"Anita, breathe! Calm down, please" Titi begged.

Chi-girl rubbed my back as I sat on the floor, my eyes moist with tears. Josie rushed to my side with a cup of water.

"Pass my phone," I said still staring at nothing. Josie placed my phone on my palm and I rewatch the news displayed on my phone. "I need to get to Abuja".

"First, calm down," Titi voiced.

"No!" I screamed. "My sister is fighting for her life and you say I should calm down".

"How about you go over to your parents' house and calm them down. Don't you think they saw the news too?"

I paused and thought about it. "You're right!" I sprung to my feet. The image of my sister being rushed into an emergency room drained my blood and suddenly everything spun around me. I staggered and fell to the ground.

                     •°•°•°•°•°

"Anita," a voice whispered to me. "Open your eyes, angel".

The voice registered into my head and his smell– pure maleness, flooded my nostrils. His palm rested on my forehead and he caressed my face. The warmth engulfed me and my eyes fluttered open. "Anita," he whispered.

I looked around me and took in a long breathe. "I fainted, didn't I?"

"Yes" he nodded.

I sighed and rose to a sitting position. "I need to book a flight but first, I need to meet my parents". My body was weak but my mind and soul were ready to fight. Kate should better stay away from me or else things will be bloody. Prince placed his hand on my shoulder. "Calm down, angel. You are having a fever".

"I do?" I placed my hand on my neck. My body was burning. "Wow! Who cares. I need to see my sister. I'll just take some medicine".

"Okay but I'll take you to your parents' place," he proposed and helped me to my feet. "Calm down, please. I'm sure your sister will be fine".

"She was stabbed, Prince. How can I calm down?" I snapped.

He clamped his lips together and nodded. "Let's go".

We rushed out of my flat and headed to his car. Fortunately, my roommates had packed my bags for me. My first destination was to my parents' house. The drive was long but we got there later in the day. My morning was spoilt today when I watched the news. I'm glad I did. So this is Kate's true color? A monster!

The moment Prince drove into my family's compound, I hopped out of the car. I raced into the house and found my parents sitting in the living room. The air was tensed. Sadness hovered around them. It also clouded their eyes which were swollen. I sighed and rushed to them. I embraced them so tight that it felt like I wanted to crawl into them. My mom's body raked as she sobbed.

"I had a dream days ago, Anita. I saw your sister lying on a bed with blood around her. I was running to her but my hands were chained to a door. I told your dad and we prayed against it. I can't believe this, Anita. Your sister was stabbed. She's fighting for her life and there is nothing I can do. I'm scared. I can't lose my daughter. She is too young to die".

"Mom, I can't tolerate this negativity" I scolded. I have to be the strong one. "Naomi will be alright. I know that. She's a fighter. She won't leave us. I know that. Dad, she won't leave us right?"

My dad stared as if he had seen a ghost. His bloodshot eyes bored at me and he shrugged.

"Mom! Dad! This is what you will do for me. You will stay in Lagos and pray. Pray very hard please. I'm going to Abuja. Naomi will survive. I promise you that. Your daughter will be alive. You'll attend her wedding. You'll play with her children and you will rejoice with her in all her achievements".

They nodded and I hugged them some more. Prince cleared his throat and we all turned to him."I promise to do my part to help. Can you promise me to take care of yourself and pray? Eat and sleep well, please," Prince said to my parents.

"I promise," my mom replied and wiped her tears.

"Dad?" I asked.

"I promise," he replied. "But when are you going to Abuja?"

"Tomorrow! My flight is at seven in the morning"

"Is Prince going with you?" My mom asked and glanced at Prince who nodded.

"Yes!" I answered.

Mom rose up and beckoned for Prince to come to her. She hugged him and rubbed his back. "Thank you. Thank you for supporting us in this hard times. You must really love my daughter".

"Love?" Prince and I exclaimed.

My mom's eyes widened. "Did I say something wrong? You don't have to hide your relationship from me".

Prince and I turned our gaze to each other. We shrugged and I replied, "Yeah, mom. We can't hide our relationship from you".

I gave some money to my parents for their finance and we left them. Prince and I got to a hotel near the airport. We didn't want to miss our flight.

"Two rooms, please" Prince said to the receptionist.

"Two?" I asked.

He rose a brow in question. "Yes?"

"That's unnecessary. We can share a room"

"What? Will you be comfortable with that?"

"Yes and that is because I don't want you to spend much"

"Oh!" he tapped his finger on the desk before him. "I just want you to be comfortable. Forget about the money".

"Right now!" I sighed. "I don't think I want to be alone. I'm not in the best mood. I'm scared".

He stared and nodded. "Okay!" He curled an arm around my waist and pulled me in a side hug. "Is there a sofa in the room?" he directed the question to the receptionist. She stared at Prince in admiration and nodded as she leered at him. I placed my head on Prince's chest and fixed a hard glare on her. She noticed and rolled her eyes.

As they spoke and the fair-skinned receptionist kept licking and chewing on her lips. What incensed me was how she batted her lashes. Prince is so attractive that it's quite oppressing. As we went to our room, I noticed how he caught the attention of every women. Seriously, every women! They all stared. I had to look back at Prince to understand what they were seeing. I know that he is handsome. He was on a sky blue dress shirt that had its sleeves rolled to his elbow and had unbuttoned the top to his chest.

But things turned around as I caught the attention of every men. It turned out we both are attractive. Kinda cool though!

We got into the room and Prince allowed me to have my bath while he went to buy food. He returned and we sat in silence as we ate. I lost my appetite when I remembered the blood stain I saw on my sister. I let out a heavy sigh and shut my eyes.

"Anita?" Prince called out.

"Yeah?'" I responded and pinched the bridge of my nose. I suppressed the pricking sensation in my eyes. I don't want to cry. Crying won't help me. A warm hand entwined with mine. I opened my eyes and they met Prince's.

"Please eat!" he whispered.

"I've lost my appetite"

"You haven't eaten today, have you?"

"I don't want to eat"

We were on the rug in the center of the room and our back rested on the wooden side of the king size bed. He pulled me into a warm hug and rubbed my back. I sighed and leaned away.

"I'm fine. You eat," I instructed. I hate the way I'm vulnerable. I need to be a fighter. I need to be brave, bold and strong.

"You aren't eating?"

I shook my head and heaved a sigh. "I don't have the appetite"

He picked a spoonful of rice. "Please eat"

"I'll be fine. Don't worry," I said. I rose and strode to the window. I stood there and stared at the sky. Prince stepped to my side and stared at the sky as well. I folded my arms and rubbed them. The window was open and the cool breeze blew in which caused goosebumps. I let out a deep sigh and my head dropped. I stared at the floor for a while but that ended early when Prince hooked his index finger below my jaw and lifted my head till our eyes met. He lowered his head and pecked my lips, the sensation rushing down my spine. My heart thrust against my rib cage. Prince kissed me? I felt the air in me being knocked out. My eyes went round– really, really round.

"Please smile for me. I can't bear to see you like this," he whispered, our face mere inches away.

"I..." I trailed off. My lips still bubbling from the unexpected contact. He stroked the crook of my neck with his finger and his eyes bored into mine. I could see the pain in his eyes. I guess he isn't happy seeing me this sad.

Prince just kissed me, my head screamed.

"Smile, angel" he beckoned and rested his forehead on mine.

I sighed. "I can't smile till I see my sister's smile. I love her too much". I cast my eyes down again. I hope he kisses me. This time I want it to last longer.

"Look at me, angel"

I did. I gazed into his eyes and my lips parted involuntarily.

"I promise you. She will be fine," he assured.

"How do you know?"

"Because I'm praying hard and I will do my best to make it happen. I have faith"

I cocked a brow. "Why?"

"Huh?"

"Why? Why do you want my sister alive? Why do you want to see me smile? Do you like me? You are acting not as a friend but more than a friend. Why?"

My sudden questions left Prince speechless. It was like I could see the gears in his head turning. He opened his mouth but he couldn't let a word out since my phone rang. I glanced at my phone and then at him.

"It may be an important call" he whispered and stepped away from me. He signalled that I should go pick it. I nodded and headed to my phone that lay on the drawer. I picked it. Titi was calling. I glanced at Prince and he is staring at the sky with a brooding look. I'm sure my questions are the cause. I did a video call with my flatmates. It lasted for an hour and during that time, Prince spent his time on his laptop. He was busy with office work. After the call, I set my phone down and asked "Am I sleeping on the bed?"

"Yes!"

"Where will you sleep?"

"On the sofa"

"Do you like me?" I asked.

He went silent. He glanced at me and turned his gaze to his laptop. "I'm not sure"

"Ummm...Oh...O...Okay!"

"I hope you can understand. I'm sorry. I just see you as a friend," he replied, not even looking at me. He shrugged and got back to his office work.

I bit my lip and my heart was lanced again....by him. However this time was different. I am super sure Prince has feelings for me. I saw it in his eyes today. He even kissed me. Who pecks a friend on her lips? That's not friendship! It's just that Prince is trying to fight his feelings. He must be scared of something. I need to find out.

       -------------------------------------------

What do you think of this chapter? Did you enjoy it?

Awwn! Anita is worried about her sister 🥺

Who recalls how Naomi was stabbed? Me🙋

Prince kissed Anita? What could be his fear and why is he fighting his feelings for Anita? Can you guess?

Do you think he will ever have the courage to say his true feeling for her?

Thanks for reading. Always leave a comment. 😘And VOTE! Love y'all ❤️❤️

That's right,
Itz Mabel🥰😘❤️