Dedicated to maramartha for her comments which I totally agree with and for giving me inspiration.

AFTER CHINYERE TOOK a long bath, she made her way back to her room.

Chibinobim was no longer in the room but the room still smelled of alcohol and cigarettes.

Chinyere used her towel to dry her wet hair and threw the towel on the bed.

She didn't bother to comb her hair and exited the room.

The only places she had been to in the house were the kitchen, the bedroom, the bathroom that was connected to her bedroom and the dining room. She had never stepped her foot in the living room and other parts of the house.

She planned to go to the kitchen to help Esther and the other maids prepare breakfast.

On her way to the kitchen she met Mr. Oko.

She bowed her head, "Good morning, Sir."

"Why so formal?" Mr. Oko smiled, "call me father."

Chinyere nodded but did not say anything. She tried to walk past him but he blocked the passage by jumping in front of her.

"I need to tell you something," Mr. Oko said and grabbed her elbow.

He led her to the living room where Chibinobim and Amanda were.

Chibinobim was seated on a brown leather couch. His head was leaned back against the head of the couch. His mouth was partially open and his eyes were closed.

Amanda was seated on the same couch, by Chibinobim's side. When she saw her father enter the room with Chinyere she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

Chinyere took time to study the living room.

It was large with two couches facing each other and a coffee table between the couches.

A plasma television was hanging on the wall with several framed photographs it's side.

The photograph that caught Chinyere's eye was one of a light skinned woman. She was dressed in traditional wear and she wore a smile on her face.

Amanda resembled the woman and she concluded that the woman was Amanda's mother.

She couldn't help but think that she'd seen the woman before.

"Amanda, get up from there," Mr. Oko spoke and let go of Chinyere's elbow, "your brother is now a married man, he must sit with his wife."

"But, Sir," Amanda said, "why can't she sit with you on that couch?"

Chinyere saw Mr. Oko's eyes go a shade darker, "Don't let me come a lift you off that couch myself."

Amanda immediately jumped to her feet, "Fine. She can sit by him. After all his breath smells."

Amanda took a seat on the other couch and Mr. Oko told Chinyere, "Go and sit by your husband."

Chinyere almost scoffed at the word "husband" but sat down beside Chibinobim, nonetheless.

He was dressed in a fresh pair of clothes but when he spoke, her face was assaulted by the smell of alcohol and cigarettes, "Good morning, Priscilla."

He managed to change his clothes but he did not even bother to brush his teeth, Chinyere thought as she fanned her face with her hand. And did he just call her Priscilla?

He had a Nigerian accent with a hint of American.

"Shut up, Chibinobim," Mr. Oko said as he sat down, "I called for this family meeting today to tell you about today's plans. Today is my wife's anniversary... but we won't celebrate it--"

"But, Father," Amanda stood up, "this is Mommy were talking about."

"My house, my rules," Mr. Oko said, "if you have a problem then you can leave. Chibinobim just got married and we can't ruin his wedding all because of a dead woman."

"That dead woman is my mother," Amanda scoffed and stormed off.

"I'm going too," Chibinobim slurred and stood up to leave. He staggered as he walked out of the living room.

Chinyere sat there for a moment.
Was she ever going to leave this house?

"You can leave, Dear," Mr. Oko said.

Chinyere didn't hesitate and stood up to leave.

If she couldn't escape now she was going to find out why Amanda betrayed her.

She went in the direction that Amanda's had gone through. It was the same direction to her bedroom and the other rooms in the house, so Chinyere knew that Amanda was in her room.

Amanda's room door had her name on it, so Chinyere didn't have any struggle to find her room.

She softly knocked on the door but there was no response.

She opened the door slowly, only to find Amanda curled up in foetus position on her bed.

Small sobs escaped from her lips.
Chinyere would have felt pity for Amanda if they were in normal circumstances but they weren't. She wanted answers there and then.

"Amanda?" she called out.

Amanda froze at the sound of Chinyere's voice. She immediately wiped her tears and sat up on the bed.

"Get out of my room!" Amanda yelled, pointing at the door.

Chinyere closed the room door and looked directly at Amanda, "I want answers."

"I don't want to hear your voice," Amanda said. "Leave!"

"Why are you doing this?" Chinyere asked, "we are supposed to be best friends. I trusted you. I thought I knew you."

"You thought you knew me?" Amanda folded her arms and laughed sarcastically, "you don't know me. Even I know you more than you know yourself."

"Why? Just why?" Chinyere asked. "I trusted you and this is what you do to me."

"Oh, shut up," Amanda said. "So I was the one who dragged you out of the house that night, abi? I was the one who forced you to meet Mystery Boy? Who leaves home at night without telling their parents?"

"Leaving home was my fault," Chinyere leaned against the door, "but me getting married to your brother was your own plan. Your father said it himself; you're the one who suggested me. Why?"

"Maybe it's because I wanted to ruin your life," Amanda said, "you have three mothers by your side, a loving father and so many siblings. My father hates me and my mother is dead."

"What do I have to do with your mother's death and your father's lack of love for you?" Chinyere asked with a look of confusion on her face.

"What if I told you that we're linked in more than one way?" Amanda stood up from the bed and took slow steps towards Chinyere. "What if I told you that our parents are very familiar with each another? What if I told you that it's your father's fault that my mother is dead?"