You know that kind of thing..when you lose motivation cause of absolutely nothing? That is how I have been feeling lately🤧 sorry in advance if I didn't meet up to your expectations. But... Stardust_Wendy and sereniity- dragged me out of my awful week with their motivating comments so far :)

Meanwhile, this chapter is dedicated to Teefabulous for being my first reader in my last chapter, and for being a great friend here! Love you Tee♥️♥️

♤

Numb.

That's one sweer word to avow how I am feeling right now. My whole body and soul is too numb. Too static. Too maladroit, to comprehend a single thing or scene.

"Aramide...Come on, you have been pacing up and down for the past fifteen minutes without uttering a single word." Kiki mutters as she flails her hands to the air.

We are currently on the hitch-free street of the estate or more like on the pavement. She sat down on the pavement when she got tired of my lack of speech while I have been pacing back and forth - nonstop.

I don't blame her though. I was the one who called her and yet I have not said a single word. I was even surprised when she made it in less than a minute when I called. After seconds of silence, she speaks again.

"Uhuh, the securities." She says in amusement. True enough, I raise my head to see two of the estate securities heading towards our direction. "Aramide I think they're here for you." Without processing it, she gets up and yanks me behind a white Audi BMW that is parked by the side of the pavement. "Crouch behind there and I'll tell you when to come out." Her voice is so calm, like she had everything in control. Whereas my heart is beating frantically.

They have come to take me back to that hellhole.

Noo! I won't go back in there.

Before I can comprehend what is happening, fresh tears streams from my eyes again. All the physical and emotional pains resurface like a live movie in slow motion.

Trance-mares.

Lucid dreams.

Thunderstorms.

However, my crying section is cut short when I hear a masculine voice with a sudden hult of footsteps.

"Hello miss, sorry to disturb your day. We are looking for a certain gir..."

"No. I've not seen anyone."

What?! She was not suppose to go straight to the point!

I hear a slight pause and my heart freezes. Maybe they know she is lying already with the way she snapped. But her voice did not give me away at all. It sounded so nonchalant with a hint of slight irritation towards the uniformed MOPO{Mobile police}.

"Sorry, but we are trying to do our job little girl." The second one who has not spoken before, speaks with the same irritation lacing his voice. I can hear Kiki scoff loudly at that and silence dwells upon them again.

On my own side, I am trying so hard to withhold my tears from cascading down my face or else they would suspect us. The first MOPO security who spoke initially, speaks up again.

"Sorry for the inconveniences. We shall take our leave now." And with that, I hear their footsteps connecting with the tarred road in a regular walking-pace pattern. I sigh in relief and slump against the passengers side door of the Audi BMW. Kiki rounds the sharp corner of the car, and mimics my position by slumping in the same fashion I did, and hugging her knees to her chest level.

I turn and notice I have not really taken a good look at Kiki since she came to my recuse. Her eyes are looking tired, slightly red, worn out and stressed--her oversized burnt orange hoodie is a little bit crumpled and she wore a regular short that a did not go pass her mid thigh. Her signature golden anklet dangles on her feet beautifully, while she wore a two times bigger size of a Glitz and Glamour customised palm on her feet.

It then strikes me deeply - Kiki was napping when I called. How foolish am I to neglect the obvious? She even came in a hurry because clearly, her whole dressing attire screams: I-just-woke-up-from-bed-so-leave-me-the-fuck-alone!

Without thinking it through, I apologise. "Kiki, I'm sorry." Even my voice sounds croaky and horrible to my ears. She turns and gazes at me in quipped confusion probably wondering why I finally decide to speak all of a sudden. And even if I am speaking, why I apologised first of all.

"For what?" She asks slowly as she manages to stifle an upcoming yawn. I fiddle with the stray ropes on my chiffon dress, sniffle, and speak with the same croaky tone.

"You know, for disturbing you. I didn't mean to do it but it sucked being in there." I gush out without pausing. Kiki does not say a word however, as she stands up and hiss under a low tone. In confusion, I get up too and stare at her.

"You must be stupid to think I'll let you suffer in that goddamn place alone. And girl, I promised I'll be here f..." She did not complete her statement as her jaw drops ridiculously. Her eyes widen twice its normal size while her lips curves into a wicked snare. Still in daze, I gape at Kiki wondering what has gotten her into a zombie-frenzy mood under few seconds.

"Who. Did. This. To. You?" The words drip out of her mouth malevolently. Every single trace of sleep and weaknesses, flies from her face. I gulp once. Twice. Thrice and repeatedly on a role. Memories upon memories flow in-all at once. The shady dark look behind uncle Makanaki's mischievous eyes, the taunts, the double meanings behind his words and the slap that has caused a visible imprint on my face...every ugly event rears itself as a fresh memory that can never be forgotten so easily.

"Some bastard that is unfortunately an uncle." I just reply with a smooth voice though it feels like I just downed a whole bottle litre of bitterleaf water or yoyo bitters. Hell I am even shocked that my voice comes out well--no longer croaky or shallow. Her hand shoots up as she cradles my left cheek. The immediate pain that follows, causes me to flinch and back away from the touch on the sensitive cheek.

"Motherfucking Makanaki." She states as she swears under her breath while fuming silently.

"You know uncle Makanaki?" I ask in an incredulous high tone. I was not even subtle about my confusion.

She becons on me to follow her and I do not hesitate to follow suit. Literally, she just ignored my question--like I said I have learnt not to push Kiki to the wall or make her tell me something out of her own will. When she feels comfortable, she would open up. After minutes of walking in whist, a thought crosses my mind as we pass a really huge almond tree.

"Hey, Kiki where are we going? how did you even reach here in less than a minute when I called? I thought you lived far from here?"

She tsks as we finally make a stop at the front of a see-through golden gigantic gate that looks familiar to my grandfather's mansion. I've noticed in this estate, people build their houses the way they want unlike normal estates where the houses have the same pattern and colours.

"You ask too much questions Ara." She chuckles in a sardonic manner pressing an amber button by the side of the gate as she speaks through. "Yo, it's Kiki open up." A manly voice responds back as the gate gently pries open for us to enter.

If you think I am used to seeing things like this by now, then you've gotten it wrong.

Absolutely wrong.

Totally wrong.

I gawk at the large compound we just entered as Kiki continues. "Anyways I was here when you called and I figured out you will need me." I sigh knowing she is still trying to keep me in the dark. I stop abruptly and cross my arms over my chest.

So who's place is this?

She notices I have stopped walking as she does a dramatic 180° turn, sighs and strides back to where I am currently rooted on, while I take my time in relishing the new surrounding. I sight a bush bar by the corner of the Villa with a patio as the pathway. I've never entered a bush bar before...oh well, this can be a golden chance to do it. There is a fountain positioned at the centre of the compound - two bronze carved lions that gushes water out of the mouth every second. The sight is really something to behold and I notice the bling lights underneath.

Wow, heaven on earth.

"...Are you even listening to me at all?" Kiki's voice snaps me out of my reverie. Wait,she has been talking since? I give a sheepish grin as she rolls her eyes at my lame cover up.

"I said, when you informed me about the family's get-together,"

Uggh I hate the word family now. It makes me to cringe unknowingly.

"I knew it wouldn't end well. So I decided to come to Jamal's place for a sleepover since his villa is very much located in the same estate with your grandfathers'."

Dramatic pause.

Pause and replay...

Jamal's what?

Wait.

This is Jamal's villa?

"You're kidding right?" I ask with a frown on my face. I am so annoyed right now. I don't even know if Kiki is deliberately trying to rile me up.

She chuckles lowly and stares at me like I have gone crazy.
"Babe, are you aware your grandfather has sent men to look for you? Not only that. The MOPO by the main gate entrance has been alerted by now that you shouldn't be let out and all you can think about is being annoyed because this is Jamal's place? Girl are you 'kay?"

"You won't understand," I mumble as I scrunch my nose upward. I can still feel the effect of my earlier sobbing on my nostrils and heavy eyeballs.

"Understand what? Look. It's either you stick with us here, or you return to the damn family gathering." What? I'll be very insane to choose my grandfather's place...but then, this is like choosing between the devil and the deep blue sea.

"Fine, let's go." I reply unwillingly. She mutters something like 'finally' under her breath as we enter the glass enclosed vestibule. God! the entryway alone is the one of the breathtaking entrance site I've ever seen - after my grandfather's own of course. It is enclosed with diamond glass throughout giving it a greenhouse effect. The main entrance of the villa is a steam-glass sliding door that leads to a passage that is quite wide and spacious.

The passage holds different fan posters of The Triple-J. Some with Kiki, or with thier family and co-musicians or co-stars. Slowly my eyes start drooping heavily at the way they feel so exhausted from all the stress I've experienced today. Climbing the stairs slowly, I decide I'll relish in the wonderful sceneries later. Right now...my mind is preoccupied to acknowledge the beauty and the reekness of hard core cash--cause obviously he is a rich musician of course. A popular and successful one for that matter. Point of correction, my celebrity crush house. It then dawns on me;

Only in one day, I've see the Jagaban of politics in Nigeria. I mean, I was at his house - and now, I am at one of the Triple-J's villa.

Do I naturally attract high class people or what?

All I can think about is what I encountered today--more like, what I experienced.

Is uncle Tee and Onome okay?

What exactly went down that makes uncle Makanaki and uncle Tee to have much hatred towards each other?

What is uncle Makanaki really talking about?

I thought mum was raped?

Is Ayo really my blood brother?

Uncle Makanaki even slapped me!

I'm really confused for real....I feel so..I don't know how to say it or even place it.

"Look," Kiki's voice reels me out of my disarrayed thoughts as she places a hand on my tensive shoulder. "You're over thinking again. I can practically see the wheels turning in that big head of yours." I manage to smile as she said, big head of yours. Nonetheless, it doesn't still make me to completely jerk out of my toxic mind.

"I know right?" I mumble lowly as I bite my bottom lips and suck it repeatedly-a bad habit I need to really stop doing when I'm thinking too much. "I just feel like the Pandora's box just opened in my life." I fling my hands to the air to airquote my words.

She snickers at my statement as we reach the final step on the stairs. "Pandora's box ke? Babes, things happen for a reason in this life. Simply put it as, 'it is what it is'..." She trails off to see if I'm not thinking deep again and thankfully, I did not zone out like before. "You know what? let's just forget about them and chill in the present with the guys. What do you think?" She asks with a small smile glistening her round face. Just by giving that face, it is soooo impossible to say no to such request and I am like;

"Alright. Anything to get me out of depression island." I reply jokingly. But clearly, Kiki did not take it as a joke as her face mirrors confusion, bewilderment and it slowly morphs to a sad face that she quickly covers up with a blank look.

That happened...so fast.

"I was joking oh, stop doing your face like that." I say with a pout. Wait...did she really think that I'll be depressed? Kiki I swear you are a complete mystery.

She doesn't say anything while her hand rests on the golden knob of the vintage wooden door as she glances at me intently before digging her other free hands into the kangaroo loop of the hoodie.

"Here, I have an hanky for you. The boys must not see you in this terrible state. Especially Jide, things like this should be hidden from him." I understand what she means by, this terrible state. But I clearly do not understand what she means by especially Jide. I collect the hanky from her hands with a polite smile and use it to clean my tear filled eyes and any stray cattarh or tears that must have tainted my face.

Then...reality hit me again. I am really entering Jamal's villa! And she said the boys - clearly the others will be here too. I quickly look down at my outfit. The chiffon dress that stops above my knee. It has a crisscross pattern behind my back so surely, I could feel the warm breeze of the afternoon on the exposed skin of my back. The front exposes the middle section of my chest--but it is appropriately covered with a black see-through net. Of course it was all Onome's doing because on a normal day, I would not be able to dress like a normal sophisticated girl.

Floats of laughter and the background noise of television jolts me out of my irreducible chains of thoughts. We have entered the villa - alas. The sight on the ultrathin Hisense screen gives me a nostalgic feeling.

Dora the explorer?

For real?!

And the amusing thing is the way Jide and Jerry are both sprawled on the rainbow colour splashed cushion that is artistically engraved on stonewashed wood that is polished to the finest shade of beige. The beautiful Moroccan and Turkish pillows are seen in a disarrayed manner - obviously they must have had thier usual boys wrestle.

And wow, the most amusing thing is the way they are responding to Dora's dumb questions. Only she would ask have you seen it? Can you see it? If she isn't satisfied, she would ask the so-called map or bagpack! I could no longer resist the urge to laugh and before I knew it, I am laughing like a possessed hyaena. Who would have thought that the same Jerry and Jide that mocks me for watching too much cartoons are now the ones that are obsessed with it? Dora for that matter.

They both jerk and whip their heads to the sudden laughter scene simultaneously. When they both realise it is me, you can not imagine the look of shock and embarrasent that coats thier faces.

So epic!

"What are you doing here?!" Jide is the first to recover from his shock. I eye him questionably giving him the really look as he quickly raises his hands in mock surrender and corrects himself. "Ah! I'm just curious babe. Don't give me that look." I roll my eyes as I strutter over and join them on the plush rainbow splash couch--succesfully sitting in between them. Kiki enters another room and I am sure she wants to change or inform Jamal. Whatever it is, she should be here fast.

I ignore their curious gaze and pick up the remote control that lays lazily on Jerry's side. Increasing the volume of the cartoon that is currently showing, I fling my bare legs over the ivory polished table and relax my body into the warmth of the plush chair. After some seconds that felt like hours to me, I could still feel thier burning gaze on my head and well...I snap.

"What is it? Ahah take it easy with the looks before you both bury me nine feet underground." I give them the look, as the words roll out of my mouth.

"Girl, you just put your feet on Jamal's ivory table!" Jerry says with pure amusement. I glance at Jerry, then my legs, then Jide, then the ivory table, then my legs again before laughing loudly. I look crazy honestly.

"Do you think I care?" I poke my index fingers to my chest as I emphasise the words. Jide and Jerry both smirk in a cynical way that got me suspicious. An idea came to my mind. Jamal is not here currently and I honestly do not care. I peek a look round my surrounding before doing what I intended on doing.

Dropping my legs gently from the table, I place my bare feet on the animal patterned rug and open my legs further - not without smacking Jide on the head for commenting how sexy my legs are. I sit up straight and rest my chin on my right hand, and imitate a posture that I can best place as Jamals' I squeeze my face very tight and pause my lips before speaking in the best possible male voice I can ever muster.

"Are you 'kay? How dare you place your filthy feet on my ivory table that costs a hundred million naira?! Damn it girl! You're the dumbest person I've ever known." After doing that, I switch positions again. This time back to my normal self. I prop my feet on the table - with much force this time around and speak sweetly. "Aww really? Sorry to filthilise your ivory table Jamal the rapper. I'm sorry for being dumb and I promise to get the fuck out of your life!"

As the words roll out of my mouth, Jide and Jerry are both clutching so hard to thier stomach--like as if their suffering from a stomach upset. The tears that slide out of Jerry's eyes did not go unnoticed by me.

"You don't go around saying such naughty words about my best friend." Jerry says with an amusement voice after they recover from laughing like the true Buffon's that they are. I snort without removing my gaze from the TV.

"Then who am I to you? Am I not your best friend also?" When I didn't hear his response, I smirk and conclude that he now agrees with me - but nothing prepared me for what happens next. Like a rush of ticklish tremors, I feel four hands descending on my waist. I yelp like a madwoman and scramble from the seat as I land on the rugged floor with a thud. Jerry and Jide are tickling me!

"JEE-ZUSZZZ! YOU GUYSSS, STOP!" Yes I am pleading with all my life. They are both laughing evily and working thier fingers on my bare back and waist--remember when I said my dress is crisscrossed at the back? Unfortunately for me, they are using it to thier advantage. They are tickling my bare skin! I squirm, scream, cry, yelp, anyhow you call it.

"GUYS-SS I AM..I'M..SORRY! I WON'T INSULT JAMAL AGAIN!!" From the look of things, it may seem like the boys are raping me, but if you have a closer look I am the one laughing hysterically as they are tickling me.

All of a sudden, they pause. No, like Jide pauses first and I think Jerry notices it and pauses too. What is going on? I glance at Jide as I adjust the hem of my gown that has ridden up slightly.

"Jide..." I say in a soft tone and I glance at Jerry to see that his face is now devoid of smile or laughter. "Jerry...what's happening?" Before I can register what is about to happen, Jide is already on his feet as he stands close to the steam-glass sliding door looking at me with dark eyes.

"Aramide...how did you get that damn fingerprint mark on your cheek?" His voice? Never in my life have I heard Jide so uptight and murderous. I gulp nervously and use my weave-on to shield my face. My mouth is currently short of words and I glance to Jerry to help me as usual but of course, Jerry is scowling so deeply. I whimper and bow my head down.

Kiki's word replays slowly in my brain - "The boys must not see you in this terrible state. Especially Jide, things like this should be hidden from him."

What is going on?

The next thing I hear is the smashing of glass and crack of a fist followed by a grunt and slump of a body to the ground.

Holy father!

I jump instinctively and see the horror sight before me - Jide is slouched on the floor with his knees. Blood is dripping from his right fingers and out of nowhere, Jamal storms out of the adjacent room that has been shielded by draped curtain all these while. He glances at me confusedly, back to Jerry who is now examining the scene too and back to Jide.

And then, I hear it loud and clear.

Jide is crying.

Hysterically.

A/N

Oh God! What did I just write??! Y'all should not kill me oo. I wish I could have written this chapter in a better way.

Anyhow, we have not reached the main gist of the story guys...we are getting there slowly so don't even think of giving up on this story or else😌

Jide....😭😭😭 what is doing him na?

Kiki seems mysterious don't you think?🤧

Get ready for more scenes that will blow ya mind. Stay tuned and shower your dose of love as always♥️

-Jasmine ©️