⚠️SENSITIVE CHAPTER⚠️

                     Y E M I S I

"Take it!"

"Please, I-I-I can't do this."

"Shut up and take it! If you want to join our gang, then take it!"

"Please, no."

"Take it you fool!"

"N-no-"

*TAH*

I jolted upright, feeling so suffocated and breathless from the vivid nightmare that plagued my sleep.

"Oh my gosh," I breathed rapidly.

It's been so long since I saw. . .them. . . in my sleep. Why did I see them?

I anxiously wiped the sweat off my forehead, trying to calm my racing heart. Only one thing could help me calm down, and I vowed not to-

"Great! You're awake."

Glancing up, I was surprised to see my mom sitting on the chair of my dresser and. . . applying my makeup?

"Mom? What are-"

"Don't mind me, darling," she drawled, applying my mascara on her lashes. "I went out for a kitty party with my makeup kit yesterday, and I lost the kit. And right now, I'm too lazy to hire a make-up artist or buy a new kit. Besides, I'm not doing anything special today."

I stayed quiet, because my mind kept flashing back to the dream I had. Why did I see the Three D after so many years?

"Yemisi!"

I flinched and profusely blinked my lashes, meeting my mom's gaze in the mirror.

"Ahahn, are you alright like this?" she asked, standing up and walking over to my bed. "I called your name almost five times. Were you lost?"

She reached for my forehead to check my temperature. "Your temperature seems fine, so what's wrong with you? And why are you sweating like a Christmas goat?"

I frantically shook my head and wiped my sweat with the back of my hand, which was covered with my oversized pajama shirt.

"I-I'm fine. I- I just need to get ready for school," I said, throwing my blanket off my body, and getting up from the bed.

My mom creased her brows in perplexion. "Um, what do you mean? Today is Saturday."

Shit!

"Huh?" I uttered in confusion.

My mom walked closer to where I stood, and gradually placed me back on the bed in a sitting posture. "Yemisi?"

"Ma?"

"Bẹrẹ sọrọ."

I heaved a sigh in defeat, because once my mom speaks Yoruba, it means she's being serious. She asked me to start talking, so I decided to tell her what was bothering me.

"I saw them, again."

She arched a brow. "Who?"

"The Three-"

"D?" she completed it in some sort of question, and I nodded in affirmation.

She kept staring at me with this angry look in her eyes, and I couldn't fathom what she was thinking.

Maybe she was remembering how I let her down before, just like I did again by getting expelled from Crestwood High.

"Hmm," she breathed, folding her arms. "Just forget it."

"It's not that easy mom. I-"

"Then make it easy," she retorted harshly and I recoiled. "Forget the past, because there's no need remembering it now. You made a promise to me, right?"

I nodded and stared at my feet.

"And my babe always keeps her promise, right?" she asked softly this time, raising my chin so I can look her in the eye.

I nodded again.

She groaned loudly and said, "Use your words. I don't like it when people nod, especially when they can speak."

"Yes, mummy."

"That's my babe," she said with a bright smile and planted a kiss on my cheek. "Now let's go have breakfast. And also, didn't you say you have a hangout with some of your new friends?"

I mentally rolled my eyes. "They aren't my friends, just classmates. It was a girl that invited me, basically because she's a big fan of Jackie Richard."

I couldn't believe my mom blushed, covering her mouth slightly with her palm, while fanning herself with her other hand.

Drama queen!

"I love all my fans, so I love her already. You better go for the hangout oo."

I chuckled at her childishness. "I'm going. Technically, I wasn't interested, but Tyler accepted the invite for me when he was doing so for himself."

"Ooooh," she cooed, winking at me almost ten times.

I fought the urge to throw a pillow at her, because she was just being silly.

"Eww, please stop."

"Which one is, 'eww'? I'm sure deep down, you're enjoying this."

"Never. What's there to enjoy? Being matched with Tyler?"

"Naso dem dey talk," she teased in pidgin. "Dress up and come down for breakfast jare. I'm sure the food is getting cold already."

After she left my room, I walked into my bathroom to freshen up. Those nasty thoughts began to cloud my mind again, but I refused to let them weigh me down.

In no time, I was in the dining room with my mom, and we were eating breakfast. She was talking to that Emeka guy, over the phone, and she kept giggling.

Gosh, it was tormenting.

Emeka dosen't even deserve to be anybody's spec. And thinking of him just reminds me of how I wanted to tell my mom what he did some weeks ago.

"Alright, see you on Monday afternoon. Safe trip," she told Emeka, and hung up.

She didn't stop smiling to herself for like seven minutes. Which confirmed that she was truly happy with this guy, but she also deserved to know the truth about him.

"Mom, I want to tell you something," I started.

She put her phone down and took a sip from her juice. "Yes, dear?"

"It's about-"

Before I could finish, the kitchen door swung open abruptly, and a cloud of smoke billowed out.

Our eyes widened in alarm as Mr. Ade, our cook, rushed out of the kitchen, coughing and waving his apron to clear the air. Two maids, Nneoma and Chika, followed close behind, covering their faces with their sleeves.

"What the hell is going on?" Mom exclaimed, already on her feet and rushing towards the kitchen.

"I'm so sorry, ma!" Mr. Ade choked out, his voice hoarse from the smoke. "The stove...it just..."

The smoke spread and enveloped me, making my eyes sting. I knew what was coming, and I began to panic.

Asthma attack again!

I started coughing and wheezing, my breaths coming in short gasps.

"Olorun!" Mom exclaimed with both hands on her head, then she pushed past Chika to get to where I sat. "Get her inhaler, quickly!"

Both Chika and Nneoma bumped into each other in confusion, as if they didn't know who was going to get my inhaler.

"GO AND BRING HER INHALER YOU IDIOTS!" My mom screamed at the both of them, and Chika scrammed immediately, dashing up the staircase in full speed.

My face became pale and sweaty, and I thought I was going to collapse and die. I didn't know how much longer I could hang in there.

"Calm down, breathe in and out," my mom said to me, wrapping me in her arms as we sat on the couch in the living room.

"Where is this girl oo?!! CHIKA!!"

"Ma?! I'm coming!" I heard Chika say, as she ran downstairs, panting like a dog.

"Here it is, ma." Chika handed my inhaler to my mom, and my mom arrogantly snatched it from her.

I could see the pain in her eyes as she
helped me take a puff from the inhaler, but it didn't seem to be working. My wheezing grew louder, more desperate.

"We need to get her outside, now!" Mom shouted.

All three of the servants helped my mom take me outside, and they sat me down on the porch. They all started fanning me with hand fans and cartons.

Gradually, I began to breathe. I survived this time around.

                            ✿✿✿

I was presently at the hangout Gloria invited me to, but my mind was elsewhere. I wasn't there spiritually, but physically.

My mind kept wandering back to the attack I had in the afternoon, and how my mom hesitated to let me go for this hangout. She was so scared, and I haven't seen such fear in her eyes in a long time. Not after. . .

"Here you go."

I snapped out of my thoughts to see Tyler handing me a drink, and sitting down on the sofa next to me. I took the drink from him with a small smile on my lips.

Despite the music blaring from the invisible speakers around us, I found it hard to focus or pay attention. Even Gloria's house didn't seem to entice me or impress me. It was just a simple home, but beautiful. Everyone just sat wherever they wanted, while some danced around while eating and drinking.

"Are you okay?" Tyler suddenly asked, and I turned to see him peering at me intently.

"No," I answered truthfully. I'm not a fan of pretence.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

He nodded curtly and took another sip from his drink. Took me a while to realize it was alcohol he was sipping. Nothing surprising there.

"Try to smile at least, it looks good on you," he said plainly, looking around, and not meeting my gaze.

"I don't feel like smiling. You can't expect me to just shine my teeth when I'm not in a good mood."

He chuckled to himself humourlessly, and it made me wonder why Tyler was in a bad mood. I kinda noticed he hasn't been his usual annoying self for some days now. Even at school, he barely talked.

"You aren't smiling either," I stated the obvious. "And it's like you're also in a bad mood. So why should I smile when I'm also feeling the same way?"

"Because it suits you, not me."

I raised an eyebrow. "Smiling looks good on me? You must be kidding."

"Aren't you aware of that?" he asked, turning his neck to me. "Isn't that why most brands pay you to advertise their products?"

"Well, yes. But that smile is a professional smile, not a genuine smile."

Tyler said nothing, instead he stared at his phone screen with an expression I couldn't decipher. I didn't know why I started remembering our kiss. It felt odd, and I still don't know why he did that.

I looked away from Tyler, noticing that David was striding towards us with a smile on his face. I can't lie, my heart skipped a beat just looking at his handsome face.

"Hey," he greeted the moment he got to me.

"Hi."

I tried not to blush much, because I'm not the type to become smitten. I usually just admire guys, but I've never fallen in love. And when I say love, I'm talking about the true love that exist in fairytales.

"You look beautiful tonight," he complimented me, sitting down beside me. So I was technically in the middle of two guys? Wow. Just wow.

"Thanks," I said, looking down at the crop top I wore with a baggy jean and a pair of white sneakers.

He smiled at me, before directing his vision to Tyler who sat on the other side, next to me. "Tyler."

Tyler stopped staring blankly at his phone, and he turned to David, simply nodding at him.

Their form of greeting somewhat made me uncomfortable, like there was something underneath the unspoken words.

"Guys! Guys!" Felix yelled, maneuvering to where we sat. "Hey guys!"

That was it? He just wanted to greet us, and he was uttering guys like as if he had a big news. Weirdo.

"Oh, David," Felix uttered plainly, his eyes darting to me, then to David, then to Tyler. He repeated that gesture like four times, before he sat down next to Tyler.

They were both talking animatedly, or rather Felix was talking to Tyler animatedly. Tyler didn't even look interested in the conversation, he just kept staring at his phone.

I finally remembered the drink he brought for me, so I started sipping the soda little by little as well.

"Can you just stop it?"

Tyler snapped at Felix suddenly, and he angrily stood up, walking away.

Felix watched him go with an expression that read embarrassment. The way Tyler yelled out at him was embarrassing, because it got most people's attention, and eyes were fixed on Felix.

I wondered what would've made Tyler behave like that, but it was still none of my business. I stared at Felix again, and noticed how quietly he just sat, not giving any expression away.

"Alright guys!"

Everyone turned their attention to Gloria, who was standing in the middle of her living room, wearing a bum short and big top.

"Let's get this partay started!" she squealed happily, jumping and clapping like a bunny.

Her excitement almost made me puke, because I didn't understand what was so exciting about this boring hangout. I regretted coming.

Tyler came back sometime later, and he kept frowning. I watched as his phone rang and the name, Devil, displayed on the screen, and then he switched it off instead of receiving the call.

Devil? Damn, he must really hate that person.

Makes me wonder what he saved my name as, because I haven't saved his. His number is just an unknown number on my phone.

"Let's start with truth or dare," Gloria said with another squeal. She reminded me of SpongeBob.

Always bubbly for no reason.

"Truth or dare is a game that doesn't really end well oo," a guy said to her, and I unconsciously nodded in agreement.

Truth or dare is a really dangerous game.

"Whatever," Gloria waved her hands. "It's not like we're kids. Any truth that comes out won't be judged, because we listen, we don't judge."

I laughed inwardly, because that phrase reminded me of one TikTok trend. We listen, we don't judge.

I judge oo!

If I hear any nasty truth, then I judge!

"So, truth or dare?"

I watched as a guy asked one girl, and I was surprised that the game had already started. I was even surprised to see that everyone was sitted in some sort of circle, and there was a bottle on the table in the middle.

All these happened and I didn't even notice. Was I lost in thought or what?

"Truth," the girl finally answered.

"What do you have against Riele?"

The girl turned to look at one girl that was sitted next to. . . Liam? He was playing too? A whole evangelist.

"I don't like her because she acts like she's the finest girl in class when she's not," the girl confessed, and concluded with a scowl on her face.

I looked at the Riele girl, and she was eyeing the girl who said that, with pure contempt. But to me, Riele was prettier than the girl who said that.

The bottle was spinned again, and one side was pointed to Liam and the other side was pointed to David.

"Reverend father, truth or dare?" David teased and some people laughed.

"Truth," Liam answered blatantly.

"Have you done it before?" David asked, wiggling his brows at Liam, and everyone stared at Liam.

Liam stared at David boredly and asked, "Done what?"

"You know what I mean."

"No, I don't."

David hissed and almost everyone else did the same. Even a dummy would understand what David asked.

I'm sure he was just playing dumb.

"Since you want me to say the word, then fine. Have you had sex before?"

Liam's eyes widened and he stood up immediately. "Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Never! God forbid bad thing. Blood of Jesus. What kind of question is that? I'm not playing again."

Just like that, he walked out of the circle. What an exaggeration. A simple NO would've answered the question.

"Truth or Dare?" Temitope asked Riele. I didn't know Tope was here sef.

"Dare," Riele answered.

"I dare you to give Tyler a lap dance."

Riele slowly turned to Tyler who was staring at everyone dryly. But why would Temitope dare someone to do that? Especially when it has to do with Tyler!

Wait, what was that?

"Don't come near me."

That was Tyler's dry retort, and Riele looked embarrassed. Temitope decided to dare her to give another guy a lap dance, and she did that.

I was somehow happy that she didn't do it on Tyler.

The game continued, and people kept answering. Lots of revelation came out, which caused fight between some people, some said they weren't playing again, some started crying when they couldn't do their dare, and some just left the party.

"Truth or Dare?"

I was surprised when Gloria asked me that, and everyone's eyes were on me. I looked at the bottle on the table and saw that it was pointed to both me and Gloria.

"Dare," I said bluntly. What's the need to answer boring truths?

She grinned evily and rubbed her palms together, like she was planning to give me the baddest dare. I was shocked to see the transformation from a chirpy girl, to a wicked witch.

"I dare you to kiss the person on your right."

What?!

I didn't need to look at my right to know that Tyler was the one there. I can't kiss him. Not again.

"We're waiting oo!" one guy yelled.

"If she doesn't want to, then it's fine," David said to the guy who yelled.

"She has to, it's part of the game. Unless she wants to face the consequences," Gloria told David.

I nervously turned to see Tyler's expression, and my heart flipped over when I didn't see him sitting there. Instead, it was Felix!

Felix?!

Where did Tyler go?

I looked around, but I didn't see him anywhere. Without wanting to, I stood up and continued looking.

"What's wrong?" Felix asked, standing on his feet as well.

"Where's Tyler?"

"He'll be back. In the meantime, let's-"

"I'm not doing the dare," I told everyone, and I made sure to say it loud and clear.

"But, you have to," Gloria whined.

"I don't want to." My tone was able to pass an assertive message, and everyone glared at me like I ruined the game.

"Mitchew," a guy hissed.

"It's fine then," Gloria said, standing up.

"Should we play other games?" one girl asked, walking up to her and standing beside her. I recognized the girl as another of my classmate.

Actually, everyone present were my classmates, which was why the party was dry and boring. Familiar faces everywhere. The only face that surprised me the most, was Liam's. I didn't know a Daddy G.O like him attended parties or hangouts. Who even asked him to play truth or dare?

Because now, he sat at a corner, reading a devotional book. It was like he was trying to cleanse himself because David asked him a simple question.

Wahalar!

"Let's play charade," one guy chimed in, walking over to where both girls stood.

"Hmm, sounds like fun sha," Gloria said with a giggle. What was making this girl happy like this?

"No jare," one guy objected. "That's too boring and childish abeg."

Gloria folded her arms and stared at the guy. "So what should we play, Gabriel?"

The guy - Gabriel - had this mischievous glint in his eyes and he sat up, rubbing his palms together. "Oooh, I've got a good one."

"Better not be something stupid oo, because we all know how stupid you can be," a girl commented, and Gabriel hissed at her.

This was the first time I was noticing alot of people that were supposed to be my classmates.

"Abi. He no dey ever get sense. You'll disgrace yourself in front of the new girl now."

I turned my neck to see who said that, and it was a dark guy. He even had the guts to wink at me. Eww.

And why do they keep referring to me as new girl? My name is Yemisi for crying out loud! Even Google is familiar with the name, Yemisi Richard, because I'm famous.

"My idea isn't stupid, it's bad," Gabriel said.

"Bad? As how?" A guy I know as Maverick, asked. A girl was on his lap, rocking him, and they were doing it shamelessly.

Eww!

The girl wasn't even pretty. Pimples were in a traffic jam on her facials, and she was just sweating profusely as she rocked Maverick.

"Bad, as in, BAD!" Gabriel replied to Maverick's question.

"Oya talk!" Some guys urged him, eagerly waiting for his idea. What kind of place am I at?

"How many of us have watched, Kissing Booth?" Gabriel asked with a grin.

"Me!" some girls chorused.

I knew exactly what Gabriel meant, but I just observed.

"But our game will be a little different from 'Kissing Booth'," Gabriel continued. "Two people will be blindfolded, and then we'll pair them up. They'll have to kiss each other without seeing who it is."

Murmurs filled the air, and it sounded like everyone was agreeing to Gabriel's scandalous idea. Why would I play such a game in the first place? I was definitely not playing until. . .

"Sounds fun. Would you like to play?" David asked me in a hot tone, and it felt like he was asking me for something indirectly.

I stared at him, speechless. Then I stupidly nodded, even though I didn't want to play. At least, there was a possibility that I'd get to kiss David again, just like that day. Gosh! That day was just-

"I like the idea," Gloria chirped. "I'll go get some of my mom's hair ties so we can use as blindfolds."

She skipped out of the living room, to wherever, and I began to wonder if her parents were home. It didn't seem like any of her parents were at home sha.

"I'm definitely interested in this," Felix said, after staying quiet for a long time, and he flashed me a smile before walking to where some other guys sat.

I stylishly searched for Tyler. He was still nowhere to be found and I wondered if he had gone home already. Did he abandon me? Because we came here together oo! I didn't bring my driver along, Tyler's driver was the one that drove us to Gloria's house.

My mom insisted that I followed Tyler because to her, he's capable of taking care of me. I'm really sick of that phrase. She's always asking Tyler to take care of me, and it's embarrassing.

Gloria came back to the living room with alot of hair ties, and she started handing them out.

Some people started playing the game, and alot of kissing was going on. It made me feel nauseous, and also the thought of Tyler abandoning me at the party was just scaring me.

I didn't know where to look for him, so I simply dialed his number. There was no reply. I tried again, still no reply.

"Hey," someone said behind me, touching my shoulder. I looked behind to see David grinning at me, with a cigarette in his hand.

Cigarette!

He was saying something before taking a drag, but I couldn't hear him quite well. I felt dizzy again, and the smell of cigarette filled the air. I realized that David wasn't the only one smoking, but some other guys and girls were doing so too as they played and laughed and danced.

No, no, no!

I pushed past David, and quickly ran outside to breathe in fresh air. Five minutes later, I got myself. I sat down on the pavement for a while, just looking around. My eyes suddenly caught something that made my heart sink.

Tyler's car wasn't where it was supposed to be parked. The spot was empty, and his car was nowhere in sight.

He really abandoned me?

He abandoned me!

I clenched my fists, feeling my nails dig into my palms. How could he do this to me? Especially when my mom specifically asked him to bring me here. Because of him, I attended this stupid and worthless hangout! And he abandoned me!

This is why I can't stop hating Tyler Ogbe!

<─────────>
A/N

Wawhooo!

Tyler just left like that 🙁. That's not very demure 😭.

I do feel bad for Yemisi, but don't you think Tyler has his reasons 🤔?

I wonder why he just left, and forgot about his Yemisi 😩

Please comment your thoughts!!!

Also, here are some terms used in this chapter with explanations:

• Bẹrẹ sọrọ - Start talking.

• Naso dem dey talk - That's what they'd say.

Thanks for reading, please don't forget to vote and comment ♥️ 🩷

CiCi 🌹

🌺TEASER🌺