I didn't know much about the measurements of heart rate, but I was sure as hell that the rate at which my heart was beating was at the fastest it has ever been. On my knees, my hands folded over my tummy like a person who was about to receive judgment, and I was indeed about to receive judgment. I watched my mum as she got out of her bathroom, put on her hijab, and went over to her praying position. She did all this while ignoring me, I've been in her room for over thirty minutes now and this woman hasn't even spared me a glance, I wonder if she has no idea that I'm here, or it is just part of her punishment. I knelt there watching her pray, I also prayed, I prayed for God's intervention in my life, and I couldn't begin to imagine what this woman would do to me.

By the time she was done praying, I was by then already sitting on the floor, being the lazy me. Immediately, I saw her take off her hijab I knelt straight up again, looking ahead.

"So, you're sleeping with him?" She asked out of the blue.

The question caught me off guard, and at that instant, I choked on thin air, I felt my chest tighten, and I started coughing seriously. The fits of coughs I had were more than I've ever experienced in my nineteen years of living, I tried to calm it down, but it just wouldn't stop. My hands went to my chest, trying to reduce the pain I felt there, and then I felt a hand on my back patting me. I looked up to see my mum crouched down in front of me with a smile.

"Seeing as you're already having all the symptoms of a coronavirus patient, fever." She touched my forehead, "trouble breathing, and dry cough, I guess I'm right then."

I remained quiet, staring at her smiling face. What I wanted to see wasn't her smiling face. If she was smiling, then whatever was going through her mind was more deadly. You see, I and my mum are a lot alike. it's the same thing I would do also.

"Come on, get up." She raised me up on my feet and led me to her bed. I sat down beside her when she motioned for me to. My face naturally went to my hands that were joined together on my laps. "Why do you look like I'm about to roast you?"

"Because you should actually be roasting me," I answered quietly, and she laughed. "I can't believe you're taking this so lightly."

"I can't believe it either," she stated.

"Why?" I asked. I raised my head up to look at her face, wanting to see whatever was going on there.

"Well, what can I say? He already asked for your hand in marriage." My mum smiled. The smile looked so real, not like she was planning my death underneath.

"What!" I yelled. I couldn't understand what she had just said. Did she mean Ademide asked for my hand in marriage? How is that possible? When? And where?

"Yes, the second day he was here, he came to my shop and told me about his intention to woo my daughter." My mum started explaining, I listened attentively, I needed to know. "I asked which daughter? Because I'm sure I don't have a daughter." A scowl appeared on my face, I knew what my mum was getting at. She was trying to insinuate that I wasn't woman enough. "I was so damn sure he wasn't talking about you, I was trying to see what he found so appealing in you, except your pretty face, which is thanks to me." She huffed, see I told you I took after my mum in every way. "Anyway, I told him I don't take refunds."

"Mum!" I yelled with anger, pouting seriously, "You make it sound like you're selling me."

"I had to tell him, in case a time comes when he suddenly realizes he made a wrong choice, which I strongly believe you are, then he should know I don't take refunds." She ended it with a chuckle. Everything sounded too unreal to me, my mum making a joke out of this, and the fact that Ademide told my mum about his intention to woo me, who does that?

"So you just agreed, gave him the right to woo your daughter."

"I gave him the right to woo my daughter, not sleep with her!" She deadpanned. I swallowed hard at this, shutting my mouth tight. "I like the guy. He is responsible and courageous enough to talk to me, unlike those small boys that will just be coming to my shop to buy something when what they really want to buy is you."

"Mummy, stop making it look like I'm some sort of goods you want to sell," I said, puckering my lips up in dissatisfaction. I turned my face to the other side, not wanting to look at her laughing face, I just don't get why she wouldn't yell or do something. I felt her arm go around me, pulling me close to her. She gave me a sweet smile, which had me more scared than happy.

"Why do you look so scared?"

"You're not doing anything. Why don't you just yell, let's get this over with."

"I don't want to be that yelling mum again, I realized all it did was push you far away from me," she said in a sad tone. I looked at her face to see if this was real, and her face looked so sad. "I knew about you and Ademide from the very first day. Even the day you lied to me, telling me your ankle hurts, I knew what really happened. And even that night, you looked so sad. All I wanted was to console you, but you didn't even tell me what really happened. You don't trust me. But instead of been angry at you, all I felt was sadness, I realized that it was actually my fault, if I had been a little closer to you maybe you would find it easier to talk to me. I wished so much that you would just open up and tell me, I knew if I were you, I wouldn't want to tell me either."

"Mum," I called her softly. I didn't know what to say or do, I've never heard her sound so vulnerable, I never even believe she could be so vulnerable.

"I wish we were more friends."

"Friends?" I asked, confused.

"Yeah, when a mother and daughter are best of friends, they tend to have the best relationship, and the daughter never goes astray. Do you know why?" She asked, looking at me curiously. I shook my head in answer. She smiled and continued. "Its because they tell each other everything, and the mother always listens as a friend, advise her, and even laugh with her at some point. We are not like that, I'm scared that what you feel for me is fear, not love."

"No, I love you, mummy. I know that, and you know that." I stated.

"I understand that you've never been one to open up to people, I've watched you. Even with your friends, you're closed off. I don't want you to be that way with me, I want you to talk to me freely, I want to be your mother and maybe best friend." She ended with persuasion feeling her tone. She had that sad smile on her face.

"I want us to have that relationship too, I just...I was kind of scared, I didn't know if I could approach you with some things, I'm scared that you'll just blow off."

She laughed, her eyes twinkling. You could still see the sadness behind the laughter, but it was better. "So, friends?" She asked, stretching forth her hand.

I looked at her hand that was right in front of me, I smiled, I never thought the day would come when I would feel so close with my mum. I placed my hand in hers and said, "Friends."

She pulled me into a hug, I felt tears pull at my eyes at this gesture, I and my mum have never hugged each other before, maybe when I was young, but not since I can remember. She was always so busy, and when we see we're are either arguing or something else. I once said that my mum wasn't a person who had time for all these useless sentiments as she calls it, so imagine the joy and surprise I was feeling right now. Hugging her was the best feeling ever. She felt so warm, and for once, I felt so protected with her. I smiled, squeezing my arms tightly around her.

"So, do you like the big mosquito?" She asked suddenly, puling me out of my reverie. I pulled out of the hug and looked at her face that was, by the way, filled with mischief. I don't know why I became so shy all of a sudden, I smiled shyly and looked away from her, "Oh, you do."

"Yeah."

"That's a first," she blurted out, like she wasn't expecting me to like him.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, I've never seen you like a guy, except those celebrities of yours. And puh-lease don't tell me about your exes I knew you never liked any of them."

I stared at her, mouth agape with surprise. What surprised me wasn't her telling me that I never liked any guy, but it was because she knew I had exes. "You know about my exes!"

"I told you I know everything, I just pretend not to." She huffed, flipping her nonexistent hair. Oh, by the way, she has hair. It is just pulled up tight in her hair net. I laughed so hard watching her do this. Gosh, this woman was so funny.

"Pretend no more, mother. So what else do you know that you're pretending not to know?" I asked with a raise of my brows.

"I know you broke up with your first boyfriend on the third day of your relationship." My jaw fell apart. She laughed at my shocked face and continued, "Don't worry, I never liked the guy also."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, and I was also finding it hard to believe that my thirteen year old daughter had a boyfriend." She made a face as though she was trying to push the thought away from her mind, I laughed at the look on her face. "But I understand that you're an adult now, and I will try to believe that you and Ademide know what you're doing."

"We do." I stated. I noticed her looking at my neck, I didn't need to look down to know that the marks were fading, and new ones were sprouting, oh this guy.

"While you're at that, tell him to reduce the number of mosquito bites he leaves on your body. You know you have very sensitive skin." She said with sarcasm.

"Mummy, it's not mosquito bites."

"It's hickeys, I know. But with the way you people are going, I won't be surprised when people start asking me about your skin." She joked further. I gave a frustrated sigh and stood up from her bed. She stood up also and placed a kiss on my forehead, saying, "Good night."

"Good night, mum." I shook my head and left for the door, trying not to think about my mum teasing me.

"Try not to get pregnant also, believe me, you won't be having that child in my house." I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at her. She gave me an innocent look, raising her hand up in mock surrender. The sly smile on her lips and the look of pure mischief on her face can clearly state that she wasn't stopping anytime soon. "And we're going to the hospital tomorrow. Oh wipe that look off, we need to get you on birth control." Before I could protest, she added, "try to be nicer to your brother also. That boy adores you way too much, now good night."

She pushed me out of her room, leaving a chaste kiss on my cheeks again. I stood in front of her room with a confused look, and then a smile spread across my face. This was actually the best time that we've ever had together. About heading to my room, I remembered what she said about being nicer to my brother, so instead, I headed for his room. I knocked on his door, expecting him to yell at me, but instead, I heard a gentle, 'come in.'

I opened the door and was welcomed into the neatest room ever. What's with guys and having neat bedrooms?

If I can remember clearly, my brother's room was always dirty before he left for school. What happened to change him so fast? It definitely must be Ademide's influence on him. The dude was a neat freak. I looked at my brother, who was seated at his desk. He looked so busy working on something. I moved closer to him to see that he was actually solving mathematics.

"Maths?" I asked.

"Yes," he answered quietly. He sounded sort of tired. It was then I realized that my brother only yells when I yell at him. Now that I approached him softly, he didn't yell. How come I never knew this? I pulled out his other chair and sat beside him. His attention was on the maths. I felt so sad watching him do this, I could remember well that my brother had always had issues with maths, and now he was studying maths and statistics for a course. Why, oh why? "Is it, though?"

"Not really," he answered, shocking me.

"Really?"

"Yes." He turned to look at me with a smile. "I don't really have issues with maths, not ever since I met Ade. Thanks to him, I was able to pass through my first year."

"Is Ademide a maths student?" I asked. It's funny how I don't know my boyfriend's course of study.

"No, engineering. Final year."

"And he teaches you maths?" I asked, finding it hard to believe.

"He's quite good at it. What do you expect from the best graduating student? His CGPA is 4.9."

"The fuck!" I yelled. This was epic, four point nine, "what's your GP?"

"I'm still on a 4.5." He answered in a sad tone, as though 4.5 wasn't a first class. Like I his elder sister was still on a 3.3 here. And before you think I'm dumb, my school is using a four point grading system, so I'm still good to go. I like to think so.

"That is epic!" I squealed with a huge smile on my face, "I'm so proud of you little brother."

"Don't call me little!" He said with a cute pout, reminding me of the Samuel I was once close to. I heard a phone ringing and it turns out to be my brother's phone, it was a WhatsApp video call, and the caller ID says babe. A natural smirk fell onto my lips as I saw my brother pick up the call, and the screen was graced with Temi's face. I suddenly remembered how I had acted the first day I saw her, I realized then that she might hate me. "Hey babe."

"Hey," she answered with a smile and said, "hi Mary. Its nice to see you again."

I sat looking at the screen with my mouth wide open in surprise, but I managed to bring out a quiet, "hello."

"So, how's my brother?" She asked with a coy smile on her lips. I knew the question was directed at me, but I wondered why.

"And why are you asking me?" I asked.

"Aren't you his girlfriend." She deadpanned. Definitely Ademide's sister, like brother like sister.

"Well he's fine." I answered, I'm not quite good with all this boyfriend's sister stuff yet. "So, good night I'm off to my room." I stood up and walked to the door.

"More like Ademide's room," Samuel muttered, and I could hear Temi snickering from the phone.

I pretended not to hear the both of them and left Samuel's room. I stood in front of his room, debating whether to go to my room or Ademide's. But if I go to Ademide's room it will be just as Samuel predicted, so I turned my face stony, and went to my room.

On opening my room door I nearly ran out of my skin. I let out a loud scream on what, I mean who I saw lying on my bed. "Calm down Mary, calm down. You need to get used to it. He's your boyfriend and he's lying on your bed shirtless, get used to it." I chanted to myself like a mantra, calming my racing heart. I finally looked up at the guy on my bed, lying with his back against the headboard, his hands behind his head flexing his muscles. There was an unmistakeable smirk on his lips, a smirk I would like to wipe off.

"Took you long enough," he said.

What do y'all think?
Second to the last chapter. Whoohoo 💃💃.
Vote y'all, I'd appreciate.

© Mary Aden.