IRENE

I felt a sharp pain and made to hold my head in place with my hands as it felt like it was going to collapse but then I realized I couldn't move my hand. It was as though something was pinning me down.

I opened my eyes and winced immediately as the headache came in another brain splitting pang. Looking down at my hands, I realized that I had been tied down to a chair. I shut my eyes again trying to recall how I got to that state.

I should have heeded to what I was told about you, I should have listened to them. I should have believed Osaze!

There's no misunderstanding. You're a fucking hypocrite and that's it.

Everything came rushing in and I remembered every single thing till the very moment I blacked out. Coupled with the physical pain I was feeling, the emotional pain had me biting back tears that threatened to flow down.

What had I ever done to anybody to deserve so much pain in my life? Why is it just me all the time? Why couldn't I ever find happiness?

Something struck my mind almost immediately.

Wait, Ivory!

"Ivory?" I called out and there was no response.

"Ivory, Ivory where are you?!" I was beginning to scream. I had already lost my sister before, I was not ready to loose her once again.

"Come on Ivory, answer me." I looked around the dark and very stuffy room if I could sight anyone or anything that'd lead me to out of my very confused and bitter state.

"Is anybody there?" I called out in a loud voice. After calling out for so long to no avail, I resorted to the next thing on my mind. Screaming for help.

"Help! Somebody help me!"

"Will you keep shut!" A very deep and rough voice snapped at me and I stopped yelling instantly. I heard heavy footsteps and my heart started beating against my rib cage.

He came from behind me and stood huge before me. He most definitely looked like some sort of Goliath.
"Will you just stop all the screaming, you are disturbing." He said still looking down at me like a giant looking down at regular people.

"Where is my sister?"

He chuckled and walked to the other end of the room. He returned to where he stood before and lit a cigarette. "Somewhere you'd never find out about." He responded. "We have taken her away." He said smiling as he gestured with his hands.

"You bastard!" I screamed at the top of my voice. "I'm going to get you and every other person involved in this arrested the moment I get out of here!" I threatened.

He bent to my level and shoved my face roughly holding my jaw tight whilst causing me so much pain. "You little rat, watch what you say because I can end your life if you provoke me."

He puffed smoke in my face and my misery knew no bound. The stench of alcohol mixed with cigarettes and the pain he caused me with how hard he gripped my jaw. I tried to struggle and was able to make out some words though muffled.

"You freak, I hate you. Get your filthy hands off me!"

"Or what?" He asked gripping my neck and practically choking me.

"Will you let the girl go or do you want my fist to damage your face?" A masculine voice spoke up and all the hairs on my body stood erect. I knew that voice, it was so familiar yet hard to pin point probably because of how overwhelmed I was.

The huge and very disgusting man retreated and I looked forward to see the silhouette of a man. Slowly, he stepped into the light and instant relief washed me.

"Mayowa!" I called and he rushed to me cupping my cheeks and looking at me with that tenderness in his eyes. The one he always had whenever I was with him. He looked very worried.

"Sweetheart are you okay?" I nodded as tears flowed down my cheeks freely, I let them.

"Did he hurt you?" He asked as he shot a quick distasteful glance at the man who had his head bowed slightly.

"No, I'm fine but he has my sister Ivory. Quickly untie me so we can go look for her together." With Ivory back home with us, our family would finally be complete.

He moved away from me. "I'm sorry I won't be doing that." He said and I shot him a glance.

"What?"

"I won't untie you and neither will I search for Ivory with you."

I was filled with surprise. What was he saying? "Why?" It came out more as a whisper.

"Because I meant for all of this to happen. It was part of my plan, it was all me."

I paused for a while to let what he just said sink and then I burst into uncontrollable laughter. "Come on Mayowa, this isn't a right time to joke around. Get me out of here."

He walked towards me looking so enigmatic in the Navy blue tuxedo he had on. "Joke? I'm serious. I have been the one sending you texts, I lead you here."

What was he even saying?!

I couldn't say a thing so I simply watched him as he walked around me.

"It is a full proof plan. The same way I sent Ivory texts that led her here and having everyone believe she was dead."

I blinked, my heart was numb. I couldn't feel a thing and I most definitely couldn't believe a word Mayowa was saying.

"You're not gonna ask me what I did to make everyone believe that Ivory had died, will you?" I still had my eyes trained on him as he walked round me in circles.

"I'll tell you even if you don't ask. I took a fresh body of a young girl with similar features as Ivory from the mortuary and wore her Ivory's dress and jewelry and set the car on fire so she get burnt and no one can tell if it's Ivory or not."

The image of the car in flames came to my mind.

"Smart right?"

I didn't respond. "Oh you know I'm smart."

"I don't believe you." I finally said after my prolonged silence. I so much wanted a bunch of people to jump out of nowhere with cameras and scream 'pranked'.

He smiled and moved his face closer to mine. "Trust me baby, you're in for a ride." He poked my nose gently and walked away his smile transforming to a smirk.

My heart fell. I had loved and trusted him despite the fact that I missed my dad and didn't want anyone else to take his place. I believed him and what I got in return was hurt.

Two people whom I had given my trust two broke me. I sat still wrapping my head around the sudden realization and my heart ached.

THEODORE

Sunday around twelve noon and Irene was still missing. She had been left the house since Thursday evening. The police had been doing their job searching for her and everyone had been worried sick.

Ola had been crying and Kiki wouldn't even talk to anyone and to talk of Desmond who was already a walking dead. Zion and TY helped keep the gang alive as they tried to assure everyone that all would be well.

And me, how did I feel? I felt so guilty and worried that I hadn't even slept a wink since Friday and I was pretty sure I looked like shit. 

The whole incident was on a low key because they didn't want to media to know about Irene's disappearance as it would be on every blog page, news channel and would spread like wildfire.

I pulled up in the parking lot of the building, got down and headed to TY's condo. That was where the guys spent most of their time since Friday. I had decided to tell everyone of them what was going on with Irene. I couldn't keep it to myself anymore.

"What are you doing here?" Desmond asked the moment I walked in. "Tell him to get out!"

"I want to talk to all of you." I said.

"We do not want to talk so please, make use of the door!" Desmond snapped.

"Calm down Desmond and hear him out. Would you?" That was Zion.

"Please take your seat." That was TY. I nodded and sat on the only one seater couch in his living room.

Before I began my speech, I gave everyone of them a once over. TY was holding Ola who's eyes were red and swollen from crying while Zion was seated beside Kiki who looked numb. She wasn't crying which made it even more dangerous for her health. Heaven knows what was going on in her head.

Desmond on the other hand had his face in his palms when he spoke. "Well will you speak up or do you you want me to change my mind?"

I took in a deep breath and explained everything to all of them from when Irene spoke to me about her problems and the anonymous texts till the moment I sent her away with my harsh words not leaving anything out.

The realization that I had broken Irene's trust even though she trusted me blindly sank in and my heart burned in agony.

"Irene couldn't tell her best friends about something this huge yet she told a stranger." Desmond mumbled but I heard and snapped my head up.

Stranger?!

He got up and charged towards me. Before I could say Jack Robinson, sharp pain surged throughout my face. From my jaw to my nose, Desmond had punched me.

"You're responsible for everything! Every single thing happening now is your fault!" He yelled in my face.

I was shocked at how upset he was but didn't say a thing neither did I move an inch because I knew he was right. I was at fault. I wanted him to hit me. I wanted me to hit me hard, maybe that would reduce the pain and guilt I felt.

"Desmond what are you doing? Stop it!" Ola yelled and pulled him away. He let her, he was trying to control his anger.

"Theodore, leave." He said in a calm yet deadly voice. I stood fixed at the spot where I was and he screamed and his voice thundered.

"Get out!"

Ola pulled me towards the door. "Please leave, you have to." I nodded and took a last glance at the guys.

Kiki was still seated where she was not moving or saying a thing and Zion sat beside her looking lost as well. TY was trying to calm Desmond down.

I gave Ola a small smile and exited the apartment with my throbbing nose.

➪➪➪➪➪

Two hours later and I was still in the parking lot at TY's residence in my car mostly because I wasn't sure what to do next to do. I heard a slight knock on my window and that had me turning. I frowned it was Osaze.

"Can I come in?" She asked. I unlocked the car for her and she got into the passengers seat.

"Happy Valentine's Day." She simply said to me and my heart ached even more. Valentine's Day had always been a bad day for Irene as she lost her dad and sister on that day. Coincidentally she was also missing on this supposed day of love.

"Osaze what do you want." I growled out my head resting on the steering.

"I know I'm the last person you want to see at this moment but I don't mean any harm. In fact, I'm here to help."

When I didn't say anything, she continued.

"I might not be your girlfriend's biggest fan but I don't hate her either and I'm not happy about what is going on here so I need you to push away whatever it is you hold against me till all of this is over."

"She's not my girlfriend." I replied and Osaze chuckled. I frowned, what was funny?

"You're serious?" I nodded.

"Wow you look at her like she could pluck the stars and place them in your hands."

What?!

"Look, can you just get straight to what you came here for?"

"Right. I'm going to help you find Irene."

I scoffed. "You think you can do something the police hasn't been able to do in almost three days."

"Actually I know I can." She responded.

"And how do you plan to do that?"

She grabbed a bag I didn't know she had with her, opened it and brought out her laptop. "I'll use Irene's  car plate number to track down her location by hacking into the VIO system."

"Great idea, when did you learn this?" The girl was indeed smart. Why did I not think of that?

Probably because you've been beating yourself all weekend!

"During the Christmas break. I learnt web programming with cyber hacking."

It all made sense to me. She had invited me for the lessons way before the fall out.

"Wait but isn't cyber hacking illegal?" I asked.

"It is, I paid thousands of naira to learn it."

"Where?"

"Theodore can we focus on what we have to do?"

I nodded and leaned towards her to peer at her laptop. She gasped. "What happened to your nose?" She asked.

"Osaze can we focus on what we have to do?" I used her words against her.

"Right!" She responded and tapped on her keyboard with the speed of light. "First of all, we need the plate number." She said and paused.

I quickly brought out my phone and checked her Instagram page scrolling through her posts. I had to find it somewhere. "I can't find any-"

"Found it!" Osaze called out and returned to the laptop.

"How did you-"

"Can that be later?" I nodded even though she had her eyes on the laptop and couldn't see me. I watched silently as Osaze did her thing.

"Access granted!" She screamed bumping her fist into my chest.

"Ouch!"

"Sorry I'm just excited. We're in. I just have to track the car's location and-" She paused and my heart started racing.

What if it doesn't work?

"-done!" She screamed. "The car is at the Old Main Street road." She frowned.

"What's wrong? Let's go there already."

"That was where Ivory's car got burnt. Ivory's car was burnt by 3:45 pm on the fourteenth of February last year. Ivory also got missing days before valentine."

"Oh no! I have a feeling history is about to repeat itself." The tone with which Osaze spoke sent chills down my spine.

"What's the time?" I asked.

"3:07 pm"

"That means we have exactly thirty eight minutes to get to the car and get Irene out if she's in there." I thought out loud. "Go to the hospital and get the ambulance to that location."

"I want to come with you, we'll call for the ambulance."

"No Osaze, go to the hospital, they'll take you more seriously." She looked reluctant. "Please."

"Okay." She responded and got down from the car.

I drove out of the building as soon as I could and hit the road. The speed with which I drove, I had never driven before. It was as though the car was flying. I said a silent prayer for Irene's safety in my heart.

True to Osaze's words, Irene's car was at the spot I was told it would be. I rushed to the car, it was locked and Irene was in it. The state she was in shattered me to bits. She was clearly unconscious and may I add, sweaty. She could die of suffocation.

I looked around for anything to use to break open the door but the loud blaring noise of siren distracted me.

Great, the ambulance had arrived.

The medical persons got down and helped me find a way to open the car. They took Irene into the ambulance in a stretcher.

"Go in with them, I'll meet you at the hospital." I said and she did my bidding.

I also got into my car and put a call across to Desmond but he wasn't picking up my calls. I called one last time and he picked up. "Haven't I warned you enough?"

"The ambulance have rushed Irene to the hospital."

His tone changed. "Which hospital?" He asked.

"All saints hospital." I replied and hung up immediately. I put in the ignition and took to the road.

➪➪➪➪➪

Osaze and I were seated at the reception as Irene was rushed to the emergency unit. Irene was taken in about ten minutes before now but it felt like she was inside all day. Osaze sat beside me with her hands clasped like she was praying and that singular action warmed my heart.

"You seemed very worried about Irene."

She shrugged. "I'm not heartless."

I asked her the question I had always wanted to ask ever since the first day I resumed at Claret High. "Why do you dislike Irene so much? Do you guys have a bitter history?"

She chuckled lightly. "Oh no, I just didn't like the fact that she appeared so perfect even though she's very flawed. That was what instigated my dislike for her. Let's just say I always feel insecure around her."

Her response piqued my interest and I found myself more interested in her past with Irene. "Insecure? Why?"

She sighed and turned to face me. "I really don't know why I'm telling you all of this. I really don't but I feel like spilling it. It has been bottled up for way to long and if care is not taken, it would end me."

Wow!

"Go on, I'm listening."

"Irene is scarred but manages to be perfect, everyone's favorite, teenage sensation in the entertainment world and the dream of virtually every boy. But what am I? The four eyed computer freak."

I felt sorry for her. She was suffering from inferiority complex. "I do understand what you're going through but hey, you're Kenny the blogger."

She gave me a heartwarming smile. "You do not understand what I feel."

"Yes I do, I've felt inferior to someone before."

"Care to share?" She asked and I shook my head.

"Not today, we're talking about you."

She nodded and looked straight ahead at a gurney at the end of the hall her eyes fixed to it like she found it interesting or intriguing. I saw a bead of tear flow down her left eye and she wiped it immediately.

Poor girl. Heaven knows what she was going through.

"Who broke you?" I asked.

"Someone I had trusted with my life." She replied immediately. I didn't expect her reply that quick. She wasn't crying and neither was she smiling. I couldn't tell what she was thinking and that, was the worst mood to be in.

"It's okay if you don't want to share it with me."

"Please let me." I nodded and she took that as a cue to speak. "I was raped at the age of seven by my own Father. He told me that it was something that Fathers and daughters do and that mothers shouldn't know about it. He lured me into doing it, said it was our little secret."

I watched her speak as though it was a casual thing, as though she was fine but I knew otherwise. I knew it burned her to the core and how she handled it all was surprising.

"He would sneak into my room at night and do all sorts of things to me which I found uncomfortable and I let him because I didn't want him to think I was being a coward and didn't mention it to my mum because I didn't want to seem like a chatterbox."

I let her speak, she wanted to let it all out. "I wished I was a chatterbox. I wished I told my mum. Maybe it wouldn't have gotten to this stage."

He sighed and continued. "I grew older and realized that what we were doing was wrong and tried to stop it but it was too late for that. At the point he knew I couldn't be cajoled anymore so he had sex with me forcefully."

"Hey it's okay, you're gonna be okay." I tried assuring her.

She faced me with a smile on her face. "I am fine. He doesn't live with us anymore. My parents are divorced. Apparently he wasn't just cheating on my mum with only me."

I looked up at her. Her eyes held so much in yet let out so much.

Oh Osaze!

My ringtone blared from my pocket and I took my phone out. It was my dad, I had to take the call.
"Please wait here for me, I'll be back."

I walked out of the hospital to my car and took the call. "Hello dad."

"It's your mother Wale. Any news about Irene?"

"We have found her and she has been rushed to the emergency unit."

"Where did you find her and what exactly happened." She seemed pretty worried about her.

"I'll tell you everything when I get home okay?"

"Alright." She replied. I was about to hang up when she spoke up again. "I actually called because I just got an update about Toby's health."

"Really? Has he regained consciousness?"

"Not yet," My heart fell. "But the doctor said he is out of danger for now."

"Okay then, I have to go now. I'll talk to you when I get home."

I sighed. Toby has to regain consciousness.

God please save Toby's life. He has to live.

I was about to get out of the car when my eyes caught something through the rear view mirror. It was a parcel at the back seat. I rushed to the back and behold it was an envelope.

I opened it. It was a valentines card and beside it was a red rose. Who would have dropped it in my car? Could it have been Osaze?

I searched the envelope again and I picked out a piece of paper. It was a note and it read.

Theodore, I dropped this package here so you could give it to the one who is deserving of it. The person that puts you at peace even without doing a thing, the person who's smile brightens up your day. That person that you can't get off your mind.

Irene.

I knew you wouldn't be able to get something since you were so bothered so I got this. Do the right thing.
Best of luck,

                                      Lucinda.

It all made sense to me, Lucy had dropped the parcel and the flower so I could give it to Irene. Her words from a day ago played in my head.

I know I don't have a say in your life but I have the right to tell you the truth.

You may give excuses to why you are so attached to Irene, to why you are so worried and concerned about her but your eyes tell the truth.

You're in love with Irene and the earlier you accept it, the better it would be for you both.

I took the card and rose and tucked it at the side of my jacket so nobody sees it and returned into the hospital. I didn't meet Osaze at the reception instead Ola and Desmond sat where Osaze and I were seated before.

"Where is Osaze?" I asked as I approached them.

"She left." Desmond responded.

"You did not chase her away. Did you?"

"Maybe I did, maybe I did not." He responded again and I instantly felt irritated at him. I had been taking everything he had been saying and doing to me but I couldn't take him picking on Osaze. I was going to question him but I held it in, it wasn't the time to argue.

I decided to go after Osaze but the moment I took a step the doctor walked into the reception. Ola and Desmond dashed towards him. "Doctor how is she?" Ola asked.

"Miss Coker?" They both nodded.

"She's in a good condition but she has not regained consciousness yet."

"Can we go and see her?" Desmond asked.

"Yes sure." They quickly darted down the hall as soon as the Doctor gave them directions to the intensive care unit.

I stood a safe distance away from them and with them out of the way, the doctor walked to me.

"Don't you want to see her too? You seemed really concerned about her when she was brought in here."
He asked.

"I do want to see her. I'll go in after them." I replied. He gave me a long look and nodded right before he walked away.

I waited minutes before Ola and Desmond finally came out. I made to go in when Desmond stopped me. "I'm sorry you're not permitted to go in."

I arched a brow at him. "You brought her here and we're grateful for that but you've done enough now. Leave."

He had to be joking right?

"Desmond he can't get in, I already told the doctor not to let him in. Let's go get you something to eat now. You haven't eaten in forty eight hours."

He gave me a stink eye before walking past me. Ola gave me a long glance and smiled. It felt as though she was passing a message to me.

It felt like she wanted me to go in and see Irene.

She nodded slowly and I returned her smile and dashed towards the ICU when they walked out of the hospital. Irene was in the VIP ward. I pushed open the door and walked in feeding my eyes with the extremely neat ward room and slowly my eyes landed on Irene's unconscious form.

She was draped in a blue hospital gown and her hair was all over her face. Her body was connected to so many machines and I drew in a breath. An improvement I noticed was that she wasn't on an oxygen mask anymore like she was when she was rushed into the hospital. That was a good thing, I guess.

I walked towards the bed and sat on it beside her watching her fragile frame. From her slightly bruised face to her swollen lips and the band aid around her head. Her appearance brought tears to my eyes but I did my very best to push them back. I did this to her. I was the reason she was in this state.

I took her hand and held it in mine. "Irene I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I snapped at you and refused to listen to what you had to say. I'm so sorry for pushing you away for no reason. I have realized my mistake now and I feel really bad."

I touched her face gently and let my fingers graze her cheekbones. "I wish I could turn back the hands of time and do the right thing but unfortunately I can't."

I gave her a sad smile and brought her hands to my lips. My heart was beating erratically as I placed feathery kisses on each of her fingers. "I do care about you Irene, so much that I don't want you to see my flaws. I do hope that you understand this and forgive me."

I took out a pen from my pocket and made to write a short note on the Valentine's Day card when I realized she would recognize my handwriting. Being an ambidextrous person, I switched to my left hand and wrote down the note. She would not be able to recognize the handwriting as mine because my handwriting with my left hand was different from that with my right hand.

Putting a full stop to my short note, I closed the card and placed it on the nightstand drawer and placed the rose beside it. I gave her a small smile and cupped her cheeks.

"I wish you a quick recovery and a very happy Valentine's Day." And with that, I walked out till I got out of the hospital.

Next mission, find Osaze.

*

Finally I finished typing the chapter.
PS: I know nothing about computer so I don't know if cyber hacking is illegal but for the sake of this book, it is.

My heart ached for Theodore, two important people in his life are ill and for Irene, two important people in her life broke her trust.

And Osaze? I don't know what to say 😭

Apparently this is now the longest chapter in this book. Anywhoo y'all should comment what you feel about this chapter and don't forget to vote too.

See y'all in the next chapter guys.

Bye!

Word count: 4731