ALEX'S POV.

I barely closed my eyes to sleep and I know it was all over my face. My portable alarm clock rang, I switched it off aggressively and it spoilt, I pulled the blanket away from my body and stood up.
As usual, I walked into the bathroom to brush my teeth. Seeing myself in the mirror I was filled with so much anger, I was angry at myself, my life, I was frustrated. I know I'm not much of a pretender but how do I face them, I know the truth now right? How do I go about this?
I summoned courage and walked towards the kitchen, I saw my mum or my foster mum or a stranger. She was slicing the carrots and when she saw me, she smiled, walked towards me to hug me.

"See my baby boy" she smiled and I forced a smile.

"Good morning mum" I had to pretend like it was all good.

"Good morning my dear, your Dad had an urgent appointment this morning; he had to travel." She told me.

"Oh, I want to ask a question." I looked curious.

"Go ahead son" she affirmed.

"I've been meaning to ask, what is my dad's occupation? Like what does he do for a living? Is he a doctor? Tell me." I said.

"Well, your father is a businessman. He's into importing and selling cars, he owns a company" she said.

"Oh, OK. I'll be visiting a friend today, I'm beginning to get bored" I told her.

"You are? This is like the first day of your holiday and you're already bored? So soon?" She smiled.

"I am" I added.

"OK OK. When do you intend to go? " she asked.

"After breakfast" I took a glass of water and I drank it all in one gulp. I was so tensed.

"Are you OK?" She asked and my heart banged. Has she suspected anything?

"I'm fine" I replied.
"I'll just go have my bath" I added.

"You should" She smiled.
She disgusts me, I should have known she isn't my biological mum and my Dad; he was quite obvious, I was just too foolish to discover.
I bounced on my bed with my face buried on it, I sat up and covered my eyes with my hands. I was restless, I was curious, my life is just a lie! A big lie.
I had a long shower. I do this whenever I'm sad and it helps. I wore a white shirt with my blue jean trouser.

I went to the kitchen. she prepared fried rice and roasted chicken, I didn't eat from it.
She wasn't in the kitchen so I guessed she was in her room. I knocked and she opened the door.
"I'll be on my way now, I should be home before three pm. I'll be around the neighborhood though; in case, just call me on my phone." I faked a smile.

"OK son, I love you" she hugged me.

"Sure you do" I smiled.

*****************************************

I have to see Rose today. Regardless, I need to apologize.
She's the only real person in my life right now. I knocked and I wasn't getting any response, isn't she home? I was about to leave when she opened the door.
"Alex?" She was surprised.

"Rose," I said almost crying but I couldn't embarrass myself in her presence but I knew my eyes were red and ready to pour.
She hugged me very tight, that was like the first and longest hug we've ever had.
"Okay, I think that's enough now," I said I was getting strangled.

"I'm sorry. I was being too emotional." She smiled.

"I know, so may I come in?" I was getting tired and I needed to sit.

"Sure," she said.

"Your Aunty? She's not home?" I had to ask before I became relaxed, I wouldn't want her to start having bad impressions of me.

"She got arrested," she said handing me a glass of water.

"Arrested? Why? How?" I was confused.

"She killed her husband, I mean her ex-husband. Peanuts?" She offered.

"No, I'm good. So you mean she got arrested? Do they have clear evidence against her?" I asked.

"Yeah, but I didn't know who killed who, until the policemen came to arrest her alongside a man showing us how she was about to dump him in the bush. She got arrested yesterday." She said.

"So you stayed in this house alone overnight? Big girl" I teased.

ROSE'S POV.

It was such a relief to have Alex around.
"I stayed overnight all by myself. Is there any big deal in that" I smiled.

"So you decided to visit me or you were just passing by?" I picked up the remote and sat beside him.

"It's about what you told me the last time we talked." He looked very serious.

"Oh, about that? It's fine; it's just a mere coincidence." Actually, I knew it wasn't but the fact that Sister Tayo has been detained and might be sentenced to death gave me assurance that there's no need to take what I saw to the next level, It's just disappointing that I found it in Alex's house.

"No, it's not fine. Rose I've been living a lie, I found the truth of my life." He said looking very sad like he was about to cry. I've never seen a boy cry before, maybe this would be the first.

"What truth?" I asked and moved closer to him.

"They killed your parents and to crown it all they are not my biological parents" He looked away to hide his face.

"What? They killed my parents?" My eyes darted.

"Yeah, I think they are hired assassins. I heard them talk about her sister and I guess that should be your aunt, maybe your aunty sent them. To sum it all they're planning to get rid of me after having me sign a particular document. Can you imagine, waking up one morning to realize that your parents are not who you think they are! This is unbelievable" He buried his face in his hands.

"So what do you intend we do?" I asked.

"Right now, I'm confused. Like who are my biological parents? Or did I fall from heaven? I'm afraid to go back to that house." He looked worried.

" Just call the police to arrest them that you have proof against them," I said.

"What proof? I don't have any proof I didn't record what they said" He said.

"Oh, that's true. God will lead us through." I couldn't find better words to say but I'm sure we'll pull through.

"OK, won't you visit your aunty? I mean, it's not good for you to leave her all by herself" He added.

"I'll go check up on her, the station is not really far," I told him.

"Oh, OK"

"Are you hungry?" I asked.

"I'm famished" He smiled.

"Let me get you something."

"Thanks"
I offered him rice and stew, he ate while I watched TV.
"Thanks" He smiled.

"You're welcome." He sat beside me and we watched TV, I was getting bored and sleepy. I then laid my head on the couch.

"You won't be comfortable sleeping that way" He smiled.

"I'm not feeling sleepy, we must finish this movie" I lied.

"OK." He took the couch pillow, put it on his lap, and pulled me to lay my head-on.

"You really don't have to" I yawned.

"Even though I know you barely slept overnight" He grinned.

ALEX'S POV.
She looked more beautiful while I watched her sleep, I couldn't have been more grateful to have met her.
A FEW HOURS LATER.
By now my parents must have been wondering when I'll be back, I don't think I'll be able to go back there.
"I have to go to Rose," I told her. She had already woken up but her face shows she was still feeling sleepy.
"Aww, stay a bit longer till I go visit my Aunt." She pleaded.

"Aww, stay a bit longer blah blah blah" I mimicked and we both laughed. " Staying is not the issue right now Rose, I held her hands. The issue right now is, how do we intend to go about all these mysteries? How do we overcome this? We're way too young for all these problems, I heard when they're talked about wasting me or something. Rose, I don't feel safe anymore " I said. Facing her; she looked at me and finally replied.

"Alex? I have an idea!" She said excitedly.

"You do?" I asked.

"Yes I do, actually this idea was how Sister Tayo and I found out about her husband. It was really funny" She smiled.

"Tell me about it," I said.

"Ok, it all started when...

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