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What did you give me
To make my heart bleed out of my chest

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April stared at the staggering individual who was suppose to be a father figure performing his fatherly duties reek of alcohol. He was standing in the interior of her pretty cool air conditioned room which had a mix of pink and white hue gracing every part of the room including the closets, walls, large mirror frame, reading table —everything

Her queen sized bed dressed in white sheets which was covered in fuzzy pink blanket was decorated with large and some small cute teddy bears which she bought most times and other times got as gifts from fans. The scent of jasmine gave the room a pleasent aura which had now been replaced with the thick irritating smell of hard liquor which had quickly dissipated the nice air into extinction causing the atmosphere seem like she was going to suffocate anytime soon due to fear and anxiety. Standing in the same room with a drunk as her father caused  fear to cripple her bones

She was always anxious because she never knew what could happen in seconds just by being with him looking dead drunk. She swallowed hard, curling her toes on her flip flops

"Mum said you needed to see me because you wanted to apologize " she spoke up trying to keep her tone devoid of  emotions

He gulped a mouthful of alcohol which he had clunged to himself,  belching out aloud in a disgusting manner which made April wince before he smiled showing off his yellow tooth

"You refused to see me" he slurred eyeing her warily. His statement sounded like a question

"I was busy. Having to work and school " she said moving away from the side of the bed were she stood to the closet

He laughed. A laughter that sounded like a cackling chicken. April winced in displeasure. Where was the woman who told her to give her 'dad' a chance stating he was sorry? How the hell did he even get inside here when she specifically made it clear to everyone who worked for her not to allow him to step a foot close to her

She had once wanted  to file a restraining order against her dad but her mother had tearfully and skillfully had her guilt-tripped on the basis of he was still her father and as a matter of fact, if the paps found out about their family, it'd ruin everything her fame considering that April was still an upcoming celebrity then.

Putting all this in consideration, April decided to compromise. She wasn't going to put up a restraining order against her father but on the condition that Mrs Waje(her mum and acting manager) would never let him come near her. Such a compromise that she wouldn't have done especially after hearing her mum trying to use the same technique  to make her feel pitiful and forgiving towards the man who was her dad but never treated her like his daughter

"Working and schooling? "The man scoffed eyeing her every move. Surely his daughter had grown some wits. Spelling out how much she thinks talking to him is a waste of time in such a sly manner

"Bravo!" He exclaimed accompanying it with a mock kind of clap  "what an intelligent way to tell me you've grown livers to screw me over since you're independent. Huh?!" He jeered

April sighed.  A long tired sigh. "Father please leave"  her tone held no inclination that she was pleading.

He curved his lips into a sardonic smile, sauntering closer into the room. "How do you live each day thinking you've gotten all you wanted after destroying my life.huh?"

"What do you want from me?" She shot back at him in burgeoning annonyance. 

"Why do you always come around with pity stories about you being sorry yet you try to intimidate me and scorn me for nothing…" April was letting out her anger knowing that whatever she said deflated his already beaten up ego. But she needed to let it out and this was the only way she knew how to

The fear which she had felt earlier slowly morphed into a feeling of disgust. Hate. Irritation. Yet anxiety. She took in his huge body stature —some people thought she looked more like her dad in terms of body build- she was once the little fat kid save for the fact that she wasn't quite as tall as her father. And that was when her mom had come into the picture, taking it upon herself to, in her words; mould her daughter into the perfect human. This, she had considered after Mrs Waje had seen her daughter do gymnastics in  junior high

In facial looks, she had gotten all that from her mother. It was alot. Alot had gone wrong with her family and it started the day she took the big step into the world of glitz and glamour. Now, she was looking at the man walking slowly toward her menacingly. It was only a matter of time before he flung his liquor at her cheeks in irritation.

Just a matter of time as always

"I'm really not the cause of your drunken habits and it's high time you understood you're just been insecure about the family you have. Do you ever do a rethink about your life? About us? About me?!  Holding grudges against me would never help the pathetic life you're drowning in."

And it happened

The ear piercing sound of the bottle shattering into broken pieces hit the pristined floors, splattering on it colorless liquor on the  walls of the well designed room  which was a mix hue of pink and white. She slowly raised her eyes to meet with the staggering man eyeing her in disdain.

He could barely stand straight. His whole body visibly shook as he struggled to keep his stance. He smiled at the girl claded in a simple orange joggers and white tee. Her hair was packed in the typical Ariana Grande's ponytail. An epitome of beauty as everyone did say except for him who had that satisfied look as he watched her wipe blood from the small cut on her face. It was gratifying watching her shiver visibly in fear. Her eyes brimmed with tears as they met his in sadness and slowly there was a teardrop

She was crying.

He felt his smile waver abit. He hated when she cried yet he couldn't help blaming her for causing her to cry. She had provoked him and this was what she got afterall she was the sole reason why he had sunk deep into alcoholism and the cause of why he had flung the bottle at her…he gulped, his eyes softened as he walked cautiously to her who moved backwards in agitation

"I'm sorry—April, I…I didn't mean to" he gulped again, exhaling deeply, reaching out to her,

She flinched "please leave" her voice was quiet. So quiet that you'd almost think it was the wind whispering to you. She heard him sigh again

"I'm really sorry…" Just then, a familiar voice interrupted

"Why don't you let your dad stay over for dinner?" Her mother asked, darting her eyes around the room, noticing the broken glass on the floor, the small cut on April's face, her daughter's horrendous stare at her to her husband with the sullen  look.

"No!! " April snapped. Was she joking right now?  What in the world was wrong with her mum right now?

"Watch your tone young lady—he's your father" her mum said sternly

"It's okay honey! Maybe next time" Her dad cut in, a soft smile rested on his face. He was looking at her mum with sort of  sober expression.  Not the man who smiled in self-satisfaction when he flung his bottle at her. Not the man who glared at her coldly. Infact, his sobered up expression looked like one of those parents who wouldn't want to force their kids home yet using soft tones to draw them home

"Really?! " she scoffed sarcastically " just when I was hoping never to see you again"

"APRIL!!!! " her mother had yelled right at her which only made her anger accelerate.

"Yes what?! " she snapped already feeling her eyes brim with tears. This was one thing she disliked about herself,  crying when she was about to burst out of anger. It made her feel weak yet she couldn't stop the tears from falling down freely

Her father shifted uncomfortably, sighed,  giving Mrs Waje a hopeful glance "I'll just come back some other time then— I'm sorry for.."

Her mum gave him an apologetic smile, expertly avoiding his eyes "i know…it's okay" she said, watching him show himself out of the house before averting her gaze to her daughter

Shit was about to really hit the fan

>>>>>>>

It was a moment of truth as some would like to call it. Maybe even a time to snap out  from her daydreams and fantasies whilst getting a reality check.

She opened her eyes slowly, accustoming her eyes with the quite dark room as she glanced at the her phone which lay beside her on the couch. 

It was 6pm.

6pm and here she was, all tucked in a fuzzy blanket. There was hardly a sound made anywhere except for the occasional sound of pots and spoons clicking together as the smell of jollof rice wafted through her nostrils.

She switched the bedside lamp on, rubbing her sleepy eyes open, looking over her environment. The room seemed wholly different. As usual it was neat, various art works and framed photographs hung neatly on the wall.  There was a wide glassy window facing the sky which was slowly getting moon-ridden in darkness. A family picture stood at the top of the beside drawer

And then, realisation dawned on her.

This was Toby's room. She quickly rolled out from the bed, feeling a sharp pain jolt through her. She groaned, holding her head just when the door flew open with Toby's mum carrying with her a plate of food, water and what looked like aspirin

Mrs Jaytee smiled at her warmly "take this drug first before we begin talking about you" she said, illuminating the room with the lights which she had just switched on

Sarah quietly took the drugs, gulping it down with the water before laying back on the bed with her back propped on the pillow

"I know your lasagna with a touchdown of chopped veggie salad and with feta and herbs is better than my poor jollof rice but still , i took my time making this so you have to eat"

Sarah rounded her lips into an 'o' shape..it was all a dream afterall. There was a ghost  sardonic smile on her her face as she took a spoonful of the food.

It was delicious. Really…but she couldn't decipher the reason behind toby's mum peering at her like a wife who just gave cooked for her husband for the first time

"Is it good?" His mum finally asked causing her to smile

"It's better than mine"

Mrs Jaytee laughed "at least I'm getting somewhere " she said causing Sarah to give her a knowing look

"C'mon you're acting like you're a bad cook when your far opposite"

"I need to do better when I'm with a chef too" his mum joked causing the both of them to laugh.when the laugh had subsided his mum sighed

"I really should start hiding my alcohols though…did you two have to drink so much?"  She huffed, a small frown marred on her face

"I'm sorry" Sarah pouted putting her best puppy-look as she stared back at Mrs Jaytee innocently. She remembered stopping over at Toby's house and usual, changing into one of his clothes before he announced he was going to be out. After some hours, he came back abit exhausted when she suggested they both play a game which happens to be the person who get drunk fast gets to grant the other a wish

Some game which she lost considering that he was the one who tucked her to bed.

"yeah right. Your cute eyes wouldn't work on me though. Seriously when I was younger, I barely tasted alcohol till I was 21" his mum said

Sarah gasped "for real? Twenty one?! That's unbelievable

His mum shrugged, eyeing her warily "it's a legal age yunno? "

Sarah grinned "I know…I was trying not to feel worse than I already am " she said making them both laugh at her tatic

"How about Toby though? "Sarah  asked

"I had to give him an earful so next time he would ignore alcohol considering he's health keeps deteriorating" 

Her eyebrows piqued in intrest "what's that…suppose to mean?"

His mum flashed her a smile— the kind of smile that seemed to hide alot "he just had a slight headache and it got me all worried"

Sarah nodded "okay..but he'll be okay right?" She sounded so sincerely concerned which she was.

His mum gave her a half smile "he will. By the way, he said he was going out with a friend"

"Friend? Who?"

"I was going to ask you?  He looked alot hopeful today, like he was really looking forward to something "

Sarah rubbed the crook of her neck, taking a few more spoons of rice whilst she wondered what the heck Toby was up to.. he did mention something about Yara and going out..but since she wasn't so sure, it maybe not so much of a good idea to spill it out

"Maybe he..um…really went out with a friend" she replied "he'd never do anything to get you all worked up okay?" She added reassuringly

Mrs Jaytee smiled heartily at her "I know...I trust him and well, I was just being curious"
"It's natural"

"And you? What's going on with you?" His mum asked, scrutinizing her face which she tried morphing into a confused one

"What about me?"

His mum sighed, giving her a knowing look "you smiled so much in your sleep and sometimes, rubbed your hands nervously. You good?" She asked in genuine concern

Sarah chuckled dryly, running her hands through her hair before muttering "I really must have gone crazy then"

"Tell me about it" apparently Mrs Jaytee heard her

She glanced up at Toby's mum, her black eyes seemed so lost. So cheerless as she took a deel inhalation

"Did you ever like someone so much to the point of you think you're starting to get obsessed with them?" She asked sadly

Mrs Jaytee had her one of her legs folded while the other remained on the floor. A small smile tugged at her lips

"Well…yes! "

"You were still in high school? "

"Nope. College. My dad wouldn't let me go out with guys while I was still in high school then.." she mused "so I liked this guy the first day I met him in college, it was love at first sight and girl!! I was smitten " she said with her smile getting wider as she recalled

"Back then, I always fantasized about how we'll get married to each other, have alot of kids and grow old together. I'd stalk him in every way possible, try get him to notice me and all. I was good with designing my outfits so I'd put alot of extra energy in my appearance. Comparing myself with every other girl i saw him talk to. Then, he was an athlete so i joinedthe cheerleaders just so o could see his face infact, my whole life was just all about him then someday, he asked me out saying that he liked me and all…dammit I was so super excited."

"Was it Toby's dad?" Sarah had to ask

His mum looked at her incredulously still smiling "it wouldn't have been a waste of time if it was Toby's dad then"

" it was?!" Sarah asked tad suprised

"Yea...a total waste of time on a guy who never for once felt the same way for me.  We went out on dates, had fun and all and after a week i found that he was dating some college bimbo"

"That's heartbreaking even though you're smiling like it was nothing"  Sarah pointed out. It wasn't everyone who'd share stories of being hopeless romantics. This was something she could relate with even though she still wasn't over her one sided crush yet hearing Mrs Jaytee talk about hers like it was some silly childish act  actually made her feel better

His mum grinned playfully rolling her eyes at her "Dude liked the girl alot. And I slowly realised that no matter what, we both would never work out..and well, it was hard to accept that fact. Took me quite a lot of time but I'm glad I finally did " she replied with a light shrug

"That's his loss though. You're amazing"  Sarah said looking up at her in admiration as Toby's mum grinned, flipping her hair with sass

"I know right. And you are too and I hope whoever the guy is,  sees that you are an amazing person before it becomes his loss" she replied genuinely causing Sarah to beam at her, she threw her arms around her in a hug..Mrs Jaytee was just too golden a soul and Toby—he was so lucky to have her as his mum.

"How did you meet Toby's dad then? " Sarah asked still embracing her.

"It's a long story which I'll tell some other time" his mum replied patting her back affectionately

Toby was really lucky to have her as his mum and well, she too was really lucky to know her.

  > >>>>>

Don't we all just love Toby's mum. ❤❤❤

If you guessed Sarah's date with George was a dream,  come and take sweet 🍬 🍬 😁 🏃 🏃 🏃 🏃

and April 😭😭😭😭😭 💔 💔  she's a complicated character which we are yet to learn. We really don't know half a thing about her sef 😪

Anyway, please remember to drop your comments and vote too. We reached over 2k reads and the vote is sadly low😭 please let's help each other biko.

I'm tired. Goodnight and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to let me know too

See  you when I see you 💋

Ujurita xoxo
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