This chapter is lengthy! So please I need your love in it.

I dedicate this chapter to DissoluteWriter her vibes are the best! And oh yeah she did the cover above. Thanks b❤️

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Happiness booms from the inside..

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~Not edited!~

Terrible headache! That is the first thing that hits me when I slowly regain consciousness to the human world from my Disneyland. Disneyland?

How can I be having headache after dreaming about my prince charming?

Cause you cried during the early hours of this morning, duh.

Even to open my eyes is a big battle for me. So I lay still on my bed for about two minutes feeling a gentle rhythm of breeze pass by my spine before I gently pry my eyes open and notice that I am resting on a soft pillow. Yeah that is not the deal but it is BREATHING! I quickly scream jaguns and stumble off the bed making my butt to kiss the beige wooden floor flatly. Coupled with my terrible headache? I feel like I am going to pass out sooner or later. I can not imagine the mess I am in right now.

"Blood of Zachariah! Why did you scream like a witch na?" I hear a muffled deep voice grunt on my bed.

My water bed!

I whip my head so fast that I fear it will snap, and narrow my eyes to my intruder, well familiar intruder I will say, in the form of my step brother who is lying down on the other side of my bed shirtless. So all this while I was dreaming of my prince charming cuddling me on a roller coaster ride it is my brother I was lying next to?

Oh what an irony!

"Really Ay? Is this the best you have got?"
He smiles sheepishly at me and disentangles himself from my red-coloured duvet.

"I can see your tactics Ay, very smooth bro, very very smooth." I say sarcastically, rolling my eyes. "Just please leave me alone now. I need some time for myself." When I manage to get up, the headache hit me like a heavy duty truck again and my getting up skills are not helping at all.

Ah, over sabi is not good.

"Aramide" My brother calls softly as he lifts me from the ground effortlessly. Wow he really does a lot of work out for him to be in shape. At least his muscles are not in watse.

In his mind o, I won't tell him sha so that his head will not get big like his stupid ego.

"I brought paracetamol tablets with water for you." he says while handling them to me with a pleading face and a broken voice as he drops me on the couch. I scowl hard rembering I'm supposed to be angry at him. Oh well I'm no longer angry with him though.

I hate how my mind can make me do things but you know what? My mind is right for once and besides I have no reason to be angry with him ever since Uncle Tee explained everything to me. I can never stay mad at him. I would do the same if my sister was in the same shoes. So I take the medicine and glass of water from him and swallow them with a funny look on my face.

I hate drugs for real. Ahh who introduced drugs sef?

I'm among those kind of people that would rather take injection, than take drugs...yes I'm crazy, I know.

I recline gently on the couch he carried me on earlier. He stands there, hands akimbo watching my reaction and I know he is damn nervous for what he is going to say. Yes I know him too well like that. He tilts his head slightly as he goes into thinking mood and I decide since he is still in his lala land, let me just do the talking.

"I'm sorry." We both say simultaneously.

Jinx!

"Why are you apolog-" We start saying simultaneously again! We share a mischievous look that means something and in less than a second, we yell the word together. "JINX PADLOCK!" Ha not fair at all!

"No you padlock first!" He says with a smirk, while leaning on my reading table casually.

"Lai lai, I thought about jinx before you!" I sass back with a huff.

"Point of correction. You clearly 'thought', not 'Said'. So you see, na you fuck up sis." He replies and smacks his lips triumphantly.

And then, like as if we have been trying to hold our laughter in, we both start laughing like crazy. I really miss my brother It was very foolish of me to go all bitchy on him without listening to him first. But him being stubborn, made me love him more. After some minutes our laughters subsides as a gentle whimper escapes my mouth as the aftermath.

"I'm really sorry Ay. I did not mean to push you away, I just felt the things of the past refreshing thier way into my head and can you imagine Uncle spoke to me this mor-"

"Ok shut up. shut up. shut up. I get you madam and no need to apologise okay?" He gets up from his position at my reading table, and leans toward me, brushing my forehead lightly with his fingers. "I love you baby sis, and I promise I would never trade you for anybody or anything else okay?"

Me being an emotional human being, starts tearing up as I fight to hold the tears back. No matter how many times I run from reality, one day I will always dance to the tunes of it. So right now or more like since when Uncle Tee spoke to me, I prepared my mind to become bare to my step brother that well, turned blood brother to me. I can not let myself have a repeat of what my mum experienced even though I didn't pass through the same things that happened to her. After some minutes of comfortable silence, I remembered something but debated if telling him is going to be good.

"I still see her in my dreams." I blurt out at the spur of the moment shocking both me and my brother. He looks at me sceptically before responding.

"Y...you mean mum?" he asks softly, trying not to allow his anger surface on his features.

I bite my lips worriedly and respond. "Yes." Everywhere becomes quiet again and just then, even though I hate to admit this, I miss her so much even with what she did to me, I still love her. After all she was traumatised for years. Till now, I am still grateful to Uncle Tee and Onome, who luckily came to the rescue when a neighbour found me unconscious on the day my mum Unsuccessfully ended my life.

Do you want to know another thing about this luck? where I am staying currently is in Lagos state and the location of the incident was in Delta. And aunty Onome happened to be at the hospital the day I was rushed in and one way or the other, I was being recognised by my extended family and brought to stay here with them, In Lagos.

As for my mother, I later heard she was really traumatised for a long time, and was taken to the best rehabilitation centre in Asaba. My dear stomach decides to growl loudly, alerting me of the voidness of food in it since morning and the time is approaching noon already. My brother looks at me quizzically and bobs his head at me.

"C'mon dress up let's go out to eat." He says, more like commands me while he stands up to wear his basketball shirt effortlessly.

"Oh na I don't want to goooo." I whine and grumble as I get up. Honestly I have not been out of this house rather Mansion since I came here and trust me that's exactly two months. Being locked up in a house is kind of my thing. My mum hardly let me out of the house back in our former place. So I'm used to being in a house for a straight year.

Provided there is PlayStation, food, Nepa and internet though.

I know what I told him just now has dampened his mood and I can not help but sigh as I rummage my walk-in closet for casual clothes.

Why are there so many clothes here?

Nevermind.

I don't have the heart to deal with the awkwardness we could be in after I raised the issue of mum. But before he exits my room, he spins round on the left heel of his feet and speaks.

"Your pain is my pain baby girl so cheer up and don't worry about me. I'll be fine." And with a sad smile, he leaves. I can not help, but smile too.

We'll be fine.

Las las everything go better.

✿ ✿

I knew it! I knew coming outside would be a 'not so good idea'. You know why I'm ranting? Ok see it like this. When we got into the Lekki Sky Mall, we headed to the food court and ordererd our food after I practically begged my brother that I wanted to do small sight seeing. He said we should eat first before I can explore. And just when we were in the initial stage of eating our delicious onions rice and turkey, he started flirting with a lady that sat beside us. She wore a tight, skimpy leather skirt and her low V neckline blouse that just showed too much of cleavage and bust. She's pathetic! that's just it.

"Your life seem colourless, can I be the colour in your life?" My stupid brother asks her smirkingly. The idiotic lady in return giggles like a fowl. Come on! that pick-up-line Is very lame and out dated. Even a naïve girl like me wouldn't believe such a shït as that. Wait do fowls giggle?

Yes o, answer the question Aramide.

I don't know jare but you catch the gist I'm saying right?

She bites her over glossy lips, eyeing him shamelessly and uncrosses her legs thereby showing her inner thighs. Okay I've had enough show for today I've defiantly lost my appetite.

And you know how much I love food Heeiii!

"Em, Ayo?"

"Hmm?" He responds without glancing at me and I know his attention is not fully on me since he is still eyeing the fowl by our side.

"I want to use the rest room. I will be back shortly." He just bobs his head and signals at me to go with a thumb up.

And you said you will never trade me for anybody else o...ah kpele

I mentally hiss at the thought, stand up and walk out of the food court. Really the atmosphere is already making me sick. No sane sibling wants to see his/her other sibling flirting or making out with the opposite sex, yeah that's a true fact. GumBody by Jorjia Smith and Burna boy is currently streaming through the speakers of the vast mall and I smile slightly while humming to the song softly as I strolled round. Yes do not judge me I am giving myself a tour of the mall since some people (I.e Ayo a.k.a my egotistic brother) decided to ditch me for a fowl in skimpy outfit.

I continue walking for about two minutes, when I see an elevator that leads to the top floor. I start squealing inwardly, as the thought of riding through an elevator stricks me. I've never rode on one before but I've seen how its been used in movies. Without glancing at the words written above, I hop into it and start smiling like a maniac when it started moving. Thank God I'm the only one here though.

When it eventually stops, I suddenly feel light headed and happy, basking in my new moment of achievement. I step out of it and the sight before me make my jaw to eventually drop down. You know that feeling you get, when you pass a territory that screams wealth and riches but then you feel like a pauper and out of place? well that is how I am feeling right now. The words written above me is 'VIP EXECUTIVE LOUNGE'.

I keep muttering "wow" or "mad oo" as I glance around me. I know I should not be in a lounge but well they say curiosity killed the cat. The people who designed this place must be really creative and vast in the world of architecture. The Air-conditioner here is ten times colder than the ones in the main floor mall. So I start stuffing my hands into the kangaroo of my oversized grey hoodie.

Every single person that flocks this place are definitely rich because they look well off. My trains of thought immediately shut down, when I sight a section that reads 'LE CRÈME GLACÉE' and displayed underneath the lustre show glass, is variety flavours of ice cream. I start chanting Yoda and whatever exclamation I can think of, in my head.

An ice-cream parlour in a lounge!

I walk, no scratch that. I SKIP happily over to have a look at the lovely flavours displayed before me. My head glued to the glass as I start evaluating and imagining the way they would all taste in my mouth.

I'm a sucker for ice-cream.

And also a sucker for food too...

Yeah don't blame me, I think I have sweet tooth! gosh.

Then my eyes stop scanning when I see 'Strawberry gelato flavour'. You know how it happens in Zee world or all these popular Indian movies when the guy sees the lady he loves and everything goes BOOM! Like time freezes around them and they stare at each other like there's no tomorrow? (That shït is dumb though.) But believe me when I say right here, I feel like passing out.

I've only see this flavour twice in my Instagram feed and I always dreamt of tasting it, relaxing on a patio and mocking my enemies.

Hehe, dumb plan I know.

But right now it is staring at me with its gorgeous layer of bustling sweetness. I start bouncing my feet, inter-changing it from left to right. Something I usually do when I'm excited. I touch the show glass lovingly and sigh for the umpteenth time. One day I promise I will marry you Strawberry gelato and then we will have beautiful kids.

Wait did I just say that?

Wow, way to fool yourself in public Aramide. My brain retorts sadly for its owner which is unfortunately, me.

Well don't blame me cause I do not ca-I pause when I noticed a presence close to me. I turn slowly to my side and notice a guy. Okay I guess this will be my second time freezing again. He should be about my age or older than me but he is obviously taller than me. He wore a Jordan facecap and an expensive rayban tinted shades. The neon lights that are streaming through the lounge makes it almost hard for me to make out his face. But he is handsome from the little view and sight I can see him. He is looking amusedly at me and something about him tells me in my guts, that he looks familiar.

Sooo familiar. I gasp when I realise he must have seen the madness I've been displaying since and not to forget he looks extremely handsome and fit.

"You look like yo wanna marry the ice-cream, is all good?" He asks with the same amusement lacing his voice. And I swear to God I almost passed out at the sound of his deep and friendly masculine voice with a fine toned accent. I had to look at him for a full TWO minutes to be sure he is referring to me. After staring like a mumu, I start blushing madly then I look down at the ground shuffling my feet nervously and wriggling my fingers in the kangaroo of my hoodie.

Way to go Aramide. You just fooled yourself in front of a hot guy! damn it.

"Here you go." I hear the voice of the guy speak after some minutes and I look up to shriek loudly when he hands over to me, a wrapped flavour of the strawberry gelato I've been ogling at.

O.M.G!

"You d...don't ha-ve to I swe..." He cuts me short before I can continue my stupid rambling.

"Aw c'mon take it from me. I know how badly you need it." I became short of words as he stresses on the need. He must be really observant to know that I need it and I appreciate he did not ask why a pauper like me is in a VIP section. Well maybe I'm over exaggerating, I'm not a pauper at all. I would have bought it myself but the ATM card uncle Tee gave us to use, is with my brother. And I tell you that card is loaded. I remember my uncle saying something along the lines of;

'Your grandad swore you and your brother must enjoy of his wealth ever since you guys were found. I'm not sure the money will finish till genertions to come though.'

His words not mine. I recive the package from his hand carefully as I smile brightly at the guy but not without promising to pay him back but he waves it off and says it's nothing. By the way I don't even know his name, his intentions and why he is talking to a whole ME. As if he hears my thoughts, he speaks.

"Anyways I'm Jerry." He says with a smile as he reaches his hand out for a hand shake. I smile in return reciprocating the gesture.

"Tom." I reply jokingly. He looks at me skeptically as if he did not believe me or like I'm going cray-cray.

"I'm sorry its Aramide joor. I was just teasing you as in Tom and Jerry." I say while laughing nervously and rubbing my neck in a awkward manner cause I just fooled myself and I am already talking too much. Surprisingly, he laughs too and tips his head back slighlty. It is good to see him laugh because of me.

"What a beautiful name for a pretty babe like you." He says sweetly as he holds my right hand and kisses the back slightly. I smile excessively in return causing my cheeks to hurt. I am always a nervous wreck and having social anxiety anytime I'm outside my comfort zone or familiar faces. But surprising enough, I am getting acquainted with Jerry faster than I thought. I look down at my outfit, oversized grey hoodie and my black fravorite leggings not to forget I did not make my virgin hair, so why his he speaking with me? Like come on I'm not even that fine and curvy.

Maybe they used voodoo or juju on him.

"Thanks?" I say unsurely.

"Its no problem. So Aramide would you mind if you join me? Y'know my friends are waiting for me. So I should as well show them this damsel." I start screaming inwardly and me being a very shy person did not help matters at all. I did not even see his eyes for once since it is shielded by his powerful shades and I'm glad because I HATE making eye contact with people. I don't usually get comfortable with strangers. And the apple of my cheeks are already flushed.

"I-don't kn..." That is my answer, as my phone beeps. I sigh in relief, thanking God for the interruption.

Message from Big boy❤️🌍

Wow, so somebody finally remembers me. Just wow AY.

...

Him:
Wtf are you Ara?

Me:
Oh so you done smooching the lady right? wow bro🙄

Him:
You are not serious are you?don't do this sis. Don't make me ask again. Where the hell are you?!

...

Jeez I'm not sure I have lived to see the day my brother would not use a single cuss word at all. I roll my eyes and type swiftly.

...

Me:
I'm in the VIP EXECUTIVE LOUNGE making out with a guy here yunno and please don't disturb me!

...

I quickly press the 'send' button and chuckle. Shoving the phone hurriedly into my hoodie and smile sheepishly back at Jerry.

"Why do you look like you have done something evil and exciting?" he asks me with a smirk.

"Cause I just did something evil and exciting." I reply with a smile.

"Wow, you can't be serious." He shakes his head and laughs. "Anyways, have my phone and input your number." He says while handing me his phone.

Wait! His phone?!

This is....Jesu! This is Samsung S20 Ultra na.

This phone is the latest released Samsung, and is damn expensive.

I gape at the sight before me as I stare at the phone in awe fearing it will slip from my fingers. His wallpaper is even of the famous Triple-J musicians.

Aww, he's a fan just like me.

"Wow this is the latest Samsung Jerry!" I FINALLY get my voice back although I am still in daze as I type my number and admire it. I will finally boast to my brother, that I held the latest Samsung. He archs a brow at me and speaks.

"Samsung fan?"

"Ah, yes na." I'm currently using Samsung S9 edge that my uncle bought for me last month when he came back from work and I am glad my first official real phone is a dream come true. Well I literally forced him to buy it though since he kept on insisting IPhone for me. Jerry is about to say something, when my phone rings. I shoot him a sorry look and pick the phone without glancing at the caller.

"Aramide! so you are really with a guy? hold up I can see you guys and don't even think of going anywhere with him if not I will kill him. Wait what's in you hand? Jesus christ Ara? wh..." I cut the call and whirl round just in time to see my angry looking and already pissed brother.

I ignore his stupid rants and turn my attention back to Jerry. "Jerry meet my elder bro, Ayo. And Ay meet Jerry my new friend. I smile innocently during the introduction. He brings his hand out for a shake but my brother ignores him and glares hard, very hard at him. He drops his hand back stylishly and I almost coo at how he handled my brother coldness.

"Seriously Aramide! what the hell are you doing in a lounge? a VIP one for that matter? And you," he turns his direction back to him and speaks. "So you were making out with my sister huh?" I become embarrassed immediately and I wish the ground will just open up and swallow me. But Jerry starts laughing all of a sudden and I look at him in shock wondering what is up.

"No I wasn't." He replies calmly. "But I would not mind though, she is really pretty. Talk to you later Aramide." He winks and just like that he leaves, like goes MIA. I glance at my brother who has a muderous look on his face. Well this could be interesting I think.

I quickly stride to the Elevator with my brother trailing behind briskly. And as soon as we get to the car where the chauffeur is already waiting, my brother wastes no time in talking. "You sure do have a lot of explanation to do young lady." My brother mutters under his breath. I smirk and look at him from the corner of my eyes.

"Next time you wouldn't flirt with miss skimpy clothes." I mumble under my breath as I start digging into my sweet ice-cream, mocking my current enemy which happens to be Ayo but unfortunately I am not on a patio but well, I achieved the first two goals.

Licking a Strawberry gelato and mocking my enemy. Hehehe

Hashtag #Pepper dem gang.

***

"Good afternoon Uncle." I greet with a tired tone as I enter the main parlour of the mansion.

"Afternoon dear, how was you guys outing? and where the hell is Ayo?" He asks as he finally drops the newspaper he is reading. If my brother thought I was done with him, well I'm just starting.

"Uncle Tee! Ay didn't buy anything for me. He left me wondering in the mall and went to meet a woman and it was another person that bought this," I raise my half finished ice-cream up. "For me. And this Is the only thing I've taken since morning." I say pouting.

"AYOMIDE!" My uncle thunders his full name with a thick accent. I chuckle at his shocked and confused expression immediately he enters the mansion. He glances at me to ask what happened but I mouth, 'shit is about to go down bro' then I skip happily to the side of the spiral lited stairs hidden from thier view at least to eavesdrop on what they would say.

"So you abandoned your sister abi? are you mad? ohhh so...."

"Uncle what? no I didn't... God I will kill that girl...she was with a guy....uncle she's lying!"

"Ayomide you are not even responsible at 21?...It was this same age I became a father....oh so you didn't know?....I thought you had sense boy!.....Father Lord!...."
I laugh at the exchange between my brother and uncle. Although, I can still hear pieces of the conversation. I feel a hard tug on my hair jerking my head backwards. I flinch and yelp at the pain I start feeling suddenly and I know it will be my older cousin, Cheryl.

"Hey gold digger!" I hear the fake pitchy voice of my cousin Cheryl. Did I mention this girl never liked me the moment I stepped into thier home? she thought I and my brother came to wreck thier home and steal her parents and grandparents love. So apparently, she's jealous. Well then meet my bïtchy cousin who thinks I'm a gold digger.

"Get yo-ur h...hands off me!" I manage to choke out because of the pains I am already feeling on my head.

"Aww are you feeling pains dear?" She asks with a fake concern. I ignore her as she continue to assault pain on my head. You do know that it is not right for people to play with your head right? I once heard that the head is the destiny and power of an individual, and with that same anger surging through me, I twist in Cheryl's hold, and yank her hands of my hair successfully.

Fuck! It hurts a lot.

She has a satisfied smile on her face as she sees me whimpering on the floor.

"Well let me just inform you this, I know my dad just enrolled you into my school. Yes I overheard him on the phone conversation with my mum. But let me tell you this, pretend you don't know my brother and I and FUCKING AVOID ME IN SCHOOL OKAY?!" She yells out like a mad woman. I did not even listen to what she says as my mind wanders on its own. So my uncle put me in Cheryl's school? and from what I heard the school is one of the most expensive in Nigeria.

"I don't want to have anything to do with you bïtch, so get your head out of the gutters." I mutter weakly and arrange my disarrayed hair.

"Good. Now get your useless self out of here." She smirks as she finally sashays out of my presence. Though it was painful, I couldn't bring myself to cry. I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of seeing my tears. I went straight to my room, locked my door and finished my remaining Strawberry gelato that had already melted while crying. I glanced over to my mum's diary on my desk and contemplated reading it. The memories of the past surged through again and I found myself avoiding the topic of my mum's diary when my phone beeps from my bed. I walk over to pick it up.

MESSAGE FROM UNKNOWN NUMBER.

Hey Mide!👋

I smile when I remembered it is probably Jerry. I don't know the motive of him being my friend though, but I like it. I've never had someone that is truly interested in me.
Our chats were getting interesting and amusing, until he asks something that makes me pause.

Him:Oh nice. So which school are you attending?

At the mention of school, I stilled. I don't have the faith to face school and the worse thing is that I'm gonna be a new student in a school filled with wealthy kids. Not that when we were with my mum we were really poor. But I can say at least we were among the average family. I'm not sure I've fully recovered from what happened to me in my former school. And now I have to go to a new school. The reality of going to school hit me hard and I remembered today is Saturday that means by Monday, I will be resuming school. I groan loudly and scratch my head frustratedly.

Him: Hey, its all good?

Me:I'm sorry Jerry, I'm busy rn. Ttyl.

I feel bad for ending our chats abruptly. But what I feel now is much heavier. I sighed and flopped on my lovely waterbed and switched the TV on. It was already in MTV base, and a latest single from the Triple-J, is playing softly. I smile and for some reason, Jerry reminds me of one of them. I am glad today didn't turn out bad because I made my first friend ever. A MALE FRIEND. I just hope fate wouldn't let this one slip from my fingers.

The Triple-J are very popular and not to mention they are youngsters, most importantly among my top ten celebrity crushes. I relaxed and kept my mind wandering. Well let's see how Monday will go. And I guess I must have slept off with a lot of things running through my mind. Especially the particular words that FATE itself whispers to me;

Life chess has just started playing out sweetie. Welcome aboard to the game called REALITY.

~A/N~

A Stressful chapter though but its worth it. Please endeavour to point out my mistakes and help me out🙃

How was it?

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What do you think of her new friend, oga Jerry?😂

Lmaoo I'm itching for your comment guys...so let's start rolling.

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Love y'all ❤️

-Jasmine ©️