"I have decided that you no longer need to follow that bus again."

"Why?"

"Are you asking me why?"

"No sir. Sorry sir."

I lowered my eyes to my half empty plate of fried rice that I had prepared for us this evening. Dad and I were currently on the dinning table having dinner together. This had become a daily thing, ever since my mother left.  Dad had been looking for ways to connect with me for some reason I wasn't still sure of.

But it wasn't that I didn't like spending time with my dad. I did. It was just weird. Before, I'd eat in my room while he watched TV in the living room with his own food. Mum would have finished off her share first, even before the rest of us started eating and then she'd be in her room, working on the next work project.

That's how things had always been. But now, Dad was trying to change it up. It wasn't all too surprising, I had expected and welcomed the changes. And I was trying my very best to get used to them, it was hard, but I was trying.

"There's going to be a dinner on Wednesday with your cousins. Your uncle and I have been planning it for a while, I expect you clean up the house before Wednesday, okay?" I resisted the urge to frown because Dad hated when I complained or grumbled about work. I instead responded with a nod and continued looking at the rice.

Seconds later, I shoved a spoonful into my mouth and chewed slowly. Hoping it would slow down time long enough for me to think of how to escape this dinner. "Do you have a boyfriend?" The question knocked the air out of me and my intense inhalation allowed a rice grain to rush down the wrong channel.

I fell into a fit of coughs and rushed to drink my water while my father howled with laughter. This man acted like a child at time. I glared and coughed at the same time, which I'm sure looked quite similar to someone having an asthma attack. "Is it because I'm asking you about a boyfriend that you want to kill yourself?"

Not once did my father try to help me. He continued to laugh the whole while I used to compose my self and when he stopped laughing, there was a linger of a smile on his lips. Wiping his mouth with a paper napkin and then dropping it onto his plate, my father took a sip of water from his cup and then turned his attention to me.

"So whose the boy?"

I took a huge gulp from my cup of water and cleared my throat. "Sorry to burst your bubble, but there's no boy in my life." I proceeded to shove another spoon of rice into my mouth, while keeping my eyes down. Dad's gaze on me didn't falter for a second, which made my discomfort level rise to a million.

"How's your cousin?" The though of Mercy made me smile. She'd stuck by my side through the ups and downs of my friendship problems, she was more like a sister then a cousin. "She's fine." And like that it hit me. Mercy had planned a movie day with the group this holiday and I was yet to get permission from dad. He was always adamant in spending Christmas with the family, rather than going out and having fun.

I cleared my throat for the umpteenth time today and sat upright. My dad was already digging into his chicken, gracefully taking it apart with a fork and knife like we were in a restaurant. Trust my dad to have dinner like it was with the queen of England.  "Daddy."

This attracted my dad's attention pretty quick because I only ever called him daddy when I needed something. "What?" He arched a curious eyebrow at me, not once pausing from his cutting. I pulled out my most innocent smile and twiddled my thumbs for added effect. "Can I go out with Mercy and a couple of our friends on Saturday?"

The room was silent. The only sound was the one from dad's plate, he was quite adamant on finishing soon. I kept my eyes on him waiting for his negative response, so I could tackle him with enough reasons why I should be allowed to go. It's never worked before but I had a good feeling about this one.

"Okay. You can go."

"Daddy please. I've never gone on one of those outing before. I promise we won't come home late or-" I abruptly stopped my rambling and raised both eyebrows in amazement. "Did you say yes?" A warm smile that wasn't quite reach his eyes enveloped his face and he nodded. "I trust you won't do something stupid. As long as there are no boys, I'm fine with it."

I pursed out my lips and avoided eye contact with my dad the moment he finished the last sentence. My cheeks suddenly became gum as I chewed harshly on them, letting my eyes roam the room in a suspicious manner which dad easily caught on to. "Kolupo. Are there going to be boys?"

"They're the same number as the girls!" I attempted to defend myself, pouting subconsciously. My dad looked to be having an internal argument with himself, his eyes looking left then right then finally up before releasing a sigh. "Okay."

My eyes widened so much I was scared my eye balls would fall out. Mr Davis had just agreed to let me hang out with my friends after hearing there would be boys. "Mad Oh." I slapped both palms onto my lips are realizing what words I'd uttered.

Expecting my father to be furious, I was thrown into a bucket of confusion as his cutleries dropped to the plate with a clatter and he bursted into a fit of laughter. I couldn't help but find it humorous to see my father laughing like a loon. Seconds later, I was laughing along with him.

"This girl will kill me oh. You've started with that 'Mad Oh' of a thing again." He spoke with playfulness reeking from his words and I couldn't help but grin at him. "Sorry sir. But it's still shocking for you to allow me leave the house without a guard dog."

My father shook his head and rolled his eyes, his smile as evident as ever. "I thought you were a big girl?" I nodded immediately. Supporting my head with my both elbows placed on the table, I proudly said "Fifteen is not just a number o." Dad rolled his eyes once again and scoffed. "You're saying fifteen like you carry the world on your shoulders. Be doing big girl there, I won't say anything."

He forked the last piece of his chicken,  leaving it's bones on the plate. "Clear that plate when you're done. I'm going to sleep. Goodnight." Pushing his chair backward,  he got up and retreated to his room. I sighed loudly for the first time that evening and rested my cheek on the cool glass table.

My dad looked better. No, he acted better. I don't think anyone else but me saw the sadness in his eyes or how his smile was always half out. My dad was putting so much effort into hiding his pain because he wanted to be strong for both of us. My mother left him with an accusation which by now I was very much sure wasn't a proven one.

Had she done it because she was tried of us? Of dad? Of me? She hadn't called me once since she left, and everyday that went by made it worse for her. The fact that she didn't care about me was becoming much more realistic to me. Did she even love me?

Lifting my head up from the table, I noticed a little wet patch that occupied my face's previous position. My hand moved up to my cheeks and it was coated in the liquid too. I didn't even notice I was crying, over the one person who didn't deserve my tears. If she had called, maybe just once, then she'd deserve it.

Gathering all the plates together, I took it all to the kitchen sink and proceeded to wash them. My thoughts never leaving my parents. How did things spin out of control so fast? They seemed fine, almost perfect, their scandal was one that no one ever saw coming, not even me, their daughter. But I guess perfection is unattainable in this life.

I was done with the dishes by 9. And by 11 I still found myself laying on my bed with my phone playing the latest episodes of Penny On Mars. The holidays have begun.

*****

We did it!

ME is now #1 in the #Nigerian tag.  I couldn't have done it without my amazing readers, you guys rule. Like I never expected this to happen so soon. I really love you guys, for your support most especially.

I remember promising you guys that there would be a face of Kolupo by now. But I Can't choose, so many amazing ladies participated. 😪😪😪

Chill oh but how come I don't get fan art 😑

Any who. It's holiday time. What do you think I have cooking up?

Who do you ship Kolupo with?

Why haven't you invited your friends to come read *Me*?

If I get 3 comments on this chapter, I'll update immediately. 😪

Lots of Love from Kelly. 💜