Hi guys 🌝 guess who's here again

Me!

So I decided to like, update again so I won't forget and leave y'all hanging again for the next three months 😭 (really sorry for that again)

Enjoy!

Empress.

Exams are next week and I am low-key panicking.

I haven't read in a while because of all the drama that has been happening around me. I had so many things on the line that will go to waste if I do not pass with a great score. I have been trying to read but so far nothing is working out for me and It was making me irritable.

"Emmie, are you okay?" Rihanna asked as she looked at me with a worried expression. I pasted a fake smile on my face and nodded my head. I didn't want anyone to worry about me.

"Yes jare. Exams are coming soon and I'm trying to revise"

"It's true sef. God help me because I don't even know how I'm going to pass maths like this. And I have to do well sha" she replied and sighed.

"I can help you if you want" after all, it would mean more revision for me too.

She looked at me and then at the chemistry note on the table.

"Uhm...no. You look like that Accounting note is really eating your brain alive and you guys notes are harder to cover. I will ask Zayne, he doesn't even read so maybe he will have time for me" she said softly. I nodded my head, feeling relief in my mind because I had more time to myself to read as much as i can before Monday, when the exams would start.

"Sure baby, no problem" I replied absentmindedly.

"I'm coming, let me go see someone" she hurriedly said and left. I didn't need a magician to tell me that the person she wanted to see was no other than her fake boyfriend. Contrary to their words of them not liking each other or having their time, the chemistry and sexual tension was right there even though they would never admit it.

I sighed and closed my book, it was pointless reading it because nothing was actually entering my brain. I checked the time and saw it almost closing period so I started packing my things. As I flung my bag over my shoulder, Dayo walked in. His eyes widened when he saw me standing there, in the middle of an empty class. I wondered why he was here too, this was not the only empty class at the top floor.

"Uhm hi" he greeted.

"Hey" I replied awkwardly. There was silence. I didn't know what else to say and I knew it was the same for him. Apparently after visiting him on Saturday, there have been this awkward vibe around us. He didn't bother me on the court again and I didn't speak to him or attack him as well.

"Didn't know you were here" he said.

"Oh. I come here to read all the time because the class is always noisy" I replied.

"Mhmm" he hummed in agreement. His eyes was trained on me and I found it Increasingly hard to keep eye contact.

What was wrong with me?

"You can use it if you want. I was about leaving anyway" I said hurriedly and was about to step out of the class before I felt him hold my wrist to stop me. I felt those strange sparks again and this time, it lasted longer.

"What?" I asked him, looking at everywhere but his face.

"You should stay" he said quietly.

I could swear my heart beat faster at his words. I swallowed and blinked, not knowing what reasonable thing to say.

"Why?" I snapped, the word coming out more harsh than I intended it to.

He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He shut his mouth and let go of my wrist.

"Nothing. Nevermind. You can go, I will continue reading here" he said and moved past me without saying another word. I blinked at him and silently left the classroom.

Whatever weird feeling I was experiencing, I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one that had it too.

****

After the bell was rung for closing period, I went to see coach as he requested to see me. After that, I quickly went home, praying with all my might that she wasn't home because I was a bit late. My body was already tired and bruised and I couldn't take any more beating or injuries. There was only so much I could cover with my long sleeves and baggy blazers.

When I walked into the compound, my heart dropped when I saw the red Range Rover parked by the side. My heart started beating a thousand times per minute and my head had already started aching. I hesitated a bit before raising my hand to knock on the door.

God please have mercy on me. I can't take any punishment or beating today.

The door flung open and lo and behold, Mother was standing there, glaring at me with a murderous look in her eyes.

"G-Good afternoon ma" I greeted meekly and knelt before her.

"And why are you coming by this time?" She demanded coldly. I gulped and fiddled with my watch nervously.

"I..I am sorry ma. My coach requested to see me and-"

Thwack!

I didn't see it coming and before I could continue speaking, I was already on the floor, half blind. My ears were screaming and the side where she hit me was aching badly. Tears threatened to fall from my eyes but I withheld them. Crying made her more angry and I didn't want that.

"Will you SHUT UP?! Do you think you're talking to a baby? You went to see your coach and you're coming back by four thirty? You're not sleeping around abi? You're a disgrace!" She shouted and spat on me. I knelt down before her, shaking and trying not to cry.

"I am sorry ma. Please forgive me" I muttered. She bent herself down to my level and fisted her hand in my hair and yanked my head up to face her. I winced in pain and my eyes watered but I kept telling myself not to cry. She will kill me if I did.

"You think you're smart Calliope and you think you can do whatever you want, but let me tell you something, I can kill you and dump your body in the fucking river and nobody will know. You know why? Because you're a shame to me, a disgrace. You're not worthy of being a Kalu. You are weak! Just like your father was. No wonder he's dead now"

At the mention of my father, my heart cut into pieces. I bit my lip and restrained myself from saying things that would make me end up in the grave. She tightened her hand and dragged my hair even more making me whimper in pain.

"Please " I quietly said.

She held it for some time before letting go. She stood up and stared at me with disgust evident in her eyes.

"You're getting spoiled Calliope. I'm showing you too much mercy. Everything I have told you to do, you have refused to do. Is it loosing weight? You look like a fat elephant, a fat, ugly elephant. Little wonder why you have no one who likes you, because you are nothing Calliope. You're not attractive, you worth nothing."

Every word she threw at me cut me like knives but I remained silent. I swallowed it, trembling and alert for any sign that she'll hurt me again.

"You're not coming inside this house. Shey you want to turn to a slut abi? You will act like one. Sleep outside" she said before entering the house and locking me outside.

"Mum please open the door" I whispered, trying to open the door with the key I had. It didn't work. Not only had she locked the door, but she bolted it as well. I sighed, for this was not uncommon. Either she would give me the beating of my life or she would lock me outside. God answered a bit of my prayers, she didn't burn me with iron at least.

I whipped out my phone and dialed Rihanna's number but it was switched off. Her house was far from mine so going there was not an option as I was very tired. I wanted to dial Justice's number but then I remembered she was at a sleepover at Amir's house. Apart from those two, I had no one to call. If there was one thing Mother was right about, it's people not liking me. I sighed and left the house, unsure of where to go. It was getting dark now as the nights were longer than the days.

I took a ride back to school, hoping the security,am would at least allow me to spend the night in the gym room as I sometimes did on nights like this. As I stood in front of the gate, someone stepped outside, almost bumping into me.

Dayo.

He looked very surprised to see me as I was to him. What was he still doing in school at this time of the evening?

"Empress?" He called.

"Hello" I replied.

"What...what are you doing here? Are you okay? You look like you've been to hell and back" he asked. The concern in his voice touched me and the tears that eluded me when I was being beaten threatened to come out now.

"Empress? Is everything okay? Do you need something?" He asked again, searching my face with his eyes. He held my hand and touched my chin gently, examining my face for anything at all.

"Uhm...I was sent out. I don't...I don't know where to stay so I thought -"

"You want to stay in the school? Hell no, you can come with me, I have more bedrooms than I can count. Why were you sent out? What happened?"

Maybe it was because he was being kind of because of the concern in his voice, but as I opened my mouth to speak, I started sobbing.

I cried. I cried so hard that I thought I was going to lose breath and die. Dayo didn't say anything, instead he drew me to himself and hugged me tightly. I cried into his chest, gripping his arm as the emotional pain torn me in my insides.

"Let it all out okay, don't hold back" he whispered and patted me on my back. I don't know how long I cried, but i knew it was a long time.

When I was done, I wiped my eyes and laughed bitterly.

"I'm so sorry, I wrecked your shirt again"

"It's fine, I can always get a new one. Why don't we head back to my place? My brother has been asking of you and you look like you need food and water plus a lot of rest" he said softly. On a normal day I would argue, going to a guy's house to spend the night wasn't me. But today, I was tired of everything.

His driver came and we both got in. He held out his arms and without thinking, I scooted closer and leaned against him. It was weird, how Dayo was the only one who had actually seen me at my lowest and always comforted me. He was supposed to me someone I didn't like, but then, he turned out to be my comforter, my safe haven, instead of my friends.

As I thought of that, I felt myself black out

And I was comfortable with it.

I have no words 😭

Ah! This girl is going through a lot nglllllll. Y'all should pray for her 🫂💝😔

Who else agrees that Dayo is such a sweetheart 😩🪷🌸 my new husband y'all!

Quick question, do you think Rihanna and Justice are bad friends for not knowing what's going on with Empress? 🫠

Let me know what you think

Please vote, comment and shareee😩🫧☺️💙🤍

Ciao!