“I would hold you when things go wrong. I'll hold you from dusk till dawn. Baby, I'll be right here.”

—Sia and Zayn.

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C H A P T E R 39:

She knew Tega was waiting for her outside the family house because he kept blaring his car's honk but she was too offended to go out and meet him. He didn't think after the lie he told Iby earlier she was still going to fall at his feet like nothing happened. If he thought so, then he was dreaming because May had changed her mind. No more club Bara tonight. She needed to talk to Iby and that was more important. Only if he would receive her several calls or reply her texts.

May rolled on her bed restlessly, in the verge of shedding tears. Iby had never really ignored her like this so it was just too much to take in. A soft tap came to her room door and she hesitantly asked who it was at the door.

"Tega is outside waiting for you." Mama Edric informed, "Seems like he wouldn't leave until you see him. Please go out and meet him. He is disturbing the whole neighborhood with his car honk,"

"Mama I don't want to see him." May asserted.

Mama Edric's next words were diminished by May's phone's ringing tone. She checked the dialer to see that it was an unknown caller.

"Ma, I'll go outside after i pick this call." She yelled so Mama Edric would hear her. Although, May doubted if she even did because the sound of her footsteps could be heard retreating from the door.

"Hello?" Both May and the unknown caller said simultaneously immediately she received the dialer and raised her phone to her ear.

"Sorry, who is this please?" May inquired. Her brows, knitting together.

"Is this May?" The lady on the other end asked to confirm. Her voice, hoarse like she'd been crying all day.

"Yes but may I know whom I'm speaking with?" May asked, already getting slightly scared. What did the lady want from her?

"Thank Goodness!" the lady exclaimed, more like to herself. "I've been trying to reach you, May." Now, her voice sounded like she was crying and panicking at the same time. "It's me Ebiere, Iby's pregnant cousin."

May's ears pricked up with interest at the mention of Iby's name. What was wrong? Why was Iby's favorite cousin calling her by this time of the night? How did she get her contact? And  most of all, did something bad happen to Iby?

May was scared. She couldn't ask all the troubling questions at once but she only prayed it wasn't something bad. On second thought, was it because she turned down Iby's request of attending his father's health celebration, that has made Ebiere to call her? What ever it was, May knew that the toad does not run during day time for nothing unless it is in an hot pursuit. It only meant trouble was calling.

"Uhm, I'm sorry I couldn't attend Iby's dad celebration party, if that's the reason why you called. But I heard the good news that the surgery was successful and he is well now. Please send my regards to him.." May told her, still hoping Ebiere called for that reason alone.

There was a sigh and a brief silence until Ebiere suddenly broke the sad news, "Iby's father is dead."

May's free hand flew to her chest as she shouted, "What?!"

Ebiere sniffed, "That's why I called, May." Can't hold it anymore, she began to hiccup through talking and sobbing at the same time, "H—he collapsed during the party and died instantly. His corpse is in the mortuary."

"Oh my God.." May whispered to herself as her eyes watered.

"Iby's mother fainted since she couldn't endure the pain of seeing her husband die like that. She is in the hospital." Ebiere informed.

"What about Iby?" Asked, curious May.

"He is at his house. I think he needs someone by his side right about now that he is going through alot and I thought you are the best person to call. He wouldn't pick my calls. May, I'm scared. What if he does something bad to himself? Like commits suicide?" Ebiere's last question made May's eyes go wide. She couldn't even imagine things going that bad. It was already bad as it was and she couldn't picture Iby committing suicide. If he dies, what then would she do with her life? He was her world and she needed to do something quick for she doesn't think her heart would be able to carry the pain if Iby hurts himself. She'd also feel guilty for the rest of her life.

"Thanks for calling, Ebiere." May quickly grabbed some Naira notes from her purse, "I'll go to Iby's house with immediate effect."

Ebiere blew under her nose, "Thank you." she appreciated and then, ended the call.

May felt like flying out of the house. Only if she could. She was angry that her legs couldn't walk as fast as she wanted. Getting to the living room, she found Mama Edric patching the part of Maryam's school uniform that was torn with needle and thread.

Mama Edric looked at May skeptically, "Where are you rushing off to? Because I don't think you're going out to meet Tega."

"Your instincts are right, Mama. I have to rush to somewhere. It's urgent." May briefed, not turning back to look at Mama Edric's face nor having the time to stand for some minutes to explain.

She flung the door open only to be face to face with Tega who was about knocking at the door after waiting outside for so long.

"Finally!" He exclaimed with relief, smiling on seeing her and exposing his fine set of teeth. But as his eyes roved down her body his smile deflated, "Why are you looking so plain? You don't look like you're dressed to go out."

May scowled at him and brushed past him for the main road. She needed to be in Iby's house.

A strong pair of hand gripped her  arm from behind, stopping her, "What is wrong, May? I have been waiting for you outside under mosquitoes, honking my car so you'll hear and come out only for you to finally do and you're giving me attitude."

"After what you did today, I have decided not to follow you to club Bara even if I gave you my word." May plainly said to him.

"So this is what all this is about? Because of that guy? Because I told him you are my girlfriend? What is so bad about that if you claim he is only but a friend?"

"Hey, Hey, hold your horses there. Iby is not just any guy, Tega. At least, not to me. Why would you lie to him? Are we dating?"

He drew closer to her with a smile, "Don't you think its about time we do? It's taking too long for crying out loud." He traced his fingers down the side of her face just like Iby would've. The only difference is, he wasn't Iby and this gave her a stinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

She slapped his hand off her, "We are not dating and we would never date."

"Okay, I know you're angry because of my little lie so I'm sorry. But did you see how Iby was looking at you? I knew immediately that he has feelings for you and I can't stand that. It makes me so jealous, May. That's why." Tega explained, hoping to be forgiven.

"You're jealous to a fault, Tega." May shook her head in negative. "And that's enough reason why we can't be together. Not today, not tomorrow and not even in our next life." With that said, she hurried off towards the main road. Ignoring his pleas and calls.

............

On entering Iby's house, she wasn't exactly shocked on seeing broken bottles of beer on the floor. She closed his door that was left wide open to welcome mosquitoes in and shifted his curtains closed. He didn't notice that there was someone in the room with him or he only choose not to notice.

He was on the floor, drinking more alcohol and mumbling to himself out of frustration. Swiftly, she grabbed the bottle away from him and that's when he looked up at her.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be at some place with that Tega guy, wining and dining?" He questioned, his words slured.

She sighed and sat beside him. He tried to reach for the bottle in her hand. When he couldn't, he grabbed another so the both of them had to wrestle for it. "You are drunk Iby." She said the obvious.

"And what do you care? Ain't you happy with Tega? Just leave me alone. I want to be left alone." He pushed her away from him but she didn't come all the way here only to be pushed away. She wrapped her hands around his torso, not willing to let him go for any reason.

"I heard about your loss. My condolences." Her hot tears rolled down his bare, sweaty chest, "I thought life was only unfair to me but then, it is to everyone. Your father didn't deserve to die."

He tried to free himself from her hold but failed, "You know what? I stopped smoking because of you. I visited the barber shop because of you, May even if you don't know this. Because I felt when I return, I want to be a better man for you. I knew you didn't like that I smoke and even if you didn't exactly say it to my face, I knew you disliked my locks because maybe you preferred a decent guy."

May shook her head in negative. He was wrong. She loved those locks of his. She loved the way he runs his fingers on it whenever he was frustrated. She loved the way it suited him so well but she wasn't going to say all this.

"After everything I did for you, this is how you treat me?" He continued, "You rejected me today because of a rich guy, May. I always had you in mind. I have always wanted us to be a thing but I couldn't let that happen because I respected the fact that you were married. I thought the feeling was mutual only to find out today that I meant nothing to you and you only are here because my dad's dead. Fuck you, May. Fuck you."

She wasn't in the slightest offended with his words even though they speared through her heart like an arrow. She knew he was pouring all his anger, pain and frustration out on her and maybe after he was done saying his mind, he'd be relieved of the heavy weight he carried on his chest so for this, she choose not to say a word to him.

Suddenly, he began to weep on remembering the reason why he was drinking. As much as he hated the fact that May was seeing him cry and stereotype has it that only weak men cry, he just couldn't help it. His father. His beloved father. "All I ever wanted was her happiness." He meant his mom, "Why would death take away the only man she's ever loved? You know when she saw him looking healthy, her eyes twinkled with joy. For the first time in a long while, mom looked sincerely happy. She was happy then all of a sudden, her world comes crashing down. I feel like I should just die along with my father. Why did he have to leave even after the surgery went successfull? Why? Why father? Why do you have to make mom and I feel so much pain? Why didn't you wait to see me accomplish all my dreams? Why do you have to leave without fulfilling all what you promised to do for mom when you become well? Why?!" He screamed, "Father why?"

May's body was shaking uncontrollably as she cried along with him. She hated to see Iby in this condition and since he wouldn't stop talking, she did what she felt was right at the time, intending to shut him up. She leaned forward and without warning, she claimed his lips with hers.

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Owwwn. So sad. Alright guys, hope you like this chapter?

See you when I update.

Love,
Richie ❤