~Yemisi~

Ireti and I sat in the cold, sterile hospital reception, surrounded by the overwhelming smell of antiseptic and the faint hum of fluorescent lights. Every second felt stretched, like time itself had slowed to torture us as we waited. We had rushed Pamela here, desperate for them to save her-and maybe give us some answers in the process. But it had been over an hour, and still, there was no word.

I couldn't focus. The scene of Pamela getting shot played over and over in my head like a broken reel. It was too much. Witnessing something like that-it wasn't something you could just shake off.

Suddenly, a piercing voice broke through the anxious silence.

"Where is my baby?" a woman shrieked, her eyes wide with panic as she stormed toward us. I didn't recognize her at first, but then it clicked-Pamela's mother.

She stopped in front of me, her face twisted in grief and rage.

"You!" she screamed, jabbing a trembling finger in my direction. "First the Bailey girl, now mine? You're after all of them, aren't you?"

I froze, unsure of what to say. My heart raced, but I forced out the words.

"I'm so sorry, ma-"

Before I could finish, her hand lashed out, striking my cheek with a sharp, stinging slap.

"Sorry? Sorry won't bring my daughter back!" she spat, her eyes burning into mine. "If she dies, I swear I'll bury you myself."

The heat from her slap spread across my face, but I didn't flinch. I didn't even know why I'd apologized. I wasn't to blame for this.

The door to Pamela's room suddenly swung open, and a stretcher rolled out, covered by a stark white sheet.

My stomach dropped. I knew what it meant.

"Oh God..." I heard Ireti whisper beside me. Her voice was small, as if the weight of the day had finally crushed her spirit.

Pamela's mother rushed toward the stretcher, pulling the sheet back. Her daughter's face was pale, her lips drained of all color. A choked sob escaped from her mother as she cradled Pamela's cold hand.

"My baby..." she wailed, her body shaking with grief. But in the next moment, her sorrow twisted back into fury, and she turned toward me, her eyes wild.

"You! You did this!" she screamed, lunging at me. She grabbed my arms, shaking me violently. "I'll kill you, I swear I will!"

Before I could react, I felt someone yank her off me.

"Get your hands off my daughter!" my mother's voice cut through the chaos like a blade. She stepped between us, shielding me from Pamela's mother, her face a mask of controlled anger.

"Are you alright?" she asked, pulling me into a firm hug.

"I'm okay," I whispered, my voice unsteady.

"Ireti, are you alright?" Mum asked, her tone softening as she turned to my friend.

"I feel awful," Ireti mumbled, still looking pale and shaken.

"She fainted earlier," I added quietly.

"Of course she did," Mum muttered, her jaw tight. "No one should have to go through this."

Pamela's mother straightened up, glaring at my mother. "Well, well, if it isn't the infamous CEO herself," she sneered.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Alice," Mum replied, though her words were cold, devoid of sympathy. "But let's be clear-my daughter and her friend had nothing to do with this. Your daughter got herself into things she couldn't handle. Now, if you'll excuse us." She turned away, firmly leading Ireti and me out of the hospital, leaving Pamela's mother behind in her grief.

Once inside the car, the silence pressed down on us.

"Why would you girls get mixed up in something like this?" Mum finally asked, her voice sharp.

"Miss Adekunle, we didn't know it would end like this," Ireti said, her eyes downcast.

"We're sorry," I murmured, staring out the window.

Ireti hesitated before speaking again. "Miss Adekunle, can I stay at your place tonight? My parents are away, and after... after all this, I don't think I can be alone."

Mum sighed, her frustration giving way to compassion. "Of course, dear," she said. "You can stay as long as you need."

"Thank you," Ireti whispered, her voice small.

When we got home, Ireti and I hurried upstairs to my room, eager to escape the heaviness of the night. I closed the door behind us, leaning against it for a moment, trying to steady my breathing.

"Ireti," I began, my voice quiet, "I got a message... right when Pamela was shot." I pulled out my phone and showed her the text.

Her eyes widened. "Wait... we could trace this!" she said, grabbing her phone.

"With this app, we can track the number," she explained, her fingers moving quickly across the screen.

"Here," I said, handing her the number.

A few moments later, she looked up, her expression serious.

"The message was sent from Epe," she said.

"Epe? Are you serious? Is that even in Lagos?" I asked, bewildered.

"Yes, it's on the outskirts. You really need to brush up on your geography," she replied, shaking her head.

"So, you're saying the person who sent this message is in Epe?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around it.

"That's what it says," she confirmed.

"Ugh, whatever," I sighed. "I'm starving."

"Same here. My stomach's been growling for hours," Ireti added.

We headed downstairs, the smell of something delicious pulling us toward the kitchen.

"Mum, cooking? What's happening?" I teased as we entered.

"Dinner," Mum replied, not missing a beat. "And what were you girls up to?"

"Just talking," I said with a shrug. "About today."

Mum's face grew serious. "You girls need to be more careful. You could have ended up like Pamela."

"Thank God we didn't," Ireti said quietly. "We'll be more careful, Miss Adekunle."

"Good. I'll take that as a promise," Mum said, her eyes sweeping over both of us.

After dinner, I caught Kayode up on everything he had missed.

"It doesn't sound like whoever this is wants to kill you," he said after listening to my long-winded explanation.

"That would explain the threat," Ireti added, her brow furrowed.

"But who could be doing this?" I asked, more to myself than anyone else.

"It has to be someone who knows you," Ireti replied, her tone confident.

"I think she's right," Kayode nodded.

We watched movies for a while, letting the weight of the day melt away. But around 9:55, Mum came in to spoil our fun.

"Time for bed," she announced, as if we were still kids.

We all groaned, but Kayode reached for the remote, ready to turn off the TV.

"Don't!" Mum said quickly. "I want to watch the 10 o'clock news."

Ireti and I went to the kitchen for some water. By the time we got back, the news had just begun.

"Mum, it's starting!" I called, but she hadn't returned to the living room yet.

I turned to the screen, my eyes scanning the headline.

FROM ASSAULT TO MURDER

Three pictures appeared beneath the words-Alessia's, mine, and his.

A cold chill ran down my spine.

______________________________
👋 Lovelies
Long time no see 🙈
I don't know how this came about, but interestingly it did
Who is this guy in our baby's life, that we can't stop hearing about
Can't wait to find out
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