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Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.
                          - Og Mandino.

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"It's been long. How is school?" Mrs Yemi ask as she knead the dough on the wooden table. We are in the kitchen and we have a large bread order for an occasion. The customer wants coconut bread and chocolate bread, fifty each. I came to assist in the bakery.

She pounds her fists into the dough and chuckles when the flour below bounce into the air. "Fifty down and fifty more to go," she says to me.

I nod and start kneading the dough in front of me. Her husband and Samson would be handling sale today. Ademide, the last born in the Yemi family, was in school. Amanda is to help us in the kitchen but she keeps leaving the place and there is always tension between us. I don't know why. It's not like I fought with her or anything. In fact, I'm polite to her. She doesn't even know it's an honor. She just glares at me and ignore my existence in the bakery. I'm not really a people person. I had spent most of my times locked up in my house. I may not be so extroverted but I know one thing, if you step on my toe, I will retaliate. I've been abused for too long that I dare not give another human a chance to cause me such pain. Never!

Amanda hasn't hurt me in any way that's why I believe there is peace between us and haven't retaliate to her glares. I glance at the spot lacking her presence, the dough untouched.

"Where is Amanda?" I ask Mrs Yemi. Her eyes instantly falls on the dough Amanda was meant to knead.

"Do you think I need to get more workers?" She inquires and sighs. "This my daughter is so unreliable. She only does what's on her mind".

I nod and shrug it off, a smile crawling to my face. Mrs Yemi is so tolerant. A memory of my aunt flashes in my head. My aunt can never allow you to do what's on your mind.

"Will you punish her for that?" I raise a brow and glance at Mrs Yemi.

She narrows her eyes at the dough. "I know the best way to punish her. She will come and ask me for money, abi na?"

I let out a hearty laughter. "You are creative with your punishment, ma. It's impressive".

"I have to be creative. Beating does not work for some children," she says and chuckles.

"Are you sure? I met a person who believes greatly in beating children. Mostly ones that aren't her kids," I exclaim, obviously describing my aunt.

She snarls and shakes her head. "If she doesn't beat her children like that, then she is just being cruel to the other children"

"Hmmm.." I nod. "I feel that person is just being wicked...like a witch".

She sends a look of disapproval at me and I chuckle. The door creeps open and Amanda walks in. "I was in the toilet," she announces at once and nods her head at her mom.

"For how long? Thirty minutes?"

"Yes," she sits on the high stool and wears a glove so she could knead.

"I want to see you try and ask me for money. I just want to see," her mom hisses and Amanda quickly sends a pleading look at her. "I will be going to the market soon. I want to ensure we finish this badge. So hasten up".

"Okay!" Amanda replies and starts kneading.

Today is Friday and I decided not to go to my tutorial. The bakery needed my help. I still worry about it though. I wonder the lectures I will be missing today. I will try to catch up later.

We work in silence and soon, the doughs where in the oven. As we wait for it to done, I decide to help out at the counter as a salesgirl. I attend to the customers with a charming smile, just like that of Samson's. He is good with people, that I had noticed. As I pack a bread for a customer, I could feel someone's eyes on me. Actually, I had spotted him through my peripheral vision. Samson, across the counter, eyes on me as if I were a movie he won't want to miss. I wave politely as the customer leaves and turn back to my seat across from him. His eyes are still on me and I cock my brow questioningly at him. He clears his throat and averts his gaze to the open street. I sigh in relief and sit comfortably. In less than a minute, his eyes are on me again, this time more intense. I pretend not to be aware and keep myself busy with a pen on the counter.

"Ify," he calls out. I hate it when he calls me that. He always uses a kind of husky voice. I don't know if his intent is to sound sexy but I am not a fan. "Do you have a boyfriend?"

I lift my head till my eyes meet his. He jolts his head up so I can get a good view of his face. I robotically glance to the wall behind me. "Are you asking me or the wall?"

His brows furrow in confusion. "You... obviously...." he trails off. "I'm talking to you, Ify".

"Oh," I let out a sarcastic laughter. "How unfortunate".

His eyes go wide. I'm not a fan of the male species. My Uncle gave me a reason to dislike them.

"But do you have?" he asks.

"No! I am an independent woman. If you don't know what it means, go get a dictionary and stop staring at me. I'm not your mirror," I hiss in disgust. I remember my uncle and how eager he was to ruin me. He wanted to snatch the only thing I had that gave me pride, my virginity. I shudder and shake the thoughts off.

"Wow!" he exclaims. "That's amazing. I love an independent woman".

I ignore him and continue to fiddle with the pen.

"I like you," he declares and I didn't even bother to look at him. My blood boils as I grip the pen. Does he think I'm naive? What is there to like about me? What's wrong with men? Are women objects to them?

I glance at him and my thoughts were affirmed by his lustful eyes. I narrow my eyes at him and he clears his throat, his eyes darting to the road again. I glance at my outfit for the day. A black trouser and the red T-shirt for workers in the bakery. The trouser is old and big. There was nothing attractive about me. Was it my hair that I packed as an afro? Was it my lean body? I groan in frustration. There is nothing attractive about me and Samson should quite his animalistic behavior or I will punch him hard.

"Ifunanya," Mrs Yemi calls out and I spring to my feet and rush to the kitchen. "The breads are ready," she tells me as I walk in.

"Okay!"

"I am heading to the market with my husband. We will be back in an hour. Please," she says and her voice lowers. "Please, handle everything around her. You seem more mature than my daughter. You senior her, don't you?"

"Yeah! I think so. I'm twenty"

"Okay, that means you are older than her with two years. Please, handle the kitchen. No stranger is allowed here. Only you and Amanda, okay?"

"Okay ma"

"Thank you. God bless you"

I nod and wave as she rush out. I go back to my spot at the counter. Silence hovers between Samson and me. I like it but what I am not enjoying is how he looks at me. I don't want to result to violence but I feel his punch is hot and ready from my imaginary oven. It's just to deliver it sharp, at his jaw.

"Samson," Amanda whistles and struts in. "My parents are gone".

He springs to his feet. "Really, Ify?" he asks, his eyes on me.

I scoff and reply, "Yes. Why are you asking?"

"I have a task they said I should do before they come back," he says and he walks to the door. "Can you handle the customers?"

I nod in affirmation. He jogs off and I turn my gaze to the next soul in the room. "Amanda, you can help me if you want," I say.

She eyes me. "I have something else to do," she flaps her hand in the air and leaves the room.

I spent the next twenty minutes in the counter, looking through the large glass window that reveals the shop and its goods to passer-by. I hear clattering and rise to my full length. The noise is coming from the hallway. I gently creep the door open and peep. At that moment, regret washes over me and my face scrunch in disgust. Samson and Amanda are shamelessly sucking each other's lips, his hands on her rear end and hers on his exposed chest. Their moans fill the hallway and all I wanted to do was puke. Shameless!

I clear my throat and their eyes snap at me. Amanda's fiery glare bores into me and she sneers, "Mind your business".

"I guess I shouldn't blame men in general. Some girls love to be used as a sex object," I spit out and shrug nonchalantly. Amanda's jaw drops and Samson quickly seizes the moment to kiss her. She tries to push him off but he says, "You know I love you. Don't listen to her words. You are mine, remember?"

She looks into his eyes. "You love me?"

"With all my heart"

She smirks and eyes me. "Are you jealous," she hisses and hops into his arms, her legs wrap his waist. "No man can love you, ugly freak". 

Samson sends an apologetic look at me and they lean on the wall. Their repulsive kisses continue and I silently walk away. I go to the toilet and puke every food I had eaten that day. I was easily
irritated by men. Mostly the ones that are after women's body. I didn't fancy it at all and it just made me dislike them more. That's why I will never allow them to touch me.

A/N: Thanks for reading. What do you think of this chapter? Did you enjoy it?

I'm sorry that the update is coming na. It's hard to follow a Schedule😭🤧

I will still do my best. I truly appreciate the time you are keeping for this book. It means alot. 🤗❤️

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