They were back home earlier than expected. Ms William had cut the journey short because of Moyo’s accident. Most of the student had grumbled but no one had a say when she insisted she can’t give room for more accidents. 

Cassie didn’t share a word with Moyo throughout the ride, although, Moyo asked countless times how she would invite their parents to school. It was like speaking to the wall. 

Tired of persuading her, she focused on her phone. She called her mother. It had been a long time since she heard from her. 

“Hello, mum…”

For a brief moment, she saw Cassie looked at her before looking away again. 

Her mother voice sounded hurried, “Moyosore, how are you? How’s things? How’s your sister? And your parents? Why haven’t you called me all this while?”

Moyo smiled; it was more like her mother to ask all those questions. 

“Mum, I’m fine. Everything is fine. We’ve just been too busy in school that’s why.”

“Okay, my dear. I hope you’ve adjusted well now. What of Cassandra? Are you guys getting along well?”

She looked at Cassie who was focused on her phone, “I guess we can say that, mum.”

“Can I speak with her?”

Her eyes lingered on Cassie for a long time.

“Are you there, Moyo?”

She nodded, “Yes, mum. She’s not around, maybe next time.”

“Okay. It’s no problem. I just wanted to talk to her.” She could hear the disappointment in her mother’s voice. Her mother would be so hurt to know that Cassie would never accept her as a mother. 

They talked about other things before she hung up. Fortunately, the car parked the same time she hung up; Cassie was the first to jump down from the car, and Moyo ran after her. 

“Cassie… Cassie… Sorry can I speak to you for a moment.”

She didn’t expect it, but she actually stopped. She waited. 

Moyo tried to come up with the best way to bring the topic to her. How would she tell her that her mother wanted to talk to her without hurting her feelings?

“Did you just stop me to stare at me?” Annoyance dripped from her tone. 

Moyo closed her eyes. She needed to accept that there was nothing she could do that would please Cassie. She could just let it out. 

“Mum wants to speak with you?”

Cassie frowned, “If my mother wants to speak with me, she has my number. I don’t think she has to call you to tell you.”

Moyo fidget, “I mean your biological mother.”

If Cassie was some cartoon character, she did have smoke coming out from her ears right now. “I know my mother.” She turned and was out of Moyo’s presence. 

Moyo sighed, “I guess that went better than expected.”

Just like always, the mansion was filled with maids doing their chores. There was no sign that neither of their parents were around. Moyo went to her room to get the needed rest. She slept until one of the maids came to wake her up.

She knew it was just for one thing, so she got change and moved to the dining room. Surprisingly, the table was full. Moyo took the seat next to her father; she felt the most comfortable beside him. 

“How are you, princess? I missed you.”

Moyo smiled. “I missed you too, dad.”

As she said it, she realized it was true. He was starting to grow on her that she added him to the list of people she would miss after leaving this place. 

They had all started eating peacefully when her father cleared his throat, “Cassandra.” His voice was deeper than normal. At once, Cassie dropped her spoon and faced him. Apart from his voice, he had never called her Cassandra in Moyo’s presence. It was always Cassie. It made Moyo tensed up as if something was wrong. 

“Sir,”

“Do you have anything to tell us?”

For some reason, Moyo heartbeat picked up. She wasn’t the one all eyes turned to, but she felt as if she was under pressure. 

Cassie shrugged, “Something like.”

Her father dimmed his eyes, “Something like information you’re supposed to pass.”

Cassie picked up her spoon and started eating, “I don’t have any information to pass.”

A sudden hit on the table almost made Moyo pass out. 

“Are you kidding me right now? Did I raise a liar?”

Their mother sighed, “Is there something wrong, dear? You can just tell us instead of asking her these questions.”

He turned towards their mother, “You’re the one indulging her, and I hope you don’t regret it.”

As everyone stared at him waiting for him to say whatever the problem was, he shifted his chair backward and stood up. The silence was suddenly awkward, and although Moyo was still hungry, the food seemed tasteless in her mouth. 

What was happening again?

“You told him, right?” She heard Cassie accused her. 

Moyo frowned, “Told him what?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Moyosore. I know you want our parents love. So, this is your way of making dad hate me.”

Their mother looked clueless, “What’s going on, Cassie?”

Cassie eyes didn’t leave Moyo, “You can ask your dearest daughter, mom.”

Just like that another chair was pulled backward, as Cassie walked out of the dining room. Moyo sat there blinking in confusion. 

What just happened?

“Can you tell me what’s going on, Moyo?”

The problem was Moyo had no idea what was going on; the only incident that had happened was the accident, but she didn’t tell anyone. She didn’t leave her room ever since she came back from the trip. She had no idea their parents were back.

“I don’t know, mother.”

Florence sighed, “It’s okay, Moyo. I’ll talk to your father. I’ll get to the end of whatever this matter is. You can finish up your dinner.”

For the third time, another chair was pulled back. 

Moyo glanced at the full plates of food in her presence and sighed. 

She lived a more peaceful life when she was poor. Her appetite was long gone. She pulled back. 

On her way to her room, she could hear her parents arguing again. 

Moyo sighed; is it hard to ask for one peaceful day in this house. 

Moyo read a book till she fell asleep. 

The next morning silence felt like bliss. She just wished the rest of the day could be as peaceful as the morning. 

She sent a good morning message to her mother, before getting ready for school. Today was the day Cassie was supposed to invite their parents to school, but Moyo doubted she told them about the invitation. 

Regardless, she got dressed for school, and decided to eat her breakfast in her room in case any drama happens. She wasn’t going to forfeit her breakfast as she had her dinner the previous night.

When she got down, there was no one on the dining table like she had expected. 

This time she decided to take a different ride to school to avoid Cassie’s angry bird mood. 

It was so peaceful that she fell asleep in the car, the driver had to wake her up when she got to school. Moyo thanked him and got down. 

She was used to the students ignoring her and making her feel invisible, but it was totally opposite this morning. 

“How are you feeling, Moyosore?” One student had asked, slinging her hand over her shoulder like they were best friends from forever. Moyo stood shocked, she had no response to the sudden question. 

Another called her name and waved at her like it was normal. 

“Did you have a lovely weekend?” another shouted at her. 

By then Moyo freaked out, she ran towards her classroom expecting the normal reaction from her classmates but it got worse. Shewa was the first to attack her, “How are you feeling, Adeleke?”

She followed her until she sat on her chair. 

She looked around for Cassie; she was sure her hatred for her would never change. Cassie was the most stable person she had ever met, but there was no Cassie in the classroom. 

She hadn’t seen her earlier that morning, and she had no idea if she had left home. What if she was still hiding in her room because of last night incident?

“Don’t look at her seat. She has been summoned to the teacher’s staff room.”

Moyo frown her brows, “Why?”

Shewa shrugged, “No one cares.”

“Are you no her friend, how can you not care?”

Shewa hissed, “There’s no way I will be friend with a murderer. Stop acting like a fool, Moyo. You’re the victim here.”

Moyo sighed. 

So that was why everyone was treating her better. They had painted Cassie as a murderer, “She’s not a murderer, and you guys are horrible friends.”

She pushed them away, making her way towards the staff room. 

“Where do you think you are going?” Aaron’s voice stopped her. She hadn’t seen Aaron in the classroom, but she was glad to see him. She turned towards him. 

“You need to help me, Aaron.”

Aaron frown, “With what?”

“Heard Cassie was called to the staff room, I think it’s about what happened. I need you to say it’s an accident. Like a witness.”

“And why will I do that?”

“Because you are my friend, and you will help me. Right?” She twisted her head to a side. 

Aaron shook his head, “I’m sorry but I don’t think we both have a say in this. I saw your father this morning. It’s the school disciplinary committee decision that will matter.”

Moyo lost her hand in her hair. 

Was this what their father was hinting on? How did he hear? She was certain there was no way Cassie would have invited him.

“Just give up on lying on her behalf. I think all you can do right now is to wait for their decision.” He patted her back, before pushing her back towards their classroom. 

What would happen at home now? Their home was hot enough as it was. 

Moyo could barely comprehend anything the teachers were teaching them all-through the rest of the classroom. It was close to during lunch that Cassie came back to the class. The whole class was silent, but no one acknowledged her presence either. 

Moyo tried to stand up, but Aaron pinned her down with his hand. 

“She needs some time alone.”

Moyo nodded. Soon, Cassie lifted her school bag and left the class.

For the rest of the school days, Moyo waited for her to come back, but there was no Cassie. She had urged the driver to drive fast back home for the first time, her head loading with questions.

And the most important of all was, “Why wasn’t she called to the staff room? Why didn’t her father asked for her?”

Once the car parked, she didn’t bother with her bag as she ran into the mansion straight towards Cassie’s room. She needed to know what was going on.

She knocked but there was no response, and then she tried opening the door, but it barely bulged. 

She tried calling Cassie’s number, but there was no response.

Did she run away from home again?

Moyo frowned, deciding to call her father. 

Unlike Cassie, he picked up during the first ringing.

Moyo’s heart leaps, “Hello dad. I can’t find Cassie at home.” She went straight to the point, not bothering with pleasantries. 

“Don’t worry, dear. She’s here with me.”

It only confused her more. 

“Where’s here?”

“We’ll speak better when I get back.”

As he hung up; all my Moyo could think of where the heck was Cassie and her dad.

Author's Note.

Woah. Second update of the day.

How's the book so far? Your thought will be appreciated.

And where do you think Cassie and her father went to?

Awaiting your responses.

Love.
Wendy