Dedicated to the one that gingers me to update. titiini

Oh, I wanna stay, wanna walk out the door
Oh no, right now baby I'm torn
I can't get enough, can't take anymore
Oh no, right now baby I'm torn
You dry my tears and make it pour
You show me love and give me war
I can't get enough, can't take anymore
Oh no, right now baby I'm torn

~ Zoe~

Our birthdays was fast approaching and so were our WAEC exams but at this point in my life, I don't think I care anymore. I just found out 3 day's ago that I was carrying Nathaniels child. Not just any Nathaniel but the  Nathaniel Utidia Abassy Chloe's ex-best friend, who happened to be the captain of the St Valentino's Academy our schools worst rivalry.

My goodness could this days get any worse, I thought. well it turns out the universe heard my thoughts and granted my wish to me. Right here in the middle of our living room a stranger whom I have never seen or heard about shows up out of nowhere claiming to be my mom. To be our mom.

I was not only shocked I was flabbergasted astonished even. Was this the new trend? Big, strong, stingingly rich,  very influential people waltz their way into your life that was already a Catastrophe and claim to be your moms. I meant Hello, this is the 21st century! Do you think I'm just going to believe you and be on my merry way packing and moving out of the house I've known and lived in for 15 years!,Well 16 if you count our birthdays which is fast approaching.

The same way that I was having a hard time processing all this, is the same way everyone in the siting area was having a hard time processing all this. I mean who was she to ruin our fine Saturday morning. We were just trying to get Dad settled in since he was finally discharged today, on the ground that he was cured of what ever  mystery illness that kept  him captive and unable to do his fatherly duties.

We were still trying to straighten things out and give Dad the update of everything that went horribly wrong while he was away. We were hoping that while we were at it we don't end up sending  him back into the hospital, in my defense I won't be surprised If it happens with the life threatening and shocking news we keep throwing at his lap.

It was in the middle of that that the door bell rang ,even though we wanted to ignore it thinking it was a mail man or pizza delivery guy it wasn't- and my brother couldn't take the none stop ringing of the door bell. So that exactly explains why we are forced to listen to the rubbish this strange woman was saying.

I mean who on earth makes a wish for her newly born twin daughters to disappear. I mean, I am pregnant for Nathaniel, the guy I most definitely detest with everything in me. There is no way on earth I am wishing the child away just because he is the father of the child. Why am I even trying to make sense of the nonsense this lady was saying, as far as I was concerned  she  was probably a con artist, a spy or some sort of ritualist and kidnapper all in one.

" my name is Mariam Ayotofumi Aleshiloye. And well I am your mother,  I have your original birth certificate in my custody. And if you don't believe me, well I think it's a good thing I got a doctor here with a DNA Test to prove my point."

She poke in British English and I must say a woman of her age speaking it so fluently  I found it rather sickening not to mention nauseating as well. I had to think of happy thoughts so I could suppress the bile coming up my throat. Apparently I wasn't the only who who found the rubbish she was spiting hard to believe, Chloe was having a hard time believing it to as she stood up abruptly saying.

"Wow! Wow!! Wow! Wow!! Wow!!! Okay I am sorry, pause!"

"Oh dearest my. Did my own daughter just interrupt me, wife of the current governor of Osun state. Dear you have no manner at—"

"Correction, madam, you are the one with out manner. When I say pause. you pause! You can't just walking in here make up a cock and bull story and expect us to believe you. And last I checked until you can prove it, Mr and Mrs Babajide are still out parents."

Chloe said speaking my mind as well. I have to give credit to the new and improved Chloe, the Chloe of 2017 wouldn't even be here. She would probably be under her bed hiding in fear and timidity and sometimes I found it sinking that She couldnt stand up for her self. I on the other hand was till opening and closing my mouth like a fish out of water well more like a still pregnant fish out of water,  Chloe was take the bull by the horn exchanging words with the strangers who the more I look at it now has a lot of  striking resemblance with Chloe. Same oblong face, slightly tanned though but still skinny, and same slightly pointed nose with a a chiseled chin.

Maybe you can advice her to eat more often

Yes most certainly, she can't Be the wife of a governor and still be God damn skinny.

"You, the one that laughed out loud like all I came to do here was humor you. What have you got to —wait a minute, my goodness are you pregnant?"

She asked stating the obvious, feeling awkward about the whole thing I gave her a cut nod in affirmation to the obvious. She looked at me incredulously finding it hard to believe that I just acknowledged her statement. The whole place was irking quiet until Mrs Aleshiloye yell out of no where pointing accusing fingers at mom.

" how could you let this happen! This is history repeating it self in another form, how did my own daughter get pregnant under your watch. You had one job to do woman just one job—"

" oh for crying out loud! Spare me, please, if you really cared about the welfare  of this children then you wouldn't have wished them away. I wouldn't have to take on the job you were supposed to do."

Mother, Mrs Babajide said finally speaking for the first time in a while. Finally some action I was beginning to think mom had gone deaf or something. Apparently the stranger had her response waiting as she fired saying

" I was 16 at the time."

"And I was 32. But do you seee me complaining. No, I stood up to the challenge, took this Kids in and raised then as my own. And this, this is  how you thank me."

Mother said expressing her displeasure and pent-up anger. I'm just glad I am not at the receiving end of that anger, I just sat quietly on the couch guarding my stomach and quietly observing.

" you know what, Chloe is right you might be a ritualist for all we care, waltzing in here dishing out orders like you own this place. I think it's time we asked you to leave our home, you've over stayed your welcome. Now leave."

She looked at us and then back at mom, she fakes a smile and a humorless chuckle followed. Clearing her throat a bit she said in all tone of seriousness and finality.

" I don't think you Babajides get it. I didn't just make a wish that my twin daughters disappear without a trace, I placed a curse on them, that until I find them and have them in my custody they shall be the source of Chaos and disorder, where ever they go. And If they are not returned to me before the end of their 16 birthday the curse will remain permanent."

"What?"

We all whispered yell at her okay. this had gone too far, this strange woman had gone too far and crossed a line she wasn't supposed to cross. It was my turn  to talk and boy I had a lot to say, without hesitation I stood us and spoke my mind shocking everyone sited along with me in the sitting room.

" okay Mrs crazy lady who is obviously a ritualist.  You picked the wrong house to charm, my twin sisters and I are not your daughters okay.You can't just Waltz in here and threaten us in our own home with some curse you placed decades Ago.  Now please go find your missing daughters some place else because they are not here."

And just like that She stood up without another word and walked out of our house. Thank heaven she finally left, just to be sure she was actually gone i went towards the window to check, i heaved a sigh when I saw the Coast  was clear. Let's never let strangers into our home again Governors wife or not, let's never do that.

" she is telling the truth."

Father spoke for the the first time in the last 5 hours that this woman sat with us. So he was still in the room, I had completely forgotten about him self. We all quickly rushed to his side to Listen to what he had to say, because he was discharged from the hospital doesn't mean he is completely cured of the mystery illment. He still had cough and difficulty breathing was still something that worried us deeply but the doctor assured us that it was something that constant medication could solve. I really hope the doctor was right and he knows what he was saying.

" She is telling the truth. I know nothing about the curse but I do know that I found a letter in the baskets your mother found you in."

" daddy please,  take it easy don't stress your self to speak."

"No I have limited time here, so it best i speak my truth. Even if you don't believe me or her. At least do the DNA test just to clear all doubts. But speaking truthfully, she is your mother, Governor Mrs Aleshiloye is your mother and we aren't your real parents."

My dad concluded coughing loudly. I came to stand behind him to rub his back hoping that would ease the cough. It did Thankfully and Chloe fed him water to drink, while we were at the door bell rang and immediately after a knocks came. I went to Check the window and was shocked to see a police van parked in our compound.

This can't be good.

Maybe they are here to arrest That stranger, Mrs Aleshiloye.

I highly doubt that. Besides she is not even here anymore.

My subconscious Countered  my statements and I frown opening the front door to answer them. he smile at me once i came into view but that smiled dropped the minute they scanned my features and noticed I was only a pregnant teenager. Replacing his slight frown with a fake smile he ask saying.

" umm are we on to the house of Babajide's"

"Yes you are officer. What can we do for you this fine weekend."

Said My brother- or should I even be calling him that considering this epic confession that just happened today. Damilare was towering over me as he said that to the officers that were looking at him like they have caught a thief.

" are you Damilare Babajide?"

" that depends who is asking?"

" very funny kiddo. I am officer kolade and with me is my associate Officer Damian. You are under arrest for fraudulent miss repetitions to extort money from innocent people. killing and using Two young locals for money ritual. Please come with us and remember what ever you do or say will be used against you."

Just like that, my supposed brother was arrested right before my very eyes. I felt like I was being plugged into a rollercoster of nightmares, i mean we were hardly succeeding getting out of one catastrophic mess and now this was happening, from where to where please. But then again I couldn't fight not when I knew that for the police to come knocking on our door they have more Than enough evidence.

Heck they need not look any futher the face that we were still alive and in one piece not homeless and on the streets begging for food is enough proof. This is because it was the money that Damilare got from his ritualist and yahoo boy joy that was keeping the family together. Hot tears were streamings down my face as they dragged Damilare out of the house, he didn't even fight back or try to run away, he Knew this was going to happen sooner or later and he was damn prepared for it,

There was nothing I could do about it and besides if I stood in the way it will me obstructing justice and I could get arrested for that. I didn't want to be arrested as well at least not right now that I have a baby in my tummy. I sigh feeling sad dejected and hopeless why is all this happening to us, was it because of that stupid curse Mrs Aleshiloye talked about? No it couldn't, the stupid curse she spoke about couldnt possibly be the root of all this misfortune happing to us right now. I screamed when I saw the police van that held Damilare host zoom off.

Mom and Chloe had to rush to my side to hold me so i don't go chasing after the Car. to my left Chloe helped me back in so I could sit on the couch and process what just happened why Mom made sure to Lock the door properly. This had by far been the worst month of this year and this month of April was just starting. I wonder how mom and Chloe are soo composed after all that has happened. Maybe they were either having a hard Time processing it all or they were too numb to react appropriately.

I am just glad that in the mist of this misfortune, things aren't all that dark. Mom got a new job as the content director of full house creatives and though the pay isn't much it's enough to keep roof over our heads and put food on the table. Now that Damilare who was the one providing for us and keeping the house together is gone, now will be a good time to put Mom's new salary to good use. I just hope it Will be enough to cover all the bills that were already pilling up before she disappeared on us locking her self in the hospital with dad while he was still there .

A/N

Another epic chapter don't you think...