JARED

Seconds went by and she didn't go. What's really wrong with this girl? Kiisha would be here any minute from now because we were going to my dad's company to collect the conical flasks and I didn't want her to meet Sharon, she would surely spoil my plans.

"Sharon, you have to go, I need to go see my dad," I said in a convincing manner, she closed my photo album and jumped down my bed.

"Well, my classmates too are coming over to my place, so I need to go too," she replied with a smile.

I smiled and fist bumped the air when she turned to pick up her phone from the bed.

"Won't you see me off?" she questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"I will," well that's the least I could do.

"Let's go," she said as she placed her hand on my shoulder.

We walked out of the house with her hand draped over my shoulder. Her house was down the estate. As soon as we got out of the gate, someone bumped into us.

"Are you blind?" Sharon shouted. The person raised up her head in annoyance and it turned out to be Kiisha. Oh my goodness.

I didn't quickly recognize her because she was in a white crop top and black jeggings, I'd never seen Kiisha in trousers and I must say she looks nice in the jeggings.

She looked at Sharon's hand on my shoulder and scoffed before turning to Sharon. I knew trouble was brewing.

"Who is the blind one here? It's as clear as crystal that you're the blind one and you're not only blind but foolish to ask such a stupid question, how can someone be this senseless as a stone?"

Oh oh, Sharon dropped her hand from my shoulder and clapped.

"You have a big ego to talk to me like that, who do you think you are? You're nothing but an hungry buffalo"

"I can't blame you but the stupidity that is your twin sister, you myopic gullible nuisance," Kiisha retorted as
rolled her eyes and moved closer, she got in between the two of us by pushing Sharon away and entering the gate.

"Who the hell is she?" Sharon yelled when she finally got up from where Kiisha had pushed her.

"She's my friend"

She shook her head, "I don't know you keep a crazy person as a friend"

"She isn't crazy," I deadpanned.

"Then what is she? I can't believe you're siding that brain sick idiot over me your girlfriend," she shook her head dramatically.

"Don't you ever call her a brain sick idiot again and point of correction you aren't my girlfriend, I broke up with you," I snapped in an attempt to keep my cool. She was already getting on my nerves.

"I'm still your girlfriend and there's nothing any one can do about it, not even that ugly maniac you call your friend," she snarled in fury.

My anger got incensed and I grabbed her hand, "If you ever say anything ill about her again, you'll get it from me, now get the hell out of my sight," I let go of her arm angrily and turned to enter the gate.

"I'll show the two of you," she snapped her fingers and hissed while I got into the house irately.

I walked into the living room, saw Kiisha seated on one of the couch pressing her phone, she looked up at me, hissed and turned back to her phone.

"Riff," I called and moved closer to her.

She raised her head from the phone, glared at me and turned back to the phone.

"Aanuoluwakiisha," I called with a lingering smile.

"What?" she wrinkled her nose and pouted.

I squatted in front of her and placed my hands on her laps but she pushed it away.

"See, I'm sorry about Sharon"

She rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"So the bitch's name is Sharon, I never knew people that constitute nuisance around the estate are your girlfriends"

What? How did she conclude that she was my girlfriend, she could be my friend.

"She isn't my girlfriend oo," I pointed out.

She cackled and dropped her phone on her laps.

"You don't have to deny it, I know that's how you go about dating girls so it isn't new to me, I don't care if she's one of your numerous girlfriends or not," she spat.

Oh gosh! Kiiti must have told her about me.

"See, Aanuoluwakiisha, she isn't my girlfriend and I stopped being a player when I met you"

She grinned without an humour and clapped.

"I don't give a damn"

"But you care," she raised an eyebrow and wagged her finger at me.

"You're wrong, I don't care, you are just my friend or even my enemy gan"

I got to my feet and smiled.

"You don't have to deny it, I know I'm not just a friend to you, you feel something for me"

Her eyes went wide before it reduced.

"Yes, I feel hatred for you," she thundered and stood up angrily and walked towards the door but I grabbed her and hugged her.

She pushed me away and glared daggers at me.

"Ri....," I bit off the rest of the words when I saw the fierce look she gave me.

"Just shut up, are we still going to your dad's place or not?" she sneered .

"We are, let me just take my phone upstairs," I said and left for my room with different thoughts debating furiously in my head.

I got back to see her still standing while pressing her phone furiously.

"Let's go," I said.

She didn't respond but walked out of the house.

I called my driver and he drove us out of the house to HADA pharmaceutical company in awkward and deafening silence.

"Una dey fight?" the driver joked after noticing the tension in the car.

"No, we aren't," I responded and glanced at Kiisha who was still pressing her phone. She didn't look at me and I felt hurt, her silence was killing me.

"But you no talk na," the driver said and Kiisha looked up this time.

"Please stop being a pokenose and drive properly," she said in a gentle tone that you'll first believe she was saying something nice to the driver. The driver smiled faintly and kept his mouth shut.

"Aanuoluwakiisha," I called as I grabbed the phone from her, she glowered at me and stretched forth her palm for her phone.

I didn't succumb but dropped the phone by my side.

"Give me my phone!," she barked and I almost got scared.

"Aanuoluwakiisha, you don't look good whenever you're angry"

"It's none of your concern," she grunted and moved closer to search for her phone. She searched around me and I held up her hands and looked into her eyes.

She looked away and tried withdrawing her hand but my grip was tight.

"Let go of me," she roared with her eyes blazing coal of fire. I'm currently burning alive.

"Until you smile"

She shook her head and drew in a deep and gusty breath.

She smiled widely without humour.

"You aren't smiling but stretching your lips," I pointed out.

Laugh gurgled out of her mouth as she threw her head backwards and for a second I thought she was insane.

"I didn't smile now but laughed so give me my phone," she demanded as she tried to get away from my grip.

"It isn't sincere, you're still angry"

She rolled her eyes before her lips curved into an amused smile as she gave me a puppy eye and in a second I let go of her hand and pointed her phone at her.

"I never knew you were half-witted," she mocked and unlocked her phone.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah"

I turned her face to me.

"Are you still angry?" I asked calmly.

She shook her head and smiled, this time it was a real and genuine smile.

"I'm not angry, it's your life so you're free to do it the way you like"

I opened my mouth to talk but the driver beat me to it as he announced we were already in front of dad's office.

Going in there felt somehow surreal to me, it had been long since I walked in there and even his stores. Kiisha and I walked into the three storey building that was painted white.

We got to the entrance of his office few minutes later but his secretary told me he was with someone and that we should wait a bit.

We sat at the reception.

"Your dad's place is nice," Kiisha commented, obviously she was no longer angry.

"Thanks"

"Is this the only company?" she inquired as she dropped her phone on her laps.

"Yeah, but he has stores around the country"

She beamed with smiles, "That's nice, so you must know a lot about drugs and it's components, no wonder you had a perfect score in chemistry"

I shook my head, "Not really, it's been long since I've been to my dad's workplace"

She cast an amused look at me, "Really? You don't even know anything, if he's my dad, I won't be leaving this place"

I smiled in amusement before looking up and I met the biggest shock of my life. Kiisha noticed and traced my gaze.

There was my dad straddling Miss Edna and Kissing her like his life depended on it. Fuck! No wonder he and mum had been at logger heads lately, when I found out in school, I thought I was probably mistaken but now that it was happening in front of me, I was motionless with fury written all over me.

"Kiisha, Jared," Miss Edna called with a smile, she was the first to notice our presence.

My dad's eyes went wide and appalled as his mouth quivered.

"Dad, good afternoon, Miss. Edna, afternoon," I greeted with a wicked smile.

I noticed the look dad gave me and it showed a stab of fear in his heart. Miss Edna turned to Dad with an amusing smile and astonishment.

"Afternoon Mr. Bammy and Miss Edna," Kiisha greeted and I smiled.

"Hi, Jared, he's your dad?" she asked while looking  from me to dad who looked away. I will surely burst his bubble today.

"Yeah, he's my dad and I have an elder sister in her final year," I explained and dad gave me a warning look.

"And his mum which is Mr. Bammy's wife is the renowned Cynthia Bamigboye," Kiisha added and I dashed her a cool smile which she returned.

"You mean that actress?" Miss Edna asked as she glared daggers at dad who was now sweating profusely under the full A.C.

"Yes, that's my ever beautiful mom, seeing you kiss my dad is one thing my mum mustn't know but I guess it's a friendly kiss"

"No, it isn't, can't you see it's an intimate kiss, there's more to it, remember she saved your dad's number as 'My love'?" Kiisha asked. Wow, I love this girl, she knows the answer to everything. I smiled triumphantly as Miss Edna let go of dad's hand and glared at him with her eyes burning.

"Bammy, you have to explain what these guys are saying here?" she demanded.

"Emm ..," Dad stuttered without having any word to say as he glowered at Kiisha and I who gave him a taunting smile.

He deserves it, he can't just be cheating on my lovely mother with our Chemistry teacher who was in search of a husband.

"But you told me your wife was dead and your kids are abroad," she barked as she threw her bag at him.

Ehn, my own mum dead? God forbid, I glared at my dad who quickly turned to Miss Edna.

"Uhm ..,"

"Just shut up!," she picked her bag, pushed him out of the way and stomped out.

Kiisha and I exchanged looks with mocking smiles dancing on our lips. Dad glowered at us before giving his secretary a stern look and walking back into his office.

"Are you okay?" Kiisha asked with concern laced in her voice.

I nodded trying to assure myself I was okay. I somehow felt relieved with Kiisha helping me.

"Don't stress yourself over it and you don't have to tell your mom about it," she advised and I smiled, so this girl has small sense sha.

"I won't," I assured.

"So how are we getting the conical flasks now?" she asked.

That's even true, I've forgotten about it.

"Well, I think we'll just go to the laboratory downstairs," I said and headed towards the stairs.

"But can we collect it without his permission?" she questioned as we descended the stairs.

"Everyone knows me to be his son and the respect is there, so I'll collect it without his permission"

"Eeeh, rich boy, your head will be swelling now oo," she teased with a beautiful smile and I smiled back.

When we got back with the conical flasks, no one was around, mum had travelled to Lagos to shoot a movie and won't be back until Friday.

"Lyra is calling," Kiisha announced and I smiled.

We sat on the two seater before Kiisha picked up the call, turns out it was a video call.

"Hey," Lyra greeted with a smile.

"Hi," Kiisha responded.

"Wait, is that not Jared?" she asked as she squinted her eyes and I smiled.

"Your one and only Jared," I said and Kiisha glanced at me with a smile.

"So you guys are together, be careful ooo, I'm watching you," she joked and we smiled.

"So how have you been?" Kiisha asked.

"Fine as always, what of you and your sisters?"

Lyra was the only one who believed Kiisha, Kiiti and Kiishi were triplets, even though they told her they were only best of friends she didn't buy the idea but believed they were siblings somehow.

"They're good"

They talked for some minutes before the call ended, minutes later others arrived.

Idiat and Yimika were the first to arrive, few minutes later, Demolu and Joshua walked in.

Seeing them made me remember we were to study, I'd almost forgotten. We were to go to everyone's place to study, it had been Kiisha's place yesterday and it was my turn today.

"Hmm, so you guys are even together," Demolu teased and Kiisha eyed him.

"Abii oo, and you guys live beside each other, sha don't do something bad," Joshua added and I gave him a puck in the shoulder.

"Please, me I'm very hungry, let's eat before we start to study jare," Yimika said. He was always hungry.

"You can swallow us, hungry lion" Kiisha joked.

"Oh, I can," he let go of Idiat and moved closer to us but the eyes Kiisha gave him sent him scurrying back to Idiat.

"So Jared, call your cook to prepare something for us," Demolu said as he sat on a sofa while Idiat and Yimika walked over to the love seat.

"We don't have a cook," I responded and they all gave me this 'you can't be serious' look.

"Yeah, Chichi is just our house help and not a cook"

"So who will cook for us because am seriously famished now and can drop dead now," Yimika joked.

I glanced at Kiisha and smiled sheepishly.

"Kiisha can cook for us and Idiat can join her," I said.

"You can't be serious," Kiisha gave me a serious look and I smiled.

"Okay then, what will you guys eat?" Idiat asked and Kiisha frowned at her.

"We are not cooking anything," Kiisha deadpanned.

"Aanuoluwakiisha, just cook it nau," I whined.

"Cook nau," Joshua added before the other guys turned it to a song.

Kiisha pouted and held out her palm in a bid to stop their stupid song.

"Okay, what will you eat?" she asked.

"Eba and egusi," Joshua said and Kiisha threw him a scowl.

"Sensible people talk jare," she said.

After much deliberation, we all agreed on Rice and beans with egg stew.