After dancing a while, Freddy's mom walked into the room with a silver tray on her hand. "Freddy, my boy! Food is ready!" she exclaimed.

Freddy stopped dancing and glanced at her. "What did you cook?" he rose a brow.

"Jollof rice!"

"I don't feel like eating" he replied and shrugged.

"Why?"

"My stomach is tight," he added.

My eyes went round and I glared at him. "Please, Freddy explain to me. How is your stomach tight when you have not eaten for two days?"

"I'm filled with Holy spirit, sweetheart!" he smirked.

My jaw dropped and I sent a look of disbelief at him. "Which Holy spirit?" I quizzed and smacked his arm.

"Don't mind him! Naomi make sure he eats!" his mother dropped the tray on the couch and pointed at him. "You must eat!"

"Don't worry! He will have to eat na! I know what to do to naughty boys" I threatened, clenched my fist and waved it in the air.

"Abeg! What does this smallie want to do? Punch Freddy?" Dami yelled while his attention was on the plasma TV.

"Mtchew! Who asked you to talk? I-too-know!" I eyed him and turned my attention to Mrs Okoro.

"Would you like me to get you something to eat? Like cookies? Or maybe a soft drink?" she asked.

"Cookies!" Dami appeared from nowhere and stood at my front. "I also want a soft drink!"

"Damilola, haven't you eaten?" I snapped. "Ma, don't give him anything oo. He has spent my money to buy snacks for himself".

"I am a man! It has digest. I am hungry again"

"FFO! For food only! Idiot!" I pushed him aside. "Ma, anything will be okay by me".

She nodded and made her way to the door.

"Ma, don't forget me oo!" Dami exclaimed. I slapped the back of his head and he winced. "Why na?"

"I'm hoping you will have sense!"

I looked around and noticed Freddy wasn't in the room.

"Where is Freddy?"

"He ran away!" Dami replied.

"What do you mean by ran away?"

"He said he doesn't want to eat na!"

"It's a lie! So Freddy ran away because of food. Food that people are looking for?"

"Yep!"

"Where is he?"

"I don't know!" he hissed and stomped to the front of the television. "Find him yourself!"

"In this big house?"

"No oo! In my nose!"

I stood, speechless. This guy is a big fool! I glanced at the silver tray. The food was covered with a ceramic plate.

So Freddy ran away eh? He will come back and eat this food. He will see what I'll do.

I started my journey around the house.  I will just summarize! Freddy's house is amazing. I love it and I wish my house could be this fine.

"Freddy! Freddy! Freddy! If you don't come out of your hiding place, you won't like what I will do to you" I yelled and my voice echoed in the corridor.

"Naomi!"

My heart skipped a beat when I heard the disembodied voice.

"Where is Freddy?" Mrs Okoro asked.

"He ran away!" I gave the exact reply Dami had told me.

She scanned my face for a moment and asked, "He ran away?"

"Yes!"

"I said it. That boy wants to kill me. He will not eat. What if something happens to him? Ooo ooh! This boy will kill me" she cried out and rubbed her forehead. "My enemies are after me. They took my mom and daughter. They should better leave my husband and son"

"Don't worry! I will find him. Just tell me where Freddy likes to stay or hide"

"In his room!"

"But he is not in his room"

"Outside!"

"Okay!" I nodded and like a warrior, marched down the stairs. I went outside and behold! Freddy was there with a brown puppy. This guy needs slap!

I sneaked up to him and leaped on his back. He sprung to his feet. I quickly wrapped my arms on his shoulder to prevent myself from falling. He craned his neck and looked at me.

"What's your problem?" I sneered. "Why did you run away?"

"No! I didn't run away. I came to feed her!"

"Who?" I unwrapped my arms from his shoulder and my legs touched the ground.

"Let me introduce my puppy to you," he smirked. "Her name is Bella"

"Why did you call her that?"

"Cos I wanted to," he chuckled. I gazed at the brown puppy with wide eyes. Her tail waggled as she ate the bone Freddy had left on the ground.

"She is so cute!" I pouted. "Will she allow me to touch her? I haven't touched a puppy before!"

"Touch her! She won't bite you. As long as you are my precious girlfriend. She will let you" he smirked and nudged me.

"Stop being dumb! How would she know that I'm your girlfriend? What if she bites me!"

"She won't! Trust me!" he squatted and petted the puppy. "Bella, this is Cupcake!"

"My name is Naomi. Don't mind him. See the way I am talking to dog as if it can hear me. Na wa oo!" I laughed.

"Touch her!"

"I am too scared" I exclaimed. "Wait first! Where is that big dog?"

"There!" Freddy pionted at a dog whose eyes were on me.

"Geez! I'm going inside" I gripped Freddy's arm and pulled him into the house.

I got him to the room and forced him to sit on the bed. "It is time to eat!" I announced and went to the couch. I picked the tray on it and went to the bed. I sat down and placed it on my lap. "Now, say ah! You must open your mouth. I'm going to feed you"

"You're feeding me?" he inquired and his eyes lit up.

"Yes!" I picked the spoon and removed the plate that covered the food. The tantalizing aroma of the homemade jollof rice floated in the air. "Your mom took her time to make something delicious for you. You need to eat"

He opened his mouth and I fed him. Five spoons later, Freddy stretched and said, "Wow! Such a nice meal. I'm full"

"Eh?" I leaned closer to him. "I dare you to repeat yourself!"

"I'm full!" he smirked.

"How come?" I voiced. "You just ate five spoons of this rice".

"To be sincere," he got up and looked at me. "I don't have the appetite"

"Freddy, please! Please na! I'm begging you" I clasped my hands together. He quickly unclasped them.

"Don't beg na! It will make me guilty when I say no" he said and pouted.

"So you will not eat even if I beg you"

"No! Please, I don't want to eat!"

"Fine! Why should I bother myself?" I glared at him. "Damilola, let's go oo! Pack your things. I'm going home".

"Why?" Freddy questioned.

"Because I have the right to" I snarled and covered the food. I dropped the tray on the bed and strode to my bag. Ibpicked it up and swung it on my shoulder. "Dami, let's go! I don't have time. I need to go home and read for mid-term test".

I glanced at Freddy. He stood silent and was staring at me. My gaze swept to Dami. He was still playing his game. I frowned and went to him. "Let's go!" I gripped his wrist and pulled him.

"Cupcake, you are serious?" Freddy cocked a brow.

I eyed him and said, "Don't eat your food, okay? Bye! See you later in school. That's if you even come".

"Okay oo! Fine! I will eat" he admitted in defeat. He sat down on his bed and placed the tray on his lap. He forced a smile and began to eat the food. The look on his face was hilarious.

Na wa oo! He is acting like eating food is a bad thing. I thought Freddy loved to eat. I guess the death of his mother made him loss that appetite.

After he ate, we sat on the couch and watched Dami play his video game. A question popped in my mind and I faced Freddy.

"You didn't tell me you are asthmatic!" I growled. "Why did you keep such a big secret from me? Is that why you always go for medical checkups?"

He snarled and shrugged.

"Answer me na!"

"I had my reasons"

"What are your reasons?"

"Every since my sister died, my mom is always worried about me. She takes me to the hospital everytime. I am suffering with that. Anytime I tell someone else, they become worried. I didn't tell you so that you won't be worried and..." he let out a sigh. "I wanted you to treat me like a normal human being because I am"

"I know you don't want me to worry" I placed my hand on his cheek. "But I have to!" I literally yelled those words.

"Why must you?"

"Because I care. I need to keep your inhaler close by or something...I can't allow what happened to you before to repeat itself"

"But I'm fine. Stop worrying!" he said and sent a piercing gaze at me. "Promise me you will stop worrying"

"Mtchew! I can't jhare. If anything happens to you, I will be affected"

A confused look appeared on his face. "How?"

"Because...." I trailed off and my brows knitted. "You are my Freddy boo!" I pouted and wrapped my hands on his shoulder. He threw his head backwards and let out a fit of laughter.

"You're the first girl that has actually cared sincerely about me" he said in a voice filled with affection and leaned forward. "I promise you this, I will never ever forget you. No matter what happens to me. You will always be in my heart"

And that is how I died that day! I'm just joking. But wow, those words pierced my heart. I just want to hold him tight and never let go.

"You will always be in my heart too" I finally said after a minute. His arms encirlced me as he hugged me. I held him tight and placed my head on his shoulder.

"Naomi, it's time to go home" Dami announced, spoiling the moment.

I pulled away from Freddy and asked, "Why?"

"It looks like someone wants to die in her father's hands" he laughed and picked his bag.

I gasped and sprung to my feet. "Let's go!"

"You need to pay for my transport" Dami stated.

"I know. Did I say I didn't know? Mtchew!" I hissed and rolled my eyes. "How about you use all my money and sell me to since you just want to see me broke!"

A mischievous smile crept on his lips and he scanned my body. "You will be too cheap!"

My jaw slacked as I heard his reply. This guy just insulted me. I snapped my head to Freddy who was combing his hair and then, set my glare on Dami. "Dami, you are very mad! You will die today" I pulled my shoe and threw it at his direction. It slammed his chest and a victory smile graced my face.

"Freddy, I will beat this your girlfriend"

"Just touch her first, you will see who will be beating whom" Freddy replied without even looking at our direction.

"I am serious oo"

"Do I look like I'm joking. If you touch her, you will face me. I am not speaking too much English. It is easy to understand"

The way Dami reacted. It was clear that he was scared a little. I smirked and announced, "Freddy, Dami has been disturbing my life. He even insulted me just now. He said he will sell me and I will be cheap"

Freddy turned to our direction and I was shocked to see him angry. He glared at Dami.

"No oo! I didn't say that oo! Ah ahan! How can I insult this your fine girlfriend?"

"It's a lie. This guy is a troublemaker!" I voiced.

Freddy marched to us. "Dude, don't ever mess with her. I don't want us fighting"

"I won't!"

"Yes! Listen to you boss!" I giggled.

"Freddy, are you seeing? She is looking for trouble"

"Where did you keep your trouble? Have sense!" I hissed and laughed.

"Dami, take!" Freddy stretched some naira note to him. "That's for transport. My babe is not your atm machine"

I smiled and placed my hand on Freddy's shoulder.

"I will take you home" he told me and pulled me by my hand towards the door.

"How?" I asked.

"With my mom's car!"

"Can you drive?"

"Well...Yeah! A little"

"Wait oo! Freddy, I don't want to die oo. I don't want anyone to start eating Burial rice"

"Stop being silly jor! My driver will take us to your place. Chill!"

I nodded and we walked to the compound. "Is your big dog in its cage?"

"No!"

"Oo oh!" I exclaimed and ran back into the house.

"Cupcake, where are you going?" he ran after me. He gripped my hand and made me stop in my track. "It's chained".

"What about your puppy?"

"She's harmless" he replied and whistled. The cute puppy ran to us. "Touch her! It's time to overcome your fear".

"Don't worry! I don't want to overcome it. Leave me like that"

"Just touch her once. I promise she won't bite" he did a puppy dog face and my heart melted. I sighed, squatted and touched her. She was soft, nice and harmless.

"Wow!" I simpered. "I like her"

"So you guys have not gone?" Dami passed us and made his way to the gate.

"Freddy, tell your gateman to lock the big dog at its cage" I insisted.

"Come!" he slipped his hand into mine and pulled me towards the gate. "As long as I'm here, I won't allow anyone or any animal to hurt you. Calm down!"

I flinched when the dog started to bark. I walked closer to Freddy till we left the compound. His driver arrived and we got in. We left Dami who got into a motorcycle(okada). When we arrived at my place, Freddy kissed my cheek and said goodbye. I waved at him and got out.

As soon as I opened the door of my house, my heart plummeted. I saw my dad in the living room.

"Where have you been?" he groaned.

"In school!"

I'm so sorry I lied. No one should follow my footstep. I'm a bad role model.

"Why are you coming home by this time?"

"I...I...I was reading in school with my classmate"

"Reading? Why can't you read at home?"

"Dad, reading with your classmate is an effective method. It helps me study for exams!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"I have been waiting for you"

"W....wh...Why, dad?"

"I'm hungry na!" he yelled. "Go and prepare something for me. Your mom will be coming home late today".

"Yes, sir! I will do it now" I replied and scurried to my room. Thank God oo! I thought I was in big trouble.

   ~~~Author's Note~~~

What do you think of this chapter? Did you enjoy it?

What do you think that will happen next? Guess!

How are you all? I hope you are having a good day?

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                      Love my people,
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