Please note before you scroll further.

This chapter would be divided into Daphne and Bella's POV, as I don't feel like elongating the book any further. Besides it's just like reading two parts of one story, so, you wouldn't miss much.

Without further ado, please read on ↓↓↓

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Daphne's POV

Since the day Tims was called into Principal Femi's office, she has been more distant from me than before. True, I understand that she saw enough reasons to blame me for her predicament since she found out that I lived in same house with Bella. She never said a word to me again. I didn't get to see her in the examination hall during NECO exams because I was certain she paid to write them, so I tried calling her line numerous times and even sent her messages on WhatsApp and Facebook which she hasn't seen, speakless of replying.

If this was during the early days of our friendship, I wouldn't be so bothered about her silent treatment because I knew she always came back. It doesn't matter what happened between us, Timmi Coker always fixed things between us. My pride never let me. How quickly the roles had reversed and I'm the one who's trying to fix things between us now.

Bella, on the other hand, minded her business these days. Not like I saw much of her anyway. She didn't write NECO examinations and she's been too busy processing her entrance examination into one of the universities in Cameroon. So, most times when I'm at home she's not and vice versa.

Whatever Tims must have told the others really had an effect on them because they too, especially Jade and Amara, limited the way they shared things with me. Whether they were aware that Timmi was pregnant or they were still in the dark, I no longer knew. Even when I would text them on WhatsApp, Jade gave short and bored replies whilst Amara would take a very long time to reply to a simple question. My instincts told me that they were blaming me for what went wrong in our friendship.

I'm not happy with the way things turned out, at least, I'm grateful that Tims didn't do anything stupid before the matter could get into the hands of higher authorities. After the exams, I had nothing better to do than stay in the house all day. I rarely had friends to visit and David has been extremely scarce towards the end of the examinations, so I joined public groups on Facebook and even WhatsApp. I interacted with new sets of people for a while and that was quite medicinal to the depression I'd been feeling lately.
Mother would scold me most times about the negative effects social media could have on me and advised me to relate with the real life more. So, I spent few times with Miriam and Kachi and to my surprise, engaged in small talks with Bella whenever she was around. But nothing could amount to the joy I felt whenever I logged online to meet and chat with strangers.

I was just staring at the television in the sitting room, the images kept going on before my eyes but my brain wasn't grasping anything that was happening. The sound of the doorbell alerted me and I stood up to answer, when I realized that both Miriam and Kachi were not within reach. Bella was standing outside the door. Her hair was done in two small buns by the side. The small yellow handbag she carried was a match to the yellow shorts, her green blouse was tucked into the shorts and she had black shoes to complete the look.

“Hi!” she greeted cheerfully, like we were best of friends or something.

“Hey, welcome” I smiled softly and let her in.

She plunged down on one of the sofas and brought out her phone. She pushed the phone to my face. I tried seeing what it was that she showed me, until my eyes landed on the name.

“woah! Congratulations,” I told her.

“Thank you, oh! I'm so happy right now, I'm glad I passed the examination.”

“But what about the interview, it's in Cameroon. Would you make it back in time for the graduation?” I inquired, seeing as the date of the interview was close to the date of our graduation ceremony.

“Sure! Of course, I won't miss my own graduation ceremony for anything in the world. Probably I can convince my mother to come with me, I just hope she'll be in the right state of mind then,” she murmured the last part regretfully.

I sympathized with Bella. I always had issues with my mom but I wouldn't know what to do with myself if something like this happened to her.

It was like the universe heard her wish, right there and then, Mr Esan came into the house. How did we miss realizing that he was back?
Mom came in right after him and immediately, Bella hoisted up from the sofa and jumped into her dad's arms.

“I have a surprise for you,” he told her.

When she stared at him in confusion and curiosity, he moved aside and allowed a much older version of Bella to walk into the room.

“Mom?” Bella whispered.

Then and there, my mind went blank. As if on reflex, I turned to stare at my own mother. She wasn't giving off any emotion by the look on her face. I got worried for her. Mom might be Mr Esan's present, but Bella's mother was his past and whenever the past clashed with the present, the outcome was never admirable.

Bella's POV

The expression on my face must have had a totally different effect on the individuals in the room. Dad, especially mom must have felt enthusiastic about this surprise but I was more shocked. I rarely expected something like this.

The last time I spoke with dad, he assured me that he had things under control and mom had been cooperating well. I can't remember hearing him say anything about coming back, not to talk of bringing mom with him. I wanted and wished so badly to be with my mom, but the possibility of seeing her in this house never crossed my mind. She has always been against coming down to Nigeria, for as long as I remembered. Why the sudden change of heart?

“Bells...” her small voice, as I vividly recalled, was as calm and gentle as ever.
Without knowing mom during her bad moments, one can easily regard her as harmless. If only she wasn't the type of person who bottled everything up, she won't have gotten herself and others in this mess.

“Won't you give me a hug, honey?”

“Uh...” I staggered a little before walking towards her and wrapped my arms around her neck.

She embraced me really tight, like she was scared I would suddenly disappear and that she wasn't actually seeing me. At a point, it felt embarrassing. Being wrapped in my mom's arms in the midst of other eyes. Asides dad, every other person in the room—Daphne and her mother, were strangers to the affectionate display of love between my mom and I. Added to the fact that I've been strong on my own for sometime now, silently fighting my battles, I didn't see the need to get all touche about our reunion.
I guess seeing her in that vulnerable state, transformed my mindset of what life was all about.

“You're glowing honey, I'm guessing this place is good to you?” she stroked my short black braids, lovingly.

I had no idea if she asked the question rhetorically, or perhaps she was trying to insinuate something, or she meant that as a compliment.

I swallowed nervously before nodding in agreement to her statement or question. Whatever.

Dad cleared his throat very loudly, gaining everyone's attention in the room. “Okay, Bella why don't you take your mom to the guestroom while dinner's being prepared?”

“But dad...aunt...” I was going to remind him that aunt Angela stayed in the guestroom.

“It's okay dear, I'll stay with Kachi and Miriam if need be.” aunt Angela stated. She looked firmly at me and nodded.

I swore that the expression on Daphne's face at that moment was scaring to hell. I understood her though, if my mother was suddenly pushed out of her position for someone else, I definitely would feel same way she felt.

I led mom to the guestroom as dad instructed, Miriam and Kachi offered to help us with unpacking her luggage before going to help aunt Angela with dinner. After spending time with Mom, I decided to allow her get some sleep. Who knew, the journey must have been tiring.

I joined the others for dinner after I changed and freshened up, even though I didn't have an appetite for food anymore. Dinner was strangely quiet tonight. Unlike the previous times, Daphne either caused some drama or chose not to have dinner. Tonight though, she was at the table simply scooping the jellof-rice placed before her, and chewed meticulously. No phones at the dinner table tonight, dad was home and he made us adhere strictly to that rule. I wanted to bring up the good news about my upcoming interview into  , but I had second thoughts about it. Tonight probably wasn't a good time.

The last couple of days spent with Mom here, was just like the previous times—when it was just the two of us. I began to think that she might have recovered and that she was okay now, but I knew better to have in mind that one never truly recovers from mental and psychological illness.
Everyone in the house celebrated with my success and wished me more success on the upcoming interview in two days time. We also celebrated Daphne's success about the JAMB examination she wrote. Dad promised to give us an additional allowance to get other things for ourselves whenever we decided to go shopping for our graduation outfits.

We had planned to go today, not like Daphne was in support of it, she preferred she went with her friends. Friends I've not seen around her these past days, I don't understand why she fawns over them. My mother decided to come along, though the original plan was that aunt Angela would take us shopping.

When we were set to leave, cause we've been waiting in the living room for aunt Angela to get ready, Mom hissed an awful lot and I didn't understand her attitude one bit. Daphne was less concerned because she was typing away on her phone, but at a point, she also became aware of the incessant hisses. Aunt Angela eventually came out, dressed in yellow body-con gown that emphasized her curves. Her straight brown wig that cadescended down her shoulders and back giving her a chic-look. I personally adored her, though I don't think mom felt same way.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting girls, let's go now.” she started.

“Are you really going dressed in that?” mom asked out of the blue.

At first, I thought she was referring to me until I saw her deliberate gaze upon aunt Angela.

“Yeah, is something wrong with that?” Angela said.

“You really think Jeff would appreciate other men staring at you in the wrong way?”

Aunt Angela tsked, I could tell she tried to keep her temper in check.
“He's never had a problem with the way I dressed before, why should he now?”

“He probably doesn't have a problem now because he's been enamoured by you, but I don't think that'll last long...” mother retorted.

I was shocked to my marrow to hear such words spewing out from my mother's mouth.

Aunt Angela stopped trying to hook the golden dreamcatcher on her bracelet and turned to give my mom a pointed look.

“What is that supposed to mean? What are you trying to do exactly? Make me look bad in front of the kids, make me feel insecure about myself, or maybe make Jeffrey look bad in my eyes,” Angela huffed. “I know you're having a rough time, but come to think of it we all are!”

“I don't think you're having a rough time, you never know what it's like to give up something you've worked so hard in your life for because it wasn't in your power anymore,” mom raised her voice.

“Really?...”

“Yes! Because if you were so conservative, you wouldn't have had a child out of wedlock, now you're staying in my husband's room, do you want to have a child for him too!”

“Don't you dare bring my daughter into this! And a point of correction, your ex-husband and my fianceè. I can do whatever the hell I want to do as long as it makes him happy,” Angela scowled and looked at my mother in disappointment, anger flashing in her eyes. “Unlike someone who let her selfish wants and desires becloud her sense of reasoning, that she lost her family...”

I heard Daphne whisper ‘mother’, at same time I shouted ‘enough!’.

“Just stop it the both of you! It's perfectly understandable if this banter was between Daphne and I, but with the two of you involved, it's absolutely appalling!” I ranted, not minding that they now had sober-regretting looks on their faces.

“Daphne was right. This outing together wouldn't work, so count me out. I'm going to my room.” I stared at them dead point in the eye to pass my message across, before running up the stairs.

The door clicked open and Daphne walked into the room. I wiped out the tears running down my cheeks.

“If you're here to mock me and make gest of what an awful mother I have, then you can leave. I'm not in the right state of mind to hear it,” I warned.

She sighed deeply before sitting on the edge of the bed, leaving some space between our bodies.

“Normally I would have done that, but a lot of things has happened to me these past months and days that I think I'm getting an insight on how the real world works.” Daphne said.

I said nothing and let her continue.
“I apologize for what my mother said, she didn't mean those words I'm sure, she was probably just provoked.” she said again, successfully giving me another shock of my life in one day.

Daphne Okoro apologizing, was definitely a shocker.

“No, I'm sorry for the things my mother said. I don't understand why she said those, she was never like this...” I tried to counter.
After all, my mom was at fault.

“Situations change people. Some for the better, others for the worst. It's clear as day that your mom still loves your dad,” she said.

The truth in her words unsettled me. I had a feeling that was the case. Mother wasn't really happy when she noticed that aunt Angela stayed in dad's room and not Miriam's.

“But I know my mom, she can take care of herself.”

“I believe I owe you an apology,” I started.

Her brows quirked in surprise.

“I used to think the worst of you, especially after the encounter at Smark mini mall. I believed you were one of the worst persons I've ever come across. Thinking about it now, you're not so different from me.” I confessed.

“Hey! Don't change the way you see me because I acted in a calm way, I've not changed one bit oo.” she retorted sarcastically.

I laughed at her sense of humor. We were kind of similar. We had issues we were dealing with in our families, as well as social life. Though she would never accept the actual title, I knew one thing for sure. We have become sisters by heart.

“What do you say to shopping together? Our moms won't be tagging along, no way!” I said.

She hummed unsure. “I don't know...I...”

“Yes, your friends can come along too. I don't mind. I just want us to try getting along for sometime. It's not so bad.” I persisted.

“Okay,” she gave in. “But you're not getting the same things I'm buying.”

If there was one thing Daphne enjoyed, it was being the center of attention. She loved being in control. Which made me come to the realization that our peers really does have influence in our lives. The types of people she involved herself with always felt they were on top of the world, she also had to act like them.

More than anything else, I can't wait to forge ahead with what lies ahead in my life. I could only pray and hope that I'm given the strength to endure all that I'd come across.

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2800+ words, and that's like Bella and Daphne's last POV for this book.

What new life actually lies ahead of these two, considering the kind of mother they have?

Remember, the title of the new book (#2 or standalone) would be released in the next chapter in Deborah's POV. Look forward to it.

Happy new month lovelies ❣️❣️❣️. Wishing you a fun-filled month with loads of Grace and Blessing. Love you.

Do vote and drop some comments please 💋.