Novel-novel oleh Ajayi Esther

"Wake up, Annie. I brought some brownies."a voice said, obstructing her dream.She stirred and mumbled some words."Yes..yes,I...."she was saying but suddenly opened her eyes to see Larry's face so close to hers.Her eyes widened.He pecked her on her lips and rubbed his nose on her neck."You're finally awake. You must be really stressed out. You literally slept the day off.""Wait.... wait... that was all a dream?"she scoffed.Larry stood properly."Did something happened?""Of course. And you don't have to be such a kill joy!"Annie almost shouted.She earned a perplexed look great Larry.She got down from the bed.She was putting on a pink top and trouser.Larry was putting on the same cloth only that his was blue.Annie slipped her legs inside her floppy slippers and grabbed the plate of the brownies Larry brought."But then. That was one of a million - the dream. I mean...God!. Why did you have to wake me up. I would still be savoring the good moment not if you didn't wake me up.

"Hmmmmmmm...."Annie's hand was clamped on her mouth."Good girl. I'll come check on you later."he said and went out with his boys....."I already informed the cops. They will be here any moment from now"Garry announced."Do you think that's a good idea?"Larry asked."Of course. With them around,it would help alot."Few moments later,a loud siren sounded."And,they are here. Come on,guys."Garry nudged his head, taking the lead.Boyd and Larry followed him.Skyler also stood up and glanced at Rose."We would be back soon..""And I stay here alone?,nay. Besides,I should go too, don't you think?"she said, stood and stepped out alongside the others.They bumped into a cop on their way out."Oh. We received a call of emergency. Was it here?"the cop asked."Yes. Thanks for coming"Garry replied."You said you already tracked the person down.""Yes"Boyd gave a nod."And that would just be easier"the cop said."Alright,so,who is going with us?"cop asked."All of us."they chorused."Huh?,all...

After chugging down a whole glass of wine, Rose breathed out a sigh.She told them everything that happened."I...I didn't quite saw the guy's face but if...if I see,I guess I can still point him out..."Larry sprang up, took the car keys and went out."Where are you going?"Skyler asked."Somewhere I have to"he replied.*Getting in front of Boyd's house,he got down and went to knock on the gate.The gate soon was opened and he requested to see Boyd."I'm...."Larry shoved the guard to the side and walked in."Hey,sir,you can't...""Try to stop me.."he rolled his eyes, walking to the entrance.Boyd then came out and seeing Larry,he let's out a scoff.How did he know his house.Well... Annie. She probably told him.Larry moved to him and took hold of his collar."Where. Where is Annie. Where did you hide her?"Larry look confused than ever.What's... what's wrong with him."You came here to ask about Annie?. So dumb."Boyd said and yanked Larry's hands off his collar."Don't play, ignor

..."It's morning already and I still haven't seen Annie!"Larry yelled."C'mon, Larry,relax a lil bit...""Don't tell me to relax, Garry!. I don't wanna hear that. Relax,relax. That's all I've been getting from you since last night!. You probably don't know the feeling because you've not been in love before!. You don't even know what it means to be loved or be in love!. Just shut the damn up!"Garry stared at him for a moment and sighed."Alright,I know. I've not been in love but,at least, I'm not as weak as you. Look at you, what does been in love offer you?. Problems!,problems all the time. I'm not and I don't wanna be in anything called Love because it damages easily."he shouted.They both stood, looking at each other.They had the same expression on their faces and were both fuming in great anger.It felt like they both are looking at themselves in the mirror."Aish, I'm outta here already!. You Deal with your shits alone"Garry said and walked away."That was harsh of you."Sam sai

"And,where are the ladies?"Skyler asked while coming in, bringing their absence known to others.They glanced around."Yeah,where are they"Sam let's out a breath."I saw Rose walking out but,I didn't notice Annie doing that"Sam added.Larry moved away from the ladies and went to search around the house.He charged up stairs and opened the door swiftly and it was empty.He went to the restroom but still,no Annie.What... what the?...He went back downstairs."I asked the gateman,he said they went out for what they called *just a short stroll*"Sam informed walking back inside."Just a short stroll?"Larry repeated."Yeah. Both the girls."Larry scoffed."And why don't I trust that statement?""You just have to. You know,this ladies just like....""No, Garry. We are fucking in the night,so,where would they go?. They don't even know their way around,what if they are just wandering through the cold night"Larry said with concern.Then,the fact hit the others."What about Annie?,she has been

★"Oh,how did you end up like this.. Brown?."Gracie sighed softly wheeling Brown in inside their room."Your absence really took a big toll on me."Brown replied."Now, I'm even embarrassed. More embarrassed. I'm sorry,honey,for being like this.""Seriously?. Stop being so sad. I was just joking."she said pulling his cheek.Brown released a smile and Gracie also smiled."I'm glad. But more glad you came into my colorless life.""Really?. Well, I'm flattered. I probably mean a lot to you,don't I?""You really do. And about Pedro..I will teach him a grave lesson.""Don't worry, Brown. Both Garry and Larry have both taken care of it. He's now dead."she replied him.He turned to her."Really?."She nodded."Those kids are now grown up..""Exactly. So,you should forgive them now. It's not their fault. They were just...""I will think about it, Gracie. For your sake...""Don't say for my sake. They are your sons for crying out loud."Brown nodded.Gracie went to drop on a crouch in front of

Gradually, a pitched sound crawls into my ears. The typical sound when a microphone just got knocked off. I look up and found Pierre pausing a step by the door. Eyebrows pulled up, mouth agape, eyes dancing around the scene.The light in the room is dimmed so he probably doesn't see the blood.He lunges over seconds later,"why is there blood?" that wasn't a question. It was one asked in bewilderment and 'it has never happened before' ."He seems drunk." I respond, short of breaths.His brows furrowed, then he shakes his head.. "this is bad .""Should... should we take him to the hosp-" "Get Ellie," his voice carries an instruction.My left hand grip my head, every objects doubling. I dig my teeth in my tongue. Blood flooded in along with pain enough to get a hold of myself. I pull myself up but paused. Ellie ? Who is that?"Vanessa" He quickly corrected himself like he just spit ou

I hiccup. Did my forty heads of thinking literally go to the waste bin? "It's... it's just juice, certainly everyone takes that..." I voiced out."Not me. Never like it." Words hung in my throat. A beat at hundred times..my heart counts down.I was too shocked to remember not to allow it show on my face until he raised the question, " why do you look disappointed? You badly want me to drink this?" I curse under my breath before looking up. "Of.. course not. I was just worried you would sleep on empty stomach,"A short laugh burst out of his lips. "Sleep on..." He stops, his eyes closes off only to get snapped open back again. "I am going. You, you should leave too..." In his room ? Going where? My inner eyes poke out of my skin, and I take every little details of his behavior in.His palm shields his forehead, his fingers trembles. His movements irregular.*Well, what did you fin

"Permission for what?" Does he know about my mission. My heart beats fast."To watch me eat." He shrugs. No reaction. Just a straight face. "I wasn't goi-" Wait, that's to my advantage. My eyes wander around the room. So unlike mine where cloths dance on the floor.I set the food down on the small table.I shot him a stare across the room, where he is drying his hair with a towel."A dryer would have been better and faster," I pointed out."It is not about speed always. Doing it like this takes some thoughts off my head." He responded without looking.I nod with pressed lips. "Sit." His next words came out sudden. My brows creased. His back is turn on me, how...?"Your standing there and looking around makes you seem like a pervert." He commented.My face flushes in embarrassment. He cannot exactly put it like so.I plush down on the chair without thinking twice.

The aroma of the food takes over the room. I stood in the kitchen, different ideas popping up in my head. I tail Vanessa to the dining where she served the food. She glanced back at me, "do you need anything,?"I go to shake my head. "Okay. I need to inform boss food is ready," she says and turn to leave.I nod, my mind far off. She was already climbing the stairs when I remember I was supposed to serve him. No, repay a debt. "WAIT."She stops. I inhale. She raise her brows quizzically at me. "Is something not in its right order?""Yes, my brain, " I blurt out."Huh?" "Nothing. Just...come back. I...will serve him." I gestured.She threw me a confused look then looked up the stairs, "sure? That would be nice " she squealed and hop off the stairs.I blink, "you seem excited like a five years old that just got her Christmas shoes."She chuckles. "Uhm, you...are done for the day, right?" I ask. "Yes, ma'am," she grins."Do you have any plan? Go out? Something else?""Asides sleep,

My heart leapt. What's up with how both of them are staring at me?"Like the kind of stare given when you are about to get betrayed," I comment in my head. But betrayal doesn't get through to my heart again. And this seems even more worse.When the staring got heated, I decided to take it on Vanessa, "what? You are not greeting your employer?" I whisper, and i could swear I see her stifle a laugh.My subconsciousness brushes it off again, "don't be mean" she moaned."Good - " she chokes on her word. "Evening, boss," she places weight on the boss word. Before my suspicious self could scrape off tweeny - bitsies of details again, "How is the hangover? Gone?" He questions, his voice strained. In a sweep, I looked at him, then back to Vanessa in a "is that question for me?" And she held in a laughter again. And that? It didn't help, it isn't. Only making me more anxious. Do I look like a fool today?"Well," she straightens

Angela's POV.I strut into the kitchen. Thuds from the cutting of carrots suffocates the air.I study Vanessa's knife movements...smooth, too fluid . Like she has been chopping carrots her entire life."Reason she is a chef," my second reverberates in my head.I chug a saliva, and rest on the wall. My arms crossed on my chest.Her head swerves back, our eyes meeting. She looks on, confused for seconds.. before something like realization hit her."Angela," she calls out before she could stopped."Why were you so shocked?" I draw a breath in, leaving the spot to pick one of the chopped carrot."Uhhh, it's been a while," she blurted.My eyes shoot up at her, the carrot going into my mouth, "it has only been a day,"Collarbones shoot out of her neck as she release a smile, "ah, really?" My gaze narrows, "you're acting weird today? What? Something wrong?""What could be wro