Cover above by iamstells Thanks b❤️❤️

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~Not edited!~

"Sorry, the MTN number you're trying to call is unreachable at the moment. Please try again later, thank you."

The irritating and monotonous voice of the customer care line says for the sixth time in a row. Never in my life have I considered being desperate in killing someone. But right now, I'm going to murder the owner of this annoying voice which is the customer care lady if she does not shut up.

I've been trying to call AY for a while now, and he is not picking up. I know my brother like, from the bottom of my heart. Never has he ever ignored my calls neither has his line ever been unreachable.

It feels so strange...

Please Ayo pick up this call.

My hands are terribly shaking, my breathing ragged and uneven. My mind going haywire. My soul is desperately trying to remain calm whereas my body is going into a delusional trance.

Everything seems surreal to me. How I ended up with a shredded school uniform at an unknown destination beats me to wonderland. The same question, keeps surfacing at the peak of my mental breakdown;

How did I get here?

I look to my left and right. Still, nothing felt real or sure. I clutch my phone tightly by my side as I rack my brain for something. But nothing seems to pop in. It feels like I have been stuck in this unknown destination for long and for some odd reasons, I feel both comfortable and uncomfortable.

Weird.

Then suddenly, as if the angels from high are listening to my plight, the blazing blue sky with hues of orange pours down torrents of light. The effect of the light is so strong that I instantly understood what The weeknd meant when he sang blinding lights.

"Hello! Is-anybody there?" I call out with nervousness as I try to ascertain the sudden source of the streams of blinding lights. Everywhere becomes silent for a minute-until I hear a soft tune at the background. It isn't just an ordinary tune, but it seemed familiar. So familiar. The blinding lights reduces in fraction and turns to a neon pink scene.

Huh? What the hell?!

I get up from my crouching position slowly, while managing to cover my shredded uniform that is exposing me somehow. The tune, slowly switches to a familiar music--from male voices that seems oddly familiar. Like I've known them my entire life.

Who are they?

"Hey!" I call out again. But all I hear is the melodic voices that still booms from the neon pink background. I limp towards the music arena to finally see the owner of the voices. Jerry, Jide and Jamal.

Finally! familiar faces.

I almost leap in joy as I see them. A faint sense of homily feel, washes over me. I even discard the fact, that I'm half-naked. All that matters to me, is the sweet melody they are portraying and the feel of knowing them that keeps me in optimum.

"What are you doing here?" A sudden voice laced with pure venom startles me from going any further. I quickly and unconsciously cover myself up as I spin to the voice direction.

"Ki- Kiki?" I say in an unsure tone. I know I am supposed to be excited on seeing her-but the look on her face screams, "Murder" and "Stay the fuck away from me."

I instantly become rooted to the spot I am currently standing on, wondering what on earth is happening. Why the look? I've never seen her this livid and mad. She looks like, she will snap my head off my neck if I take an extra step again.

"What do you want from us Aramide? Huh? We accepted you as a friend. Look what you have done now. Never, ever think of coming close to us again." Ever since I've known Kiki, her face has never portrayed emotions. And right now she looks so sad and vulnerable.

Jeez! What's happening?
What is she talking about?

"Goodbye."

She finally says without giving me a second chance to ask what is going on. She joins the guys at the neon pink scene and whispers something to their ears-pausing thier melody of music. They all glance at me with a brief glint of sadness and pain in their eyes that shatters and weakens my knees at that instant. Before I can speak further, they all disappear--like a vapour into the thick air. I stumble and fall to the ground because my legs can not support me again.

My mind refuses to comprehend the scene that unfolded right before my eyes seconds ago.

Did I hurt them?

Hell! I don't even know what is happening again!

I realise streaks of tears has started flowing from my eyes on its own free will. I helplessly let the tears flow as Kiki words echo above me. It feels so painful. My heart shatters into million pieces. Everything feels so weird. Like I am not supposed to be here. What did I ever do to deserve such an act of coldness? What have I done?

"Milli! There you are!" That is my first name that I have not heard in a very long while. And there is only two people in this life that knows it. AY and....

That voice.

No. Its impossible.

Against my rational judgement, I furrow my eyes to the voice. The voice of she who attempted to take my life.

"Mum." It isn't an acknowledgement, neither is it a nostalgic call. I felt betrayed that instant. My OWN mother, who left me to die. She stopped loving me and wished me goodluck in the land of the dead. I've always loathed myself for still loving my mother after what she did for me. In as much as I tried to hate her, I could not. It was so impossible. She strutters to me and crouches to my level.

"You this wicked child! What are you doing here?"

What the...

I'm the one that is supposed to ask you that!

Any feeling of hope that my mother will apologise and be remorseful, suddenly washes down the drain and what I suddenly feel, is much more worse than hatred-worse than acrimony and wosre than my uttermost despise for the devil. I can not describe the sudden urge to puke on her face and scream murder. To kick and give her permanent marks on her body. But I can't. She is my mother. A small part of me still loves her and misses her for being my first best friend.

"I poisoned you for a reason girl. I hate you for still being in existence." She finishes with a livid tone as she grits her teeth in frustration.

"Damn it! You were never supposed to meet our extended family! You're such an idiot. Now look at you. I can't believe I gave birth to you."

I would not allow her heart-stabbing words make me an emotional mess. My heart pleads with me not to do it, but my mind is already made up. I raise my hands without thinking, and jam it hard on her soft flesh of cheek, causing her to yelp in surprise.

I just slapped my mother.

I just slapped my mother.

I just slapp...

My train of thoughts immediately shut down, as a cold-icy palm, lands on my left cheek with full force which makes my back to kiss the tarred road.

"No child of mine would disrespect me. You hear me?!" She spits to my face as she yells, her chest heaves in a fast pattern.

"You deserve nothing good like your father. Worthless piece of shit. You made me feel guilty for fifteen years! For fifteen whole years Aramide. You brought disgrace, reproach, forbidden love and hurtful memories back to my life. Aggh I'll personally kill you myself this time."

And like as if I knew her next move, I start screaming for help while she bends on her knees and immediately grab onto my two flailing legs.

"Somebody help me!! Please! Anybody!"

I wail as I scream. It seems like as if, we were the only ones. Nobody came to my aid. I felt defeated. No hope. No rescue. Just me and my sick damnated mother.

"Ayo! Jerry! Kiki! Der...."

A hard strike lands on my waist, which numbs my whole body down.

This is it.

"They don't care about you baby. And nobody will ever care about you." She snarls and bursts into fits of wicked and malicious laugh.

I refuse to give up yet, as I struggle harder from her grip.

"SOMEBODY HELP ME!"

A hand reaches out to shake my body again and I jerk on c...

"Aramide! Aramide!"

I blink my eyes repeatedly back to reality to notice I was in my trance-mare again. I turn to the person that called for my attention--Isoken my science project partner for practicals. Making me wonder how long I was gone out for.

"Yes?" I answer sweetly. Like as if I did not just have a terrible scenario displayed before me seconds ago. Isoken eyes me sceptically asking if I'm okay. I reply with a coy nod. Whereas in reality, I am far from being okay.

Most people that have encountered bad experiences always end up having nightmares but mine is worse. I call it trance-mare. It happens on its own, making me to zone out of the outside world and it would look like as if I've turned to a zombie. I've encountered the trance-mare countless of times-but this one was different.

I saw people that I've never seen before. Kiki, Jide, Jerry and Jamal. The way they looked at me, made it feel so cold and empty-I swear it felt so real at that moment. And that alone, sent cold chills down my spine.

"Aramide what was the last word I said?"

Huh?

Shit! I honestly forgot a teacher was in the chemistry laboratory. Corper Dan for that matter. Corper Dan is the latest sensation hot gist of CIGs. He is among the four NYSC corp members that recently started teaching us in our school. He is assisting our original chemistry teacher, Mrs. Halima who happened to go for maternity leave. Corper Dan is extremely hot no doubt. Most girls drool over him and I've heard stupid rumours that I hate to recount right now.

"Umm...I-I...s" I stutter badly as I think of ways to answer the question.

"Wetin dey do this one?" [What is wrong with her?] I hear Aaron, saying in a hushed tone to his lab partner a.k.a Jaramilo his best friend. Jaramilo is the most hottest and good looking guy in our science class no lies there. Most girls fight over him like he is a treasured diamond. Isoken once told me that his parents are among the co-partnership of the branch of CIGs in the Abuja and Ogun region. Yes our school is in four other states apart form Lagos. And to crown it all, Jaramilo and Aaron are bullies.

"Nor mind am jare. She dey think of boy prick wey she go blow." [Don't mind her. She is thinking of a boy to give blow jobs to.] Jaramilo whispers behind me as they both chuckle. Most people around our working area, heard them and laughed too. My face burns with utter embarrassment and It takes everything in me not to turn back and slam their head into the acid in thier beaker. But guess what? Someone beat me to it.

"Are you jealous she's not gonna suck your dick? Huh?" My eyes widen as Isoken stands up from her work stool, and faces the idiots behind us. I have known Isoken for weeks now and I know she always speaks her mind-be it good or bad. Most people hated her for that single reason. And to top it all, her parents are not wealthy. Which makes people look at her like a filthy person. I love her for not letting people's word get to her--but at the same time, she's a bad influence sort of.

"Hehe, pastor daughter wan yarn too oo." (Hehe, pastor's daughter wants to talk too.) All these while, I glance to the front elevated platform of the wide laboratory, where corper Dan is standing, looking at the scene amusedly.

What?

Isn't he supposed to yell and punish us?

Isoken twirls her purple coloured braid on her pinky finger and stands akimbo, chuckling to herself. Against my own will, I become part of the spectators that wants to watch the scene unfold. What? Don't blame me. I want to know what will happen next.

"You know what? I am a pastor's daughter. Fine. And I am not lying about that fact right? But you mumu, will boast to everyone that you are very great in bed whereas your dick is smaller than my pinky finger."

Ouuuuu!

Okay, I bet I am not the only one who exclaimed like that. Most people started snickering around the corners of the lab. The atmosphere suddenly becomes heated and even the air-conditioners, literally fails to cool the air. Corper Dan did not even make a single move to stop them. The look on Jaramilo's face is so priceless. Like I wish I can take a picture of it. He quickly recovers from his momentary shock, as he smirks.

"Whoa, just look at this. A hoe defending herself. Are you not ashamed that you're gonna crumble your father's reputation? A highly respected man of God for that matter." He finishes with a wink.

The whole laboratory becomes stiff with silence. No word. No conversation. No laughter. No snorts. No awwws. No pin drop at all. And I'm so scared that all this is my fault. I should have just listened to corper Dan when he was teaching. I'm even more disturbed at the fact that Isoken is smiling althrough.

"Oh and to top it all, you are defending the girl who attempted suicide yesterday. Like who does that?" At his statement, the whole student body in the lab, roars into fits of murmur. I suddenly wish the ground can just swallow me. My vision blurs and all I can see, is red. Before I can take my time to understand anything, Isoken punches Jaramilo square on the face. The fine face that he uses to deceive girls. Gasps are being heard from around us and I'm sure I gasped too. Trust me, that is when corper Dan decides to intervene.

Could have as well down that since.

"Enough both of you. Wait for me at the Science-A staffroom by the close of this class." His voice resonates. The fact that Isoken is still smiling, and Jaramilo is still smirking upon all the harsh words that they exchanged to each other, is still keeping me in a daze. Like I'm missing out on something.

I don't even know if I would be able to concentrate in class again. I feel disoriented. Isoken gives me an assurance nod and passes me a paper before she takes her seat again. I furrow my brows in confusion and quickly wait for corper Dan to scribble on the white marker board before I gently pry the letter open.

I've got your back b. Don't worry.

Those words. Just seven words that successfully assured me till the end of our chemistry class. I am not fully happy because of yesterday events and how I practically asked for a break in my friendship with Kiki and the boys-but at least this will make do.

The class ends in a not so good note. But I coped. I've always coped with bullying and gossips about me. I'm even surprised that throughout the lesson, I did not glance at Kiki and the rest. I know if by any chance I look at them, I would break my resolve on what Derek made me do--and I cannot afford to risk the plan.

Packing my practical note and labcoat while draping my ooze-blood blazer over my shoulders, I skip out of class before anybody can confront me. Call me a coward but I don't want to answer my friends questioning gaze and the inquisitive students who wants to know how I drowned. Seconds from entering my class, a hand jerks me with force from the class entrance and pushes me to an abandoned classroom by the side.

"We need to talk."

Such a simple statement from the least person I expected to confront me.

Oh, come on!

You've got to be kidding me!

~A/N~

Hehe an update that came late. I'm so sorry for keeping you all waiting hope I'm forgiven?

How was this chapter? Any thoughts?

I've been so busy as of late like a lot of responsibilities on my shoulders but I am glad I'm here.

And yelssss! Read my other collaborators books! If you want to see my characters come alive in another book, yes they are there live😭🙌

👉14 days by vilalove09

👉B.R.O.K.E.N by claudia-143

👉Those little things by lovetori_xo

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-Jasmine ©️