For some days after the police saga, the whole house was gloomy, her parents hardly spared her a word and Ebere tried as much as possible to avoid incurring their wrath especially her mum, her dad was a ticking bomb on his own. Several times she thought of moving our but thought again St it, if she was going to move out then she had to reconcile with them first.

Amanda was preparing for her final exams, so they hardly had time to talk.

On a Sunday evening however, get parents went out together probably to visit someone. Ebere wore a hoodie with shorts and headed to the basketball court. She had texted Kofi before leaving the house so the black boy was probably waiting.

Just as she predicated, he was waiting for her in the court, it was too early for people to come to the court, so it was just both of them.

"Hey blackie" She greeted.

"Shawty, how are you doing?" He asked, grinning and playing with her braids.

They both sat down

"Cool" She responded and tried to pack her braids.

"You don't look cool to me though, what's up?"

"Landed my ass in police cell few days ago"Ebere rolled her eyes.

" In details please"Kofi chuckled. Ebere began to narrate everything, the visits, fight and police cell.

"Wait, your mum actually slapped you there?"

"Twice sef"

"So sorry you had to pass through all that"He consoled

" You didn't cause it"She tried to lighten the mood.

Kofi stood up suddenly and then bounced the ball severally.

"Wanna play?"

"Of course" Ebere responded.

Playing basketball with Kofi was fun until she remembered Muhammad and his frustrated face when she wouldn't listen to him and then somehow she found herself getting teary.

Kofi didn't even ask her why she was crying, he engulfed her in a hug.

"Love hurts so much" Ebere sobbed against his chest.

"I'm sorry" Kofi kept muttering.

"You miss him, don't you? "

" So much, his line hasn't been reachable too"

Ebere sobbed more while Kofi rubbed her back occasionally. She hated the fact she was hurting.

"You'll be fine shawty, but in whatever you do, don't ever think of eloping with him, cos I'll definitely find you and give you a dirty slap"

That earned a chuckle from her.

***
Ebere was done for the day, she tried reaching Muhammad severally again but his line was still not available, maybe he finally gave up too.

Ebere noticed the familiar face close to her car, she knew she had see his face before or maybe not.

"Hi good evening" the young man greeted. He was dressed in a caftan and damn, he was tall.

"I'm Umar, Muhammad's brother" he introduced himself, now that was why she thought he was looking familiar.

"Did you come to also tell me to stay away from you brother"Ebere asked

" I actually came to take you to him, he under went a minor surgery"

Surgery? She was suddenly alarmed

" Is he okay? What happened to him?" She asked at once.

"Just some adjustments to previous ones he had done, the plane crush did some numbers on him"

" But his fine? "

" Yes, we have to go now"

Ebere trailed behind him with her car, the hospital was a huge one but Ebere didn't even have the time to take in the details of the hospital.

Umar led her to the ward and left her there. From the door, she could see how Muhammad was lying on the bed, he still looked beautiful to her and she hoped he remains beautiful even after that day. She missed him and she dreaded the fact she came with bad news.

"Monalisa" He called her. Ebere sat on the chair beside his bed, he had all the drips connected to him and him in the hospital uniform made her chuckle a bit.

"How are you feeling?" She asked

"Great I guess, stop looking at me like I'd die any minute"

" You are a strong person, I'm just admiring you"

He chuckled. "I knew you'd be worried so i sent Umar"Ebere was avoiding his eyes.

" You aren't looking at me, you seem sad, talk to me"He persuaded her and reached out for her hands and somehow he felt it, how detached she was and that made him suddenly nervous.

The silence was killing him but he was willing and ready to wait. Till she coordinated her thoughts, he was going to wait

"My parents are at the verge of disowning me, your parents hate my guts, I know you aren't having a nice time either with your family, we've only dated for like few weeks and so much has happened including me landing in a cell"Tears were already falling from her eyes, she was struggling to keep her voice together to the end

"I love you so much but this, this relationship is too toxic for both of us. "

It really hurt her saying those words to him but for peace to reign, she needed her sanity, her family too..

"Lisa" He paused, looking at her with those tender eyes "it hurts"

"It hurts because you are my first love. Can't we fight for it, must you leave me this way? You and I know what we feel, it's uncontrollable"

" I'm sorry it ended this way"More tears and Muhammad was wiping each one that rolled down her eyes.

" I'm still not going to marry Hadiza, caught her under the sheets with Kassism, so I pick you, over and over again"

Ebere couldn't bear to look at him anymore.

" But one last request, can I have a kiss from you?"

Ebere placed her lips on his, he was trying hard not to break down, their kiss was filled with anger, pain and heartbreak

And when they finally stopped, Ebere stood up to leave.

"I guess it's time to say goodbye" She told him.

Muhammad didn't respond, it felt as though his heart was being ripped out of his chest and stepped upon as he watched her walked out of the door.

Ebere also had tears in her eyes, but she didn't look back. She walked out of the hospital and out of his life.

The end💔