Staring up at the broken ceiling of my room in my parents house, i pondered over what to do with the new development. Fetching the white envelope from under my pillow again, i sit up as i retrieve the neatly folded letter I got from the messenger Tega sent me this morning.

He called to inform me of a mail he received on my behalf at their residence this morning. I left there a day earlier in order to spend some time with my family.

I have finished my exams, only thing left for me is graduation but with what I'm seeing, i don't think I will be around for that....

I read through the contents again and my eyes watered as my eyes ran through every word.

Tears of joy...

My phone rang beside me and i immediately picked it after checking the caller ID.

"Have you seen it?" Tega asked on the phone, his voice could not hold or contain his excitement.

"Yes..." I sniffed "this is too good to be true" i muttered into the phone and i can hear him chuckling.

"You deserve it, you worked and toiled hard for this" i nodded at his statement even though he couldn't see me.

We spoke for a while before he ended the call with a promise to see me soon.

I dropped my phone on my bed before looking at the letter again. It's everything i wanted but why do i feel pain whenever i think about some certain people i will leave behind.

With the envelope and letter still in my hand, I got out of my bed , wearing my slippers before hurrying to the living room where my whole family is seated. When I say my whole family, i mean Bro Martins inclusive.

Him and my parents are having a conversation which seems to be getting tensed by the minute. Bro Martins looks unhappy as my mother snapped at him all of a sudden.

They all look up at the clearing of my throat, wondering the reason why i was interfering an important meeting. I stretched out my hand which was holding the letter to my dad.

He gave me a questioning look before collecting the letter, he moved closer to my mum for help because he was not that good in reading the English language.

Bro Martins stared at me in question, i said nothing while watching them in anticipation. My mum suddenly shouted in excitement, jumping up and down before rushing towards me, hugging me tightly.

I giggled when my dad start speaking his dialect, praising me like he always does whenever i made him proud. My mum was singing as she danced around, Bro Martins stared at the letter before looking up at me with a smile on his face.

"My daughter has won a scholarship o. My enemies had been put to shame!"

Laughter filled the air as she pranced around in happiness.

Yes... I got the scholarship, to study outside the country in one of the most prestigious university over there.

I finally got it...

*****

I gaped at the person in front of me, blinking in a fast manner to see if he would disappear. He was still there.

Dressed in a hoodie and dark jeans, with white trainers, he stared at me defiantly as if he had every right to be there. Which he doesn't?!

"What are you doing here?!" I whisper yelled, running towards him while quickly checking my house to see if no one was outside with us.

"I came to see you of course..." He replied like it was the most normal thing in the whole. He eyes and stance looks off and he seems guarded.

"You came to see me? How do you even know this place?"

"That's an insult to me, for me not to know where my girlf-" he stopped short, realising i don't bear that title anymore, looking conflicted "I know where you live" he finalized.

"You shouldn't be here..."

"Why?" He asked in utmost annoyance.

"What do you mean by why? How can you just come here like that?"

"Well... I wouldn't have come here if someone had picked my calls or replied my messages!" He snapped.

He was in a bad mood this evening. It is very evident in his posture and the way he talked. I sighed.

"I'm sorry i ignored your calls, i was actually busy on-"

"You didn't even come for the party... Do you know how long i waited? Calling you numerous times but you refused to answer, why are you doing this to me?!"

"I'm sorry I missed the party okay... But please try lower your voice, my brother is at home and i don't think he would appreciate it if he sees you here" I gestured for him to leave.

"I'm not leaving here till we iron this out!" He said proving stubborn.

"You stubborn goat!" I snapped in anger but he shrugged before dipping his hands into the pocket of his hoodie.

His eyes widens a bit as i stormed towards him. I grabbed him by the arm before pulling him away from my house which he grudgingly followed.

We walked for a while before stopping at the wooden jetty overseeing a part of the sea. I motioned for him to sit down on one of the raised panel which was built for sitting and relaxation.

He took his seat while I stood before him, refusing to meet my eye as he stared at the flowing water.

"It's a crazy thing to do by coming here, how did you even get here?" I asked hoping he didn't park his car at a place where it will be vandalized or stolen.

"My driver drove me down here, i told him to leave, i will call him when I'm ready to go home "

Okay... He had everything all planned out. Which leaves me with the fact that he isn't going home in a hurry.

"You have been ignoring my calls... This isn't fair, i thought we were cool"

"We are cool na..." He gave me a raised eyebrow. "Akorede, we aren't fighting"

"Then why are you avoiding me?!" He shouted in frustration, while rubbing his head, seems like this conversation was already giving him an headache.

I'm so happy i caused that...

"Why are you being so dramatic? You are acting as if I'm giving you issues. If that is the case, let me leave you jeje"

I moved away from him but he called after me.

"Wait na! What is wrong with you sef?!" He caught up to me, hugging me from behind while burying his head in-between my neck and shoulder. "I miss you"

I felt myself lean into him but i quickly controlled myself, moving away from him. I watch his face fall at this gesture of mine but i am not just ready yet.

"You shouldn't hold me out here like that. What if somebody sees us?" Refering to my brother's gang.

"You still haven't forgiven me?"

"I have forgiven you a long time ago Akorede"

"Then what more do you want me to do?!"

"It's not going to work! I have my life to leave and whatever we share will be a hindrance." I can picture him begging on his knees for me not to leave, making fake promises just for me to stay.

I can't leave what is important to me for this... I can't just fathom it.

"And you say I'm the selfish one. Now give me reasons why our relationship isn't going to work. Not a reason, reasons why it isn't"

He is giving me options, trying to be the selfless one here but still. For once I'm going to be the selfish one.

"You won't understand" I said, turning away from him before staring out into the water.

I won't tell him. He will try to stop me or even try to tag along... He could be that crazy but i don't need distractions.

"Make me understand Omotolani! Cause if i say I'm not tired, then I'm lying" he stood beside me again, watching me.

He has everything planned out for him. Millions in his account, assets and shares I'm sure he is not even aware of and a powerful family name backing him up.

"Life has been so good to you Korede. Do you even know what it means to have your family depend on you to achieve somethings in other to bring them out of their penury?" I asked quietly.

"I don't understand you" he said looking throughly confused. I give him a wistful smile and at the same time making up my mind.

I'm not going to tell him about the letter.

"You will understand, but not now." I said softly while placing my hand on his right cheek which he quickly lean into. "It's getting cold, let's head back home"

                             😵‍💫🤕🤡

"Egbon mii ejor..." I begged him, looking back at Akorede who was kneeling on the dusty floor with his hands raised while holding a brick.

He was sweating profusely due to the punishment he was receiving alongside the hoodie he was wearing. He had received series of slaps, neck turning ones before Bro Martins resorted into this punishment for him.

He shouldn't have come to the shanties but this boy doesn't listen. Now he has gotten into the hands of my brother.

"No near me o. I fit deck you if you near me because of the boy" I swallowed and i saw Akorede glaring at my brother and I'm sure i was not the only one that saw that. "Na me you dey shine eyes for? Tii ba for ori e!"

"He didn't mean any harm..."

"I don dey look for you, i neva know say una go carry your leg waka come here" he walked towards him "na you dey follow my sister up and down" he said while hitting him by the head.

It was so sudden, one time we were walking back from the jetty hand in hand, the next thing we were surrounded by my brother's gang.

Akorede was trying to form hard guy but one slap from one of them, reset him immediately. He complied with everything they wanted as they ignored me. I had no other choice but to follow them as they took him away.

"Yes sir, but I'm interested in your sister" i yelped when a punch was thrown towards his stomach. He groaned loudly, gripping the brick as if his whole life depended on it.

If he should drop it, he his in trouble.

"Did i say you could talk?" He questioned. "Children of nowadays no even get sense and respect again" he mused before turning to me.

I gulped at his angered expression.

"Shey u know that you are stupid. You are following this boy. He will just sleep with you and go..."

"I will have you know sir that i have the purest intention towards your sister" Akorede said in between short breaths.

"And i have the sincere intention of shutting you up forever! Another word from you and you are gone" he threatened.

"Broda please..." I begged.

"I'm disappointed in you..." He said turning to me "you and I know you don't need this" he pointed to the tired form of Akorede behind him.

"I will handle it in my own way... Just let him go. Please..."

*****

Ignoring the looks some of the maids gave him as he walked in to the house. He knows different theories and scenarios are running through their head but who was he to stop them from thinking whatever they were thinking.

He has never been this humiliated in his life. It was so embarrassing and it was all for one girl.

His hoodie and jeans were carrying enough dust he was sure will tell the world his trials and tribulations from today's outing.

Come to think of it, he never thought out the whole thing, he just acted on compulsion to go see her. He never mapped out what he was going to do or say if he encountered the elder brother.

Now that he has encountered him, he will think twice before doing such again. His swollen right cheek had him rethinking about his whole life decisions.

"Wetin do this one?" The masculine voice causes him to look up only to see his friends. The last people he wanted to see right now. Bankole was the one who asked that question, who was also with Evans.

The eyes freak was not here so he was a little pleased, he knew that he would act irrationally if he should see him there.

Hissing like a snake, something he picked from his mum. He headed for the stairs, ignoring them. Not that they did anything to him. He wasn't just interested in any social interactions.

"I swear... This guy dey craze" Bankole cursed sourly "i no go come here again o" he told Evans who stared after Akorede with his arms akimbo.

Dirty clothes and swollen face, he knew the meeting didn't go as planned. A sigh fell off his lips.

Akorede entered his room stripping off his clothes immediately he entered. Making his way to his ensuite to have a warm bath that will wash away all the grim, dirt and pain.

Groaning in pain as he lifted his right arm in the warm shower, shaking his head in pity at himself.

All because of a girl... No one dares lay a finger on him but he found himself beaten up because of a girl.

His mother must not get an air of this, hell will be let loose and its occupants we descend on the earth.

What was he even thinking?! Going to the ghetto to see her. What he suffered would have been worse than this but all thanks to Shetemi who intervened.

He has heard a lot about the brother but he never knew he would be at the receiving end of his wrath.

After washing off, he stepped out of the bathroom with towel tied around his waist. Picking comfortable clothes from his closet, he got dressed after drying up. He went down to meet his friends who had made themselves comfortable in the kitchen.

"What are you guys doing here?" He asked abruptly as if their presence was a bane to him. Bankole looks crossed at the question as he crossed his arms over the chicken wings he now left unattended to.

"A ni o stupid" Bankole swore at him "if you are angry and you are looking for someone to pour out your anger on, tell the people that sent you that you didn't meet me at home " he warned while pointing his finger.

"I guess the meeting didn't go as planned" Evans suggested kindly.

Akorede was silent for a moment before opening up.

"I met her brother..." Evans eyes went wide while Bankole stared at him in confusion.

"Oh no... What did he do to you?" He asked his friend who looked crestfallen on his behalf.

"He actually gave me the beating of my life i mean, my aching body is a testament to that. "

"Why?" Bankole asked.

"Tega has spoken a lot about me to him. I'm sure they were not good words" he said with a shrug before joining his friends as he takes a seat.

He had a slumped posture, sitting down, he grabbed Evans glass of juice in which he allowed him, downing it at a  go.

"She is still adamant?" Evans asked while he nodded.

"She keeps giving me excuses"

"What are you going to do if she refuses to take you back?"

He stared and stared at Bankole who asked the question as if the question to the answer was on its face. In all honesty, he doesn't know what he his going to do.

Translation:

Egbon mii ejor: my elder brother, please.

Tii ba for ori e!: If i break your head!

A ni o stupid: i said you are stupid.

Guess who got a scholarship 😁
Hmmm... All the shippers... What's going to happen now?