I woke up to the terribly bright sun shining It's harmless rays onto my face through the window. The common urge to go back to sleep was cut off by the strain of headache at the left side of my brain, which made me stop myself from closing my eyes.

Today, there was not going to be any unnecessary drama in my life, maybe about Ituah or anyone in my school. I was free, basically. As expected a lot of people had texted me about what happened yesterday, forcing me to stay up late trying to explain myself.

I threw back my blanket and walked towards the window, pulling it open, I breathed in the smell of the long awaited Saturday morning. Saturdays were always a day of Joy for me, because I went for choir rehearsals that kept me away from my house and all the damned household chores, which could turn me into a living Cinderella over night.

Walking back to my side table, I unplugged my phone. Like a rhythm, I moved to the bathroom area and took out my bright blue brush. Putting the amount of toothpaste I needed onto it, I shoved the brush into my mouth. Single handedly opening up my music app, I played the song 'So will I' by hillsong worship and started making my teeth very clean.

Few minutes later, I was walking out of my room in a grey ash top and black striped skirt coupled with my favourite Nike sneakers and my black 'MCM' bag that was holding my choir note, phone, powerbank, a pen and lastly my Bible.

Coming down from the last step of the stairs, I was greeted with the very delicious smell of noodles (Indomie) coming from the kitchen. I walked into the kitchen, smiling at Laura, my older sister, I wiggled my eyebrows at her and she returned the smile.

"You are not tasting my indomie o, so stop day dreaming of it." Laura brushed past me, the indomie in her hand as I followed her, grabbing hold of her waist. "Leave me ahn." She dropped her food on the table, pushing me away from her.

I looked at my watch and let out a small scream, I had exactly 30 minutes to get to practice. I needed to get there really early because I wanted to solo the song for the song we were going to sing on Sunday in front of an audience of probably 30,000 Individuals.

Retrieving the bread on the shelf and spreading butter on it, I sprinkled sugar in it and put it in the toaster. Minutes later, I had packed up my toast and practically begged to have the Dubic malt in the freezer before I was out of the house and hurrying to church.

Walking in just after the opening prayers, I joined in the usual voice trainings we had before every rehearsal began. Hands akimbo, I shook my head at the tall light skinned man in front of us, going through all the sessions of voice training.

For people who weren't living under a rock, he was a well known barrister who if you didn't look closely or know him will think that he was just a normal person. Normal in the sense that he was not rich.

He was a very good bass Singer but he as well dominated the Tenor area so well, you'd think he was a born and bred tenor singer. No one ever believed he sang bass unless they heard him.

He had a very good sense of humour and made sure no one was frowning when leaving after practice. He always found something funny to say even though he was serious.

His name was Emmanuel Ajayi, a typical Yoruba man, but we all called him chairman for some reasons that was still unknown to me.

Crowned with the national teenage choirmaster's position, there was a lot for him to do and so much pressure on him but he still managed to meet up with work, family, everything else.

He was a strict but calm bachelor, that when he gave an instruction, he expected it to be carried out as immediately as possible even though he had this very charming smile that made me wonder why he was still single.

"See the way they are breathing like chased fowls." He stopped, his chin on his fist which was supported by his elbow that was laid on the cream colored podium he was in front of.

A smile went up to my face, as a lot of people laughed. "One breath, just one breath." He held up his index finger, seriousness taking charge once more as we repeated the exercise. "d...r...m...f...s...l...t...d...t...l...s...f...m...r...d."

"Good." He said as my stomach growled. I was hungry, very hungry and we were not even halfway through the practice at all. Out of no where, my phone came to life and started vibrating. I was trying as much as possible to shut up my loud phone that was ringing and practically screaming my ringing tone that I refused to change, while in the process dropping the cold can of malt on the ground

My face felt hot as I kept up a little smile avoiding all eye contact as I drew a lot of attention to myself. I arranged my bag and finally hit the power button of my phone, cutting the call. Sighing, I forced myself to stay neutral as people giggled at me. Yea, Yea, laugh it off, your turn is coming, don't worry.

Fortunately for me, they were easily distracted by Chairman and his outrageous exercises again. I continued with the practice and a few minutes later we were through with the voice training and I could check who the hell was calling me.

Unlocking my phone with my finger print, the caller was my one and only Mother. Mrs Eunice Omolola Williams. Having my phone in hand, I stood up and went outside to call back, attracting more attention because everyone was seated waiting for what was supposed to happen next.

Standing just outside the cream colored sliding doors, I returned the call, impatiently waiting for her to pick before it dawned on me that I did not even see her that morning and with the kind of sister I had, I was sure she basically didn't know where I was now.

"Where are you Itunu?" Was the first thing I heard after the 5th ring and fear ran down my back. My mum never called me by my native name. Never.

When she did, it was an indication that I was in deep trouble. Very deep one. Exhaling a shaky breath, I cleared my throat and said. "I'm at practice."

"And who did you tell before going?" I heard her say as I cleared my throat once more, "I......em...I told Laura na......abi?" Was my reply. Laura was just plainly wicked and evil. She knew where I was going and she was around when I was going.

"Laura! She said she told you." My mum said as I heard Laura shout an 'Ehn'. Sighing, I waited for my mom to dish out whatever she wanted to and as expected, she said I should be at her house before she dropped her phone down.

I tried to complain, but she cut the call on me and honestly I felt like crying. I had spent one week preparing for the song so that I would take the solo because the song was one of my favorite.

Carrying my bag, I walked to the back of the hall to Chairman and managing a smile, I greeted him. "How are you?" He dropped his phone on the chair closest to him and turned to face me as I told him that I was not fine at all.

I told him about everything and he proceeded to call my mum and speak to her. Few minutes later, my mum agreed and I was back in to the practice. I wasn't shocked, he was a bachelor, a very good one and had his ways of convincing people.

As I sat down, my phone beeped and I checked who it was. There was a message from my cousin who was meant to be at the practice but she wasn't here yet. The child was very late, she was always late.

Have they started practice?

I rolled my eyes at the screen and answered her question with a simple sarcastic 'No.' And thank you was her reply.

*****

Hours later, I wasn't the one who was chosen to solo the song, just an encouragement to do well next time and by the time I reached my seat, I was close to tears. I had wasted my data and time and I wasn't still going to take the song I had prepared for.

Reaching home, I dropped my tired body on my rough and unlaid bed before pulling out my phone that was beeping so loudly, messages upon messages and notifications upon notifications entering.

Replying to all my private chats, I opened the group message, scrolled through and  then I opened the next, the group that my best friends and I made and I also scrolled through.

Minutes later I was through, and my eyes were closing, sleep already taking over until my phone rang and with tired eyes and sleepy eyes, I swiped the screen, picking the call.

His voice was silent, I could barely hear him as I sat up, my eyebrows furrowing, I was frowning. I pulled the phone from my ear and stared at my screen, to convince myself that he really was the one calling and not someone else.

Anna's brother, Iyanu was really calling me after how many years of losing contact with the whole family and practically disowning his own family after a small misunderstanding between him and Anna.

It seemed impossible to believe as I stared at the screen of my Samsung A7. I blinked, clearing my eyes of the sleep that had been cleared immediately I heard his voice.

A rush of emotion went over me and I felt like shouting, laughing and crying at the same time. He was the elder brother I never had, that had always supported me and fought for me always.

He was the one person I could always talk to when ever I was sad or angry because he was always there, everytime.

It had been 3 years since he left us all, that at some point we all thought he was dead or something, because he basically ran away from home. His voice brought me back to the present, as I stood up from my bed, my legs moving on its own accord out of my room.

"Lois.........help......I need help." And the line went dead.

Vote.
*Praise* 💖