KHALID

Aunt Sofia had just left for her night shift while I walked back into the house only for a knock to stop me from sitting down. I frowned before walking back to the door, immediately I opened it, my frown slipped into a big smile.

"Hey."

"Hi," she greeted before pushing me out of the way, I shook my head before closing the door.

"How was the photoshoot?" I inquired before joining her on the chaise lounge as I stared at her pretty and glowing face, she looked exceptionally beautiful today.

"Fine, Sugar Boy just sent one of his drivers to drop Moye in her school and the stupid girl didn't even allow me to go with her, at least once, I don't even know the location of her school gan," she lamented

I chuckled while Kikiope glared at me.

"Is that why you look annoyed?"

She shrugged," Obviously, anyway, I'm hungry, what do you have at home?"

I opened my palms widely, "Nothing."

She lifted her brows, "You're joking right?"

"I'm not, I didn't know you were coming na."

"Your sixth sense didn't tell you abi," she sneered and I laughed.

"Aunt Sofia prepared Pounded Yam and Vegetables before leaving but it's my dinner."

She eyed me before ambling towards the kitchen, I smiled before following suit.

"It's my dinner, so, you can't eat it," I told her.

She turned back, "Then you'll have dinner at my place, so, where is it?"

"It'll be enough actually," I admitted.

She dashed me a scowl, "Serve me then," she walked out of the kitchen even before I could respond.

I smiled before serving the food, on getting to the living room, she was already seated on the dining chair with her legs crossed and her arms folded beneath her bosom.

"Here is your food ma," I joked as I dropped the food in front of her before giving a playful bow.

"Good job," she ruffled her hands through my hair and I slapped it away.

"That's not how you treat your madam oo," she joked before washing her hands.

"In your wildest dreams," I pulled out the chair beside her, and she looked at me.

"Are you eating too?"

"Of course," I washed my hands and dipped my hand into the food even before she could protest.

She eyed me before joining me and as we ate the food amidst discussion, Abimbola barged in, Oh my goodness, why didn't I lock the door?

"You didn't have to show that you're a stray dog," Kikiope uttered before picking up her meat.

"What are you doing here?" Abimbola shouted before walking up to me.

"Is that a question?"

Abimbola pulled out the chair beside me, "Oh, I understand, my dad doesn't give you allowance again and your good-for-nothing mother is still looking for customers to seduce."

Immediately the words got out of Abimbola's mouth, Kikiope poured the dirty water on her.

Abimbola gasped, "Are you okay? Khalid, can you see what your friend did to me."

I shrugged, "You deserve it."

Kikiope flashed me a smile.

"What do you mean? Are you taking her side over mine again, it isn't crime enough that she visited you and she's eating your food like a beggar, now, you're taking her side," she shouted and I had to move back.

Kikiope cleaned her hand with the napkins and dumped it on Abimbola's face.

"Wow," I mumbled.

"You're dead today," Abimbola shouted before proceeding to stand up but I stopped her.

"Leave me alone, let me teach that prostitute a lesson," she yelled while trying to get away from my grip.

As I opened my mouth to talk, Kikiope beat me to it, "You keep behaving like a rabid dog, anyway, Khalid I'm going to my good-for-nothing father's place," she walked out of the house before I could reply.

"What!" Abimbola exclaimed before jerking her hand away from mine.

"Why are you always picking a fight with her?"

She turned to look at me," Because I hate her, she's always after what's mine."

I furrowed my brows, "What do you mean?"

"Now she's going to our house, I have to go," she turned to leave while I stood up.

"Let's go together," I proposed, and she nodded before we walked out and went over to her place which was right beside mine.

On getting there, Abimbare informed us that Kikiope was in the study with their dad so, we climbed the stairs and rushed there. Their house was just like mine just that mine was bigger.

"Why would you stop my allowance because of your useless daughter?" We heard Kikiope say before we both walked into the house.

"Watch your words!" Their dad warned as he swirled his chair back to her, he was just like my dad, well- built with a Stoic face, I wonder how Abimbola's Mom is even keeping up with him, not only does he look like a criminal, but he was a criminal just like my dad, both are into the criminal acts, and they're even partners, main reason they were best friends, it's just that Abimbola's dad doesn't travel that much like my dad, he still cared about his family unlike mine.

"And if I don't? Your daughter is just so useless and you fall for everything she says, not like I need your money so far that's the only thing you do for me, I only came here to let you know you don't worth being called a father!"

I widened my eyes before running to her while Abimbola ran to her dad.

"I told you this girl is stupid, Dad, just disown her, she's nothing but a bastard," Abimbola said while holding her dad's hand tightly.

"Not like you've ever acted like a father, I know I'm an illegitimate daughter but did I beg to come to this world? Why did you sleep with my mom outside marriage? That your thing cannot stay in one place, anyway, I didn't come here for that, I just want you to know I don't need your foolish money again, you can eat it with your worthless family," And with that, Kikiope walked out of the study while Abimbola's dad kept on shouting her name behind her, I glanced at Abimbola and her dad who was now seething in anger before running to catch up with Kikiope's pace.

"Why are you here?" Abimbola's Mom bellowed immediately we opened the door to walk out of the house, we'd met her at the door.

"You can ask your husband," Kikiope hissed.

"You spoilt brat, just remember that you're forbidden from coming here."

Kikiope scoffed, "I don't even plan to come, you can keep on eating your godforsaken house built on illegal stuffs," she eyed the woman before walking away.

I gave the woman a small smile, and she nodded before I followed Kikiope.

"Why did you do that?" I asked while we walked out of the house.

"The whole family just gets me horn-mad," she admitted and I nodded.

"You shouldn't have done that though."

She glared at me, "Don't lecture me, anyway, I'm off," she walked away hastily.

💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢

I inserted my earpiece into my ear before sitting on the bench chair at our rendezvous, we'd just finished listening to the old students' speech, it was the first agenda in the Founder's day celebration, old students that are now successful do come back to encourage students, so, we didn't have any other thing to do other than roam around the school. The girls had gone to other classes to distribute the clothes Bimpe had sown to the owners for the beauty contest coming up tomorrow and inter house sports on Thursday.

"Guy talk to him," Kunmi removed the earpiece from my ear.

"What?"

"Talk to Abee now, didn't you notice he's been quiet since morning," Kunmi explained and I looked up at Abee who was looking down.

"Abee, what's wrong?"

He didn't reply so, I turned to Kunmi.

"It's his mom anniversary," he whispered into my ears then I nodded before sitting uprightly. Abee had always been gloomy whenever it was his mom's death anniversary mainly because he believed he killed his mother, and he always felt guilty. His mom had died in a fire accident which was started by him, though it was a mistake on his part, but he still felt guilty about it and his dad didn't help matters either because he blamed him.

"Abee," I called gently, he looked up but his expression still screamed brooding.

"You have to cheer up."

"And stop blaming yourself," Kunmi added.

"Okay," he talked for what felt like the first time in ages.

Kunmi and I exchanged looks.

"Just let go of it okay, what has happened has happened and it's not your fault, you have to move on and stop wallowing in the past," I continued.

Abee sighed, "It's not as easy as you say."

"We know," Kunmi and I said in unison.

" I find it hard to move on when my dad makes it his mantra, during the holidays I know what I had to go through, even if I want to forget, I can't," He lamented.

"You can and you will," I convinced before standing up to pat his shoulder.

"I hope so."

"Don't worry, we are here for you, we'll overcome it together," Kunmi pointed out.

Abee nodded before I patted his back and went back to my seat and inserted my earpiece back into my ear while Kunmi brought out his phone to chat as silence descended.

Even though people believe we were doing fine, we all had what was eating us deep, one we are struggling with internally.

Thanks for reading.
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