3rd PERSON POV

"Are you crazy? Why on earth would you shoot him? I clearly told you to shoot the girl and you're telling me crap" She yelled over the phone.

"Hey young lady, don't raise your voice at me" He barked and she flinched but he couldn't see that so she spoke up feigning confidence. "Are you being serious right now? You shot the wrong person and you're threatening me"

"I didn't threaten you, I just warned you. And by the way, I killed two birds with a stone. I accomplished my mission and I'm getting paid also for something I did not do"

"What do you mean by that? Didn't you hear a thing I said?"

"You're such a naive little girl. I shot the person I was asked to and what made you think I'll kill the girl just because she's dating the guy you like. Is it her fault the guy doesn't like you back? I can't waste my time over some silly high school drama. I'm way more than that Uzodinma"

"What are you saying in essence?" She asked rubbing her sweaty palm against her dress and her other hand tightly griping her phone while she took the call.

"What I'm trying to say is that, I was sent to kill the boy and I duped you, I took your money and that of the other person that sent me" He spoke up and chuckled.

"I don't care. I'm just going to let you know that you're not getting your full payment" She said rubbing her temple with her hand. "You wouldn't dare. I'm sure you don't want your dad to know that you hired one of his thugs now do you?"

She fidgeted. "My dad can get you behind bars you know, he's a politician"

His hysterical laughter filled her ears. "Your dad wouldn't do that. Now get off the phone and send my balance to me or else you'll face my wrath" He yelled at her and hung up.

She sighed. What have I done? Timi is in danger and it's all my fault. She slammed her fist against the steering of the car causing a loud honk to fill the air. She picked up her phone and texted Desmond.

I'm going home now. I'm not feeling too well. I'll talk to you later. Happy birthday.

And with that, she stepped on the accelerator.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

UZO'S POV

I sat on the stainless steel waiting bench at the hospital my eyes stained with dried tears and my head aching from crying for so long.

"Uzo, are you okay" I snapped my head in their direction and fresh tears made their way down my cheeks. I had put a call across to them and they left the party. I was also surprised when I saw Desmond walk in behind Mide.
"Say something" Agatha said holding my hands. "Are you okay?"

I nodded my head and managed to speak. "I'm fine, but Timi..." I trailed of and burst into tears quiet sobs leaving my lips as I replayed the whole incident in my head. "He's going to be fine. Stop crying Uzo,you're only going to hurt yourself" Damola said running her hand up and down my back to comfort me. Mide sat staring into space as tears rolled down her cheeks. Desmond did his best to console her.

"Did you see the person that shot him?" Damola asked and I shook my head. "Do you suspect anyone?" She asked again and I thought of it for a while and then shook my head.

"I know who is responsible for this " Agatha said out of the blues. Damola and I casted our gazes at her. "Dinny did this. She's the only one that doesn't want you two to be together"

I shook my head and sighed. "I know she doesn't like me but she won't do something this gruesome just to get back at me and moreover, she likes Timi and I'm not sure she'll want to hurt him". Damola nodded in approval and Agatha sighed and looked away tapping her foot impatiently against the tiled floor.

A doctor came out of a room and I rushed to him. "Doctor how is Timi? Is he okay? Can I see him?"
The doctor smiled. "He's awake and fine. We managed to get the bullet out but he's still very weak. He'll heal with time"

I was so glad when I heard the news. "Can we go in and see him?" Mide asked and the doctor nodded. "Yes you can but don't make him do anything strenuous" I didn't wait to nod as I sprinted into the room. As soon as I saw Timi in the hospital bed machines connected to him and his torso wrapped in white bandage, tears rolled down my cheeks. I walked to where he lay and cupped his face. "Timi...." I drawled out. "Uzo" he called in the same tone and made to sit up. "Don't! Please. Are you okay?" I asked and he nodded with a small smile probably to ease my tensed mood. "Just a little pain here and there"

The other guys walked in and Mide rushed to Timi's side and so did Peter.
He smiled at all of us and muttered. "I'll be fine don't get yourselves so worked up"

Mide hugged him and he groaned a bit. "I'm sorry" she said when she realized it was hurting him.

"I was scared to death" I said to Timi and a smirked graced his lips. "Aww you care" he cooed. "Even in this condition, you're still teasing" Agatha said with a smile and he squeezed my hand lightly. "I'll be fine" he muttered.

"I wish you safe recovery" Damola  said and smiled at Timi. "I have to leave now. Take care"
"So do I. I'll check on you tomorrow" Agatha added and Timi nodded as they walked out together. Peter went after them so he could drop them off.

Desmond walked over to Timi and smiled. "Be strong man, I'll come check on you later"

"Take care of yourselves" he said to Mide and I and Mide embraced him as her stroked her back gently. "It'll be fine" he muttered. When she pulled away, he gave her a light kiss on her forehead and left the room but not without biding farewell to Timi and I.

Minutes after Desmond left, Timi's parents walked in looking worried and I took that as a cue to leave the room and Mide came out with me.

TIMI'S POV

"Son are you okay" Dad said as he made his way towards me. "I'm fine" I said and he sighed in relief. Mum just sat by my side stroking my hair as she watched me intently her eyes glassy.

"I told you not to return but you insisted. Can you see what you've caused for yourself? When I told you someone was after you you thought I was being overly dramatic"

"But dad we can't be sure. It might have been a stray bullet"

"Can you hear yourself? A stray bullet directed at you." He shook his head vigorously "This has to stop and now. We're leaving this country tonight" He said in finality. "My dear, you shouldn't make such decisions in a haste" Mum added and I nodded in agreement. "I've made my decision. We're leaving and tonight" he said and walked out of the room.

I turned to mum. "You have to stop him mum, I don't want to leave"
She gave me a sad smile "You know how your father can be. He wouldn't listen, and when he has made up his mind, no one can talk him out of it."

"I'll have to join him now son. There's nothing I can do" She said and rushed out of the room quickly so I couldn't see her cry.

I sighed. What am I going to tell Uzo? She's not going to be happy about this. I thought.

"Why did they rush out like that?" Mide asked as she walked in with Uzo.
I sighed how was I going to break this to them? Especially Uzo. Uzo sat by my side and squeezed my hands. "Tell us, what did they say?"

I sucked in breath and let it out. "We're leaving the country tonight" I dropped the bombshell and Mide eyes widened but the expression on Uzo's face made my eyes sting as tears threatened to flow down from my eyes. Her hands left mine immediately and she moved back staring at me like I'm some sort of alien.

UZO'S POV

To say I was shocked would be an understatement as I slowly removed his hands from my and slowly backed away. I kept moving till my back hit the wall and I sat on the floor tears rolling down my eyes. Not again! Why me! Why can't my happiness last? Why does he always have to leave? Why? Just why?

Those were the questions that were in my head. Just Why?!

I comported myself and gently stood up when I noticed Timi's worried look. I didn't want to stress him.
"Didn't you at least make him reason with you?" Mide asked and he shook his head. "He doesn't want to hear any of it. He's adamant and when he wants something, he always gets it. Even mum can't talk him out of it"

I wiped my tears and Timi gave me a weak smile. "Uzo I don't want to go. I don't want to leave you but it's not like I have a choice"

"Please I need you to understand. I really love you, so much and I promise we'll meet again. Please stay strong, for me"

I nodded wiping the fresh tears that left my eyes. "I love you too" I said and he smiled. "I promise to always keep in touch with you and I'll come to see you whenever I get a chance"

I nodded in understanding but what I felt was far from that, I felt my life crumbling. You were fine without him for three years. Can't you do it again?
I shook my head. The circumstances were different then and now he's my boyfriend.

I held his hands and gave him a kiss on his left cheek. "I'll take your word for it.

A nurse walked in. "It's time to leave Master Adenuga" She said and she wheeled him in a stretcher outside the room with both of us trailing behind. "Stay strong Uzo" Michelle said to me as soon as we got out. "It's not the end. Okay?" I nodded and she embraced me. I let out those tears and she held me tighter. "It's okay my dear. It's okay"

She pulled away from me and walked away giving Timi and I privacy. "I'll call you okay?" He said and I nodded. I hugged him and he gave me a brief kiss on my lips. One that you wouldn't even notice but I felt it.

"Bye" I said to him and watched as the nursed wheeled him away. I took one last glance at him and our eyes met. He mouthed 'I love you' to me and I smiled blowing him a kiss. They took a turn and I couldn't see him again.

"Uzo" I heard my father call. I walked up to them. He just walked in with my Mother. I ran to him and he hugged me. "It's okay" he muttered. "I know you saw him get shot. It must be traumatizing to see a friend in that condition. It's fine. You're coming home with us"

I pulled out of his embrace. "My things?" "They are in the car" Mama said and they led me to the car.

The drive home was a silent one as if aware of my mood, James Arthur's Train wreck played softly from the car stereo .

🎵🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎵
Laying in the silence
Waiting for the sirens
Signs, any signs I'm alive still
I don't wanna lose it
I'm not getting through this
Hey, should I pray? should I pray
To myself? To a God?
To a saviour who can
Unbreak the broken
Unsay these spoken words
Find hope in the hopeless
Pull me out of the train wreck
Unburn the ashes
Unchain the reactions, I'm not ready to die, not yet
Pull me out of the train wreck
Pull me out, pull me out, pull me out
Pull me out, pull me out
Underneath our bad blood
We still got a sanctum, home
Still a home, still a home here
It's not too late to build it back
'Cause a one-in-a-million chance
Is still a chance, still a chance
And I would take those odds
Unbreak the broken
Unsay these spoken words
Find hope in the hopeless
Pull me out of the train wreck
Unburn the ashes
Unchain the reactions, I'm not ready to die, not yet
Pull me out the train wreck
Pull me out, pull me out, pull me out
Pull me out, pull me out, pull me out
You can say what you like 'cause see, I would die for you
I, I'm down on my knees and I need you to be my God
Be my help, be a savior who can
Unbreak the broken
Unsay these reckless words (find hope in the hopeless)
Pull me out of the train wreck
Unburn the ashes
Unchain the reactions, I'm not ready to die, not yet
Pull me out of the train wreck
Pull me out, pull me out, pull me out
Pull me out, pull me out, pull me out
🎵🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎵

The fresh tears than rolled down my eyes got me thinking, what now?

Wow!😥 And it's a wrap!

Chapter twenty six finally 💃💃💃

What do you think of this chapter?
Finally we know that Dinny isn't actually responsible for everything. And what do you think of the decision Timi's father made?

As for those of you planning to chop my head off, this isn't the last chapter. A bonus chapter will be published soon.

Please do well to Vote🌟, comment 💬 and please share.

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Thank you so much. Love y'all❤

Qhupid out 🐾🐾