SAMANTHA's POV

"You need to stop this," I hear my dad's voice roar from the house. I sigh because this tells me my parents are back early. It's seven in the night and my curfew is six. I was so engrossed in the video game I was playing at Dennis' house that I didn't check the time.

I scurry to the door and gently open it. I slide in and shut it. I glance at my parents who are in the living room. My dad is facing my mom with a hard glare on his face while my mom is eyeing him.

I'm not scared of my parents. I'm scared of the punishment my dad will give to me. I want to get a new play station because mine spoilt, reason why I was at Dennis' house. I have to be on my best behavior so that my dad can be convinced and get me a new one. In life, you just need to be sharp. I stealthily move towards the staircase.

"Stop what? Finding your secrets?" My mom yells at once and I flinch, my phone almost tumbling to the ground.

"I don't even have secrets"

"I know you are meeting with that your secretary. It's because she is young abi? Big butt and big breast"

My eyes go round and I turn to look at my mom. She's tapping her right foot and her arms are folded across her chest. Her shoulder is hunched, radiating with the rage that engulfs her.

"What is wrong with you?" my dad hollers.

"I'm saying the truth abi? Men! Na wa oo! God forbid!" she exclaims and curses my dad in Yoruba.

I roll my eyes. My mom is so overdramatic and insecure. She is always accusing my dad of adultery instead of her to build their shaky relationship. I hiss aloud and my parents' attention is drawn to me.

"Young lady," my mom barks and I shut my eyes, ready for her scolding. "Where have you been?"

I turn around and open my eyes. "At a friend's place"

"Doing what?"

"Reading"

"Do I look like a fool to you? Eh? Is that what you people in this house see me as? A fool! Even your dad thinks I'm a fool he can lie to. Ah!" Her hands are on her waist now. "Samantha, come here".

"I have things to do. Bye," I snap and dash up the stairs.

"I'm coming for you. Just wait and see"

I run to my room and lock the door. I sigh in relief but I know my parents won't think much about me since they have a misunderstanding. Their mind will be on the issue at hand and not my disobedience. I go to shower and I'm out in few minutes. However, my parents' voices still thunder in the house. This is unlike them. It's supposed to have ended since.

I bite the inside of my cheek in curiosity and head downstairs to check.

"You are a mad woman," my dad yells and his hands are clenched at his sides. "You are a big problem! A big one! You are calling me unfaithful right? Oya na! I will cheat on you. That's when your eyes will clear. In fact, I'll get a second wife! Idiot".

"Please! You cannot try that. A second wife ke? They no born you well to do that"

I quickly rush to my dad. "Calm down. Don't mind mummy". His body vibrates with anger. Veins popped out, so as some bones.

"No oo! That's what she wants. I will cheat. I will. I have money. A lot. I can easily get a woman now"

"Dad! Don't listen to mum. Don't let her spoil your mood"

"My mood? She has ruined it. I'm not eating here. I'm going to a restaurant"

My expression changes, my face lights up with a smile. "Can I come with you?"

"No!" he yells.

My smile withers.

Dad narrows his eyes at mum. "I wish you could change but you never do". He hisses and stomps out of the house. I eye my mum and she sees me doing it. She frowns but I walk away from the living room before she can say anything.

I couldn't help but wonder, how long can my dad tolerate this her attitude?

I don't want to think so I swerve my attention to the movie I had watched last night. It was a horror movie. As I walk down the hallway, I let my imagination run wild.

Just imagine.... imagine a beast that looks like a lion but has the horns of a ram. What if the light goes off and it hops out of nowhere. Where will I run to and who will save me? Wo...I go kill the beast like the strong Samson in the Bible. Me that has craze for head.

My hand connects with the door knob to my room and as I swing it open, the light actually goes off. A loud scream escapes from my lips. My ringtone resounds and I am torn between going to get my phone or running to my mom. I scream again and my mom yells, "Are you mad? Why are you screaming? The gateman will switch on the generator. Go and get your torch".

"Mummy, where are you?"

She doesn't reply.

Wetin happen to the strong Sammy now?

I take in deep breaths and go into my room. "Who is calling me sef?" I snap, sigh and pick my phone from my reading table. An unknown number is visible. I roll my eyes and finally swipe my finger on the screen to accept the call.

"Hello, Sammy" A familiar voice exclaims.

I look at my phone to ensure it's mine and not someone else's. Wait...whattt? Why is he calling?

"Hello?" he let out.

"Why did you call?" I hiss.

Daniel chuckles. "We have something important to settle".

"Which is?"

"The bet or should I call it challenge?" he says. "You won".

"Oh...." I trail off. A smile comes on my face when light spreads around the room. Thank God for the existence of generator. "Yeah! I did".

"But it was because I wasn't feeling good. If I had completed the quiz, I would have won"

"But you didn't," I add, my heart racing in guilt. "You should watch what you eat, you know".

"Yeah! I will. Thank you for taking care of me that day. It turns out the icy Sammy has a heart"

"Icy ke?"

"Yes! Ice Queen"

"Why you dey call me that?"

"Cos you are. You're hard to please and you have this icy approach to people"

"Did you call me to condemn me? Cos I don't get"

"Rumors are going around the school, you know"

"What concern me?" I put my phone in speaker mode and drop it on my bed. I stare longingly at my play station and sigh. How can it leave me like this? How can it spoil? This is a true definition of heartbreak. Now, I'm just so lonely.

"Did you hear what I just said? Sammy? I'll take your silence as an answer that the rumour is true," Daniel's voice pierces my mourning moment and I glare at him.

"What rumour?" I quiz.

"People are saying you have a crush on me"

"Ah," I laugh sarcastically. "And you believed?"

"I don't know yet. I'm not sure if I should"

I burst into this weird, sinister laughter and say, "Guyyyy, believe at your own risk because I don't".

"That's what you say but your actions say otherwise"

"Pele!"

"So...I agree with them. You have a crush on me but don't want to admit it"

"Omo! That one concern you. By now, you should know rumors don't affect me"

"Daniel," a voice yells in the background.

"Simon, I'm on a call"

"Dad bought it"

"Simon, later we can talk"

"He bought the play station," his voice echoes with joy.

I press the phone to my ear. "Daniel, which play station?"

"Huh?" He mumbles. "Don't mind my brother. Sorry for the interruption. What was I saying before".

"Forget that. Is it the recent play station?"

"Hmm...Yeah!"

"Wow!" I squeal. "Wow! Thank you Jesus".

Daniel queries, "Why are you happy?"

"Tomorrow is Sunday right?"

"Yes!"

"Are you going to church?"

"Well...I go to church on Saturdays so...no"

"Why Saturday?"

"Have you ever heard of the church Seventh-day Adventist? That's my church"

"Oh okay. Can I come to your house tomorrow?"

"Why?"

"To read"

"You're lying"

A smirk, which he can't see, etch on my face. "To play video games"

"Hmm..." He goes silent.

"Will your parents complain?"

"I'm not sure. Let me ask for their permission. I'll call you later to tell you"

"Please beg them. Say it is your crush that wants to visit you," I add immediately.

"What? My crush?"

"Yes na! Am I not your crush? No deny am"

"This girl ehh... Because of game, you are na nicer to me"

"Omo! Because of game ehh, I fit treat you as king sef"

"Geez! What kind of girl are you?"

"The best kind! Nonsense! Mtchew" I cut the call.

I walk to my play station and tap it. "I have another option now"

I dance around before going back to my phone. "Let me even tell Dennis and the others that I've found a place for us to play games".

                        ×

Thanks for reading. I'm truly grateful.

I don't even know how to start but I want you to know that you just made my day. Why? Because you read this chapter despite the delay I took to update.

Thank you so much for your patience.

What do you think of this chapter? Did you enjoy it?

Have you ever met a friend that loves to play video game? What do you think of Sammy's personality.

❤️❤️❤️❤️🥺 God bless you. Have a great day. 💃