"What the actual fuck?!" i screeched as soon as Martins left.

"And hello to you too cousin, it is so lovely to see you again after months of being apart" he muttered sarcastically causing me to turn around and give him a hot glare.

He raise his hands up in surrender, his left wrist which always has a wrist watch on was empty, one of the numerous sign of his lovely encounter with the ghetto boys.

"Are you crazy?! You didn't tell me you were coming! Only God knows what would have happened if Martins hadn't showed up on time!"

"Relax... Quit screaming, you sound like my mom" he announced looking grossed out causing me to hiss.

My cousin thought it wise to leave the safe corners of his house and venture into the dangerous street of the slums on a quest of paying me a visit.

That boy could be daft a times.

"What you did was stupid and very insane!" i paced in the sitting room. He took a seat on one of the worn out chairs, in a sprawled position looking like he had no worries in the word.

He was mugged by some area boys, they took his wrist watch, phone and other valuable things on him. One of the boys recognized him as a cousin to Marty, had it not been so, he would have been left in his boxers.

"What you did was stupid" I called him out for his stupidity.

He hadn't been to the slums,  although cousins but his mum will rather pull her hair out than allow her only son step a foot into his uncle's house.

"How were you able to leave your house?" i interrogated, my eyes narrowed on his slumped figure.

"I was bored. Mummy travelled and we are on midterm break. I thought of paying you a visit but i guess i am not welcome here" he said, sadness cloaking his face and voice.

"You know you are welcome anytime, don't be stupid. I am just worried because of the time you choose to come. You told your parents right?"

He pouts, his silence gave me my answer.

"Tega Peters!" i called glaring at him.

"What?! If i tell them, my mum won't allow it. And she will make sure my dad doesn't give me the permission"

I huff, feeling stressed up all of a sudden due to the current development. This boy will not kill me for my parents o.

"Have you eaten?"

"That is what you should have asked me before smoldering me with questions" I gave him a look "No i haven't"

"I will get you bread... I can't cook anything like this, you just came to spoil my sleep for me"

I hissed taking the two hundred naira i saw on the stool.

"Can i get beans and-" he stopped at the hot glare i sent his way. "Just bread is fine"

I went to get his bread and before i came back. My mum was back from her shop. I became more annoyed when she showered him with a lot of attention and care which he seems to be bathing in.

I should be the one in his position. I just came back from school for goodness sake. I almost screamed at the two when she told to prepare Martins old bedroom for him.

He is freaking sleeping over!

Just great!

My highlight of the night was when daddy returned from his fishing job. He was so happy to see me and his nephew.

He asked us if we came home together in which i was quick to deny, we attended different school so that was impossible.

I ate dinner with my dad and Tega , telling them about all what was happening in school, leaving out Akeju's bullying and Akorede's sudden friendliness.

I don't think it is a topic i want to discuss with the male members of my family while having dinner. Dinner will turn into a sudden interrogating room.

The next day, after a breakfast of pap and akara and mountainous chores done by yours truly, i stepped out of my house all freshened up.

I was about taking a step out when i felt a presence of someone behind me. I turn to see Tega also dressed up, the ash hoodie he wore yesterday no where to be found leaving him in a black polo shirt and dark distressed jeans with ash sneakers.

"What?"

"What?"

I pursed my lips at his reply to my question.

"You really don't expect me to stay here all alone while you go to God knows where"

"Don't worry. I can handle myself" I stepped out from the veranda but stopped in my tracks when he scoffed.

"Who said i wanted to come with you as a form of protection?" he said following me "I am only coming with you to explore"

Of course....

Not only siblings can be annoying, cousins can also take that title. Last night was like pure torture for me and i actually missed my single comfy bed back in SJC.

I never thought i would say this but i miss my friends and i really wished i had a phone.

Back to yesterday's torturing device. It came in the form of my baby sis. We had to share the same bed. I don't have a problem sharing the same bed with her, she literally begged me that she wanted to sleep beside me and i accepted.

She was a night kicker.

I felt like throwing her out in the middle of the night but i actually kept my cool.

Seeing Tega grinning like a well fed fat cat beside me made me realize some people had a peaceful night.

Tega was a student of a prestigious school like mine. He attended Ivy League Academy, a school for rich famous and well connected students to show off their enormous wealth.

I have heard a lot about that school. It was a self owned, exclusively private school for rich kids. SJC still has some rules and regulations they adhere to but Ivy League, they have no boundaries!

"Why aren't we taking that route?" he pointed to a route which looked ordinary and plain in the eyes but i know the dangers that lurks in those uncompleted buildings if we pass that place.

"That place as a password"

"It does?" he asked in utter amazement.

"Yes. I can't remember it. You see those dark shadows lurking over there?" i point at an alley down the road causing him to nod "they are the omo oni ile, they can smell a new comer fifty meter radius away, and i am sure the reason why they haven't harassed you is due to my presence"

"Wow... " he said looking back at the alley where i saw a figure slowly emerged from the shadows, a joint dangling dangerously on the boy's lip. "Isn't it too early to be smoking marijuana?"

"You can go over to educate him" i teased which made him scrunch up his nose.

I turn around clutching my nylon bag firmly in my hand, Tega hot on my tails.

"So i am safe with you cause you are Martins sister?"

"Sort of "

"You are like a ghetto princess here" he blurts out causing me to give him the stinky eye. "i am serious! Your step brother is like a king among this folks. You need to see the way they were reverencing him when he appeared to save my ass yesterday"

"The ass you foolishly sticked out" I chided. "How much?"

He knew what i was talking about, i was too tired to discuss on his ordeal yesterday so why not mention it on my way to the seamstress.

"They took all my money, my chain and my rings. Those rings actually cost a kidney!" I swallowed my laugh but my shoulders betrayed me causing him to give me a glare "if you laugh"

"I am so sorry... " i teased causing him to scoff.

"Can you believe one of those hoodlums actually carried a POS, like what the fuck?! When did mugging of innocent souls turned into a legal business transaction?"

By then, i couldn't stop the laughter from escaping my lungs. He had it bad. He told me of how they delivered several slaps to his face before pushing, no throwing him around according to his words just because he was proving stubborn.

It seems his impeccable English was driving them nuts as they hit him for that also.

"I calm down when they gave me a hot slap, i was literally seeing stars. I cooperated immediately removing everything they asked from me. They were on the verge of collecting my debit card to transact on their POS when Bro Martins showed up. I had never been so happy to see him "

I laughed at his experience. His story was really something worth laughing about.

"They are also operating on cashless policy" I teased.

"Ha ha... Very funny"

"You should write a book on your experience you know, like a write up... How to survive your first visit to the ghetto: beginners class"

"You are not funny"

"Am serious... Or a crash course on Ghetto 101"

He hissed walking off while i doubled over in laughter. I decided to tease him further .

"Oh my God! That agbero boy is coming towards you!" I screamed perfecting my acting causing him to freeze, looking around wildly in fear.

"Where? "

He stopped looking when he saw me laughing my ass out. Narrowing his eyes at me.

"You are mad"

I burst into another round of laughter.

                      😅💥💢

I bounce the ball in my hand counting from one to ten, from the least to the highest, from the highest to the least number. Something i always do whenever i am nervous or anxious.

I never thought i would be this worked up on this particular matter, we haven't spoken in a while. Not that she had the gadget to communicate with me but it will be nice to know she was alright and she got home safe.

I find it hard to believe she doesn't have a phone. A teenage girl who doesn't have a phone, it is something you rarely see this days.

The disappearing act she did on Theresa got her pissed and she actually transferred her aggression on me. Me!

Like i was the one who told Omotolani to ditch her ride. It was so funny and strange when it was time to go home and i found Theresa running up to me like an angry bull commanding me to produce her missing roommate.

She claimed i took her with me so has to spend more time with her. Under the confused look of my mum, she searched every nook and cranny of the car like she was looking for a pin.

Her madness keeps increasing everyday.

We later discovered she ditched all our rides. And i really don't know why.

Omotolani is really confusing.

I look around the empty clean courtyard. The maids must be inside the house as i saw no one in sight. A good place to ruminate and think about everything.

The sharp ring of my phone cut the quiet atmosphere.

Or not....

I retrieved my phone from the pocket of the shorts am wearing. Looking at the caller ID, i involuntarily rolled my eyes before picking the call.

"Hello-"

"...Conference meeting in thirty minutes..."

She cuts me off not giving me a chance to talk. It was when i heard the monotone beep, that was when i realized she had cut the call. I stared at the screen of my phone in outright confusion.

Was she still mad at me?

Her words flowed into my mind. Conference call?... I groan standing up from the chair i sat on dropping the ball in my left hand before heading inside.

I hear laughter in the house, the familiar raspy voice i recognized even in my sleep was talking with someone who sounds like my brother.

When did he get back?

I hasten my steps towards where i heard their voice. I walked in and immediately, they noticed my presence. He looked up from my younger brother to see me standing by the entrance.

A warm caring smile grew on his face.

"My boy"

I smile before walking up to him then remembering something i always seem to forget, i quickly went down, prostrating flat on the floor. I hear my dad laughter causing the smile on my face to enlarge, i rose up.

It has been something my mother had hammed in my head right from childhood. Be polite and courteous to your elders.

"Good morning sir"

"How are you?..."  he takes a good look at my appearance "You have grown really big"

Of course, trust my dad to comment on my stature. Something he never fails to point out whenever i come home from school everything time.

You are working out? I see you have packed some muscles. You have grown really big...

Mr Adejare Wellington is technically the coolest and best dad in the world. No one can tell me otherwise, he was more like an elder brother to me.

"I am fine sir" he hummed.

"Your brother has been telling a lot of stuff about your school" he points at Irebami who only gave me a devious smirk.

"Oh... Has he?" i frowned.

"Yeah, about one particular girl you have been following around like a lost puppy" his voice full of tease and questions.

"Ire!" I screamed throwing him a glare but he only gave me an innocent look. I refused to look at my dad knowing i would cower under his gaze.

"What na? It is the truth." turning to my dad with that his shinning eyes as he grabs him by his large hand "he follows her everywhere, the funny thing is she is way out of his league"

I gaped at him, my dad's boisterous laughter made me snap out of it.

"If i sound you!" I raise my hand in a bid knock that his coconut head but my dad stops the altercation from happening.

"Hey hey! Have i not warned you not to hit your brother?" his voice hard giving me a look of disapproval.

"But he-"

"He is just a child Okiki"  he commented.

I gave him a look, he only gave me a devilish smile but to others it looks like an innocent one.

A child?... This one?

"So how is school?" he asked still holding onto Irebami.

"Good. We had-" then it hit me. Conference call with Theresa. "Shit!" my father only raised an eyebrow at my sudden outburst "i mean shhhhh" i said, he only chuckled shaking his head.

"No worries. Your mum is not here so your neck is safe. What seems to be the problem?"

"I just remembered i have a conference call with my friends in like" checking my wrist watch "shit! I got to go dad" I turn around quickly, jogging towards the stairs.

I rush up the stairs, then stop. I turn to look at Irebami who had a good view of me while the white pillar was blocking me of my dad's view.

As if sensing my eyes on him, he looked up at me with a questioning stare. I raised my hand to my neck, making a slow horizontal move on my neck then pointed at him.

His eyes widens like saucers.  He shook dad's hand again but i was long gone before he could notice anything.

I grabbed my laptop as soon as i step into my room, i was right on time for the damn conference call. Heaven forbids i miss the video call, Theresa will have my hide.

-------

I kept on staring at the thing on her face as she talks through the laptop screen, i shift my gaze to Evans who only gave me a shake of his head.

A sign for me not to say a word. I almost passed out when we started the video call. She just popped on my screen with that hideous slimy greenish mask she had on her face all in the name of skin care.

"Guys i am throwing a party tomorrow" Bankole said out of the blue. Trust Bankole to throw an impromptu party.

"Why?" Faramade asked in boredom, i stared at the sharp, colourful background behind him, he was definitely not at home. Bankole snorts at his question.

"Because i can..." he deadpanned. Of course... "Must there be a reason why i should throw a party?" Faramade only rolled his eyes at his stupid question.

"Yes Banks. There must be a reason" Evans chided.

"I really don't care" I watch Theresa scrape the thin stuff off her face like a pro. "As long as i can go there to shake my booty"

I smiled. Bankole's party are known for being wild ones and i would not be surprised if he decides to invite students from other schools.

The more, the merrier....

"KK have been awfully quiet since the beginning of this call" Bankole pointed out causing me to shrug. I frowned at him when he wiggled his eyebrows at me. "is it because of a particular someone?"

"You are a dunce" i retorted. Bankole and Evans chuckled, Theresa giggled while Faramade rolled his eyes.

"It seems like the girl disappeared off the planet earth. I was thinking that if i gave her a lift, i would probably know where she stays but she just pulled the disappearing act on everyone" she complained. Placing thing sloshy looking thingy under her eyes, they sort of look like patches.

"She has been doing this for two years. It is an easy thing for her" Evans explained before munching on something which looks like Pringles. I haven't seen a guy that love Pringles the way he does.

"When i get hold of her ehn.. I will make sure i snuff every single detail out of her" she said with a wild look in her eyes, the patches made it look more wilder.

She had grown so fond of Omotolani under a small period of time. At first, she was skeptical when she discovered i had a crush on her but under six to seven weeks they had spend together, she doesn't want her out of sight.

"Should i invite her for the party?" he asked staring at me. Tolani in Bankole's party, where there would be slimy guys lurking around?

God forbid!

"Absolutely not!" Bankole only grinned at me like a horse.

"Alaye... Calm down jor. You no be her papa" Faramade chided, i zeroed my eyes on him. He was smoking. Again.

I thought he had stopped. I jump. No... We jumped at the loud shriek coming from Theresa.

"Haven't i warned you to stop smoking that shitty thing! Are you fucking insane?! "

Faramade gave her a bewildered look. It was the same expression we were all wearing due to her outburst.

"Tee... Chill na" He said. The idiot still waving the cancerous stick in the air.

"I said get rid of that thing! You wanna die young abi?!" she snarled at the screen and i was so glad i was not at the receiving end. Theresa is so scary when she gets annoyed.

"Okay okay... " i guessed he had put it out because his hands moved to the other side of the screen.

"And as for you people, if you dare! Think of smoking not to talk of putting that shitty thing in your mouth. I. Will. Personally. Crush. Your. Bullocks."

I flinched at her threats. She really don't want to know what we had been up to in the hostel.

Should i tell her?

I kept my mouth shut while she launched into a full topic on the dangers of smoking. We all threw daggers at a remorse looking Faramade.

We dare not end the call. Not until she at least finish.

This is going to be one long lecture.

--------

"She didn't collect the money" Tega stated causing me to nod "Why?"

"She is a close friend of my brother" i leave it at that.

"How close?" he prodded further.

And they say boys don't like gossip.

"Like very very close" he hummed at my statement.

"I won't blame your brother, that backside was enormous"

I huff. He also noticed. What is with my brother and big butts?

We just left Falilat's shop, popularly known as Fancy. She is a well known seamstress around here and she happens to be one of my brother's flings. They are quite many i tell you.

Apart from Jennifer; Ashawo Benin and Fancy Falilat, there is Asake Alagbo, Nkiru Omo Ibo, Bimpe Alajo... The list never ends and i am sure he had acquired more girlfriends since i left for school.

Bro Martins the sharp shooter.

I worry for his health though...

"So how are you coping in that school of yours?" i asked looking up at him.

I am older than him by two months and he still bigger than me. What do rich kids take this days?

"I should be the one asking you that... "

"I thought you said your school is full of sick people? Mine isn't, they are just crazy" he scoffed as we moved through the busy road.

"Sick and crazy sounds the same to me" he muttered.

He told me of a girl he likes a lot. Like a lot. I can see the spark in his eyes whenever he talks about how beautiful and perfect she was. The only problem was she was betrothed to another who happens to be the school assistant senior prefect and the golden boy. He claimed it was all a facade and the boy was bad news.

The painful thing for my cousin was that they are so much in love.

"What is that your girl's name again?" i tapped my fingers together.

"She is not my girl and her name is April"

Yes.... April. The girl bearing a name with a month.

We got to our destination which was my elder brother's abode and i made Tega promise we will talk about it later.

He promised. I realized that there was a lot of things he wanted to say. Something is going on with him, that was why he couldn't wait till Christmas season to see me. He threw caution to the wind, leaving his cosy estate by coming to the dangerous parts of Lagos.

Something must definitely be eating him up to act this way. Tega will never take any irrational decision unless he feels unsafe, threatened or confused.

I really can't wait to find out.

So we finally met Tega!

And also Omotolani's family...

Omotolani has a step brother? Interesting...

What do you think of Tega? And Marty 😀?

Irebami's mouth will not cobalize him o... 😁😁

Who is April?

I am introducing new characters... She will be a very important character in the future so what role do you guys think she will play in this book?