"Did he talk today?" Lola rushed to her and Mimi shook her head before entering the house.

"Ahn, why?" Fara inquired and Mimi ignored them by strolling into her room. Since the previous day, Lisha had decided she comes home with Christian throughout the week and since then Fara and Lola had been pestering her if they engaged in any discussion.

Mimi slumped on her bed, she stayed in the same position for some minutes before Fara and Lola rushed in again asking her the same question.

Mimi knew they won't stop asking her and she had to clear her head, so, she changed into a short gown and  squeezed her way out of the house and headed to her favorite place in the house; the swimming pool.

Mimi turned back swiftly when she got to the pool and met Christian seated at the edge with his legs in the water.

"Hey," she heard him call but pretended not to as she walked away.

"Mimi," he called and she halted her walk. It was the first time he mentioned her name, she never knew he registered it.

She turned back to him and he waved at her.

"You came here to swim right?"

She nodded before walking up to him.

"I'm done here, you can use it," he said before getting up while Mimi stared at him, he didn't spare her a glance as he walked away while she stared at his retreating figure.

Out of sight, she sat by the edge of the pool for some minutes before diving into the pool.

***************

Fara watched as her sister rolled on the bed with beads of sweats on her forehead, she arched her brows while wondering if she was having a bad dream or something, Mimi's scream brought her out of her assumptions as she flinched.

"Did you just scream?" Fara questioned in surprise while Mimi sat uprightly.

"Mimi, you just screamed?" A smile appeared on her face while Mimi only stared at her, she'd always been able to scream whenever she was having nightmares but Fara never noticed so far she always slept like wood, seeing her awake that time somehow surprised her.

"Mimi, are you okay? You're sweating? Did you have a bad dream?" Fara inquired with concern laced in her tone while Mimi bobbed her head.

"What happened? What's it about?"

Mimi picked up her pen

It's nothing to worry about, just go to bed.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded and Fara rubbed her shoulders before sliding under the coverlet, Mimi watched her close her eyes before sighing.

The nightmares had started again and it had been prompted by what happened earlier in the day. She had to go to the creche with Alex even though she didn't want to but Mrs Williams had informed them she would be visiting to check how far they'd gone with their project, Mimi had no other choice than to follow him.

Mrs Williams didn't come early and Alex kept on pestering her, it was when he wanted to kiss her forcefully that Mrs Williams appeared, now, she was getting more scared. Why must she be an object of abuse?

Tears rolled down her eyes as her mind went back to the memories she'd been trying to bury, she covered her mouth in order not to make noise before glancing at Fara who was fast asleep, sliding under the coverlet, she cried herself to sleep.

***********

Christian was arranging his arts collection, the one to be exhibited on Sunday while humming to the music playing from his headset before Christy barged into his room.

"Christian," she called and he pretended not to hear her.

She tapped his shoulders while calling him again but he ignored her, it wasn't until she removed his headset did he turn to her.

"Oh, I didn't know you were here," he feigned with a smirk and Christy rolled her eyes.

"Stop the pretense."

He chuckled before questioning, "So, what's it?"

"We are going to the company to pick up Mirabel's cloth, you know Mummy specifically designed it for her, it's been long since we went there, will you come with us? Cherry is going too," She flipped her braids to the back.

"I'm not going."

"Why?" Christy lifted her brows and he shrugged.

"No reason."

"Whatever," she hissed before ambling out of the room.

"He's not going," she announced immediately she got out and Cherry swallowed her question, one Christy had just answered.

"Let's go then," Mirabel said and they all strolled out of the house, while Cherry rushed to the front seat, Mirabel, Christy and Lola got into the back seat.

The drive to MAPLE fashion industry wasn't entirely quiet as Christy and Mirabel conversed leaving Lola out of their discussion. Minutes later, they got to the industry and Cherry led the way.

Lola couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the industry, she'd only heard about the famous MAPLE fashion industry but never had the privilege to visit there and now it was like a dream come true, entering into the elevator, Lola felt her heart swell as it was her first time on the elevator.

They got down on the fifth floor and Cherry led them to her mother's office.

"Aunt Nikki," Cherry shouted before jumping on her mother's younger sister, Nikki enveloped her in a hug before smiling at Mirabel and Christy. Lola blinked her eyes twice to be sure she wasn't dreaming, seeing the top model and the one who earned the most beautiful lady in the country was something she never imagined in her life. Fara would surely hear about this, infact she must ensure she takes a picture with her in order to flaunt it on her social media accounts.

"I didn't know you guys were coming," Nikki turned to Mirabel and Christy immediately Cherry withdrew from the hug and ran to her mother.

"We came here to pick my birthday cloth," Mirabel announced and her mother nodded.

"Oh, I've seen the cloth, the one you told your aunt to design only for you, it's beautiful," Her mother said and Mirabel smiled before walking over to  Lisha.

The door opened abruptly and a lanky lady came in with a box, she greeted Nikki before placing the box on the table.

"That's your cloth," Lisha announced as she pointed at the table while the lanky lady closed the door behind her.

Mirabel and Christy rushed to the table before Mirabel opened it, bringing out the cloth, Lola's mouth opened widely. It was a grape off shoulder gown with a slit at the side, the slit was arranged with pearl diamonds.

"This is wow," Mirabel gushed as she quickly unzip the gown.

"Mummy you didn't make my own gown this nice for my birthday," Christy joked while Lisha smiled.

"You're making something better than this for me," Cherry told her mother who nodded in return.

"Wow, you look gorgeous," Nikki complimented as her daughter checked out herself in the mirror. She was indeed looking good in the cloth.

"Thanks," she smiled widely while admiring herself.

"Anyway, I'm going home, will you come with me or go with your cousins?" Nikki queried and Mirabel looked away from the mirror.

"I'll go with Christy."

Nikki nodded, "Okay but don't come late, you know we still have to discuss about the party."

"Yeah, we'll be back home soon."

"Okay, Lisha, bye," she waved at her elder sister who waved in return before walking out.

Christy and Mirabel kept on gushing about the cloth while Lola only stayed quiet admiring the cloth anticipating about the day she would be privileged to wear such cloth.

"Carry it," Christy ordered and Lola nodded before carrying the box that contained Mirabel's gown.

"Bye Mom," Christy and Cherry waved at their mother.

"Bye aunt Lisha, thanks for the cloth," Mirabel said and Lisha smiled before.

"Come home early oo and tell Daddy we came here but couldn't visit him," Cherry told their mother who nodded in accordance.

They left the office as Christy and Mirabel kept on talking about the cloth while Lola trailed behind them with the box looking like a maid and Cherry kept on greeting other employees.

"Birthday, here we come," Mirabel shouted as they got into the car.

"Here we come," Christy added as the driver drove out of MAPLE fashion industry.