is not good for you and you can't tell me he haven't hit you or manhandled you before"Desmond said and Anna shot him a look

"This is too much"Anna finally said something

"It's not Anna,you can actually end it now,focus more on your studies and all. How do you expect a relationship with someone that's planning to kill his dad to work,can't you see? Dami doesn't have a forgiving spirit in him. He is of no different with his dad"Desmond said and Anna smiled sadly

"I can't just go,he have to give me enough reason to quit the relationship"Anna said and Desmond drew her into a hug and she bursted into tears.

She wondered what's wrong? What changed? What happened? Their school life have been nothing but sweet before everything came down.

She cried louder when she remembered the good time. When Joy was alive and healthy,Bisi and her side comments,she missed their friendship she missed everything that happened between them. She missed the period they had no relationship with any of the boys. She thought about what Desmond said about leaving Dami but she doesn't want to,she loves him a lot and she's ready to go down with him.

********

The white family sits in the sitting room watching the news,Anna interest suddenly peaks when she saw Bisi's father handcuffed and sentenced to life imprisonment. Anna knew this is all Bisi's doing and her heart yearned out for her. She watched as her mom was sentenced to five years imprisonment and a doctor too sentence to twenty five years imprisonment.

She left the sitting room immediately taking her phone and went to vanguard news app in her phone. She wanted to read the story alone. She found out that the doctor is accused of sleeping with his patients especially the underage ones. Bisi is one of his victim too and that made her sad. She haven't seen Bisi for awhile and school is resuming the following week

Anna dialled her number and she picked the call in the third ring

"Hello"Bisi said calmly and Anna's heart swell

"How are you?"she asked

"I'm fine"Bisi replied and went into a comfortable silence. The two teenagers in their own world

"We are resuming next week"Anna decided to break the silence

"Yeah I know"

"Will I see you?"she asked

"I'm leaving the country Anna"Bisi said in a pained voice

"What?!"Anna exclaimed surprised

"I need to start afresh after everything and see a therapist too"Bisi said in a whispering voice

"A therapist?"Anna asked

"I'm a sex addict, I confirmed it lately"Bisi said and they went inside that comfortable silence again

"I'm going to miss you"Anna finally said something a tear escaping her eyes

"I'm already missing you Anna. I'm sorry for everything"Bisi said trying to hide her sob

"I know"Anna said bursting into tears

"I'm sorry for what I did to you,what I did to Joy and Jonah. Tell Jonah to forgive me,tell him I'm sorry"Bisi said bursting into tears too

"Will I ever see you again?"Anna asked

"I hope not"Bisi said and Anna nodded in understanding

"You're still my best friend you know"Anna stressed

"Of course! Best friends forever. I love you"

"I love you too. Stay safe"Anna said and Bisi ended the call.

She lay on her bed, her face on her pillow crying her guts out. First it was Joy out of her life and now It's Bisi. She had never look forward to graduating high school like the way she feels now.