< Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching >

- William Ellery Channing.

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                      Damilola
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"So, you've started buying gifts for my boyfriend? Na wa oo,"

"Betty, Sharon, raise her up from the floor and hold her hands up in the air, now!"

"Misunderstanding what? It's very clear that you have feelings for my Ivan! Are you mad? You no dey fear face?"

"Nasty girl! You're not even Ivan's type, because you're fat!"

"Stay away from Ivan Kingsley, otherwise, the consequences will be more brutal than this! Scholarship bamboo!"

Staring out my room window, I felt a cool breeze flow in the atmosphere, the sky became cloudy. It's going to rain.

Wow, the weather matches my mood!

Hot tears streamed down my cheeks unknowingly, my mind reeled with anguish, my thoughts a jumbled mess. My cheeks still hurts due to the slap I received from Megan, and I can't walk properly because of the kick she gave me under my abdomen- it hurts badly!

"Nasty girl! You're not even Ivan's type, because you're fat!"

She's right, I'm not Ivan's type.

I knew I should've ended this stupid crush a long time ago, what I'm doing is just wrong. Ivan is someone's boyfriend, and I'm just acting like- the other woman!

I know that's farfetched, but it's what I'm actually doing. Obviously, Ivan has no interest whatsoever, in me. So, why waste my time on a one-sided crush?

The deeper I fall for Ivan, the deeper my wounds! After that incident with Megan yesterday, I left school immediately without mentioning anything to Joy. I called my driver and lied that I was feeling sick and sore, literally.

I'm not even replying to her text because I don't want her to end up doing something that'll get her in trouble.

So much drama happened this past weeks, and we're entering another week of resumption. Ugh!

Knock! Knock!

"Come in," I responded. The door crept open, revealing Ms Margaret, one of our workers in her mid-thirties. She's been working with us ever since mother passed away.

"Hey," she smiled and entered my room with a glass of juice and cookies, on a tray.

Not what I needed.

As always, she was on her uniform, like every other worker here.
She's played a parental role in my life so far, unlike...dad! She's always there to listen to me rant, she's always there to celebrate my littlest achievements, she washes and irons our clothes, she cooks- though, we have other servants that do that too, but Ms Margaret is just... different.

She runs this house!

"I brought you some snacks," she pointed to the tray she held, and carefully placed it on my bed.

"Nasty girl! You're not even Ivan's type, because you're fat!"

"Thanks, but I'm on a diet," I said, folding my laps on my bed.

"Since when did you start paying attention to your weight?" She questioned me with exasperation.

That's what you get for being a known foodie! When you start gyming, everyone will have something to say.

"Since now," I smiled at her. I was really trying to be jolly around her so she wouldn't suspect a thing.

"Abeg eat jor, just a glass of juice and cookies can't give you obesity," she teased, then shoved the tray close to my left thigh. I let out a small laugh and took a cookie.

"You want it oo, you'll be pretending like you don't. Mitchew." She chuckled and I smiled weakly, eating a cookie- yes that same one!

News flash- I'm a sluggish eater.

With my side view, I could see her glaring at me dubiously. I didn't want to risk making eye contact with her, otherwise I'll just burst in tears. I'm pained mehn!

I'm pained.

"Damilola?" She called and I still refused to stare at her. Instead, I took a sip from my juice and mumbled.

"Hmm?"

"What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" I questioned her back hastily, eating my cookie, still not looking her in the eye.

"Nasty girl! You're not even Ivan's type, because you're fat!"

"Look at me," she commanded. I still refused to look at her, ignoring the lump that had formed in my throat already.

"Stay away from Ivan Kingsley, otherwise, the consequences will be more brutal than this! Scholarship bamboo!"

"I said look at me!" She forcefully turned me to her direction. As if on cue, a tear drop fell from my eye. Ms Margaret gasped and formed an 'O' shape with her mouth. "Damilola?"

I burst into tears, burying my face on her shoulder. My heart felt shattered, my tears falling like rain as my body shook with sobs. The pain I felt was like a tidal wave crashing over me. I felt light pats on my back, as my chest heaved with sobs.

Breathing heavily, I pulled away from Ms Margaret's embrace and tried wiping my tears away. I was a mess! Ms Margaret stared at me with a questioning gaze, "Do you want to talk about it?"

My lips pursed, and I gave a small head shake that sent a silent 'no.' She exhaled and caressed my cheek, I retreated her touch spontaneously. "Sssss," I yelped, shutting my eyes in anguish.

"What happened to you?" She asked, attempting to touch my cheek again, but I drew back. She was baffled by my action, "Who hurt you? Eh?"

"N-nobody. I-I-I'm just, um-"

"Just what?!" She snapped at me impatiently. "Stop stammering and lying to my face, tell me what happened to you NOW!" She sounded angry, and I know how she gets when she's angry.

"It's nothing, I swear."

"You're swearing? That means you're lying."

"No, I'm not oo. My cheeks are just sore for some reason."

"Which is?"

"I don't even know oo," I spread my arms in the air, waving my hand frantically. I'm sure she just got more suspicious and won't let me go easily. I can't report Megan to anybody, that'll only worsen my condition. I just have few months in secondary school, so it's better I tolerate Megan without any trouble so that she won't expose my scholarship.

By May, I should be writing WAEC. It's remaining small.

"Damilola!" I narrowed my eyes to the door. My dad barged into my room, making Ms Margaret stand up from my bed abruptly, lowering her head in my father's presence to show respect.

I have to say, he looked handsome in his suit today. For the first time, he actually dressed up nicely.

Don't get me wrong, it's not a backhanded comment. It's just, this is the first time I've actually paid attention to his looks, which is weird.

He eyes Ms Margaret from head to toe, "Leave us." She bows her head, and exits my bedroom.

My heart raced in trepidation, because my dad only comes to my room when I'm in trouble. To avoid eye contact, I whistled and stared at my juice.

"Stop that!" My eyes widened at his orotund voice. "Let's talk."

Talk ke?

Me and my dad, talking? That's double trouble.

"Okay sir."

He sat down at the edge of my bed without sparing me a glance. "I'm leaving for an electoral meeting."

Why is he telling me this?

" Okay sir."

He kept looking around my room, which made me feel cautious about my room's hygiene. "Make sure none of you leave this house today. My rivals are planning something against me, so you two must not step out of this house today. Understood?"

"Yes sir!"

"Mrs Uwaifo wouldn't rest until she wipes me out of the election, so I have to be vigilant," he muttered.

Uwaifo?

"Daddy, umm, d-did y-ou- just say Uwaifo?" He nodded slightly, staring at his phone's blank screen.

Could it be-? Nah!

There are other Uwaifos out there, it's probably not Megan.

"I'll head out now." He stood up and walked to the door.

"Daddy," I called, and he paused, turning his neck slightly. "Umm, I-I want to show you something."

He glanced at his watch, "Hurry up."

I quickly grabbed my mathematics notebook and turned to the page where I scored a ten. I rushed to where he stood, and showed him my notebook. "I-I scored a ten-"

"For the first time," he chuckled humourlessly, taking a glimpse of my notebook, before facing me properly. "Impressive."

I smiled happily, but that was short-lived. "But you need to do more. Maybe get first position this term, I might be proud of you."

Might.

"D-dad," I called out to him again before he leaves. I heard him groan, nevertheless I continued with what I had to say. "Why do you treat me differently? When can we finally be a father and a daughter?" I could feel my tears building up again.

He smirked, adjusting his collar, "Maybe when you finally give me a reason to be proud."

With that, he walked out of my room, leaving me in bewilderment. I sighed, throwing my notebook on my bed. I pulled my hair, feeling frustrated. I collapsed back on my bed, thoughts engulfing me.

What did I do to this man? When will he finally appreciate my efforts? Instead, he wants something bigger. A bigger achievement!

This man will not kill me!

First position? Me? We're like electric and water.

I groaned just thinking about my father's behaviour. I need to win his heart back, he wasn't like this before. How can I make him proud?

My door crept open, and Ms Margaret came inside. "Your dad just left. I must admit, he looks more handsome today," she said dreamingly. I forgot, she has a crush on my dad. Too bad it's one-sided, because my dad doesn't acknowledge her presence.

We're kind of going through the same thing.

She sat back down on my bed and noticed my behaviour. Normally, I would whine her for having a crush on my dad, but I wasn't doing that. I wasn't even smiling.

"What happened? Did he say something?" I nodded at her question and she groaned. "Why is he so saucy, yet handsome?" I low-key gave her a bombastic side eye.

"What did he say?"

"He wants me to make him proud."

"I don't understand, didn't you show him your math score?"

"I did," I replied gloomily.

"Then what's the problem?"

"He wants me to do something grand, like take first position or something. But that's impossible, there's alot of competition in my class."

"Hmm. Maybe you should think of something else."

"Like what?"

"I don't know, but you'll figure it out. I have a football match to catch up with, so..." She dragged, pointing to the door.

"Whatever, you can go."

"Thank you," she beamed happily, getting off my bed. "I can't wait to see Manchester's face when Chelsea wins! Do you want to join me?"

"I'll pass."

"Your loss." She skipped out of my room, headed to the living room.

I'm not a football fan, and that's nothing new. I don't understand what people see in that game sef. Watching boys compete and run, just for a mere object- ball.

It's irritating jor.

While brainstorming for an idea on how to make daddy proud, my door flung open. I groaned, because I want to be left alone for now.

"You!" I gasped the moment I saw Joy bouncing towards me. She flew on my bed and landed on top of me, holding my arms down. "Why are you ignoring my texts? Eh?!"

Her tone screamed, anger!

"I've been trying to reach you since yesterday, but you've been ignoring me! Why?" She yelled.

"I'm sorry, I-"

"Don't even spill a lie from your mouth, I won't tolerate it at all."

"Okay, okay. First get off me and I'll tell you everything."

"I'm comfortable with this position, so speak up!"

My abdomen oo.

"Joy please get off me, you're suppressing my bladder and abdomen, biko."

"No, I won't! Tell me what happened, otherwise I'll press them even more!"
She positioned her knee above my abdomen and I screamed. "I've not even started and you're shouting. Thank God you know it'll pain. Speak!"

"Okay, okay, I surrender," I said, gasping for air.

"Oya."

"I wasn't picking up your calls because I was scared."

"Of what?"

"You! In other words, I was scared for you."

"Why? What'll happen to me?"

I sighed, and narrated the whole story. From Ivan refusing the gift down to Megan's arrival at the scene. "Then, she warned me to stay away from Ivan," I concluded the story.

Joy paused for a while and got off me. I was glad she wasn't freaking out or acting like a mad person, she acted mature-

"WHAT?!"

I groaned inwardly.

"So, Megan wannabe Stallion, did all that to you? SHE HURT MY BESTIE?! JOY'S BESTIE!" She started laughing and clapping her hands. "She get mind oo!"

"Joy, please calm dow-"

"Calm wetin?" She snapped. "You can behave like mumu sha! Megan did all that to you, and you just stood there and let it happen?"

"It's not my fault, I was afraid-"

"Afraid of what? Damilola please, stop all these antics of yours! Can't you speak? Eh? Why did God na give you mouth? Isn't it to SPEAK?!"

I hate this side of Joy!

"I know, it's not easy." She stood up and paced in frustration before directing her attention back to me."

"Listen to me attentively! Megan is just human, just like you and me and everyone else! The only thing standing between you speaking up for yourself is- YOU! You're your only limit Damilola."

"Enough abeg! Ah, is okay! I don't need all these advice, I'm fine with the way my life is. It's just a matter of a few months and we'll be out of secondary school. Why should I ruin things when my freedom is near? Just focus on your life and leave me to do the same," I yelled angrily.

"I'm only looking out for you-"

"I didn't ask you to do that! You're just wasting your time."

"So I'm wasting my time looking out for you? Eh Damilola?" I refused to look at her. I was fuming, folding my arm under my breast.

"No wahala," she stated and dusted her hand.

No wahala.

"I didn't know you can shout like this sef! E shock me," she laughed. "Just so you know, you shouldn't be exhibiting such behaviour towards me, you should be doing this to the one who deserves it. You have a point sef, I can't always be there to save you, you should learn how to do that yourself!" She stormed out of my room and slammed the door.

I felt awful after she left because it's the first time in a long time we've had an argument. I said some things I shouldn't have and now my conscience is judging me. But she was supposed to help me reduce my stress by insulting Megan more, instead of turning the tables on me! Isn't that what best friends do?

I cleared my thoughts and went downstairs to have lunch. Surprisingly, I spotted Anita walking out the front door.

"Hey!" My sharp tone made her turn around to face me. I walked over to where she stood and examined her clothing from head to toe.

It was-

"And where do you think you're going?" She chuckled at my question.

"Where does it look like I'm going?" I examined her dressing again. She wore a long skirt that touched her ankle, a top that she covered with a vest and slippers on her feet. "Church of course!"

"Church?" I questioned her. "By this time?"

"Yes. I got invited to a youth's fellowship yesterday, and I'm going to experience the touch of God in my life."

Eh?

"Well, you can't leave because-"

"Yes, daddy told me too, but I took permission from him and said I'll be accompanied by one of the bodyguards."

"But daddy didn't mention it to me. All he said was that none of us should leave this house today."

"Eh, that's because he told me after he told you. So how can he tell you again?"

What?!

"See, stop trying to act like my elder sister. I'm already running late for the fellowship." She exited the front door singing: Praising thy Lord, always. Praising thy Lord, with all my heart, praising thy Lord with all my heart always.

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A/N

Anita-ta-ta-ta-ta😂😂

Hmmm, na wa oo 🌚

Where is Anita going sef?

What do you think about the argument Damilola had with Joy? Was it right?

Thank you for reading, please comment your thoughts and vote on this chapter 😗 🌹 ✨

CiCi 🌹