I placed my hand onto the metal handle and sighed, I needed to do this. The more I hid things from her, the heavier my heart got. She didn't deserve this, not at all.

I pushed down the handle and pushed open the door, my eyes searching the room, only to fall on the two girls who seemed to be embracing each other while laying on the floor.

I furrowed my brows in confusion and almost laughed as they both scrambled onto the bed. I recognized one of the girls as my disheveled daughter and sighed for the umpteenth time today, this girl just kept surprising me.

"Daddy? Do you need something?" My daughter managed to sputter out awkwardly while her cousin apparently found a sudden interest in the flower print note book beside her.  If not for the love I had toward them both, I would have cut the awkward tension with a laugh. But teasing the children was my sole purpose as a parent so I kept my face neutral.

"I need you both to get ready, we're having a guest in a couple minutes. Mercy, I'm sure you wouldn't mind borrowing some dinner outfits from your cousin?" My niece nodded her head firmly as an affirmative and I gave a nod back. "You girls should hurry up, they'll be here soon. You can continue your hugging after."

Both girls widened their eyes as a wide grin broke out onto my face, satisfied with the embarrassed looks on their faces, I exited the room. I wasn't sure why I always got some sort of spur of joy whenever I teased my daughter but I sure did like it.

Minutes later we were all sat at the dining table, both girls had decided to dress up as twins like they used to do back when they were kids. They sported black sweaters with an Emoji imprinted on them and black skinny jeans.

I glanced at my wrist watch for a second, before looking back up at the girls. I couldn't help but smile as they showed each other things on their phones. The door bell's ringing was just enough to snap me back into my senses as I headed towards the door before either of the girls could go.

Pulling it open, I smiled at my guest, also getting a smile in return. Stepping aside, my friend gave me a nervous glance and gulped in fear but I gave a reassuring nod back.

There really wasn't anything to be scared of, it was just a meal with Kolupo and her cousin. Shutting the door, we both headed towards the dining table. I swallowed a lump that had formed in my throat and heaved out a sigh. Ripping it off like a band aid.

The moment the girls got a glimpse of us, the voices toned down and the room was a graveyard. "Good Evening Ma." The girls coincidentally chorused, they both gave eachother a look before turning their attention back to us.

"Nifemi this is my daughter Kolupo, Kolupo this is my friend Nifemi." My daughter's face paled and she seemed to have frozen for a second. "Kolupo, I've heard so much about you. Nice to meet Daddy's Little Princess."

I wasn't sure what was going through Kolupo's mind but she seemed to have recovered from her shock instantly and was able to give a smile. "Nice to meet you too ma."

Nifemi turned to Mercy and smiled once again. "Wow. I didn't know Kolupo had a twin sister." Mercy instantly reacted with a grin, shoving Kolupo lightly. "Even now as we're mature people still call us twins. Gosh! Like, can't they see my hotness."

Amused smiles lit up the room as soon as the words escaped form Mercy's lips. We could always count on that little rascal to lighten up the atmosphere anyday. I pulled out the seat beside me, allowing Nifemi to sit before pushing it back in.

I took a seat beside her, having the girls right opposite us. No one being on the two heads of the table, just as I liked it. Though Mercy had lightened things up, the tension hadn't immediately faded away just yet.

After a quick prayer, the girls helped to dish out the spaghetti that I'd prepared. Kolupo's favorite food was spaghetti, this was bound to put her in a good mood. "Daddy. How do you know Mrs Nifemi?"

"Miss. Miss Nifemi." Kolupo's blank stare was good enough to scare anyone on the other side, if they were in any way wrong about something or in this case, were trying to get on her good side.

Nifemi had on a nervous smile as she most likely mentally scolded herself for chiding in, to Kolupo's question. "She's a work friend." I answered nonchalantly, wrapping the spaghetti around my fork before eating it.

As time went by, both girls engaged them self in something else on their phones, they seemed to be exchanging knowing smiles and for a second I was tempeted to scold them. I usually didn't allow phones at the table but I needed Kolupo on my side tonight.

Looking to my side, I noticed a faint blush on Nifemi's cheeks. She was beyond nervous and her hands seemed to be shaking. "Are you okay?" My voice was low enough for the girls to not hear but clear enough for Nifemi to hear.

She gave me a reassuring smile, taking my hand into hers. We locked eyes for a second and I smiled back but before anything else could happen, there was a harsh interruption. "Does mummy know her?"

My head jerked in the direction of my daughter whose eyes gave off betrayal and anger with a tint of shock. Amazement. "She does." Kolupo's jaws clenched for a second, her eyes narrowing as she watched Nifemi.

She then dropped her eyes back to her phone and went back to her typing. "Daddy. Can I please ask you something. In the kitchen I mean." Three pair of eyes were trained on me, everyone waiting for my response.

I got off from my seat and stalked off towards the kitchen, hearing someone else get up, I assumed it was Kolupo. I was boiling. How dare she act so mannerless infront of a friend, had I not trained her well? Had her mother been here, Kolupo would never have pulled such a stunt.

When the doors of the kitchen closed, I spun around to glare at her. She seemed to not be affected somehow because her face remained as neutral as ever. Right as I was about to rain my irritation out on her, she spoke.

"Did mummy mean nothing to you?" I was taken aback. Kolupo walked over to me and then she cracked. I noticed tears forming in her eyes as tried her best to fight them off. To seem strong. "You've already replaced her. You brought the same woman that had caused your split up to your house, the night before Christmas and you even held her hand on the table infront of me."

The tears began to slip and trail down her cheeks, down to her chin. Not once did she move to wipe them. "Don't you care? Daddy why? Why are you doing this?!" Her voiced raised at the end and my eyes widened in fear of Nifemi's hearing her.

I had to calm her down now. Acting without thinking, I grabbed Kolupo and pulled her into my chest wrapping my arms around her. "It's nothing like that." A minute later, I placed both palms on her shoulder and pushed up apart. Staring Kolupo straight in the eyes, I smiled.

"Nifemi, is just a work friend. And that's all." My daughter quickly patted out her tears and blinked multiple times. She nodded continuously before releasing a large breath.  "Just a friend." She repeated.

"Look. I only invited Nifemi here so you could see that she's a really nice person and she's nothing like what your mother thought. I wouldn't ever do such a thing to your mother, I'm not her-" I swallowed. "I'm not a child."

Kolupo looked down to her feet, twiddling with her fingers. "Okay sir." My respectful daughter was back. She cleared her throat and straightened up her outfit. "Thank you sir." I nodded at her and she took that as a dismissal, walking back to the living room.

I released a sigh. That girl really drove me crazy, I just wanted to bang my head against a table. Now Kolupo knew Nifemi. This was a step forward,  afterall we were just friends. There was nothing to worry about.

I pushed open the kitchen door and walked towards the living room. I quietened my steps and slowed down a bit, listening in on the girls at the table. "-then my uncle decided that we wouldn't tell my dad what happened or I'd just die like that."

I heard a chorus of laughter and smiled, straightening myself up. Walking right up to my seat, the voices faded for a couple seconds before rising up once again. They were all having atleast what looked fun and I was happy. Maybe things would get easier and better like this.

Just maybe.

******
So, Kolupo's dad Huh?

I have a little surprise in the next chapter 😉

As my birthday gift from me to you, mhm that's right, I'm nice 😌😌😌

Oh yes, double updates. You can see that I'm not such a bad author now, right. 😁

So are y'all enjoying the book?

Any ships yet?

Any idea what my surprise is? (No Spoilers if you've read the next chapter)

Lots of love 💖

See you in the next chapter 🏃🏃