This chapter is dedicated to EkehAnita, ingridify, @dee_shynee and @Dorofine for their votes and comments on this book.

Thank you. Much love❤️

Enjoy the chapter❤️

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"Toast to the ones here today,
Toast to the ones that we lost
On the way...." Memories - Maroon 5
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Vina's POV
"Please explain this thing to me." Kiki says, flipping her long, blue braids over her shoulder.

"I can't get over how beautiful you look with this hair." I coo at her.

A knowing smirk graces her lips,"Thank you, again. Please explain this thing nau. They'll soon ring the bell."

"It's true sef."

Just when I am done explaining to her, the bell goes off. Everyone grabs their bag and leaves to thier various exam classes.

"Write well o." I say to Kiki when we got to the door of SS1 B, which is her exam class.

"You too." Kiki responds, giving me a hug.

She has become freer with me ever since her sister's party.

Smiling at her, I walk away.

I sight Tony once I step into the junior's building. He is standing in front of JSS 1C talking with Phoenix and Nasir.

My heart stops, it has been a while since I saw him.

My earlier decision to wave at Tony changes immediately because of Nasir.

I am about to climb the stairs when Tony lifts his head and his piercing, brown eyes look straight at me. Even though the hallway is a bit rowdy, his eyes find mine immediately.

His lips stretch into a wide smile as he waves me over to them. Both Nasir and Phoenix look up at the same time to see who Tony is calling.

Phoenix's gaze on me remains as stoic as ever but Nasir's expression is marred with a slight trace of anger.

I gulp audibly but manage to return Tony's smile. My heart is beating erratically as I make my way towards them.

I feel so little standing before these three tall, hot guys. The mixture of thier scents is very intoxicating.

But, I simply couldn't bring myself to even look at Nasir.

"How are you doing, Aphie?" Tony asks, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm okay." I respond with a smile.

"Hey." I direct at Phoenix who responds with a curt wave.

"N - Nasir." I stutter looking at him through my lashes.

"Davina." He responds with a lack of emotion.

I feel a sharp tug in my chest at his neutrality.

"Please, can we. . .can we talk after the test?"

Nasir looks like he would reject the offer but surprisingly, he accepts.

I smile a little when he does so but he doesn't even return it. Instead, his gaze hardens.

I look away from him to face Tony who is typing away on his phone.

Poking his side lightly, I say,"I will see you later."

He nods in response.

"Write well, guys."

Only Tony responds with a you too and a hug. I leave without a backward glance.

"Mimi." I call softly once I enter my exam class.

She gives me her megawatt smile and stands up from her seat to hug me.

"Good morning, Vina."

"Morning, dearie. Good luck on your test." I say, patting her cheek.

"You too, Senior." She replies taking her seat.

Smiling at her, I go over to my seat.

Roughly ten minutes later, Miss Ekakitie, our corper data processing teacher, walks into the class in all her black skinned glory.

This young lady is very dark, as in as dark as melted chocolate, but so deep in a way that her skin almost looks black.

Her pearly whites sparkle at us in a smile through round, pink lips fully coated in shimmery lip gloss.

I didn't think it was still possible to rock a pixie cut these days but Miss Ekakitie proves me wrong by managing to still slay in a burgundy pixie cut.

To say this woman is beautiful is an understatement. She is downright stunning, gorgeous even. Miss Ekakitie is living proof that black is indeed beautiful.

It appears as if I wasn't the only one that supports this school of thought because cat calls, as well as whistles, rings out from every corner of the class especially from the senior boys.

Miss Ekakitie beams even more and laughs out, obviously enjoying the admiration she is receiving. The simple office gown she is putting on hugs her dainty curves perfectly making the boys howl even more. This woman is simply a beauty goddess.

"It's alright now." She says laughing and gesturing for us to calm down.

"Bring your bags forward everyone. It's time to begin." Miss Ekakitie further announces firmly.

We all comply by doing as she says.

She reshuffles everyone and because of this, Mimi and I end up being seat partners.

The SS3 students have begun with thier mock exams in preparation for thier upcoming externals so, it is just SS2 to JSS1 students that were shared into classes.

"JSS1." Miss Ekakitie's voice rings out.

All the JSS1 students, totaling five, stand up and move towards were she stands at the front of the class. She hands out thier question papers and answer booklets to them before they return to thier various seats.

She repeats this same process with other classes till she gets to SS2.

I don't miss the lazy smile that plays on Caleb Guwo's lips as he takes his paper from Miss Ekakitie.

Caleb Guwo is the Caleb that Diana Mustapha is crushing on and the same Caleb that is on the swim team.

He's a pretty good-looking dude. Tall, dark and lean in a sexy way. His irises are gray. His natural eye color or contacts? I have no idea.

I take my papers from Miss Ekakitie and settle back on my seat.

After saying a brief prayer, I start my first paper which is English.

Looking over at Mimi's work, I let out a light chuckle. She is taking a Business Studies test and my mind goes back to the dislike I just have for that subject.

Roughly an hour and a few minutes later, I am done with my English test so, I begin crosschecking. For me, crosschecking takes at least half the time I spent writing the actual test. I glance over at Mimi who has her head on the desk.

I go back to going through my work when our invigilator announces that those who have finished could submit and start revising for their next paper. Mimi stays unmoving even though I know she has finished with her test.

I give her a little tap. At first, she doesn't respond but after a moment she lifts her head.

"Are you okay?" I whisper to her, genuinely concerned.

"I'm fine." She replies a bit tiredly before backing it up with a flimsy excuse of a smile.

I don't believe her for one minute,"But you don't look so good. You can take permission from Miss Ekakitie to go to the infirmary."

She yawns out before giving me a big smile and another I am fine. Getting up from the seat, she submits her papers to the teacher before getting out her note to study for the next paper.

I let out a sigh before getting up to submit my papers. As I study for my next paper, the junior classes begin with their second paper for the day.

Mimi noticeably grows paler and weaker as the test progresses but I hold myself from questioning her till after the test.

Thirty minutes after the juniors began, we, the seniors, start on our Chemistry paper. The test is a bit difficult especially the objective part that has plenty calculations.

I am still writing when most of the junior students, including Mimi, finish with their second paper.

Mimi submits then sits back beside me to prepare for her third and final paper when suddenly, she breathes in sharply and starts sweating. . .alot.

"Are-" Before the sentence can leave my mouth, she shoots out of her chair and towards the teacher.

"Are you okay, dear?" Miss Ekakitie questions.

"I need fresh air." She hurriedly chokes out.

The teacher nods and motions for her to leave the class. She offers a ghost of a smile and leaves immediately. I am deeply confused and concerned.

I have to speak to Kiki about this.

I eventually finish with my paper and crosscheck. After packing up my things, I handover my script to Miss Ekakitie.

"Please call in the female student that left the class. It's time for their next paper to begin." She says to me as I turn to leave.

"Okay, Ma."

I expect to see Mimi on the corridor once I step out of the class but she isn't there. So, I go downstairs.

She couldn't have gone too far. . .

I check the JSS 2 corridor but she is not there either.

Going down to the ground floor where the JSS 1 classes are, I still can't find her.

I turn to go back upstairs to tell the teacher I didn't see her when I hear harsh panting.

My brows furrow in confusion,"Mimi?"

The panting gets louder as I round the stairs.

"Oh my gosh, Mimi!" I shriek upon sighting the source of the panting.

Mimi lay slumped on the ground, struggling to take in oxygen. I run up to her totally confused.

She seems to be trying to say something, so I lean closer.

"P-ink purse."

Feeling even more confused, I run to the JSS 1 class closest to where we are.

"Help! She's having trouble breathing!" I scream to no one in particular once the class door opens.

I go back to her, take off her bolo tie, undo her pinafore and some of her buttons. Luckily, she is wearing a singlet inside. I use my blazer as a makeshift fan in a bid to make breathing easier for her.

Out of nowhere, Kiki is crouching beside me using an inhaler on Mimi. It is then I look around and notice that the whole place is in disarray.

I suddenly feel strong arms wrap around me in a tender embrace.

"Calm down, Aphie." The voice comes soothingly to my ears. I don't have to look up to know who it is. The well known nickname, as well as the intoxicating musky scent, lets me know I am in Tony's arms.

I don't even know I am in tears until I feel his thumb wipe at my cheeks. From my peripheral view, I see Mimi being carried away by a male teacher, Kiki close behind.

"Let us go." He whispers into my ear, helping me stand up. He grabs my bag and his and leads me through the now dissipating crowd.

Still clutching my blazer, I use it to wipe my tears. I have an inkling that we are headed for the basketball court and I am right because soon enough, we get there.

When Tony and I sit on the bleachers, I burst into tears once more.

Thankfully, he doesn't say anything. Instead, he gathers me up in his arms and lets me bawl to my heart's content. He rubs my back gently and slowly, I calm down.

"Those tears weren't just for Mimi. Want to talk about it?" He asks carefully.

I look up into his eyes, his features still blurry as a result of the tears fast gathering in my eyes.

"It's all my fault." I let out in a broken whisper.

"How is it your fault Mimi had an asthma attack?" Tony asks softly.

"You don't understand." I croak out amidst tears.

"Then make me understand, princess."

Unbeknownst to Tony, that statement shatters my already broken heart into a billion more pieces. Series of memories pass through my mind as I scream and pull at my hair.

Tony presses me into his chest to muffle my cries.

"Calm down, Aphie. I don't know what's going on but you will be fine." Tony gently whispers into my hair.

When I quiet down to a reasonable level, I pull away from him and immediately miss the warmth.

"I'm so sorry. There's snot all over your blazer."

"No worries." He says flashing me a smile while taking off the blazer. He reaches into his pocket and fetches a handkerchief, then gives it out to me.

"Wipe your face, love."

I gingerly accept it and clean my tears and snot with it.

Thank God, I thought against using mascara today.

After cleaning my face, I speak,"I will wash it and return it to you tomorrow."

"You can keep it." Tony says, giving me another smile that makes me calm down even more.

I manage to return the smile,"I know I look terrible right now."

"Of course not. You look stunning as always." He drawls out.

"Don't whine me biko." I reply with a laugh.

"I can never whine you." He teases, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"After all this my plenty cry, you are saying I look stunning."

"Oya, you look like a hot mess."

I slap his arm as I laugh out. Turning to look at him, my laughter dies out. An emotion I can't quite decipher plays about in his eyes.

"You can talk to me when you feel comfortable enough to do so." He says softly.

"Thank you so much, Tony." I tell him sincerely meaning it.

"Anytime." He responds.

I almost break down at the warmth radiating from his eyes.

Why do you have to be so much like him?

I question inwardly and wipe at the single tear that rolls down my cheek.

"You will be fine." He says while planting a soft kiss on my forehead.

I smile in response before speaking,"Please I want to see Mimi. Can you take me to the infirmary?"

He nods and stands up before gathering his things. I fold my blazer into my bag but still hold onto Tony's handkerchief in my hands.

"The infirmary is not that far from here." He begins once we walk out of the basketball court.

"Really?"

"Mhm." He nods.

A junior walks up to us, telling Tony that a teacher requests his presence.

"I guess I will see you later." He says once the junior left.

"I guess so."

"Just keep up with this path and take the next left turn you see. The building at the end of that path is the infirmary." Tony directs, adjusting the strap of his stylish shoulder bag.

"Okay, thank you." I say looking up at his towering figure.

"I will see you later then. Bye, Aphie."

"Bye, Tony." I reply, wrapping my arms around his midsection.

He blows me a kiss before walking off in the direction we had come from.

I shake my head at his retreating figure, a small smile playing on my lips before walking off too - in the direction of the infirmary.

Following Tony's direction, I soon see a fine, white building with a plaque which had INFIRMARY written on it.

To me, this building looks more like a mini hospital than an infirmary. I push open the door and walk over to the nurse at the front desk.

"Good afternoon, Ma." I greet politely, taking a guess at the time,"Please what room is Mimi Benson in?"

"Afternoon, dear. You must be Davina Igwe."

"Yes, Ma." I answer, surprised that she knows me.

"We were told before you came to show you to Mimi's room, if you do end up coming."

I nod in realization.

"She's in room 005, just down the hall." The nurse says pointing in the direction of the rooms.

I smile in thanks and leave. The room numbers are written boldly on the doors. As my hand touches the cool metal handle of room 005, it turns and out steps Vivi.

Her tear stained cheeks and slightly red eyes testify to her, crying. I make to move out of the way when she does the most absurd thing.

Vivi Benson wraps her arms around me in a hug. If anything, I sure wasn't expecting a hug.

When she pulls away from me, she stares me directly in the eyes,"Thank you so much, Davina."

Before I can recover from my shock to even respond, she walks away.

Oh, wow. . .

I shake off the shock and step into the spacious square-shaped room. The room is in Primridge's official colours which are white, orange and blue.

Looking over at the bed, Mimi lays there asleep dressed in just a hospital gown. My heart crumbles once more. Two chairs are positioned facing each other beside Mimi's bed.

Kiki occupies the seat by Mimi's head so, I take the seat by her feet. I calmly watch as Kiki lightly massages her sister's temple.

"I didn't know your sister had asthma." I let out.

Without taking her eyes off Mimi, she replies,"Diagnosed when she was 10."

I look down at Mimi's feet,"Same as my brother."

I don't look up but I feel her gaze on me,"You have a brother?"

"Had, actually." I say letting out a mirthless chuckle before looking up to meet Kiki's bloodshot eyes.

She opens her mouth to say something but closes it back after a moment.

I fix my gaze on my own feet before speaking,"It's my fault he is dead. My precious Xander is gone" - my voice cracks - "because of me."

I hear the chair move before feeling her hands on mine.

"Hey." Kiki mutters, making me look up.

I can feel the tears building up in my eyes, the lump in my throat only grows bigger as the memories rush in.

"You can talk to me."

I shake my head and wipe the tears with the handkerchief Tony had given me,"It's been years, Kiki. Three years and the pain hasn't even dulled a bit."

"Your brother must have meant alot to you." She says, a great deal of sadness in her features.

"He meant the world to me!" I snap but quickly mutter a follow-up apology.

"It's okay." Kiki says whilst rubbing soothing circles into my palm.

Kiki's POV
"Vina . . ."I call her name cautiously.

She looks up at me with the most broken eyes I've ever seen.

"Please talk to me." I plead, hoping my eyes convey the worry I feel for her.

"I . . . my brother . . . he . . ."

"Vina, calm down." I say, cutting short her stuttering,"Take a deep breath."

She breathes in with her eyes shut before breathing out softly then speaking,"My brother's name is Alexander but everyone calls him Xander. He died at 20, as a 300-level biomedical engineering student. We were . . . so close."

As she says the last statement, she wipes at the tears that fell freely from her eyes.

"You could say he was the perfect elder brother. Yet, he is dead because of me."

The lump in my throat grows as I watch Vina reduce to a crying mess.

"Why do you keep saying you are the cause?"

Vina's POV (Roughly 3years earlier)
"Teddy bear?" I call out once I poke my head into his baby blue and grey themed bedroom.

I can't see him anywhere so I move in and call out again,"Teddy bear?"

"Princess, I'm in here." I follow the sound of his deep voice into his en suite bathroom.

Xander stands there, a towel wrapped dangerously low on his waist, abs on full display and his thick, long and curly hair let down.

"Seduce me o, Xander!" I tease with a brief eye roll.

He licks his lips seductively as he runs his hands through the length of his hair.

I let out a long hiss while he drops the act and bursts into laughter.

"Abegi, be thinking I'm your girlfriend." I state, laughing too.

"You hurt me, princess." He says placing a hand over his heart.

I eye him lightly before talking,"I'm going down to watch a movie. Join me?"

"Sure thing." He responds as he moves to fill up the bathtub with water and bath soap.

"Thriller? Abi Romance? But not the cringy type."

He thinks for a while before speaking,"Romance it is. I'll be down in a bit."

"You sef, bathe since morning you say no. It's by one in the afternoon you know you want to bathe." I chide him.

"It's like the princess I am calling you is entering your head too much. Small girl like you, shouting for me. It is well o."

"You will soon tell me who is small. Is thirteen years a joke to you?" I laugh, shaking my head at him,"Don't waste too much time biko. Let me set up the things."

He closes the tap and shoos me away from his room.

On getting downstairs, I put a bowl of pizza rolls into the microwave for Xander and I to share.

Going over to the large sitting room, I find a movie, connect it to the TV and pause it. Laying down on the couch, I wait for Xander to come down.

I am on the verge of falling asleep when I hear the sound of Xander's palm slippers hitting the tiled stairs.

Looking up at him, I take note of how he is dressed in simple shorts and a sleeveless shirt. His hair is packed into a low man bun, his inhaler and phone are in his hand.

"Please, can you get the pizza rolls from the microwave?" I plead.

"You put enough for the both of us abi?" He inquires as he sets his inhaler and phone beside me.

"Yup."

He nods and goes to the kitchen.

I exhale as I lay back down and press play for the opening credits of the movie to play out.

The volume is increased to the highest so I don't hear when Xander calls me.

"Princess!" His voice comes again.

"Yes‽" I answer back.

"Should I get ice cream for you‽"

"Sure! And thank you!" I say ending our back-and-forth screaming.

Soon, he returns to the sitting room with two bowls of mint chocolate chip flavoured ice cream and a big bowl filled with pizza rolls.

"Thank you, teddy." I say with a smile as I take my own bowl of ice cream from him.

He gives a smile in return as he sits beside me on the couch.

The movie begins quite dramatically with the female lead character sneaking away to meet her boyfriend at the dead of night. Xander and I laugh at the girl's reaction when she finds out her elder brother followed her without her knowledge.

When I finish with my ice cream, I lay my head on Xander's lap.

"Be using my lap as pillow o. You will soon start paying me. 5h, everytime you rest on me." He teases.

"5h is too small na, what of 1k?" I retort.

He shakes his head at me as I laugh.

"Be looking for who will give you money." I say before we fall back into a comfortable silence.

Xander plays with my hair and at a point starts styling it.

"Why is her brother preventing her from being with his friend?" I ask, referring to the movie.

"He knows his friend's character nau. He's probably not good enough for her."

"Would you do that?" I question looking up into his eyes.

"Do what, princess?"

"Stop me from being with who I want to be with."

"Oh." He says chuckling lightly,"Sha what I know is that I will protect you in everyway I can. If I see the guy is good enough then why not. But, if any guy breaks my princess's heart, I'll kill him and that's on period."

"Awwwwn, you are so sweet. I love you so much teddy bear."

"I love you too, my princess." Xander whispers, giving me a kiss on my forehead.

Just then, his phone chimes from beside me.

"Nawa," Xander complains as he picks up his phone,"Who is this that is disturbing my honeymoon with my sister?"

I laugh and roll my eyes at how dramatic he is being.

He lets out a frustrated sigh before speaking,"It's school stuff. The course rep asked me to send some documents to them. I na have to go upstairs cause the document is in my laptop."

"It's okay. Stop complaining, just go and do it so that you can come back fast. I'll gist you what happened in the movie when you return."

"Abeg." He mutters, lifting my head from his lap. Then he stands up and stretches out, immediately clutching his chest.

"Are you okay?" I ask, shooting up from my position on the couch.

He breathes out heavily,"I'm okay, just a slight discomfort in my chest."

"Are you sure?" I question.

"I am sure, princess. I'll be right back, let me get this over with." He says as he grabs his phone and sprints up the stairs.

I sigh and lay back on the couch to continue with the movie when I feel something under me - Xander's inhaler. I grab it and drop it on the centre table.

My hand finds the bowl of left over pizza rolls and I munch on them. After finishing them up, I drop the bowl on the floor.

A series of long yawns later, I find myself drifting off to sleep.

What feels like minutes later, I am awoken by a gut-wrenching scream. As I shoot up, my eyes dart to the wall clock which reads 5:23pm.

I look towards the foot of the stairs to see my mum cradling Xander in her arms while crying her entire being out.

Oh my God, Xander!

"What happened to him‽" I scream, running towards them.

My mom doesn't respond but instead, she cries even harder.

I gaze around, to see my dad pacing the length of the sitting room with a phone to his ear. I look down at Xander who has his eyes shut with a frozen expression of immense pain.

"Xander?" My voice comes out in a whisper as I lower my head to his chest.

I don't hear a heartbeat. That is when realisation dawns on me,"No! No! Xander, no!"

It's not possible, he was fine just a few hours ago . . .

"Mum!" I cry out painfully,"Tell me it's not true!"

Tears flow from my eyes the way water would from a broken tap. Suddenly, my breath hitches in my throat and I start gasping for air.

I fall backwards from my kneeling position but I don't even feel the pain from hitting the tiled floor. Black dots cloud my vision and it becomes even harder to take in air.

"Vina? Vina!" I hear my mom scream but she sounds so far away.

I begin fading in and out of consciousness until finally, I succumb to the darkness.

Vina's POV (Present day)
"I woke up the next day on a hospital bed. The pain I had felt in my head was terrible, I later found out I had had a panic attack then fainted." I manage to let out in a small voice.

Kiki breathes out softly before asking,"Do you know what happened to him?"

"He . . . he had an asthma attack but managed to stagger out of his room and down the first set of stairs. When he got to the landing, he tried calling my name but - he was already drifting in and out of consciousness, coupled with the high volume, I . . . I couldn't hear his faint whispers." - a long, defeated sigh escapes my lips - "He missed his step and rolled down the remaining length of the stairs."

I pause and breathe in before looking Kiki straight in the eye,"Guess what I was doing when all this happened."

She doesn't say anything instead, she squeezes my hands tighter.

"I was sleeping!" I scream but brought my voice down when Mimi stirs a bit before resting in a new position,"I was sleeping. As my brother, my first best friend, my everything died from an asthma attack and internal bleeding."

I snatch my hands away from Kiki's grip and bury my face into them. Kiki's arms wrap around me as she sheds tears too.

After a long while, I calm down a bit,"Absolutely everything changed from that point, both at home and in school. After all, my lifeline, the one person who would put himself in harm's way to ensure I am safe, the one person who could do absolutely anything to see me smile was gone.

"He's dead, Kiki. Three years and counting but it still hurts like hell. The wound is still so fresh."

I empty my nose into the handkerchief before speaking again,"Value your sisters, Kiki. I don't know the exact reason for the beef you have with Vivi but please resolve it because when she's no more there, you will be left with such a gaping hole in your heart that no one can ever fill."

"Actually," She starts finally meeting my gaze,"We just settled. That's part of the reasons she thanked you before you came in here. That and because you saved Mimi."

"I'm glad you both have resolved."

She gives a weak smile then speaks,"Concerning your brother, I can't say you will fully get over it because you won't. But, you will learn to live with the pain. You have to survive so that you can make him proud. Most importantly, you didn't cause his death."

"Did you listen to me at all?"

"Yes, Vina. I listened to you and I'm telling you, you are not the cause. You didn't fall asleep intentionally, you didn't even know anything like that would happen. It was just a mistake."

"A mistake that cost my brother's life." I mutter, my voice painfully low.

"Vina." Kiki says, boring holes into my soul,"You didn't cause any of it. I don't expect you to accept what I'm saying so suddenly but please open your heart to believe me, allow yourself to. I am begging you."

I rest my head on my lap, a myriad of thoughts pass through my mind.

After what seems like forever but is infact only a few minutes, I lift my head and mutter an I will try to her. She gives me a small smile and another hug.

"I hope she will be fine." I say when Kiki pulls away.

"She will." Kiki replies, looking down at her sister's sleeping face.

~~~~~~~~~}{~~~~~~~~~

"Thank you, Sir." I say to Mr. Emeka when I alight from the parked car. He nods in response as I walk into the Adichie's mansion.

"Good afternoon, Ma." I greet Onome.

"Afternoon, dear. Will you come down to eat after changing up?"

"No, but I'll be down for dinner."

"Ok." She responds, going back into the kitchen and me going up the stairs.

Once I get into my room, I toss my bag away and lay down on my bed to think.

I really didn't cause his death? I doubt. But like Kiki advised, I'll open my heart to believe what she said.

I drag myself to the bathroom to take my bath. As I fill the tub with water and bath soap, memories of Xander doing same on the day he died filters into my mind and I let out a broken cry.

You really were the best, Xander. I'm sorry you had to go the way you did. Suffering mere metres away from me and I didn't even know.

I sit down on the bathroom floor still dressed in my school uniform but that is the least of my problems.

Forgive me, Xander, for sleeping through your last moments on Earth, for letting you die. You did nothing but love me and look how I repayed you.

I reach out and turn off the tap before stripping and lowering myself into the bathtub. I shut my eyes and let the water wash away a little bit of the guilt I have felt and will continue to feel for years on end.

I spend close to an hour in the bath before getting out.

Just when I cover myself with the duvet, a knock sounds at my bedroom door.

"Come in." My voice comes out hoarse as a result of crying for so long.

Aidan bounces into my room, all smiles whilst munching on a cookie he'd gotten from the packet of cookies in his hand.

The smile on his face morphs into a frown as he takes in my disheveled state.

"What's wrong?" He asks, shutting my room door before sitting on my bed.

I sit up and hug my knees really close to my chest,"I've been thinking about Xander."

"Oh." He mutters in understanding,"You know he wouldn't want you being moody."

"I can't help it, Aidan." I say in a whisper, my eyes starting to tear up again.

"Hey . . ." He says as he shifts closer to me,"Don't cry."

I shut my eyes firmly in a bid to send the tears back but a single tear runs down my cheek. Aidan's finger swiftly brushes it away.

"Come here." I hear him say.

I scoot a little bit closer before resting my head on his shoulder. I don't cry anymore, I don't even have the strength to.

We just stay there, me in his arms, in silence.

After a long while he asks,"Want a cookie?"

"Sure." I say taking out the treat from the packet in his hand.

It is your classic chocolate chip cookie but boy did it catapult me to the heavens.

I snatch the packet of cookies from Aidan,"I will be needing this, it tastes so good."

"You can have it."He says laughing,"But we have to go down for dinner."

"Okay." I simply say, tying the packet of cookies and keeping it on my bedside table.

Aidan stands up from my bed and straightens his night wear before helping me get up.

He opens the door and motions for me to go before him. I smile in gratitude and step out, bumping into Nadia in the process.

"Sorry." I apologise weakly, not wanting any of her trouble.

She shoves me hard and I fall on Aidan.

"Nadia." He says authoritatively.

She eyes us, disgust evident on her face before walking off, muttering an I just can't.

I clench my fists as Aidan shuts my room door.

"Sorry about that."

"It's fine." I dismiss it.

Auntie Nenye, Uncle Chidi and Nadia are already seated having thier dinner by the time Aidan and I get downstairs.

Big glass serving bowls filled with hot, steaming white rice, boiled plantain and vegetable sauce are already on the table.

"Good evening, Uncle and Auntie." I greet politely.

They both nod in response. I help myself to a small portion of boiled plantain and vegetable sauce.

"Won't you be having rice?" That is from Uncle Chidi.

"No, Sir. I'm okay with this." I respond while taking my seat beside Aidan.

"The food you took is even small." Auntie Nenye starts,"Are you alright, Vina?"

"Yes, Ma. I am fine." I say with a forced smile,"I'm not really hungry."

Nadia lets out a short peal of derisive laughter which is quickly followed by a scoff.

"And what is funny, Nadia?" My uncle asks sternly.

"Nothing o, Dad."

She then mutters something along the lines of let her be carrying face there.

I instantly loose my appetite and that is quite sad considering I had only taken a spoon from the meal.

Carrying face? Wow, just wow!

"Thank you, Sir. Thank you, Ma. I'm full." I say pushing my plate away and standing up.

"But you have barely touched your food. Are you sick, Vee?" Auntie Nenye asks with concern.

"I'm having a little headache but I'll be fine by tomorrow."

"If you say so. Goodnight, Vee."

"Goodnight to you all." I say, going upstairs.

I walk into my room and lock the door before sitting on the bed to enjoy my cookies.

Tapping on the WhatsApp icon on my phone, I patiently wait for my messages to load. A message comes in from Nasir and that is when I remember I was supposed to meet him after the test.

(Pic of thier chat below👇)

I am shocked at his nonchalance but nevertheless, I reply.

Oh my gosh! I scream in my mind. I had totally forgotten about the test. Hurriedly sending him an okay, I set to work with reading for the papers I have the next day; Further mathematics and Civic education.

While I read, I can't help but think of how horrible of a day today has been.

All the tears shed, all the stories told, all the memories I was forced to relive, all the emotions felt.

The pain and agony I feel while remembering everything is a whole different story.

Simply put, today was just something else.

A/N

Finally done with this chapter 🤧

Word Count: 6193 words

Love,
Riri🌹